Santo Nino de Atocha Chapel

While visiting northeastern New Mexico, my husband and I discovered the little town, of Chimayho, home to this historic church, Santo Nino de Atocha Chapel, with some fascinating history. The towns of Santa Fe, Taos, and Angel Fire are nearby. I hope you enjoy my photos.

 

The chapel of Santo Nino de Atocha was built in 1856 by the Medina family after Severiano Medina made a pilgrimage to Fresnillo, Mexico in fulfillment of his promise to God.

Santo Nino de Atocha, the manifestation of Jesus as a child, is the patron of travelers, miners, the imprisoned, and “los desamparados” (the abandoned). Santo Nino is said to wander the night on foot looking for people most in need of his help.

Men of northern New Mexico, stationed in the Philippines at the outbreak of WWII, prayed to Santo Nino during the Siege of Corregidor and the subsequent Bataan Death March. In the late 1940’s the survivors of the Death March and their families began the first Holy Week pilgrimage to Chimayo and the shrine of Santo Nino (which was housed, at that time, at el Santuario de Chimayo).

Santo Nino de Atocha Chapel was acquired by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in 1992 and was renovated as a modern Children’s Chapel. Inside a small room adjoining the main chapel is a large bulto of Santo Nino made by the well-known santero, Felix Lopez. Filling the shelves are hundreds of pairs of children’s shoes and other offerings left for Santo Nino, who constantly needs new shoes because of his long journeys on foot.

bulto-an image of a saint carved in wood and polychromed made in the southwestern U.S. and Latin America in the 18th and 19th centuries

santero-a person who makes religious images

It is said to be the largest chapel in the world dedicated to children.

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Watercress Words by Dr. Aletha

also in New Mexico-the Taos Pueblo