SPAIN: JUSTO GALLEGO - CATHEDRAL BUILDER

(31 Aug 1995) Spanish/Eng/Nat

In a sleepy Spanish town - on the outskirts of Madrid - nothing much happens - save the airplanes flying in and out of the nearby airport.

Nothing much - that is - unless you meet Justo Gallego - or Father Justo to his friends - a 69-year-old bachelor - who is building a cathedral as a testament to his faith.

Don Justo - with some help from the locals - has been building his cathedral for 33 years.

It's a typical Spanish town - with a very unique cathedral.

A few workmen shovel gravel away from the main floor - as shafts of sunlight make their way through the incomplete roof.

The cathedral of Mejorada del Campo wouldn't exist at all if it wasn't for Justo.

The shepherd's son - who had followed in his father's footsteps - sold all his land 33 years ago to fulfill his life-long dream of giving this show of faith to his creator.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
With 100 pesetas (about 80 cents US) I feed myself for a day - I don't eat at lunch time - hard bread for the morning and leftovers from my sister at night.
SUPERCAPTION: Justo Gallego - Cathedral Builder

Justo's hardships come on top of vows of poverty and chastity. The former seminarian pledged to build the cathedral with his own hands after seeing an image of the Virgin Mary.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
We used to have cows, and I was going to Madrid to sell milk and after I would go look for pretty girls, and when I would find one I would follow her, until I found an image of the Virgin Mary - and ever since I don't need anything else.
SUPERCAPTION: Justo Gallego - Cathedral Builder

No plans were ever drawn up for what is turning out to be a monolithic undertaking.

Nor does Father Justo have any sophisticated tools - just an unshakeable belief - coupled with the help of a few enthusiastic young locals - who receive 30 dollars a day for seven hours of labour.

Gifts from local entrepreneurs and a few anonymous cash donations haven't gone amiss either.

The former Socialist mayor, convinced Justo was insane, did everything to make him quit under the pretext that the building was a potential hazard endangering those living nearby.

But Spain is also the land of Don Quixote and the townspeople, both amused by and proud of their neighbour, supported him, and the mayor backed down before he was voted out of office.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"He is a saint, and as such, as we say in Spain - he is like all Spaniards are - a bit poet - a bit crazy."
SUPERCAPTION: Father Jose Antonio Soriano - the local priest

When Justo attends the town's local church, he is just another worshipper.

But - having bequeathed the cathedral to the Roman Catholic church upon his death - his legacy - and show of faith - will last for years to come.

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