Mission accomplished after 15 years

B.W. COOK

In 1812, a major earthquake in California reduced Junipero Serra’s

stone church at San Juan Capistrano to rubble. History books share

that 40 parishioners lost their lives as the five-story,

185-foot-long structure came crashing down.

While the mission survived, the stone church lay in ruins for

nearly two centuries. Not until preservation and restoration efforts

began in 1989, when scaffolding was erected to shore up the ruins,

did the stone monument see the first light of resurrection.

Work in earnest began in 1991, and 13 years later, last week in

Orange County, the community returned to San Juan Capistrano to pay

their respects to a magnificent return to a historical past.

The Great Stone Church was reopened and placed on the World

Monument Fund watch list as one of the 100 most endangered places in

the world.

And certainly one of the most cherished. The Newport-Mesa family,

comprising citizens of all faiths, joined O.C. first lady Joan Irvine

Smith, who served as honorary chair of the recent gala celebration,

to praise the past and future of Orange County through this most

symbolic, man-made monument. Smith was instrumental in championing

funds for the 15-year, $10-million project.

The return to Capistrano was marked by joyous Newport-Mesa guests

who witnessed the Great Stone Church come to life with the voice of

tenor Michael Amante. Known by some as “the fourth tenor,” Amante

captivated the crowd as he sang songs from his debut album, “Tell Her

I Love Her.” Couples moved closer together, the stars in the night

sky seemed brighter. All was right with the world in this ancient,

California, architectural relic for one brief evening in September.

The crowd, including Gaye and Art Birtcher, Julie and Robert

Lingenfelter, Melinda and Doug McCrea, Claudia and Robert Redwitz,

and Janet and Bob Spidell wrapped themselves in the “romance of the

mission” and, following the Amante concert, joined together for an

intimate reception in the “Sacred Garden” for cocktails with the

rising star just before dinner, served al fresco.

The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel generously underwrote and served a

“tapas”-style feast as guests Tony Moiso, John Forsyte of the O.C.

Pacific Symphony, Myron and Mozelle Sukut, Linda and James Pierog and

Darby and William Manclark enjoyed the ethnic presentation.

Mechelle Lawrence, executive director of the Mission museum, was

on hand for the celebration.

“Funds raised from this event will help fund the curatorship of

Mission artifacts enabling us to rotate important relics for the

public’s enjoyment,” Lawrence said.

Additional support from Newport-Mesa came from Ed and Jane

Lohrbach, Jerry Harrington, Peter Glacey, Sean Jackson, Gretchen

Thomson and Cindy and Michael Tortomasi.

A massive auction fundraiser helped to raise the bar of support.

Major donors included South Coast Plaza and the Four Seasons, with

additional underwriting coming from Deutsche Bank Private Wealth

Management, Crevier BMW and Mikimoto Jewelers, represented at the

affair by Bernard Barbilla.

Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded Nov. 1, 1776. It is

considered the birthplace of Orange County.

Simultaneously across the continent, colonists were forming a new

nation free from British rule. But little news was shared of the

world-changing events taking place on either side of the American

landscape.

Today, as then, the mission represents a “junction of cultures:

Native American, Asian, Mexican and European,” offered Madeline

Zuckerman, a publicist representing the mission.

“We are still very much a melting pot of race, religion and

culture in Orange County today. Tonight, we rejoice in our common

bond, the good intention of all people to make a stronger community

for all,” Zuckerman said.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.