Just as Jesus speaks about his role as a shepherd, that role fell to the various priests who have served our Pagosa Catholic community.
The first permanently stationed priest was the Rev. Bernard from 1951 to 1976. The Rev. John C. Bowe followed from 1976 to 1984 and then again from 1991 to 2004, the Rev. Jose Romero from 1984 to 1991, the Reverend Carlos Alavarez from 2004 to 2010, the Rev. Don Malin from 2010 to 2014, the Rev. Kenny Udumka from 2014 to 2020, and the Rev. Samuel Auta from 2021 to present.
Just as growth in the community in the 1940s drove the building of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, so too in 2000, growth in the county again drove the need for a new facility with more capacity. Construction began in 2008 and the Pope John Paul II Church was completed and consecrated on March 24, 2009, by Bishop Arthur Tafoya.
From the Penitentes, whose families carried the faith from New Mexico with its direct connection to Spain from the mid-1800s to the late 1800s, to the pioneer families who built and maintained the many mission churches in our region, to the priests who have shepherded our community since 1951, all have played a role in the formation of what we call the Pagosa Catholic Community in Archuleta County.
The stained-glass windows in all the mission churches — St. John’s, St. Francis, St. James, St. Andrews, a couple more that no longer stand and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, speak to the incredible tenacity and devotion of the pioneer families, some of whom are now the mayordomos of the mission churches: John and Florian Gallegos from the Juan Gallegos family/St. Frances, Ben and Lupita Gallegos from the Ben and Gertrude Gallegos family/St. James, James and Sandra Bramwell from the Ed Bramwell family/Chromo, and Joseph and Carrie Espinosa from the George and Bea Espinosa family/St. Johns.
Other pioneer families also contributed and whose names are featured prominently in those windows: the Loren and Lionel Belarde family, the George Shahan family, the Juan Gallegos family, the Mariano and Francisquita Cordoba family, the VA Poma family, the Felix and Ophelia Gomez family, the Pablo and Carlos Ortiz family, the J. Teofilo and Manuelito Martinez family, the families of Felipe Martinez and Josefa Valdez, the Zebedeo Martinez family, the E. Filiberto Lucero family, the J. Leon Archuleta family, the Epitasa Baca family, the Lucas Martinez family, the Manuel and Ana Ma. Lucero family and the Perfecto and Emilia Garcia family.
Most significant are the many windows dedicated to the parishioners. Those pioneer families are still represented by Emily Mestas, Lydia Martinez, Emma Lujan, Carol Pacheco, Juanita Archuleta, Betty Read, Lucy Gonzales, the Rivas families, the Lynch family and many more.
Finally, a window is dedicated to the many families who over the years dedicated themselves to the Altar Guild, making the churches a most welcoming place to worship.
The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a devotional name used to refer to the interior life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, her joys and sorrows, her virtues and perfections, her love for God, and her Divine Son and her motherly compassionate love for mankind. It is in this context we see our collective path forward through this anniversary and in celebrating the feast day of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Inclusivity is our path forward. The following prayer is offered to all: “Lord, give us new strength so that we can build places of belonging: to create a community for all to share their gifts, to know that each of us is loved, to help us to see the light of Christ in all that we serve. Let us remember that each of us is loved, each of us is here by the will of God and each of us is necessary.”
Please join us; all are welcome, as stated in the above prayer of inclusivity.
The Immaculate Heart of Mary Church will be open at 3:30 p.m., to allow any visiting pioneer families to tour the church. The procession will begin at 4:30 p.m. Mass will be celebrated beginning at 5 p.m.
After Mass, Las Guadalupanas will serve a free pozole dinner as is the custom of the mission churches to feed those guests who come to celebrate the feast day. Nominally at 6:30 p.m., the street dance will take place with the finest regional music provided by Variety Express and the Rivas Family Spanish Choir.
This is a fundraising dance to help cover the costs of the celebration. So, buy your tickets early. The cost is $15 per adult or $40 for a family. Everyone over 80 or under 16 will be invited to join us for free. There will be a cash bar with refreshments for all to enjoy until 9 p.m.
We look forward to celebrating all our pioneers in faith. We look forward to seeing you on Lewis Street June 8 after the car show, and remember: Lewis Street will be closed on June 8, so plan on parking and walking to the events of that day.
