Basilica of San Albino
Encyclopedia
Basilica of San Albino, formerly known as San Albino Church of Mesilla, is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces
and located in Mesilla, New Mexico
. It has the distinction of being established in Mexico, and is now located in the United States. The first church on the site was built in 1852; the current structure was built in 1906, and is one of the oldest churches in the region. Daily masses are held in both Spanish and English.
was started on the Mexican side of the newly established Mexican-American border by refugees from the old Mexican territory that was now United States territory. A priest, Ramón Ortíz, was appointed to be Commissioner of Emigration to assist in resettling Mexican citizens. These settlers arrived west of the Rio Grande River to establish Mesilla around 1850. The Mexican government ordered the church established in 1852 to support local residents. The settlers soon established the church on the south side of a central plaza. It was constructed of mud and logs, and dedicated to the Breton
Saint Albinus of Angers
(Albino in Spanish), who was born in Vannes, France in 469.
After the United States, as order by the Gadsden Purchase
in 1854, added portions of present-day southern Arizona and New Mexico including Mesilla, the church was transferred to the diocese that is now the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe
. The shepherd of this four-year old diocese was a Frenchman, Bishop Jean Baptiste Lamy
. Lamy was instrumental in the growth of the number of churches in his diocese. As part of this growth, a new church was constructed on the north side of the plaza with French architecture
.
In 1872, the San Albino parish became part of the Vicariate Apostolic of Arizona
, under Frenchman, Rev. Jean-Baptiste Salpointe. It was during this time, in 1876, that the first bell for the church was commissioned.
In 1908 the current church was constructed on the same site. It is built of fired brick with a belfry facade on each corner. There are leaded stained glass windows depicting saints with geometric designs lining the walls of the nave. The parapet between the belfries is much like a mission style
. Both the interior and the exterior walls were stripped of their plaster during a renovation and stabilization in the 1960s. A memorial to parishioners who died in combat is near the front entry.
The church later became part of two dioceses after they were established - the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso
in 1916, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces
in 1982.
In 2008, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
in the Vatican granted minor basilica
status to San Albino.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southwestern region of the United States, comprising the 10 southern counties in the state of New Mexico: Hidalgo, Grant, Luna, Sierra, Dona Ana, Otero, Lincoln, Chaves, Eddy, and...
and located in Mesilla, New Mexico
Mesilla, New Mexico
Mesilla is a town in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,180 at the 2000 census...
. It has the distinction of being established in Mexico, and is now located in the United States. The first church on the site was built in 1852; the current structure was built in 1906, and is one of the oldest churches in the region. Daily masses are held in both Spanish and English.
History
After the Mexican-American War in the 1840s the town of MesillaMesilla, New Mexico
Mesilla is a town in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,180 at the 2000 census...
was started on the Mexican side of the newly established Mexican-American border by refugees from the old Mexican territory that was now United States territory. A priest, Ramón Ortíz, was appointed to be Commissioner of Emigration to assist in resettling Mexican citizens. These settlers arrived west of the Rio Grande River to establish Mesilla around 1850. The Mexican government ordered the church established in 1852 to support local residents. The settlers soon established the church on the south side of a central plaza. It was constructed of mud and logs, and dedicated to the Breton
Breton people
The Bretons are an ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Brythonic speakers who emigrated from southwestern Great Britain in waves from the 3rd to 6th century into the Armorican peninsula, subsequently named Brittany after them.The...
Saint Albinus of Angers
Albinus of Angers
Saint Albinus of Angers was a French abbot and bishop. Born to a noble Gallo-Roman family at Vannes, Brittany, St. Albinus was a monk and afterwards Abbot of Tintillac . His reputation spread during the twenty-five years in which he served as abbot. In 529, St...
(Albino in Spanish), who was born in Vannes, France in 469.
After the United States, as order by the Gadsden Purchase
Gadsden Purchase
The Gadsden Purchase is a region of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico that was purchased by the United States in a treaty signed by James Gadsden, the American ambassador to Mexico at the time, on December 30, 1853. It was then ratified, with changes, by the U.S...
in 1854, added portions of present-day southern Arizona and New Mexico including Mesilla, the church was transferred to the diocese that is now the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the southwestern region of the United States in the state of New Mexico. While the motherchurch, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, is in the City of Santa Fe, its administrative center is in...
. The shepherd of this four-year old diocese was a Frenchman, Bishop Jean Baptiste Lamy
Jean Baptiste Lamy
Jean-Baptiste Lamy , was a French Roman Catholic clergyman and the first Archbishop of Santa Fe , United States. American writer Willa Cather's novel Death Comes for the Archbishop is based on his life and career.-Ordination as a priest:Lamy was born in Lempdes, Puy de Dôme, in the Auvergne region...
. Lamy was instrumental in the growth of the number of churches in his diocese. As part of this growth, a new church was constructed on the north side of the plaza with French architecture
French architecture
The history of French architecture runs in parallel with its neighbouring countries in Europe, with France being home to both some of the earliest pioneers in many architectural styles, and also containing some of the finest architectural creations of the continent.-Roman:The architecture of...
.
In 1872, the San Albino parish became part of the Vicariate Apostolic of Arizona
Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southwestern region of the United States. It comprises nine counties of the state of Arizona, making it the fifth largest diocese in the continental United States in terms of area...
, under Frenchman, Rev. Jean-Baptiste Salpointe. It was during this time, in 1876, that the first bell for the church was commissioned.
In 1908 the current church was constructed on the same site. It is built of fired brick with a belfry facade on each corner. There are leaded stained glass windows depicting saints with geometric designs lining the walls of the nave. The parapet between the belfries is much like a mission style
Mission style
Mission style may refer to the following:*Mission Style Furniture*Mission Revival Style architecture*American Craftsman, an architectural and design movement*Mission School, an art movement of the late 20th century...
. Both the interior and the exterior walls were stripped of their plaster during a renovation and stabilization in the 1960s. A memorial to parishioners who died in combat is near the front entry.
The church later became part of two dioceses after they were established - the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso
Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso
The Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in West Texas. Covering , it encompasses the Texas counties of El Paso, Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Presidio, Reeves, Ward and Winkler with approximately 668,000 professing members,...
in 1916, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces
Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southwestern region of the United States, comprising the 10 southern counties in the state of New Mexico: Hidalgo, Grant, Luna, Sierra, Dona Ana, Otero, Lincoln, Chaves, Eddy, and...
in 1982.
In 2008, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is the congregation of the Roman Curia that handles most affairs relating to liturgical practices of the Latin Catholic Church as distinct from the Eastern Catholic Churches and also some technical matters relating to the...
in the Vatican granted minor basilica
Minor basilica
Minor basilica is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches. By canon law no Catholic church can be honoured with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom....
status to San Albino.