José Bernardo Sánchez

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Father José Bernardo Sánchez (September 7, 1778 – January 15, 1833) was a Spanish missionary to the Americas.

Born in Robledillo, Old Castile, Spain, he became a Franciscan on October 9, 1794 and joined the missionary College of San Fernando de Mexico in 1803. He traveled on to California the next year where he worked at the following missions:

In 1806, as chaplain, Father Sánchez accompanied a military expedition against the natives. In 1821, with "Father-Prefect" Mariano Payeras he went with an exploring expedition into the interior to search for new mission sites. From 1827 to 1831 he reluctantly held the position of Presidente of the California mission chain and of Vicáreo Foraneo to the bishop. He was a very pious and energetic missionary, but dreaded the office of superior. His incessant appeals for relief were at last granted, but he survived only two years.

During his term he vigorously opposed Governor Echeandia's secularization scheme. In a long series of critical notes he claimed that the plan would result in the destruction of the missions and the ruin of the neophytes. "As far as it concerns me personally," he wrote, "...would that it might be to-morrow, so that I might retire between the four walls of a cell to weep over the time I wasted in behalf of these unfortunates." It has been said that the sight of the inevitable ruin hastened his death. His remains were buried at the foot of the altar of San Gabriel Mission.

This article incorporates text from the entry José Bernardo Sánchez in the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.