In the heart of the 20 de Julio neighborhood in Bogotá, the Sanctuary of the Divine Child Jesus stands as a place of pilgrimage that attracts thousands of faithful each month. However, its origin was not marked by the imposition of a religious practice, but by a different strategy: helping the most needy. Father del Rizo, a visionary priest, summoned the community to a social cause before building a temple.
The beginning of a charitable work
“These children need to study, and to study they need to eat,” Father del Rizo told the residents of the area. That is how it all began: neighbors started bringing bread and chocolate, which allowed the creation of a small school for vulnerable children. Then came the spiritual invitation: those who helped could ask the Divine Child Jesus for their needs. That was the true birth of the devotion, which grew organically from solidarity.
From small chapel to massive sanctuary
In 1937, construction of the temple began, and it was inaugurated in 1941 by Bishop Juan Manuel González Arbeláez. However, growth was unstoppable. Between 1945 and 1960, the influx of faithful increased extraordinarily. “People started coming because they were supportive,” emphasizes Father Cardona, current rector of the sanctuary. By then, Sundays already generated large gatherings, even when there were no adequate roads. The devotion was consolidated with a key practice: attending on the first Sunday of each month, in preparation for the great feast in September.
Renovation and legacy
Over time, the sanctuary became too small. Although the need was evident since the mid-20th century, the major renovation took place between 1989 and 1992, resulting in the current temple. This work was not done alone: over the years, several priests have been key to its development, such as Rodrigo Díaz, Luis Rodríguez, Víctor Hugo Bustos, José Raúl Rojas, and Luis Fernando Belandia, among others. Today, the sanctuary is not only a center of faith but also a testament to how charity can give rise to a devotion that transcends generations.
Original source: www.kienyke.com (published April 2, 2026)
Photo: Karl Raymund Catabas on Unsplash
