© 2024 KRWG
News that Matters.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

New Mexico village celebrates rebirth of church, community

NMSU photo

Fueled by faith and determination, volunteers worked tens of thousands of hours over the last several years to rebuild the heart of one mountain village in northern New Mexico.

On Sunday, they'll gather in Questa to celebrate their efforts with the rededication of the San Antonio Catholic Church, one of the oldest churches in the nation.

One of the church's main adobe walls collapsed almost a decade ago, prompting the Archdiocese of Santa Fe to call for the building to be torn down. Community members wouldn't have it and fought for permission to rebuild the historic structure on their own.

The project included the laying of 29,000 adobes, the stabilization of existing walls and the creation of numerous stained glass windows and special carvings.

The volunteers were focused Thursday on finishing touches in preparations for the weekend celebration.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.