On Saturday, September 20, in a celebration of the rich heritage of Ysleta Mission in El Paso, Texas, two new traditional council members of the Tigua Tribe received the canes that are signs of their office and authority.

Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso officiated at the celebration of the Eucharist. Fr. Miguel Briseño, OFM Conv., pastor, and the Conventual Franciscan Friars who staff the present-day Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish joined in honoring the Tigua Tribe who have lived in the area since the late 1600s. A representative of the Spanish Ambassador to the United States presented the canes to the new leaders. The area was Spanish territory at the time of the Mission’s founding.

The Mission was established by Franciscan missionaries in 1680, and Conventual Friars from the Province of Our Lady of Consolation have served there since 1991. The Tigua people still identify with the Mission and observe several ritual days with dancing, drumming, and chanting. The principle of those days is the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua, June 13th.

For more of Al Baeza’s beautiful photographs of the celebration, please visit the Ysleta Mission website: ysletamission.org