Mission Socorro

Socorro (help), took its name from Socorro, New Mexico, from which the Piro Indians fled following the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Records show that Socorro was officially founded during a Mass delivered by Fray Antonio Guerra on October 13, 1680. Socorro's first permanent mission was in use by circa 1691.At that time, Socorro was comprised of sixty Piro Indian families and fifteen Spanish families. The mission was built by the Piros under the direction of Franciscan missionaries and dedicated as Nuestra Senora de Limpla Concepci6n de los Piros de Socorro del Sur (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of the Piros of Socorro of the South). Many of the parishioners refer to their mission as San Miguel (St. Michael), in honor of their patron saint; or as La Purisima, in honor of the Blessed Virgin, Forever Pure. When the 1740 flood destroyed the original structure, the parishioners replaced it nearby. That second structure was also lost to flooding in 1829. Rebuilding was completed in 1843. Archaeological evidence suggests that decorative, carved cottonwood and cypress roof supports called vigas (beams) and decorative corbels supporting the vigas were salvaged from Socorro's first mission, dating to circa 1691. Oral histories relate that the Piro people painted the designs on the vigas and corbels using plant-based pigments. The walls were constructed of adobe and finished with plaster. The front stepped facade with its center-placed bell tower has been com­ pared to the decorative design motifs associated with many Pueblo Indian tribes. The building represents the best elements of Indian and Spanish design still preserved in El Paso County. Other significant features of the Socorro Mission include the adjacent rectory, dating to the 1840s period of mission construction; the camposanto (cemetery) features four unique small descansos (structures) that serve as resting areas. The large open area in front of the mission recalls the former plaza, and adjoining portions of the acequias (irrigation system) also remain. The mission was completely restored through a ten­ year, community-based collaboration and reopened for use with a Mass on December 7,2005.