Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-10-14


cal mass began, to the delight of many
worshipers who had never had the
luck to see the beauty and symbolism
contained in such a Catholic ceremony.
Those taking part were Archbishop
Pitayal with mitre and crozier as cele-
brant; Fathers Ballard of Las Vegas
and Rabeyrolle of East Las Vegas as
deacons of honor; Docher of lsleta as
I assistant to the archbishop; Barnabas,
o. f. NJ, of JemeZ, and Florertin,
| @. +, NJ, of Pena Blanca as deacon
| and sub-deacon, respectively; Dumar-
est Of Watrous as croZier bearer; StOf-
/ fel of Magdalena as mitre bearer;
Heitz of Silver City as master of cere-
monies; Ola Of Mora; Robert, o. r.
| NJ, of san Rafael; Jerome, o. F. M.
! of Pena Blanca: William, o. +. M,
of Jemez; Cordova, S. j.. of Albuquer-
| que; Alvenhe of Chamita: Castanie
! of Tome Barrau of St. Joseph's sana-
torium, Albuquerque: Often of La
1 Joya, Louis, assistant pastor of the
/ Church of our Lady; A. c. Cellier,
pastor, and a number Of red cassocked
and white supplied altar boys.
From the top of the majestic tower
of the church floated the Stars and
Stripes, and associated with this was
the wartime parish flag, which is to
be demobilized after the fiesta, and
other gold and blue banderoles. The
interior view of the church made one
! think Of fairyland, with the imposing
altar and the four side affairs All IN
pure gothic style of white enamel and
gold, adorned with many flowers, lace
and candles, the electric lighting, the
superb statues. banners, gothic sta
tons in high relief and stained glass
windows, recounting to the eye the
main events of the Virgins life; the
lighted tapers held by the invited ones
who had received the coveted honor OF
being the sponsors of the church, and
who had occupied the center nave, and
a crowd that packed ever nook and
corner of the church, which is rightly
said 10 be the largest and among the
finest in the state; and finally the
music by the choir, which had been
especially prepared for this occasion,
under the direction of Mrs. Guadalupe
r. castillo, who has held this charge
for more than thirty years, made it a
scent of grandeur not to be easily for
gotten
Father III. lie Guillou of Santa Fe
gave an eloquent and interesting SER
mon which rendered full credit and
praise to all those of the congregation
and outside of it, who mad helped IN
the building Of this fine temple dedl-
Gated to Gods service and glory, end
ing by a noble eNhortation to all his
hearers in general that as they had
expressed thus their firm and living
faith in this material monument Can
honor to their generation), they must
never for a moment allow themselves
to forget that their soul is even more
precious and dearer to God; and the
eternal reward cannot be gained but
by treading the path of grace and Vlr-
tue.
To crown it ALL after the benedic-
ton of the blessed sacrament, the
most reverend archbishop in an lntl-
mate talk to the sponsors and parish
toner's, made known to them how
pleased he was to have come down
from Santa Fe to greet them once
more and rejoice with them at COM
pletion of such an enduring work, CIV
ing them his special blessing, AFTER
which the standing debt upon the
church, which amounted to $l,Sl5 De-
fore the ceremony started was then
and there wiped out by the generosity
| of the same sponsors.
To the Creult OF lne congregation Va
| Our Lady of Belen which is almost a
pure Spanish American one, composed
! of some coo families, be it said that
| the work on the building was started
! on July i 1918, finished about Febru-
! ary 5, 1919, adorned with its peWs ana
much other furniture and all paid for
by october 10, 1919, which is a record
| for the Catholic diocese of Santa re.
The structure is made of massive
cement blocks, pebble dashed on the
outside following the gothic style; mas
three naves, large sanctuary, cholr
loft, concrete floor and seating capa-
city for 1000 people. 1t is the success
eor and stands on the same spot Where
was erected the adobe building OF
| humber proportions and primitive de-
/ sign in 1859, which was practically the
| birth of the present town of Belen.
The attention of the tourists Is cailed
upon by its people to visit it, and ad-
mire its interior as something out OF
| the ordinary
| The present value Of the new chureh
| of Our Lady of Belen is estimated 10
hover around $4,000 Without includ-
ing the tower nor the lots upon Whlch
| the edifice stands, the actual cost
amounted to $4,000, all of which was
| contributed by the people of the par
| ish with a few subscriptions offered
and received from outside friends and
! also from some Catholic ones OF
/ Relen to all Of whom the pastor Oh
! the church desires to tender his CRATE
| thanks