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The parish currently serves
2,325 families. The parish boundaries go from Stonewall to Branson and from
south of Aguilar to the New Mexico State Line, an area of about eighty-five
miles by thirty miles. The eastern plains are sparsely populated, with a
scattering of cattle ranches and alfalfa farms; the western area is mountainous,
dotted with small towns that used to be coal camps. In the center is Trinidad,
which was once located on the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail. Today the
town has a population of about 10,000 people.
The
first pastor of Holy Trinity Church, Fr. Peter Munnecom, arrived in June 1866.
He was sent by Bishop Lamy, of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, at the request of
one of the pioneers of the Trinidad settlement, Don Felipe Baca. (Aside: Felipe
Baca’s daughter, Luce, later became the first Sister of Charity from
Trinidad).
Walsenburg/Trinidad Deanery
Background: The Walsenburg/Trinidad area
covers the entire Las Animas County and Walsenburg areas. The parishes of this
area include St. Mary's of Walsenburg, Holy Trinity of Trinidad, St Anthony's of
Aguliar, Sacred Heart of Gardner, and Christ the King in La Veta. Some church
services are also held at St. Ignatius in Segundo, San Isidro in Vigil, the
Trinidad State Nursing Home and the Ava Maria Shrine. They are all situated
between the western side of the Sangre de Christo Mountains, from the Huerfano
County line on the north (a few miles south of Pueblo), stretching as far as the
Raton Pass and the New Mexico border on the south, and to the plains of eastern
Las Animas county on the east. Las Animas and Huerfano Counties both are
affluent with many historical landmarks and are situated near or on the Santa Fe
Trial. After Las Animas County was founded in February 9th, 1866 and Huerfano
County was founded on November 01, 1861, many missions churches were erected.
Only those listed above are currently in use today.
MISSION: The Walsenburg / Trinidad
Deanery consists of small catholic communities that perceive the word of God and
endorse one another as their mission to further the reign of God by continuing
the work of Jesus, living the Eucharist, and by their quest to be the church God
expects them to be.
Most Holy Trinity Church & Convent
125 Church Street
Trinidad Co 81082-2606
Western Missions
Rev. Thomas J. Melancon, SJ, Parochial Vicar
St. Ignatius, Segundo (719) 846-3369
San Isidro, Vigil (719) 846-3369
Eastern Missions
Margaret Lewis (TACC) (719) 846-5565
710 Williams, Branson CO 81027
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