North facing mission showing gardens and courtyard. Plaza de San Juan in the foreground. The fields of San Juan Valley sprawl in the distance.

Campaign, a four-phase $ 31.4 million comprehensive capital campaign based on the HSR’ s recommendations. However, given the horrible pandemic and its nearly complete disruption of in-person fundraising efforts throughout most of 2020 when the Mission was closed, the Board decided it must focus on raising the funds required for the Campaign’ s top two priorities in Phase 1: 1) the seismic retrofit of the Mission church and 2) the replacement of the church roof. Despite the pandemic, the Campaign raised $ 400,000 to repair the worst section of the church’ s roof, which was leaking badly and causing the adobe bricks in the adjacent wall to deteriorate.

To date, the Campaign has raised $ 2,840,960. $ 10 million more must be raised to accomplish the complete seismic retrofit and the remaining roof replacement work.

Iconic sign directing visitors to Mission San Juan Bautista

In September 2023, the Fund was awarded a $ 750,000 National Parks Service Saving America’ s Treasures $ 1 for $ 1 matching grant for the seismic strengthening and adjacent roof repair of the Mission’ s Principal Facade— its front entrance, the baptistry, and the choir loft— the most seismically vulnerable section of the church. The project will accomplish the first phase of the critical seismic retrofit required to withstand projected earthquakes. We have now raised $ 720,000, 96 % of funds required to receive the grant. When we raise the last $ 30,000, the $ 1.5 million total will help us accomplish the first phase of the critical seismic retrofit work. We need to raise these funds by the end of 2025, and we hope all who want to save the Mission will help us succeed.

Deacon Jewel Sean Gentry is the Executive Director of Mission San Juan Bautista Preservation Fund. Contact him at:( 831) 645-2803; jsgentry @ gmail. com. To learn more about the Preservation Fund and to support their efforts, visit: savemissionsjb. org.

The Mission San Juan Bautista Preservation Fund is a 501( c) 3 non-profit charitable organization, EIN # 47-5427661. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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