Priest building church with own hands in Pope’s former diocese

Fr Javier Cajusol Villegas is building the church in a poor area of the Diocese of Chiclayo. Fr Cajusol said he learned in the seminary about the Spanish bringing priests to the Americas who were also architects and engineers. These priests built churches.

This, the priest said, “struck me, and I started thinking, ‘Why not?’ I got motivated when they sent me to a parish without a rectory. I started the Adveniat project with the bishop’s approval, and they sent me the money. A worker helped me and taught me.”

The rectory was built with help from a US foundation. This was facilitated by Bishop Robert Prevost, who was elected Pope in May this year, Fr Cajusol said.

Adveniat is a Church aid agency, based in Germany, which funds Catholic Church projects around the world.

The priest clarified that the construction work, while he enjoys it, does not take precedence over his priestly ministry, which remains fundamental in his life. “Little by little, I have been getting better [at construction work] without neglecting my vocation. So it’s a tough second job: that of a bricklayer, which requires strength and skill; and caring for the faithful,” he shared.

Fr Cajusol relies on the help of the faithful, who also provide his daily meals, the head mason and two assistants.

He estimates it will take four to five years to build the church. It will cost US$143,000 to build and will require a similar amount to furnish. More contributions are required – and Fr Cajusol hopes he can talk with Pope Leo about this.

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Priest builds church with his own hands in Chiclayo, Peru, Pope Leo XIV’s former diocese (by Walter Sánchez Silva/CNA)