December 8, 2011
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Dear Members of our Mission and Parish Family,


Peace and all good! Over the past 2-3 years-- ever since our arrival here at Old Mission San Luis Rey and Mission San Luis Rey Parish-- we have been working to find ways in which  both entities could grow together to serve as a unified, evangelizing presence of our Catholic Christian faith here in North  San Diego County.

Many people are still unaware of the fact that Old Mission  San Luis Rey (OMSLR) and Mission San Luis Rey Parish (MSLRP) are actually distinct and separate legal and organizational  entities. The Old Mission consists of the historic Mission church, cemetery, retreat center, welcome center, and
gift shop. It is one entity and is operated under the auspices  of the Franciscan Friars of the Province of St. Barbara  (California). The Parish (MSLRP) includes the Serra Center,  the parish school (Old Mission Montessori School) is owned  and operated separately under the auspices of the Diocese of  San Diego. Both entities are staffed by the Franciscan friars.


Initially, both operations were a single entity, but the separate organizations have developed over the past 40 years.  Sometimes that separation has involved unfortunate tensions
and conflicts, including differences in vision and style  between the Executive Director and the Pastor.

We view such divisions as harmful to our common goals  and vision and to the welcoming spirit of our Franciscan  identity. We also believe that such divisions may well persist  as long as both the Mission and Parish are administered  separately, since certain tensions are built into the structural differences between them.

Therefore, in cooperation with the Diocese of San Diego  and the Franciscan Friars, we have decided to embark upon a feasibility study to explore the possibility of a potential  merger of the Old Mission and the Parish into a single entity.    Starting in February, 2012, representatives of the various  interested parties will meet to consider the areas of finances,  governance (canonical and civil), administrative and  management structures, personnel/transition issues, and a  possible joint Master Planning effort. Our hope is to complete  the study with recommendations within a twelve  month   period. We want to explore in an in-depth and focused  way the many and complex issues involved. We will  keep you informed of our work and will certainly make public  our recommendations. In the meantime, we ask for your   prayers and support as we continue in this process to discern  the Lord’s will for us.

Thank you and God bless you,
Fr. David Gaa ofm/ Executive Director,
Old Mission San Luis Rey


Fr. Charles (Chuck) Talley, ofm/ Pastor,
Mission San Luis Rey Parish