How it began…
Loreto and San Buenaventura (Ventura) established a Sister City affiliation in 2015. At that time, each city’s respective mayor presented the other with the Key to their city, expressing enthusiasm about potential opportunities for both cities in areas of cultural and historical exchange, and eco-tourism. Ventura recognized the historic, cultural, religious, and natural resources that are common to both cities, and determined that exchanges between our two municipalities would be beneficial to each. Loreto is a small city of approximately 21,000 people that sits on the east coast of Baja California, facing the Sea of Cortez. It was the first Spanish settlement on the Baja California Peninsula and is the starting point for the historic El Camino Real corridor that follows north along the ancient route of the Spanish missions from Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó (Our Lady of Loreto of Shells) to Sonoma, California. From Loreto, Fray Junipero Serra, who established Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, planned his journey north to Alta California.
Bulletin Article - Father Tom 2022
This past October four parishioners, Barbara and Chris Post, Steve Weingardt (and his wife Celeste), and Steve Marquez accompanied Fr. Tom to visit our Sister City-Mission-National Park in Loreto, Baja California Sur to celebrate the 325th founding of the Mission and City in Loreto.
Steve Weingardt played his guitar at Sunday Mass celebrated by Fr. Tom in the Mission Nuestra Senora de Loreto de Concho, the first Mission in the Californias. Steve also played at a private Mass at the second mission, San Javier at the same altar St. Junipero Serra celebrate the sacred liturgy in 1769. The guitarist also played at social gatherings with the Hermosa Beach Sister City delegation.
Steve Marquez presented to the pastor and faithful of Mission Nuestra Senora de Loreto a beautiful, framed photograph of our Pieta statue for which he merited third place at the Ventura County Fair 2022.
Given the significance of the anniversary of Loreto, Bishop Miguel Ángel ordained six transitional deacons one evening and five priests on the next evening at the Loreto Mission. Fr. Martin Mata of La Paz served as Master of Ceremonies for ordinations and Fr. Emmanuel Leal Montes, Vice Rector of the seminary in La Paz, concelebrated both ordinations. Some 80+ and Fr. Tom represented Mission Basilica San Buenaventura for the priest ordination Mass.
Former Ventura Mayor and Sister City Chair, Carl Morehouse and his wife, Janna Minsk, Cliff Rodriguez (Sister City Secretary) and his wife Karen, Rosemary Pietrowski, Kay Zetlmaier, and Marilyn Beal completed our delegation. San Buenaventura Mayor Sofia Rubalcava sent a proclamation recognizing the 325th anniversary of the City and Mission in Loreto on behalf of the citizens of Ventura presented by Carl Morehouse and Cliff Rodriguez.
Activities during the week-long stay included a walking tour of Loreto and the Bombaros (Fire House) station and Casa Hogar, a Foster Care Home for infants through teen years. Many delegates donated funds, art supplies and Christmas gifts to Casa Hogar. We visited Eco-Alianza, an environmental protection initiative to protect marine life and water conservation, and later that day we participated in a beach clean-up.
We toured the Parque Nacional Bahia de Loreto, some by catamaran, others by a Glass Bottom boat, and others on the Wild Swan yacht, with dolphins in abundant site. Most dived into the pristine waters near the islands for a refreshing swim. Fishes was great for those who ventured to cast a line. Most evenings there were grand music performances and brief speeches by local dignitaries. Oh, yes, the local restaurant scene is quite popular and delicious food everywhere. On the last evening we attended a Taste of Loreto with many restaurants participating with their specialty dishes. The highlight was a fire dance in the center of the festivities that cooked the fresh chocolate clams harvested earlier that day.
