Side View
Arches
Façade, San Antonio De Padua
Doorway to Sacristy, San Antonio De Padua
Father Serra founded his third Mission, San Antonio de Padua, in a well wooded valley. When the bells rang in celebration an Indian appeared out of the trees, and for the first time a native was present at the founding of a mission. Its quiet surroundings are very much as they were in the past. The buildings were constructed of brick instead of adobe. Parts of a stone-walled irrigation ditch which brought water for many miles still stand near at hand.
Monterey was used as a mission for but one year and then became the Presidio Chapel. Behind the Mission is the tree under which the first Mass in California was offered. Many of the old relics of the early Church are preserved here. It is now the San Carlos Parish Church.