damage

Damage at Cristo Rey could reach $21,000

Article Launched: 09/03/2008 01:04:30 AM MDT

Ruben Escandon Jr. paused Monday after showing the damage to the... (Victor Calzada / El Paso Times)

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EL PASO -- The Virgin of Guadalupe and the Virgin of Fatima have been defaced in two shrines along the trail leading up to Mount Cristo Rey, and officials said the acts were among the most destructive ever seen.

It will cost between $19,000 and $21,000 to replace the 65-year-old mosaic shrines of the Virgin of Guadalupe and Virgin of Fatima. Every face -- including both virgins, an angel and children -- on both tile shrines was chipped off by vandals, said Ruben Escandon Jr., a Mount Cristo Rey Restoration Committee spokesman.

The committee, he said, does not know when the shrines were damaged or who may be at fault.

Some El Pasoans who make the annual 2.5-mile hike up the mountain as part of a religious tradition said they were disappointed, angry and confused by the vandalism.

Ben Ortega, one of four directors of the Life Teen program at St. Pius X Catholic Community, said he and many teenagers from his youth program trek up the mountain every Easter season.

"Vandalism, I consider it sort of a tragedy. The monuments and the shrines are sort of the nicest (landmarks of) El Paso," he said.

"I think it's sad that people would do that to something that is part of their community."

The acts of vandalism, he said, are disrespectful to those who hike the mountain every year.

Grace Montelongo, 40, said she has climbed the mountain every year since she was a teenager and doesn't understand why anyone would want to destroy the religious shrines.

"It's very upsetting. Besides the fact that they have to replace all of this, these are just statues (and murals). It's just upsetting when they (vandals) do stuff like this. What are they getting out it?," she said. "I don't understand, they should be going up there and praying for help."Montelongo said she has heard of incidents where people spray paint the base of the 30-foot Jesus Christ.

Gang-related graffiti on Mount Cristo Rey has been an ongoing problem. But in 2004, vandals took toes and part of the feet of the statue.

"The graffiti has been the ongoing problem, ongoing battle. We remove the graffiti and paint over it. But now they are starting to break off the tile (of the murals)," Escandon said. "We're now having to take measures, because they are culture and religious icons. We want them to be around for the future generations."

Stephanie Sanchez may be reached at ssanchez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6137.

To help

· The Mount Cristo Rey Restoration Committee will have a fundraiser to replace the Virgin of Guadalupe shrine and repair the Virgin of Fatima shrine. The committee will sell personalized tiles. Inscriptions on tiles are limited to three lines, which could have written on them the name of the donor and/or the name of a deceased family member. The tiles cost $125.

· For more information, call Ruben Escandon Jr. at 252-9840 or Charlie Escandon at 731-0784.

· Donations may be sent to: Mount Cristo Rey Restoration Committee, P.O. Box 1003, Sunland Park, N.M. 88063.