Alaia Quijada daughter of Cinthia Quijada, was the first person to be baptized at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in La Cholla, where bilingual Mass is offered every Sunday.

With the reassignment by Bishop José Isidro of St. Joseph’s Church to Pastor Marco Lopez, all sacraments are now available at the little church, which has gone from an abandoned cinder block shell to a beautiful house of worship in seven years.

“We have had weddings, quinceañeras, renewal of vows, communal reconciliation, funerals and, of course the Eucharist,” said St. Joseph’s sexton Bob Keller, “but this was a first – welcoming a new Catholic into our community.”

To make the ceremony possible, Keller had to create a baptismal font. Using his woodworker skills, he assembled a tabletop base to safely hold a large glass bowl. Next, he plans to build a permanent font in anticipation of additional baptisms at the little chapel.

For more information about St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in La Cholla and to arrange services there, contact Keller at 928-706-6928, or by e-mail at bob@keller.net. Or to discuss arrangements in Español, contact Padre Marco at 638-127-2968.

To reach the church, take the road past the Sandy Beach resorts, then the sand road past Wrecked at the Reef. As you wind your way toward Cholla Bay, the church will be on the right. It is clearly marked.

CAPTION:

Cinthia Quijada presents her daughter Alaia to Padre Marco Lopez for Baptism at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in La Cholla.