Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (San Jose, California) facts for kids
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Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission Chapel (1953-1960)
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McDonnell Hall
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2020 East San Antonio St., San Jose, California |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| NRHP reference No. | 100000836 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 23, 2016 |
| Designated NHL | December 23, 2016 |
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is a Roman Catholic church in San Jose, California. It is located in the Mayfair neighborhood of East San Jose. This church is very important because of its connection to César Chávez. He was a famous civil rights leader from California.
César Chávez attended this church and used its old building for his work. He helped organize people to improve their communities and working conditions. This old building is now called McDonnell Hall. In 2016, the building was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a place of special historical importance in the United States.
Contents
About Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is in the Mayfair neighborhood of San Jose. It is northeast of the city center. The main church building is a modern design with six sides. It was built in 1968.
McDonnell Hall: The Original Church Building
McDonnell Hall is next to the main church building. It is a single-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and a stucco outside. The main entrance faces north and has a small covered porch. Inside, the building has changed a lot. It now has meeting rooms, a kitchen, classrooms, and storage areas. It is no longer used for religious services.
History of McDonnell Hall
McDonnell Hall was first built in 1914. A San Jose architect named Louis Lenzen designed it. It was originally located in West San Jose. Back then, it was home to a different church group called St. Martin of Tours.
In 1923, two wings were added to the building. This made it look like a cross. It was updated again in 1948. In 1953, the St. Martin's group sold the building. A Catholic parish called St. Patrick's bought it. They wanted to create a new church in Mayfair. This was to better serve the many Mexican and Mexican-American Catholic families living there.
The building was carefully taken apart and rebuilt in Mayfair. From 1953 to 1968, it served as the Our Lady of Guadalupe church. The church grew, and in 1960, it officially became a full church, not just a chapel.
After the new, modern church was built, the old building was moved again. It was moved about 450 feet (137 meters) northwest. This move happened in 1974–75. It was done to make space for Mayfair Park. After this move, it was no longer used as a church building.
César Chávez and the Church
This building is very important because of its connection to César Chávez. He was a leader for workers' rights and civil rights. Chávez was a Roman Catholic. He was good friends with Father Donald McDonnell. Father McDonnell was the first priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe.
César Chávez helped with the move of the building in 1953. He also helped when it became a Catholic chapel again. The chapel became a key place for Chávez's work. It was home to his local group of the Community Service Organization. This group helped him learn many skills for his future activism. Chávez moved from San Jose in 1958.
See also
