Familia y fe - family and faith - are the two major sources of strength and continuity in Hispanic New Mexico. Religious faith was the foundation upon which the Spanish colony of New Mexico was established in the late 1500's and maintained over several hundred years. Th strong extended family was the core of colonial and nineteenth century society and economy. Faith provided the basis of cultural unity while family structure was its clearest and longest-lasting expression. Today, both family and faith continue to be the source of strength in a newly awakened cultural consciousness among the Hispanic people of New Mexico.

Our mission church of Holy Angels seeks to build upon the beautiful family and faith traditions begun so long by the original Spanish settlers. Today, in addition to the descendants of the original Spanish settlers many Anglos and other cultures have settled in the valley; our faith community enjoys a rich mixture of working class and retired folks. plus many tourists from Texas, Oklahoma, and from all over the world.

San Antonio Church, built in 1936 after the original church burned down is listed as a historical New Mexico church. It is located about 7 miles south of the Holy Angels Site, but because of its small size, seats only about 50 people. Services are held each First Friday throughout the year at noon and also every Friday during lent there will be mass and the Stations of the Cross. On San Antonio's feast day each summer the "funcion" or fiesta is celebrated with mass and a pot-luck picnic afterwards.

Click on the links underneath the "La Santa Fe y La Familia" to read about two Catholic families that have been in this area for many generations.