St. Thomas the Apostle

Parish Identity and Mission

La Parroquia (parish) de Santo Tomás el Apóstol y sus Misiones is a Roman Catholic faith community centered on the Eucharist and spiritually united across seven historic mission churches. The parish describes itself as celebrating religious and cultural traditions that advocate charity and respect, striving prayerfully to deepen those traditions through example and instruction. Through Baptism, parishioners receive God's grace and are called — in the words of the U.S. bishops' pastoral letter on stewardship — to share the gifts entrusted to them, recognizing that 'once one chooses to become a disciple of Jesus Christ, stewardship is not an option.'

Church History

Catholic life in Abiquiu began with Spanish resettlement after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, the private Chapel of Santa Rosa de Lima (1737), and Governor Tomás Velez Cachupín's 1754 Genízaro land grant that established Santo Tomás de Apóstol as a reducción mission church. The original 1773 church burned in 1867; it was rebuilt and replaced again in 1935 with the present John Gaw Meem–designed church, built by Abiqueño hands with adobe bricks and local timbers.

• 1737 — first license issued for the Chapel at Santa Rosa by Bishop of Durango Don Martín de Elisacochea
• 1754 — Governor Tomás Velez Cachupín establishes the Abiquiu Genízaro land grant; Fray Félix Joseph Ordoñez y Machado becomes first priest
• 1756–1771 — Fray Juan José Toledo builds the convent and church walls
• 1773 — Fray Sebastián Angel Fernández completes the church
• 1776 — Father Francisco Atanasio Domínguez describes daily catechism and devotions at the mission
• 1867 — the original Santo Tomás church burns
• 1935 — present Pueblo Revival church begun, designed by John Gaw Meem
• 1975 — original Santa Rosa de Lima site deeded to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe
• 2010 — chapel adjacent to the sacristy dedicated and renamed La Capilla de Santa Rosa de Lima

The Seven Mission Churches

One parish — seven historic churches across northern New Mexico. The missions are reached by parishioners traveling between the villages for Sunday and weekday Masses, patron-saint fiestas, and devotions. The parish recommends confirming the mission schedule with the parish office.

• San Miguel Archangel — Cañones
• Santo Niño — Capulin
• San Juan Bautista — Coyote
• Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe — Gallina
• San Antonio — Medanales
• Santa Teresa — Mesa de Poleo
• San Pedro — Youngsville

Architecture and the 1935 Building Dispute

The present church was begun in 1935 under John Gaw Meem (1894–1983), the Santa Fe architect credited with developing and popularizing the Pueblo Revival Style and as a proponent of architectural Regionalism. Work halted when Meem oriented the doors east; the parish insisted on the traditional south-facing orientation. The dispute ended when locals — variously remembered as a drunken school bus driver, a Model-T driver, or a group with oxen, mules, and plows — tore into the unfinished foundation, forcing the doors south toward the mesa of the Moqui. Meem refused to attend the dedication, though St. Thomas Church, Abiquiu (1935) remains among his credited works. Families unable to donate money were expected to donate labor; many made adobe bricks and hauled the massive vigas for the structure.

Schedule of Holy Mass

Mass is celebrated across the seven missions on a rotating schedule each week, with one Abiquiu Sunday Mass at 8:00 am and weekend Vigil Masses in the missions.

• Saturday Vigil: 4:00 pm Medanales; 6:00 pm Cañones
• Sunday: 8:00 am Abiquiu; 10:00 am Coyote / Youngsville (alternating); 11:30 am Gallina
• Monday: No Mass
• Tuesday: 12:00 pm Abiquiu
• Wednesday: 7:30 am Medanales
• Thursday: 12:00 pm Coyote
• Friday: 9:30 am Abiquiu (except Fridays of Lent, per Archdiocese listing)

Holy Sacraments

The parish walks families and individuals through each sacrament with preparation, instruction, and the priest's personal involvement. Parents and godparents are asked to meet with Father and attend a Baptismal preparation course; couples planning marriage are asked to meet with Father six to nine months before any other arrangements.

• Baptism — meet with Father and attend Baptism prep course; godparents must be practicing Catholics
• Holy Communion & Confirmation — Religious Education classes begin each September
• Reconciliation — half hour before Mass, Saturday 2–3 pm, or by appointment
• Marriage — initial meeting with Father 6–9 months ahead
• Anointing of the Sick — by request
• Funeral Mass — contact the parish office before final arrangements with the funeral home

Parish Ministries

The parish describes each lay ministry as a vital, Christ-centered service — the 'Voice and Servants of the Mass' for lectors and extraordinary ministers, the 'first people the congregation meets' for hospitality, and the focused reverence of altar servers during the consecration.

• Lectors — proclaim the Word from the Ambo; Ministry President: Analinda Dunning (505-685-4048)
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — distribute the Precious Body and Blood
• Lectors and EMHCs lead the Rosary before Mass
• Altar Servers — youth and adults; Ministry President: Dexter Trujillo (505-685-4048)
• Hospitality Ministers — open the church, ring the bell, greet and assist; Ministry President: Jeff Vigil (575-638-5358)

Religious Education and Faith Formation

Required Religious Education classes for First Holy Communion and Confirmation begin each September. Dates and times are announced in the parish bulletin, and registration is handled through the parish office. Catechesis is rooted in the long Abiquiu tradition of daily catechism and Marian devotion that Father Domínguez described in 1776.

Parish Fiestas and Patron Saints

Each of the seven mission churches celebrates an annual feast day for its patron saint, coordinated with the local Mayordomos. The parish's own patron — Santo Tomás — is honored on July 3, traditionally celebrated on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Santa Rosa de Lima is honored on August 23.

• Cañones — San Miguel — September 29
• Coyote — San Juan Bautista — June 24
• Gallina — Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe — December 12 (celebrated September 16)
• Medanales — San Antonio — June 13
• Youngsville — San Pedro — June 29
• Mesa de Poleo — Santa Teresa — October 14
• Santo Tomás — July 3 (celebrated on the Saturday following Thanksgiving)
• Santa Rosa de Lima — August 23

Parish Office, Staff and Contact

The parish office is located to the right of the church building in Abiquiu, with mail directed to P.O. Box 117, Abiquiu, NM 87510-0117. Office hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm (closed on holidays). Meetings with Father Valentine are by appointment only.

• Pastor/Administrator — Rev. Valentine Phu Au
• Office Manager — Robin Dominguez
• Office hours: Tuesday–Thursday, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
• Phone: 505-685-1153
• Email: [email protected]