The Great Western Pilgrimage - Part Eleven

It's hard to believe, but our journey is coming to an end. Our pilgrimages seem like life in many ways; the days up the hill are slow and gentle then once you've reached the mid-point, the end of the journey arrives more quickly than you thought!

This day we would have our last morning in the house at Cayucos, California. I always enjoy our days at the beach; even the ones that are cold. There is something so beautiful about the sand and the waves. We said good-bye one last time, attended Mass at a tiny parish that we're pretty sure was Catholic (we said the rosary prior but the priest didn't wear a chasuble) then headed North.

The drive up CA-1 along the beach was beautiful!

The other side showed miles of post-forest fire destruction (further up we had to detour because 1 was closed from mudslides...reminds me of a Jimmy Buffet song)

 

Our first destination this day would be Jolon, CA, Mission San Antonio de Padua. Established July 14, 1771, the third of the 21 Missions, San Antonio de Padua has the distinction of being the only one that stands within the confines of an active Army base, Fort Hunter Liggett! We even took the tour with some of the soldiers who were on their day off.

What a beautiful little place, kept going by a very small number of dedicated parishioners. Even so, modernity takes its toll. The tour guide told us the Mission would likely close in a short time if they weren't able to raise enough funds to make the Mission meet current earthquake standards. Always amusing to me - this place has been in operation since the 1700's, fallen down, been rebuilt...somehow that doesn't work today. Sigh. Sometimes progress is short-sighted.

So, how doubly-blessed we were to be able to walk around inside and see all the wonderful things of the people who lived here and propogated the faith so long ago.

Giant olive tree from early 1800's!

Outdoor Mysteries of the Rosary to pray as you walk

San Antonio and San Miguel!

These were some of my favorite Stations

Very old baptismal font

The Mission cat lives in his own Mission house ;0)

Home for lunch and online classes (Thank you God for online classes!) then back out to the one we've all waited for- Mission San Carlos Borremeo de Carmelo (Carmel Mission Basilica)! This was the second Mission founded by Saint Serra and, 35 years after leaving Spain to begin his Mission work in the New World, where he died and was buried (he walked South to establish his other Missions then back up to end here).

The front of the Carmel Basilica

St. Serra

Side graveyard

a piece of St. Serra's coffin

St. Serra is buried in the Carmel Basilica floor

 

No idea why this is upside down.

Beautiful Lady

  

I wish they would bring that black vestment back!

Amazing artwork everywhere you look

the inside square of the Mission (the far wall is actually part of the school)

The bells are part of the Basilica

It was a really, really long walk!

Can't get enough of the altar-bell wheels!

We headed to our hotel, got settled, then went to the smaller Fisherman's Wharf of Monterey, had some dinner and went off to dreamland. Tomorrow would be our last day on the left coast!

Fisherman's Wharf!

The next morning we went back to the Mission for daily Mass but, instead of the basilica, this was held in the original Mission Chapel!

More of the simple, childlike Stations

Amazing space for Mass

Filled with the Eucharist, it was back on the highway to see yet another unique Mission. Mission Santa Clara de Asis is the only Mission that sits within a university! (Santa Clara University, as you might have guessed) This Mission was founded on January 12, 1777, by St. Serra, the eighth of twenty-one. By the late 1800s, the Mission had fallen into decay and the bishop at the time (a Jesuit) had ownership transferred from the Franciscian to the Jesuit order and built the Mission into a college - the first college in the state of California!

same pose, different fountain ;0)

Clearly not built in 1777 (but not bad for 1928!)

Another first!

Saint Clare!

This was the beginning of a very full day and, since time is currently out on this end, it will have to wait for another post. Only 12 or so more hours to go in California...we got our money's worth! Stay tuned for shrines, ships and sourdough!

We are blessed.