The keys to the San Joaquín and Santa Ana Church were handed over after a comprehensive restoration carried out by the National Secretariat of Culture (SNC).The ceremony took place in the city of San Joaquín, Caaguazú department.
On the occasion, the deed of handover of keys was signed, formalising the acceptance of usufruct of the church following the completed work.
During the meeting, Mayor Palacios highlighted the importance of the church to the community: “The church is our central icon. After this major restoration, it’s the only one still standing. We all hold great sentimental, spiritual, social, and cultural value. Everything in San Joaquín is the church.”
Natalia Ántola, Director General of Heritage at the National Secretariat of Culture, stated: “We are grateful for the participation of the community and the parish priest, who are and continue to be the custodians of this work.”
The Restoration process of the Church
The restoration work was carried out in two stages: the first consisted of urgent safeguarding, with archaeological surveys and the installation of a protective roof. A comprehensive restoration was subsequently carried out, with a technical and scientific approach that included archaeological studies before, during, and after the intervention.
The restoration encompassed both the interior and exterior of the church. Adobe walls were rebuilt, along with a structural shoring system, due to the lack of foundations for the pillars. In addition, valuable movable assets were restored, such as the altarpiece, the pulpit, and various religious images. As part of the project, a new esplanade with urban amenities was also built.
The date of the official opening of the temple will be announced soon.
The history of the San Joaquín and Santa Ana Church
The San Joaquín and Santa Ana Temple in Caaguazú is one of the most representative structures of the Jesuit legacy in Paraguay. The town of San Joaquín was founded in 1746 by Father Sebastián Yegros as part of the Society of Jesus’ plan to organise indigenous communities. Originally located in Tarumá, it was moved to its current location in 1753 due to indigenous attacks and adverse weather conditions.
The church, with a peripteral structure, is built with adobe walls and a wooden supporting structure, following the colonial architectural style influenced by traditional Guaraní knowledge. Its main façade, facing west, leads to the main altarpiece, unique in its kind, consisting of the combined parts of several polychrome wooden altarpieces inserted into an adobe wall. Over the centuries, it has been an important religious and cultural center, reflecting the fusion of Jesuit heritage and local identity, and a key element of Paraguayan culture.
