San José Mission, Upper Rociada
Projects
The small mountain village of Upper Rociada is located in a spectacular setting about 25 miles northwest of Las Vegas, New Mexico. In the center of town stands the San José Mission, built in 1862 by the ancestors of the people who still live there today. The church was condemned in the early 1980's, and the townspeople faced the prospect of losing this important center and symbol of community. In 1988, when the west wall collapsed, Cornerstones helped the community launch a grassroots, volunteer project to restore the church.
Although Rociada is a very small community, everyone pitched in to help. Former residents, who had moved away, were called upon to help support the project. Some sent monetary contributions, and some even returned to the village to work on the project. The community replaced the cement plaster, which had caused moisture damage to the building, with a traditional mud plaster. After seven years of Saturday workdays, the church was restored.
Although Rociada is a very small community, everyone pitched in to help. Former residents, who had moved away, were called upon to help support the project. Some sent monetary contributions, and some even returned to the village to work on the project. The community replaced the cement plaster, which had caused moisture damage to the building, with a traditional mud plaster. After seven years of Saturday workdays, the church was restored.