Mission San Francisco de la Espada (World Heritage Site)

About Mission San Francisco de la Espada

Mission San Francisco de la Espada is an active Catholic parish in south San Antonio and the southernmost of the five Spanish missions that make up San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The parish is bilingual (English and Spanish), staffed by Franciscan (OFM) friars of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, and is twinned with St. Frances X. Cabrini Church at 1606 San Casimiro — together forming one parish family at two worship sites. The historic 1756 stone church remains in use, and the mission grounds, including the iconic Espada Aqueduct and acequia, are preserved by the National Park Service as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History of Mission Espada

The mission's origins reach back to March 5, 1690, when Father Damián Massanet founded Mission San Francisco de los Tejas in East Texas — the first Spanish mission in the region. After that site was abandoned in 1693, the community of San Francisco was relocated to the San Antonio River on March 5, 1731, by Father Pedro Muñoz of the College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro, and renamed Mission San Francisco de la Espada.

• 1690 — Founded as San Francisco de los Tejas in East Texas
• 1693 — East Texas site abandoned
• March 5, 1731 — Relocated to the San Antonio River and renamed Espada
• 1736 — Indian–settler conflict; Father Muñoz replaced by Father Ysasmendi
• 1739 — Smallpox and measles epidemic; Father Ysasmendi dies
• 1745 — Friary, sacristy and Espada Aqueduct completed under Father Ortiz
• 1756 — Small chapel built; collapses and demolished by 1777
• 1772 — Transferred from Querétaro to the College of Zacatecas
• June 25, 1794 — Partial secularization
• 1824 — Full secularization by the Mexican government
• 1895 — Espada Ditch Company repairs the dam
• 1941 — San Antonio Conservation Society buys aqueduct property
• 1965 — Espada Aqueduct designated a Historic National Landmark
• 2015 — San Antonio Missions inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Espada Aqueduct and Acequia

Water was the lifeblood of Mission Espada. Spanish craftsmen and Indigenous laborers built a 270-foot dam across the San Antonio River and the famous Espada Aqueduct (1745) to carry acequia water over Piedras Creek to the mission's fields. Today the Espada acequia is the oldest irrigation system of its kind still in continuous use in the United States, and the arched stone aqueduct — designated a Historic National Landmark in 1965 — is the only Spanish-built aqueduct still standing in the country.

Parish Staff and Franciscan Leadership

The parish is led by Franciscan friars of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), continuing the mission's original spiritual tradition. Deacon Albert Rodriguez assists in ministry, supported by a parish administrator, secretary, bookkeeper, religious education coordinator, and a gift-shop manager.

• Fr. Charlie (Carlos) Martinez, OFM — Pastor
• Deacon Albert Rodriguez
• Parish Administrator
• Celia Carrigan — Secretary / Administrative Assistant
• Gloria Viramontes — Bookkeeper
• JoAnn Jimenez — Gift Shop Manager
• Sonia Trevino — Religious Education

Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Matrimony

The parish prepares parishioners for the three sacraments of Christian initiation and the lifelong sacrament of marriage. Baptism and Confirmation guidelines are published on the parish website (with sponsor requirements per Archdiocese norms). Weddings at Mission Espada are especially distinctive — couples marry in the historic 18th-century stone church but must be sponsored by their home parish and provide the standard set of sacramental records.

• Baptism (Bautizos) — guidelines and sponsor criteria published online
• Confirmation (Confirmación)
• Matrimony — Saturdays only, 1:00 PM or 3:00 PM, guest count of 50 maximum; six-month advance request; documents (state birth certificate, Baptism, Communion, Confirmation) due at parish office two months before; church rental fee $750 + $250 deposit

Religious Education and Ministries

Faith formation for grade-school and high-school students is coordinated by Sonia Trevino. The parish also hosts an active St. Vincent de Paul Society, the parish gift shop, and the dual-site parish life shared with St. Frances X. Cabrini.

• Religious Education (Grade & High School)
• St. Vincent de Paul Society
• Parish Gift Shop
• Bilingual parish community with St. Frances X. Cabrini

Visiting Mission Espada and San Antonio Missions

Because the mission is part of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, visitors move between parish worship and national-park tourism. The eight-mile Mission Trail links Mission Espada to the other four San Antonio missions along the original El Camino Real de los Tejas. The National Park Service issues special-event permits for non-liturgical events on the grounds; the parish itself handles weddings and hall rentals.

• Part of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (NPS)
• UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015
• Main Hall available for parish and non-parishioner rental ($500 parishioners / $600 non-parishioners, $150 deposit)
• Eight-mile Mission Trail connects all five San Antonio missions
• No alcohol permitted on mission grounds

Contact and Parish Information

Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone or email. The parish shares its ministry with St. Frances X. Cabrini, with the contact details listed below for the Espada/Cabrini parish office.

• Address: 10040 Espada Road, San Antonio, TX 78214
• Phone: (210) 627-2064
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: missionsanfranciscodelaespada.org
• Companion site: St. Frances X. Cabrini, 1606 San Casimiro, San Antonio