A Pilgrimage to the

Old California Missions

Pilgrimage Highlights:

- Traveling the El Camino Royal (the Royal Road) in the steps of the Spanish Franciscan friar, Blessed Junipero Serra and his companions, visiting 12 of the 21 missions they founded from 1769 to 1829 and learning of their brave and heroic sacrifices to bring Christ to the native American Indians of California

- Seeing the "miracle swallows" of Mission San Juan Capistrano

- Visiting the newly built magnificent chapel at Thomas Aquinas College

- The picturesque Danish village of Solvang

- Driving on California's historic Highway 1 along the breathtaking Big Sur Coastline and crossing over the famed Bixby Creek Bridge

- Visiting one of Sonoma County's premiere winery's

- San Francisco's Fishermans Wharf

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Travel Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart from your home city for San Diego, CA. Transfer from the airport to our hotel for check-in and overnight. Tomorrow we set out on the El Camino Royal, a journey of 650 miles, stretching from San Diego to Sonoma, visiting the most prominent of the Old California Missions founded by Bl. Fray Junipero Serra and his Franciscan brethren. Sent by the Spanish government to take charge of the evangelization of the Native American Indians in the wilderness of California, within two generations (from 1769 to 1829), these brave and holy men founded 21 religious outposts, “Missions”, along the California coastal region, bringing the light of Christ to tens of thousands of natives.

Day 2- Our day begins with a visit to Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, “Mother of the California Missions”, as this was the first of the 21 missions. Established 240 years ago, in 1769, the founding of this mission marked the dawn of Christianity in the American West. Upon the founding of each new mission a ceremony took place that began with outdoor Holy Mass and a chanting of the Veni Creator. Then the lands and nearby waters were blessed and the land was formally claimed for God and the King of Spain. Usually within the year a chapel was built along with a kitchen, granary, gardens and dwellings for the friars and the neophytes (Christianized natives). Visit the beautiful mission Church designated as a Basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1976 and still serving as an active parish to this day. Next, visit Old Town San Diego for time at leisure. With the motto “Siempre Adelante” (Always Forward), Fr. Serra, at 54 years old and struggling with asthma, set out on foot from here northwards, walking over 800 miles to plant the seeds for the rest of the missions. Mid-afternoon arrival at Mission San Luis Rey (1758), “King of the Missions”, as it was the largest and most prosperous due to the friars wise management of it’s many resources. Encompassing at one time over 200,000 acres with a native population of 2700. This mission is still active today and is under the care of 14 Franciscan's. Upon a mid-afternoon arrival, visit the cruciform shaped church, a beautiful old cemetery, lovely garedens and ruins of an old fort. Continue north to San Juan Capistrano for overnight at the Best Western near the mission of the same name.

Day 3 - Morning visit to Mission San Juan Capistrano, “Jewel of the Missions”. Est. By Fr. Serra in 1776, this mission is famous for the miraculous return of the Argentinian cliff swallows from March to October every year. Visit the Serra Chapel with it’s glorious four story gilded altar, one of the only surviving structures where Fr. Serra offered Mass. According to Fr. Palou, his dear friend, co-missionary and biographer, Fr. Serra gave dramatic and inspiring sermons. When speaking of hell, he would lite a candle and hold it up as he spoke. And to encourage confession, he would confess to Fr. Palou from the sanctuary of the church so that all could see. He taught the natives beautiful hymns and choreographed pastoral plays that were performed by the native children. Visit the Church and walk amongst the tropical gardens with ancient gnarled trees and historic adobe buildings, bringing history alive. Then on to Ventura to visit Mission San Buenaventura, est. on Easter Sunday in 1782; the last mission founded by Fr. Serra. Learn how the mission’s excellent irrigation system was a benefit not only to the natives of the mission but to those at the surrounding missions as well. Overnight at the historic Pierpont Inn in Ventura.

Day 4 - Morning visit to Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula for Holy Mass offered at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity; a newly built chapel uniquely beautiful in it’s design as it incorporates Spanish Mission style with elements of traditional sacred architecture. Afternoon drive along San Rafael Mountain Range, passing by Ojai, to Mission Santa Barbara (1786). Considered “Queen of the Missions” for it’s graceful setting and pretty facade with twin bell towers, exemplifying the finest of mission architecture. Located on a high mesa overlooking Santa Ynez Mountains to the north and the Pacific from all other directions. Here the friars first introduced the Indians to farming, turning the area into a great center of agriculture. Visit the grand church and the archive rooms wherein are preserved the documents for all the missions. See a collection of sheet music and the original journal that Fr. Serra kept at the beginning of the mission. Late afternoon drive to Solvang, a delightful Danish village with original windmills and gas streetlights. Early evening arrival and overnight in Solvang.

Day 5 - Morning visit to Mission Santa Inez in Solvang; “hidden gem of the California Missions”. Founded in 1804 and dedicated to St. Agnes, this was the last of the 21 missions established. Visit the church and see a collection of exquisite 400 year old vestments. Next, continue north into the picturesque coastal mountain range of Southern California to Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (1772) in the scenic “Valley of the Bears’. Afternoon arrival and visit to the church and museum with original relics of Fr. Serra. Overnight near the Old West city of Paso Robles (Pass of the Oaks).

Day 6 - Today we drive up Highway 101 on the east side of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range to Carmel, stopping en-route at Mission San Miguel Archangel (1797), near the juncture of two rivers. Among the four missions still under the care of the Franciscans, visit the chapel and see the lovely untouched frescoes painted by the natives. Further north, visit Mission Nuestra Senhora de la Soledad (Our Lady of Solitude). Est. In 1791, this mission fell into complete ruins after the forced abandonment of the friars. See the re-built chapel and learn of Fr. Vicente Sarria whose body was found here one morning in 1835 in front of the altar. Overnight at the Carmel Mission Inn in Carmel by the Sea.

Day 7 - Morning at Fr. Serra’s favorite mission and his headquarters, San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo (1770); set at the base of the Carmel Valley near the mighty Pacific. Fr. Serra died here in 1784 and his mortal remains rest underneath the altar, along with his successors; Fr. Palou and Fr. Lausen. Upon their deaths, they had baptized over ten percent of the natives, passing on to them a love of the True Faith. They taught them over 50 different arts and professions to help them be self-supportive, worked to provide a system of laws to protect them from intrusive colonists and introduced them to European agriculture and irrigation techniques which became the foundation of the agricultural economy of California. They gave all they had with a love and respect for the natives and the witness of their own lives. Visit the beautiful church and rich gardens with many varieties of herbs, fruit trees, roses and bougainvillea. Then set out for an unforgettable drive along the Big Sur coastline, crossing over Bixby Creek Bridge; one of the tallest single-span concrete arch bridges in the world. Afternoon at Mission San Juan Bautista (1797) for Holy Mass with it’s Latin Mass community. Famous for it’s bells and their lovely chimes, learn how the natives were taught a unique musical notation system based on colors. See some of the original parchments with colored notations. A scene from the 1957 film, Vertigo, was filmed here, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, one of Hollywood’s greatest directors and a practicing Catholic. Overnight at the Marriott in San Mateo.

Day 8- Morning visit to Mission San Francisco de Assisi (Mission Dolores) in the heart of San Francisco. Est. by Fr. Serra in 1776, this mission survived the destructive earthquake of 1906 and is today the oldest intact structure in the city. Afternoon drive to Cline Cellars, located at the entrance to Sonoma Valley Wine Country. Sample wine from one of the oldest and most premiere vineyards in the region and enjoy a museum showcasing handcrafted replicas of the 21 missions created for the 1939 World’s Fair. Overnight at the Marriott in San Mateo.

Day 9 - Morning transfer to SF Airport.

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Tour Details

Land cost : cost coming soon

For a brochure, please call

SVERSEN TOURING
The Village Centre / P.O. Box 509
Bangall, NY 12506 / Ph: 1-800-334-5425