Santa Ana

Gazing upon Santa Ana, one can almost hear the echoes of its construction. The year is 1927. The final stones are laid. The Romanesque and classical design rises proudly in Villa del Parque, a testament to an unknown architect’s vision. Santa Ana stands as a beacon of faith, its triangular facade supported by Corinthian columns. Atop its tower, a wrought iron cross reaches for the heavens. Santa Ana’s story, however, began much earlier. In 1912, the Sisters of Charity of Venerable Bartolomea Capitanio arrived in the burgeoning neighborhood. They established themselves on Cuenca Street. A year later, a small chapel arose on their land. By June 1913, this chapel, dedicated to the Holy Child and Saint Anthony of Padua, was designated as the local parish. The growing community needed a spiritual center. As Villa del Parque continued to expand, so did the need for a larger church. In 1920, a committee formed to raise funds for a new parish building. Land was secured on the current site of Santa Ana on December 31, 1923. The cornerstone was laid on January 1, 1924. Construction commenced, but progressed slowly. It was during this period that the patronage shifted to Saint Anne, giving the church its current name. By the end of 1925, the choir loft walls were erected, windows installed, and a 500-kilo bell acquired. The central nave opened for provisional services on October 17, 1926. The following year, donations poured in. An altar, a harmonium, mosaics, pews, religious images, and more furnished the space. The parish house was also built, and the high altar was finally secured. In 1927, Archbishop José María Bottaro of Buenos Aires blessed the new church and its altar. Decades later, in the 1970s, Santa Ana underwent renovations. New windows and swinging entrance doors replaced the old. The high altar was reformed, and the mural adorning the vault above it was restored. Today, the image of Santa Ana graces the official emblem of Villa del Parque. It stands alongside the Palacio de los Bichos, the train station, and a streetlamp. These symbols represent the heart and soul of the neighborhood.