“Rejoice, Mary, filled with grace.The Lord is with you!”
Luke 1:28

With that greeting, the most important news the world has ever heard was proclaimed by the archangel chosen by Blessed Junipero Serra to be patron of the San Gabriel Mission — the Archangel Gabriel, whose very name means “Strength of God.”

Father Junipero Serra was considered by his contemporaries to be an exceptionally devout missionary with great courage, remarkable intelligence and persistence. On the birthday of Mary, September 8, 1771, under Fr. Serra’s direction, Fathers Pedro Cambin and Joseph de la Somera founded the San Gabriel Mission.

The Mission’s name also came to be associated with the native Shoshone people of this land that continue to be known as the “Gabrielenos.” Together, the Gabrielenos and Franciscans successfully built the Mission into what Father Serra predicted it would become — The Pride of the Missions. However, the secularization of the Mission in 1833, under the provincial rule of the newly independent Mexican nation, destroyed Father Serra’s vision of indigenous management of the Missions. By 1852, the Franciscans were gone, and the Mission operated minimally as a small diocesan church.

A new era of growth and vitality began in 1908, with the arrival of the Claretian Missionaries. Following the charisma of their founder, Saint Anthony Claret, the Claretians restored, rebuilt, reorganized and rejuvenated the Mission into new spiritual life. When the Claretians opened a parochial school in 1912, the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose were invited to offer leadership in the service of education for the parish school. In 1949, the Mission High School was established to further the Claretian mission and outreach to the youth of the community.

A special blessing to the San Gabriel Mission over the years has been the rich diversity of cultures and languages present in the community. The grace-filled Spirit of our God has been revealed to our families as the parish has constantly striven to be a welcoming sign of God’s love and compassion. The Eucharist is today celebrated at San Gabriel Mission in the English, Spanish, and Vietnamese languages, providing the Mission community with a beautiful opportunity to be a prophetic reminder of the unity of God’s Reign as the community gathers at the table of the Lord.

The parish continues to be an evangelizing and hope-filled presence for the poor, recent immigrants, youth, and families. The many ministries of service to God’s people reflect the liberating and empowering Spirit of God present with our early Franciscan Founders and the Claretian Missionaries. The parish continues to call forth new leadership. Small faith communities and other efforts to be faithful to the evangelizing mission of the church reflect our cultural diversity and the missionary spirit which is alive at San Gabriel Mission today.

Throughout our history, San Gabriel Mission has been committed to the Gospel message of hope and promise proclaimed by the Archangel Gabriel. The parish has been strengthened by the faithfulness and courage of Mary, who through her loving example urges all of God’s people to accept our common call to discipleship. The present, rooted in the past, holds the seeds of the future. We inherit the vision and fruits of Father Serra’s evangelization and those of all who have worshiped and served God and the San Gabriel Mission before us.

The Archangel Gabriel, Blessed Junipero Serra and our early Franciscan Founders, our Gabrieleno brothers and sisters, the Claretian Missionaries, Dominican Sisters, and many generous and loving parishioners who have served on this sacred land, continue to inspire us to move forward as a community of faith. Together, within our homes, workplaces, schools, small faith communities, and parish at large, we share in the mission of Jesus to bring to our world the unity, hope, and love so urgently needed today. With the leadership and service of our parishioners and Claretian Missionaries, we are confident that San Gabriel Mission will be stronger and greater in the next millennium than it has ever been before. We are aware that our history calls us, like Mary, to proclaim the greatness of the Lord and to be servants of God’s Reign of justice and peace for all people.