Gonzales, Annie O'Brien

Annie O'Brien Gonzales
Santa Fe, NM

The history of Santa Fe can be traced back to 900 AD when it was home to native people. By 1610, Spanish colonists established the city of Santa Fe the oldest capital city in the US. Over time Santa Fe has been claimed by various entities including Mexico and Texas and finally the United States. Present day Santa Fe welcomes people from all over the world and has taken a prominent stand as a “sanctuary city”. As Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales recently stated “It doesn’t matter if you are a Muslim, Christian, or Jew or have lived here for five generations… If you love peace and dream of a better life, you are welcome in Santa Fe, no matter what this president may say.”

The Sanctuario de Guadelupe built in 1777 in Santa Fe, New Mexico is the oldest shrine to the Virgin of Guadelupe in the United States. In 2002, Pope John Paul II declared Our Lady of Guadelupe the patron saint of the Americas. This old brick from a historic home on Canyon Road in Santa Fe adorned with a painting of Guadelupe symbolizes to me peace and love for all and a commitment to build hope not walls.