In 1709 an exploritive expedition in the San Antonio region named the San Pedro Springs and the San Antonio river. The name came from the fact that the expedition team lead by Father Damian Massanet named the regions and rivers on the day of a holiday of Saint Anthony de Padua. The head waters of the San Antonio river are located on the campus of the University of the Incarnate Word (where we are staying).
The first mission, San Antonio de valero established on the west bank of the San Antonio river, near the villa de Bejar. It was later moved twice and found its infamous home in 1724 where only the remnant of the chapel lay today (along the river walk and better known as the Alamo).
The next mission was founded in 1720 (although the current structure, the second stone chapel, was not completed until 1756) and Father Antonio Margil de Jesus named it San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo, although today it is known only as mission San Jose. This, the most complete of the missions, houses many rooms, walls a chapel, and offers a museum, an educational movie shown every half hour, a gift shop, and many helpful park and rec curators.
In 1731 the last three missions moved to the SA region from East Texas. Mission Concepcion kept its name; Mission San Jose de los Nazoris renamed San Juan Capistrano; San Francisco de los Neches renamed San Francisco de la Espada.
Ok, having said that, today we visited three missions: San Juan, San Jose, and Espada. We had a chance to see living history, touch the past, and project towards the future. Our professor this week is called history, and he is teaching. Lord grant us the ability to learn well.
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