Have you heard of a church that embodies social justice and the fight for the marginalized? That is Iglesia Cristo Obrero. This church stands as a beacon of hope in the heart of Villa 31. It is a place with a strong sociological and cultural identity.
The Iglesia Cristo Obrero’s story began as a quasi-parish on July 1 1994. However its roots run deeper. For years significant pastoral work had been carried out in this location. This is according to the decree of its foundation.
The Iglesia Cristo Obrero is located in the well-known Villa 31 of Retiro now Barrio 31. It stretches along the river. It goes from docks C to F. The church also extends along the railway tracks. It is bordered by imaginary lines that prolong Austria and Esmeralda streets. Previously this area fell under the jurisdiction of Madre Admirable San Martín de Tours and Nuestra Señora del Pilar parishes.
In 1970 the eminent Cardinal Juan Carlos Aramburu blessed the temple. Since then several priests have carried out their apostolic mission in this chapel. On March 4 2007 a pivotal moment arrived. The then Archbishop of Buenos Aires Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio canonically erected the Cristo Obrero parish. He later became Pope Francis. This solidified the church’s role in providing pastoral care to Villa 31 residents.
Iglesia Cristo Obrero is deeply connected to the legacy of Father Carlos Mugica. Born in Buenos Aires on October 8 1930 Mugica abandoned his law studies at 21. He chose the religious path. He entered the Villa Devoto Seminary. In the early 1960s he served in the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Socorro.
In 1963 Mugica taught theology at the Universidad del Salvador. He became the parish priest of the Capilla Cristo Obrero in Villa 31 de Retiro. In 1967 Mugica joined the Movement of Priests for the Third World. This was led by Bishop Elder Cámara of Olinda and Recife. He also became part of the Pastoral of emergency villages.
Like many young people of his time Mugica supported the Peronist Movement. He adhered to the Juventud Peronista known as the Tendencia Revolucionaria. In 1974 he joined the delegation accompanying Perón’s return to the country. He advised the Ministry of Social Welfare. He proposed a housing construction project involving the residents of Villa 31.
Tragically on May 11 1974 Mugica was assassinated after celebrating mass. The Alianza Anticomunista Argentina killed him in the Parroquia de San Francisco Solano. His remains were mourned in the Capilla del Cristo Obrero. They were then processed to the Cementerio de la Recoleta.
Twenty-five years later in 1999 his remains were returned. A multitude carried them in procession from the cemetery to the Capilla del Cristo Obrero. There they rest in the place that knew his activism. It knew his dedication to the cause of the most needy. Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio who later celebrated the mass was among those awaiting him in the Villa. During the mass he said Let us pray for the material murderers for the ideologues of Father Carlos’s crime and for the complicit silences of a large part of society and the Church.
The Iglesia Cristo Obrero continues its mission. It performs social and pastoral work in Villa 31. The church aims to help people in situations of social vulnerability. It focuses on prevention and treatment for those with substance abuse problems. It stands as a testament to faith social action and community. It is a place where the spirit of Father Mugica lives on.