The Mission

The Rio Grande Valley in South Texas is rich in history and today seemed to be a good day to do a little exploring. I set out to locate the namesake of the town of Mission, Texas. After a number of wrong turns down dirt roads along the river, I found a small park where the LaLomita Mission was located. The Mission was founded by traveling Oblate priests as a resting place on the trail following the Rio Grande River on the left bank in the photo below, which is the US side.


The Oblate order originated in France and the priests, who arrived from France, traveled the Rio Grande Valley on horse back to the various ranches along the Rio Grande, serving ranch families throughout the thorny, cactus covered land. They became known as "The Calvary of Christ". The chapel below is believed to have been built in the 1840's and has been renovated several times, most recently in 2008.
















The structure is made of limestone and has not required any structural repair since it was built over 150 years ago. I don't think they build structures like that anymore. The interior has a worn brick floor, well worn pews, and a very rustic roof structure. The pulpit and the alter are simple wood structures painted white. The wood shingle roof was replaced in the recent renovation.

Another building on the same grounds, which was used as a rectory and a place for traveling priests to sleep, is no longer standing. A few other buildings were constructed on the original site, but they also are no longer standing.


An old stone and stucco outdoor wood burning oven still stands. Can you imagine how many loaves of bread or how many tortillas have been baked in there over the past 150 years or so?










This site is the origin of the nearby town of Mission, which got it's name from the "Mission" founded here at LaLomita over 100 years ago. What an interesting place!