December 3, 1999

St. Josephs Cathedral Greets The Jubilee With Blessed Panels

By: Daniel L. Munoz &
Maria Delgado - Staff


The central panel of the Jubilee created by (L-R) Anna Silva Chairez and Mrs. Margaret Silva Chairez, and admired by Aux. Bishop ilverto Chavez will adorn the entrance way to St. Joseph Cathedra, along with two side panels celebrating the Jubilee and the Millennium.

San Diego — The Silva family, like many another Mexican family, made the long trek from Mexico to Los Estados Unidos in the late 1946 in search of a better life and future. Jose and Maria Silva & their children settled in Brawley, in the Imperial Valley. Work was soon found in the agricultural fields of the valley. Here, in this hot but irrigated valley, they labored and raised a large family. In the process they developed a loyalty and sense of belonging. Maria Silva, became a proud mother of 12 children and eventually she and the family moved to the county of San Diego where they would make their permanent home.

La señora, Maria Silva stood on the steps at the entrance to the Saint Joseph Cathedral, home to Auxuliary Bishop Gilberto Chavez. She gazed up at the just installed panels and marveled at the work that three of her offspring had created. "I am very proud of my children for the work that they are doing here. It is our way of serving God and our Bishop, Gilberto Chavez. It is a work of love and devotion from us," she said.

At the entrance way to the Cathedral three panals of art, were mounted that her children Margaret, Josephine, and her granddaughter Anna Elizabeth Silva Chairez had created. They were placed at the entrance to the church on request of Bishop Chavez. "Here they will greet all who entered to remind the people of the Jubilee and the millennium," said Bishop Chavez. "This work will be displayed for one year from now until 2001."

During the celebrations in honor of the Virgen de Guadalupe, the celebrants will march to the Cathedral where the panels will be blessed by the Bishop on the 12th of December. "We will bless the panels in Spanish," he said. "For the benefit of our parishioners, who speak only English, the panels will also be blessed at the Midnight Christmas Mass. A special blessing will be made for the community and our prayers will be that this millennium be one in which we will come closer to God, and be in communion "al projimo obras de caridad y ayudar al prójimo. In a sense, celebrating the presence of God in our lives," stated the Bishop.

Looking at the work of art and love made one wonder: How did the Silva -Chairez family get involved in designing this work of art? Anna Chairez offered an explanation; "We had come to visit Bishop Chavez on another matter and to offer our services as graphic designers. My mother, Margaret Chairez, along with my Grandmother Maria Silva, and my Aunt Josephine Silva asked if there was anything we could do for him that we would be happy to do it. The Bishop told us: "I would like a panel to be made that would include the Logo that the diocese had come up with for the Jubilee. Something that could be mounted outside the church so all who entered would see it."


Angels greet the Jubilee. Art work by the Silva Family.

"We talked about it amongst ourselves. We decided on some ideas and went to work. We added Angels on the sides of the center logo and added the slogans on the side panels," said Anna. "Where did inspiration come from? La Prensa San Diego asked.

"Our mother has been our inspiration and cheerleader in all of this," said Josephine Silva. "It was our feeling that God had blessed us all with a lot of talent. We felt that talent should be put into use not only to benefit other people and us but to help our church. Initially we decided that 10% of all we made would be donated to our church. Our Bishop, (Bishop Chavez), we are very proud to say, is now receiving the first of our donations. This beautiful three panel art work that will be hung in the entrance," she pointed out.

It is fitting that during the celebration of La Virgen de Guadalupe, Patron Saint of all Latinos, that this panel which celebrates the Jubilee be blessed and bring consolation to all that come to view it.

(The Cathedral is located at 1535 Third Avenue downtown San Diego)

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