Vandalized Mission San Juan Capistrano Draws Show Of Support

SANTA ANA, CA — As Orange County sheriff's investigators worked to determine who vandalized the front door of Mission San Juan Capistrano Friday, the volunteers and staff devoted to the mission worked to keep their spirits up. At a time when they’d normally be bringing the community together for Christmas festivities, they’ve been forced to stay home while their beloved mission is vandalized.

“I think we are just completely disappointed that people would desecrate our sacred mission during the holiday season when we’ve gone through so much,” said Mission San Juan Capistrano Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence Adams. “It was just like 'What next? Just another thing in 2020.'”

The graffiti, which covers the entrance to the historic mission, was discovered at about 6 a.m. Friday. The vandal spray-painted a heart on the door with an asterisk and the letters "LM" in the heart. The vandalism also included the numbers "95" and the words, "best wishes."

Deputies were working to determine if the cryptic message was a prank, said Carrie Braun of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. The crime was done sometime between 4 p.m. Thursday when the mission was closed for the day, and about 6:30 a.m. Friday, she said.

“Obviously we will be using video surveillance and other tools to determine who vandalized the mission doors,” Braun added.

The mission announced the vandalism to supporters on Facebook.

"We were so saddened to have to close our doors and cancel our holiday programming, and this morning awoke to even more disappointing news when it was discovered someone decided to damage 244 years of history with vandalism," the mission said on its Facebook page.

"We need your help now more than ever," the mission said as it solicited donations to shore up increased costs of security and maintenance.

The vandalism couldn’t have come at a worse time, said Lawrence Adams, the mission’s executive director.

Staff had spent hundreds of hours planning the tree lighting and holiday celebration only to be forced to close this week due to the pandemic.

“Then to wake up and see this. It just felt like the straw that broke the camel’s back,” she said.

The mission’s walls have been graffitied before, but with the doors closed, the mission has lost its main revenue stream, making repair and security a challenge.

“We’ve never had an issue during Christmas. We're in a bit of a bubble because I believe the community of San Juan cherishes the mission,” added Lawrence Adams.

Crews removed the spray paint and have begun restaining the wood of the front door. And the mission's staff and volunteers are determined not to let the hardship get to them.

“Maybe we’ll have Christmas in January. We have to be positive even though we don't feel like it,” Lawrence Adams said. “The good news is it was really great to see a lot of people still really care about the mission.”

The mission received an outpouring of support from the community as word of the vandalism spread Friday.

“This absolutely offends me and breaks my heart,” Toni Nelson wrote on Facebook. “We gardening angels and so many volunteers and dedicated staff members work so hard to maintain this cherished landmark.”

“So sad to hear this happen. This is one place I still found spiritual and sacred, “ added Anna V Frattini. “My Uncle took my mom, my brother, and me so many years ago. It's very heartbreaking to see this.”

“I hope they get caught! I love the mission but understand we need to protect our loved ones,” wrote Sarina Valencia Rodriguez. “Be safe we will be back to normal again soon.”

The best way to support the mission is to visit it, to get a sense of its history and meaning, said Lawrence Adams.

In the meantime, with its doors closed during the shutdown, those who wish to support it can shop the mission store this holiday season. It has hand-crafted artisan gifts and jewelry, food, home goods, olive, oil, jams and jellies, books, and children’s historical books.

"The most important thing is not to take the mission for granted," said Lawrence Adams. "You can have something really special in the community drive by it every day and never visit it, but it’s a place worth a visit."

City News Service contributed to this report.