Father Lourdes F. Costa - El Paso, Texas
Padre Lourdes F. Costa - El Paso, Tejas

Father Lourdes F. Costa - El Paso, Texas

Father Lourdes F. Costa arrived in El Paso, Texas in 1912. He was a local parish priest of the Smeltertown Church of San Jose for twenty years, when the Pope summoned parishes in all parts of the world to build sacrosancts or material monuments. Father Costa envisioned a statue on top of the Sierra de Cristo Rey (formerly known as the Cerro de los Muleros, Mule Drivers Mountain), in Sunland Park, New Mexico. He turned in the direction of the conical peak outside of his window every morning. He always thought that such a location was a perfect setting for a monument to Christ the King, the Prince of Peace. First, a twelve foot high wooden cross was erected in 1933 and a couple of month later it was replaced by an iron cross. In 1939, a 29 ft. tall limestone statue of Christ by sculptor Urbici Soler was erected on top of Mount Cristo Rey. It can be seen from all three states and it serves as a shrine to thousands of faithful in the El Paso and Southern New Mexico area. Consequently, Father Costa had realized his dream to inspire the people who live at the crossroads of three states with a lasting symbol of hope and peace.

Area: Central / Smeltertown

Collection: Casasola Photograph Collection

Source: University of Texas at El Paso Library - Special Collections Department

Reference ID: PH041-03-00127

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

Comments

Add a comment
Thank you for your comment

Report this entry

Choose the most important reason for this report

Your name

Your email address

Optional detail

Thank you for your report

More from the same community-collection

Construction of American Dam, 1937

Note: American Dam; Contraction Joint in floor slab between ...

Construction of American Dam in 1937

Note: 5-22-37 Noon; El Paso, Texas. American Dam; View from ...

Construction of American Dam 1937

Note: 5-22-37, 12:15 pm, El Paso, Texas. American Dam; View ...

Construction of American Dam 1937

Note in image: 5-24-37, 9:30 am, El Paso, Texas. American Dam; ...

American Dam

May 1, 1937 1:15PM El Paso TX. American Dam, view from STA. 1450 ...

American Dam

May 1, 1937 2:20 PM El Paso TX. American Dam, blast at Sta. ...

American Dam

May 3, 1937 9:30 AM El Paso TX. American Dam, erecting steel ...

American Dam

May 3, 1937 9:30 AM El Paso TX. American Dam, pier No. 4&5 ...

American Dam

May 17, 1937 1:30 PM El Paso TX. American Dam, west face of ...

American Dam

March 20, 1937 4:45 PM El Paso TX American Dam, view from ...

Constuction of American Dam 1937

Note: 5-24-37, 9:40am, El Paso, Texas. American Dam; View from ...

Construction of American Dam 1937

Note: American Dam, Blasting E.end of downstream dyke, below ...

Construction of American Dam 1937

Note: 5-24-37, 2:35pm, El Paso, Texas American Dam; View S.W. ...

Construction of American Dam 1937

Note: 5-24-37, 2:45pm, El Paso, Texas. American Dam; Erecting ...

Construction of American Dam 1937

Note: 5-29-37, 12:50pm, El Paso, Texas. American Dam; View ...

Construction of American Dam 1937

Note: 5-29-37, 1:00pm, El Paso, Texas. American Dam; View from ...

American Dam 1937

Note under image: 5-29-37, 1:30pm, El Paso, Texas. American Dam; ...

American Dam 1937

6-2-37, 2:50pm, El Paso, Texas. American Dam; Domestic ...

American Dam 1937

Note: 6-2-37, 3:00pm. El Paso, Texas American Dam; units 4&5; ...

American Dam 1937

Note: 6-5-37, 12:45 pm, El Paso, Texas. American Dam; View ...

Construction of American Dam 1937

Note: 6-5-37, 1:00pm, El Paso, Texas. American Dam; View from ...

American Canal 1937

Note: 6-5-37, 2:40pm, El Paso Texas; American Canal; Sta. 79+60; ...

Construction of American Canal 1937

Note: 6-5-37, 3:00pm, El Paso Texas; American Canal; View S.; ...

home.search_collection