Mission San Luis Rey de Francia

Timeline

July 16, 1769 Father Junipero Serra began a series of missions which would span the California coast along El Camino Real .
June 13, 1798 Father Lasuen founded Mission San Luis Rey de Francia .
1811 Work begins on the present building. It was designed by Father Antonio Peyri.
1815 Permanent church is completed at Mission San Luis Rey.
1821 Mexico won its independence from Spain.
1822 Mexican flag raised in San Diego.
1826 Mexico removed the missions from Church control.
1829 Father Peyri departed from the mission.
1834 The law of secularization was passed.
1849-1857 U.S. troops were camped at the mission.
1865 President Lincoln signed a deed returning the missions and its land to the Catholic Church.
1892 Father Joseph Jeremias O'Keefe was sent to San Luis Rey Mission to establish a missionary college for Mexican Franciscans.
1893 Building was begun for the college and restoration of the mission started.
1892-1912 Restoration continued and living quarters were built.
1949 A Franciscan college was built and is not a Retreat Center for the mission and church.
1984 Further restoration took place which helped preserve the outside of the church building.
1984-1996 Mission San Luis Rey serves as a parish church and center for religious retreats and conferences.