vigil tree - Felipe Vigil

Felipe Vigil

Felipe J. Vigil

Following is a presentation written by Bobby Vigil for a tribute to his father, my grandfather. [ My notes are in brackets ]. It is a good narrative of Rev Philip J. Vigil and our path to Denver.

A Loving Tribute to our Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather - Rev. Philip J. Vigil
Fathers Day, June 17, 2007

I want to thank Brother Elia Gonzales for extending us the opportunity to give honor to the man we consider the best in the world - our Dad, Rev Philip J. Vigil or "Hermano Felipe Vigil".

Nothing we are going to say or show you today can really adequately express how we feel about our Dad and Grandpa, but we would like to take you on a quick tour of a very blessed and long life. We asa family, feel very blessed to still have both our dad and mom with us today. Dad recently celebrated his 90th birthday and is still going strong. What a priviledge!

Leandro Vigil

Philip was born in Weston, CO on March 5, 1917, the first child to Jose Leandro Vigil and Magdalena Martinez Vigil. Dad did not have the opportunity to grow up with his father. He was only 1 year and 10 months old when his father passed away at 26 years of age during the worldwide flu epidemic in 1918. His sister, tia Cecilia, was only 2 month old. His mother later married Nasario Vallejo. He would always refer to his step-father as "em papa".

Magdalena and her younger sister Caroline playing house on the front steps

[ Magdalena was 14 when she married Leandro. I was told she married young to get out of a difficult home situation after her father died in a suspicious mining accident. Leandro Vigil was a farm hand and miner. His own father passed away a few years after Leandro, also due to influenza. ]

He continued to live with his family in Weston until age 11 when they moved to the Grand Junction area. It was in Fruita, CO where a pioneer circuit preacher, Brother Facundo Mares, preached the gospel message. The family recieved this gospel. The family eventually grew to include 5 half sisters; Cora, Helen, Mary, Ruth, Phoebe, and 1 Half-brother, James Vallejo.

[ The town of Weston, CO. is near the New Mexico border, west of Trinadad, between Segundo and Vigil. The home in Weston still stands, although expanded, just up the hill overlooking Rio de Las Animas Perdidas en Purgatorio (Purgatory River). The remains of a second home are further in the hills on the property of a farm the family helped manage. Felipe recalls waiting for his father at the mouth of a small mine near their home. He knew his father was coming when he could hear the squeak of the wagon wheel. The sound would soon be followed by the flicker of his lamp in the darkness.]

Felipe (left) sits on the cherished wagon his Tia Caroline bought him for Christmas.

After his conversion and as a teenager, Dad was involved in church work and at the age of 15 was a deacon in the Fruita church. He also held other church positions such as youth president, church secretary and teacher.

In 1932 Dad went on a missionary trip to Monticello, Utah assisting Brother Facundo Mares. During this trip to Utah he stood outside the building inviting people passing by to come in to the service. One of the people he invited in was Reverend Fidel Martinez. (Uncle to our uncle, Alex Mansanarez). Brother Martinez received the Lord as his Savior as a result of the invitation, Brother Fidel told me this story just a year or so before he passed away a few years ago.

In 1935 he went to Chama, New Mexico with one of the old time missionaries to help Brother Rubel Benavidez.

Just before going to Bible School dad took notice of a girl also living in Fruita and attending church. He always thought of her as just a skinny, scrawny little girl. He never paid too much attention since she was 5 years younger than he.

[ Cesaria was also born in Weston Colorado. Her family, Like Felipe's moved to Fruita in search of work after the Coal Mining industry around Trinidad diminished. They grew up together. ]

Left to Right: Cesaria Otero Gomez Marez as a young girl, A photo of Cesaria mailed to Felipe in Texas, Felipe and friend, Miguel Corrando, shopping for a second-hand graduation suit which he purchased for $5.00 in 1938.

In 1936 dad went to Saspanco, Texas to attend Bible School. It was during this time that he began writing Mom. He finished Bible School at the age of 20 and at the age of 21 he and Sesaria Gomez were married on September 25, 1938. Mom was only 16 at the time.

Felipe Vigil and Sesaria Gomez wed on Sept. 25, 1938

After the marriage they both went on a missionary trip to Montrose, CO with Carlitos Trujillo, another pioneer preacher to start a new church. This was the beginning of a new ministry partnership that still continues to this day. That almost 75 years ago!

Dad received his exhorter's license is 1940, became a licensed minister in 1942, and an ordained minister in 1954.

They lived with Dad's parents until Dad built their first home, a 2-room adobe which they moved into the spring of 1939. I [Bobby Vigil] was born there on November 12, 1939.

Dad was working at a government job in Salt Lake City at the Navel Depot. It was while working there in 1942 that Dad received a call from Brother Facundo Mares to pastor the little church in Chama, CO. Dad gave up a promising, secure job to answer the Lord's call to ministry. Danny [my father] was born in Chama on April 18, 1942.

From 1944 to 1945 Dad and Mom pastored in Durango, CO. In late summer of 1945, we moved back to Fruita, CO where Dad helped in the local church. Dorothy was born there on July 12, 1946. In January of 1948 we moved back to Chama, CO and where dad pastored until August of 1948.

Left to Right: Dorthy picks chile peppers from their backyard in Price Utah with Danny (l) and Bobby (r). In the Back is a CinderBlock fort. Center: Reverend Vigil perform a baptism in Utah. Right: Utah Congregation.

Once again we moved back to Fruita. During this time dad built us a log home where we lived while he pastored the church in Fruita until 1951. He was then elected pastor in Price, Utah where he pastored until 1958. He also helped at the church in Dragerton, Utah, where he held services on Sunday afternoon, then drove 30 miles back to Price to hold evening services there. It was here that Louie was born on May 1, 1955.

In March of 1958 dad was appointed pastor of La Primera Iglesia in Denver when it was located on 14th and Julian street. He pastored here for 2 years before going back to Price, Utah where he pastored for another 3 years.

Left: (L-R) Danny, Bobby and Dorthy at home in Price Utah. Right: Packing for the trip to Denver 1958. This trailer that Felipe built is still parked behind their home in Denver.

After moving to Denver in 1963 and working at various jobs, dad was employed at Martin Marietta where he retired in March, 1984. During this time he pastored at various churches in the area: Gethsemane (2nd Church), Templo Betel, 4th Church, Fort Lupton, and twice at the First Spanish (between pastors). They are currently serving as Pastors to the seniors and teaching the Senior's Sunday School class here at Healing Waters. Now that's a servant's heart!

Despite all of his work in different ministries, dad always provided for his family. We don't remember ever lacking for food, a home, clothing and most of all, his always being there for us. He has always been the perfect example of strength, conviction and honesty. The legacy he has built will be with us forever.

The Vigils: (L-R) Louie, Felipe, Sesaria, Bobby, Danny and Dorthy.