California Missions

California Missions Overview

The 21 California missions begin in San Diego and go as far north as Sonoma. Beginning in 1769, the Spanish king sent troops and Franciscan missionaries to colonize the new land. Over the next 54 years, the military were sent to claim the land for the king and the missionaries were to convert the native inhabitants to Christianity. The goal was to make the Indians of the region into faithful Catholic Spanish citizens. The missions were created to become self-sustaining communities for the benefit of the natives.¹ There is some controversy over whether this was accomplished, however, for the Franciscan missionaries, there is no doubt that this was their intention.²

St. Junipero Serra, a Franciscan padre from Spain, requested to be sent as a missionary to the Alta California region. He had a strong desire to share the Gospel with those who had not had the opportunity before. He was passionate about his call to evangelize and better the treatment and living conditions of the Native Indians. Many struggles with the military and civil authorities over the treatment of the Indians are noted in St. Serra’s time. Under his care, agriculture and domestic animals, as well as European trades, were introduced to the indigenous peoples of California. He was president of the missions for 34 years, until his death in 1784. St. Junipero Serra founded the first nine California missions. His successors established the remaining twelve.³

To put the time of the missions in context, the establishment of the mission system began seven years before the American Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, and ended 25 years before the California Gold Rush of 1848.⁴ Mission expansion came to an end in 1823 with the independence of Mexico from Spain. The Mexican government no longer wished to support the missions and they were secularized and sold. In 1865, the ownership of the Mission San Juan Capistrano properties were returned to the Catholic Church by President Abraham Lincoln.⁵

The missions histories are marked by earthquakes and floods, vandalization and neglect. In the early 20th century, concerted efforts across the state were made to save what was left of the missions as part of the heritage of California, and as tourist attractions. These efforts have seen most of the missions rebuilt and revitalized. Many of them serve as active parishes and museums today.

¹ "California, Catholic Church in." New Catholic Encyclopedia Supplement 2009, Gale, 2009, pp. 114-128. Gale eBooks, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3005400039/GVRL?u=23009&sid=GVRL&xid=23e35354. Accessed 29 Apr. 2020.
² McCarroll, Tolbert; “Saints, mission, the experience of God: the beatification of Junipero Serra”; Christianity and Crisis, 46 no 14 Oct 06 1986, p 343-344
³ Geiger, M., et al. "Serra, Junípero Xavier, BL." New Catholic Encyclopedia Supplement, Jubilee Volume: The Wojtyla Years, edited by Polly Vedder, Gale, 2000, pp. 600-601. Gale eBooks, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3407800533/GVRL?u=23009&sid=GVRL&xid=852eeaf1. Accessed 29 Apr. 2020.
⁴Fox, Rev. Robert J. "The Catholic Church in the United States of America." Chapter 16 in A Catechism of Church History: 2,000 Years of Faith and Tradition (Alexandra: Park Press Quality Printing, Jubilee 2000 Edition), 165-182.
⁵ "California, Catholic Church in." New Catholic Encyclopedia Supplement 2009, Gale, 2009, pp. 114-128. Gale eBooks, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3005400039/GVRL?u=23009&sid=GVRL&xid=23e35354. Accessed 29 Apr. 2020.