Mission Concepcion on San Antonio's Mission Trail

The Spanish built missions, communities with a church as its focus, in territories in the New World for multiple reasons. Franciscan Priests and Nuns taught Catholicism and Spanish culture to local Coachuiltecans (nomadic Native Americans in south Texas).  The local native learned many skills, including: European farming techniques, Animal Husbandry, Carpentry, Masonry, Blacksmithing and other skills necessary to run an outpost community.

These small settlements were to be self sufficient, at minimum and, over time they were expected to participate in local, regional trade and to contribute to the Spanish Empire.  Soldiers were assigned to missions for protection and to expand Spanish influence in the region.

San Antonio's Mission Trail starts at the Alamo and heads south for ten miles.  The four Missions are a National Historic Park and a Wold Heritage Site.

Mission Concepcion is

about three miles south

of the Alamo.

Part of the stone walls

that surround the

Mission.

Priests, Nuns, soldiers and Native Americans lived at the Mission.  There were buildings for horses, farm animals, a grainery, etc.

Construction started on this,

stone church around 1740.

It was dedicated in 1755.

Because Mission Concepcion was built on bedrock, very little reconstruction has been done over its 262 years.

Careful restoration of
the internal Frescoes
is underway.

Eric looks up....

... at the Sun that oversees
this room.

As we stand in a doorway,

Eric takes this photo

of our shadows on

stone floor.

The original Holy Water 

Font is not in use.

Holy Water is available in
 this free standing font.

Votive Candles sit beneath

a Crucifix.

A portrait of the Virgin Mary

sits to the right.

A small side Chapel

The Sanctuary has a
portrait of Jesus
above the Altar.

Eric waits for me at the

back of the church.

Stations of the Cross
line the walls.

Mission Concepcion is beautiful.  Eric and I will continue south along the Mission Trail, visiting Missions San Jose, San Juan and Espada.