The Heart of Las Cruces

Download or read book The Heart of Las Cruces written by Ricardo Bauzá and published by . This book was released on 2014-08-29 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In ten essays, ranging from the chronological to the sacred, and with stories from national and regional import to familial and personal recollections, this work examines the historical evolution of this faith community, which has played a crucial role in the spiritual development of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and continued to do so today. For over a century St. Genevieve Catholic Church served as the actual physical heart of Las Cruces, most recognizable feature that marked the community's downtown. But over the same time period, St. Genevieve became much more than just a geographic identifier; it became the spiritual focus for generations of the faithful. This book details the complex and intriguing story of the establishment, growth, and expansion of the church. The loss of the "old" church building during the physical and social transformations of the parish during the 1960s, although traumatic to many, led to a recommitment to the sacrifice and service centered on the "new" church building.