Alfredo Celedon Lujan

Counting Our Blessings, a History of the Sacred Heart Church in Nambe, New Mexico Alfredo Celedon Lujan

Like a sentinel, The Sacred Heart Church--La iglesia del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus--sits at the crossroads, atop a hill, overlooking the bucolic green valle of Nambe, New Mexico. From the panoramic and hallowed church property, one has clear vistas of the magnificent Sangre de Cristo Mountains. In this most tranquil setting, members of the parish gather every Sunday morning for mass at 8:30. The masses, celebrated by many revered priests and gifted musicians and vocalists over the years, are holy and serene--calm for the soul. This book, through research and interviews by Carolina Romero de Lujan, is a compilation of the church history and is co-authored by her son, Alfredo Celedon. Its purpose is to document, thus preserve, the oral history of the church and cemetery in written form and is designed for the reading and viewing pleasure of the families of Nambe and their succeeding generations, as well as for readers who are interested in northern New Mexico history. This book also serves as a reminder that Nambesenos, through their collective good spirit and work ethic, built the church over 100 years ago, rebuilt it after it burned down in 1946, and continue to maintain its architectural dignity through constant care to this day.