After more than a year of fund raising and then phased construction, the perimeter wall, with beautiful ornamental iron gates, was completed last month around St. Joseph’s Catholic Chapel in La Choya.
The decorative block walls define the property and provide additional security for the church and the priest’s residence, which was added onto the back of the church two years ago.
Many visitors and residents contributed for the materials and labor to build the block wall and funds for the iron gates were donated by Paul and Myra DeRoo as a memorial to their family. The gates were made by Xtraservicios, a metal fabrication company owned by Carlos Ramirez, and powder coated by Cholla Bay Powder Coating, owned by Kyle and Tina Cramer.
“With this project complete, we are finally out of building mode at St. Joe’s,” said Bob Keller, sexton for the chapel. “Now we turn our attention to maintenance and we can start helping Padre Marco to fund the services provided at the homeless shelter for migrant families.”
St. Joseph’s is in its 11th year of providing bilingual Mass and other services and sacraments including weddings, baptisms, inurnments and quinceaneras. For information about the church or services, contact sexton Bob Keller by e-mail at bob@keller.net or by phone or text at 928-706-6928.
Bilingual Mass is at 9 a.m., every Sunday. To reach the chapel, take the paved road past the Sandy Beach condos and the dirt road past Wrecked at the Reef. As you wind your way toward Cholla Bay, the church is on your right and is clearly marked. Everyone is welcome.
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Cutlines:
Powder coated at Cholla Bay Powder Coating, the gates are loaded up and transported to St. Joseph’s.
The big gate for auto access to parking is unloaded and installed.
Carlos Ramirez Jr., and Jesús Martinez bring the people gate for installation.
St. Joseph’s Chapel has a new profile with its decorative block wall and iron gates.
