話題沸騰中の St Mary's Church Gilroyについて、主要な情報を整理して公開しています。

Underneath the church, there’s a crypt. No, not zombie stuff—just a burial vault for a handful of early priests. But locals whisper about a tunnel that supposedly ran from the crypt to a nearby saloon during Prohibition. To be clear, I’m not saying the priests bootlegged whiskey, but if they did, they’d have the best alibi: “Sorry, Officer, I was just saying evening prayer… in a secret tunnel under my church.”

The architecture is also a prankster. The rose window over the main door looks perfectly round from the outside, but inside it’s slightly off-kilter. Why? Because the 1905 rebuilding crew may have had too much garlic wine. Or the earthquake of 1906 tilted the frame. Either way, it’s the kind of wonky detail you’d miss unless you’re a total nerd for symmetry—or you’re drunk on Catholic guilt.

Surprising Artifacts & A Royal Visit

Inside, check out the old wooden organ from the 1880s. It still works, but only if you pump the bellows manually. Kids from the youth group used to take turns pumping. One kid passed out from exhaustion during a wedding. The groom didn’t notice because the bride was crying—probably from joy, but maybe from the organist’s heroic panting.

St. Mary Parish | 11 1st Street, Gilroy, CA 95020 | Catholic Church

And get this: In 1987, a minor prince from Italy visited St. Mary’s. He donated a small, gold-plated chalice. The church’s website says it was “a token of goodwill,” but I think the prince just wanted to see a town famous for garlic bread and buy some t-shirts. The chalice is on display, but don’t try to take a sip; it’s locked in a glass case.