Mission San Juan Capistrano – 31882 Camino Capistrano

Construction of Mission San Juan Capistano, “Jewel of the Missions”, began in November 1776. Father Junipero Serra named it for St. John of Capestrano in Italy, a warrior priest of the 15th century. This is the seventh in the chain of missions founded by Father Serra. The current location is the second site because of a lack of water at the first. It has been speculated that the first site may have been located near San Juan Creek in the area of the Lacouague Ranch or perhaps on Rancho Mission Viejo or even where the Vejar-Pryor/Hide House stands.

Father Ferman Francisco de Lausen and Father Gregorio Amurrio made a beginning on October 30, 1775, when friendly indigenous natives helped build the first structure. By November 6, 1775, however, news arrived that Indians had attacked San Diego. Lt. Jose Francisco de Ortega, who helped explore the area and selected the site, left for San Diego and urged the padres to leave as well. The mission bells were buried and everyone left. In September 1776, Father Amurrio returned to the Capistrano area with Father Pablo Mugartegui and ten soldiers. They found the cross still standing and uncovered the bells. On November 1, 1776, Father Serra personally and officially founded Mission San Juan Capistrano.

The mission was built as a vast quadrangle and was completely self-sufficient. It housed storage rooms for provisions, shops for making various needed materials, living and dining facilities for the priests and dormitories for the Acjachemen Indian neophytes (today known as Juanenos). A wing to the south of the quadrangle housed the soldiers, a jail and a powder magazine.

The entire mission is built of adobe bricks covered with a “stucco” of adobe mud. The roof is of fired clay tiles. It is not a perfect square as the priest paced off the measurements without using any surveyor’s instruments. Much of the demolished mission has been restored, but work continues on preserving what is left.

The mission thrived and in 1796, after granaries and homes for the neophytes (Juanenos) had been built, Fathers Vincente Fuster and Juan Norberto de Santiago began construction of the Great Stone Church. Isidro Aguilar, a half-Aztec stonemason from Culican, Mexico, was brought to California to supervise the construction of this massive church. Isidro guided the construction of the church until his death in 1803. The church was completed and dedicated September 7, 1806, with many prayers and feasting which went on for days.

The Great Stone Church stood only six years until December 8, 1812, when a tremendous earthquake shook most of Southern California from San Luis Obispo to Oceanside. The church bell tower fell into the church, carrying two young boys to their deaths. Mass had just started when the quake occurred and the parishioners panicked, trying to get out of the doors which had twisted in the quake and would not open. Those who followed the priests’ directions to go to the sacristy survived, others did not. When the shaking finally stopped, forty people had died. The church was in ruins and was never rebuilt.

In August 1834, the Mexican government confiscated the property of the mission and many Juanenos left San Juan Capistrano. In 1845, Governor Pio Pico sold the mission at auction to James McKinley, a merchant, and John Forster, Pico’s brother-in-law, for $710. Forster promptly moved his family into the mission (gift shop area) and James McKinley is never again mentioned in mission history.

Mission San Juan Capistrano steadily declined after the earthquake in 1812. It does not appear that Mr. Forster ever did much maintenance on the mission buildings. As one of his last acts before his assassination, President Abraham Lincoln signed the documents that returned the mission buildings to the Catholic Church in 1865. Forster moved his family to Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores, today Camp Pendleton.

Preservation of the mission was begun in 1895 when the Landmarks Club of Los Angeles, under the direction of President Charles F. Lummis, sought to preserve the missions of California. They came to San Juan and re-roofed many of the buildings of the quadrangle and repaved a mile of walkways with asphalt and gravel. The Landmarks Club put a new shake roof on the Soldiers Barracks and repaired holes in the walls. Feeling the mission buildings were now in more stable condition, the Club turned to another mission. Without their help, it is uncertain whether any of the buildings would have survived to further restoration by Father St. John O’Sullivan.

Father O’Sullivan had met Father Quetu, a resident of San Juan Capistrano, at a chance meeting in Arizona. O’Sullivan was suffering from tuberculosis and Father Quetu suggested he come to visit him. In 1910 Father O’Sullivan stepped off a train in town, walked a block to the corner of Verdugo and Camino Capistrano and saw the mission for the first time. He was struck by the magnificent ruin of the mission and decided to stay for the remainder of his life and restore it. He became the first resident priest since 1886.

Working with his own hands, carving window frames, making beams, and uncovering and storing items for later use, O’Sullivan restored the mission and his own health. Slowly others came to work with him and by the time of his death in 1933, the mission was in much better condition than it had been for decades. Restoration work continued on the Mission and people became more interested in the history of Mission San Juan Capistrano and the town.

During the1950s much was accomplished at the mission. Fund drives were undertaken for restoration. A school was opened on the mission grounds, a new parish hall and a gym were built. Sidewalks were installed and restoration was started on the ruined west wing. Corridor arches were rebuilt using original arches still standing as examples; beams of the mission were renovated and repaired. The Serra Chapel was repainted to its original splendor and the retablo (the ornate background of the altar) was redone with gold leaf.

One of the most ambitious projects of the 1980s was the construction of a new parish church located at the corner of Camino Capistrano and Acjachema Street. It was built along the lines of the Great Stone Church except it is 1/5th larger than the original. The church was designed by architect John Bartlett and interior design was researched by historian Norman Neuerberg, who personally painted many of the designs. The church was dedicated in 1987.

Also in1987 a stabilization program was inaugurated to ensure that the Great Stone Church continues to be a focal point of the mission. Nearly two centuries of deterioration had caused a great amount of damage. It was possibly the largest preservation project in California.

Today the mission buildings are used for various purposes. The north wing was formerly the convent for the teaching nuns and today is used for offices and other utilitarian purposes. The west wing was formerly shops for weaving, sewing and other chores and is now a museum. The adjacent iron smelter, wine and olive presses and the area for treating hides and making tallow are on display.

The east wing is where the Serra Chapel is located. The beautiful rare old retablo behind the altar, carved from cedar by skilled Spanish craftsman of more than 200 years ago. It had been sent in 1906 from Spain to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles where it was stored. In 1924 Father O’Sullivan had asked for permission to go to Mexico to find an appropriate altar for the Serra Chapel. Instead, the Bishop gave O’Sullivan permission to install this retablo in Father Serra’s old church. The retablo was so tall that the roof of the Chapel had to be raised. It is covered with gold leaf which is renewed periodically. The parish rectory is in this wing. Outside on the eastern side of the Chapel are the old mission Indian cemetery and the grave of Monsignor St. John O’Sullivan.

The south corridor contains historical depictions and displays. The soldiers’ barracks have been renovated and are used for art shows. The companario wall (bell wall) has a statue of Father Serra and a Juaneno Indian boy near the south side. On the north side is the Sacred Garden, a fountain, and commemorative plaque honoring Paul Arbiso. Paul was the Mission bell ringer for more than 60 years and the Patriarch of San Juan Capistrano for 23 years.

A new parish school with additional buildings for parish activities, such as conferences and parish offices has also been completed on the north side of the mission property.

In many ways the mission grounds are still the center of activities in the City of San Juan Capistrano. The central courtyard has become the setting for concerts, private events, garden, arts, and crafts shows. Something is always going on at the mission.

In the year 2000, Pope John Paul II decreed that Mission Church San Juan Capistrano, is to be honored with the title “Basilica”.

Rios Adobe – 31781 Los Rios Street

The Rios Adobe is the oldest continuously occupied residence in California and is located on Los Rios Street. Los Rios Street was named for this family. It has been occupied by the descendents of the original family for over 200 years. Feliciano Rios came to San Juan Capistrano with Father Junipero Serra in 1776. He served as a soldier at the Mission for at least ten years before his retirement. Rios married Maria Catalina Garcia de Romero of Mission San Gabriel in 1793 and was given permission by the Mission in 1794 to build a home. This was one of the twenty adobes built along Los Rios Street.

In 1843 Santiago Rios, third son of Feliciano was given a Mexican land grant of 7.7 acres within the original grant (300 varas square) on which the house still stands. He received this grant from Mexican Governor Manual Micheltorena. This is the smallest Mexican land grant recorded. Mexican land grants conveyed title to the land. During the 19th century the building passed down through the family to male descendents. These men and their wives are a significant part of the history of San Juan Capistrano.

Gregorio Rios, grandson of Santiago, is supposed to have sheltered the notorious bandito, Joaquin Murietta, in the attic of the house in the 1850s and may have provided horses as well. In the living room above a display case is a trap door that leads to an attic room where Murrieta was thought to have rested between raids on the ranchos.

A renowned horse trainer, Damian Cosmos Rios, son of Gregorio, often had individuals from England and the East Coast buying their polo ponies from him. In 1927 Gertrude Riena Rios, his wife, opened a restaurant, Casa de Los Rios, at the adobe. During the Depression period the restaurant provided additional income for the family which had nine children.

Daniel J. Rios, Damian and Gertrude’s son, landed on Normandy Beach in World War II. Daniel was later the head of the Homicide and Robbery details of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. He was well-known for his barbecuing and salsa-making abilities. Many a barbecue was held at the Rios Adobe.

Juanita Rios Foy, sister of Daniel, was born in the Rios Adobe and was the Matriarch of the City from 1986 to 1991. She was active in the Juaneno Indian Council.

The current owner of the adobe is Stephen Rios. Stephen is a former Marine and was Executive Secretary to Governor E. G. Brown, Jr. He was a member of the Native American Heritage Commission and worked to ensure burial sites would not be excavated. He is raising the 10th generation in this adobe.

The Rios Adobe was originally two rooms much like the Montanez Adobe and has been added on and changed over the years, depending upon the generation that as living n the home at the time. In 1998 a two-story addition to the rear of the adobe was added but did not change the adobe itself.

The Rios Adobe is a Private residence. Please respect the families privacy and view from the street only.

Judge Richard Egan – “The King of Capistrano”

1842-1923

Judge Richard Egan was one of San Juan’s best known citizens for over 50 years. He was born in County Waterford, Ireland, in 1842 and brought to the United States at the age of 10 years to be educated on the East Coast. An adventurous youth, he became a blockade runner in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and later sailed around Cape Horn to San Francisco in 1866.

Egan came to San Juan Capistrano in 1868. He first lived in an adobe north of town and settled permanently in the fertile valley, planting groves of walnuts, eucalyptus and magnificent Lombardy poplars of which he was exceptionally proud. In 1883 he constructed a red brick residence on Camino Capistrano from bricks “left over” from the construction of the Marco Forster “Casa Grande” residence. Harmony Hall, as it was known, suffered a devastating fire in the upper floors in 1897, and was rebuilt in 1898.

Egan was a landowner, farmer, Justice of the Peace, telegrapher, notary, surveyor, agent for nearby landowners, keeper of rainfall records and dispenser of charity to the needy. From 1880 until 1884 he was a Los Angeles County Supervisor and in 1889 he helped adjust the boundary line when Orange County was created. By common consent Egan was San Juan Capistrano’s alcalde in the Spanish tradition: mayor, judge, and chief dignitary.

He was first elected Justice of the Peace in 1870, the same year the telegraph came to San Juan and he became its operator. From then until 1890 his reelection to office was routine, whether or not his name appeared on the ballot! Understanding the necessity for a railroad through Orange County, he became a director of the Santa Fe Railroad and their right-of-way agent for the route to San Diego.

Among his many accomplishments was his service on the local school board for 32 years, and his supervision of the repair of the Mission San Juan Capistrano, financed by the Landmarks Club of Los Angeles in 1896. He was also an Orange County Road Commissioner, appointed in 1910.

Richard Egan was well-read and spoke five languages: French, Italian, Polish, Spanish and English. No doubt his linguistic talents facilitated his friendship with actress Helena Modjeska, who dubbed Judge Egan the “King of Capistrano” and he set about “knighting” all his many friends.

Judge Egan died in 1923, but his house still stands in the place where he helped local residents untangle the intricacies of American law, and amassed and important collection of historical artifacts, most of which were lost in the 1897 fire.

Don Juan Forster

 1815 – 1882

John “Don Juan” Forster was born in 1815 in Liverpool, England to a very unpretentious family. He grew up to become one of the largest landowners in all of California. At the age of 17 John traveled to Mexico and was working for his uncle, James Johnson, in Guaymas, Mexico. He became the captain of one of his uncle’s ships. In 1836 he became a Mexican citizen and was living in Los Angeles where he worked as a shipping agent at San Pedro. Later he was also Captain of the Port of San Pedro. In 1837 John married Dona Ysidora Pico, sister of Pio Pico the Governor of California.

Forster began acquiring land in the 1840s as a result of his connection with Governor Pico who granted him the lands of Rancho Trabuco and Rancho Mission Viejo. He also owned Rancho San Felipe and Rancho de la Nacion in what is now San Diego County. In 1844 Forster and James McKinley purchased the old ruins of Mission of San Juan Capistrano for $710. Here he made his home until 1864 when the Mission was given back to the Catholic Church by President Abraham Lincoln.

In 1846 the United States and Mexico were at war and Governor Pico fled to Mexico, leaving Forster in charge of Pico’s ranch, Santa Margarita y Las Flores, which today is Camp Pendleton. On his return to California, Pico borrowed large sums of money from Forster to cover his gambling debts. By 1864 Forster offered to pay $14,000 and assume all of Pico’s current debts in return for the deed to rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores. The Picos, Pio and Andres, agreed and Forster became the largest landowner in California, eventually holding over 200,000 acres.

Forster moved his family to Santa Margarita y Las Flores in 1864. The ranch house had been built sometime before 1827 and was in need of repair and remodeling. At this time it had two bedrooms and a living room. Forster expanded the house to 18 rooms surrounding a flower-filled courtyard. It is still standing today and became the home of the Commanding General at Camp Pendleton until 2007 where it is now being made into a museum.

Don Juan died in 1882 and his family sold the ranch to James Flood. Flood made Richard O’Neill his manager who later became half owner of this ranch. In 1940 the United States Navy needed a west coast training facility and purchased a major portion of the ranch from the O’Neill and Flood families and it became Camp Pendleton.

Richard O’Neill

1824 – 1910

Richard O’Neill was born in 1824 in Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland. It was a fortuitous meeting when Richard O’Neill met James Flood on a ship leaving Ireland for the USA. It led to a great friendship that resulted in great rewards for both. They stayed on the east coast for a while until they decided to try their luck in the great California Gold Rush. After sailing for California and they found that the “diggin’s” weren’t always that productive. O’Neill, an experienced butcher, set up shop in San Francisco while Flood set up a saloon. However O’Neill’s fortunes fluctuated while Flood went on to become the “King of the Comstock Lode,” a founder of Wells Fargo Bank, and had many other highly successful endeavors. But their friendship always remained constant.

Later O’Neill successfully managed a ranch up north for the owner and later on operated one for Flood. In 1882 he agreed to inspect some prospective ranch properties in Southern California for Mr. Flood. After he took the SP train to Santa Ana, he rode the Seely & Wright stage to San Juan Capistrano. When that stage stopped in an alleyway between two buildings, little did he realize that one day these two buildings would be joined and eventually become the El Adobe Restaurant, owned by his grandson, Richard Jerome O’Neill. He then booked into the French Hotel, a two-story adobe next door.

Don Juan Forster had passed away and his heirs, strapped with a huge mortgage, had decided to sell the vast Ranchos Santa Margaritas y Las Flores, Mission Viejo, and Trabuco. It was a ranch land extending from Oceanside to the Lake Forest area, and from the Pacific to the Santa Ana Mountains. O’Neill determined to see this prospect, saddled up after his arrival and began to inspect this property. He liked what he saw and went back to convince James Flood about the possibilities. Flood invested the capital to buy it and formed a partnership with his friend, O’Neill, on a handshake. Two months later a title was recorded with Flood’s name and the purchase price set at $457,000 to reflect the $207,000 mortgage that the Forster heirs transferred as part of the sale. O’Neill became the ranch manager for these 205,000 acres. Flood stayed in San Francisco but occasionally came to visit, mainly for recreational purposes.

Tom Forster, grandson of Don Juan Forster, once remarked about O’Neill’s appearance that…”He was very slight of build and very short, but you almost stood at attention when he came around. He gave orders constantly and no one dared disobey him. He worked hard himself, getting up all hours of the night, and everyone on the ranch had to work. He wore boots and denim trousers most of the time because he actively worked the ranch. He generally had a short stubble of beard. He was a little man in stature, but big in personality.”

By 1888, O’Neill’s good managing brought Flood an annual income of $100,000. Flood passed away in 1891, leaving the ranch to his son, James Flood Jr. An excellent relationship remained with O’Neill and Flood Jr. He honored his father’s commitment and in 1906, Richard was given one-half interest in the ranch as a reward for his 24 years of faithful management.

In 1907 Richard gave his half interest to his crippled son Jerome, and then passed away in 1910 at the age of 83. Jerome was crippled from polio, but this did not slow him down. He was well known for horsemanship and rode more, and better, that any vaquero. He became more successful than his dad and netted a half-million dollars profit in one year.

Monsignor St. John O’Sullivan*

1874-1933

Monsignor O’Sullivan was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on March 19, 1874. As a boy he studied at Saint Xavier School in Louisville and later entered the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. He became a student for the priesthood for the Diocese of Louisville and studied at Saint Bernard Seminary in Rochester, New York. He was ordained in 1904.

Shortly after his ordination, doctors told him he suffered from tuberculosis and he would most likely be an invalid for the short part of his life that was left to him. Seeking a climate that would make is illness easier to bear he spent time in both Texas and Arizona. He met Father Quetu, who was taking care of the parishoners by saying Mass weekly for them, in Tucson, Arizona. Father Quetu suggested that perhaps the abandoned Mission might provide O’Sullivan with a limited ministry and be some consolation to the young priest.

O’Sullivan decided to visit San Juan Capistrano and, as he stepped off the train and walked the short distance to the Mission, he saw and fell in love with the magnificent ruins. “The place appealed to him: it was like himself, whose body was gone in decay”, wrote Henry Bedford-Jones. O’Sullivan was put in charge of the ruins of Mission San Juan Capistrano on July 5, 1910. He set up a makeshift tent among the arches in the corridor of the Serra Chapel because the old living quarters of Father Mut were filled with insects. He drew close to the villagers and Juanenos and learned much of the history of the Mission.

Father O’Sullivan began to dream. He knew what the Mission had been and he now dreamed of what it could be again. Not knowing when his life might suddenly be cut off, he labored only for the present. He began to store old tile, carvings, and other pieces of the Mission, believing that someone would come after him and complete the restoration of the Mission. O’Sullivan worked with his own hands, carving beams, plastering walls with adobe, using square nails to restore parts of the Mission. Slowly the Mission began to respond to his work and amazingly O’Sullivan’s health grew better each day.

Gathering the parishioners into a parish organization, in 1918 the Mission was given parochial status with Father O’Sullivan as its first modern pastor. Uppermost in the pastor’s mind was the restoration of the Serra Chapel. In 1922 this was accomplished and the beautiful reredo from Spain was installed behind the altar. A parish grade school was established in 1928 with the teaching Sisters of the Immaculate Conception from Ohio.

When Monsignor St. John O’Sullivan died in 1933 in the city of Orange, “Southern California lost a holy priest, a great man, and a high minded citizen.” His remains lie buried in the old Mission cemetery adjacent to the Serra Chapel.

* St. John O’Sullivan was his baptismal name. This does not infer that he was a canonized Saint. Many of Irish descent would use this form as a given name. However many Catholics felt this was improper to have the title St. or Saint in a given name and commonly would refer to him as “Sin-jin” instead of St. John.

Polonia Montanez

1829 – 1917

Polonia Gutierrez, born in 1829, is the first recorded deed holder of the Montanez Adobe on Los Rios Street. Sometime before 1850, Polonia married a man by the name of Montanez and shortly thereafter became a widow. She married Francisco Canedo in 1853 and after his death in 1870; Polonia married Isadore Simard, a doctor.

Polonia lived in the Montanez Adobe for most of her married life and retained the deed to the land. Polonia was one of four midwives in the village and was also in charge of the religious education of the children when there was no priest at the Mission. It was during a terrible drought in 1890 when she and her little group of children are reported to have brought rain to San Juan Capistrano.

According to legend, Polonia instructed the children that if they would make a spiritual trek and pray, it would rain. The first day they made a trek to what is now Dana Point, but no rain came. The next day they made a trek up Trabuco Canyon, but still no rain came. The third day she and the children sang and prayed while walking south to Capistrano Beach. Polonia and the children prayed while on the beach and they saw clouds start to form and soon it began to rain. It rained so hard that the village sent three wagons to the beach to rescue Polonia and the children. The drought was broken.

Polonia died in 1917 in her late 80s.

Father Blessed Junipero Serra

1713 – 1784

Junipero Serra was born on November 24, 1713 to Antonio Serra and Margarita Ferrer, his wife, in the village of Petra on the Island of Mallorca off the east coast of Spain. He was baptized the same day at the Gothic Church, Saint Peter’s, and given the name Miguel Joseph. He attended classes at the Friary of San Bernardino in Petra but lived at the home of his parents. In 1730, Serra received the Franciscan habit in the Convento de Jesus in the city of Palma, capital of Mallorca. One year later he made his profession and took the name Junipero.

During the years 1731 and 1737, Serra continued to study philosophy and theology at the royal Friary of San Francisco at Lulana University in Palma. Serra preached in many towns of Mallorca before he journeyed to New Spain.

Early in 1749 Serra and his friend, Father Palou, decided they wanted to become missionaries and together applied for permission to serve in this field. Many weeks went by without a reply to their request. On Palm Sunday 1749, Father Palou received word from the father Commissioner General of the Indies that they had been accepted. Palou quickly made his way to Petra, informing Serra of the decision. At the age of 35, Serra left Mallorca with his friend, Father Palou, headed for Mexico and his new responsibilities.

In Mexico Serra worked diligently to convert the Indians to Christianity. As Father President of Franciscans, his missions in Northern Mexico became models of the mission system. Father Serra founded his first mission in Alta California, Mission San Diego in 1769. In 1776 he founded Mission San Juan Capistrano as the seventh in a chain of 21. The Serra Chapel at this mission is the only remaining church in California in which Father Serra is known to have celebrated Mass. Father Serra died in 1784 and is buried at Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo near Monterey. California. Today the Catholic Church is going through the lengthy process of establishing sainthood for Father Junipero Serra and he was given the title of “Blessed” in preparation.

Saint John of Capestrano

Our historic and wonderful old Mission was named for an Italian Saint, John Capistran, but since this was a Spanish Mission they used the Spanish version, San Juan Capistrano. He was born about 1385 in Capestrano in the Kingdom of Naples which is now part of Italy. As our community grew around the Mission it became known by the Mission’s name as well. St. John led a rather interesting life in nobility, as a governor, fervent priest and military leader.

He was born in nobility but his father died early and his devoted mother taught him primarily Latin then sent him off to attend the University of Perugia. Here he studied civil and canon law with great success. He married the daughter of a prominent citizen in 1412 and King Ladislaus of Naples appointed him Governor of Perugia. John zealously eradicated corruption and bribery but there was a family, the Malatesta, who controlled several cities and had many dissenters. John was selected to bring about peace. For his efforts the Malatestas cast him into prison. His treatment was bad, the King had abandoned him, and he meditated about the unfairness of all earthly things. After he was released he made a decision to join the religious orders. Either his wife had died or he received special dispensation to join the Franciscan Order. He studied theology and was ordained in 1425. Before he was accepted in the Franciscan monastery, the Superior ordered him to solemnly renounce the vanities of the world. John rode through Perugia mounted backwards on a donkey, wearing a paper miter on which his greatest sins were listed.

Fr. John traveled all over Italy and incessantly toiled for the salvation of souls. He became so popular that great crowds would gather to hear him speak. They would even erect pulpits in their city plazas and stop all traffic to accommodate him. At one time two Friars were accused of heresy. They were brought to Rome for trial and Fr. John was appointed their spokesman. So successful was his defense, that they were acquitted.

Fr. John was one of those ascetic priests that not only accepted the Franciscan rules of poverty but also mortification of the flesh. He ate only once a day and rarely any meat. He slept on boards and rested only 3 to 4 hours at night. He also celebrated mass everyday with intense fervor. His sermons quite often preached against frivolous fashions and amusements of time and against ladies’ great quantity of hair, perfumes, and superfluous fineries. Also cards, dice, and similar things abounding in idle society he railed against. He had made a great bonfire of all these useless and unworthy items and did this in many cities of Europe to demonstrate the uselessness of it all.

The Popes called upon Fr. John frequently for various commissions as a papal legate to Kingdoms throughout Europe. After Mahomet II captured Constantinople in 1453, he was so flushed with victory that he wanted to rule Christendom. He began an invasion of Hungary with his hordes. By this time many in Europe considered Fr. John a saint and Pope Calixtus III summoned him to raise a crusade against the Turks. The Turks were at the gates to Belgrade and its king fled. The governor of Hungary strongly urged Fr. John to come to his aid against Mahomet. Armed with only a crucifix and a banner with the initials of the Holy Name, I.H.S., Fr. John led a wing of the Christian army. His speech strongly persuaded the despairing army to conquer the enemy or die as martyrs. This so aroused his army over the superior forces that Mahomet’s hordes fled in wild confusion. “The Cross had triumphed over the Crescent.”

The stresses of his most active and austere life and the exhaustion of the war, weakened him and he was seized by a fever and other ailments. In his dying moments he lay on the bare floor and passed away in 1456 at the age of seventy-one. After the usual research on his past and miracles attributed to him he was canonized a Saint by Pope Benedict XIII in 1724.

An interesting praise by former Pope Pius II who knew him, wrote that “He was short of stature, already old, desiccated, thin, shrunken, having nothing but skin on his bones, he was always gay and indefatigable. Every day he preaches before twenty and even thirty thousand persons, clarifying the thorniest problems, pleasing the simple as much as the learned. He pronounces his discourses in Latin and an interpreter translates.”

General Annual Event Information

Planning for events in 2021 is currently underway. For dates, fees and reservations for events, please call  (949) 493-8444 or email inquiries to info@sjchistoricalsociety.com.

Annual Calendar

March Bi-Annual Meeting

General meetings are held in March and November and are open to all guests and members. Special guest speakers entertain audiences as they share stories of historic interest relating to the area. An update on the Society’s activities and accomplishments is presented, and the annual election of Board members is part of the March meeting.

Annual Family Fiesta Day

Annual Society Mixer & BBQ

Every summer, the Society hosts a mixer for its members and their guests. It is traditionally held on the beautiful O’Neill Museum grounds with delicious food and refreshing beverages. Attendees are also invited to take part in a silent auction and raffle for a chance to enjoy exceptional prizes. We hope to be able to schedule this event again soon.

Ghosts & Legends Tours

October

Join us for a spooky adventure through the Los Rios Historic District, the oldest residential neighborhood in California. Be prepared to meet the King of San Juan Capistrano and hear creepy tales of a big black dog with red eyes, the elusive lady in white, and other restless spirits that are said to haunt the town.

Ghost Tours start in front of the O’Neill Museum on Los Rios Street and will be conducted each night at 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00 and 8:30 pm. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

November Bi-Annual Meeting

Time & Date TBD

This annual event features a special guest speaker and is free and open to the public..

December Holiday Craft Market

Time & Date TBD

Join us for this free holiday shopping event on our beautiful park grounds. We have curated 13 vendors selling vintage goods, antiques, crafts, textiles, jewelry, quilts, oils, and more. Masks required for entry.