The Basilica
of
Mission San Carlos Borromeo
del Rio Carmelo
Carmel Mission stands today as a monument to the Great Conquistador of the Cross who left his home and the comforts of a conventual life to come to our Western wilderness to preach the Gospel of Christ and to teach the better way of life to a pagan race. This man was Padre Junipero Serra.

Junipero Serra was born at Petra, Isla del Mallorca, on the 24th of November 1713. At the age of 17 he received the Franciscan habit. In the year 1749 he embarked for the Missions of Mexico. He was nominated Presidente of the Missions of Lower and Upper California in the year 1767, set out afoot from Loreto in Lower California, came north to San Diego, established the Mission there in 1769, arrived by vessel at Monterey on June 3, 1770, and founded the Mission of San Carlos. For obvious reasons, lack of good soil and its proximity to the Presidio, the location was changed from MOnterey to the present site near the river in Carmel.

On August 24, 1771, Padre Serra took up his abode at Carmel. The first church and dwellings were of wood, enclosed by a palisade of poles. The first years were hard, with few provisions, depending mostly on the Indians for supplies. As time went on, the temporary buildings were replaced with structures of adobe.

The Indians lent themselves willingly to the Padres. Over 4,000 were baptized at Carmel from 1770 to 1836. As well as caring for Carmel, Padre Serra founded nine missions. Having the faculties for Confirmation, he often made long journeys afoot to confer this Sacrament on the neophytes. On January 1, 1782, Padre Juan Crespi, beloved friend and co-worker with Serra, passed to his reward. Padre Serra had now reached his 71st year, never being very strong. He summoned his life-long friend, Padre Palou, who prepared him for his death. He departed this life August 28, 1784, and his request was buried beside Padre Crespi here at Carmel Mission.

Padre Lausen was elected Presidente. It was he, who in 1793, undertook the building of the present stone church, which was Padre Serra's hope. It was built on the side of the first adobe church, being built of the native sandstone quarried from the Santa Lucia Mountains nearby. The interior walls begin to curve inward as they rise. The ceiling follows the sweep of the walls forming a catenary arch, a most beautiful effect. The tower is of Moorish design, graced by the four bells, which are reached by an outside staircase. The walls are covered with a lime plaster made from burnt sea shells. The floor was covered originally with burnt tile. The church was four years in the building and was dedicated in 1797. Padre Lopez died the same year and was buried near Padre Crespi within the sanctuary.

Under Padre Lausen the Mission reached the height of its prosperity. The year 1794 found the Indian population at 927 souls, and there were good crop reports. On June 28, 1803, Padre Lausen died and was laid to rest beside Padre Serra. Throughout the church are interred many Indians and Spaniards, among them Governor Romeau and Commandante Sal. In 1821 the side chapel was added, which was used as a mortuary for the Indians. Beside the church, in the cemetery are buried over 3,000 Indians.

In the year 1823, the population had dwindled to 381. In 1833 Padre Jose Real took charge of Carmel. Then in 1834 Carmel was secularized. Destruction of the mission life was complete by 1836. Padre Real moved his residence to Monterey, only occasionally holding services at Carmel and for safe keeping took with him the church ornaments, as the church was without a caretaker.

Gradually the church and quadrangle went into decay and ruin. It was not until 1884 that Father Casanova undertook the work of saving this historic landmark. A roof was put on the mission which, although saving the structure, marred the beauty of the church. In 1924 Father Raymond Mestres restored the first room of the old quadrangle, and in it had a beautiful memorial erected to Padre Serra and the other three Padres who are buried at Carmel Mission.

A new era of rebuilding began in 1931, when Monsignor Philip G. Scher, pastor of San Carlos, Monterey, and later to become Bishop of the Diocese, appointed a devoted layman, Harry Downie, curator in charge of Mission restoration. Two years later Bishop Scher raised Carmel Mission to the status of parish church naming Father Michael D. O'Connell pastor.

In 1960, His Holiness, Pop John XXIII, through the Sacred Congregation of Rites, granted Bishop Willinger's petition that Carmel Mission as a historical shrine be raised to the status of Minor Basilica. It now stands a one of only two Basilicas in the entire Western United States. As such it is a symbol of the continual prayers of many Christians that its founder, Padre Junipero Sera, who lies buried within its consecrated walls, may one day be found worthy of the title Saint.