Mission San Rafael Archangel

We were now north of San Francisco...after making a stop on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge for a picture.  Who can resist at this iconic spot?  We drove the hilly roads to Mission San Rafael.

This was both the 20th mission historically, and also ours on our journey.  It was built in 1817 and by this time the mission director was Fr. Vincente Francisco de Sarria.  The mission was established to serve as a medical mission to assist Mission San Francisco.  It would be the first organized hospital in California.  I am sure it is not a coincidence, but still I think it is a fitting connection to the archangel who is known for the healing of Tobit in the Old Testament story.

Although it was one of the last missions to be erected, it would be one of the first to be sold during the secularization period.  A general under the Mexican government, General Vallejo, took advantage of the opportunity to purchase the mission property.  The original mission church was left to ruins some time in the 1830s.  The people once tried to rebuild at the site in 1855 but it was later torn down.  Eventually, the land at the immediate location of the mission was returned to the church.  Several churches were built at this site but did not last.  The current church on the site was built in 1919.
 
When we arrived we took pictures in front of the large church with the Rafael statue.  Then we walked into the building where others were entering.  We assumed it was the entrance to the gift shop.  Imagine our surprise to find a chapel.

It turns out that this building was the last remnant of the mission that once stood here.  The church that we thought was the mission was the present day parish church.  In fact, even this chapel is a replica that was built in 1949 on the same site as the original with funds from the Hearst Foundation.  The main church was built in 1919 on the same site as the original mission but the parish did not choose to replicate the original adobe.  So, the only real link to the original mission are the bells that are inside the mission museum.  There are three replica bells that are hanging from a wooden frame near the entrance to show a unity with the exterior of the other missions today.

The replica chapel was a simple adobe and upon entering the small building we were met with a simple open room.  The main altar and the Stations of the Cross are the only form of art.  Zaira liked the ambo because the angel (Rafael) was just her size.  The main altar was a monochrome style with little variation.  It was not displeasing to view, but it was quite different than all the other missions in its lack of vibrancy.

When we tried to enter the museum and inquire about viewing the parish church, we discovered that it was closed until the New Year.  We were so disappointed, but regrouped to begin the trek to the last of the missions.

I could feel the church beckoning to us and tried to find someone in the parish office but to no avail.  I could see that there was a magnificent stain glass window just below the Rafael statue.  I knew it was something we would want to see from the inside.  We promised to make a trip back at a later time.

Everything seemed just out of reach at this mission.  Even the statue of Fr. Serra was too far into the landscaping to touch.

Just before leaving the area, I looked back at the church we were unable to enter.  I saw San Rafael looking out over the city (and us) with his hand holding a cross outstretched.  He seemed to be blessing us as we began our last part of the trip.  So far we had been peacefully enjoying the day.  I said a little prayer asking St. Rafael to continue to help our family on this last day.