San Juan Bautista had a youth group that was alive and active, a group that was making a difference in the community. When retreats where conducted by the youth group, there would be crowds of 500+ youth in attendance. Young people came from all over to participate at these church sponsored events.
The spirit of “family” abounded within this church deeply, that even if you where not a member, you could not help but see the love, caring and unity of this “family” known as San Juan Bautista.
Cristo Rey, though much smaller in number than San Juan Bautista, likewise had a strong sense of “family” in its midst. The main church service (Sunday’s at 12:00) was conducted in a small room on the second floor of a run down building. But the people that attended this church weren’t concerned about the outward appearance of their building, for within the walls of their church home, there existed as much love, joy and happiness as in the grandest of church edifices across the city.
The members of this congregation were a tight knit “family” which knew each other well. Everyone, if not related by blood, was considered a “compadre” or “comadre”, thus making every person at Cristo Rey, “family” in one way or another. Though the church did not have the resources to conduct it’s own activities (i.e. retreats, seminars, festivals, etc.), it was always well-represented in activities within the Hispanic community. When new people arrived, they were made to feel as if they were long lost relatives that had returned for a visit. Church members would argue amongst themselves as to who would have the privilege of inviting these new people to their home for dinner. Those that lost the argument made sure to get commitments from the new visitor as to when they would be coming by their homes to have dinner with them. The people, who comprised the congregation of Cristo Rey, were very committed to their church. Though many on the outside would have looked at them and not thought much about this group of people, but they were proud members of this “family’ known as Cristo Rey.
Today, these two churches, San Juan Bautista and Cristo Rey, no longer exist as individual entities. They have been brought together to form a new congregation known as “La Sagrada Familia.” To house this new community of believers, a beautiful new building was constructed for this “family”. Unfortunately, the elements of the two individual churches that make up this new congregation have not carried over. The strong sense and spirit of “family” which existed at San Juan Bautista and Cristo Rey have been lost in the forming of this new church. No longer do you see the unity that once characterized these entities. People, regardless of which church body they were previously members of, have become disconnected one from another. At one time, people were willing to help each other out, but today those same people do not want to be bothered by the concerns of others. Groups that used to work together, now concentrate on their own individual interests, many times at the expense of other groups. In the past, these same groups once labored together shoulder to shoulder. Prior to the merge of the two churches, when church events were conducted, there was an abundance of people who volunteered to help out in whatever capacity that was required of them. Today, one is hard pressed to find people willing to give of their time to assist in these activities. Even the youth group that was once so alive and active at San Juan Bautista, now has far fewer members and rarely attend scheduled activities.
“La Sagrada Familia” was to have been a beacon of the spirit of “family” that characterized San Juan Bautista and Cristo Rey, in the Hispanic community. It was for that reason that they decided to name the new church “La Sagrada Familia (Holy Family).” Yet it is that very sense and spirit of “family”, that has been lost at this new church. Yes, there are pockets of people here and there, that still displace that spirit of “family”, but as it once prevailed at the two individual church entities, it no longer exist.
Many attribute the disappearance of the spirit of “family” to the building itself (i.e. size, entry/exit ways, sitting arrangement, etc.), and that may be true. The beacon of hope for the family that was intended of this place, within the Hispanic community has yet to materialize. But if as a congregation, its members would make a concerted effort to once again come together, the spirit that dominated those two church entities would be recaptured and become the characterizing aspect of their new home. As the cornerstone of its foundation, “La Sagrada Familia” needs to become the “family” that it was birthed to be. Its members long to feel the pride and respect that they felt as members of their former respective church homes, and they desire to express their joy of knowing that they are a part of a “family” known as “La Sagrada Familia.”
“La Sagrada Familia”, Pg.
