|Beginnings of the Mission| |Mission San Juan Capistrano was the
seventh mission founded in Alta California. It is the only
mission to have been founded twice. Originally founded on
October 30, 1775 the Mission had to be abandoned. Native
Californians near the San Diego Mission had attacked and burned
much of Mission San Diego de Alcala. The Fathers werent sure how
the local tribe, the Acágchemem, would act after hearing the
news of the attack so they buried the heavy mission bells and
returned to Mission San Diego. Once problems calmed down, Father
Serra returned to the site for Mission San Juan Capistrano, dug
up the bells, and rededicated the Mission. Father Serra
officially re-dedicated the site on November 1, 1776. The
Mission was named for a 15th century priest from Capestrano,
Italy. Father John or Capestrano (1385 – c. 1455) had been made
a saint in 1724. At the age of 70 he had brought a Christian
army to fight a battle against the Turks, and won. |Location and
Geography| |The location for Mission Sa