Juanita García Peraza

Juanita García Peraza

Juanita Garcia Peraza, also known as "Mita" (June 24, 1897-February 21, 1970) was the founder of the first and only protestant religion of Puerto Rican origin.

Early years

Peraza was born in Hatillo, Puerto Rico, and raised by her parents, who were evangelists. She was influenced by their strict religious beliefs, since childhood. When her family moved to Arecibo, Peraza became extremely ill. She made a promise to God that if she was cured, she would always serve him. [ [http://webpub.allegheny.edu/group/LAS/LatinAmIssues/Articles/Vol13/LAI_vol_13_section_I.html Latin American issues Vol. 3] ]

Peraza considered it a "miracle" that she was cured of her illness and she decided to keep her promise. She was one of the first Puerto Rican women to preach religion in Puerto Rico. Soon, she became a leader in the church which she attended. This, however, made the majority of the male church members feel uncomfortable with her presence and they told her that she was no longer welcomed there. [ [http://www.prfrogui.com/geocities/40deld.htm 40 Boricuas of the 20th Century] ]

"Mita"

Peraza left the church with 11 other members who followed her. In 1940, Peraza and the others founded their own church in Hato Rey a sector of San Juan. They claimed that the "Spirit of Life" gave Peraza the new name of "Mita". They started calling themselves "Mitas" and their religion "the Mita religion". According to the Mita faith, Mita was the incarnation of the Holy Ghost on earth and Mita must pick a successor before she dies, in which god will eincarnate. [http://www.congregacionmita.org/mita.htm MITA] ]

Under Perazas' leadership, the church founded many small businesses which provided work, orientation and help for its members. The first branch of the church, outside of Puerto Rico, was established in New York City. Now, besides the United States, the church has expanded to Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Canada, Curaçao, Ecuador and Spain. [http://www.congregacionmita.org/mita.htm MITA] ]

Legacy

Juanita "Mita" Garcia Peraza died on February 21, 1970 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her adopted son, Teofilo Vargas Sein "Aaron" who had been picked by Peraza, is now, in accordance to the religions believe, the prophet of God and "Mita" is the new name of the Holy Spirit. Puerto Rico honored Peraza's memory by naming an elementary school after her in San Juan. [ [http://schools.iaf.net/schools_by_city/San%20Juan,PR/1.html San Juan, Puerto Rico Schools, Colleges,Private Schools, K-12] ]

ee also

*List of famous Puerto Ricans

References

External links

* [http://www.congregacionmita.org/ Congregación MITA official site]
* [http://www.zonai.com/promociones/biografias/0601/index.asp El Nuevo Dia]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Juanita García Peraza — Nacimiento …   Wikipedia Español

  • Mita Congregation — The Mita Congregation is a Christian congregation based in Puerto Rico. The congregation has chapters in the United States, Canada, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico El Salvador, Spain, and in the Dominican Republic. The… …   Wikipedia

  • Teófilo Vargas Seín — is the leader of the Mita Congregation, a Christian church based in Puerto Rico.He was born on October 23, 1921, to parents Don Pedro Vargas and Concepción Seín, who were active in the local Pentecostal church.He became an early follower of… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Puerto Ricans — This list of Puerto Ricans includes people who were born in Puerto Rico, people who are of Puerto Rican ancestry, and many long term residents and/or immigrants who have made Puerto Rico their home, who are significantly notable for their life… …   Wikipedia

  • Portal:Puerto Rico/Did you know-Puerto Rico? — Did you know Puerto Rico? …   Wikipedia

  • Puerto Rico — This article is about the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. For other uses, see Puerto Rico (disambiguation). Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico …   Wikipedia

  • Self-deification — is the belief that oneself is a deity or the striving for personal apotheosis. The term autotheism can be used in the same sense (first attested in 1619), [ [http://phrontistery.info/church.html Word List: Definitions of Ecclesiastical Terms ] ]… …   Wikipedia

  • List of new religious movements — A new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origin, which has a peripheral place within the dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider… …   Wikipedia

  • List of religious leaders in 1946 — 1945 religious leaders Events of 1946 1947 religious leaders Religious leaders by year See also: *List of state leaders in 1946 *List of colonial governors in 1946 ChristianityCatholic*Roman Catholic Church Pope Pius XII (1939 1958)Catholic not… …   Wikipedia

  • Religión en Puerto Rico — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Puerto Rico es un país caribeño que por su historia tiene como religión dominante el cristianismo. La iglesia católica es la que cuenta con mayor número de seguidores, siguiendo en importancia el protestantismo y sus …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”