After a hiatus of three years due to the pandemic and an arson fire in July 2020, the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel campus is set to fully reopen to the public on Saturday. This reopening is timed to coincide with the Feast Day of the mission’s founder, Father Junápero Serra.
The Rev. Parker Sandoval, vice chancellor for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, expressed excitement about the reopening, stating, “We look forward to opening wide the doors of Mission San Gabriel once again. As the place where the Gospel of Jesus Christ was first proclaimed in this land, the mission is the spiritual home of all Catholics in Los Angeles.”
The Mission Church proudly houses the restored altarpiece from the 1790s that endured damage during the earthquake of 1812 and the arson incident of 2020. Furthermore, the Mission Museum presents a captivating new exhibit titled “Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, 1771-1900: Natives, Missionaries, and the Birth of Catholicism in Los Angeles.”
Within the museum, visitors can explore baptismal records, textiles, baskets, paintings, and audio recordings. Notable features include the Wall of Names, a memorial honoring the Native American community; a dedicated space for the contemporary Gabrieleño community; and performances of 18th-century music composed for the California missions by the USC Thornton Baroque Sinfonia. Additionally, the museum offers readings from the letters of Father Junípero Serra.
The exhibit is particularly noteworthy for featuring a comprehensive list of 7,054 Native Americans who were baptized at the mission between 1771 and 1848.
Within the museum, visitors will also find a preserved confessional booth from 1775, a rose-colored silk beaded chasuble from the 1770s, religious paintings by renowned artists from 17th and 18th century Mexico, and a collection of 19th-century Stations of the Cross.
The devastating fire on July 11, 2020, severely damaged the mission’s roof and church. However, prompt action by firefighters prevented the blaze from reaching the altar, museum, and adjacent rectory. It took over two hours and the efforts of 85 firefighters to extinguish the fire.
The estimated damage, including projected revenue loss, exceeds $9 million. The suspect responsible for the arson, John David Corey, will stand trial on charges of arson of a structure, arson during a state of emergency, and second-degree commercial burglary.
The San Gabriel Mission is now open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.
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