Saint Eleanor Parish Churches and Missions

It was not until after peace was made with the Indians and the Lincoln County War was over that the settlers in the area were really able to normalize their lives and begin to build churches.  In the early 1880 Don Martin Chavez and Pablo Fresquez made several long journeys to various settlements along the Rio Grande River to prevail upon a priest to return with them as their pastor in the Lincoln County area.  Their efforts were finally rewarded when Father Sombrano from Manzano established residence in Lincoln.

The Trinidad Vigil home was the site of the first masses in the valley and the area is known still as "El Rancho Del Padre".  As the congregation grew, Mass was offered in the upper room of the home of Don Martin Chavez near the present Chapel of San Jose in Picacho.  The chapel was built in 1891 under the direction of a man known as José Antonio.

Chapel of San Jose in Picacho

With the regular presence of Father Sombrano, the people were inspired to build the Chapel of San Patricio.  With Tranquilino Montoya as the builder assisted by all the people and with substantial material assistance of Ysidro Sisneros of the Rancho Trinidad the church was begun in 1884 and completed in 1885.  Tranquilino Montoya was buried in the church and his marker is the centerpiece of the church as it undergoes restoration by volunteers.  The church was abandoned when the Church of St. Jude Thaddeous was erected in San Patricio in ???? with funds from the Catholic Extension Society.

Chapel of San Patricio, San Patricio

Father Sombrano labored with much devotion until he was killed in a runaway horse accident in 1894.  His grave is a few hundred yards west of the "Adobe Hacienda" near the ruins of the home of Trinidad Vigil.

Upon the death of Father Sombrano the people were again without a priest until Father Enrique Yierma arrived in 1904.  When he was in the upper Valley, he was the guest of Gregorio Garcia.  Gregorio donated land, Telesfora Mirobal Gonzales provided the lumber and the men went to work.  In 1906 the little Chapel of San Ysidro came into being on the beautiful site in Glencoe overlooking the Rio Ruidoso.  The chapel is surrounded by private land and is not open to the public.

Chapel of San Ysidro, Glencoe

The priest's schedule was grueling, continually on the road, hardly ever sleeping in the same place for two nights in succession.  All of Lincoln County and the surrounding area was cared for and the Valley's people's turn was once a month, with three masses being offered, one in the lower valley at Picacho, one in San Patricio and the third in Glencoe.

Due to the scarcity of priests and the difficult traveling conditions, from World War I until 1926 the monthly mass schedule was more of a dream than a reality.  As the people nurtured their faith in their homes, many shrines were erected and can be found along the roadside to be admired and to instill devotion in us all.

The Church of Our Lady of Guadeloupe in Hondo was built in the 1940s(?) and was abandoned when the new church was built in San Patricio.

Our Lady of Guadeloupe, Hondo

St. Jude Thadeus Church was built in San Patricio and replace the missions of San Patricio and Our Lady of Guadeloupe.

St. Jude Catholic Mission, San Patricio

We really do not have any history on the San Miguel Chapel in Arabela.  It has been abandoned since the early 1950’s.

San Miguel Chapel, Arabela

St. Eleanor Catholic Church in Ruidoso is the Parish center.  The current building is the third building for Ruidoso’s Catholic community.  The first building now belongs to the Noon Lions Club and the parish was St. William Parish.  The second and original “St. Eleanor Church” is now used as the parish hall.  It is located adjacent to the main parking lot.  The current church is located on land that originally belonged to the parish but was sold to another church.  When they decided to build in a new location we bought back the property which now included a rectory.  Plans are being made to build a new church where the parish hall now stands.

Saint Eleanor Church, Ruidoso

There are two other missions of St. Eleanor Parish that are not located in the Hondo Valley.  The administration of these two missions has switched between St. Eleanor Parish and Santa Rita Parish in Carrizozo depending upon the agreements between the two priests.

Sacred Heart at Fort Stanton is not currently open to the public. As Fort Stanton becomes more a museum then there will be better access.

San Juan Bautisto in Lincoln is administered by the State of New Mexico as part of the Lincoln State Monument.  Both Episcopal and Catholic services are held in the church.

Sacred Heart, Fort Stanton

San Juan Bautisto, Lincoln