By Fred Nigro
The Capilla de San Antonio de Padua of La Cieneguilla began April 28th, 1818 with construction by my great/great/great grandfather Mora. His son was Antonio Jose Mora.
As I understand, but yet to document, the Mora’s came from Spain date uncertain. It was told to me that we had relatives on a ship called Velesco in 1693. However, the Mora’s with the help of cousins, Romero’s who lived across the Santa Fe River near the mesa, helped with the construction of the capilla in 1818 through 1820.
After the Mora’s and Romero’s helped to build the capilla, there were many other cousins and friends who helped over the years to insure up keep of the capilla for the next June 12th & 13th vespers and mass for San Antonio de Padua. This santo was patron saint that Mora’s brought from Spain and place their statue in this capilla. As I understand, the men would mix the sand, straw, and water and the women would apply the new mud plaster to the capilla. with their hands. Later, my grandfather, Eulogio, his brother, Martin Mora and spouse Trinidad Romero Mora would have big dances at their home near the capilla as food and drink were made available for all the people who made the yearly pilgrimage on June 13th to this capilla.
Today, the tradition goes on while the land where the capilla sits has shrunk to about 1.5 acres. My cousin, Larie Mora Gunn is now the owner and guardian for the family capilla.
I have been coming back every year since 1990, after a long staying away while beginning a family and career in sales in Kansas City and Chicago. I must say that all the Mayordomos do their best to prepare the capilla for the next season. This year my cousin said a prayer that San Antonio would send her an angel to help her. And he sent her Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Gallegos. Alonzo’s construction crew, friends of his in carpentry and electrical and construction materials pitched in to make the capilla look like a mini Cathedral this 2007 season. All of the old Mora clan would be very proud; I know it brought tears to my eyes on June 13th, 2007 at the mass.
There was one piece of history I found out about recently, there are 4 or 5 acres just adjacent to the capilla which was Mora property. My great grandfather, Eulogio Mora, in 1920 he granted permission to a Dr. Edgar Lee Hewitt on behave of the American Research School to use it for 100 years (2020) to explore the pueblo site. Apparently, the entire La Cieneguilla territory was once Tziguma pueblo land. My thought would be that San Antonio send us another angel for 2008, maybe the American Research School would donate the Mora land that Eulogio let them use back to the capilla de San Antonio. Miracles still happen you know…
As far as relatives who are part of the ancestry I have to the Mora’s through my mother, Sarah (Cesaria) Ruperta Mora Nigro is:
Her parents were Frederico Mora and Genoveve Gallegos Mora. Frederico Mora was son to Eulogio Mora and Ruperta Zamora Mora. And Eulogio was son to Antonio Jose Mora and Ana Maria Montoya Mora. My grandmother, Genoveva Gallegos Mora, was daughter to Nestor Gallegos and Cesaria Romero Gallegos. Nestor’s parents were Jose Jacinto Gallegos and Florentina Domingos Gallegos. Her parents were Jose Antonio Romero and spouse was Lupe Brito Romero.
Are you still with me…?
I have some picture of my grand & great grand parents, thanks to the salesman who went door to door to take family photographs. I have photos of the capilla today as well a my mom’s Tio Jose herding some goats near the capilla. I hope you will enjoy the enchantment these pictures bring to me as well as the beautiful New Mexico lands.
I am Fred W. Nigro from Lee Summit, Missouri. I am a sales rep for Inx…International Ink Company. I like to do some expressionism painting, some stain glass (see the capilla windows), and enjoy my children and 3 grand daughters
As I understand, but yet to document, the Mora’s came from Spain date uncertain. It was told to me that we had relatives on a ship called Velesco in 1693. However, the Mora’s with the help of cousins, Romero’s who lived across the Santa Fe River near the mesa, helped with the construction of the capilla in 1818 through 1820.
After the Mora’s and Romero’s helped to build the capilla, there were many other cousins and friends who helped over the years to insure up keep of the capilla for the next June 12th & 13th vespers and mass for San Antonio de Padua. This santo was patron saint that Mora’s brought from Spain and place their statue in this capilla. As I understand, the men would mix the sand, straw, and water and the women would apply the new mud plaster to the capilla. with their hands. Later, my grandfather, Eulogio, his brother, Martin Mora and spouse Trinidad Romero Mora would have big dances at their home near the capilla as food and drink were made available for all the people who made the yearly pilgrimage on June 13th to this capilla.
Today, the tradition goes on while the land where the capilla sits has shrunk to about 1.5 acres. My cousin, Larie Mora Gunn is now the owner and guardian for the family capilla.
I have been coming back every year since 1990, after a long staying away while beginning a family and career in sales in Kansas City and Chicago. I must say that all the Mayordomos do their best to prepare the capilla for the next season. This year my cousin said a prayer that San Antonio would send her an angel to help her. And he sent her Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Gallegos. Alonzo’s construction crew, friends of his in carpentry and electrical and construction materials pitched in to make the capilla look like a mini Cathedral this 2007 season. All of the old Mora clan would be very proud; I know it brought tears to my eyes on June 13th, 2007 at the mass.
There was one piece of history I found out about recently, there are 4 or 5 acres just adjacent to the capilla which was Mora property. My great grandfather, Eulogio Mora, in 1920 he granted permission to a Dr. Edgar Lee Hewitt on behave of the American Research School to use it for 100 years (2020) to explore the pueblo site. Apparently, the entire La Cieneguilla territory was once Tziguma pueblo land. My thought would be that San Antonio send us another angel for 2008, maybe the American Research School would donate the Mora land that Eulogio let them use back to the capilla de San Antonio. Miracles still happen you know…
As far as relatives who are part of the ancestry I have to the Mora’s through my mother, Sarah (Cesaria) Ruperta Mora Nigro is:
Her parents were Frederico Mora and Genoveve Gallegos Mora. Frederico Mora was son to Eulogio Mora and Ruperta Zamora Mora. And Eulogio was son to Antonio Jose Mora and Ana Maria Montoya Mora. My grandmother, Genoveva Gallegos Mora, was daughter to Nestor Gallegos and Cesaria Romero Gallegos. Nestor’s parents were Jose Jacinto Gallegos and Florentina Domingos Gallegos. Her parents were Jose Antonio Romero and spouse was Lupe Brito Romero.
Are you still with me…?
I have some picture of my grand & great grand parents, thanks to the salesman who went door to door to take family photographs. I have photos of the capilla today as well a my mom’s Tio Jose herding some goats near the capilla. I hope you will enjoy the enchantment these pictures bring to me as well as the beautiful New Mexico lands.
I am Fred W. Nigro from Lee Summit, Missouri. I am a sales rep for Inx…International Ink Company. I like to do some expressionism painting, some stain glass (see the capilla windows), and enjoy my children and 3 grand daughters
Mora Family Stories
Family Stories