THE MISSION
Photo: Courtesy
A New Look at History W
BY JONATHAN VOLZKE
hen Father Junipero Serra founded Mission San Juan Capistrano in 1776, he was also founding what would officially become the city of
San Juan Capistrano some 185 years later. Ten, the Mission was the center of commerce for area ranchers, as well as a spiritual center. Capistrano grew up around the Mission. Today, the Mission remains the center of
Capistrano in many ways, hosting the annual celebration of the return of the swallows, dozens of special events, a popular summer concert series and special exhibits. And leaders overseeing “Te Jewel of the
Missions,” now have found ways to make the historic Mission, the seventh of 21 founded, seem new with every visit. Long supported by the community—
admission fees are a primary source of funding for the Mission, along with event charges and donations—Mission leaders oversaw the restoration of the Great Stone Church, which was destroyed by earthquake in 1812. In recent years, the Mission has worked
to restore the authenticity to the visitor experience, added a popular audio tour, and is raising awareness that the Mission holds a vast museum-like collection of artifacts, too. Te small Mission Chapel, after all, is the only place still standing in California where
Photo: Courtesy
Father Serra said Mass. On display throughout the summer, for example, was Father Serra’s Vestment, a collection of religious or liturgical clothing priests must wear when celebrating mass, as part of the exhibit, “Mission Treasures: Historical Collection Revealed.” Fabricated in the late 1700s, the chasuble, stole and ma- niple displayed in the exhibit were reportedly worn by Serra.
Photo: Heidi Mefferd “Te Treasures exhibit is one such example of
sharing the Mission with the community in a manner that respects the past and tells the sto- ries. Tese goals are ongoing and in response to the requests and demands by our guests for an experience that they can remember,” Mission Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence-Adams said. “Te Mission Preservation Foundation, staff and volunteers are firmly committed to changing the notion that the Mission is worth just visiting once a year or once in a life time.” Mission San Juan Capistrano is at 26801
Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Open Daily 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Tanksgiving, Christmas, and Good Friday af- ternoon. Admission is $9 adults; $8 seniors (60 years or over); $5 children (ages 4 to 11); and children ages 3 and under are admitted free. Free audio guide with senior and adult admis- sion. For more information, call 949.234.1300 or visit
www.missionsjc.com.
v San Juan Capistrano Business Directory & Visitor Guide 35
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