Mission Nombre de Dios facts for kids
Mission Nombre de Dios is a special Catholic place in St. Augustine, Florida. It was started way back in 1587. This makes it one of the oldest missions in the United States. It sits on the west side of Matanzas Bay. The mission is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine. It is also home to the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, which is the oldest shrine in this area.
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The Mission's Story
The story of Mission Nombre de Dios began on September 8, 1565. That's when Admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés arrived with settlers. They founded the city of St. Augustine. A priest named Fr Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales was with them. He held the first Thanksgiving Mass right on these grounds.
The mission itself was formally started in 1587 by Franciscan priests. It might be the very first mission in what is now the continental United States. The mission helped the local Mocama people. These were a group of the Timucua Native Americans. It was an important center for their leaders in the late 1500s and 1600s.
First, Jesuits and then Franciscans worked with the Spanish settlers. They also shared their faith with the Mocama and Agua Dulce people. They had great success in a Mocama village called Nombre de Dios. They helped convert the chief and her daughter. By 1587, a friar (a type of priest) lived at the mission.
What You Can See at the Mission
The mission grounds have many interesting things to explore.
The Great Cross
The Great Cross is a huge landmark at the mission. It was put up in October 1966. This was to celebrate 400 years since the mission began. Archbishop Casimiro Morcillo from Madrid dedicated it.
This cross is made of shiny stainless steel. It stands 208 feet tall. That's like a 20-story building! It towers over the Matanzas marshes.
The Mission Museum
The Mission Nombre de Dios Museum is full of history. You can see the original casket of Pedro Menéndez de Avilés here. He was the founder of St. Augustine. (His actual remains are in Spain.)
The museum also displays old church items. These include special robes and cups used in Mass. You can see artifacts found during digs on the mission grounds. There are also pieces of coquina, a type of rock, from the first chapel. The museum opened in 2010 and is free to visit.
Prince of Peace Votive Church
The Prince of Peace Votive Church was built in 1965. It sits at the entrance to the mission grounds. It also celebrated the mission's 400th anniversary.
This church is made of coquina rock. It has a beautiful stained glass window. This window shows the Holy Spirit. Inside, you'll find a copy of the Our Lady of La Leche statue. The church is used for prayer, weddings, and funerals. It was built as a prayer for world peace.
National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche
The devotion to Our Lady of La Leche came from Spain long ago. The mission grounds became home to the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche. This was the first Marian shrine in the United States.
The main part of the shrine is a statue of Mary nursing baby Jesus. It's a copy of a statue in Spain. The first chapel here was destroyed in 1728. It was rebuilt in 1875 but damaged by a hurricane. The current ivy-covered chapel was built in 1914. It's a replica of the older chapels. Many people visit this shrine to pray for healthy pregnancies and safe deliveries.
In October 2019, the shrine was given "national shrine" status. This is a special honor. A special ceremony called a "canonical coronation" happened on October 10, 2021.
Other Interesting Spots
The Mission Nombre de Dios grounds have even more to see. You can find places where archaeologists have dug up old items. There's a historic cemetery and other Marian Shrines. These include shrines to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Our Lady of Guadalupe.
There's also a gift shop, a bell tower, and pretty fountains. You can see a rustic altar and many historical markers. Monuments show the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Statues of Father López, Saint Francis of Assisi, and Saint Joseph are also on the grounds.
See also
In Spanish: Misión de Nombre de Dios para niños
