About Us
Our Vision
To center our parish life on Christ, Scripture, and the celebration of the Sacraments in joyous worship and prayerful reflection of His love and mercy.
Our Mission
To come together as a community of faith, in a spirit of hospitality and loving care, to serve one another in times of need and to share in the joys and struggles of everyday life in Christ. We seek to nurture the spiritual growth of our congregation, uphold the teachings of the Catholic faith, and extend our hand in service to the community, embodying the values of compassion and charity.
A historic Catholic Church established in 1868
The first Hispanic settlers came to Tularosa 1858 after repeated flooding in the Mesilla Valley destroyed their farmland and forced them to leave. When they tried to establish themselves in the area, frequent Apache raids pushed them back, but the families were determined to return. In 1862, they finally settled the area, began cultivating the land, and formed a local government. They also planned the construction of our church that would serve both as a place of worship and a refuge from attacks. They named the new village after the wild roses and cattails that grew thick along the riverbank.
In March, 1868, a Mescalero Apache raiding party moved through the Tularosa region. Just over a month later, Sergeant E. Glass and four soldiers were ambushed while patrolling along the Rio Tularosa. After the attack, Glass met with town leaders to ask for reinforcements.
The following day, Company H of the 3rd U.S. Cavalry, joined by twenty-six civilian volunteers from Tularosa, came under attack once more about nine miles east of town, near Round Mountain. Glass and his men withdrew to an abandoned fort, and the fighting continued there for six hours before the Apache forces finally withdrew.
While the men were engaged in battle, the townspeople gathered in prayer around an image of St. Francis de Paula—an image brought from La Mesilla by José María Bernal. Together, they prayed La Promesa Solemne. The devotion shown by the twenty-six volunteers and their families is the spiritual foundation for what is now the annual St. Francis de Paula Fiesta. Each year, our celebration honors the promise they made and preserved.
We celebrated our first Mass in May of 1869, led by Rev. F. Boucard from the Diocese of Tucson. Spanish was the primary language for worship, though English was occasionally used. By 1886, the population of Tularosa had grown to nearly 1,000, and the church obtained a bell made in St. Louis. Over the years St. Francis de Paula has housed Francisan friars, nuns, and orphans. Our current religious education buildings and fiesta grounds were once a parochial school. Many area missions were originally placed under our parish’s care.
For over a century and a half, our church has played a central role in the spiritual and civic life of Tularosa. Deeply woven into the identity of the community, she continues to stand under the patronage of San Francis de Paula.
La Promesa Solemne
“Necesitamos su ayuda. De nos su Ayuda en esta nuestra hora.
Dios neustro si no concede Victoria atraves de la in-tercession de vuestro siervo, San Francisco de Paola, nosotros terminaremos la construccion de nuestra iglesia, y la iglesia llevara el nombre de San Francisco de Paola, y por todos los anos venideros el evento sera conmemorado por nosotros y nuestros decendientes del por venir. Amen.”
“We need your help, we ask your help in this our hour.
Dear God, if you will grant us victory, through the intercession of your servant, St. Francis de Paula, we will complete the building of our church and the church will bear the name of St. Francis de Paula and for all years thereafter, the events shall be commemorated by us and all our descendants. Amen.”
