Ysleta Mission is the oldest continuously active parish in the state of Texas, and the community of Ysleta is the oldest town in Texas .The town was one of several agricultural communities started along the Rio Grande by Spaniards and Indians after the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. The Tigua Indians, who were forced to flee their pueblo at Isleta, New Mexico, have since occupied the area continuously.
On October 12, 1680, the first Mass was held in Ysleta, and a temporary mission church was built. In attendance were New Mexico Governor Don Antonio de Otermfn, 150 soldiers, Spanish colonists and 317 Indians, including more than 100 Tiguas .In 1682,the Tiguas founded Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, and by 1692,the tribe built a larger mission, Corpus Cristi de los Tiguas de Ysleta. The Spanish term, del sur (of the south) differentiates the southern pueblo from the northern mother pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico. The church was also called the San Antonio Mission after the patron saint of the Tiguas. This building, dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, lasted until the disastrous flood of 1740, and was rebuilt in 1744 on what was then established farmland. The 1744 mission was later washed away by the flood of 1829. In late 1851the present Ysleta Mission was completed and reopened for services. The mission appeared as a simple, rectangular stack of blocks. The facade was later changed to a pitched, gable shape. About 1897, the gable was enlarged and a beehive-shaped dome bell tower was added.
In 1907, most of the church was destroyed by fire. Only the sacristy remained unscathed. The church was rebuilt using the original sacristy and the remaining adobe walls. The gabled facade was stepped upward with Mission Revival detailing, limited fenestrations and unadorned surfaces, culminating with a high, central arch. The massive bell tower was also altered, adding the familiar silver dome, capping three centuries of natural disasters.
The Tiguas are still loyal to their patron saint, San Antonio de Padua, whose name they identify with the mission. The Tigua feast day of San Antonio is observed on June 13, with a morning Mass followed by traditional dances. Our Lady of Mount Carmel feast day is celebrated around the 16th of July with a festive bazaar.
The Tiguas, who helped the United States military as scouts during the 19th century Indian wars, were finally recognized as a tribe by the state of Texas in 1967 and by the United States Congress in 1968.
