A Sneak Peek at New Mission Exhibit

The folks at are giving the community a sneak peek at its newest exhibit, set to open May 27.

Titled "Mission Treasures: Historical Collection Revealed," the exhibit will feature precious and rare paintings, religious artifacts and documents related to the mission's history.

"For the first time, our institution will be able to publicly exhibit baptismal records dedicated to the mission by Father Serra’s himself, " said Mechelle Lawrence-Adams, executive director of the mission.

Items on display will include:

• A presidential connection: The Patent of Title, also known as the Lincoln Document, was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on March 18, 1865. With the signing of the document, Lincoln ended individual land claims for Mission San Juan Capistrano and returned the property to the guardianship of the Catholic Church. Before this declaration, , who had bought it from his brother-in-law and then-for $710 in 1845. Lincoln was assassinated 27 days after signing the document.
•  A 19th-Century Spanish Colonial tabernacle: This tabernacle, with its intricate carvings and vibrant paint, was designed to stand out from the other furnishings within a chapel and to inspire reverence and devotion for the contents housed inside. Monsignor Art Holquin described a tabernacle as “a safe that is used in Christian churches that reserve the consecrated bread following the celebration of the Eucharist.”
•  Father Serra’s vestment set: The vestment consists of garments worn by Father Serra during Mass, including the chasuble, stole and maniple. The chasuble is chief among the garments, covering the priest’s entire torso and representing God’s love and protection.
•  A variety of paintings by renowned California artists such as Charles Percy Austin and Joseph Kleitsch, among others.

“Most people have never seen the rare paintings from such California plein-air artists as Joseph Kleitsch or the painting of the mission by John Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore," Lawrence-Adams said.

The exhibit will be open to the public between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. through Sept. 5. It will replace the that closed April 3.