| Parish of Holy Lady of Guadalupe 1943 |
| May, 2005
|
In 1945 the Mayor of Vallarta was Don Porfirio Uribe. Approximately on March 15, 1943, Reverend Don Rafael Parra Castillo arrived to Puerto Vallarta to take over the Vicar ship. The new priest showed immediately great ability to run the Parish. He was a strong, iron-willed man. Very soon he was well known for his firmness, dynamism and tenacity. He completed the construction of the church including finishing the walls and the porch. He had great stamina and went in person to collect funds for the church from all neighboring ranches.
In the 195'0 s, Reverent Parra's unique personality became well know by national and foreign tourist who came to visit the Parish. Many of these tourist moved to Vallarta attracted by its natural beauty.
The population started growing. People contributed more and more to the church. The local ladies organized fundraisers. The construction of the church was finished thanks to fundraisers, and contributions from local and tourist people.
Father Parra did a lot of remodeling to the church. He demolished the altar and rebuilt it in fine marble. He changed the floors to tile. He ordered built a beautiful pulpit carved in wood. The rail to kneel down for communion was also carved in the finest wood. Señor Martiniano Rámirez from Mascota was the carpenter.
Señor Jesús Rámirez, a renowned sculptor from México City, carved the Stations of the Cross. His detailed artwork is appreciated on the walls of the church. The artwork took over two years to be completed.
In 1945 father Parra noticed that the painting of Our Holy Lady of Guadalupe was damaged. He obtained the permission of the Bishop of Tepic to order another painting from a renowned artist.
Don Ignacio Ramírez painted the new image. Father Parra very pleased with the result. The similitude to the original was striking. He made a special trip to México City's main Cathedral of Our Holy Lady of Guadalupe to have the painting blessed next to the original. Señor Antonio Güereña accompanied him on the trip.
Reverend Doctor Angel Garibay, Concierge and Guardian at the main Cathedral , gave Father Parra a certificate of authenticity of the duplicate.
The new image was blessed next to the sacred original. Father Parra returned happily to Vallarta. He proudly set the new image in the center of the altar.
In 1949 Father Parra purchased a dedicated power plant to generate electricity for the church.
Father Parra did numerous improvements. He finished the remodeling of the church, added the christening chapel and remodeled the Parish's offices. In 1961 he ordered the artwork that decorates the dome above the altar. Renowned local artist Daniel and Malena Lechón did the paintings.
Revered Parra founded two new chapels Capilla de la Santa Cruz (Chapel of the Holy Cross) and Capilla de Nuestra Señora del Refugio (Chapel of Our Holy Lady of the Sanctuary). He also started the construction of the 1955. father Parra added a clock before completion.
Father Parra was always full of energy. He ordered a bell to be added to the tower. The bell tolled in every festivity. He also purchased a fine Hammond organ for the choir.
Father Parra celebrated his twenty-fifth anniversary in priesthood on November 22, 1955. he was honored with a special mass service and a literary musical play.
Dynamic Engineer Rafael Flores Miranda designed the church tower. He donated his artwork to the church to contribute to Vallarta's progress.
The tower was a project built in two stages. The first stage was finished in 1955, and the final completion did not happen until 1965. a sculpture of Alba also contributed to the project as well as general contractors Lino Mercado, Antonio Murillo, Geronimo Murillo, Luis Rodriguez, Rafael Rosas, Emilio Ocampo and Gregorio Uribe.
Esteban Avalos-Haro designed the sculpture of a sphere with a standing cross in the center at the very top of the crown. He is a well-known local artist. Everyone in town liked the originality of the design.
It is a tradition in the country of México to honor Our Holy Lady of Guadalupe every year on the 12th of December. In Vallarta this particular traditions was widespread by Father Parra. Every December, large crowds pilgrimage to honor the dark Virgin of Guadalupe in Vallarta. Many people travel from surrounding towns.
In 1951, during the celebrations of the first Centennial anniversary of Las Peñas, Father Parra made a special invitation for locals to participate in the pilgrimage. It somehow seems that since that time, the pilgrimages have grown larger each year. The participants include many organizations such as, Schools, businesses, doctors, pilots, hotels, etc.
The ethnic dances organized by local Señor Roberto Franco have been an important part of the pilgrimages. Roberto trains local young men and ladies for the dance. He also designs the beautiful Aztec costumes they wear each year.
Roberto is well known in Vallarta. He lives in the Remance colony and grows medical herbs that he gives out to friends. He also has a greenhouses where he grows a variety of exotic plants and different types of rosebushes.
Another person who has helped the church enormously during the Guadalupe festivities is Gerónimo Godínez nicknamed "El Gran Taco" Gerónimo settled in Vallarta many years ago. He peddles deep fried tacos on a cart, dresses very clean and wears an impeccable white apron. Gerónimo is better known for announcing his tacos with a megaphone. Local people know well when hearing the voices of "El Graaaaaaan.taco" that he is about to pass down the street. His particular tone of voice has made him popular during the Guadalupe festivities. Gerónimo announces each pilgrimage singing gospel Guadalupe psalms.
Father Parra died on December 10, 1966. I was saddened to watch the first Guadalupe festivities without him. During the pilgrimage. Felt his strong presence. He would have been so proud to see the payback of all his hard work!
It is hard to describe the big loss Vallarta suffered when Father Parra passed away. Bishop Don Manuel Piña from Tepic, Nayarit, conduced funeral mass services for Father Parra assisted by priests Francisco Antonio Aldana, Carlos Peña, and father Zavala. After the mass, all our friends neighbors escorted Father Parra's body to the cemetery.
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