Mission Espíritu Santo: A mission for the Aranamas
“Originally established near present Matagorda Bay, Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zuñiga was moved to this San Antonio River location in 1749. Here, for more than 70 years, the Franciscan missionaries taught the native Aranama peoples the religious principles and craft skills they needed to become good Spanish citizens on the remote northern frontier. The immense herds of cattle that supported the mission population became the foundation for the ranching industry of modern Texas.
Mission Espíritu Santo officially became a secular church in 1830 and for a time was the site of Aranama College. The buildings gradually fell into disuse, and people in Goliad used the stones for buildings in town. During the 1930s, craftsmen in the Work Projects Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps programs reconstructed de mission chapel, granary and workshop buildings.” (Credit to Goliad State Park https://texastimetravel.com/directory/goliad-state-park-mission-espiritu-santo-de/)
This tree was buzzing with thousands of bees. It was fun standing under it and hearing their busy wings going from one flower to the next.
This is the church and courtyard.
I love to see the carvings and motif used on this door.
Many prayers were sent upwards to heaven from this little candles.
Muitas orações subiram ao céu destas velinhas.
Baptismal fount. Fonte batismal.
The altar. O altar.
A vida na missão.
Parque estadual de Goliad.
