Visitors to the beloved and historic hamlet of Monticello, New Mexico have for decades been captivated by the charm of the 19th-century adobe Mission Church of St. Ignatius. Founded in 1869 by some of the same families still residing in the canyon, the church is currently undergoing a transformation that requires our community to come together and ask for your help.

Due to changes within the Roman Catholic Church, its diocese in Las Cruces has determined that it must dispose of many of its holdings in areas such as Monticello that have low population density. As a result, in 2024, the Catholic Church gifted the St. Ignatius Church building to the Monticello Canyon Association, a nonprofit 501-c3 organization, to be used as a community center for our town.

Before the MCA can begin to utilize the building for community events and fundraisers that will hopefully serve to revitalize the canyon, bringing Monticello residents and visitors together for a variety of fun and exciting activities, some major work needs to be done on the structure. Over a number of years, the church tower was undermined, causing it to lean at a dangerous angle. The tower was necessarily demolished in the spring of 2025. We are currently in the process of attempting to repair the building so it can be used for community purposes.

The MCA's ultimate goal is to preserve the historic appearance and nature of the church while also making crucial repairs to the building that would make it suitable for use. In order to achieve this, we are asking anyone with an interest in our charming little town, or in the preservation of a vital piece of New Mexico history, to please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our fundraiser. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated, and we'll be sure to express our gratitude at our next Matanza party or Fiesta!