La Sagrada Familia

San Juan Bautista was a place that was well known by many in the Hispanic community. Outside of the Cleveland area, when one identified oneself as coming from Cleveland, the first question posed was “Are you a member of San Juan Bautista?” This church had a solid and respectable reputation within the Hispanic community. It was a church that was alive with the sense of “family.” It was difficult to be a part of San Juan Bautista and not be known by those who attended the church on a regular basis. People here cared for each other deeply. No one was left to fend for himself if they belonged to this congregation. At San Juan Bautista, pe

San Juan Bautista had a youth group that was alive and active, a group that was making a difference in the community. When retreats where conducted by the youth group, there would be crowds of 500+ youth in attendance. Young people came from all over to participate at these church sponsored events.

Many attribute the disappearance of the spirit of “family” to the building itself (i.e. size, entry/exit ways, sitting arrangement, etc.), and that may be true. The beacon of hope for the family that was intended of this place, within the Hispanic community has yet to materialize. But if as a congregation, its members would make a concerted effort to once again come together, the spirit that dominated those two church entities would be recaptured and become the characterizing aspect of their new home. As the cornerstone of its foundation, “La Sagrada Familia” needs to become the “family” that it was birthed to be. Its members long to feel the pride and respect that they felt as members of their former respective church homes, and they desire to express their joy of knowing that they are a part of a “family” known as “La Sagrada Familia.”

The spirit of “family” abounded within this church deeply, that even if you where not a member, you could not help but see the love, caring and unity of this “family” known as San Juan Bautista.

Today, these two churches, San Juan Bautista and Cristo Rey, no longer exist as individual entities. They have been brought together to form a new congregation known as “La Sagrada Familia.” To house this new community of believers, a beautiful new building was constructed for this “family”. Unfortunately, the elements of the two individual churches that make up t

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