[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23919]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              CELEBRATING LAS MISIONES DE SAN ANTONIO WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 1, 2003-

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, we are fortunate in San Antonio and the 
28th District of Texas to be home to one of the few national parks 
located within an urban center, the San Antonio Missions National 
Historic Park. Today the missions represent a virtually unbroken 
connection with our past. Bearing the distinctive stamp of generations 
of Indian and Spanish craftsmen, the historic missions are still part 
of our daily lives as active parishes and cultural centers. In 
addition, some 1.5 million tourists visit the missions each year.
   The four mission churches--San Jose, Concepcion, Espada and San 
Juan--are colonial era churches which the Spanish established to bring 
European religion and culture to the native and immigrant populations 
of the region. Today, the San Antonio Missions are among the relatively 
few intact examples of the colonial missions in the Southwest. 
Unfortunately, the four missions were largely neglected after 
secularization in 1824 as the functioning farms and ranches ceased 
operation. Today, the mission church structures are in dire need of 
restoration and preservation to protect the unique record of the 
architecture, art, and culture of the Spanish colonial period in Texas.
   With the goal of preserving and restoring the church structures of 
Mission San Jose, Mission Concepcion, Mission Espada, and Mission San 
Juan, community leaders have formed the Las Misiones capital campaign. 
By educating all Americans about the historic, economic, architectural, 
cultural and spiritual significance of the churches and surrounding 
buildings, the three-year initiative will culminate with the 
restoration of the four mission church structures.
   I would like to take this opportunity to commend the San Antonio 
community as they launch Las Misiones de San Antonio week, October 
5th--October 11th. The missions are part of every Texan's history. The 
missions contributed to the agricultural and commercial development of 
central and south Texas, and they were critical to the growth of San 
Antonio region and the state as a whole. It is my wish that we as a 
community unite to preserve San Antonio's first skyline and the largest 
cluster of Spanish missions in the United States. By preserving our 
past, we help build our future.

                          ____________________