Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo

Could a former cinema become a sacred space? Indeed, that’s the story of Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo. This church, nestled in the Vélez Sarsfield neighborhood of Buenos Aires, has a fascinating history. It began in a modest cinema on Corro 331. In 1932, Archbishop Santiago Copello decreed the establishment of Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo. The parish officially commenced on January 15, 1933. The cinema, perhaps unknowingly, hosted its first parishioners. The Agustinian Fathers from El Escorial, Spain, transformed the cinema into a chapel. They even managed to incorporate a small organ. The first mass at Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo was held on January 22, 1933. The parish’s first baptism followed on the same day. Amalia Normí Galanzino was baptized with water from the Jordan River. The water, brought by the Cesaretti family, was considered a miracle for the new parish. The Agustinians tirelessly built a place of worship. They faced challenges and sacrifices but the community supported them. Various associations formed to care for the sick and teach children catechism. A small parochial school, Santa Rita de Casia, even opened in 1935. One of the early parishioners, Emilia Simone de David, dedicated over 20 years to the church’s domestic tasks and worship. Her son, Luis David, served as the first altar boy. Looking towards the future, Father Eusebio Arámburu organized fundraisers. The goal was to purchase land for a permanent church. The funds allowed them to buy land on Cardoso 242. In 1940, due to losses suffered during the Spanish Civil War, the Agustinians returned to Spain. The Metropolitan Curia entrusted Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo to the Missionaries of the Holy Family. They quickly faced eviction from the cinema. The parish found a temporary home on Bacacay 4747. A small chapel was built on Cardoso 242 and blessed by Cardinal Copello on March 29, 1941. Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo continued to flourish. A parish hall was built in 1951. Later, in the 1970s, more halls, offices, a kitchen, restrooms, and a new parish house were added. In 2007, the diocese of Buenos Aires took over the parish. In 2013, Father Martín Panatti became the twelfth pastor. In 2023, Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo celebrated its 90th anniversary with a special mass led by Cardinal Mario Aurelio Poli.