Ways to donate Mission San Luis Rey de Francia

Many of you have history at California Missions, specially in Mission san Luis Rey. You may have grown up in the parish, have family in our cemetery, may have been married there, or baptized there or attended school there...or you may just take great pride in this magnificent architectural masterpiece...and many others have great respect for the contribution of the hundreds of Native Americans, the Luiseno whose labor made this old adobe structure possible.

Wills And Trusts
Gifts to Old Mission San Luis Rey Historic Foundation, may be excluded from estate taxation. The full value of the amount assigned will be available to support Old Mission San Luis Rey Historic Foundation, programs. Making a contribution through your will or trust results in no alteration of your current lifestyle.

Life Insurance
Make Old Mission San Luis Rey Historic Foundation, the owner and beneficiary of your old policy or a new one. If annual premiums are due, make gifts to Old Mission San Luis Rey Historic Foundation, in the amount of the premium and qualify for an income tax deduction.

Charitable Trusts
Income to You - Making a gift to a Charitable Remainder Trust or a Pooled Income Fund returns income to you in addition to income and estate tax benefits and bypasses capital gains taxation. The income you receive can be for your lifetime or for a period of years. In some instances, you may choose the amount of income you will receive.

Income to Charity - Transferring assets to family members is subject to gift and estate taxes, perhaps as much as 55%. Through a Charitable Lead Trust you can reduce, even eliminate those taxes. In this vehicle you select an annual amount to be distributed to Missions Foundation, Inc. You also choose the number of years for the distributions. After the selected term, the assets in the trust pass to your family at substantially reduced taxes.

Retained Life Estate
A significant part of most Californians’ estate is their home. You can surrender ownership of your home to Old Mission San Luis Rey Historic Foundation, while you continue to enjoy all the benefits of staying in your present surroundings for your lifetime, and receive tax benefits.

Stocks
Giving appreciated stock returns several benefits to a donor. The gift amount is the value of the stock on the date it is given, not the purchase amount. Additionally, no tax is due on the capital gains.

Real Estate
Similar to gifts of appreciated stock, the gift value of contributions of real estate is the fair market value of the property at the time of the gift—not the original purchase price. And no taxes will be due on the appreciated value of the property.

Qualified Retirement Assets
Transferring remaining assets in qualified retirement plans to any family member other than one’s spouse results in taxes that may exceed 80 percent. Naming Old Mission San Luis Rey Historic Foundation, as the successor beneficiary of your spouse allows you both to have use of the assets during your lifetimes and transfers the full value of any remaining assets to support the purpose of Old Mission San Luis Rey Historic Foundation, Inc.

Check or Credit Card
An immediate donation can help restore, enhance, maintain and preserve the physical structures of the Mission.

Over 200 years of history are preserved in Mission San Luis Rey, California's "King of the California Missions ". The Missions are an important part of our cultural heritage, and merits support from the entire community. This is your opportunity to invest to California Missions in preserving this legacy for the next generation

Preserving California Missions Legacy

The Mission holds an important position in the history and economy of California. Culturally, Old Mission San Luis Rey has been an influence on its community from its founding in 1798.

You may already know that there are 21 Missions today in the state of California. If you live in California, there is a good chance that you are within an hour's drive of one or more of the missions. Starting in San Diego, and dotting the coast all the way past San Francisco, the missions are a standing reminder of an earlier time, a time long past, when the Spanish were colonizing Alta California. They teach us of the introduction of Europeans to the California Native Americans, and the struggles that both groups would endure.

After Mexico won its independence from Spain, it found that it could no longer afford to keep the missions running as Spain had done. In 1834, Mexico decided to end the mission system and sell all of the lands. They offered the lands to the Indians who did not want the lands or could not come up with the purchase price. The lands were divided into smaller Ranchos and sold to Mexican citizens who were helpful during the war for independence. After nearly 30 years, the missions were returned to the Catholic Church. Although some of the missions had already been returned to the church, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed an Act declaring that all of the 21 missions in the California mission chain would become the property of the Catholic Church and have remained so since that time.

The economy at Mission was similar to the other missions in that they planted crops of wheat and corn. They also planted vineyards, and raised cattle and sheep.
The buildings were arranged around a 500 by 500 foot quadrangle. That is nearly the size of 2 football fields long. In 1826 a visitor from France described this mission as looking like "Palace". There were many visitors to this mission.
Most of today's Missions are active churches, indeed, some have held mass non-stop since their founding. Others are part of the California State Park system. All are modern day treasures, testimonies to the determination and faith of the people who built them, and a path backwards in time to our beginnings. They have influenced many aspects of our history, and continue to be an important part of our state today. Our intention with this website is to bring the present day mission to those who plan on visiting the missions, or those who may not be able to visit all the missions.

Contrary to what many people think, 19 of the 21 California missions are not funded by any governmental agency. Most rely solely on charitable donations to keep their wooden doors open. It is obvious that time continues to take its toll on these precious landmarks. Tiles crack. Paintings fade and sag. Earthquakes rumble. Thieves strike. Termites and beetles burrow. Floodwaters rise. Adobe walls crumble. That is why Mission needs support. Fund Development's purpose is to increase support for the Mission's operation and programs. This includes creating beneficial partnerships with our local business community, organizations, donors and other stakeholders.

Over 200 years of history are preserved in Mission San Luis Rey, California's "King of the California Missions ". The Missions are an important part of our cultural heritage, and merits support from the entire community. This is your opportunity to invest to Missions in preserving this legacy for the next generation.

King Of The California Missions

Mission San Luis Rey de Francia was founded on June 13, 1798, by Father Fermin Lasuen, Father-President of the Mission Chain after Father Junipero Serra's death. It was the 18th mission in the 21 mission chain in Alta California. It was named for Saint Luis IX, King of France in the 1200's. It was known as "King of the Missions". The Spanish plan was to colonize this area with native inhabitants by drawing on their willingness to help, along with their considerable skills and creative talents. All this was done with the intent of ultimately turning over the missions to these indigenous people.

From time to time since the late 1800s, groups and individuals who recognized the historical, sociological, and artistic importance of these settlements spearheaded efforts to restore and reconstruct them. Contrary to what many people think, 19 of the 21 California missions are not funded by any governmental agency. Most rely solely on charitable donations to keep their wooden doors open.

The mission buildings were occupied between 1846 and 1865 by various U.S. military troops, including the Battalion of Mormon Volunteers. In 1850, California became the 34th state of the union and the remaining mission lands were incorporated into the United States.

No services were held at the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia for 46 years. It wasn't until 1892 when two Mexican padres were given permission to restore the mission as a monastery. Father Joseph O'Keefe was assigned to the mission as an interpreter for the monks. It was he who began to restore the old mission in 1895. The quadrangle and church were completed in 1905.

The Mission Museum is in the section restored and reconstructed over 100 years ago by the Franciscan Friars from Zacatecas. The arched portico is 200 years old. The Church, which is part of the Museum, has been standing since 1813.

Today Mission San Luis Rey de Francia is a working mission. It is cared for by the people who belong to the parish. It is still being restored today. There is a museum and visitors center at the mission. Immediate and Long-Term Funding Needs:
• Seismic retrofit of mission church and museum urgently needed,
• Upgrade water and fire prevention systems,
• Conservation of mission paintings and artifacts,
• Repair water damage to mortuary chapel,
• Upgrade archive and collection storage.

The Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery is the oldest community burial ground in North San Diego County, dating back to 1798. The cemetery has undergone recent expansion and may be utilized by members of all faiths and parishes.

Today’s Mission is used by business, charitable, religious and community organizations for meetings, spiritual retreats and conferences. City, County and State officials use it on a regular basis for meeting with their constituents and other social events. The center accommodates up to 100 overnight guests.

The Chamber of Commerce, the Navy and Marine personnel from Camp Pendleton, The Luiseno Band of Mission Indians, all make use of the Mission buildings and grounds for their cultural events. North County Earth Day is celebrated annually as Pepper Tree Day in the courtyard around the Missions pepper tree – the oldest pepper tree in California. The annual Heritage Ball is a gala event with an elegantly catered dinner and dancing. The Heritage Ball is held late in the summer.

Over 200 years of history are preserved in Mission San Luis Rey, California's "King of the California Missions ". The Missions are an important part of our cultural heritage, and merits support from the entire community. This is your opportunity to invest to California Missions in preserving this legacy for the next generation.

Authentic Mission Era Features At Mission San Luis Rey Part II

Convento

A convento is the friars' living quarters usually attached to the church. At Mission San Luis Rey, this wing was fronted by 32 arches and held rooms intended for the missionaries and official visitors and guests. The dining room and kitchen were also in this front part of the Mission.

PRESENT - Today only 12 of the original arches remain and what was once the convento now houses the Museum and a Gift Shop. The arched corridors stop short of extending to the western edge of the property.

Colonnade

The beautiful arched columns of the colonnade were part of the Spanish Colonial era that incorporated several styles of architecture. During the Mission Period these graceful structures extended into the interior grounds of the quadrangle.

PRESENT - When the Mission was abandoned many of the materials were stripped to supply neighboring ranchos. The arches fell into ruin and today there is little trace of these once grand columns. The original carriage arch can be seen from the Retreat Center.

Dormitories

In 1830, all unmarried women lived in dormitories off the north wing of the Mission quadrangle. Many families preferred to live outside the Missions walls in their own homes, but the younger neophytes (newly converted Indians) also lived dormitory-style within the quadrangle at Mission San Luis Rey.

PRESENT - The dormitory wings were part of the Mission that awaited the extensive restoration efforts of the Franciscan friars. When San Luis Rey College was created in 1950 the wings were intended to be living quarters for Franciscan students preparing for Ordination. The College closed in 1968 and the newly-rebuilt structure was converted into the present Retreat Center, a place for contemplation and spiritual reflection.

Workshops

Mission life centered around prayer and work. As such, Mission San Luis Rey was an Important center of industry. The padres taught skills which would best benefit the needs of the mission community, Including: adobe brick making, blacksmithing, carpentry, leatherwork and tanning, shoemaking, soap making, weaving, spinning, and candle making.

The daily life of those who lived here was full of activity as the Mission supported and sustained an expanding population. The workshops and classrooms were located around the quadrangle.

PRESENT - Today workshops are maintained for the upkeep of the Missions property and the welfare of the friars who live here. Some of the trades of the past are still vital, such as carpentry, gardening, and water reclamation. Other trades have been developed for the modern Mission and the myriad of tasks required to oversee the departments and ministries within Mission San Luis Rey.

Barracks

Each mission was established with three cooperating entities: civil, religious, and military. Although not a fort, or presidio, the barracks housed the military arm of the mission system. Between five and eleven Spanish soldiers assigned to protect this mission resided In these barracks. The building had several apartments and a tower. The barracks were located in front of the Mission.

PRESENT - When the mission was abandoned, the barracks fell into ruins. Today a fence surrounds the area where the barracks once stood, guarding the remnants of the centuries old structure.

Over 200 years of history are preserved in Mission San Luis Rey, California's "King of the California Missions ". The Missions are an important part of our cultural heritage, and merits support from the entire community. This is your opportunity to invest to California Missions in preserving this legacy for the next generation.

Authentic Mission Era Features At Mission San Luis Rey Part I

Church

Construction of the present Mission church began in 1811 and was completed in 1815. The design is cruciform with the dimensions measuring 30' high, 165' long and 27' wide. The solitary bell tower, which is the cornerstone to the entire mission quadrangle, is 75' high. Adobe, lime plaster, wooden timbers, fired clay bricks, and roof tiles comprise the primary building materials. The architecture is Spanish Colonial combining Baroque and Classical styles with Moorish influences.
PRESENT - The church, a National Historic Landmark, is open daily to visitors via the museum, which oversees its restoration and the care of its collections. Although painted over through the years, the decorative designs, taken from textiles and patterns in books, are original. The church at San Luis Rey is recognized as the most unique and one of the most beautiful in the mission chain. It is the largest of the 21 California Missions and the only one adorned with a wooden dome and cupola. Unique also to San Luis Rey are the side altars and the Madonna Chapel which originally served as a mortuary chapel.

Lavanderia

To the South of the Mission is the Lavanderia, or open-air laundry. This shallow valley beyond the Mission plaza proved ideal as both a bathing site and a place to wash clothes. Additionally, the structure provided a means of channeling the water into the Missions gardens and fields for irrigation. Water from the San Luis Rey River was diverted to the site. Flowing down from both sides of the tiled stairway, water spouted from the mouths of carved gargoyles. An extensive water conservation system by even modern standards, the Lavanderia was surrounded by an adobe wall and entered through an arched and pillared gateway. A turnstile kept wildlife out.
PRESENT - In 1955 the first organized archaeological work was begun by seminary students under the direction of the staff at San Luis Rey College and visiting historians and archaeologists. The site was registered at the archaeological survey office at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and given the permanent trinomial designation SDi241. Highway construction projects and housing developments have since leveled hills and the valley has undergone many changes including the diversion of the San Luis Rey River. Visitors can still explore the Lavanderia by going down the main staircase to the tile and stone pools, and the magnificent gargoyles. The original brick and lime kiln used in Mission construction can be seen to the east.

Cemetery

The cemetery has been in continuous use since the founding of the Mission in 1798. The Indian Memorial was erected In 1830 by Father Antonio Peyri to honor the many Luisenos who helped build and maintain the mission; including those who lived in outlying areas such as Pala, the asistencia or sub-station, to Mission San Luis Rey. Also buried here are many of the area's leading Catholic pioneers and priests.
PRESENT - The cemetery continues to be the oldest burial ground in North San Diego County still in operation. The Franciscan Crypts house the remains of many of the Friars who have served this mission, while recent expansion makes it possible for area residents of all faiths to be buried here. The skull and crossbones above the cemetery entrance is commonly found at Franciscan cemeteries. In the 1950s, Walt Disney Studio replaced the cemetery gates for the filming of several television episodes of "Zorro" at San Luis Rey.

Quadrangle

The Mission quadrangle is a four-sided patio approximately 500' square surrounded by buildings and arcades. In this courtyard the first pepper trees in Alta California were planted by Fr. Antonio Peyri using seeds brought to San Luis Rey in 1830 by a sailor from Peru. The buildings included workshops, living quarters, a kitchen, infirmary, winery and storage areas.

PRESENT - One of the first pepper trees still stands in this quadrangle and can be seen through the original carriage arch. The patio of the quadrangle looks different today due to the building of a smaller, inner quadrangle and convento after 1892 when the Franciscans returned to San Luis Rey. Called the O'Keefe building and Sacred Garden, the smaller quadrangle is the center of the current friary. The larger area, now a Retreat Center, was built for a seminary college in 1950 on the foundations of the original quadrangle.

Over 200 years of history are preserved in Mission San Luis Rey, California's "King of the California Missions ". The Missions are an important part of our cultural heritage, and merits support from the entire community. This is your opportunity to invest to California Missions in preserving this legacy for the next generation.

Save the Mission San Luis Rey

San Luis Rey de Francia, "King of Missions," was the eighteenth of the Franciscan establishments in California; and the second founded in what is now the County of San Diego-second therefore on El Camino Real. Many things can be owned - cars, jewelry, clothes, books and baubles. There are exceedingly few things for which you have the opportunity to be a steward rather than an owner.

Stewards do not buy the legacy they shepherd, nor can they sell it. Theirs is a responsibility of conservation, preservation and transmission - but only if they decide to step forward and accept that duty, seeing it for the exceptional opportunity it is.

Today, everyone has that rare opportunity of stewardship. Oceanside's Old Mission San Luis Rey must undergo a state-mandated seismic upgrade or this North County icon, valuable enough to be designated a national landmark, will be lost. By supporting this preservation effort, you are accepting the invitation to safeguard Mission San Luis Rey, an extremely rare local and California legacy.

Mission San Luis Rey is a remarkable and durable cultural icon, and its conservation and perpetuation are worthy of everyone's attention. As with all California missions, this mission became a cornerstone of California heritage. The story of the missions' creation is taught in area schools, with more than 10,000 local fourth-grade children visiting Mission San Luis Rey, learning about the legacy they will someday inherit. This is an irreplaceable experience for our children.

All California missions remain significant reminders of triumphs and tragedies in our historical past, thus continuing their mission of teaching eternally.

Preservation of this cultural touchstone is an invitation for stewardship to every person in Southern California. Historic preservation is a complicated yet fascinating process. How do you do a seismic retrofit on a structure such as Mission San Luis Rey? Extremely carefully.

Because of its national landmark designation, and being part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "Save America's Treasures" program, work on the mission's structure can only be undertaken by one of four contractors possessing approved, specialized knowledge and proficiency in dealing with historic architecture. This cost of care is an investment in preserving our past and maintaining it as part of our future. Our goals are:

• Preserving the unique, historical Mission artwork and paintings,
• Revitalizing the beautiful gardens and landscaping,
• Renovating the historic archways,
• Obtaining city water for safety and convenience,
• Seismically retrofit the National Historic Landmark buildings,

·         Upgrading and expanding the 4th-grade mission experience.

Now it is our turn. Mission San Luis Rey has gloriously stood for more than 200 years. A dedicated group of your friends and neighbors have said "yes" to be stewards, and we are appealing to the community to join us in this vital effort to preserve our cultural heritage.

This seismic retrofit costs $3.1 million. The missions capital campaign enabling the work to be accomplished is in its final stages; the goal is within reach. But there is an urgent deadline. Crucial funding from America's Treasures grant program could be withdrawn if construction isn't completed by October 2012. Community response in the next 60 days will determine whether or not this is possible.

Success or failure will be decided by how many choose to come forward immediately and accept the invitation to make a generous contribution.

Understanding Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a special day that has existed for thousands of years with religious connotations in Latin America, where it continues to be followed faithfully and is now celebrated in America.

The holiday holds a special place in the hearts of Mexicans, when family and friends gather to pray for and remember loved ones who have died, oftentimes with elaborate homemade altars. It is a more spiritual than solemn day, which begins on the eve of November 1 on All Saints’ Day and is celebrated on November 2.

The special day bears little resemblance to the other holiday it follows, Halloween, since it is not associated with evil spirits or scary situations and has nothing in common with the new entertainment landscape filled with vampires, werewolves and zombies.

Dia de los Muertos is not, as is often said, the Latino Halloween. The day of celebration falls close to Halloween so a link is often made, but for marketers hoping to grasp insights into Dia de los Muertos, there is a delicate balance for the Spanish-language dominant Latino.

U.S. Hispanics enjoy Halloween, but they celebrate both holidays separately and in their own way, from generation to generation. Dia de los Muertos is a respectful yet colorful day filled with happiness and remembrance.

Some marketers have already tapped into the growing market by offering some of the items that are often needed to make an altar complete on Dia de los Muertos: Families set up altars at home brimming with fresh flowers, oftentimes sweet-smelling yellow marigolds, or cempasúchil, as the flowers are known in Mexico; pan de muertos (bread for the dead) is often sold in Hispanic-friendly neighborhoods and is set out as a symbolic gesture for the person being remembered; a cup of water is left out for the person who has passed away to “drink” after a long journey, along with favorite foods; candles are placed nearby to light the way and to provide warmth; and decorative sugar skulls can be bought or made at home.
These rituals are in fact unique and can seem a bit unorthodox to non-Hispanics unaccustomed to discussing death so openly. Dia de los Muertos is often misunderstood because it may seem almost too festive. If it is, that’s because for many Latinos honoring the dead means being happy to have had that person in their life.

A growing number of pint-size ceramic skulls and skeletons found in storefront windows in predominately Hispanic neighborhoods pay tribute to the holiday, but these figurines are often dressed in elegant attire and carry a musical instrument or are placed in jaunty positions. The calaveras (skulls) and skeletons commonly used to mark the day are more figurative, not spooky like the ones used during Halloween. To mark the occasion, skull-bearing T-shirts, cards, calendars and coffee mugs are beginning to be found in traditionally less Hispanic neighborhoods which shows that the holiday has trickled into our “mainstream” culture.

Latin American culture is so vast and so multifaceted that honoring the dead should not come as a surprise. It is a different way of approaching life, even after a loved one has died.

Dia de losMuertos at Mission San Luis Rey has once again concluded a fantastic community event. This year many more attendees dressed the part in their wonderful traditional Dia de losMuertos costumes and makeup. Children came dressed for their practice run for trick or treating that evening.  Day Of Dead