Prayer composed by Italian Archbishop Domenico Battaglia of Naples
Prayed by Pope Francis
(as reported by CNS Rom correspondent, Junno Arocho Esteves, only very slightly adapted)

Forgive us for war, Lord,
Lord Jesus, son of God,
   have mercy on us sinners.
Lord Jesus, born under the bombs of Kyiv,
   have mercy on us.
Lord Jesus, dead in the arms of a mother in Kharkiv,
   have mercy on us.
Lord Jesus, present in the 20 year olds sent to the frontline,
   have mercy on us.
Lord Jesus, who continues to see hands armed with weapons under the shadow of the cross,
   forgive us Lord.
Forgive us that, if not content with the nails with which we pierced your hand
we continue to drink from the blood of the dead torn apart by weapons.

Forgive us if these hands that you had created to protect,
have been turned into instruments of death.

Forgive us Lord,
if we continue to kill our brother.

Forgive us Lord,
if we continue, like Cain, to remove the stones from our camp to kill Abel.

Forgive us Lord,
if we continue to justify cruelty with our efforts,
if with our pain, we legitimize the cruelty of our actions.

Forgive us the war, Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, we implore you
to stop the hand of Cain;
enlighten our conscience;
let not our will be done.

Do not abandon us to our own doing.
Stop us, Lord.

Stop us, and when you have stopped the hand of Cain,
take care of him also;
he is our brother.

Oh Lord, stop the violence.
Stop us, Lord.
Amen

Click here to learn about October 2022 travels.

Sister Mission Covenant

Recognized as the Head and Mother of all Missions in Alta and Baja California, the faithful parishioners of Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó, founded in 1697 in Baja California Sur, and the faithful parishioners of Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, founded in 1782 in Alta California, commit to support each other in prayer to: witness the Gospel, cultivate our religious heritage, provide temporal resources and encourage pilgrimage to all the missions in the Californias in fidelity to Holy Mother Church, the Holy Father, our respective bishops and dioceses as Sister Missions.

For centuries Loreto was inhabited mainly by pericúes Indians, who lived from picking fruit, hunting and fishing. The arrival and unsuccessful colonization of the Spaniards in 1533, and the subsequent successful Jesuit missionaries in 1697, who established in this locale the first mission of the Californias led by Father Juan Maria Salvatierra, Loreto became the historic capital of Alta and Baja California until 1777. Loreto 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 to Sonoma, in Alta California.

From Loreto, Franciscan Friar now Saint Junipero Serra planned the missionary expedition north to Alta California. In 1782, he established Mission San Buenaventura among the native Chumash Indians who inhabited the coastal areas for centuries and were known as "bead maker" or "seashell people" who as hunters, gatherers, and fishermen, recognized their dependency on the world around them. The Mission by the Sea across from the Channel Islands became the ninth and last mission founded by Saint Junipero Serra.

In 2015, our representatives in civic government adopted a Sister City relationship. Respectively, the two national parks off our shores have inaugurated a Sister Park/Sister Reserve Project: Bay of Loreto National Park-Channel Islands National Park and the University of California Natural Reserve System.

These initiatives will benefit the greater Loreto and San Buenaventura communities by creating new economic opportunities, facilitate cultural exchange and expand education opportunities for residents. With extended outreach and ecotourism programs, the business network and social fabric of our communities will be strengthened, benefiting present and future generations.

Unique to this relationship is the religious history of our missions, which is the foundation and very fabric of our mutual heritage that has sustained our communities for centuries.

These Sister partnerships may also support each other during natural disasters or other emergencies by raising funds or collecting needed-supplies. By sharing each other’s cultures through sister relationships, communities can gain insight into the history, values and spirit that make up their sister mission, sister city, and sister national parks and reserves.

Click here to learn about the Official Sister City Charter

UNESCO: Mexico-USA Mission Preservation

Acuerdo de Hermandad de Misiones

Conocida como la cabeza y madre de todas las misiones de la Alta y Baja California, los feligreses fieles de la Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó, fundada en 1697 en la Baja California Sur y los feligreses fieles de la Misión San Buenaventura, fundada en 1782 en la Alta California, se comprometieron en apoyarse mutuamente en rezar a: ser testigos del evangelio, cultivar nuestro patrimonio religioso, proporcionar fuentes temporales y fomentar la peregrinación a todas las misiones en las Californias en fidelidad a la Santa Madre iglesia, el Santo Padre, nuestros respectivos obispos y diocesis como Misiones Hermanas.

Por siglos, Loreto fue poblado principalmente por indios pericues, quienes se sostuvieron recogiendo fruta, cazando y de la pesca. La llegada y fracaso de la colonización de los españoles en 1533 y la exitosa subsecuente llegada de los misioneros jesuitas en 1697, quienes establecieron en este lugar la primera misión de las Californias, guiada por padre Juan Maria Salvatierra, Loreto se convirtió en la capital historica de Alta y Baja California hasta 1777. Loreto es el punto de inicio del historico, El Camino Real, que continua hasta el norte junto con la ruta antigua de la misiones españolas desde la Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó a Sonoma, en Alta California.

Desde Loreto, el padre Franciscano, San Junipero Serra, planeó su viaje hacia el norte de la Alta California. En 1782, el estableció la misión de San Buenaventura junto con los indios nativos Chumash quien habitaron las areas costerias por siglos y fueron conocidos como “fabricantes de cuentas” o “gente de concha” quienes como cazadores, recolectores y pescadores, reconocieron su dependencia en su entorno. La Misión San Buenaventura fue la novena y última misión fundada por San Junipero Serra, la misión del mar, frente a las Islas del Canal.

En 2015, nuestros representantes en un acto cívico de gobierno realizaron una relación de ciudad hermana. Respectivamente, los dos parques nacionales inauguraron un proyecto de hermandad entre parques marinos: Parque Nacional Bahia de Loreto, Parque Nacional de las Islas del Canal y el sistema natural reservado de la Universidad de California.

Estas iniciativas beneficiarán las grandiosas comunidades de Loreto y San Buenaventura creando nuevas oportunidades económicas, facilitando intercambios culturales y expandiendo oportunidades educativas para los residentes. Con el alcance logrado y los programas de eco-turismo, la red de negocios y social entre nuestras comunidades serán fortalecidos, beneficiando presente y futuras generaciones.

Unica en esta relación es la historia religiosa de nuestras misiones, la cual es la fundaciòn y nuestra mutuo patrimonio que ha sido sostenido a nuestra comunidades por siglos.

Este hermanamiento puede también apoyarse, uno al otro, durante desastres naturales u otras emergencias, recolectando fondos o viveres. Al compartir la cultura del otro, a través de relaciones hermanas, las comunidades pueden obtener una perspectiva mas profunda de la historia, los valores y el espíritu que componen la misión hermana, ciudad hermana y parques y reservas nacionales.

This 35 mile stretch of the California Mission Trail is considered one of the most beautiful and pleasant mission-to-mission treks. The route for the pilgrimage was selected to balance safety, beauty, and the opportunity for a public witness to our faith and the goodness of our beloved saint and "father of California."

This event is fully supported with your camping gear transported, a following support vehicle, meals supplied along the way, and hydration and snack breaks provided. This allows you to focus on the beauty of your surroundings, prayer, singing, camaraderie, and time with the friars and priests as you walk. We will be camping in Carpinteria at St. Joseph's Church with an evening meal, Eucharistic Adoration time, confession, and singing around the campfire.

Even if you are not planning to walk the entire 2 days, all are welcome to join us for any part of the trip. We especially recommend the departure from Mission Santa Barbara down State Street to the ocean at the foot of the pier, approximately 3 miles of gentle downhill walking. We also recommend joining us for the final walk and glorious procession from Surfers Point through downtown Ventura to the San Buenaventura Mission.

Only those officially registered will have access to the meals provided. For more pilgrimage details see FAQ.

Our chaplain is Fr. Nathan Cromly, CSJ of Eagle Eye Ministries. We will be joined by Franciscan Friars of the Renewal from their new friary in Oakland, San Junipero Serra Friary!

Click here to learn more or register