Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano

Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano
Basic information
Location	31522 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, California
Affiliation	Roman Catholic Church
Territory	Diocese of Orange
Year consecrated	1987
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Minor basilica National shrine
Leadership	Rev. Msgr. Arthur Holquin, Pastor
Website	www.missionparish.org
Architectural description
Architect(s)	John Bartlett
Architectural style	Mission Revival
Completed	1986
Specifications
Dome(s)	1
Dome height (outer)	85 feet (26 m)
Spire(s)	1
Spire height	104 feet (32 m)

Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano is a church building and parish of the Roman Catholic Church in San Juan Capistrano, California, United States.

The "Grand Retablo" with the Trinity at top center, Bl. Junipero Serra top left, St. Kateri Tekakwitha top right, St. Francis bottom right, St. Joseph bottom left and Our Lady of Guadalupe bottom center

Inside the basilica

Part of the Diocese of Orange, the church opened in 1986 and is located just northwest of Mission San Juan Capistrano. The church's design is patterned after the Mission's original stone church, which was destroyed in an 1812 earthquake. It was designed by architect John Bartlett and built by Joseph Byron, Jr. of Alex Sutherland Construction. The interior was designed by historian Norman Neuerberg, who painted much of the decorative and sacred art which adorns the walls. The church was granted the status of minor basilica in 2000, and that of national shrine in 2003.

A prominent feature of the basilica is the Grand retablo, a 42-foot-high (13 m), 30-foot-wide (9.1 m), 16-ton altar-backing carved in cedar and covered in gold leaf which is stylistically reminiscent of 17th- and 18th-century Spanish colonial and Mexican colonial retablos.^[1][2][3] The retablo's focal point is the Trinity, composed of the crucifix, God the Father depicted as an ancient partriarch, and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove. Beneath the Trinity is Our Lady of Guadalupe. Four saints included on the retablo are Saint Francis of Assisi - patron of the mission's founding order, Saint Joseph, Blessed Junípero Serra - the mission's founder, and Saint Kateri Tekakwitha - significant for the area's Indian population.^[2] The Retablo was designed and created by 84 artisans in numerous parts at the Talleres de Arte Granda in Madrid, Spain.

References