Mission San Antonio de Padua

	This plaque honors the memory of FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA "THE APOSTLE OF CALIFORNIA" Who died 200 years ago after a life dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 1784 - 1984 PRESENTED BY THE SERRA INTERNATIONAL 15,000 Catholic Laymen in 31 countries who in 1984 celebrate 50 years of Fostering Vocations to Priesthood & Religious Life. "ALWAYS TO GO FORWARD & NEVER TO TURN BACK"

	IN GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO THE WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST FOUNDATION THROUGH WHOSE INTEREST AND GENEROSITY THE SAN ANTONIO CHAPEL WAS COMPLETELY RESTORED 1948 -- 1949

Exterior of the Church

	The bronze bell in the center niche of the campanario was cast especially for this mission and is the first mission bell made in California. It is 24 inches in diameter and weighs 500 pounds. This bell, and the El Camino Real bell marker, were presented by California Mission Trails Association, Ltd. to commemorate the restoration dedication ceremony, June 4, 1950.

Interior of the Church

First Marriage in California took place at this Mission between Juan Mariu Ruiz of El Fuerte, Sonora, Mexico, 25 years of age, and Margarita de Cortona, 22, a Salinan woman of Mission San Antonio, on the sixteenth of May in the year of Our Lord 1773.

Mission Reservoir

Mission Reservoir A few feet in back of this sign are the original retaining walls of the reservoir constructed in the early days of the mission. To fill the reservoir Padre Buenaventura Sitjar tapped the San Antonio river about three miles above the mission and by means of an aqueduct carried the water to this basin. Much of the primitive structure is visible. ------ The irrigation system established by Padre Sitjar is considered by experts to be one of the finest engineering feats of early California history.

Junipero Serra Peak

	Junipero Serra Peak The 5844 ft, Mountain highest in the Santa Lucia range was named for Padre Junipero Serra (founder of this mission) on Jan. 2, 1907 (by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names) seamen from the Phillipines in earliest days recorded this observation and pilots reckoned their course by this point.

Historical Displays

Artwork

Sorrowful Mother: an original painting from this Mission mentioned in 1842 inventory.

'Assumption' A fragment. "Tippolo, 1690-1770" written on the back. Mid 18th century.

St. Thomas Aquinas - Order of Friar's Preachers. oil on canvas, ordered from Spain along with the painting of Our Lady of the Rosary by Bishop Alemany O.P for the Dominican Novitiate in Benicia & it hung in the Novitiate for may years. It was probably painted at the same time, i.e., 1850 ca.

Our Lady of the Rosary: Spanish, mid-19th century. ordered by Bishop Alemany for the Dominican Novitiate.

'St. Anthony and Donor' St. Anthony blesses the donor with one hand and holds a rosary in the other. It was a common practice in the late 18th century to portray the donor of a church or monastery in this fashion.

Our Lady of Solitude: late 18th cent. piece

	SHIP FIGURE HEADS BROUGHT TO MISSION BY SAILORS AS THANK - OFFERING TO ST. ANTHONY DETAILS & DATES UNKNOWN

Items of Interest...