Here in Buenos Aires stands Capilla Nuestra Señora de La Paz. It is a brick chapel exuding warmth. The chapel is in a tourist zone in the south of the city. Capilla Nuestra Señora de La Paz is one of the oldest in the parish.
In 1954, Cardinal Santiago Copello created the parish. It was erected canonically on July 25. The parish territory includes parts of the old San José de Flores parishes. It also includes Nstra. Sra. de Luján Porteño and Nstra. Sra. de la Candelaria.
Capilla Nuestra Señora de La Paz started operating on January 1 1955. Padre José Lofano was the first parish priest. He found land to build the church and parish facilities.
He found two weedy lots on Pergamino Street. After clearing them, he began celebrating mass there. Resources were scarce. So they used the dividing walls. They closed the back and covered the roof with sheet metal. That was the first church. Today it is the “Salón Arco Iris” or multi-purpose hall.
Later, they bought a prefabricated house for the secretariat. After some years they bought the house next to Falcón Street. It was a horizontal property in poor condition. They used the rooms for parish halls. Padre Lofano lived in the last room for many years.
With this purchase, they expanded Capilla Nuestra Señora de La Paz. It was December 7 1956. A family and Francisco Troisi donated a marble altar. Troisi owned a marble workshop. The chapel also got a communion rail and baptismal font. The baptismal font is still in the church today.
Soon the house next to Rivadavia Street became available. With much sacrifice they bought the property. They got donations and held fundraising events. They also formed prayer chains. The Parish School was installed there. The Parish Priest’s house was built in the back.
The arrival of the image of Nuestra Señora de la Paz was important. Until then, they only had a picture of her. The image came from Spain to Buenos Aires. It stayed one day in the Cathedral. From there, it was brought to the Parish.
They prioritized the School which already had the primary cycle in two shifts. Later, they started building the temple. First, they built the concrete structure. During some summers, they celebrated Mass there. The temple was ready on December 10 1972. The temple was consecrated on July 24 1983. Cardinal Juan Carlos Aramburu performed the liturgical ceremony. In 1997, they acquired the property where the Secondary School was built.
Inside Capilla Nuestra Señora de La Paz, the image of Nuestra Señora de la Paz presides. There is a delicate enameled metal Stations of the Cross. An old beautifully crafted tabernacle is present. The small stable community grows in the summer. Tourists visit the neighborhood.
Masses are held Monday to Friday at 7 PM. On Saturdays, masses are at 3 PM and 7 PM. On Sundays, they are at 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM and 7 PM. On the 24th of each month, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed. Hands are imposed for blessing and intercessory prayer. January 24 is the day of Nuestra Señora de la Paz. As it coincides with school recess, the Patron Saint Festivities are celebrated on October 24.
Monsignor Lofano founded Nstra. Sra. de la Paz in 1954. He inaugurated the current temple in 1972. He was made “Prelate of Honor of his Holiness” in 1983. His remains were moved to Capilla Nuestra Señora de la Paz in 1996. They were buried in front of the Image of the Virgin.
Capilla Nuestra Señora de La Paz stands as a testament to faith. It reflects community effort. It is a place of peace and welcome.