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Santa Clara Mission

 Organization

Biography

Mission Santa Clara was founded in January of 1777 by the Franciscan Friar Tomás de la Peña on the banks of the Guadalupe River. The Mission relocated four times until it was finally established at the current site in 1825. Mission Santa Clara was the eighth of 21 Franciscan missions established in Alta California (Upper California) throughout the years 1769-1823, as Spain attempted to consolidate its power in the region as well as to evangelize its native population. These missions were governed by the Colegio de San Fernando in Mexico City until 1833, when Mission Santa Clara and other northern missions were entrusted to the Colegio de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Zacatecas, Mexico.

Chronology:
Locations & Churches
January 12, 1777
Mission Santa Clara founded by Franciscan Friar Tomás de la Peña near present day intersection of Central Expressway and De La Cruz Boulevard.
1779
Mission church relocated to second site near present day corner of Martin Avenue and De La Cruz Boulevard.
1784
Mission church relocated to third site near the present day main entrance to campus at 500 El Camino Real, under what is now Charney Hall.
1819
Mission church housed in a temporary adobe buillding on the lawn across from present day St. Joseph's Hall. This was to be a temporary church while the fifth church was under construction at its present day location.
1825
Fifth church building opened, subsequently destroyed by fire in 1926.
1929
Sixth church, newly constructed and expanded, reopens to the campus community.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Magín Catalá, O.F.M. collection

 Collection
Identifier: PP - Catalá
Abstract The Magín Catalá, O.F.M. Collection, circa 1885-2009 (bulk 1885-1909), documents the life of Fray Magín Catalá. Often referred to as the “Holy Man of Santa Clara,” Fr. Catalá was stationed at Mission Santa Clara for thirty-six years and was widely renowned for his piety and spiritual labors. In 1882, more than fifty years after Magín Catalá’s death, Archbishop J.S. Alemany, O.P. initiated the process of his beatification. As of 2014, his Cause remained open. The bulk of the collection...
Dates: 1830 to 2009