Ever wondered about a chapel that transformed into a parish? Here we are at Iglesia San Francisco de Sales. This church has a unique story. It began as the Jesúas de Nazaret chapel. It belonged to Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza parish. American padres managed that parish.
In 1998 Father German Martínez Rodas handed the chapel to the Archdiocese of Cali. The goal was to create a new parish. On March 1 1998 the Archdiocese of Cali made it official. Decree #189 established the San Francisco de Sales Parish. The former Jesúas de Nazaret chapel became its main church. Its territory was marked for pastoral care.
Monsignor Isaías Duarte Cansino entrusted it to the Salesian Community. Father Vidal Niebles Ordóñez appointed Father Carlos Montalvo Lenis as the first parish priest. Fathers Jorge Iván Pérez and Alvin Beltrán Ordóñez served as vicars.
Father Melchor Valerio Molinares Moscarella was appointed parish priest on July 23 1998. The Archbishop also made him Archpriest of Zone 12. On December 1 2000. Father Arturo Patiño Rovera became the parish administrator on July 27 2005. This was while Father Molinares was abroad.
Father Alvin Alonso Beltrán Ordoñez was named parish priest on January 20 2006. Father Wilson Aurelio Morales Palacios became Parochial Vicar on April 16 that year. Father Luis Eugenio Vargas Isaza became parish priest on January 14 2009. Father Alex René Rodríguez Ordoñez was appointed Parochial Vicar on November 6. During this time the liturgy became more visual. Music and dance were emphasized.
On January 21 2014 Father Jairo Antonio Escobar Moreno became parish priest. During his tenure a second floor was added above the parish office. Father Victorino Correa Acevedo was appointed parish priest on January 25 2016. Father Juan Diego López became vicar in July 2017. The parish prepared to enter the Sistema de Gestión Integral SGI. The aim was to improve service quality to parishioners.
Father Victor Julio Peralta Concretas arrived on January 23 2018. He came from Ibagué. He was appointed parish priest by decree 979 on February 5 2018. He initiated the parish’s involvement in qualified services. This meant adopting the Sistema de Gestión Integral.
Iglesia San Francisco de Sales is in Cali’s El Diamante neighborhood. It is in the eastern part of the city. The parish borders a police station and a health post. Educational commercial and recreational places surround it. The parish serves a lower to middle class community. Many people attending sacrament preparation come from nearby poor areas. Single mothers are common.
Since 2001 the Sistema Integral de Nueva Evangelización SINE has been applied. This strengthens the faith of parishioners. It forms small communities. In 2016 there were eight small communities. As of July 2018 there are two Catholic houses. These offer a different approach to evangelization.
Several groups support the parish’s mission. These include the Consejo Pastoral Parroquial and the Comité Pastoral Económico. Pequeñas Comunidades and Casas Católicas also play a role. Other groups include the Grupo de Acólitos and the Grupo de Curso Bíblico. Also important are the Comité Parroquial de Pastoral Social COPPAS and the Grupo Juvenil Parroquial. Finally there is the Asociación de María Auxiliadora ADMA and the Grupo de Reflexión Bíblica.
Iglesia San Francisco de Sales stands as a testament to community faith. It has evolved over time. It continues to serve its people. It offers spiritual guidance and support. Its history reflects Cali’s vibrant spirit.