St. Joseph Mission School
San Fidel, new mexico
The School
The small but beautiful village of San Fidel was established in 1868 under the shadow of Mount Taylor and received visitors from Seboyeta and San Rafael in the early days of its existence. When the Franciscan friars came to the Southwest, priests from Gallup visited the area on
their rounds, and the parish of San Fidel was created.
St. Joseph Church (located on New Mexico highway 124) was built in 1920. It was chosen to be a central location to serve Grants, Laguna, Acoma, Seboyeta, and Cubero. The Laguna and Acoma Pueblos eventually became their own parishes, and the St. Joseph’s Church was only used on special occasions.
The rectory in San Fidel was built in the early 1920s and housed the priests who served the missions for many years. In 1981, the rectory was converted into a convent for the Ursuline Sisters. Later, the Sisters of the Most Holy Sacrament and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament occupied the convent.
Today, the Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida live in the convent, while 11,305-foot Mount Taylor still guards the town and its history.
St. Joseph’s Church and the convent today.
ABOUT ST. JOSEPH’S
The Town h
The school first served as a public school, but soon the Franciscan Sisters came to staff the two classrooms, which soon grew to three classrooms and continued to grow until the school reached its peak of enrollment in 1960 with 250 students. 
Many alumni of St. Joseph’s school pursue college and higher education, some even returning to work at the school or send their own children there. St. Joseph’s alumni include accountants, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, teachers, and many tribal leaders of the Acoma and Laguna tribes.
Today, the little white school in San Fidel is growing once again. With new administration and teachers, it is set to thrive. The curriculum incorporates Catholic traditions and values into local, global, and experiential academic programs.
Contact
St. Joseph Mission School
P.O. Box 370
26 School Road
San Fidel, NM 87049
Phone: 505.552.6362
E-mail: stjosephmissionschool@live.com
Directions: CLICK HERE
recent activities
First Day of School!
Summer Vacation!
Renovations of cafeteria and office
New administrator and principal!
The Geography
The area around St. Joseph’s and San Fidel is historically and culturally rich. Once located right off of the famous Route 66, the gorgeous landscape now rolls along Interstate-40. Nearby are the ancient lava flows, named “El Malpais” or “the badlands”, by Spanish explorers. The lava once flowed from Mount Taylor when it was an active stratovolcano almost two million years ago.
The mountain is sacred to many of the Native Americans in the area, including the Laguna and Acoma tribes. Both reservations stretch along I-40 and include the beautiful mesas and high desert areas surrounding San Fidel.
The road west from San Fidel runs through the McCartys ghost town where the sign of a once popular Whiting Brothers Com
plex is the only thing that remains from the motel, gas station, and cafe that used to be there when Route 66 was in its heyday. Going 11 miles more leads to Grants, the largest town in the area.
STOP IN TO SEE US ANYTIME!
SEE DIRECTIONS ABOVE
Laguna Pueblo, with St. Joseph’s Church (at left) and Acoma Pueblo’s San Esteban Church.
