|
In 1905 the first Catholic church in La Jara was built and dedicated in honor of San Luis
Beltran, a Spanish Dominican who preached for the rights of the indigenous
people of South America. Then in 1937, the small adobe church was replaced with
a larger church to accommodate the growing population. (With the arrival of the
railroad in 1880, La Jara had become a thriving community and was a center for
the vegetable shippers of Conejos County). The new church was named in honor of
the Theatine, San Andres Avellino.
By the early
1970s, La Jara had outgrown its second church. And just three miles to the east,
in the predominately Mormon community of Sanford, the Catholic congregation of
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart had also outgrown its church. So the parishioners
united and built the present La Jara church themselves. It was dedicated in
1974.
The
Catholic community in La Jara is active and continues to grow. Two masses
are celebrated each weekend, as well as daily mass and Holy Hour.
Education for all levels from elementary to adult, parish meetings, funeral
dinners, social events and use by other community organizations keep the
facility well used.
|
