Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAMINADE
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The many thousands of Native Americans that Spanish explorer Don Gaspar de Portolà encoun-
tered in 1769 were part of a larger group referred to as “Costenos,” or “coastal people.” Their name
eventually changed to “Costanoan,” until their descendants elected to call themselves Ohlones.
Portolá discovered what the local Indians had known for thousands of years: The land was
lush and fertile and had a magnificent river, which he named in honor of St. Lawrence. Virtually
everything that the Spanish explorers named followed their practice of giving honor to someone or
something representing the Catholic Church, and the rolling hills above the river were called Santa
Cruz, or “holy cross.”
As the Spanish population grew with many settlers arriving in Alta California, they began to
push the Native Americans off their land. They colonized the coastal area with a series of 21 mis-
sions, each often sprouting a pueblo or a nearby presidio. Mission Santa Cruz, built in 1791, was the
twelfth to be erected.
The established missions quickly provided aid to the newest colony, and the area attracted a
large influx of more settlers. At the time, the Spanish government was worried that the English or
Russians might try to seize part of their new land. The Marqués de Branciforte, viceroy of Mexico,
elected to formalize the pueblo at Santa Cruz to help fortify the coast. Not surprisingly, it was
named Villa de Branciforte, but it did not serve a noble purpose.
Not everyone who arrived at Villa de Branciforte was guided by religious principles and the
mission fathers were not happy to have this community nearby. Most of the original occupants were
convicted of petty crimes elsewhere in New Spain and banished to Alta California. Branciforte
became a haven for gambling and smuggling, and attracted the pirate Bouchard in 1818, who at-
tacked the entire Monterey Bay. The mission declined in influence until 1840 when a tidal wave and
earthquakes destroyed it. The existing Mission Santa Cruz is a recreation of the original.
Chaminade is named for William Joseph Chaminade, a French Roman Catholic priest who
survived persecution during the French Revolution. France was running out of money and decided
their best source of new funds would be the Catholic Church. In 1791, they insisted that all clergy
swear an oath to the king, effectively removing the Vatican as their source of direction. Chaminade
refused, first going underground and then moving to Spain to continue his ministry.
About the time that France sold the Louisiana Purchase to America for $23 million in 1803,
Chaminade had reentered France at Napoleon's invitation, and took an interest in schools. The
resulting religious foundation was named the Society of Mary, with Chaminade as the head.
