College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro facts for kids
The College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro was a special school in New Spain, which is what Mexico was called a long time ago. It was run by Franciscan friars, who were a type of Catholic religious group. This school helped train people to become missionaries, who traveled to teach others about their faith. You could find it in what is now Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico. It was the second school of its kind in the Americas to train missionaries.
The school was founded in 1683 by a person named Antonio Llinás. Another important founder was Damián Massanet. The college welcomed students from both Spain and those born in Mexico. The Spanish government, known as the "crown," even paid for Spanish students to travel to the school. In return, these students promised to work as missionaries for ten years.
Early Members and Their Work
The College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro had a group of original members when it first started. Even though the exact number is a bit unclear, it's known that nine of these early members later went on to serve in Spanish Texas. This shows how important the college was in sending missionaries to different parts of the New World.
What Was a Missionary College?
A missionary college was like a special training center or seminary for people who wanted to become missionaries. Missionaries were individuals who traveled to new places to share their religious beliefs and help build communities. These colleges taught them about their faith, different languages, and how to live and work in new areas.
See also
In Spanish: Templo y exconvento de la Cruz para niños
- College of Guadalupe de Zacatecas
- College of San Fernando de Mexico
- Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda
- Spanish missions in Texas
