severely damaged the open arches, prompting the padres to fill them in for stability. The arches remained sealed until 1975, when they were reopened as part of a restoration project. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake did more damage and destroyed the original mission bells. Seismologists estimate the odds of another magnitude-6.7-or-larger earthquake hitting the greater Bay Area sometime between 2003 and 2032 at 62 percent. Through it all, the church has stood its ground, a mere 100 feet from the San Andreas Fault.
The Mission San Juan Bautista Preservation Fund was formed in 2015 to deal with exactly that risk. Working alongside the Parish, the Fund has raised more than $ 3 million toward its campaign goal of $ 16 million for a full seismic retrofit and roof replacement project. Even during the pandemic, the Fund and the Parish found the money to fix the worst-leaking section of the church roof and the crumbling adobe wall underneath it, a first step toward the larger restoration.
Funding the First Phase
The bigger news came earlier this year. Through generous donations and a planned bequest, the Preservation Fund raised $ 750,000 to meet the National Park Service ' s funding threshold, securing an additional $ 750,000 through the Saving America ' s Treasures matching grant. The combined $ 1.5 million allows the project ' s first phase to begin in the spring of 2027. Phase One will focus on the seismic retrofitting of the church ' s most vulnerable section— the two-story principal façade, including the front entrance, the baptistry, and the choir loft.
On Friday, December 18, the Preservation Fund presents the inaugural Comfort & Joy Concert at the Mission church. Grammy-nominated songwriter Sarah Hart will perform alongside longtime collaborator Steve Angrisano. This acclaimed concert is both a celebration of the Fund ' s work to date and an occasion for the community to come together in support of the ongoing effort to save the Mission. General admission, VIP tickets, and sponsorships are available now. It ' s a chance to join Preservation Fund members, neighbors, parishioners, and visitors in helping preserve the Mission ' s 200- year legacy.
The Preservation Fund is a 501( c)( 3) nonprofit( EIN 47-5427661) with a dedicated account at the Gilroy Foundation. Contact Deacon Jewel Gentry, Executive Director, at:( 831) 238-5254; jewel @ savemissionsjb. org or visit: www. savemissionsjb. org
Tickets, sponsorships and more information:
Comfort & Joy Concert or use the QR code
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