2020 | Building Peace through Heritage
Tochimilco,
Puebla
Temple and Former
Convent of the
Assumption of our
Lady
Moderate
damage
Cracks and fissures in the vault of the presbytery.
Fissures in wall, south aisle. Cracks in the
arches and vaults of the nave. Detachment of
the flattened in sacristy. Cracks in bell tower and
lantern south side of the tower. Collapse of metal
cross of lantern holder.
Table 2 - Infrastructural damage caused by the earthquake on 19 September 2017 (Barreto, 2018)
The damages comprise from fissures and crack son the walls up to partial or total collapses of vaults and
bell towers. There was also severe damage to the mural paintings, altarpieces, bells, paints, sculptures,
etc. In general, most of the movable and immovable properties were affected by temple collapses. Images
5, 6 and 7 show some of the destructions caused on the temples by the earthquake.
Fig.5 - Foto después del sismo
Templo y Antiguo Convento de
San Guillermo, Totolapan Morelos
Fig.6 - Campanario colapsado en el
Templo y Antiguo Convento de San
Mateo en Atlatlahucan, Morelos
Fig.7 - Escultura policromada de
Arcángel procedente del retablo
de la Virgen del Rosario ubicado
en Templo y Antiguo Convento
de la concepción en Zacualpan de
Amilpas, Morelos
Social Impact at the surrounding communities
Beside from the destruction in the monasteries, there were massive damages in the surrounding communities.
A Lot of people lost their homes, businesses and belongings during the earthquake. In addition,
with the cataclysm there were several deaths. The material losses and emotional distress suffered by the
communities in Morelos and Puebla affected the survivors greatly. Even though humanitarian aid was
given to meet the needs of the victims, the grieving process lived by the affected people was direful, even
more when they lost a beloved and important building at their community such as their church, the place
where their faith lives and many important traditions are celebrated.
Mass is still celebrated at the monasteries’ churches and attended by the people descending from those
first converts to Catholicism. Mexican traditions include religious festivities that revolve around their patron
saints and are often celebrated at the community church and their surroundings. So the lack of these
spaces affects the psyche of the locals. Not having the place where these celebrations are usually made,
discourage and make people think that their heritage will be lost soon.
When talking about the 14 monasteries additionally of having an historical, cultural, symbolic and artistic
value for the Mexican population, they are tourist attraction sites; and tourism is one of the most important
sectors that helps develop Mexico’s economy. Two years before the devastation caused by the earth-
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