Antonito in Conejos County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Keeping the Faith
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Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2025
1. Keeping the Faith Marker
It is believed that the penitente lay fraternity was founded in the 13th century by followers of St. Francis of Assisi in Europe. The practice of penance and strong devotion came to the Western Hemisphere with the Spaniards and made its way to the San Luis Valley during the period of Hispano exploration and settlements.
Because of the extreme isolation of the Hispano frontier, there were few clergy to propagate the Catholic faith. In their absence, the penitente brotherhood became the social and religious structure of each village. As a lay fraternity, they spent most of the Lenten season in gathering places called moradas, where the hermanos, or brothers, devoted themselves to prayer and penitential rites.
Today there are very few practicing penitentes left in the San Luis Valley.
Rick Manzanares
Penitente Brother, Retired Museum Director
[photo captions]
The San Isidro Catholic Church in 1973 before it burned. At times the official church was in direct conflict with the Penitente brotherhood. For a period of time, the Penitentes had to operate secretively and the brotherhood traditions were in danger of being lost.
this page online
The Costilla County community of San Francisco continues to have an Active morada where the Penitentes still preserve their traditional devotional practices.
Erected by Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway Commission, U.S. Forest Service Department of Agriculture, Colorado Historical Society, and the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Hispanic Americans • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 37° 3.892′ N, 106° 6.549′ W. Marker is in Antonito, Colorado, in Conejos County. It is on State Highway 17 just east of County Road E5, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 33056 Colorado Highway 17, Antonito CO 81120, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains and in the San Luis Valley. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically,
Doris B. Osterwald Collection
2. Marker detail: San Isidro Catholic Church in 1973 before it burned
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (approx. 5.2 miles away); Denver & Rio Grande Railroad San Juan Extension (approx. 5.4 miles away); Welcome to El Valle de San Luis (approx. 5.4 miles away); Railroad Boom Town (approx. 5.4 miles away); La Sociedad (approx. 5.4 miles away); Foundations of Faith (approx. 5.4 miles away); Welcome to Colorado / Antonito Country (approx. 5.4 miles away); The Horse and the Indian (approx. 5.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Antonito.
Also see . . .
1. The Hermanos Penitentes of Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico (Denver Public Library).
(by Noel, 1/15/2014) Excerpt: The Penitentes were a Catholic order of men (frowned on by the Vatican) that formed and flourished in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries as Spanish missions in the Southwest declined. And the Penitentes did engage in some startling and arguably brutal rituals (at least by todays American standards).(Submitted on January 18, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
The Penitentesalso were a source of clout and political power for Hispanics. Hispanics in the Southwest faced pressure and discrimination from outsiders. Protestant ministers in the San Luis Valley saw Penitentes as rivals for church membership. Newcomers wanted the land that Hispanics lived on. If a member faced trouble in the community, he could ask his Penitente brothers for help. He might receive legal support, food, or other aid. The Penitentes gave the Church money for funeral expenses. The Penitentes also partnered with the Sociedad Protecciσn Mutua de Trabajadores Unidos, a union of Hispanic workers, to bring protection and aid to members. The Penitentes still exist today.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 20253. San Isidro Catholic Church Ruins
2. San Isidro Catholic Church ruins in Colorado (Facebook).
Excerpt: This church was originally built in 1932 and sadly it was destroyed 43 years later in 1975 by fire due to a mechanical issue with a heater. It was built on donated land, named after and dedicated to the patron saint of farmers San Isidro Labrado (laborer who works the land).(Submitted on January 18, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2025
4. Las Mesitas Catholic Cemetery
The cemetery is preserved behind the San Isidro Catholic Church Ruins.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2025
5. Keeping the Faith Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 52 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on January 17, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 18, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
