The California Missions Foundation’s 42nd annual conference was held at Mission San José in Fremont, California, on February 14 & 15, 2025. Attendees were welcomed by Anthony Huong Le, the Pastor of the mission.

The conference program featured speakers on a wide range of topics, including the diet of Indians at Mission Santa Clara de Asís, birth and death rates in the California missions, insights drawn from mission financial ledgers, silver mining as a motivation for the mission system, and even uniforms worn by Spanish soldiers during the mission period!

There was an evening musical performance in the mission church. The mission’s student orchestra performed several pieces, including three written by Fray Narciso Durán, a Franciscan Friar and missionary who served at Mission San José and Mission Santa Bárbara. Ronald McKean, the mission’s music director, then performed several pieces on the mission’s organ. (Learn more about Music at the California Missions.)

There were also tours of the mission grounds, and the mission museum.

A highlight of the conference was the strong involvement and support of Andrew “Andy” Galvan, the current President of the Ohlone Indian Tribe. Andy lead the mission grounds tour and moderated one of the conference sessions. Vincent Medina, incoming President (who will replace Andrew upon his retirement this year), gave an outstanding presentation on the Ohlone Tribe and Mission San José.