- Address
San José neighborhood – Avda. Cerro Cora e/ San Roque González, Misiones (Paraguay)
- Web
https://rutajesuitica.com.py/ - Visiting Hours
Monday to Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 8 and 7 p.m. (religious celebrations). Pilgrims and visitors can coordinate a private visit at other times by calling +595 975707342 - What to see
Our Father prayer in Guaraní
The city of San Ignacio de Guazú is located in the department of Misiones, just over 200 kilometers from the capital of Paraguay, Asunción. It is a famous site also linked to the Jesuits in Latin America (one of the first reductions on the continent was founded there with a name that also served to differentiate it from San Ignacio de Miní in Argentina) and is even considered the “Capital of the Baroque “Hispánico Guaraní” due to its architectural and cultural richness.
But in the area, in addition to the famous Museum of Baroque Art, it is possible to glimpse the Church of San Ignacio de Loyola (in relation to the Spanish founder in the 16th century of the Society of Jesus – also known as the Company of Jesus, whose members are recognized as Jesuits-). In that sense, after the complete collapse of the old temple at the beginning of the 20th century, work was done on the construction of a new temple (although not as splendorous as the one of Jesuit-Guarani origin). In any case, thanks to the enthusiasm of the parishioners it was possible to finish the temple and there was even a generous contribution from the San Antonio Company sawmills for the wood. It was in the middle of the Chaco War (1932-1935) that the Jesuits returned to the area (recognized as pioneers in the recovery of the town’s Catholic faith).
Meanwhile, beyond a large tower with a bell tower that can be seen from the outside, one of the most outstanding aspects of this church is the presence inside of an Our Father in Guaraní with works by the famous Paraguayan artist Koki Ruiz, being the corn altarpiece created on the occasion of Pope Francis’ visit to Paraguay in 2015, one of his most recent great works.
