Poppy and I have been going to all the far-flung churches in our very spread-out parish for the past year. She wanted to see all of them. Most of them are quite old, some are very beautiful, all of them only have Mass once a month.
This past Saturday, we went to the final church. It's not that far from our house--about thirty miles--but it's in quite a dramatic location.
After turning off the paved road.
It's an adobe structure that was sheathed in local cut stone.
This is the only church in our parish that is privately owned. It is also the oldest church in our parish. The family that owns the ranch takes care of it.
Some of the older owners of the ranch are buried right under the church. Their tombstones are under the statue of Jesus there in the center.
Poppy and I climbed up to the rear choir loft, from which we had a good view of the giant pieta at the entrance to church.
Most of the grave markers in the surrounding old cemetery were hand-carved sandstone.
It was a good thing we had time to look around the cemetery before Mass, because this was what was coming towards us as we were going in to Mass.
Dramatic.
The storm hit during the Gospel reading. It was mostly over by the time we left, thankfully, and the dirt road was still passable.
And that's it. Our tour of the parish churches is concluded. It was fun, but I appreciate only having to drive ten miles to our regular church.
8 comments:
I completely love that you did this. — Karen.
We know how to have a good time. :-) (Though it actually was a good time. It's always fun to spend some time one-on-one with a child in a family with many children. As I'm sure you know.)
Beautiful little church. I'm amazed that folks are buried under the church.
Linda
Poppy is learning to be a good mother from you.
Thank you, that is very kind of you to say.
Like the big cathedrals in Europe where the kings are buried. Except a tiny church in New Mexico where the local Don and Dona are buried. :-)
Thank you so mugh for sharing your adventures and pictures of these lovely places. We don't have architecture like that here and since I'm unlikely to get to visit NM, your sharing online is the next best thing.
Plus, you are teaching me what Catholic mothering is like (we had not converted when I was actively mom-ing.)
J in NC
We are so blessed to have so many beautiful old churches here, and it's my pleasure to share them with everyone who can't see them in person. I don't know if how I mother is the same as all Catholic moms, but since I'm a mom and I'm Catholic, then yes, I guess this is Catholic mothering. :-)
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