Capilla San José de la Montaña

“Did anyone bring a swimsuit?” chuckled a voice from the back. We all turn to see a man with a twinkle in his eye, gesturing towards the modest Capilla San José de la Montaña. “Well, not for swimming, exactly! This chapel, you see, started its life thanks to a seaside retreat.” He pauses for effect. “You see, long ago, Carrasco, where we stand now, wasn’t this bustling residential neighbourhood. It was a summer getaway for city dwellers. In 1916, the Sociedad del Balneario donated land for a chapel. Two years later, it opened its doors, dedicated to the Virgin Stella Maris, Star of the Sea, quite appropriate, wouldn’t you say?” The man beams. “This Capilla San José de la Montaña wasn’t the first chapel in Carrasco. But it became intertwined with another born from the devotion of a Catalan couple, the Ordeig-Pérez family. They built a chapel nearby, dedicated to San José de la Montaña, opening in December 1932. Over time, this little chapel on Cooper Street became the heart of the community. By 1942, it had grown into a full-fledged parish, named ‘San José de la Montaña and Santa Teresa de Jesús.'” He pauses again. “Amazing, how things evolve, isn’t it? From seaside getaways and small chapels to bustling neighbourhoods and thriving parishes, the Capilla San José de la Montaña has seen it all.”