All it took for Mercy Cruz was two days and a few words to gather about 70 signatures for a letter to Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput demanding a mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe be restored at a north Denver church.
“I hardly had to do anything,” Cruz said. ” All I did was show people the picture, and most people knew about it and, when they heard it was covered, offered to sign.”
Her signatures were added to a list of 435 delivered to Chaput last week, asking that the painting that decorated the altar at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church for more than three decades be returned to view.
Benito Hernandez, a priest who took over leadership of the parish about two years ago, decided with other church leaders that the mural had to go.
“We decided that the sanctuary’s original background detracted from the central focus of the Holy Presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the altar,” Hernandez said in a statement he previously released.
Almost a year since the mural was covered by a white wall, and painted over in other areas, parishioners and activists continue to push to bring the mural back.
“We have tried to talk to the priests, and up until now, they’ve ignored us, so we are ready for action until they bring the wall down,” said organizer and former parishioner Mike Wilzoch.
Wilzoch, who no longer belongs to a parish church, leads Faithful United, a group of past and present parishioners who said they are ready to do anything respectful to bring the wall down.
Jeanette DeMelo, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said the archbishop is aware of the controversy but has not had time to read the letter in detail and make a decision on how to react. He and other priests have been in a retreat for the past week.
DeMelo said typically, the archdiocese does not intervene in a parish conflict but will work with church priests and parishioners to solve the problem. She said there have already been meetings between the archdiocese and the parish leaders.
“We want them to accept this was a mistake against the community,” Wilzoch said.
If the wall blocking the mural comes down, parts of the painting will have to be restored. Original artist Carlota Espinoza, who lives in Denver, has said she would be willing to do the work.
For some members of Faithful United, including Wilzoch, the mural is symbolic of the culture of the north Denver Catholic community. For others, it’s about the art or the religious meaning of the work.
For all Faithful United members, it is emotional.
“It’s not so much religion, it’s art,” Cruz said. “If someone comes to your home and tears up pictures of your mom, that would be disrespectful. It’s the same thing.”
Some members also feel the covered mural is only part of the change of atmosphere in the parish.
“The church is being run like a business, strictly nine to five,” said Fran Frain Aguirre. She said she could not reach a priest to give her mother last rites.
“The previous, Father Lara, used to take calls all night,” Wilzoch said. “This was the place where people could come to. We just want to come back home.”
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1372 or yrobles@denverpost.com
