A $200-a-ticket fundraiser is coming to Bodega Loya in Socorro, Texas this Saturday, October 17, aiming to breathe new financial life into the restoration of Socorro Mission – La Purísima Concepción, one of the oldest missions in the country. The event runs from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and promises mission tours, live music, a chef-led meal and a silent auction, all built around a single goal: raising enough money to finish fixing a church that has stood since the 1600s.
The event features guided tours and a chef-led culinary experience, alongside cultural performances that include matachines and mariachi groups and a silent auction. Organizers are directing ticket purchases to socorromissionrestoration.com.
The mission itself traces back to 1680, according to the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso, which describes it as one of the oldest missions in the United States. Saturday's event frames the stakes plainly, with organizers urging the community to help preserve 346 years of history — a figure also cited on the fundraiser's own promotional materials.
What the Restoration Actually Involves
The scope of work is substantial. The Socorro Mission Restoration Campaign says the project includes structural stabilization of the 1843 adobe church building, along with conservation of historic artwork, artifacts and architectural details. The mission's roof requires invasive repair and modifications to prevent moisture from seeping into the adobe walls, per the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso's description of the campaign.
Saturday's benefit is being hosted in partnership with the Bodega Loya family, the foundation notes. Tickets for the event were first listed as available starting November 1, 2025, giving organizers nearly a year to build toward the gathering now set for this weekend.
A Funding Gap That Stalled the Work
The urgency behind the fundraiser traces back to a funding shortfall reported earlier this year. As KVIA reported in May, the restoration project is in phase two but on a pause due to lack of funds. That same report put the campaign's fundraising goal at $2.8 million, while the Socorro Mission Restoration Campaign's own materials state the group aims to raise $2 million to preserve and protect the site — a discrepancy the available records do not resolve.
For now, Saturday's gathering at Bodega Loya represents the community's most visible push to close that gap, pairing a night of music, food and auction bidding with a centuries-old building's bid to stay standing.
