Father Javier Cajusol Villegas is building a church with his own hands in Chiclayo, the northern Peruvian diocese where Pope Leo XIV was bishop. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Javier Cajusol
Lima Newsroom, Sep 23, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
When a priest says he's building a church, a school, or some other project, he usually means he's ultimately responsible for the construction, not that he's the one who is actually building it. But that isn't the case for Father Javier Cajusol Villegas, who is building a church with his own hands in a poor area of ??the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, where Pope Leo XIV was bishop.
"In the seminary, there's a program in which we study Church history. I was taught by an American priest who explained things very well, Father Ricardo Mullen. He said that when the Spanish came to the Americas, they brought with them priests who were also architects and engineers and that they themselves were the ones who built the churches," Cajusol related in an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner.
This, the priest shared, "struck me, and I started thinking, 'Why not?' I got motivated when they sent me to a parish without a rectory. I started the Adveniat project with the bishop's approval, and they sent me the money. A worker helped me and taught me."
The Peruvian priest, born in Trujillo, a northern city where Pope Leo also served from 1988 to 1999, was referring to the Church aid agency Adveniat, based in Germany, which funds Catholic Church projects around the world.
"I started liking construction. I just stayed organized, served people, and when I had days off, I would spend time on this. Since my brother is an architect, I would ask him a few questions," he continued.
"At first, it was difficult, but I learned how to mix cement, make surfacing materials, lay bricks, and [mix] aggregates," he added.
First things first
The priest clarified that the construction work, while he enjoys it, does not take precedence over his priestly ministry, which remains fundamental in his life. "Little by little, I have been getting better [at construction work] without neglecting my vocation. So it's a tough second job: that of a bricklayer, which requires strength and skill; and caring for the faithful," he shared.
Cajusol, who was ordained 28 years ago, emphasized that what is essential for him is "not to neglect caring for the faithful, administering the sacraments, pastoral care by visiting homes, and talking with the people."
Possible meeting with Pope Leo XIV
The priest, who will turn 58 on Sept. 24, estimated that the church's construction will take four or five years, working Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., "unless I can see the Holy Father for help. He helped me a lot with the construction of the rectory where I currently live, through an American foundation."
The place where he is now building the church and where he already celebrates Mass on Sundays is an area with a lot of poverty and crime. "There is a lot of contract killing, robbery, and even some dirty cops who collude with them. Sometimes I admonish them," he said.
Regarding the financing of the church, the priest explained that he relies on the help of the faithful, who also provide his daily meals, the head mason, and two assistants, but more contributions are needed to raise half a million soles, approximately $143,000.
Afterward, he explained, a similar amount will be needed to finish the church, including the altar, statues, pews, sound equipment, and other items.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
