Beginning weeks ago, thieves crossed probably the most final taboos in a suffering a part of the city. They broke right into a garage room at Our Girl of Guadalupe Catholic Church in East San Jose and stole $25,000 value of musical tools and sound equipment.

Actually, they did it 3 times -- on June 27 after which on July 3 and four -- virtually as though a unmarried insult weren't sufficient to a parish that depends upon the apparatus for its Sunday Mass. It was like robbing any individual many times of a voice.

While Our Girl of Guadalupe isn't a wealthy church, it's been touched by eminence.

Cesar Chavez was one of the most first parishioners. Bobby Kennedy visited in 1968. One of the crucial church's first priests, the Rev. Donald McDonnell, introduced the gospel of social justice to the neighborhood.

And what took place Thursday night time within the wake of the burglaries proved the adage that misfortune can evoke the perfect in us.

Under the management of the Rev. Jon Pedigo, who has simply been assigned to the parish, the church contributors hit at the concept of a mariachi pageant. It might elevate cash to switch the equipment, which the church's musicians had purchased with exertions and taco sales.

A large turnout

With handiest 4 days' notice, among FOUR HUNDRED and 500 folks covered up out of doors the church to pay $10 apiece to listen to teams like Mariachi San Jose, led by faculty kids, and Mariachi Tapatio, a mythical band with roots

in Guadalajara.

I requested one of the most emcees for the event, legal professional Fernando Zazueta, why the thefts had such resonance.

"The thieves violated sacred ground," stated Zazueta, who grew up local at THIRTY FIRST and San Antonio streets. "We knew that they had no recognize for belongings. However they violated the group in an instant. Nobody desires to see a church desecrated that way."

Zazueta could not assist however upload one more reason for the massive turnout: "We advised other folks it was going to be mariachis."

To their nice credit, the mariachis donated their services and products. Monique Borceguin, probably the most participants of Mariachi San Jose, informed me the church had contacted the group's supervisor -- and all 9 individuals of the band, who come with youngsters who've long gone to Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Era and Santa Clara University, confirmed up.

Contributions

And there have been extra other folks than simply mariachi lovers serving to out. Final Wednesday, Zazueta stood up ahead of the downtown San Jose Rotary Membership and instructed them concerning the church's plight.

One of his listeners was Greg Nelson, a San Jose Town School administrator who introduced to assist. SJCC now not has a marching band, however the faculty has unused tools and kit he was keen to donate.

The police haven't but made any arrests within the burglaries, despite the fact that police Leader Chris Moore visited the church on Monday. "The case is not closed," stated police spokesman Jason Dwyer, who introduced there has been no bodily proof left on the crime scene. However that was nearly irrelevant on an evening extremely wealthy in satisfaction and a choice to not be overwhelmed by thieves. Because the sounds of "Cielito Lindo" pale away and Mariachi San Jose left the stage, I requested Pedigo what the development meant.

"It displays this neighborhood is pulling together, that we're more potent than the robbery,'' he mentioned. "THAT IS a chance for an outpouring of grace."

Contact Scott Herhold at sherhold@mercurynews.com or 408-275-0917.