University of Santa Clara - Redwood Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

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•«= qZas Wi tHE REDWOOZ) Third Mission Burning October 25. 1 26 Mnr nia who 1)rou.t4ht that first huml)le church into existence; Fathers Paloti and Serra who later heli)ed with the establishment of the second structure ; then the memorable and marvelous life of Father iMagin Catala, mitil finally we come to that time when the Society of Jesus took over the Mission and Father Nobili formally opened the first college in California. New buildings sprang up, the little Mission Chiu ' ch was renovated under Father Villiger in 1XC)2; then replaced except ffir certain parts of the altar and front towers, by Father Kenna in 18S5; the bells were not removed. i he l)eginning of the Twentieth Century saw the boys ' chapel standing serenely beside the aged church. The earthquake of 1906 shattered parts of it, but the wavs of Gofl are strange sometimes, and it seems to have been a slight shake a few days before the date which opens this story that caused a short circuit in the wires of the Old Mis- sion Church so that a fire started. Tiny as the .spark must have 1:)een, chapel, law library, music rooms, sanctuarv, the Mission Church itself, and finally the Ijells, crashed into a heap of smolder- ing ruins. Certain of those bells will toll no more — but the faithful must be called to prayer! There is a picture in these pages of the bell which now performs that duty. It is suspended from a temporary tower. And off to one side with a mien that almost ]iesj)eaks the lasting cjualities of a spiritual thing, possessed of dural ility and perseverance typical of the padres who l uilt them, stand two adobe forms ; one, an altar, the other the thick walls of the entrance to an old church. Were they to pass from us? Was that spirit to die? Was the new generation, the recipient of this invaluable heritage of courage, loyalty to country, devotion to God, to forget their obligation? How were they to show their gratitude ? A new Mission was needed ! A new tower desired ! Santa Clara Valley, San Jose, people from all over the state, and finally but not the least among them by far, the students of the University went over the top in their drive to build upon this spot a new church that would be a reminder of the old — a new tower from which the wondrous peal of a bell would flood across the valley, calling the faithful to prayer. ' J ' liird I Iission Churcli After Fire of Oct 25, 1926 t 4

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' YHE REDWDOZ) ijL. When the Ijells tolled in the year 1820, a neophyte population of 1357 heard them. Perhaps even the 12,060 sheep pricked up their ears a bit, to say nothing of 5,746 head of stock. Seven years later the same bell tolled for 1464 eager listeners. From 1777 to 1834 the deaths were 6950, the baptisms 8640. Nor were these things accomplished peacefully. So unfriendly did the Indians become at times that it was necessary to place guards around the wheat fields to prevent the ruination of the crops by some hostile band. On one occasion a guard was killed, though the attackers were captured and punished for their deed. Severe measures were en- tirely obligatory in order to present to the native a graphic example of what would hai)pen if such a crime was repeated. The year 1843 witnessed one of those attempts, which succeeded more or less, in depriving the Missions of their wealth, either in real property or cattle. Between four to six thousand sheep were taken by M. J. Vallejo, legally, in the aid of the government. A little while before this an Indian uprising influenced many of the converts of the Mission to desert its j rotecting walls, so that Pio Pico ' s decree of June 5, 1845, gave evidence to the fact that but 130 ex-neophytes were within hearing distance of the liells. The padres attributed the demoralized condition of the irresponsible natives to the eiTects of strong drink obtained from the white settlement at San J(jse. The ((uarrels were almost disastrous to the Mission. The years 1846 to 1851 are related clearly enough in that history of California which tells about its mighty goUl rush. What the Mis- sion Santa Clara suffered was no more than that of others of her kind. Possessed of com- paratively extensive lands, a considerable num- ber of buildings, and a very convenient stock of animals — no wonder then that there were en- croachments by immigrants. Possibh ' the timelv interference of the governor averted another catastrophe ; at any rate the bells continued to ring. Then came the pas.sing of the Mission from the able hands of the Franciscans to the willing ones of the Jesuits. The first move of the latter was the establishment of a college for the mold- ing of upright character ; for the teaching of Catholic principles ; in a word, for the purpose of preparing young men who are to serve their country as its most dependable citizens, and their Ciod as His most dutiful creatures. The foundation for such a high and noble undertaking was begun by Father Nobili in 1851. The rights and privileges of a college were granted in 1855. Let us pause for a moment to reflect that the history of the Mission is nothing more than the life storv of interesting and wonderful men. Fathers Pena and Bell Presented by Kin;) of Sixain 17 ' S r y { -3}

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■ MISSION SAN JOSE FACULTY