Mount Christo Rey is getting set to light up

SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico -- The Las Cruces Catholic Diocese, the City of Sunland Park and business people across the Borderland have come together to light the cross on Mount Christo Rey.

Even though this has been attempted in the past to no avail, it seems now is the time according to proud Sunland Park resident and business consultant Christian Lira.

“Mount Christo Rey has tried to do it before but they have failed. Reason that I believe it's failed is because a lack of proper planning and the technology 10 years ago, 15 years ago when they tried is not where it is today,” shared Lira.

Lira, who is the brother of City Councilor Daisy Lira, knew Sunland Park would get behind the project.

Lira found out Garden Grove Nutrients and Lighting was the company that recently installed the LED lights on the Mountain Star for the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce.

The owner of Garden Grove Nutrients and Lighting, Adrian "Dugis" Santana, was tapped by Lira for the Mount Christo Rey project.

“I messaged him: 'Have you ever considered lighting up Christo Rey?' He said 'as a matter of fact we have.  Its crossed my head but I don’t know where to start,'" Lira explained.

The lifelong Sunland Park resident said he knew what to do: "I know the key people we can talk to and if you guys are willing to, we can go ahead and get private funding to light it up.”

Santana proposed his vision and how it could be done.

“The way we want to light up the statue is positioning different fixtures of the same type that will change color at 45-degree angles so they can shine the cross in every direction. From the back to the front and also be able to change colors at night or just keep it at a solid color if wanted,” the lighting store owner said. “Solar options to provide the minimal electricity necessary that the actual lights do need. Since they are LED's, they are not going to require so many kilowatts. It’s going to be a smaller type of battery solar assembly.”

Dugis told ABC-7 that in two weeks the prototypes come in from Austin and he plans on testing the brightness as soon as those supplies arrive.

Click here for the Garden Grove Nutrients and Lighting Facebook page.