St. Agnes Mission

Address: 505 Gunnison St.
Saguache, CO 81149

Mailing Address:  P.O. Box 590
Monte Vista, CO 81144

San Juan Catholic Community
 

    
St. Joseph Church, Monte Vista           
Holy Name of Mary Church, Del Norte & Missions

St. Francis Jerome Parish, Center     

St. Agnes Church, Saguache



Phone:  719 754-3969
Email:  sfjc@centurytel.net
Administrator:  Rev. Joseph A. Vigil
 
Our Mission is to provide leadership in and promote spiritual riches and gaining.  The strength of new energies thereafter she will look to the future without fear.  Its duty is to direct itself with an earnest will and without fear to that which our era demands, thus pursuing the path which the church has followed.
 

Staff

Rev. Joseph Vigil, Administrator

Deacon Don Lamb

Rev. Charles Sena, VF, Parochial Vicar
 

History

Saguache, Moffat, Villa Grove and Crestone are located in the northern part of the San Luis Valley, close to the Rio Grande National Forest which attracts tourists, hunters and fishermen. The valley is bordered by the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range, which is located to the east, and the San Juan Mountain range, which lies to the west. Saguache sits at an altitude of 7,600 feet, and is primarily a cattle ranching community, with some farming. The population of the city is 650, with approximately half of Hispanic decent, and half of Anglo decent.

In the 1800s, settlers of the region feared the predatory Indians who inhabited the San Luis Valley. It occurred to the Spanish villagers that a church might invoke the blessings of God against the Indian raids. The first church in the area was named St. Joseph. It was served by the Jesuit priests from Conejos, who came once a year on the Feast of St. Joseph. Later, a new church was erected: St. Ignatius, Ignacio. By this time, the Jesuits had established Del Norte as their resident base. Until then, Del Norte had also been served mainly as a mission from Conejos. With the Jesuits living in Del Norte, masses were celebrated more often in Saguache. 

The church in Saguache is a testimony to the love and devotion of its parishioners who labored undauntedly for seven years to complete the structure. Construction on St. Agnes began in 1940, and continued until its dedication on October 1, 1947. Approximately fifty men from the parish participated in the active construction of the church at various times. Because of the enormous amount of donated labor, the cost to build the church was maintained at approximately $15,000. The church experienced many delays in its construction, due to the conditions brought about by World War II, as well as to the seasonal periods of planting and harvesting that required the rough hands and strong backs of the part-time construction team.

The money for the project was raised, in large part, by the Catholic women of the community, who collaborated under the name of the Catholic Social Club to stage fund-raising activities over the long period of years. The project was also aided by a $2,500 gift from the Catholic Extension Society of Chicago. The donor requested the church be dedicated to St. Agnes.

Today, the church is a mission of St. Francis Jerome, Center. It has a congregation of about forty faithful families.