Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission Chapel, San Jose
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Constructed in 1953, Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission Chapel is best-known as the location where Cesar Chavez began his effort to organize farm workers. Also known as McDonnell Hall, Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission Chapel is a recent addition to the National Register of Historic Places because of its significance to Cesar Chavez and the labor movement he led. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
Images
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission Chapel
The original appearance of the chapel
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
At this location, Cesar Chavez began to organize and lead Mexican migrant workers. Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission Chapel is now a historic landmark connected to Chavez's work. The building was consecrated as a mission chapel in 1953. The chapel served Spanish-speaking Catholics led by Father Donald McDonnell, who was a friend and mentor of Cesar Chavez. It was in the chapel and among the local residents that Chavez developed his abilities as a labor organizer and leader.
Chavez and his family moved into the area, known as Sal Si Puedes, or "get out if you can," in 1948. Under the influence of Father McDonnell, Chavez began canvassing the area and encouraging residents to register to vote. In time, as labor organizing and political participation in the neighborhood grew, Chavez and others changed the phrase to "Si se puede," or "yes we can," which became a rallying cry for the migrant workers movement.
The chapel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
Chavez and his family moved into the area, known as Sal Si Puedes, or "get out if you can," in 1948. Under the influence of Father McDonnell, Chavez began canvassing the area and encouraging residents to register to vote. In time, as labor organizing and political participation in the neighborhood grew, Chavez and others changed the phrase to "Si se puede," or "yes we can," which became a rallying cry for the migrant workers movement.
The chapel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
Sources
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission Chapel, National Park Service https://www.nps.gov/NHL/news/LC/fall2016/OurLadyofGuadalupeChapel.pdf Retrieved 8 June 2017.