Parroquia de María Auxiliadora

Parroquia de María Auxiliadora is a parish church in the Duggi neighborhood of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, standing on Calle General Serrano. It carries the official heritage status of Bien de Interés Cultural in the monument category, and its story is inseparable from the Salesian religious order that has shaped this part of the city for decades.

How did the parish community begin?

The community traces its origins back to 1949, when the Salesian priest Father Berta, director of the Don Bosco college in the La Paz district, founded the Archconfraternity of Mary Help of Christians at the Santa Ana college. That devotional movement grew into the seed of a future parish. The Colegio Don Bosco itself opened in 1968, and just a year later the Archdiocese of Santa Cruz formally established the parish, placing it under the care of the local Salesian community.

How was the current church built?

Construction of the present-day temple began around the late 1950s and early 1960s, based on a design by architect Enrique Huidobro. The project was carried forward and completed in 1972 by his son, Javier Huidobro, continuing his father's work. The church was formally inaugurated on 23 May 1973 in a ceremony led by Cardinal Vicente Enrique y Tarancón. Although the building had already served the college and the Salesian community for religious purposes earlier, it only began operating officially as a parish church in the year 2000.

Why is the church dedicated to Mary Help of Christians?

The title of the church honors Mary Help of Christians (María Auxilio de los Cristianos), a Marian devotion closely tied to the Salesian spiritual tradition founded by Saint John Bosco. It was the Salesians who introduced and nurtured this devotion in the area from the mid-20th century onward, and it became the defining identity of the parish and its patroness.

What makes this church worth knowing about?

The Parroquia de María Auxiliadora brings together the story of a local Catholic community with the long-standing presence of the Salesian order, which has run educational and pastoral work in this part of Santa Cruz de Tenerife for generations. Its protected heritage status reflects the architectural value of a building shaped across two generations of the same family of architects, spanning the mid-20th century. For visitors interested in the religious and social history of the Canary Islands, the church illustrates how religious institutions helped shape everyday life in individual city neighborhoods.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the church located? In the Duggi neighborhood of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on Calle General Serrano.

Who designed the building? Architect Enrique Huidobro designed it, and his son Javier Huidobro completed the construction in 1972.

When was the church inaugurated? It was inaugurated on 23 May 1973 in a ceremony led by Cardinal Vicente Enrique y Tarancón.

What is the church's connection to the Salesians? The parish has been run by the Salesian community since its founding, with roots going back to the Archconfraternity of Mary Help of Christians established in 1949 by Father Berta.

Is the building officially protected? Yes, it holds the status of Bien de Interés Cultural in the monument category.