Contemplate the labor of love. In 1961, neighbors began building what would become the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Moratalaz. Their monthly contributions funded the transformation of a simple barracón. It became the beautiful church we see today.
Nuestra Señora de Moratalaz stands proudly in Madrid’s Moratalaz district. Specifically it is in the Media Legua neighborhood. This Catholic temple is more than just a building. It represents faith, community, and history.
José Antonio Domínguez Salazar designed Nuestra Señora de Moratalaz. He used wood and concrete creating a modern aesthetic. He aimed to update church designs from before the Second Vatican Council. The result is a unique space blending traditional and contemporary elements.
Six years later in 1967, Archbishop Casimiro Morcillo consecrated the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Moratalaz. This marked a new beginning for the community. The construction company donated ten plots for local parishes. Nuestra Señora de Moratalaz quickly became a vital hub. It initiated social programs. These included the first school, cinema, dispensary, and cultural center.
Nuestra Señora de Moratalaz remains open from nine in the morning until ten at night. It welcomes all. Monthly meetings host neighborhood communities. While only one daily mass occurs many parishioners visit throughout the day.
Outside Nuestra Señora de Moratalaz, an open area provides benches. Here, elderly residents gather daily. They chat and enjoy each other’s company. Several times a year the community celebrates with paellas and chocolate gatherings. These events coincide with Christmas, Carnival, Easter and May.
The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Moratalaz actively supports the Sociedad de Misiones Africanas. They focus on projects in Benin. Students from the Colegio Diocesano Nuestra Señora de Moratalaz assist these efforts. The parish priest directs this school. The land and buildings came from a construction firm. After completing a pilot project and selling all the properties, the company donated it.
Many groups meet regularly at Nuestra Señora de Moratalaz. These include Shekiná prayer groups and children’s oratories. There are also marriage groups GP1 and Cana. Furthermore, you can find a socio-cultural association. A group for older adults called Vida Ascendente also meets there. Additionally there is a bible study group and Erasmus and Praise group. This last group connects French Erasmus students. They connect with the Camino Nuevo church community.
Nuestra Señora de Moratalaz boasts a coral group and three choirs. They are Extremeño, Castellano, and Gospel. The parish also provides charitable work. They support local families and offer adult education. This is done through the Centro Recreativo y Cultural. They aid at-risk children and teens through a welcoming group. The church also provides premarital counseling.
The Madrid headquarters of the Catholic Scout Movement is located in Nuestra Señora de Moratalaz. The parish priest serves as general chaplain. Originally a residence for nuns and seminary communities it now hosts youth gatherings. There is also a hostel with over seventy beds. It is often used by schools visiting Madrid.
The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Moratalaz maintains an archive since 1961. It is one of the most beloved churches in the area.