Greetings,
Since 1987, except for last year due to the pandemic, the Braun-Sacred Heart Center has been responsible for the Annual Christmas Day Mass at the now nationally recognized Historic Sacred Heart Church. This unique tradition was begun under the leadership of my dad, Abe Arvizu Sr., and many other parishioners from Sacred Heart Parish, especially those from Golden Gate. It was part of the fight to save the church from demolition by the City. It was a long and expensive struggle to stop the City from tearing down the church that the City owned, and still owns, but the church was saved from its destruction through the Braun Sacred Heart Center's actions of: (1) submitting the only response to the City's RFP for options to save the church from immediate destruction early on in "the struggle"; and (2), the Center's coordination with local, state, and Federal historical offices and commissions to place the church property on the National Register of Historic Places. Over the next year, the Braun-Sacred Heart Center will offer an explanation of: what has taken place since 1985 to the present; the content of the current arrangements for the church; and, what we will do to make a reality of the museum/cultural center. The museum and cultural center will primarily be dedicated to the story of those who built Historic Sacred Heart Church in Golden Gate Barrio, of those who built much of the City of Phoenix and the State of Arizona, and of the veterans, especially those who came out of the barrios to serve their country.
This year, the Braun-Sacred Heart Center, along with American Legion Post 41, will unfortunately not carry out our special traditions within the mass that we've established over the past 30 years with your tremendous support. We will not be presenting the Annual Christmas Day Mass inside Historic Sacred Heart Church. We have lost a number of members of our community and veterans to this pandemic over the past year and, as of today, COVID-19 hospitalizations are increasing. The elderly and those with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk. Nearly half of the city has not received the first shot, and all of the children under 5 years of age are not vaccinated. If you attend a Christmas Day mass, please, please take full precautions. Please wear a mask and get fully vaccinated. Like last year, We recommend live streams of the Christmas Mass of Sacred Heart Parish, St. Mary's Basilica, or the Crosier Village.
We at the Braun-Sacred Heart Center wish you and your family and friends a very safe and Happy Christmas.
Abe Arvizu, Jr., Chairman
Braun-Sacred Heart Center
Since 1987, except for last year due to the pandemic, the Braun-Sacred Heart Center has been responsible for the Annual Christmas Day Mass at the now nationally recognized Historic Sacred Heart Church. This unique tradition was begun under the leadership of my dad, Abe Arvizu Sr., and many other parishioners from Sacred Heart Parish, especially those from Golden Gate. It was part of the fight to save the church from demolition by the City. It was a long and expensive struggle to stop the City from tearing down the church that the City owned, and still owns, but the church was saved from its destruction through the Braun Sacred Heart Center's actions of: (1) submitting the only response to the City's RFP for options to save the church from immediate destruction early on in "the struggle"; and (2), the Center's coordination with local, state, and Federal historical offices and commissions to place the church property on the National Register of Historic Places. Over the next year, the Braun-Sacred Heart Center will offer an explanation of: what has taken place since 1985 to the present; the content of the current arrangements for the church; and, what we will do to make a reality of the museum/cultural center. The museum and cultural center will primarily be dedicated to the story of those who built Historic Sacred Heart Church in Golden Gate Barrio, of those who built much of the City of Phoenix and the State of Arizona, and of the veterans, especially those who came out of the barrios to serve their country.
This year, the Braun-Sacred Heart Center, along with American Legion Post 41, will unfortunately not carry out our special traditions within the mass that we've established over the past 30 years with your tremendous support. We will not be presenting the Annual Christmas Day Mass inside Historic Sacred Heart Church. We have lost a number of members of our community and veterans to this pandemic over the past year and, as of today, COVID-19 hospitalizations are increasing. The elderly and those with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk. Nearly half of the city has not received the first shot, and all of the children under 5 years of age are not vaccinated. If you attend a Christmas Day mass, please, please take full precautions. Please wear a mask and get fully vaccinated. Like last year, We recommend live streams of the Christmas Mass of Sacred Heart Parish, St. Mary's Basilica, or the Crosier Village.
We at the Braun-Sacred Heart Center wish you and your family and friends a very safe and Happy Christmas.
Abe Arvizu, Jr., Chairman
Braun-Sacred Heart Center
Get involved and help us complete Arizona's Mexican Heritage; An American Story
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Late 1950s first communion video of the Sacred Heart Church and Father Albert Braun, Golden Gate Barrio, Phoenix, Arizona. Film courtesy of the Torres family.
The Braun-Sacred Heart Center, Inc. offers many valuable services to maintain community awareness, promote community involvement, and to preserve the accomplishments of our communities, especially the Mexican American residents of Phoenix, Arizona and the Valley of the Sun. The establishment of a Veteran’s museum at the former Sacred Heart Church in honor of Father Albert Braun’s military and civilian service to his country, and also of the service of all of the veterans that came from Golden Gate and the other barrios of Phoenix is solidly supported by the American Legion Post 41. We invite you to support and contribute to the Braun-Sacred Heart Center’s projects and efforts. |
