Doctrina

22:45 Aug 5, 2012 

The term "Doctrina" was (apparently) the one used in 1668 when this thing was founded, so it would be useful to know what it meant then. Here is how the RAE defined it in its first dictionary, the so-called Diccionario de Autoridades, in 1732:

"Doctrina. Se llama en Indias el Curáto colativo de Pueblos de Indios, afecto à determinada Religion de Regulares, à quienes se ha concedido perpetuamente, en premio de haver sido los que reduxeron los Pueblos à policía y à la Religion Catholica".

So what happened was that a religious order (normally the Franciscans or the Jesuits, who were the most active in this field) founded a mission and started converting the local natives. When it was felt this had been achieved, a kind of parish was founded under the continuing control of that same religious order. So not a parish with a parish priest, but a Franciscan or Jesuit (or whatever) enclave, officially recognised by the Church.

22:09 Aug 5, 2012 

But I do think that the writer intentionally chose to use Doctrina and not Parroquia, so I would be inclined to stick with Mission. But it would be helpful to know just when those missions were considered parishes. Now that I'm a little clearer on this issue, I would be comfortable going back to my client to ask that question. This discussion has been tremendously helpful, thanks very much!

18:59 Aug 5, 2012 

Well, it is effectively a kind of parish. Technically, though, there is a difference, which is why I shied away from using the word "parish".

A "doctrina" is a kind of "curato", and as I said, the DRAE defines "curato" as a synonym of "parroquia". However, a "doctrina", in this sense, is a "curato colativo [ie. canonically established] servido por regulares". This last part, the fact that it is under the care of regular clergy (ie. members of a monastic order or other religious institute, such as the Jesuits) is what distinguishes it from "parroquia", which is, of course, traditionally under the care of secular clergy (ie. ordinary deacons and priests who are not members of such an order or institute).

It is really this that makes me think that the terms "doctrina" and "parroquia" are not, properly speaking, synonyms. The "Doctrina de Codpa" is always (in reliable references) called a doctrina in this historical period; only later did it become a "parroquia". It was under the care of monastic clergy; it was what we commonly call a mission.

Just as a footnote: it is worth nothing that although the DRAE says "curato" is a synonym of "parroquia", it doesn't say that "doctrina" is.

18:11 Aug 5, 2012 

Thank you so much, Charles and Edward. In the meantime, I found another source that says "Las doctrinas contaban cada una con varios anexos, o vice-parroquias" - which would have steered me towards parish, had I found it sooner. But I do also like the idea of "mission district."

17:45 Aug 5, 2012 

I agree that the usual meaning of 'doctrina' doesn't make sense in the case of "se creó la Doctrina de Codpa', which is clearly something more physical.

From the RAE

5. f. Concurso de gente que con los predicadores salía en procesión por las calles hasta el lugar en que se había de hacer la plática. Por esta calle pasa la doctrina.
6. f. En América, curato colativo servido por regulares.
7. f. En América, pueblo de indios recién convertidos, cuando todavía no se había establecido en él parroquialidad o curato.

17:35 Aug 5, 2012 

Well, those are the obvious choices - but I felt that this was referring to a physical entity.