La Iglesia de San Patricio was officially closed in 1967 and sat
mostly idle for the next 25 years. The doors fell off the hinges, pigeons
roosted among the roof rafters, and weeds choked the adjacent cemetery.
In the 1990's some lifelong San Patricio residents aided by new arrivals
in San Patricio began work to restore their old church.
On the Church's 111th anniversary in 1993, the church was reborn. Though
still without electricity or water, it now boasted new stucco over its
walls and new altar pieces. Repaired doors hung from new hinges and weeds
in the cemetery had been chopped. A bell, removed when the church closed,
was rehung.
The restored church is to be available for feasts, weddings, and baptisms
and for personal meditation.