In observance of National Service Day, more than 150 members of the Mérida, Mexico, Chuburná Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints dedicated Saturday morning to renovating the Immaculate Conception Parish in Dzityá, an iconic church for the Catholic community in northern Mérida.
The work began at 7:00 a.m. and continued for several hours.
Adults, youth, children, and full-time missionaries participated, working together to repaint the entire chapel and improve its surroundings.
The church structure, recognizable for its traditional Yucatecan architecture, now boasts its original colonial ochre yellow hue across its entire exterior. In addition, the perimeter walls and fences were painted white, restoring the church’s characteristic appearance. The railings and ironwork were also renewed with black paint and metallic details.
Among the areas addressed were the high walls of the chapel, where scaffolding and special safety measures were required. Bishop Cristian Martínez Escorza assisted with these efforts. The overall organization of the service groups was under the direction of President Carlos Giovanni Medina Roca, accompanied by President Joel Alberto Tec Magaña, President José Arturo Saldaña Torres, High Counselor Ernesto Augusto López Perera, and Stake Relief Society President Arumi Yazil Canul Barceló.
The interior of the church also received attention through deep cleaning, refurbishment of the sanctuary, arrangement of furnishings, and washing of the stones surrounding the front facade.
The day concluded around noon. Shortly before, at 11:47 a.m., the church bells rang twenty-six times, a gesture many interpreted as a sign of gratitude from the local Catholic community.
The volunteers noted that the service sought to strengthen the bonds of goodwill between neighbors and reaffirm the commitment to contribute to the well-being of all faith communities in Yucatán.
Source: solyucatan
