† California Mission!

San Fernando: (Find on Yelp)

The Basics about the San Fernando are as follows:

• Fernando is the seventeenth mission in the chain to be founded.
• The date Fernando was founded was September 8th of 1797.
• The mission was named after Saint Ferdinand, King of Spain.
• The founder of the Fernando mission was Father Fermin Lasuen, the soon to be president of the California mission chain.

While researching the San Fernando Mission I learned about how the friars were originally from Baja. The Franciscan Friars who were assigned to the Baja missions were chosen to lead the expeditions to Alta California. Interestingly enough for the religious types they were accompanied by the military in order that would protect them in cases of danger (which meant killing any wild beasts or natives that they confronted and felt were threatening). 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 and two by land.
Also while researching the San Fernando Mission I learned about the misfortune that befell it. The entire goal of the mission was neophytes, converted natives. After 1811, the neophyte population began to decline, and their lessening numbers coincided with the decreasing productivity of the mission. Soon there were frequent times when the padres were barely able to supply the produce demanded by the military headquarters in Los Angeles. Further misfortune occurred during the earthquake of 1812 when a considerable amount of rebuilding was necessary to insure the safety of the buildings.


I by God's graciousness was able to acquire an average on the amount of livestock they had to look after in those days. After the early eighties, the years that passed were peaceful. At the height of its prosperity, Mission San Diego possessed 20,000 sheep, 10,000 cattle and 1,250 horses. It covered an area of 50,000 acres and had a great reputation for its wine.

Lastly while researching the San Fernando Mission of course, I learned about the restoration of the mission. When restoration began in 1931 only the facade (front wall) of the church and the base of the belfry (bell tower) remained. Using these, the church building and the bell tower were rebuilt in exact duplication of the original. Recently, a long entrance was added, which, from sufficient distance, indicates the size and appearance of the original structure. The mission's relics, while interesting, are not extensive for most of them are now in the Sera Museum, a public repository of mission history which stands on the opposite side of the valley, some miles to the west. It is an active Catholic parish and is visited by thousands of fourth graders from throughout the state studying California history.


San Gabriel: (Find on Yelp)

The Main facts about the San Gabriel are as follows:

• San Gabriel was the fourth mission in the chain.
• The San Gabriel mission was founded September 8, 1771.
• The mission founder was Father President Junipero Serra.
• The mission was named after the Archangel Gabriel.

While researching the San Gabriel mission I came to learn the father’s orginal plan In 1771, the arrival of 10 more Franciscan missionaries at Father Serra's headquarters in Monterey changed his plans. Immediately he moved to close this gap between his own San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo near Monterey and the mission at San Diego. This mission was much further to the south. In the summer of the same year, two new missions were to be established, one, San Antonio de Padua, in that time a day's journey to the south of Carmel, and the other north of San Diego. This second mission, fourth in the chain, was to be called San Gabriel Archangel.
Also while researching the San Gabriel mission I also was able to learn about the economy of the time. Mission San Gabriel was a busy and active mission. The economy at Mission San Gabriel Arcangel was similar to the other missions in that they planted crops of wheat and corn. They also planted vineyards, and raised cattle and sheep. The agriculture was needed not only to maintain the mission community and the nearby Indians, but was used for trade and served the visitors in the mission.
Again while researching the San Gabriel mission I learned about the relations with the natives. There are nearly 6,000 Indians buried at Mission San Gabriel Archangel. The Indians near the mission were from the Gabrielino Tribe. At first there was trouble with the Indians as the soldiers treated them very poorly. But in time, the padres gained the Indians confidence as soon there were many Indians living at the mission. Many of the Indians were hired as workers and servants in the pueblo (a word for the community center of their day) of Los Angeles.