History of La Sagrada Familia
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has been in a sister parish relationship with La Sagrada Familia in the Dominican Republic since 1981.
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has been in a sister parish relationship with La Sagrada Familia in the Dominican Republic since 1981.
The parish of La Sagrada Familia is located in the province of Azua which is in the southwest corner of the Dominican Republic.
Sabana Yegua, the largest town in Azua, is where the parish center is located with the main church that seats 300, the parish hall, the sewing center, the pharmacy, laboratory, health clinic and rectory.
In 1981, Bishop Ronald Connors, C.SS.R. invited the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to help staff a parish, La Sagrada Familia, in the diocese of San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic. That same year, after a dialogue with the Board of Consultors, Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, OSB released two diocesan priests to minister in the La Sagrada Familia parish. This invitation marked the start of the sister parish relationship between the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and La Sagrada Familia in Sabana Yegua, built on faith, friendship, solidarity, and ongoing ministry.
In 2003, then Archbishop Timothy Dolan asked the priests of the Community of St. Paul to serve as the pastoral leaders for La Sagrada Familia Parish. To attend the many diverse needs of the parish the two priests from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Martí Colom and Oriol Regales joined the community.
Currently, La Sagrada Familia Parish is served by Fr. Javier Guativa (pastor), Fr. Rafael Rodriguez (associate pastor), and Dolores Puertolas. The parish is comprised of 32 employees who work faithfully each day to serve the 19 communities within the 124 square miles of the parish territory.
