It is Saturday night, 6th March, 2010. This is an update on the progress of the new church building in the part of our parish which is called El Chorrillo. The name of the church is "El Senor de los Milagros" or The Lord of the Miracles. Last night, Friday, I celebrated the first mass in the new church. Work finished on the church on Thursday, the day before. I am putting up some photos on this blog for all to see. I am going to Quito on Monday to buy two statues and a large crucifix to put in the sanctuary. I am also waiting for a tabernacle which I have ordered.
I am really grateful to the workers who worked so hard to finish this church in under three months. I am so grateful to so many friends at home in Ireland who raised the money for me to undertake this project. For the last twelve years or so the people here in this part of the parish have been coming to pray together in a cane church, which after that long time was in an awful state. The people cannot believe that they have this beautiful church now to pray in.
A total of 20 different people worked on the building of the church. It cost 30,000 U.S. dollars to build. Wages here are very low. Cement and steel are expensive though.
I will eventually have it officially opened with one of the auxilary bishops of the diocese and when I do so, in about another month or so, I will have a plaque erected at the front of the church in honour of the people back home in Westmeath, Longford, Offaly, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo, who supported me financially with the building of the church.
Mass will be celebrated every Friday night at 7p.m. in the church and this will be the weekend Mass for the community there. We are unable to have mass there on Sundays as we already have enough masses to offer on Saturday and Sunday.
Enjoy the photos and thank you if you contributed personally to my work here.
Sincerely, Fr. P.J. Hughes.
