My report begins outside the replica Church at The Mission Santa Cruz.
The Mission Santa Cruz was original built on the flood planes of San Lorenzo river but after flooding it was moved to higher ground over looking the river, near the heart of Santa Cruz, CA. The Santa Cruz Mission was consecrated by Father Fermín Lasuén on August 28, 1791. Most of the original mission was destroyed by earthquakes in 1857. Only one of the original building still exists today.
Plaza Park is now at the center of where the mission is located.
Near-by a replica of the original Mission Santa Cruz church was built in 1931. There is a large wooden entrance to replica church. About the entrance is the Latin phrase "Hail to the cross, our only hope.".
On entering the church I walked to the alter, knelt and said a prayer.
The inside of the replica church is quiet small. There is a small alter, stations of the cross on the walls, also six oil paintings hanging on the walls, a church organ at the read, a single aisle with 8 small pews on each side and a small room in remembrance of Gladys Sullivan Doyle, who donated the replica Church in 1931.
The visitor center is located next to the Church. Before entering the visitor center I discovered that the replica Church is half the size of the original Mission Santa Cruz Church.
The visitor center contained many interesting facts about the Mission of Santa Cruz. It also contained some of the original vestments worn by the mission's priests.
Behind the visitor's center there is a small patio garden that contains statues of Farther Junipero Serra and Our Lady of Sorrow. It also contains the original baptismal font from the Mission Santa Cruz church.
Farther Junipero Serra was the founder of the California missions. He became a monk of the order of St Frances when he was sixteen years of age. He lived from 1713 to 1784. The statue in the Mission Santa Cruz garden is life size.
Baptismal font from original Mission Santa Cruz Church.
Our Lady of Sorrows.
Plaza Park is now at the center of where the mission is located.
Near-by a replica of the original Mission Santa Cruz church was built in 1931. There is a large wooden entrance to replica church. About the entrance is the Latin phrase "Hail to the cross, our only hope.".
On entering the church I walked to the alter, knelt and said a prayer.
The inside of the replica church is quiet small. There is a small alter, stations of the cross on the walls, also six oil paintings hanging on the walls, a church organ at the read, a single aisle with 8 small pews on each side and a small room in remembrance of Gladys Sullivan Doyle, who donated the replica Church in 1931.
The visitor center is located next to the Church. Before entering the visitor center I discovered that the replica Church is half the size of the original Mission Santa Cruz Church.
The visitor center contained many interesting facts about the Mission of Santa Cruz. It also contained some of the original vestments worn by the mission's priests.
Behind the visitor's center there is a small patio garden that contains statues of Farther Junipero Serra and Our Lady of Sorrow. It also contains the original baptismal font from the Mission Santa Cruz church.
Farther Junipero Serra was the founder of the California missions. He became a monk of the order of St Frances when he was sixteen years of age. He lived from 1713 to 1784. The statue in the Mission Santa Cruz garden is life size.
Baptismal font from original Mission Santa Cruz Church.
Our Lady of Sorrows.
