The
three Roman Catholic orders built hundreds of missions in New Spain; some elaborate
cathedrals and others simple churches. The Jesuit Order, established in the early
sixteenth century, was a multinational group organized along military lines. The
Jesuits established churches in marginal areas such as the harsh deserts of Sonora
and the rugged Sierra Tarahumara of Chihuahua. They erected hundreds of churches
throughout the northern frontier but were eventually expelled by the Spanish government
in 1767. Much of modern-day California, New Mexico, Chihuahua, and Baja California
was initially colonized by the Franciscan Order, established in the thirteenth century.
Following the expulsion, the Franciscans and Dominicans took control of many of
the former Jesuit missions. After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821,
Spanish institutions fell into disfavor. The church and its structures took a somewhat
secondary position to the growing towns and communities, and in some cases, mission
buildings were converted for other uses.
Today,
however, many mission sites remain essential to religious practices and civic activities
in these communities. The Missions Initiative aims to support these active sites
as well as build broader support for all sites and among all categories of stakeholders.
Drawing on the diverse experiences and skills of resource managers, historians,
church representatives, and local communities, the initiative can ultimately improve
access to and appreciation for Spanish Colonial Missions as living examples of the
rich cultural fabric that extends throughout the southwestern United States and
northern Mexico.