Parroquia Nuestra Señora de Andacollo, Santiago
Encyclopedia
Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Andacollo, Santiago is Catholic parish in Santiago, Chile
dedicated to Our Lady of Andacollo
. The parish shares the same city block with Colegio de Nuestra Señora de Andacollo, a school administered, like the parish, by the Congregation of Holy Cross
. Holy Cross Sisters
serve in the parish as well.
"Our Lady of Andacollo" , also known as the "Virgin of Andacollo" , is a celebrated Catholic image of the Virgin Mary
.
to serve the people living to the west of the old downtown of Santiago, Chile. In 1890, a chaplain, Rev. Hernan Domeyko was assigned to the chapel. In 1901, the Archdiocese of Santiago gave permission for the construction of a church on the site of the old chapel. On Christmas eve of 1902, the parishioners requested the construction of a church in honor of St. Vicent Ferrer and a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Andacollo. Rev. Malcolm Johnson, C.S.C. reported in 1987 that, in spite of extensive archival research, he could not uncover the reason for the change, but, from 1903 forward, the community would be referred to as the "Sanctuary of Our Lady of Andacollo."
By 1912, the Sanctuary had grown in importance to the neighborhood that it was necessary to give it the designation of parish with Rev. Ladislao Godoy as its first pastor. By 1917, the parish census had grown to between 25,000 and 30,000 parishioners over a span of 100 city blocks.
In 1943, Nicomedes Guzmán wrote his novel about the poverty of the neighborhood, "La sangre y la esperanza" [The Blood and the Hope], that frequently marks the presence of the parish in the life of the poor by the sound of the church's bells in key moments of the novel.
. St. Alberto Hurtado was a champion of youth and the poor. His ministry with both began at Andacollo.
was formed. In 1915, the parish formed a conference of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
.
, Bolivia
, Ecuador
, and Colombia
. The parish has a dedicated meeting space for Alcoholics Anonymous
. The parish has a thrift store
as well as a soup kitchen
for the elderly of the neighborhood.
provoked extensive damage to the church. It struck, in fact, during mass, and, while all escaped the church safely, the church tower fell. The 2010 Chile earthquake
also rendered extensive damage to the church. For several weeks, the parish worshiped outdoors. Eventually, sufficient funds were raised to repair the interior of the church.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
dedicated to Our Lady of Andacollo
Our Lady of Andacollo
Our Lady of Andacollo , also known as the Virgin of Andacollo , is a celebrated Catholic image of the Virgin Mary.- Origins :Our Lady of the Rosario of Andacollo is the only distinctly Chilean term for the Virgin Mary. The image dates back to a small statue found by an indigenous person near the...
. The parish shares the same city block with Colegio de Nuestra Señora de Andacollo, a school administered, like the parish, by the Congregation of Holy Cross
Congregation of Holy Cross
The Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....
. Holy Cross Sisters
Marianites of Holy Cross
The Marianites of Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic congregation of nuns, founded in Le Mans, France, in 1841, by the Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC...
serve in the parish as well.
"Our Lady of Andacollo" , also known as the "Virgin of Andacollo" , is a celebrated Catholic image of the Virgin Mary
Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic)
Roman Catholic veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary is based on Holy Scripture: In the fullness of time, God sent his son, born of a virgin. The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God through Mary thus signifies her honour as Mother of God...
.
- Founded in 1912, it is a Roman Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of SantiagoRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Santiago de ChileThe Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile is part of the Roman Catholic Church in Chile. The current Archbishop is Ricardo Ezzati Andrello...
. Since 1977, the parish has been under the direction of the Congregation of Holy Cross. Holy Cross assumed responsibility for both the parish and school at the request of Cardinal Raúl Silva Henríquez.
History
In 1865, Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Andacollo was born as a chapel in honor of St. Vincent FerrerVincent Ferrer
Saint Vincent Ferrer was a Valencian Dominican missionary and logician.-Early life:Vincent was the fourth child of the Anglo-Scottish nobleman William Stewart Ferrer and his Spanish wife, Constantia Miguel. Legends surround his birth...
to serve the people living to the west of the old downtown of Santiago, Chile. In 1890, a chaplain, Rev. Hernan Domeyko was assigned to the chapel. In 1901, the Archdiocese of Santiago gave permission for the construction of a church on the site of the old chapel. On Christmas eve of 1902, the parishioners requested the construction of a church in honor of St. Vicent Ferrer and a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Andacollo. Rev. Malcolm Johnson, C.S.C. reported in 1987 that, in spite of extensive archival research, he could not uncover the reason for the change, but, from 1903 forward, the community would be referred to as the "Sanctuary of Our Lady of Andacollo."
By 1912, the Sanctuary had grown in importance to the neighborhood that it was necessary to give it the designation of parish with Rev. Ladislao Godoy as its first pastor. By 1917, the parish census had grown to between 25,000 and 30,000 parishioners over a span of 100 city blocks.
In 1943, Nicomedes Guzmán wrote his novel about the poverty of the neighborhood, "La sangre y la esperanza" [The Blood and the Hope], that frequently marks the presence of the parish in the life of the poor by the sound of the church's bells in key moments of the novel.
Formation of a Saint
In 1913, the parish school had 180 students. That year, a night school was opened in addition to the day school, given that so many students worked during the day. During this same period, a student from a prestigious Jesuit school, San Ignacio, volunteered at the parish and school. That student worked in the office, as librarian, and as banker for the parish's students and its worker center. This student later enrolled in law school, focus on labor law, before entering the seminary with the Jesuits. Today, he is known as St. Alberto HurtadoAlberto Hurtado
Saint Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga , popularly known in Chile as Padre Hurtado , was a Chilean Jesuit priest, lawyer, social worker and writer of Basque origin, founder of the Hogar de Cristo foundation...
. St. Alberto Hurtado was a champion of youth and the poor. His ministry with both began at Andacollo.
Service to the Poor
From its inception, the parish served a large community of low-income persons. The needs always were greater than the resources. The parish responded creatively to remedy the massive needs. In 1906, a workers center was created. In 1911, the "Unión Protectora de Andacollo," a mutual benefit society or friendly societyFriendly society
A friendly society is a mutual association for insurance, pensions or savings and loan-like purposes, or cooperative banking. It is a mutual organization or benefit society composed of a body of people who join together for a common financial or social purpose...
was formed. In 1915, the parish formed a conference of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
The St Vincent de Paul Society is an international Roman Catholic voluntary organization dedicated to tackling poverty and disadvantage by providing direct practical assistance to anyone in need. Active in England & Wales since 1844, today it continues to address social and material need in all...
.
On-going Service to the Poor
Today, this tradition of service continues at Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Andacollo. The parish serves long-time residents of the neighborhood as well as a growing immigrant population from PeruPeru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, and Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. The parish has a dedicated meeting space for Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
. The parish has a thrift store
Charity shop
A charity shop, thrift shop, thrift store, hospice shop , resale shop or op shop is a retail establishment run by a charitable organization to raise money.Charity shops are a type of social enterprise...
as well as a soup kitchen
Soup kitchen
A soup kitchen, a bread line, or a meal center is a place where food is offered to the hungry for free or at a reasonably low price. Frequently located in lower-income neighborhoods, they are often staffed by volunteer organizations, such as church groups or community groups...
for the elderly of the neighborhood.
Earthquakes
The 1985 Santiago earthquake1985 Santiago earthquake
The 1985 Santiago earthquake was a seismic movement registered on 3 March 1985 at 22:47 UTC . Its epicenter was located on the south coasts of Valparaíso Region, Chile, close to the beach of Algarrobo...
provoked extensive damage to the church. It struck, in fact, during mass, and, while all escaped the church safely, the church tower fell. The 2010 Chile earthquake
2010 Chile earthquake
The 2010 Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 03:34 local time , having a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, with intense shaking lasting for about three minutes. It ranks as the sixth largest earthquake ever to be recorded by a...
also rendered extensive damage to the church. For several weeks, the parish worshiped outdoors. Eventually, sufficient funds were raised to repair the interior of the church.
Pastors
- Rev. Ladislao Godoy (1912-1928)
- Rev. Jose de la Cerda (1928-1934)
- Rev. Alberto Jacques (1935-1951)
- Rev. Vicente Ahumada (1951-1962)
- Rev. Agustin Lloret (1962-1965)
- Rev. Luis Bascuñan (1965-1972)
- Rev. Juan Gonzalez, O.F.M., Cap. (1973-1976)
- Deacon Oscar Barraza (1976)
- Rev. Gerald T. Papen, C.S.C. (1977)
- Rev. Robert G. Simon, C.S.C. (1977)
- Rev. Douglas Smith, C.S.C. (1978-1979)
- Rev. Fermin Donoso, C.S.C. (1979-1980)
- Rev. Richard Elliott, C.S.C. (1981-1985)
- Rev. Malcolm Johnson, C.S.C. (1985-1995)
- Rev. Gerald T. Papen, C.S.C. (1995-2003)
- Rev. Romulo Vera, C.S.C. (2004-2009)
- Rev. Gerald R. Barmasse, C.S.C. (administrator) (2010)
- Rev. Christopher W. Cox, C.S.C. (2011-Present)
External links
- Soup kitchen
- Work of St. Alberto Hurtado in Santiago
- Hurtado, S.J., Alberto, "Cartas E Informes del Padre Alberto Hurtado, S.J.," Santiago: Ediciones Universidad Catolica de Chile, 2005.