The Mission Church of St. Ignatius—the center of Monticello’s traditional Territorial-style plaza—was built in 1869 by the founding families of Monticello.
Due to closures of small churches that are unsupported by a dwindling population, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces determined that it must dispose of many of its holdings, and has therefore gifted the building to the MCA for the benefit of the community for use as a community center.
Over a number of years, the church tower has been undermined, causing it to lean at a dangerous angle. The tower was necessarily demolished in the spring of 2025 (see videos below). We are currently in the process of creating a practical and actionable plan to repair the building so it can be used as a community center for a variety of activities.
The MCA is currently accepting donations toward the repair of this historic building. Please consider a tax-deductible gift. Our mandate is to:
Honor the legacy of the founding families that built the church
Continue the use of the building for community benefit by providing space for activities appropriate to the life of the canyon and its residents
Preserve the building as an important place of cultural and spiritual significance
The Monticello Community Center Project will address various structural issues with the church building itself, as well as an upgrade to the waste system, to bring the building up to code for its intended use as a community center. A new roof may also be necessary once we have determined further needs. In addition, we need to raise funds for maintenance, insurance, water and power, and other operating costs.
Please let us know if you are interested in helping in any of these areas:
Building Committee: Help address all aspects of structural renovation.
Fundraising Committee: Brainstorm events and other activities and apply for historic preservation grants.
Vision Committee: What kinds of activities and events, both secular and spiritual, could be held in the church once it becomes a community center? How can we increase its potential beneficial use by residents?
History Committee: Research all aspects of the history of the canyon, for use in fundraising appeals, grant applications, and history-oriented special events.
Clean-up Committee: Keep the grounds around the church clean, the grass and weeds cut, and the interior of the building clean.
To accomplish these objectives, the Monticello Canyon Association is pursuing all avenues of fundraising, from individual donations here at this website, to direct mail marketing, grants, crowd-sourcing, and special fundraising events.
St. Ignacio Church Deconstruction in Stages
As a part of the Monticello Canyon Association’s transitioning of the historical St. Ignacio Church building into a community center, the church’s belfry was removed on March 10th, 2025, with the help of the Sierra Electric Cooperative. This was followed by the removal of the church’s 600-pound bell, which needed to be taken out while the structure is rebuilt. In April-May 2025, the tower was brought down in stages. Watch videos of the process below, and please consider donating above to help us complete this project.
