"A PICTURE" and "A WORD" - Series 6

"A PICTURE" by Dr. Vance MacDonald

"A WORD" by Barbara Starkey

A WORD - DOOR

A door. Just a door but what words it could tell. It is a side door on the north side of the Mission.

The door leads into the Chapel. If you are walking to the kitchen from the front of the property you will see it on your left.

The entrance has the old olive trees on the left and an old, old redwood on the right.

The Franciscans introduced many plants and olive trees to the Mission. The Indian women pressed grapes for wine and olives for oil. Some of the men crafted furniture out of the oak trees.

The photographer, Vance MacDonald made a beautiful shot of this door. It is intriguing as is the foliage around it. Look for it when you visit San Antonio Mission.

"A PICTURE" and "A WORD" - Series 5

"A PICTURE" by Dr. Vance MacDonald

"A WORD" by Barbara Starkey

(Click on the above picture to get a better view)

A WORD - FOUNTAIN

A massive Spanish style fountain stands today in the center of the Rose Garden at the San Antonio Mission de Padua.. It was designed and built by Brother Alexius Wagner and completed in July, 1965.

In years past it had become overgrown with weeds and brush but some 12 years ago the underbrush was cleared away and the water began to flow again. After years of dormancy it now elicits joy to those who see it and the birds that live by it. One lovely evening each year the fountain is in its glory. That is in November when the garden is celebrated with the annual EVENING IN THE GARDEN. The entire garden is lit by candlelight and the fountain is in all it’s splendor that evening with candles flocking it from every side and perspective. Gathering of friends will always be ‘by the fountain.’

Here the photographer has captured it as never seen before. Enjoy the picture and come to the Mission to enjoy its beauty.

"A PICTURE" and "A WORD" - Series 4

"A PICTURE" by Dr. Vance MacDonald

"A WORD" by Barbara Starkey

(click on the picture above to get a better view)

A WORD-CRUCIFIX

On July 14, 1771 when the first Mass was held at the site of San Antonio Mission, Father (Padre) Serra rang the big bell as a call to worship. At that time the huge bell swung from an oak limb. The zealous Padre called the Gentiles to the holy Church of God. One could see that a large cross had been constructed of wood. It was raised, blessed and venerated and all was being readied for the first worship service.

That first crude wooden cross was no doubt as beautiful to the worshipers at that first service as a crucifix might seem to one visiting the Mission in 2011.

Pictured here by our photographer is a beautiful crucifix in one of the hallways in the Mission quadrangle.

"A PICTURE" and "A WORD" - Series 3

"A PICTURE" by Dr. Vance MacDonald

"A WORD" by Barbara Starkey

(click on picture above to get a better view)

A WORD – CHANCEL

From the book “Inland Valleys Missions in California” it is noted that “in 1810 the population of San Antonio had grown to thirteen hundred. The mission of San Antonio had seventeen thousand cattle and sheep. The Mission was well known for its strong horses.” It is also noted that the people had begun a major building project. It took three years to finish the Chapel and the building had beautiful high ceilings. It was a source of pride at the Mission.

The photographer has captured the true natural beauty of the interior of the Church here as it stands today. Mass is said every Sunday morning at 9:00am and every soul is welcome. As a member of the military said recently as he and two other officers from Fort Hunter Liggett roamed the Mission grounds, “We have churches back home……..BUT………NOTHING like this. This is unbelievably beautiful.”

"A PICTURE" and "A WORD" - Series 2

"A PICTURE" by Dr. Vance MacDonald

"A WORD" by Barbara Starkey

(click on picture above to get a better view)

THE WORD – Serra

Father or Padre Serra held the first Mass at San Antonio de Padua Mission on July 14, 1771 according to some historical publications. Padre Serra communicated “I trust in God and the favor of San Antonio Mission that this mission will become a great settlement of many Christians.”

This statue at the present day stands in front of the San Antonio Mission. You will note how the facial features are excellent in this picture. The photographer notes that the picture was done in the dark with flash and flashlight. A form of “painting with light.”

"A PICTURE" and "A WORD" - Series 1

"A PICTURE" by Dr. Vance MacDonald

"A WORD" by Barbara Starkey

(click on the picture above to get a better view)

MISSION SAN ANTONIO was built near the San Antonio River, 75 miles south of the Presidio of Monterey.

When settlers reached the now famous sight, they unloaded their pack mules. One of the first items unloaded was a huge bell.

Father Serra directed the men to hoist the bell and attach it to the branch of an oak tree.

“My heart…desires that this bell be heard all over the world” Father Serra yelled as he rang the bell.

The picture is a very recent one of the majestic bell now hanging at the San Antonio Mission……

"A PICTURE" and "A WORD"

Photo courtesy Dr. Vance MacDonald

(click on the picture above for a better view)

Since our roses at the Mission are still in sleepy time until spring I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the photography by Dr. Vance MacDonald of the San Antonio Mission de Padua. Dr. MacDonald is sharing some shots in his ‘photographic journey’ of the Mission in “A PICTURE” and Barbara Starkey, journalist, is writing “A WORD” for this series.

The Carriage House Inn in King City was the setting for Barbara to meet Dr. MacDonald when he came to photograph the Mission and he stayed at Barbara’s Bed and Breakfast. Thus the joining of the PICTURE and the WORD to benefit many and especially the San Antonio Mission.

Dr. MacDonald expresses his interest in photography by going back to high school and college as he took family ‘snapshots.”

His first camera of real note was a 35mm SLR. On his way to Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane,WA he approached the Tetons, for the first time from the East, and broke his camera trying to shoot from a “better angle.”

His mother-in-law, a noted Canadian portraitist from Windsor, Josephine Smith, then gifted him with a Zeiss Ikon Contessamat camera. With that he started his practice as a neurosurgeon in Las Vegas, Nevada and began to collect Nikon camera equipment.

“Camera equipment does not make a photographer” as noted by Vance but digital became a force in his world of photography. He recently spent some time with Al Weber, a long time photo educator from Carmel, California. A group of photographers met at Mission San Antonio de Padua where they photographed the Mission extensively. The goal was to produce a portfolio for their use and an exhibition at the Steinbeck center in Salinas.

Please watch here for the PICTURE and the WORD for the next month and make your own journey to the Mission to explore its beauty – with or without a camera.