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WEEKLONG CELEBRATION OF BLESSED SERRA’S CANONIZATION PLANNED

By STAFF     9/3/2015

Mission San Juan Capistrano is planning a week of special events designed to coincide with the Sept. 23 canonization of its founder, Father Junipero Serra.

Those interested in attending should check the mission’s website (www.missionsjc.com) regularly for the event schedule as it’s anticipated that some event times may change.

Here’s the lineup.

The weeklong celebration will kick off on Friday, Sept. 18, with the annual Romance of the Mission fundraiser and gala. This year there will be a special tribute to Blessed Serra.

The new Legacy of Saint Serra Exhibit will open to the public on Monday, Sept. 20, and will remain open indefinitely.

Each day, at 9 a.m., the ceremonial bell ringing by an official mission bell ringer will take place.

Each day from Sunday, Sept. 20 to Sunday, Sept. 27, the mission will give a commemorative Saint Serra coin to the first 100 visitors entering at the Gate House entrance with their paid admission, active membership, active parish card or active volunteerism.

Tuesday, Sept. 22, Msgr. Art Holquin will give a lecture in the Barracks about Saint Serra at 10 a.m. Space is limited.

On Wednesday, Sept. 23, a grand bell-ringing ceremony with three bell ringers will take place at noon to mark this date in history –  the day Father Serra becomes Saint Serra.

There will be several reserved/ticketed viewings of the live streaming of the Papal Mass in the Soldiers Barracks and the historic Sala. The limited seating on this event has already reached capacity as it was part of the community outreach program that assured some could join in the celebration at no expense.

The Papal Mass will be live streamed on an outdoor video wall in the Central Courtyard for up to 1,000 seated guests on Sept. 23 from 1 to 4 p.m.  Seating is for members, parish members, volunteers and those paying general admission on that day. There is no reserved seating.