Do you know why this neighborhood holds San Lorenzo so dear? The story of Capilla San Lorenzo intertwines faith and football. This chapel is not just a place of worship. It is a testament to community spirit and devotion.
In 1930, the parish of San Lorenzo Mártir was established. Its first location was the Oratorio Festivo San Lorenzo Mártir. This oratory had been operating since 1928. It stood in a zone known as Alto de Pérsico.
The devotion to San Lorenzo in this barrio was already strong. It had roots in the origins of the San Lorenzo de Almagro club. Back in 1908, a group of young men formed a club. They called themselves Los Forzosos de Almagro. They lacked a field and headquarters. Father Lorenzo Massa was a priest at the chapel of Colegio San Antonio. He noticed these young men playing football in the streets.
Father Massa recognized that sports kept them away from the streets vices. He decided to support them. The priest offered them land behind the chapel for practice. This happened around 1909.
The club grew in fame. By 1913, they wanted to register with the Argentine Football League. They needed to change the name. During a meeting, the idea of naming the club Lorenzo Massa arose. But Father Lorenzo refused. Instead, he suggested San Lorenzo de Almagro. The name was unanimously approved.
Soon after, Father Lorenzo gifted the club a leather ball. He also provided the first jerseys with blue and red stripes. The stadium on Avenida La Plata was built later. It was on land acquired through Father Massa’s mediation. The stadium opened in 1916.
Even the city’s divisions reflect San Lorenzo’s impact. In 1982, a proposal arose to create a new barrio named San Lorenzo. It would have split from Boedo. Though the plan was eventually scrapped. The name had deeply resonated. It combined religious origin with passion for the national sport.
The original field of Club San Lorenzo de Almagro disappeared in 1982. A Carrefour supermarket was built on the site.
Interestingly, an Exploradores del Plata company already bore the name San Lorenzo in 1917. This was years before the Oratorio Festivo was even inaugurated. This raises questions. Did this company belong to the neighborhood? Was the work of the Vincentians already named San Lorenzo back in 1916?
Even earlier, in 1890, a San Lorenzo Foot Ball Club existed in Belgrano. It was founded by Reverend O. A. Tisdall. The name came from the Iglesia de San Salvador. It was also known as San Lorenzo.
Capilla San Lorenzo stands as a symbol. It represents faith, community, and the enduring spirit of a neighborhood.