San Diego de Acala

We took a day to explore the Joshua Tree National Park (more on this later) before returning to the mission trail.  As the trip planned, we are now at the first mission built in California.  Before I begin to tell about this mission,  I thought it was fitting that we would stop at Cabrillo National Monument.  I can honestly say that it was not intentional...I was just following our desire to visit all the national parks and this one was on our path.

As the park web page describes:

"Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States."

We would learn that it was Cabrillo's trip to the New World that would set the stage for further exploration by Spain (yeah...they move slow...waiting 200 years later to accomplish this goal...but  I think they were occupied by war and other explorations at the time!).  This would then lead to Fr Junipero Serra joining the military exploration to evangelize to the natives and begin the mission that we would soon visit!  Now who could have planned that better!  Not this lowly woman who does not know her history!  LOL!  God is so good! (more on the actual park later)

Actually, we started the day at Tuna Harbor, which I will talk about in a later post as well.  However, I have to say that the spirit of the trip was about the antiphons and the opportunity to see this on our trip came in many forms.  This time the journey did not include a mission, but the harbor.  Today's antiphon was O Root of Jesse.  While waiting for the group to return to van, I asked my mother how we would ever find a connection.  We both laughed when we remembered the amazing trees directly behind us that was a perfect setting for the occasion.

So we then drove the few miles to visit San Diego de Acala Mission.  It would be easy to fall in love with this mission as it was located in a peaceful spot beside a small stream and surrounded by gardens.  I am sure this location was chosen for the fertile land and running water.  A simple church structure surrounded by the mission walls.  It was a joy to visit and explore with an extensive museum to learn the history.

We learned that Serra would spend many days here and the original building where he made his mission plans was still intact along with many of the pieces of furniture available for viewing.  His quarters were simple and sparse but he needed little for his life.

This mission was established in 1769 and was originally located five miles closer to the coast.  It was named by a lesser known saint who was a 15th century Franciscan monk.  Unlike other missions, many of the natives lived among their people instead of in the mission walls.

In 1775, the original mission was destroyed when the natives attacked.  Some of the first of the missionaries were killed at this time.

The present church was built in 1813 and restored in 1931.  This restoration was commissioned by Abraham Lincoln because of the assistance the missions allowed in housing the US Army in the 1850's.

We now learned that each of the missions had the life size statues of Serra, so it became a goal for the children to seek him out.  This time the statue was located inside the garden courtyard.  The gardens were so beautiful that it was hard not to stop and smell the roses.  We spent a nice visit in the gardens before entering the church.

The inside of the church was a simple design but quite meaningful.  It was actually the fifth to be located at this site, which shows the determination of the people to continue at this location.  This Church is a Basilica; a Church of historic significance as determined by Pope Paul VI.

 photo and information
by Simondi, Thomas E

It is said that planks from a ship were used to construct a simple altar here.  The armless crucifix over the altar dates from the 1700s and was carved in Italy and brought to the Mission in the 1930's by the then parish priest. The lack of arms has no significance other than showing the ill effects of time. The priest at the time was going to have new arms made for the statue but was talked into leaving it as is by a nun who said, “let the parish be the arms of Christ, as it is the parish that does the work of Jesus.”

Just before leaving the mission, we discovered this amazing statue of the Thirteenth Station of the Cross where Jesus is taken down from the Cross.  We would later find out that this was one of the stations that is meant to lead the visitors through Christ's Passion as they journey along the mission trail.  This is one of some 60 statues placed around South California by the Via Dolorosa Society in order to stimulate thoughtful devotion about the birth of Christianity.  The man responsible for this endeavor, Peter John Maturo, died before seeing this completed but his legacy continues to grow as the statues are still being commissioned by his family.  We would only see a few of these art pieces as we made our trip up the path.  Maybe one day our children will return to the trail and see the complete set of statues in place.

A blessing to view this mission, but we would also visit another mission before the day was complete...