CUSARARE: WHERE THE EAGLES
FLY
(from “cusa- eagle in english)
` The
first church in Cusarare
was built in 1741 by the
Jesuit fathers. It was much smaller than the present church. It was dedicated
to the “Five major saints”: Jesus, Mary, Anne, Joaquim and represented in the original painting to
the left of the altar.
In 1826 the building was enlarged to its
present size by the Franciscan friar Felix Merino. Friar Merino acquired a
marvelous set of 12 oil paintings, painted by the Mexican artist Miguel Correa in
1713.
These oil painting represent 12 scenes from
the life of Mary, from her birth to Pentecost, which friar Merino probably used
in catechism these paintings were fond in very bad condition in 1969 when the
adobe bell tower collapsed, crushing the corner of the building.
From 1971 to 1973 the church was reconstructed and the
interior was decorated in tarahumara designs. Father Luis G.
Verplancken, S. J. Took responsibility
for the reconstruction of the building and after 1973 began the search for
professionals restorers for the painting.
It
wasn’t until 1993 that Jan Coufal and Herbert Cepissak, Czech and Slovak
respectively, restored five of the twelve painting that had been found in the
Cusarare church. They spent 1250 hours working on those fine paintings. Four
years later they returned with a larger group and restored the rest of Miguel
Correa’s Works. In 1999 and 2002 the Slovaks returned for the museum.
The aim of the Loyola museum is to return the
twelve paintings to the community of cusarare, now
that they are completely restored, and thus provide a good example of how sacred art may be rescued from oblivion
and conserved for posterity.
The generosity of the benefactors, listed on
the plaques in the vestibule, made the reconstruction of the building possible
and also the curation and enjoyment of important works of art.
We hope you enjoy the results of many people’s work and efforts.