Hundreds turn out for Hurley church shrine dedication

HURLEY — More than 700 hundred people descended on the tiny town of Hurley on Saturday morning for a moving and historic ceremony in which the Infant Jesus Catholic Church was declared a Diocesan Shrine to the Santo Ni o de Atocha by Bishop Ricardo Ramirez of the Diocese of Las Cruces.

For the hundreds who turned out, it was an emotional moment to be a part of a ceremony in which the church was declared a shrine. The idea of designating the church a shrine came from Joseph Chavez of Tulsa, Okla., who has strong ancestral ties to the Hurley community and to the church.

Chavez got the inspiration for his idea while visiting the National Shrine to the Child of Prague in Prague, Okla., and envisioned the same endowment for his church back in southwestern New Mexico. After four years of planning, Chavez's hope and dream came true. Four hundred invitations went out to people as far away as Texas, Arizona and California — some who had signed the church's guest book over the years and others who had ties to the church and the Hurley community.

More than 350 people pack the Infant Jesus Catholic Church in Hurley on Saturday for a ceremony in which Bishop Ricardo Ramirez of the Diocese of Las Cruces declared the church a shrine to the Santo Nio de Atocha. More than 700 people overall turned out for the ceremony. For more photos of the ceremony, see our Facebook page. (CariSue Flores for the Sun-News)

Hurley Mayor Edward Encinas, who is also a parishioner of the church, said. "To see this in my lifetime was an experience that I cannot describe in words," Encinas said. "I was so moved to see all the people there."

Encinas said he got choked up throughout the ceremony and the dedication of the altar and tried to hide his tears. Afterwards, he said he had to sit down and regroup, before running around making sure everything went smoothly — from the brisket dinner for 700 that was being served afterwards, to meeting people who had come from California, Arizona and Texas, to greeting dignitaries like Sen. Howie Morales, Rep. Rudy

Martinez, Rep. Dianne Hamilton, and retired Sen. G. X. McSherry, from Deming, whom Encinas thanked for coming.

The highlight of the day, Encinas said, was the standing ovation that former church priest Father Dan Porter received when he was introduced by the Bishop. Father Porter was a much-beloved priest at the church for 11 years before being transferred two years ago, Encinas said. "When he came into the church you could feel it," he said.

The Rev. Roberto S. Barreto S., the church's current priest, said a few words, then the Bishop introduced

Father Porter, saying "I brought my angel with me," Encinas said. He said Father Porter was happy to see all his former parishioners and they were thrilled to see him. The Bishop also addressed the local dignitaries and the children, Encinas said, and called the Infant Jesus Catholic Church the "Jewel of the Diocese."

"This is an extremely rare event," the Bishop said addressing the huge crowd. "It's not everyday that a Church is declared a Shrine. This is only the second church, the other one is in Mesilla Park. The Infant Jesus Catholic Church is a treasure, a true jewel, and it's fitting that we elevate this church to a Shrine on Labor Day due to the donation of labor by the locals."

Bishop Ricardo Ramirez of the Diocese of Las Cruces pours oil on the new alter to bless it during mass and the enshrinement ceremony at the Infant Jesus Catholic Church on Saturday. This is an extremely rare event, the Bishop said addressing the huge crowd. It s not everyday that a Church is declared a Shrine. This is only the second church, the other one is in Mesilla Park. The Infant Jesus Catholic Church is a treasure, a true jewel, and it s fitting that we elevate this church to a Shrine on Labor Day due to the donation of labor by the locals. (CariSue Flores for the Sun-News)

The Colonial Revival Church at 204 Cortez Ave., was built in 1952 on land donated land by the Kennecott Copper Corp. The same site housed the original Infant Jesus Catholic Church that was established in June 1916.

The patron of the church is the Infant Jesus. The Santo Ni o de Atocha legend grew from the time of the Moorish control over Spain, circa 711 A.D. Men were imprisoned for their faith. Many prisoners were starving, but the dictator declared food and water could be brought to them by their children. Many of the prisoners were single men, without children and starving. The women prayed to the Virgin Mary at the Atocha Church, which was adorned with the statue that held the Infant Jesus. The women believed a mysterious child who soon appeared and provided food and water for the starving prisoners was the Holy Child Jesus.

Depictions of the child show him holding a basket and a staff, with a gourd of water. Devotion grew from that legend and when the Spaniards came to Mexico, the story and statue also reached the new land. Devotion to the Infant Jesus (Santa Ni o) has grown worldwide, particularly in the southwest, and within the Hispanic community.

The church has central double doors, with stained glass images of the Santo Ni o gracing the entrance. Arched stained glass windows flank the central isle that leads to the main altar. Above the altar is a cupola with a celestial painting of the Santo Ni o, with angels, amidst clouds painted by Italian artist, Guiseppe Kadich in 1952.

Mariachi Corazon del Desierto de Sam Baca led the huge crowd during the beautiful ceremony on Saturday, and afterwards, hundreds enjoyed the brisket dinner under tents on the church grounds. On Sunday, people still came to the church to see the shrine, with folks dropping in from Safford, Ariz. and other places, Encinas said.

The church gift shop will be selling T-shirts for $15 that say "Infant Jesus Shrine — Hurley New Mexico" on the front, with a picture of the Santo Ni o on the back, the mayor said. The shirts were created by Morningstar in Silver City and will be available at the Church Gift Shop from 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and after the 6 p.m. mass on Saturday and the 9 and 11 a.m. masses on Saturday.

And every year from now on, the church and the town of Hurley plan to hold an annual fiesta on the shrine declaration date at the Infant Jesus Catholic Church to honor dedication and the Santo Ni o.

CariSue Flores contributed to this report.

Christine Steele can be reached at (575) 538-5893 ext. 5802.