EXPLORE SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
AN INSPIRATIONAL LEGACY
MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO S
an Juan’s historic and dis- tinctively vibrant downtown is anchored by Mission San Juan Capistrano.
Heralded as the “Jewel” of the
California Missions because of its Great Stone Church, the Mission has played a pivotal role in San Juan Capistrano’s colored past for more than two centuries. Te Great Stone Church, com-
pleted in 1806 aſter nine years of construction, is oſten described as “a modern marvel” and an “architec- tural gem.” Although it suffered extensive damage in the earthquake of 1812, the church’s ruins remain a source of inspiration for many who visit the Mission grounds today. Te seventh mission of the 21
built in Alta California, Mission San Juan Capistrano was first founded by the Basque Franciscan mission- ary Father Fermín de Francisco Lasuén on Oct. 20, 1775. However, weeks aſter Spanish padres and sol- diers arrived in San Juan, they leſt to help handle a revolt in San Diego. Once the dust had settled,
Father Junípero Serra led a party to re-establish the Mission on Nov. 1, 1776. San Juan’s Mission, the largest of the state’s missions and the only one made of stone, was hand built by the region’s native people, the Acjachemen. Ancestors of the Acjachemen were Orange County’s
first inhabitants who lived off the county’s coastal and mountainous lands for more than 10,000 years. In September 2015, Pope Francis
canonized Father Serra, making him the first person to be declared a saint on American soil and adding to the historical significance of Serra Chapel—the only surviving Cali- fornia chapel in which Saint Serra celebrated Mass. Mission San Juan Capistrano is one of nine missions started by Serra and is also the only
mission to name a church in Saint Serra’s honor. In celebration of Serra’s 300th
birthday, the Mission is offering private tours every Sunday of Serra Chapel, where Saint Serra celebrated Mass in 1783, a year before he died. At 11:15 a.m., visitors gather to learn about the history behind the chapel’s 400-year-old golden retablo, historic paintings and décor. A natural storyteller, CJ Devins
has lived in San Juan Capistrano for more than 40 years and has volun- teered at the Mission for almost 20 years as a docent and an interpretive guide. Devins was first compelled to become a Mission volunteer because of how peaceful she feels when walking the grounds. Today, she leads the weekly Serra
Chapel tour, packing an impres- sive collection of little-known facts, detailed descriptions and historic intrigue into the 45-minute explora- tion. Te longtime guide said one of the most enjoyable tour aspects is when she gets to learn a historic tidbit or two from Mission guests. “It’s so neat when you have a
20 SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS DIRECTORY & VISITOR GUIDE
VISITSJC.COM
group of people that start asking you these questions and bringing out more,” Devins said. “Sometimes you get historians or curious visitors who really challenge you, and that’s really fun. Interaction between people is always better than giving a lecture.”
To truly appreciate the layers QH JKUVQTKECN UKIPKƒECPEG VJCV make up San Juan Capistrano’s 240-year-old Mission, a wide variety of tours are offered to visitors, catering to everyone from ƒTUV VKOG VQWTKUVU VQ UGCUQPGF locals. Guests to the 10-acre Mis- sion grounds can tour exhibits and museum rooms with a docent or explore the gardens, fountains and preserved adobe architecture on audio tours, garden tours, Mission Art Walks, Swallows Walk & Talk tour, Father Serra’s Legacy tour CPF UVWFGPV ƒGNF VTKRU
For a full list of Mission San Juan Capistrano’s daily tours and activi- ties visit
missionsjc.com where [QWŦNN ƒPF GXGPV FGUETKRVKQPU CPF schedules.
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