Nearly one year after Viatorians in Bogotá dedicated San Viator Parish, they have added another worship space within the church, this time a chapel in the lower level.
The Oratory of Our Lady of the Rosary is located next to a columbarium (cenizario), or sacred space for interred cremains of the deceased.
“The chapel constitutes a space for prayer, silence and reflection for the faithful,” says Fr. Edgar Suarez, CSV, Pastor, “and to honor and venerate Our Mother in Heaven, the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
Monsignor German Adina blesses the altar.
The small chapel features 14 images of Mary, some on canvas, others in stained glass.
“It will be a place of spiritual pilgrimage by the hand of Mary,” Fr. Suarez adds, “the star that leads us to Jesus, the safe harbor.”
Monsignor German Medina, Auxiliary Bishop of Bogotá, blessed the chapel on Oct. 23, as part of the feast day celebration of the parish’s patron, St. Viator. Recently, Fr. Daniel Hall, CSV, Provincial, and Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, a member of the Provincial Council of the Province of Chicago visited the church and its newest chapel.
The continued development of the parish and its worship spaces is a dream come true for Fr. Suarez and his congregation of more than 1,000 families. Its construction began in July, 2020, after years of fundraising and waiting for building permits.
Fr. Suarez and the parish community celebrated in their new church for the first time during Holy Week in 2021, despite it not being fully finished and again, three months later on the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, which was their deadline to complete most of the work.
The columbarium
With the addition of the Oratory of Our Lady of the Rosary, Fr. Suarez and his parishioners continue their devotion to the Blessed Mother. The original dedication of the church took place on Dec. 12, 2021, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which provided the chance to celebrate their new church on one of the many feast days of Mary, the patroness of Latin America and Empress of the Americas..