« Bishop Matthew of Sourozh visited the first Christian mission on the West Coast of the United States »

On May 1, 2026, after visiting Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral in San Diego, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, visited San Diego de Alcalá Mission, the first Franciscan mission in the province of Las Californias in the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

Founded on July 16, 1769, by Franciscan missionary Junípero Serra, it became the first in a chain of twenty-one Spanish missions along the West Coast. It is often called the "Mother of Missions," as it was from here that the spread of Christianity began in what is now California.

Historically, the mission served not only a religious function but also was part of Spain's colonial system: here, local peoples were converted to Christianity, taught agriculture and crafts, and established the first European-style settlements.

Today, the mission is not only a historical monument but also a Catholic parish church, operating since 1941.

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