• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact Us
Saturday, April 1, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
The Capistrano Dispatch
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
The Capistrano Dispatch
No Result
View All Result

High School Teacher to Visit San Juan on Missions Trail Pilgrimage

by Capo Dispatch
March 13, 2019 12:00PM
in EYE ON SJC, News
High School Teacher to Visit San Juan on Missions Trail Pilgrimage

Mission San Juan Capistrano. Photo: File

0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Shawn Raymundo

Christian Clifford, a high school teacher from San Mateo, plans to spend the upcoming summer completing the Southern California leg of his ongoing pilgrimage to visit all of the state’s missions on foot.

Since May of last year, Clifford has been walking along the California Missions Trail in segments. The trail encompasses 21 missions throughout California and spans a total walking distance of about 780 miles when measured from each location to the next.

“I’m doing it in bits and pieces,” he said, noting that as a teacher he’ll only be able to do parts of the pilgrimage when school’s not in session.

Christian Clifford, a high school teacher from San Mateo, takes a selfie outside of Mission San Diego during a recent stint of his ongoing pilgrimage to complete the California Missions Trail. Photo: Courtesy of Christian Clifford
Christian Clifford, a high school teacher from San Mateo, takes a selfie outside of Mission San Diego during a recent stint of his ongoing pilgrimage to complete the California Missions Trail. Photo: Courtesy of Christian Clifford

“I’m also married, so I wish I can do the whole thing in one slew,” he added. “So, it’s very impractical.”

The Junipero Serra High School teacher from Northern California has so far walked a total of 345 miles, visiting 12 missions. After the current school year ends, he plans to resume his quest, picking up from where he recently left off: near the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).

Clifford was in San Diego for the California Missions Conference in mid-February, allowing him to hit the trail and walk from Mission San Luis Rey to SONGS, via Camp Pendleton. During this portion of the trail, a former student of Clifford’s who is now a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, provided him with access through the base and joined him for the trek as well.

When Clifford returns to San Clemente this summer, he’ll make his way to Mission San Juan Capistrano before continuing north to the Los Angeles area missions, which include Mission San Gabriel Arcangel and San Fernando Rey de Espana.

“I’m hoping to get to the L.A. basin, the missions there, including Mission San Juan Capistrano this summer,” he said. “That’s my goal. That’s what I’m hoping.”

Clifford is expected to hit the halfway mark on his pilgrimage between Mission San Juan Capistrano and the San Gabriel mission.

“I’m almost at the midway point, so I’ll probably have a beer on that day,” Clifford said.

From the San Fernando mission, Clifford will walk to Mission San Buenaventura to complete the Southern California section of the trail. Last year, he was able to complete the Northern California leg, leaving only Central California to finish.

Clifford, an author who has written books on the history of California’s missions, is part of a group called the California Mission Walkers. Many in the group, he said, go on the pilgrimage for religious, historical and fitness reasons. For Clifford, it’s a combination of all three.

Throughout his travels, Clifford has been able to stay at some of the homes of his fellow Mission Walkers. When he goes back out on the trail later this year, Clifford plans to emulate the Catholic friars who walked the path in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

“This summer, I’m hoping to get a one-man tent, and start roughing it kind of like the friars did,” he said.

To learn more about Clifford’s pilgrimage, visit his blog at missions1769.com.

 

Share this:

  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
Tags: California Missions TrailCamp PendletonChristian CliffordMission San Juan CapistranoOrange CountyPilgrimageSan Juan Capistrano
ShareTweetPin

Capo Dispatch

Related Posts

River Street Marketplace Announces Slate of Food, Retail Tenants

River Street Marketplace Announces Slate of Food, Retail Tenants

March 31, 2023
Net Energy Metering Program to Change April 14

Net Energy Metering Program to Change April 14

March 31, 2023
Adoptable Pet of the Week: Matcha

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Matcha

March 31, 2023
At the Movies: ‘A Good Person’ Isn’t Necessarily a Good Movie

At the Movies: ‘A Good Person’ Isn’t Necessarily a Good Movie

March 31, 2023
Next Post
Acquisition of Capo Valley Christian Property Allows School to ‘Dream Big’ for Future

Acquisition of Capo Valley Christian Property Allows School to ‘Dream Big’ for Future

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

The Dispatch Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get The Dispatch delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Current Issue
  • Contact Us
  • San Clemente Times
  • Dana Point Times
  • About Us

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.