Tuesday, June 20, 2006
We're off to see the missions--not San Antonio's baseball team, but two of the five missions founded by Franciscan brothers here in the 18th century.
We met in the Moody 7th floor hallway, our erstwhile classroom occupied by others. On to the van pool to meet Mary and Liz at Mission Espada, the farthest south of the Spanish missions along the San Antonio River, which isn't much of a river these droughty days. Now Mila and Mel are visiting doctors, so only 6 students are in the van riding along the Camino Coahuiltecan named for the natives being taught Spanish beliefs and ways here.
The grounds are considerably improved since my last visit and we enter from a different direction. There are informative plaques which help give a picture of the active lives once working here. There's even a small shop and museum.
I was surprised to learn Franciscans returned to live here in 1967, so they must have been here during my previous visit. Memory has gaping holes. Vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience guide the lives of some.
Mission San Francisco de la Espada is unique in retaining its three bells. The brickwork on the chapel clearly shows what remained of the ruin in contrast to what has been restored. The brick repairs are appropriate as Espada was the only mission here with a well developed brick making industry. So it has "hornos para fabricar ladrillos". 10,000 bricks were produced here in 1772.
The compound housed a "herreria" for blacksmithing, a bodega (warehouse) for wood, a granary, housing for the indigenous families, and the church, sacristy, friary, and camposanto (cemetary). Whose graves did we walk over? Over a thousand people were baptized here.
A large loom in the museum represents the weaving done at the mission. After all it was a fromtier and they had to be self-sufficient. Over a thousand sheep were pastured at the mission's Rancho de las Cabras near Floresville.
A parochial school was run here into the 1960s. Now there is a Head Start program nearby. The parishoners also distribute food boxes to those in need with items purchased at 15 cents a pound from the SAFoodbank.
On to Mission Concepcion
We met in the Moody 7th floor hallway, our erstwhile classroom occupied by others. On to the van pool to meet Mary and Liz at Mission Espada, the farthest south of the Spanish missions along the San Antonio River, which isn't much of a river these droughty days. Now Mila and Mel are visiting doctors, so only 6 students are in the van riding along the Camino Coahuiltecan named for the natives being taught Spanish beliefs and ways here.
The grounds are considerably improved since my last visit and we enter from a different direction. There are informative plaques which help give a picture of the active lives once working here. There's even a small shop and museum.
I was surprised to learn Franciscans returned to live here in 1967, so they must have been here during my previous visit. Memory has gaping holes. Vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience guide the lives of some.
Mission San Francisco de la Espada is unique in retaining its three bells. The brickwork on the chapel clearly shows what remained of the ruin in contrast to what has been restored. The brick repairs are appropriate as Espada was the only mission here with a well developed brick making industry. So it has "hornos para fabricar ladrillos". 10,000 bricks were produced here in 1772.
The compound housed a "herreria" for blacksmithing, a bodega (warehouse) for wood, a granary, housing for the indigenous families, and the church, sacristy, friary, and camposanto (cemetary). Whose graves did we walk over? Over a thousand people were baptized here.
A large loom in the museum represents the weaving done at the mission. After all it was a fromtier and they had to be self-sufficient. Over a thousand sheep were pastured at the mission's Rancho de las Cabras near Floresville.
A parochial school was run here into the 1960s. Now there is a Head Start program nearby. The parishoners also distribute food boxes to those in need with items purchased at 15 cents a pound from the SAFoodbank.
On to Mission Concepcion
# posted by gmarsch @ 4:00 PM 
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Gail, thanks for being such fun. I enjoyed our last night on the roof top. that was one hell of an emotional rollercoster ride.. and i am glad i had great new friends to share it with! We will have to keep in touch
see ya monday melissa
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see ya monday melissa
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