St Margaret Mary of Alacoque's Parish Church - 4960 Pico St
ST MARGARET MARY OF ALACOQUE'S PARISH CHURCH
The mission was founded in the 1930s from The Holy Family by its parish priest. St Margaret's origins go back to the time when a group of ladies decide to rent a room to Francisco Morandi so as to teach Religious Studies to the local children. María Leonor Ramírez Basualdo was in charge of the groups and would walk the children almost a mile and even cross a stream every Sunday to attend mass at the Holy Family. The ladies' Catechism Centre was named after St Margaret Mary of Alacoque.
On July 25th 1942, Cardinal Copello designated it a parish church although it would not be officially opened until October 21st 1944 by the very same Cardinal.
There was still plenty left to do. Thanks to the neighbours' generosity, a big collection was taken up between 1945 and 1946 to purchase the church bell-which would be blessed on 28th November 1948. Only a few months before, the façade lights and the stained-glass windows had been added.
Situated in one of the greenest areas of Buenos Aires, St Margaret stands out by its simple though beautiful Romanesque lines, the work of the very same architect who designed St James the Apostle in Núñez. The church stands on a large lot including the church itself as well as its presbytery, a charming small garden and a spacious meeting hall.
While celebrating its 25th anniversary, the church inaugurated a brand-new altar to comply with the Vatican Council regulations in 1969. It was also in the 1960s that St Margaret became part of Devoto's Bishopric and left Belgrano instead.
As for the imagery in the church interior, the fine painting depicting the apparition of the Sacred Heart to St Margaret is undoubtedly one of the church highlights. It was painted by a local artist by the name of L. Ahmetov the same year the church was officially opened. The church also houses a relic of St Margaret.
Not long ago, a statue especially commissioned by the church was shipped from Paray-le-Monial, the convent of the Visitation Sisters where St Margaret lived and is actually buried. It is also worth mentioning said image was blessed in the very same chapel where the Great Revelation took place. Only 85 cm high, the beautifully peaceful image was enthroned by Monsignor Sucunza on October 16th 2002. Housed in the church too is the original score of the hymn to St Margaret Mary by a local composer named Simón Imperiale and dedicated to Fr Schiavi.
Other remarkable Marian images include Our Lady of Wonders, patroness of Murtia-regrettably enough, the original image donated by a Spanish lady in the 1950s was stolen a few years ago- and the Madonna of the Poor, a recent donation closely related with the work of Caritas. A moving Calvary commands the northwest corner.
St Margaret Mary Alacoque has always occupied a special place in the heart of its parishioners. A touching story goes that during the vandalism attacks in June 1955, men would watch the church day and night to keep it safe while women took them snacks and drink. There were even families who housed the Blessed Sacrament in their wardrobes while the attacks were launched on the city.
Fr Enrique Ernesto Schiavi, first parish priest of St Margaret remains also a cherished memory in their hearts. The priest, originally from St Julia's, was in charge of the church between 1944 and 1967, during which he founded a considerable number of parochial groups. Other priests include Fr Mafezzini-currently Chaplain of the Navy-, Fr Di Benedetto-alma mater of the youth's groups-, Fr Scarella, of a remarkable long-lasting performance and the church's present parish priest, Fr Néstor Omar Gallego, an up-to-date priest to follow Fr Schiavi's footsteps.
Special thanks to St Margaret's parishioners for their invaluable help and cooperation.
© Eva Sommaruga Carbonell