Fremont Tutors Come To You

The Mission San Jose, which stands in Fremont, California looks like any other mission along the old El Camino Real route. Of the twenty-one missions in existence, Mission San Jose was established in 1797 near fertile fields, streams, and became a player in the local agricultural economy, as well as a site of worship for settlers and Native American converts to Catholicism.

The mission’s exterior is plain and straightforward: stucco walls, a pitched and tiled roof, a simple tower with a cross atop it, and adobe construction one would expect of California missions. Those who currently run the mission describe its façade as “simple and forthright,” which is an appropriate homage to the original Franciscan friars who were responsible for the construction of the mission and planning its role as a ranch for the area. A simple exterior, however, does not always equate to a simple interior. Often, there is more to it than meets the eye.

The inside of the mission is adorned with various art and artifacts of the early nineteenth century, when its chapel was dedicated in 1809. Valuable gifts of priestly vestments, sacred vessels, religious icons, statues, and paintings spoke to the generosity of friends of the Mission in the Bay Area and abroad—the missionizing project was well-supported by many parties, and was not without its benefactors within the church. The majority of vestments in the current collection date from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, still in excellent condition today. The silken fabrics and embroideries were products of various textile centers of the Spanish Empire, whose suppliers extended from Europe to Asia. International craftsmanship adorns the interior of the mission, and is present in various art and artifacts observed by visitors.

The highly adorned interior of the mission’s chapel preserves the artifacts listed in the historic inventories of the 1830s, found in the mission during a renovation project. The crystal chandeliers are copies of period pieces similar to ones listed in the old church inventories. Two of its original statues have been placed on the two side altars: Ecce Homo, a figure of Christ clothed in a scarlet robe and crowned with thorns, stands on a balcony above one of the side altars. The other statue of Saint Bonaventure was carved from wood and then painted. The original baptismal font of hammered copper and turned wood base is also found within church, as well as the bell wheel used by the region’s native inhabitants during the sacred parts of the Mass.

Tutors in Fremont recognize that, like the local mission, their clients also may appear one way on the outside, but on the inside, they are complex and worthy of further attention. The mind of the struggling student is full of endless potential, waiting to be built up and aided by attentive tutors who appreciate the finer details of learning.