San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo
BEFORE
DURING
AFTER
On May 26, 1641, a summit meeting of local governors (gobernadorcillos) was held, during which matters concerning various places and people already in contact with the Spanish and the priests were discussed. This meeting led to the founding of San Lorenzo. It was incorporated into the Satevó district, since this community was already receiving services from the Santa Isabel missions and was therefore not considered a mission center.
However, San Lorenzo held special significance, as it was considered the northernmost point toward the Sierra, serving as the boundary for the missions of the Lower Tarahumara and, in a sense, the gateway to continue evangelization into the Sierra when conditions were favorable. Years after the secularization of Satevó, in 1758, Bishop Tamarón designated it as a mission center:
“This town of San Lorenzo has 152 indigenous families, comprising 589 people… Throughout the parish of this San Lorenzo curacy, there are 85 Spanish families, totaling 345 people. Its satellite communities are Santa María de las Cuevas and Santa Rosalía, with 246 people.”
The church is currently located at the intersection of Felipe Ángeles, 8th, Nicolás Bravo, and 2nd streets. In front of it, there is a plaza with a gazebo, gardens, and urban furniture.
The church preserves some significant colonial-era artworks, including the sculpture "Christ at the Column", which dates back to the 18th century and is made of polychromed wood. The image depicts the episode of Christ’s flagellation and is carved from pine wood, to which the traditional enlenzado technique was applied in order to create a homogeneous surface and reduce movement between the wood and the layers of polychrome.
Jesuit
17th - 18th
Chihuahua
Dr. Belisario Domínguez
Immovable property, movable property
Adobe
Plane
Single nave
The restoration project began in 2017, following a request by Father Jesús Antonio García to Misiones Coloniales de Chihuahua A.C. for its execution. Initially, it was proposed to include it in the Federal Expenditure Program (PEF), for which efforts were made with federal deputies; however, no funding was obtained in 2018 and 2019.
In 2019, significant support was obtained from the Municipal Presidency and the State Government’s Secretariat of Culture. It was decided to pool resources and submit the project to the 2019 FOREMOBA call, resulting in a successful application, with the Municipal Presidency of Dr. Belisario Domínguez, led by Engineer Aarón Loya Jáquez, as the beneficiary.
INVERSION 1,655,555.92 MXN (2020 - 2021)
100%
PHASE I
Comprehensive restoration
- Federal Government (FOREMOBA 2020)
- Government of the State of Chihuahua – Secretariat of Culture (2016–2021)
- Municipal Presidency of Dr. Belisario Domínguez (2018–2021)
- Parish – Community of Belisario Domínguez
The project originated from the request of Father Jesús Antonio García and his desire to dignify the San Lorenzo Church. In 2017, a committee was convened, composed of community members and parish representatives, together with Misiones Coloniales de Chihuahua A.C., to coordinate and carry out the restoration project.
On-site contact:
San Lorenzo Parish Office
(624) 571 2001
