We tried to visit Mission Santa Clara de Asís during our road trip, but it was very hard to find inside Santa Clara University, and parking was nearly impossible. Even after asking for directions, we couldn't locate it, and with limited time we eventually had to move on. Disappointing stop on an otherwise great trip. read more

Just a nice place to stroll around. Peaceful. School was not in session so it made it even more special. read more

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Beautiful mini tour of this Santa Clara University for our soon to be 4th grader Foster child.. it's a good introduction to her new adventures this coming new school year. #JoesOnDaGo read more

Mission Santa Clara de Asis - Beautiful mini tour of this Santa Clara University Mission Church - Churches Near Me - Santa Clara, California

A wonderful place to celebrate Mass - - - - - - - - Our daughter and I visited San Jose, CA, and the Bay area one mid-October weekend. We had a good time. Sunday morning, we celebrated Mass at the Santa Clara Mission Church, on the campus of Santa Clara University. The priest's homily pointed us to how Scripture calls us to ... Perseverance... ... applies to students at mid-terms... ... applies to us all, including... Moses needed help to eep his arms raised over the battle with Amalek St. Paul calling us to pray unceasingly Jesus and the parable of the unjust judge rendering for the persistent widow 1. Strength together 2. Scriptures 3. Pray without ceasing I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.St. Paul, 2 Tm 3:14-4:2 Thank you, Father, for letting us celebrate Mass with you and the rest of the congregation. ----- ----- ----- read more

Minimal and lacking "mission" experience compared to the other missions in California. I was hoping to stop by to be enriched with history, but there was not much to absorb. The church area is mostly what's left of the original mission so you will get some historic and artistic vibes there, but that's about it. If you are in the area on a time constraint, there are other more worthy options to entertain. Also if your child is looking for a mission to do their 3rd grade report on, this isn't a good one. read more

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I've attended many wedding masses at the Mission Church many times throughout the years. It is gorgeous on the inside and outside grounds. It serves as a Student Chapel for the university so it's not too big but very quaint and cozy. The missions garden is absolutely gorgeous too. Here is a little history on the church taken from SCU website: "Historic Mission Santa Clara is a consecrated Roman Catholic church that sits at the heart of Santa Clara University's campus. First Established by the Franciscan Order in 1777 as part of the chain of 21 Alta California Missions, our Mission Church was the only one of the 21 that the Franciscans handed over to the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1851, making SCU the first institution of higher education in the State of California. Today, Mission Santa Clara remains the central hub of our campus' religious and spiritual life. As part of SCU's Division of Mission and Ministry, the Mission Church continues to welcome our faculty, staff, alums, and neighbors to join our student body in worship. " read more

I had my wedding here in June 2023. Please note that you have to be a Santa Clara University student, alumni, or faculty member to get married here (I did my graduate program at SCU). It is very cost-effective to reserve this space and the administration is very helpful in ensuring all paperwork and documentation is completed. Upon reserving our spot, we received a detailed wedding planning outline that helped us plan our wedding day. The mission is absolutely beautiful with such rich history. It is beautiful inside and does not require much decoration as the beauty speaks for itself! The on-site director helped make our wedding rehearsal go very smoothly so that on the day of, all attendants knew exactly what to do. I highly recommend this venue if you are capable! Photos courtesy of Katelyn Bradley Photography read more

Mission Santa Clara de Asis - Only added decoration are the two bordering florals and the florals on the middle table - Churches Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Just attended a virtual wedding via Zoom. It was performed just outside the church entrance. It was very efficient and I didn't get to see much of the church except the doors. Bride, Groom, and the Priest were all masked up when not speaking. Distancing was in effect for everyone and certain aspects of the ceremony. Overall, just really happy for the wedded couple. read more

We hosted our wedding mass at Mission Santa Clara this summer. The church is beautiful on the inside and outside - the inside is ornately and uniquely decorated, and the outside is distinctly Spanish styled and also has lots of flowers and gardens, including a long wisteria arbor. It makes for amazing wedding photos. It's also equipped with a pipe organ and a Steinway grand piano, which allows for flexibility in wedding music (we used the organ for the processional/recessional and piano for the rest). It seats a ton of people - we had about 85 and only filled up part of the front section, so it can definitely accommodate large weddings. The church itself is not air conditioned, though the sacristy is, so it's a good place for the wedding party to wait in the minutes before the ceremony. The Mission is extremely popular for weddings, so it can be hard to get a good time slot. They do 3 weddings on Saturdays and 2 on Sundays (at least during the summer). We ended up needing to go on Sunday to get a time slot that would work for us. The only problem with that is since the Mission doesn't have any priests, you are required to find your own priest, and they tend to be busy on Sundays. Finding a priest who was available that day was the most difficult issue we had with the Mission. Other than that, it was pretty smooth and efficient. We were able to tour the Mission with the assistant director, Andrew, and he answered all our questions. Charlie, the director, led our rehearsal and made sure everyone knew where we needed to be and when. Overall, the Mission was a beautiful and memorable place to get married! Other than finding a priest, it was one of the less stressful parts of our wedding planning. read more

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Mass here is truly a special experience. We were visitors yesterday, felt welcomed at the liturgy, and we were encouraged to explore a bit. We ended up getting a chance to see some of the original tile work (ask to see the paw print) and one of the original walls. Again, a very nice mass (on our Sunday led by a Jesuit, and I got the impression that the pastors rotate here), and if we're in the area visiting again, we'll definately consider worshipping at this Mission. read more

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My daughter had a project about the CA Missions. We were driving up and decided to come and visit the mission. This building was rebuilt in 1926 and completed in 1928. Just the building itself is so beautiful. The details on the inside of the building is beautiful. Visit the mission and learn about our rich California history. read more

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It was a nice looking church and courtyard which made for a fun visit. As others said it might not have been the original church but it's still pretty and nice for taking photos. The only issue was finding parking on a weekday which we did across the street. Either way, it's worth a look. read more

Mission Santa Clara de Asis - Churches Near Me - Santa Clara, California

This is a great church. It was built one year after this country was formed. It has such a rich history and located on the Ivy League campus of Santa Clara University. Be sure to stop by the museum on campus to get more of the history that surrounds this landmark. Whether your a Christian, history buff, or just in to interesting things you need to check this church out. Countless people have taken their picture right in front of it. It has also been used in Christian music videos. read more

I'm so into sleeping in and being busy during the day that the 10 p.m. mass at the Mission at SCU is at a perfect time for me. That's good since it's one of the best Masses to attend in the South Bay, and has become my regular church. The mission is filled with chairs (no wooden pews here) and the altar is in the middle. It's kind of a strange layout, but it ensures that everyone is near "the action." The singing and music is by far the best of any church I've been to in the Bay Area. The music takes on this other dimension with the stringed instruments that makes it feel like it's soaring. The choir sounds great - not like those ones at other churches that inevitably have some older chick who has to sing over the rest of the choir with her wavery vibrato. At 32, I feel like Oldie Oldington attending Mass with all the students. I felt good though a few weeks ago when a 50-ish man crossing the street at the same time as me asked how my midterms were going. The homilies are good and all contain the values I like about the church (no anti-abortion speeches here) and tell of a loving God. They're not as interesting or intellectual as the homilies at Newman Hall near UC Berkeley or Father Rick's homilies at St. Clare's across the street, but they're still better than 85% of other homilies out there. I don't know the campus at all so I parked on Lafayette and risked getting raped walking to church the first 6 weeks. (Really it's not dangerous at all, even on Lafayette - I kid about the raping). I had no idea how to get to the parking area in the campus proper, and I finally had to ask. After Easter, the 10 p.m. is switching to 9 p.m. (The horror!). Also, the Mission only holds Mass while school is in session so it's best to check the website to make sure it's not summer session or spring break the first time you go. read more

If you're a historian, if you're religious (or not), or if your an alumni like me, you can't avoid the significance of this old church. I should actually attend Mass more regularly rather than popping up only on Easter, Holy Week or Christmas Eve, but I do show up. Mass here always ranges from local themes to international, and today , Easter was no different. From prayers to the missing teenager in Morgan Hill, to the tragedy of Oakland school shootings to today's bombings in Syria, we reflected. It stands to reason since, as reminder by the crosses in front of the church of the murdered Jesuits in the 80's in El Salvador, the Jesuit ideals guides the thinking of this church and this University. Parking can be a problem. You almost want to park in the streets and walk in. Even though this church is on campus, it is active with regularly scheduled Mass every day of the week. Today, was standing room only, all the way to back of the church for Easter Mass. The church is beautiful and SCU grounds outstanding and what a beautiful day to celebrate Easter. read more

Mission Santa Clara de Asis - Churches Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Located smack dab in the middle of the Santa Clara University campus, the Mission Santa Clara de Asis is the 8th California Mission. As a result of an emphasis on education, the Mission founders established the oldest University in California, Santa Clara University. Originally the Mission was founded in 1777 but after fires and a few relocations, the current structure (5th reconstruct) built in the 1920's is much larger and able to seat many more people than the original and subsequent Mission structures. The interior of the Mission is well maintained and nice, it has somewhat of a rustic feel but it's the outside grounds surrounding the Mission that had me awestruck. Surrounding the Mission is a beautiful, peaceful and serene garden with plants which were established over 200 years ago and they are still thriving today. When walking through the garden I knew I was in a very special spot. I had the chance to contemplate who had come before and stood in the exact same spot to establish the garden and found the Mission. It was also pretty cool that many of these living plants were actually alive way back when, and that they are still thriving keeping history alive. The cool breeze and slight rustling of the trees on the Spring day I visited made my visit an absolutely extraordinary and memorable one. I wished I had more time to spend in the garden because even though the garden around the Mission is small I could hardly take all the beauty in. Some of the older mature plants in the garden include Wisteria vines and roses and were brought to the Mission grounds by Jesuits who wanted to teach horticulture and botany to the students. (The wisteria is in bloom around Easter time). The base of the wisteria vine is so huge that you wouldn't even be able to even put your arms all the way around it if you tried, its the size of a huge tree trunk. I've never seen such a well established and old vine. I absolutely love the trellis which holds the vine, it's constructed by redwood beams from one of the older past structures of the Mission. If you are in the area and wish to go on a nice peaceful stroll to take in some beautiful California history, the campus of Santa Clara University is not to be missed! 2 hour Visitor parking is available at the front of the University campus and it's a short walk to the Mission from there. read more

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Oh my alma mater. Pretty much anyway. I've been here for the better part of a decade, so ... I guess I should review it! Interestingly enough, I have never been inside here for any official school business or church business. I've come here probably four or five times now for weddings. Arguably, the Mission is gorgeous. The candles, the pews, the decor ... it's got this elevated antiquated elegance that cannot be matched elsewhere. Usually the pastoral staff that performs wedding ceremonies are very professional and excellent at making the occasion special for any couple. There is also a vast outdoor area in the gorgeous setting that is Santa Clara University with plenty of gardens, roses and features to complete the picturesque setting. Come check it out! read more

We attended two masses where Father Sholla presided and he had the attendees hanging on his every word. He is sincere, smart, clever and gracious. The pianist and vocal group made the mass even more meaningful. The history and architecture of the Mission ( founded 1777) are fascinating. The Mission is the first CA mission to be named after a woman. Stop at the guard booth, explain you want to visit the Mission and receive a parking pass. read more

A four stars for just being too unorganized sometimes or looks like it to me, I see FY for lunch during break from law school and we would go to see this church. Each time the setting was different. It's either in a circle or something else. The one thing that is constant is the nice feeling of an old church that is present here. Absolutely great feeling. I hate new churches. They feel fake and generic, This feels very steeped in history and that's awesome! Parking can be troublesome here since it's one of the major attraction for the university. Total limit to park is 1 hour. You will need a permit from the guard at the entrance. Very strict here. No permit-NO PARK! NO CAR! read more

My son doing his report on "Mission Santa Clara de Asis", so I let him show me around. I let Maxx be the Tour guide, and he did a great job pointing out the interesting things and parts that caught his eye. Maxx said one of his favorite parts, was to lay on the floor in front of the alter and enjoy the angels painted on the ceiling. The painting of the "Holy Family" by Giuseppe Riva was another part of his favorites. Maxx explained about how the light in "Holy Family" comes right out of the painting. The "Mission Santa Clara de Asis" was beautiful, and this was only the fifth mission I have ever been to. My favorite part was it was the first to bear the name of a women "St. Claire of Assisi". (GIRL POWER) jk. The mission has a charm, and welcoming feel for it. For a younger child the Catala crucfix, was the only part he kept his distance from. He told me he understand part of it in the bible, but why would you let people do that to your own son? When I explain to him, he was still very unhappy about it. We learned this "Mission Santa Clara de Asis" was the 8th mission in the chain of 21 Franciscan missions. It was first founded January 12, 1777. The problem being it had some bad luck, and moved five times. Due to flooding, then fire, and earthquake forced five relocations. So this one of our pictures, was settled on this site in 1822. We read the brochure from the visitor center that explains where things are at, after our tour. In the brochure we learned when they rebuilt the mission, it is now similar in length, but more than twice as wide as the structure built in 1825. I would suggest any area you are visiting, close to a mission or old land marks. Make a point to visit, and learn a little bit of history. I would of gave this a full five star, but part of the front on mission was blocked by construction fencing...bummer for us. The road was be reconstructed, so people could walk, ride bicycles, skate, etc. to get around. Nice to block the cars, but we missed the whole front side, staircase, and dates in the marble. We were looking forward to seeing the front side of the Mission up close, from what we looked up on the website. www.scu.edu/mission read more

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Had my wedding at the mission last month. Andrew (church/wedding coordinator) was awesome. We didn't feel the need to add floral arrangements because the church itself is already beautiful with it's architecture. Wedding was perfect! read more

Mission Santa Clara de Asis - Churches Near Me - Santa Clara, California

I absolutely LOVE it here! The sense of peace I get from this place is amazing! I love everything from the architecture, art, the melodic voices of the choir, mass, and even the garden! Parking can be a little difficult to find if you're running right on the dot, so plan to get there a little earlier and simply enjoy a stroll around the garden. Coming here helps me ease my mind and get away from the daily stress of work, home etc. Even if you're not religious I would definitely recommend all yelpers to visit, it's a historic landmark and it's beautiful. read more

Mission Santa Clara de Asis - Mission Santa Clara de Asís - located at Santa Clara University - Churches Near Me - Santa Clara, California

The atmosphere is just amazing here. High ceilings and long rows help make the docs point to the altar and God's word that much easier to focus. I love children, but it's quite difficult to hear if you sit in the back since more often than not, they end up getting bored and start to cry. Regardless, each time I've come here has been another experience. Today's word was helping each other fight temptation (especially since it's Lent). The calming demeanor of the crowd as well as the choir... spectacular. read more

Such an amazing experience. Thankful that the schools require kids to do a mission project as it provides an opportunity for families to visit and learn some historical facts. We had a blast touring Mission Santa Clara. read more

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The correct name of this parish is Mission Santa Clara de Asis. It is not 'Santa Clara University Mission Church.' Hopefully Yelp will correct this after I submit the name correction of this church/parish to Yelp. This church was built in the mid 1800s and is still operated by the Jesuits, a religious order of men (priests and brothers) of the Roman Catholic Church. The university that surrounds the church is Santa Clara University, founded and still operated by the Jesuits as well. Regular Mass schedule, during the school year, is as follows: Sunday-10am, 6pm and 9pm; Monday through Friday-12:05pm. There are no Saturday Masses. When there is an extended university break (spring break for example) Sunday evening Masses are postponed. If you are interested in reserving a date for your wedding, it is highly recommended that you inquire with the church immediately as the waiting list is long and many alumni vie for a wedding date. Prepare your list of questions and be sure you have several dates in mind, just in case your first or second date is not available. This is my main place of worship. I attend Mass on Sunday as well as the weekdays. If you are not Roman Catholic but want to visit this historic building, do so with respect. read more

During the work week and school, I wouldn't find the time to come to church on a Sunday and wake up early at 7am. Come on! I wake up as early as 6am during the week and I have to get up at 7am to catch the first mass....for this mission church, I will. I used to come here every so often with my parents, because they love the crafted looking ceilings and walls, the rich and vibrant colors of angels and what not. The priest has always given a wonderful homily. I mainly listen to him carry on with the good and bad, including the main context as to why it's always good to place faith in someone or something. I highly recommend this place, if you like the traditional masses or if you are looking for a church to have a wedding ceremony or christening. read more

Remember how I said every mission is different? San Antonio is in a military base, La Purisima is a state park with hiking trails, San Luis Obispo is in the middle of the downtown commercial center.... Santa Clara is in the middle of a Catholic university, and serves as a major chapel. Dang. It's beautiful, and eerily appropriate for this mission to be on a site of education, long a value of the Franciscans who built the structure. It's a beautiful, meditative place, and well-worth the visit, moving past stressed law students and carefree undergrads to enter the sacred space. It was a great spot to sit and pray and reflect, and I'm glad I could. Santa Clara's definitely worth the visit, even if you have to cut through a campus to get to it. read more

I went to mass here yesterday. The Mission is a very beautiful church. Very different inside seating wise and how mass is performed. I was very disppointed in 1 aspect. When coming early to mass, one should be praying or meditating. Yesterday when I arrived early, it was like a social event. Everyone was talking. Not quietly but pretty loud. And most were elderly. You would think because they go to mass, they would understand that going to church is not a social event but a place for one to worship and be ready for a celebration. Even I know better. read more

This is a beautiful and historic church for Catholics and others alike. Tips: *I would definitely recommend visiting this church for midnight mass on Christmas Eve. It is beautifully decorated and creates a special atmosphere (be sure to get there early, standing room only is often the case!) *A must stop for tourists - the church and the gardens are simply breath taking. *Call me creepy, but I love watching couples and their wedding party take pictures throughout the garden. If you come by on any Saturday in the summer, you're sure to stumble upon a happy newlywed couple and their ambitious photographer! *The later masses (e.g., 9 p.m.) have more of a collegey feel to them so if that's not your thing then I would recommend going to one of the earlier services (e.g., 10 a.m. or 7 p.m.) read more

I love going to mass here. It's so peaceful... the fact that it's a California Mission makes it even better. The sense of history that comes with that just awes me. The acoustics of the Mission makes choral music sound amazing in here [both during mass and otherwise]. 9PM mass is the way to go (: I love seeing happy couples use this space as their wedding hall, or as the backdrop of their photoshoots. I think it's pretty apt that this is my 100th review, because this is one of my favorite places to go. Luckily, it's less than 10 minute walk from my dorm, so whenever I need a place to think/clear my head, it's not far away at all. If you haven't been here, you should go sometime. Even if you're not religious, it's pretty awesome. read more

Beautifully restored Mission. Almost too opulent for a church. I'm talking red velvet drapes, guilded gold, the works. The church itself is a reasonable size, attractive lighting, plenty of seats. To keep this review as secular as possible, I found that the self-guided tour was informative. You enter the Church and are welcomed by informative banners on the wall. You then grab a pamphlet which points out over 20+ points of interest from within the church, mainly art work rescued from the original versions of Santa Clara de Asis. Overall, I felt this Mission was restored not for the purpose of preserving the importance of the Mission Period in California, but mainly for appearances on the SCU campus. I do not recommend a visit to Santa Clara de Asis with your 4th Grader, it is virtually useless in that sense. You do not get an immersive experience like you do at Mission San Juan Bautista or at Mission San Jose. You basically are visiting a church that has an exterior that looks similar to a Mission and dates back to the Mission period. Come here for mass if you are religious, but don't come expecting to learn too much about the original Mission itself and life on a Mission. read more

The church is standing on the campus of Santa Clara University, the oldest college in California. From what I have learned, the original church was destroyed several times because of flood, earthquake and fire and has been rebuilt in five different locations. Compared to the other Mission Churches, I was expecting a museum and some significant artifacts displayed inside and a gift shop. Good thing a staff member we spoke in an art museum beside the church told us to go the university book shop, which is about a 5 minute walk to find some religious souvenirs (which happily we did). The interior of the church was beautiful though... and the landscaping around the church was well kept... Free parking is also available at the entrance of the campus. read more

This is one of the most beautiful California Mission church from at least eight other missions that I've ever visited. Mission San Juan Bautista, Carmel, and Santa Barbara are the other ones that I really like. Across the church is the spacious, 3-level de Saisset Art Gallery and Museum. The museum is at the ground floor with a lot of history and antique and sacred artifact collections. The art gallery has several collections of photographs and paintings. I can't believe it's free to get in (donations are welcome). It's nice to be able to just walk in to the church and enjoy its beauty and all its structural details. There's a really nice rose garden on one side and wisteria-covered walkway on the other side. Such a beautiful place and open to the public to visit. Unfortunately, to get married in this church, you have to be a Santa Clara University student, alumni, or staff. read more

For four years, this served as a place of refuge from the hustle and bustle of my college life. After classes, or particularly stressful times, I would wander into the mission and just sit and meditate for a bit. I always felt a little bit better and more prepared for whatever lay in front of me. This is the centerpiece of the Santa Clara University campus, and with it's location on the university's campus is probably one of the best maintained of the California Missions. There have been several renovation/restorations that have occurred over the past 10-15 years including the replacing of the original pearwood statues that stood on the facade of the building with metal cast copies, several of the side altars have had their statues restored, new chairs throughout the mission, and recently some colored accents were added to the facade. In terms of masses, this is probably one of the best, if not the best, student-led masses in the area. I am a little biased toward the music there since I sang with the choir for all four years while I was in school; and to this day I still do some of the idiosyncratic things I learned in that choir--and it makes me giggle, too! I've also had the privilege of singing at too many weddings to count for friends, friends of friends, and I always impressed with how beautiful the setting of this historic site always is. So, 5 stars for this wonderful fixture and gem of Santa Clara University and surrounding area. read more

It's beautiful here! The 9 PM student masses at SCU are honestly one of the reasons why I love SCU. It's absolutely breathtaking to just sit and listen to the homily. I love going to church here! Hospitality is awesome, offering books and small yummy treats after mass! I would honestly really want to get married here. So much legacy, history, and beauty. :) read more

I don't know why people are complaining about the mission's policy on non university affiliated parties. For $50k per year of tuition I think it's fair that the mission is exclusively available to alum, staff, and faculty for weddings. Think about it from our point of view! Mass here is always pleasant. I enjoy it more during the academic year because mass is offered more times per day. In the summer Sunday mass is only offered once (at 10 a.m.) Parking could be better, it's sometimes hard to get out of the stalls. Don't let these minor things ruin your experience though because SC mission church is amazing :) read more

This is an beautiful church and my favorite of the missions that I have been to. Beautiful on the inside and out. There is so much history here and you can see some of the it in the museum next door. This is a popular spot for weddings, I saw 3 of them in the hour that I was there. read more

Mass is very pleasant and welcoming. They dim the lights and shine one to focus on the readers. Music is traditional but pleasing to the ear. Hospitality is superb and the architecture and lay out is grand. read more

Beautiful Mission and School.

My husband and i thought about having our wedding here at the Mission since he is a Santa Clara University alumni... BUT.... the inside of the church is kind of dark; and I'm vain and want perfect natural light coming in the church... so this catholic wedding ceremony venue was crossed out from our list. I like attending mass here because the priests are great speakers and direct to the point. I hate priests who go in circles with their homilies. Pretty roses too during Spring.. read more