The San Juan Capistrano Mission's executive director Mechelle Lawrence Adams joined the Ellen K Morning Show to discuss the grand reopening of California's historical 21st mission. Guests are officially welcomed back to visit the church grounds and the garden in-person and virtually. Friendly dogs welcome too. The historic Mission bells will be rung this morning at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. to mark the reopening. Guests will be able to walk through the sacred Father Serra Chapel and light a candle. Their newest exhibit “En Plein Air’ features Plein Air art from the early 1900s to 2016 will be on display in the West Wing. Mission San Juan gardens have been meticulously maintained. Many marriage proposals happen at this historic mission. Read the official press announcement below:
"Historic California Landmark Mission San Juan Capistrano and Gardens Announces Reopening
San Juan Capistrano, Calif., (February 1, 2021) — Mission San Juan Capistrano, California landmark and Orange County’s only Mission, will reopen to the public on Thursday, February 4 following Governor Newsom’s announcement lifting the stay-at-home orders.
Mission San Juan Capistrano, the jewel of California’s missions, will be open Thursday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and the Mission Store remains open for shopping and curbside delivery from Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Guests are asked to bring their own drinking water, wear masks and practice social distancing at all times in conjunction with input from Mission supporters and the CDC, State, County and Diocesan guidelines for the care and protection of public health.
“While Mission San Juan Capistrano has faced many hardships during months of closures, it remains a beacon of hope and a place of inspiration, education and preservation. On behalf of the Mission Preservation Foundation, we wholeheartedly welcome back visitors to experience this historic and sacred space.” said Mechelle Lawrence Adams, Mission San Juan Capistrano Executive Director.
Mission San Juan Capistrano closed initially on March 16, 2020 and later reopened under strict COVID guidelines until early December when the second stay-at-home order was issued. Mission staff swiftly transitioned to distance learning experiences (most remain available) which draw an estimated 50,000 students each year supporting the California History-Social Science Standards and history of native peoples in California.
Plans for future exhibits and events are in the works and will be announced in the coming weeks.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is located at Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. For more information, visit https://www.missionsjc.com.
About Mission San Juan Capistrano
Known as the “Jewel of the Missions,” Mission San Juan Capistrano is a historic landmark and museum that features permanent exhibits with original artifacts as well as traveling and temporary exhibits. Orange County’s only Mission, the site is home to Serra Chapel, The Great Stone Church and the original padres’ quarters of the South Wing and promotes faith, education, preservation and cultural event programming.
Founded on November 1, 1776, by Saint Junipero Serra as the seventh of 21 California missions established by Spain, Mission San Juan Capistrano is owned by the Diocese of Orange and receives no church or state funding. The Mission Preservation Foundation, comprised of business and community leaders, is its fundraising entity committed to ensuring education, preservation and its long-term historic and religious significance."