When you only use your “house” for an hour a week, it’s easy to overlook some of the housekeeping issues that develop.
St. Joseph’s Chapel in La Choya is a mission church under Holy Family Parish in Puerto Peñasco. It serves only about a dozen full-time parishioners, mostly retirees from the surrounding village. However, on any given Sunday, there could be 50 or more weekend or seasonal Rocky Point visitors in attendance at the 9 a.m. bilingual Mass.
On rare occasions, special events like weddings, renewal of vows, quinceañeras and baptisms are celebrated at the chapel; but otherwise, it’s only Mass on Sunday morning at 9.
Though the chapel is cleaned every Saturday, a deep cleaning is needed once or twice a year. With Advent and Christmas just around the corner, sexton Bob Keller is looking for help to prepare St. Joseph’s Chapel for this special season.
“On Saturday, Nov. 30 at 9 a.m., we will have a ‘spring cleaning,’ to prepare for the arrival of Baby Jesus. All cleaning supplies will be provided, we just need laborers (like in the vineyard). We specifically need people who are able to climb a ladder to clean the crucifix and statues, fan blades, high windows and tops of the HVAC units.
“When the cleaning is complete, we will decorate the chapel for Christmas. We’ll change out the banners, set up the nativity scene, decorate a tree, change the altar flowers, and enjoy refreshments afterward,” he added.
If you are able to help, please let sexton Bob Keller know by sending an e-mail to: bob@keller.net.
To reach St. Joseph’s, take the paved road past the Sandy Beach condos and the sand road past Wrecked at the Reef. As you wind toward Cholla Bay, the church is on your right and clearly marked.
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St. Joseph’s Chapel in La Choya is set for a deep cleaning on Nov. 30 in preparation for the Christmas season.
