Mission San Francisco Solano

The name of my mission is “San Francisco de Solano” It is the twenty-first and last mission. It is located in the Sonoma State Historical Park in Sonoma; middle of the Sonoma Valley wine area. The Mission’s address is at 114 E. Spain St., Sonoma, CA. PRAYER LIFE IN THE EARLY CALIFORNIA MISSION COMMUNITY The origins of the missions were an instrument of joint Spanish and Catholic policy. The padres were intent on bettering the life of the native Californians by teaching trades and Catholic Doctrine. Many modern California Native Americans believe the missions were an enslaving institution that robbed their ancestors of their culture and lands. Both perspectives have evidence to support these beliefs.
Religious life in the mission
Mexico had gained its independence from Spain and the aging Spanish-born Padres in California would have been deported except for the fact that there was no one to take their place. Settlers were encroaching on mission and Indian lands. The soldiers had not been paid for years and openly talked of throwing their support behind any foreign power that would pay their back wages. Rival politicians struggled for supremacy, while in the crumbling Mission San Buenaventura, Father-Presidente Jose Senan lay
The Governor and the Legislature in Monterey agreed, seeing this as a way of interposing another settlement between the Russians at Fort Ross and the rest of California. So it was that on July 4, 1823, Father Altimira raised a cross at Sonoma and transferred the name of San Francisco to the new mission. Only upon his return to “old” San Francisco did he notify his superiors of what he had done. Shocked by this breach of discipline and by the political interference in mission affairs Father Vicente Sarria, Senan’s successor, nevertheless agreed to a compromise. Missions San Francisco de Asis (Mission Dolores) and San Rafael Archangel would remain, and father Altimira could proceed at Sonoma, but the mission would be called San Francisco