Laredo is my hometown, and, with its many warts and flaws, I love it. One of the things I love about Laredo, which dates back to the year 1755, is its rich history. As an LCC English instructor, I was fortunate to work for twenty-eight years amid, and within, the beautifully preserved and respected buildings of the former Fort McIntosh (1849).
Sadly, in recent years, we’ve lost irreplaceable parts of our city’s past. Many of us were heartbroken but felt powerless to do anything about the destruction of a building (La Sociedad de Juarez) on San Agustin Street, across from Bruni Plaza, where my grandfather and his cronies would gather to discuss local issues; about the demolition of the beautiful and stately Webb County Court Annex that was neglected to the point that heartless politicians decided it had to be destroyed; about the El Castillo Apartments on Main St., near the railroad tracks, where my mother lived as a child; and, about, among many other treasures of our past, the demolition of the building on Hidalgo St. that was razed in the dead of night by a greedy, non-local developer, despite orders prohibiting its destruction.
My dear friends, the attack on the cherished buildings of our past is not over. San Agustín Cathedral is next in line for, if not destruction, mutilation. How many of us don’t have special memories of this lovely and dignified place of refuge? Anyone that has sat quietly inside that church has, undoubtedly, imagined the loving hands that built it with nothing in their hearts but the honor and glory of the Almighty. When I’ve taken my grandchildren to visit churches on Holy Thursday, San Agustín Cathedral has always been the one church we couldn’t leave out because they believed the angels lived there. I remember them looking all around quietly in awe at the beauty and splendor of this place, and I knew they were feeling God’s presence in their souls.
Two years ago, my nephew and his bride wouldn’t hear of being married anywhere but at San Agustín Cathedral because of its beauty and its history. My niece, too, came from San Antonio to be married at San Agustín, as did my cousin from McAllen, for the exact same reasons. I could go on and on, as I’m sure you could, with stories about and tributes to this precious jewel.
So, how long are we going to stand by quietly and watch more annihilation of our rich history? Are we going to hide and cringe in fear as we watch the defacement of our beloved San Agustín Cathedral? I am certain none of us are opposed to the restoration of this gem, the anchor of Catholicism, and the focal point of historic downtown, but to practically gut it and turn it into a cold, ultramodern amphitheater is not only a sin against the God that should be at the center of every Christian church in the world, but against the very essence of our community.
This article needs some heavy fact-checking.
I strongly Agree with this article sir ,with all due respect, no fact check is necessary. We as the Catholic faithful of Laredo do not approve or support the removal of the sacred art or “design” the Sanctuary was made from the beginning.Please do not transform our churches into modernist tourist attractions.
I strongly Agree with this article sir ,with all due respect, no fact check is necessary. We as the Catholic faithful of Laredo do not approve or support the removal of the sacred art or “design” the Sanctuary was made from the beginning.Please do not transform our churches into modernist tourist attractions.
Anything less than accurate restoration would be a travesty. Laredo’s rich heritage shapes our collective identity, unifying us in times of joy and comforting us in the face of tragedy. I strongly agree with the position expressed herein.
Gloria Canseco
The priests got together to discuss this , this past week. And our priest was present. He said that it needed much repair, nothing will change. Restoration is just that , restore to the original beauty . He did not mention anything about changes.
I am a San Agustin Cathedral parishioner and I was the Diocese Facilities Manager when a master plan and an implementation plan for restoration of the cathedral were undertaken over four years ago. I am familiar with the life safety, preservation, restoration, liturgical and repair needs which are necessary for the Cathedral.
Through very thorough and careful assessment, the team, which included historians, planned the restoration with historic preservation as a priority. There is nothing modern in style about it whatsoever. The cathedral is in disrepair and if we don’t repair it today, the cost to take care of it will only grow. The interior will be renovated in accordance with the cathedral’s historically defining character. Since San Agustin Cathedral was originally designed as a church, the size of the altar/sanctuary space cannot currently accommodate the liturgical needs of a cathedral such as ordination of priests. In expanding the altar/sanctuary space, all of the original historic features, such as the marble altar, will be used as they are today although moved slightly to accommodate the new function of a cathedral. These methods are used in most historic buildings which need re-purposing such as the San Fernando cathedral in San Antonio.
I can assure you that careful planning and studying was conducted in order to make sure that this much needed project is done responsibly. All Diocese of Laredo parishioners can learn more about this effort through their parish.