Testimonials

Very few places exist in this modern world like Mission San Antonio de Padua. It is truly a unique treasure where many from all over the world have visited to experience peace and solitude.  Below are some testimonials from Mission visitors.

"I spent 2 lovely nights at the San Antonio mission on a watercolor workshop with Bonnie Carver. 

I have lived in California all of my 67 years, and yes, remember the 4th grade unit on the missions.  Over those years, I have visited most of the missions during my travels.  I've been sad to see most of them in such states of disrepair, or surrounded by urban sprawl.  What a delight it was to be able to experience San Antonio Mission.  I felt like it could have been the 18th century (but with flushies).  The tranquility of the Mission and the surrounding hills, the humble but clean and comfortable rooms, the beautiful rose garden–in full glorious bloom–all made for a wonderful, relaxing, contemplative artistic experience. 

I just made a contribution to your preservation campaign through PayPal.  I wish you the best of luck with the earthquake retrofitting, no small task at all, and to the continuing success of the mission of San Antonio."
-Sally L.

"I have visited all 21 missions and this is on of my favorite.  Its relative isolation makes it very evocative as oppossed to missions surrounded by fast food restaurants."
-Richard B.

"We love this place,so peaceful and full of history.  Please preserve this special and Holy place."
-Kathy A.

"Mission San Antonio de Padua is a wonderful reminder of my childhood studies in Calif. elementary school. Every child studies the missions. For me it was exciting to study all my favorite things at once: architecture, building, food, music, art, world-wide immigration patterns, Native Americans. In 1964, teachers did not emphasize the historical truth behind the missions' development (slave labor, early death for laborers, the genocide of native peoples,) but only the positive. I remember being taught the numerous steps behind preparation of acorn meal. The process of gathering and hunting seemed very exciting and vivid. Scott O'Dell, author of the children's classic, Island of the Blue Dophins, was invited to my school to speak. I wanted to be just like the heroine of his novel, an entirely self-sufficient California native who built her own dwelling place, caught her own fish, and lived well. I missed the note of great sadness within the novel, a woman losing all her family and ancestral ties as the padres moved removed her people from the Catalina Islands to the mainland. When my own family moved to Washington state, I was ten years old. Living in the countryside, I built small stone villages along our creek, calling them Indian villages.I played that I was a California native. My imagination was full of references to California native life, even in Washington state.  

When I first visited Mission San Antonio, the isolation struck me:  it takes you completely away from modern life and back to  the world of the padres. I adored the paintings on the walls, the colors, the sounds. I have loved the peacefulness of the church and its vulnerability in the modern world. I have usually stayed overnight closeby, so it was easy to walk back and forth between mission and Julia Morgan's old hunting lodge, built for Randolph Hearst. Now, it's an immersion into a life not ruled by the clock for visitors. But in past times, one can understand the wrenching clash between the natural rhythm of hunters and gatherers, and the padres' relentless drive to impose European values on the first caretakers of this beautiful place. I deeply value having a retreat from modern life. I respect those who have preserved this historical place and surrounding landscape."
-Beth E.

"Visiting Mission San Antonio de Padua was a mix of getting in contact with history and feeling closer to God. I also prayed for the well being of a close friend and my prayer was answered with enormous blessings. I look forward to returning back again very soon."
-Jose J.

"As a fourth grade teacher, I know how important all 21 of our California Missions are to my students' understanding and appreciation of California history. My students and I visit the missions and use the resources they offer. Many of the missions host living history days where my students can see, feel, hear, smell and even taste history. Mission San Antonio de Padua is one of these special missions that I recommend my students visit. The living history day at Mission San Antonio de Padua is extraordinary!"
-Michele M.

"Had a wonderful visit with my young granddaughter. It is so important that she have the opportunity to experience "early" California. The Mission represents a truly unique, and important, time in California history. Keep up the good work."
-Patricia N.

"Some of my fondest memories are of camping at Mission San Antonio with our dad. We explored just about every inch of both the property and the mission. Thank you for making that possible."
-Tammy E.

"I've loved the California missions since I was a kid and years ago I decided to visit all 21 missions. Driving to San Antonio, I knew this mission would be different from the others. I loved that a lot of the area around it was still as if it was hundreds of years ago. From the mission you don't see much of the modern world. You can walk all around the groups and still discover ruins of buildings; I found a pile of adobe bricks. The buildings themselves have lots of character. Even the cats that live there have lots of personality! I've taken different friends/family over the years so they could experience it and everyone I've taken has loved it. I hope to return soon."
-Christine W.

Do you have a testimonial you would like to share?  Whether it is the history you love, the retreat experience, the events you've enjoyed attending, the archeological opportunities available or just the deep appreciation and love for this timeless treasure, so many people have a deep love and appreciation for this timeless treasure. Email your testimonial to info@preservemissionsanantonio.org.  Thank you!