San Juan, Hidalgo County
IN 1925, REVEREND ALPHONSE JALBERT, OMI, BUILT A CHAPEL FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY OF SAN JUAN. THE FIRST PASTOR, FATHER JOSE AZPIAZU, INSTALLED A STATUE OF THE VIRGEN DE SAN JUAN DE LOS LAGOS IN 1948, AND THE MISSION WAS DESIGNATED A PARISH IN 1949. A NEW CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1954. DURING THE NEXT TEN YEARS, FACILITIES FOR PILGRIMS WERE ADDED. IN 1970, A TRAGIC PLANE CRASH AND FIRE DESTROYED THE CHURCH/SHRINE BUT THE STATUE AND BELL TOWER SURVIVED. IN 1972, THE SHRINE WAS SEPARATED FROM THE PARISH. THE SHRINE/BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF SAN JUAN DEL VALLE WAS DEDICATED IN 1980 AND BECAME THE NEW HOME OF THE STATUE. IN 1975, A NEW ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH CHURCH WAS BUILT BESIDE THE BELL TOWER. (2012)