David K
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Spanish Missions (still) open after Mexican Independence
Mexico won its war of independence from Spain in 1821. The Californias (Baja & Alta) learned the news and pledged loyalty to the new Mexican
Empire in 1822. Many of the Spanish missionaries in Baja (Dominicans since 1773) left the peninsula (and Mexico) with the end of Spanish control.
After all, the missions were a tool of Spanish colonialism and Mexico was no longer a Spanish colony. Missions served to teach the inhabitants about
how to live like a Spaniard, be a good Catholic, use farming and ranching to make food, etc.
After independence, the Missionaries that remained and pledged loyalty to Mexico's emperor, convinced the new government that the Natives still needed
instruction to assimilate and become independent.
The missions were permitted to remain open, but only until the attending priest died or abandoned his post.
The last mission to remain open, in service to the Native Indians, was Santo Tomás, closed in 1849. The last two Dominicans in Baja left from La Paz
in 1855.
Spanish founded Missions operating after 1822:
Loreto (to 1829)
Santa Rosalía de Mulegé (to 1828)
San José de Comondú (to 1827)
La Purísima (to 1826)
Pilar de la Paz/ Todos Santos (to 1840)
San Ignacio (to 1840)
San José del Cabo (to 1840)
San Vicente (to 1829)
San Miguel (to 1834)
Santo Tomás (to 1849)
Santa Catalina (to 1839)
*
Some mission churches remained open following these dates and served mainland immigrants to the peninsula as their parish Catholic church.
*Two missions were founded after Mexican independence by a rogue Dominican, Félix Caballero: El Descanso (1830-1834) and Guadalupe (1834-1840). I
wrote about him: https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/the_cont...
Eight original mission churches are open and intact. Some have had repairs made. The Loreto church had no roof or bell tower prior to 1955. The
Comondú church (largest of all the California mission churches) was torn down in 1936 because it was in a dangerous state of ruin. A side chapel was
preserved and is what is called the 'mission' today.
Loreto
San Javier
Mulegé
Comondú
San Ignacio
San Luis Gonzaga
Santa Gertrudis
San Borja
Other (vanished) mission locations have modern churches built on the site or next to the site of the original mission church.
Santiago
San José del Cabo
Santa Rosa
Pilar de la Paz/ Todos Santos
The Pilar de la Paz mission site, by the Bay of La Paz, is lost, under a modern building or street. The church in la Paz is sometimes identified as
the mission, but it was several blocks north of the probable location.
Do you find this interesting? Want to see more on this period of Baja's history? You might find my book 'Baja California Land of Missions' of some
value, updated in 2021 (link below).
I maintain a Facebook 'Baja Missions' group page... over 3,700 members. We share photos and discussion on all Baja history topics and traveling to
those sites (link below, in my signature)
Happy Holidays!
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David K
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The 8 Original Missions (all photos from 2017)
LORETO
SAN FRANCISCO JAVIER
SANTA ROSALIA DE MULEGE
SAN JOSE DE COMONDU
SAN IGNACIO
SAN LUIS GONZAGA
SANTA GERTRUDIS
SAN FRANCISCO BORJA
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David K
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INSIDE the EIGHT MISSIONS (year of photo)
LORETO (2017)
SAN JAVIER (2009)
MULEGE (2016)
COMONDU (2017)
SAN IGNACIO (2016)
SAN LUIS GONZAGA (2017)
SANTA GERTRUDIS (2017)
SAN BORJA (2016)
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mtgoat666
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Quote: Originally posted by David K  |
The missions were permitted to remain open, but only until the attending priest died or abandoned his post.
Happy Holidays! |
I have seen some Catholic ritualistic things going on in the missions during my visits,… seems like the priests snuck back in to the missions!
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Priests are not always missionaries... After 1849, there were no longer any missions operating in Baja. What did continue were Catholic church
services led by priests.
A mission is not just a church or a church building, even though we call those buildings "missions" today. A mission was a Spanish colonial program.
It included water works (reservoirs, aqueducts), croplands, livestock enclosures, hospitals, a military presence, and quarters for the personal and
neophytes (Natives who joined the mission and are converting to Catholicism). Crafts and tradesmen from the mainland were also present during
construction.
You might get some enlightenment from my book?
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4x4abc
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Location: La Paz, BCS
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Mood: happy - always
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | Priests are not always missionaries... After 1849, there were no longer any missions operating in Baja. What did continue were Catholic church
services led by priests.
A mission is not just a church or a church building, even though we call those buildings "missions" today. A mission was a Spanish colonial program.
It included water works (reservoirs, aqueducts), croplands, livestock enclosures, hospitals, a military presence, and quarters for the personal and
neophytes (Natives who joined the mission and are converting to Catholicism). Crafts and tradesmen from the mainland were also present during
construction.
You might get some enlightenment from my book? |
what a beautiful word for a slave outpost
Harald Pietschmann
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NE14Baja
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Priests are not always missionaries... After 1849, there were no longer any missions operating in Baja. What did continue were Catholic church
services led by priests.
A mission is not just a church or a church building, even though we call those buildings "missions" today. A mission was a Spanish colonial program.
It included water works (reservoirs, aqueducts), croplands, livestock enclosures, hospitals, a military presence, and quarters for the personal and
neophytes (Natives who joined the mission and are converting to Catholicism). Crafts and tradesmen from the mainland were also present during
construction.
You might get some enlightenment from my book?[/rquote]
Tread lightly regarding religious matters, some folks may take offense when one misinterprets or misunderstands scripture. As indicated in the
scripture below, all Christians, including priest, are commanded to spread the Gospel of Christ. Many Christians consider themselves missionaries of
God.
Matthew 28:19 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost
[Edited on 12-3-2021 by NE14Baja]
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BajaBlanca
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We have been to 4 of the 8 missions. They are truly amazing buildings and a marvel considering where they are located (specifically thinking of San
Francisco Javier).
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