Old Ysleta Mission
Ysleta Mission Credit Destination El Paso
La Misión de San Antonio de Ysleta del Sur/ Our Lady of Mount Carmel, is a diverse community of believers since the foundation of the parish in 1682.
Located in the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, the Old Ysleta Mission is the oldest continuously operated parish in the state of Texas. The parish was first opened in 1682, boasting 336 years of Faith, Tradition, and Community. Old Ysleta 'owes its heritage to Pueblo traditions, Franciscan Missionaries, and Spanish Colonial life in Northern New Mexico'.
The mission itself is a 19th-century adobe New Mexican-style church that is owned by the Catholic Diocese. Architecturally, the church holds Neoclassical/Victorian style elements both inside and out.
During your visit, you will see several elements that reflect the unique integration of local Indian tradition with Christian religion throughout. For instance, inside you will see statues of St. Anthony and Kateri Tekakwitha close together, the latter being the Catholic Church's sole American Indian saint.
There are also several ritual days here with dancing, drumming, and chanting that you may stumble upon, such as the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua or the Ysleta Mission Festival. Be sure to visit the onsite gift shop before you go, the shop holding several unique cultural items as well as various art pieces on display.
