Mission San Miguel in Santa Fe

[Illini]

I’m not sure if this is the right forum, but here goes . . .

 In Santa Fe, New Mexico, there is a church called "Mission San Miguel," reputed to be the oldest church in the United States. We visited it on our recent vacation, and it is quite nice, reminiscent of the Spanish colonial era. It offers a Mass Sundays at 5:00 PM. However, while it is prominent in guidebooks on the city, I could not find it on the Archdiocese of Santa Fe website or on masstimes.org. Nor was there any mention of the Archdiocese (post 1950's) at the church itself. This made me wonder if it is operated by a group not in communion with Rome, although I had read somewhere that the Christian Brothers operate the church.

 To be safe, we attended Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis, which itself is a treasure. I did not that the banners naming every parish in the Archdiocese failed to include Mission San Miguel.

 So the question is . . . is Mission San Miguel in communion with Rome and the Archdiocese of Santa Fe?

Thanks.

-Illini

 

[bluerose]

I never realized they still had Mass in the San Miguel church! I know that years ago, the diocese gave up the beautiful Loretto chapel with its miraculous staircase and IT now belongs to the city of Santa Fe (and no Mass is held there now). I guess I assumed that San Miguel church was treated more like a “tourist” attraction than a real church. I’ll try to find out from my sister-in-law.

If you want to see a BEAUTIFUL Mass in Santa Fe, it’s at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings at the Carmelite Monastery on Mt. Carmel Road, near St. John’s College. Tell Sr. Marie Bernadette (the sacristan) her SIL sent you!

 

[rosebudsal]

Yes, I believe it’s still in communion with Rome, though technically it’s not really part of the Archdiocese. It is affiliated with the Christian Brother’s who started the first school in New Mexico. It’s a private chapel and not a Parish church and unlike the Loretto Chapel, it is still consecrated and active church, though, there is just one Mass week and the chaplain from the National Guard says Mass (on Sunday evenings).

Here’s one link about the church and here is an article that was run in the local paper recently.

It’s a great little church. I haven’t been there in years, but I can say I’m a proud graduate of the high school the Christian Brother’s founded associated with that church. Of course, by the time I attended, the school moved far across town and accepted girls because the Loretto Academy closed.

About the Cathedral (uh, yes, I know it’s a Cathedral Basilica now but it’s hard to get used to). Is a lovely church, though it’s not my parish church anymore but I had all my sacraments growing up there. When I graduated from high school, my graduation was elsewhere as the Cathedral was going through extensive remodeling at the time. (I could go on and on about that… but I won’t.)

But yes, you could go to Mass there and be ok.

Mia

 

[rosebudsal]

I never realized they still had Mass in the San Miguel church! I know that years ago, the diocese gave up the beautiful Loretto chapel with its miraculous staircase and IT now belongs to the city of Santa Fe (and no Mass is held there now). I guess I assumed that San Miguel church was treated more like a “tourist” attraction than a real church. I’ll try to find out from my sister-in-law.

Actually, the Inn of Loretto owns the chapel now and not the City, which I’m sure wishes it did. I believe what happened when the sisters closed the school, they offered the chapel to the archdiocese but for whatever reason, it didn’t want it.
Sad because it is a beautiful chapel and has a lot of sentimental history for my family. I would have liked to have gotten married there-- but can’t. At least not in a Catholic ceremony.

If you want to see a BEAUTIFUL Mass in Santa Fe, it’s at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings at the Carmelite Monastery on Mt. Carmel Road, near St. John’s College. Tell Sr. Marie Bernadette (the sacristan) her SIL sent you!

I have heard that. I’ve never been but someone mentioned it to me recently.

Mia

 

[Illini]

Actually, the Inn of Loretto owns the chapel now and not the City, which I’m sure wishes it did. I believe what happened when the sisters closed the school, they offered the chapel to the archdiocese but for whatever reason, it didn’t want it.
Sad because it is a beautiful chapel and has a lot of sentimental history for my family. I would have liked to have gotten married there-- but can’t. At least not in a Catholic ceremony.

Mia

 That's what was said at Loretto- in 1968, when the sisters couldn't use it anymore, they offered it to the Archdiocese, which said no.:confused: There are weddings and other events there, that are "appropriate" for the chapel.

 New Mexico is a beautiful place with a lot of culture. We enjoyed our trip!

-Illini

 

[theresa]

Have any of you ever read the book “Death Comes to the Archbishop” by Willa Cather? It’s such a great book, historical fiction, based on the history of the area around Santa Fe. My husband and I read it a few years ago, then decided to go there on our family vacation. It was a loooong drive from Iowa, but definitely worth it. What we read about San Miguel’s Church was that it was the oldest church in America still in use for Mass. This was only 2 years ago so I’m hoping you could still go to Mass there now. There was a Mass schedule posted but we weren’t able to stick around long enough to attend. We thoroughly enjoyed touring the area.

 

[rosebudsal]

Have any of you ever read the book “Death Comes to the Archbishop” by Willa Cather? It’s such a great book, historical fiction, based on the history of the area around Santa Fe.

Required reading in high school. I must say it’s probably the only book I’ve ever read (or tried reading-- I got most of the way through it) that I have hated. Downright hated. My best friend and I both really disliked the book. Honestly, I can’t remember the reactions of my other classmates, but I think we were pretty offended by the book. I’ve often thought about going back to reread to see if what was it about that book that offended me as a 16-year-old and if my 30 something self will react the same way.

Bishop Lamy was not without controversy here.

Anyway, yes, there is Mass at the Mission on Sundays. Mostly locals attend and it’s ok with Rome.

 

[RichT]

It is common in America for Mission churches to be controlled by other entities, and not the Diocese of that area. Many still hold masses and are in communion with Rome. Many times, it isn’t financially prudent for the diocese to maintian these Mission churches, and they fall under the umbrella of a non-profit group, or some other organization who maintain them.

 

[Illini]

Thanks for all your answers. The Diocese of Joliet is nothing like that of Santa Fe . . . not only the missions, but a church in nearly every pueblo. The one in Taos was beautiful!

-Illini

 

[rosebudsal]

Thanks for all your answers. The Diocese of Joliet is nothing like that of Santa Fe . . . not only the missions, but a church in nearly every pueblo. The one in Taos was beautiful!

-Illini

The one in Taos is beautiful. I’ve always felt tied to Catholicism even in the years when I wasn’t practicing is because of the culture and the history here-- it’s all tied to Catholicism. It’s everywhere and it’s truly a beautiful thing. Now that I’m practicing again, I appreciate it in a whole new way.

 

[rosebudsal]

I was just going through old threads I’ve been subscribed to and saw this one. While it’s kind of an old thread, I thought I’d add an update to the topic. Archbishop Sheehan of Santa Fe has officially allowed the San Miguel Mission to be the site of the Latin Mass community in Santa Fe and it will be celebrated on Sundays there.

I think in a lot of ways, as it’s the oldest church in the country, it’s pretty cool that Mass will be celebrated like it was historically. I’m curious to know what turn out is like. I’m too young to remember TLM.

 

[JimZBrewer]

The Latin Mass at Mission San Miguel is at 2 p.m. on Sundays. There is also an N.O. mass at 5 p.m., with the local Schola Cantorum singing a Gregorian Chant mass once a month.

Unfortunately, neither is listed on the Archdiocese of Santa Fe website, but they are for real.