Daily national Democrat., 1859-01-29
DAILY Natlmal Qemottat.
The Monterey Catholic Church and the
Old Missions.

The repairs of the old Church of Monterey
having been concluded, the contractors, Wa
ters, Pierce & Beck, delivered it last week to
the Trustees.
The Interior OF the Church now presents
beautiful appearance, as it has been hard fin
| lshed throughout, new pews added, and
hne altar erected, Of much taste and elegance.
lhe exterior yet remains to be plastered and
repaired, and the Church lot fenced in and
adorned with trees and shrubberv. when it
will make an ornament to the old town of
Monterey. These latter additions are pro-
posed to be made during the coming year.
Sunday, the 10th of January, 1859, was fix
ed by the Rev. Juan Comelias, the cura of the
paroquia, as the day Of Benediction of the
renovated, old Church, built in 1894 by
the Spaniards to serve as the Military Chapel
of the Kings Preside of Monterey. High
Mass was performed in grand pomp by the
presiding priest, assisted by Padres Capda-
villa of Santa Cruz, and Mora and Mendoza
of San Juan Bautista. The Monterey Brass
Band, under the direction of Mr.. Hess, and
the Church Choir of ladies under Sgnor Rod
riguez, added greatly to the delight. as well
as the solemnity of the occasion. The bless
ing was performed 10y the cura and his asss-
tlnts, by the sprIuklng on of Holy Water, in
grand procession inside and outside of the
building, accompanied by six gentlemen and
six ladies, who acted as god fathers and god
mothers to the Church. After which a SER
mon was preached in Spanish by Padre Cap
davilla, and one in English by Padra Mora.
The occasion was celebrated by the firing
Of cannon, the music of the Brass Band and a
general turning out of citizens of all classes,
as it is the custom of the Catholics Of the
South of Europe, to do these things up in
grand parade, as matters Of feasting and re-
joicing,
The ceremonies Of the Church being ended,
a procession was formed with the Band at
the head who escorted Padre Juan to his
house, where he had prepared a fine feast of
good things About 200 persons sat down
and did ample justice to the solids and Ii
guilds, and toasts and speeches flowed in great
harmony and merriment
The repairs Of the Church have cost nearly
$4,000, which is a large sum to raise in the
little town of Monterey-a very different
place now to what it was in 1S49, when it
was full of money and people. The most lib.
eral and generous donor, was Don Francisco
Pacheco, highly respected, venerable Mex
lean citizen, who has resided in Monterey
! county nearly forty years, and who cOntribu-
ted most efficiently to the completion of the
SuiIHCtj WHcIe iHt uGCedStu fHeHuDGFS U MS
family now lie buried.
To show tAe activity of the Catholic Church
in California, it is stated to us, that not less
than $4,000 have been laid out during the
last two years in renovating the old Mission
Churches and Chapels of Southern Califor-
MIA, from Santa Cruz, to San Diego, and
which are all under the charge of Bishop
Amat, now in Europe A new Cathedral and
Bishops house is commenced in Los Angeles,
and it is proposed also, to commence Cath
Ollie College for young men in that city. A
College has also been started at the Mission
of Santa Inex. and young ladies school is
about being inaugurated at San Juan Bau-
tista.-Sa,tta Cruz Sentinel, Jan 22d