Mission San Antonio de Padua celebrated Mission Days Saturday with re-enactors, exhibitors, period music, dancing and appropriate food. The mission is located in the hills next to Fort Hunter Liggett Army Base, in a remote area between Big Sur and King City.
In 1771, Padres Junipero Serra, Miguel Pieras, and Buenaventura Sitjar hung bells on the branches of an oak tree, and established the third mission in California. Fathers Pieras and Sitjar stayed behind with a small group to start the mission on July 14, 1771. Thus began Mission San Antonio de Padua.
Unlike many missions, which saw cities grow up around them, the land around Mission San Antonio remains pristine. One can still see the remains of original mission structures. Although it fell into disrepair after Mexico secularized the missions in 1824, in the 1900’s often visited the mission for picnics or to conduct outdoor religious events. In the late 1940’s, the Franciscans worked with William Randolph Hearst to restore the mission.
Several times each year, Mission San Antonio celebrates its heritage with Mission Days, The Fiesta, Cutting of the Roses, Las Posadas, and Evening in the Garden. Those annual events attract visitors to the mission. The Mission is also available for groups and individuals for retreats.
Saturday’s Mission Days attracted hundreds of people from throughout the Central Coast and San Joaquin Valley. Some traveled from the Bay Area and Los Angeles to attend the event. Musicians performed period music in costume. Native American displayed baskets made during the Mission period. A Chukchansi woman brought baskets made by her ancestors in the late 1800’s. Other reenactors showed how people dressed and worked during the 1800’s in California.
Mission Administrator Joan Steele said, “Thursday, it was 20 degrees warmer. Today, the weather was perfect. We’re glad so many people turned out to see the Mission. This is our reenactment. People also got to see our new garden, which is restored with all native plants. Mission Days turned out beautifully.”
The next big event at Mission San Antonio is The Fiesta, scheduled for July 12, 2022.
