José Bernardo Sánchez
Encyclopedia
Father José Bernardo Sánchez (September 7, 1778 – January 15, 1833) was a Spanish
missionary
in North America
.
, Spain
, Sánchez became a Franciscan
on October 9, 1794 and in 1803 joined the missionary College of San Fernando de Mexico
in New Spain
(present day Mexico).
the next year, 1804, where he worked at the following missions:
In 1806, as chaplain, Father Sánchez accompanied a military expedition against the Californian indigenous peoples
. In 1821, with "Father-Prefect" Mariano Payeras
he went with an exploring expedition into the interior of Alta California
to search for new mission sites.
During the winter of 1826-1827 he hosted the party of United States explorer, Jedediah Smith
, while they dealt with Jefe Político (governor) José María Echeandía
.
From 1827 to 1831 he reluctantly held the position of Presidente of the California mission chain
and of Vicáreo Foraneo
(archbishop) to the bishop. He was a very pious and energetic missionary, but dreaded the office of superior. His incessant appeals for relief were at last granted, but he survived only two years.
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Early Life
Born in Robledillo, Old CastileCastile (historical region)
A former kingdom, Castile gradually merged with its neighbours to become the Crown of Castile and later the Kingdom of Spain when united with the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Navarre...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Sánchez became a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
on October 9, 1794 and in 1803 joined the missionary College of San Fernando de Mexico
College of San Fernando de Mexico
The College of San Fernando de Mexico was a Roman Catholic Franciscan missionary college, or seminary , founded in Mexico City by the Order of Friars Minor on October 15, 1734...
in New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
(present day Mexico).
California Missions
He traveled on to Las CaliforniasLas Californias
The Californias, or in — - was the name given by the Spanish to their northwestern territory of New Spain, comprising the present day states of Baja California and Baja California Sur on the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico; and the present day U.S. state of California in the United States of...
the next year, 1804, where he worked at the following missions:
- Mission San Diego de AlcaláMission San Diego de AlcaláMission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, in San Diego, California, was the first Franciscan mission in the Las Californias Province of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It was founded in 1769 by Spanish friar Junípero Serra in an area long inhabited by the Kumeyaay Indians...
(1804–1820) - Mission La Purísima ConcepciónMission La Purísima ConcepciónMission La Purisima Concepción, or La Purisima Mission, with the original Spanish name being La Misión de La Purísima Concepción de la Santísima Virgen María, was founded on the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin on December 8, 1787...
(1820–1821) - Mission San Gabriel ArcángelMission San Gabriel ArcángelThe Mission San Gabriel Arcángel is a fully functioning Roman Catholic mission and a historic landmark in San Gabriel, California. The settlement was founded by Spaniards of the Franciscan order on "The Feast of the Birth of Mary," September 8, 1771, as the fourth of what would become 21 Spanish...
(1821–1827)
In 1806, as chaplain, Father Sánchez accompanied a military expedition against the Californian indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples of California
The Indigenous peoples of California are the indigenous inhabitants who have lived or currently live in the geographic area within the current boundaries of California before and after the arrival of Europeans. With over one hundred federally recognized tribes, California has the largest Native...
. In 1821, with "Father-Prefect" Mariano Payeras
Mariano Payéras
Father Mariano Payéras was a Spanish missionary to the Americas.He was born at Inca on the Island of Majorca and joined the Franciscan order. He received the habit of St...
he went with an exploring expedition into the interior of Alta California
Alta California
Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...
to search for new mission sites.
During the winter of 1826-1827 he hosted the party of United States explorer, Jedediah Smith
Jedediah Smith
Jedediah Strong Smith was a hunter, trapper, fur trader, trailblazer, author, cartographer, cattleman, and explorer of the Rocky Mountains, the American West Coast and the Southwest during the 19th century...
, while they dealt with Jefe Político (governor) José María Echeandía
José María Echeandía
José María de Echeandía was twice Mexican governor of Alta California from 1825 to 1831 and again from 1832 to 1833.Echeandía supported the Mexican government's secularization the Alta California missions and redistribution of the holdings as land grant ranchos.-See also:*List of pre-statehood...
.
From 1827 to 1831 he reluctantly held the position of Presidente of the California mission chain
Spanish missions in California
The Spanish missions in California comprise a series of religious and military outposts established by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order between 1769 and 1823 to spread the Christian faith among the local Native Americans. The missions represented the first major effort by Europeans to...
and of Vicáreo Foraneo
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
(archbishop) to the bishop. He was a very pious and energetic missionary, but dreaded the office of superior. His incessant appeals for relief were at last granted, but he survived only two years.