Mission Basilica Parish Information
Mission Basilica is a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Orange in California. The parish church is located just northwest of Mission San Juan Capistrano in the city of San Juan Capistrano, California. CLICK HERE to visit their website.
Reverend Monsignor J. Michael McKiernan: Pastor
Msgr. J. Michael McKiernan serves as the 35th pastor in a line of succession from Saint Junipero Serra, founder of the Historic Mission San Juan Capistrano. Msgr. McKiernan was ordained as a Diocesan Priest in the County of Orange on June 8, 1991. Prior to his post as Pastor and Rector of the dynamic Mission Campus, he was the founding Pastor of Christ Our Savior Catholic Church in Santa Ana and the Director of Clergy Personnel for the Diocese of Orange.
Msgr. McKiernan’s educational background includes a Master of Arts in Pastoral Liturgy from Santa Clara University, a Master of Arts in Theology and a Master of Divinity in Religion from Saint John’s Seminary College. He began his education with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy also from Saint John’s Seminary College. Along with his many and varied duties at the Historic Mission, Church and School, Msgr. McKiernan also serves on the School Board of JSerra Catholic High School, on the College of Consulters, the Diocesan Council of Priests, the Bishops Liturgical Commission, and the Design and Renovation Committee for the Diocese of Orange.
Reverend Manuel Lopez Gonzalez - Parochial Vicar
Fr. Manuel was born in the state of Michoacán, Mexico, and is the oldest of five brothers and sisters. He is 43 years old and his ordination as a priest was 10 years ago. He has been a Parochial Vicar here in the Diocese of Orange in the parishes of Santa Barbara in the city of Santa Ana and in the parish of St. Justin Martyr in the city of Anaheim. Fr. Manuel joined our parish community on July 1, 2020, the feast of Saint Junipero Serra.
Father Manuel shares with us that the vocation to the priesthood is a gift from God according to the words of the Lord Jesus: "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you" John 15:16. He asks God to help him always do his will and the Virgin of Guadalupe to continue interceding for him before her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. He commends himself to your prayers and you may count on his prayers for you.