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Most
reliable comprehensive source of information on the 21 California
missions' history. MY MISSION is a non-sectarian 501(c)(3) statewide
non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to restore and
preserve the spiritual, historical and educational importance of
these monuments. MY MISSION exists to educate our citizens on the
21 California missions and their ongoing plight for needed funds
to restore the buildings and artifacts of these priceless treasures.
The
21 missions dot the California coastline area from San Diego de
Alcala (San Diego), San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (Carmel), San
Antonio de Padua (Big Sur), San Gabriel Archangel (San Gabriel),
San Luis Obispo de Tolasia (San Luis Obispo), San Francisco de Asis
(San Francisco), San Juan Capistrano (San Juan Capistrano), Santa
Clara de Asis (University of Santa Clara, San Jose), San Buenaventura
(Ventura), Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara), La Purisima de Concepcion
(Lompoc), Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz), Nuestra Senora de la Soledad
(Soledad), Santa Ines (Santa Ynez), San Jose (Fremont), San Juan
Bautista (San Juan Bautista), San Miguel Arcangel (San Miguel),
San Fernando Rey de Espana (San Fernando), San Luis Rey de Francia
(Oceanside), San Rafael Arcangel (San Rafael) to San Francisco de
Solano (Sonoma). MY MISSION is the most reliable comprehensive source
of information on the 21 California missions' history. Each of the
mission sections is complete with its history, mission photographs,
floor plans, the background on each mission's namesake patron with
photograph, history of the mission's church bells, the mission's
agriculture, ranching, the building of the mission using adobe brick,
stone and tile, plus extensive interviews with mission experts covering
the native American and missionaries' point of view. There's even
information on whom to contact if you wish to have a mission wedding.
If
you are a California 4th grade student, you'll be happy to know
that you can research everything you need to complete your California
mission school project. For teachers, a complete lesson plan and
suggestions are included. Floorplans for each mission, reference
books and website links to expert sources and also to the California
missions are available. This site includes an extensive background
on the original founding Franciscan padres, including Father Junipero
Serra, Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, Father Pedro Cambon, Father
Francisco Palau, Father Angel Somera, Father Estavan Topis, Father
Vicente de Sarria and Father Jose Altimira. The section on the native
American indigenous mission people includes interviews with experts
and extensive research on the Indians' hunter/gatherers way of life,
the spiritual shaman culture, the native American food diet, the
Indian sign language (with pictures), the Indian mission life, the
California Indian tribe boundaries on a map and the native American
plants. The section on the Spanish life aboard the galleons includes
their expeditions by land and sea plus insight on the Mexican soldiers
as well as the Spanish introduction of plants and animals and food
from Europe and South America.
Each
mission has specific monetary needs. Please see the detailed list
of each mission's needs under Our Organization section. You can
help by selecting from a list of various tax deductible and tax
advantage donations. Our Make A Donation section shows how various
gifts (cash and property) or the establishment of a charitable trust
or charitable annuity can assist the missions with their restoration
and preservation goals and provide you with a tax deduction depending
on the type, structure and format of the gift. For your convenience
our Adopt-A-Mission section has a form where you can sign up to
adopt a specific mission for as little as $5.00 a month. The purchase
of our Gourmet Mission Blend Coffees, home and garden gift décor
items and accessories for sale on the website or at the retail store
locations are some other ways to support this cause. 50% of your
purchases are a tax-deductible contribution. If you wish to spiritually
support the missions, a prayer request form is available in our
Spiritual Support section. You can even send your prayer request
directly to the mission of your choice. MY MISSION even has a section
devoted to inspirational sayings by people from all walks of life.
Visitors are encouraged to e-mail MY MISSION to suggest additions
to this page. Thank you for making your mission MY MISSION.
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