Supervisors unanimously proclaim centennial of Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel in Flagstaff

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously May 12 to adopt a proclamation recognizing the centennial of Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel, honoring the church’s role as a cultural and spiritual anchor for Flagstaff’s Southside communities.

Board Chair Patrice Horstman opened the public ceremony and invited members of the Guadalupanas to read the proclamation. Lupe, the chapel society president, described the congregation’s early fundraising and community labor that erected the Malapai‑stone chapel in the 1920s and read the board’s resolution formally recognizing the centennial.

“Now, therefore, be it resolved that we officially recognize the centennial of Our Lady Guadalupe Chapel, honoring its legacy as a symbol of dignity and cultural pride in the city of Flagstaff,” the proclamation read.

Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez, who helped coordinate the county’s participation, invited residents to the chapel’s centennial Mass at 11 a.m. on May 16 and the following community celebration. Community leaders who spoke at the meeting emphasized the chapel’s National Register status, the role of the Guadalupanas in preservation and fundraising, and the generations of families linked to the site.

The board asked those attending to join for a photo with the proclamation and noted county participation in the Saturday events. The proclamation was adopted by voice vote without opposition.