OLD MISSION SAN FERNANDO REY DE ESPANA

Since Spain's arrival in the "New World," the various Catholic Kings had used the "Mission System" to help colonize their new lands; sometimes with Jesuits, at other times with Franciscans or Dominicans. In the last part of the l8th-Century the Spanish Empire was beginning the falter. The last use of the mission system was in Alta (upper) California. The San Fernando Mission was the l7th of 2l missions set up by Spanish Franciscan padres from l767 through l823. Named in honor of King Ferdinand III (ll99-l252), who was made a saint in l67l by Pope Clement IX for his military victories over the Moors; the San Fernando Mission was established in l797 by fray (Father) Fermin Francisco de Lasuen (l736-l803), 2^nd Presidente of the California Missions.