Photo: NPS
Photo: NPS |
People Taking Care of Places
Speakers: Elvera Vigil Ogard
File size: 454k
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La Capilla de la Sagrada Familia, Pajarito, New
Mexico
" . . . People do come together because of the love they have for
this building and this setting. I think the love also comes from
the stories that are told about it. But if the stories don't get
told you lose it, and if you don't have a place like this, the stories
don't get told." -
Elvera Vigil Ogard
Photo: NPS |
Elvera Vigil Ogard spent her early childhood on the banks of the
Rio Grande in the shadow of the sacred Black Mesa in northern New
Mexico. She lived in Pajarito, a small Hispanic community on land
homesteaded by her grandparents. Her family built a small adobe
chapel, La Capilla de la Sagrada Familia, which served as the community's
center for many years. After her family moved from the area, the
church was abandoned and gradually deteriorated. Family members
and other supporters have come together to restore the chapel with
help from Cornerstones Community Partnerships. Cornerstones works
with rural communities across New Mexico to restore locally valued
historic structures, encourage traditional building practices, and
reinforce cultural values. Working nearly every weekend for a year
and a half, Elvie and others have rebuilt La Capilla de la Sagrada
Familia, which once again has become a gathering place for the community.
