Our Lady of Miracles Catholic Church is high above Sierra Blanca, Texas. It’s a modern Church built to replace an aging structure closer to I-10. That older Church sits empty and lonely, seeming bereft of hope and a future.
The last time I visited the old Church, someone placed two candles, one on the other side of the door, as if praying for a reawaking, a revival of the older Church.
Sierra Blanca is one of those small towns from the past that still hold on today. There are land speculators, ranchers, a federal holding facility, an immigration checkpoint, and miles and miles of emptiness.
Sierra Blanca has a lot of history. After graduating from West Point, a young General Patton patrolled the area. Chico Cana, who rustled cattle from Luis Terrazas, was rounded up in Sierra Blanca’s Texas and Pacific Stockyards and taken away by the Love brothers. Patton pursued the Love brothers after that—lots of history.
As you drive west on I-10 towards El Paso, a small white church—Our Lady of Miracles Catholic Church—stands out, commanding attention. Yet, it’s not the attention it deserves. This historical landmark, overlooking the town and everyone passing through, is in a state of decay that demands our immediate action.
Our Lady of Miracles Catholic Church, the older building, stands empty, looking forlornly at the town that once attended mass within her walls. But she’s not alone. She’s waiting for us, the community, to come together and restore her to her former glory.
I could not find any history on the original Church online. It’s almost as if she is a character in the movie Coco, soon to be forgotten and then will fade away.
I contacted the rector of the new Our Lady of Miracles Catholic Church—he also covers the parish in Van Horn, Texas—but no response was forthcoming. Sadly, I was left reading on Facebook messenger, hopelessly waiting for an answer as the older Church waits for a future.
Do you have any photographs or stories of the Old Our Lady of Miracles Catholic Church? I would love to share them with the world. You can reach me by email at [email protected]
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The Old Church
All photos copyright 2022 by Steven E Zimmerman. These photos are not for commercial use.
