The Capistrano Insider

A Monsignor Back in the Mission

Father Arthur Holquin of the Mission has been elevated to Monsignor, and the Birtchers have been honored, too.

Here's the memo from the Mission:

"February 10, 2009

Dear Mission Campus,

Today, Bishop Brown has announced that our Holy Father has honored a number of priests and laity in our Diocese with Papal Honors.  I am happy to share with you that I am among the group of clergy honorees. I have been named a Chaplain of His Holiness, with the honorific title of “Reverend Monsignor.”

I am grateful to our Holy Father for his kindness to me and to my brothers in the priesthood who have also been recognized for their service to the Diocese of Orange over the years.

I am also delighted to announce that a member of our Preservation Foundation, Art Birtcher, together with his wife Gaye, have been named a Knight and Dame of the Order of

St.

Gregory the Great.  They are the first in the history of our Diocese to receive this distinguished papal honor.

The formal Investiture of the new Monsignors as well as the granting of lay Papal Honors will take place in the context of a festive Vesper Service that is schedule for Friday evening, May 22nd, in the Mission Basilica Church.

Always forward!

Reverend Monsignor Arthur A. Holquin
Rector/Pastor"

OC Weekly on Belardes v. Mission

Sometimes things have gone on so long, with so many twists and turns, that you forget the bigger picture is news, too.

That's sort of how it is with David Belardes-Mission San Juan Capistrano battles. They've been going on for a while, with both sides firing shots ... and then the whole Mission Rectory Garden deal.

There's a lawsuit still going on over that, filed by Belardes.

Anyhow, Matt Coker over at OC Weekly did a good job of getting the history tied in with the present. And with leaving us all with the impression the future is as uncertain as ever.

Here's his story.

Here's a copy of the Mission's letter to Belardes referenced in the story.

Mark Your Calendar for Mission Garden Hearing

I just got a note the City Council will hear the appeal on the Mission Rectory Garden on August 19. Should be very interesting.

Remember the garden is a mostly private area of the Mission, where officials put in a fountain, barbecue, cook space and other improvements without city permits or review. The site is actually identified on maps as a historic cemetery.

No remains were believed to have been disturbed, and the Cultural Heritage Commission ruled the fountain can stay but the other stuff should come out. Juaneno Dave Belardes appealled that decision to the council, which should be the interesting part -- Sam Allevato, Tom Hribar and Joe Soto are all parishioners.)

The Mission is pretty influential in town, and important in so many ways, but the code violation was pretty flagrant and came at a time when the city was cracking down on other violators all over town.