Mission Basilica San
Diego de Alcala, 10818 San Diego Mission Road
San Diego, CA 92108 missionsandiego.com
Mission San Diego,
California's First Church is a National Historic Landmark, California
Historic Landmark #242 and City of San Diego Historic Designation #113
California
Missions Photos
Set atop a hill, this restored mission looks brand new and indeed, was
rebuilt in 1931 to mirror an 1813 church that once stood on the grounds.
It is an active Catholic parish and is visited by thousands of fourth
graders from throughout the state studying California history.
As the first of the 21 missions, it is known as the Mother of the
Missions and is formally named Mission San Diego de Alcala. Founded on
July 16, 1769 by Blessed Junipero Serra, it was designated as a Minor
Basilica in 1976 by Pope Paul VI. The Mission today is an active
Catholic Parish in the Diocese of San Diego.
San Diego de Alcala, the
first California Mission, marks the birthplace of Christianity in the
far West. It is California's first church. Today the Mission, which was
founded in 1769, serves as an active parish church and cultural center
for people of all faiths.
In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, an explorer commissioned by the
monarch of Spain, arrived in San Diego bay and named it San Miguel after
the saint whose feast day was closest to the landing according to the
Spanish tradition. In 1602 Sebastian Viscaino, leading another Spanish
expedition, entered the harbor and renamed it San Diego after Saint
Didacus of Alcala, Spain whose feast day was closest to the landing. San
Diego was also the name of the flagship for this expedition.
Spain had the "right of discovery" to Alta or Upper California but it
was not until 1768 when the Russians were seal hunting off the coast of
California that King Carlos III of Spain became concerned and made the
decision to build settlements. He sent orders to New Spain (Mexico) that
expeditions must be sent to Alta California in order to establish
Spain's Dominion. It was a political move but the King wanted it to look
religious.
The Franciscan Friars who were assigned to the Baja missions were chosen
to lead the expeditions to Alta California accompanied by the military
who would protect them. Father Junipero Serra was chosen Superior of the
Franciscans and Gaspar de Portola was the military leader.
Five expeditions were dispatched from New Spain (Mexico) - three
expeditions by sea (the San Carlos, the San Antonio and the San Jose)
and two land expeditions. The San Carlos and the San Antonio set sail in
January and February of 1769. After rough seas and many hardships, they
anchored in San Diego bay in April. The supply ship, the San Jose, which
left New Spain in June, was lost at sea. The land expeditions were
slightly more successful in terms of casualties but just as difficult,
leading mules and horses and carrying food, farming tools and seeds. The
total casualties of the expeditions were high. According to a letter
written by Father Serra and dated July 3, 1769
"the San Carlos is without sailors, for all have died of scurvy, save
one and a cook." Scurvy was raging through the contingent. Of the 219
who comprised the first four expeditions slightly more than half
survived.
Father Junipero Serra led the last land expedition. On July 16, 1769,
Father Serra established Mission San Diego and the California mission
system was begun on a site overlooking the bay. The mission remained at
that site for five years until lack of water could not sustain the
crops. The decision to move the mission six miles east was made by the
pastor, Father Luis Jayme (a young Majorcan) and approved by Father
President Serra. The new site was close to the San Diego River and the
American Indian villages. Father Jayme had great rapport with the
American Indians but two of the mission Indians became discontented with
the rules and regulations necessary for an orderly unit and they incited
hundreds of Indians in remote villages to riot. According to Father
Palou's report of the incidence, eight hundred American Indians stormed
onto the grounds in the middle of the night on November 4th, 1775. They
pillaged the mission, burned it to the ground and massacred Father Jayme
who became California's first Christian Martyr and who is buried under
the altar in the present church.
Father Serra returned to Mission San Diego de Alcala to oversee the
rebuilding of the mission. Fearing that another raid would occur, the
padres rebuilt the mission according to the specifications of an army
fort. Reestablishing the mission was a long, difficult process. This
mission was always one of the poorest. The land was difficult to till,
the water not always plentiful. Slowly, Mission San Diego de Alcala
became more productive. 1797 was our most successful year: 565 baptisms
were performed, 1405 converted to Christianity; the land area
encompassed 50,000 acres, harvesting corn, wheat, barley, kidney beans
and chick peas; vineyards produced enough grapes for wine and gardens
yielded vegetables. The mission owned 20,000 sheep, 10,000 cattle, and
1250 horses.
In 1821, Mexico gained its independence from Spain and the Mexican
government did not have the same allegiance to the missions. The Decree
of Secularization in 1834 removed the administration of the mission from
the Franciscans and gave it to Santiago Arguello.
After the United States acquired this area from Mexico, two companies of
the artillery occupied the mission beginning in November, 1853. For the
next several years, various companies of artillery and cavalry were at
the mission until 1858 or early 1859. They made some repairs and added a
second floor to the church. Subsequently, the mission was abandoned for
several years. In 1892, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondolet moved
onto the mission compound and conducted an American Indian childrens'
school for seventeen years. Source: San Diego Mission
