This year’s “Meet Me at the Mission” benefit on Saturday, Sept. 20, celebrates the golden anniversary of the Committee for Restoration of the Mission San José (CRMSJ). Organist Ronald McKean and the Mission San José Orchestra will be the centerpiece for an evening of food, wine, fundraising and building community.
“We are a secular nonprofit formed in 1975 initially to raise funds for the authentic reconstruction of the adobe church, which was completed in 1985,” says Gary Dorighi, current president of CRMSJ. “And as a part of this year’s event, we will recognize the early members who stepped up to serve CRMSJ.”
This dedicated group of local citizens includes notables such as Lila Bringhurst, Pauline McIvor, Regena Dennie, Dolores Ferenz, Sister Mary Raymond Carmody and Jim Starkovich. These visionaries, with many others, raised funds and managed the authentic reconstruction of the original 1809 church. After 10 years of effort, the vision was accomplished; and Mission San Jose’s adobe church was dedicated in 1985.
The committee has continued for 50 years to raise funds and be a historic resource for numerous preservation projects. These include the seismic retrofit of the 1809 missionaries’ living quarters which today houses a museum, the foundation and exterior repairs of the museum structure, along with the preservation of historic textiles and fine art on display. The Mission San Jose is recognized as a California Historic Landmark and registered as a National Historic Place. It is the oldest still-standing adobe structure in Alameda County.
Fremont was incorporated in 1956 from five townships. But in 1797, long before any of those villages existed, when only the native Ohlone peoples lived here, Old Mission San Jose was established. These communities that became Fremont grew up around the Old Mission. Each year, the mission hosts thousands of visitors from around the world and provides educational field trips for scores of school children from all over the greater Bay Area.
Proceeds from the Benefit will allow CRMSJ to meet its pledge for the completion of the museum exterior repair project. Tickets may be purchased on the CRMSJ website at CRMSJca.org/2025-benefit.
Early bird ticket sales end and prices go up on Sept. 6.
Meet Me at the Mission
Saturday, Sept. 20
5pm
Mission San José Patio Garden
43300 Mission Blvd., Fremont
Tickets: $100 early bird / $120 regular pricing
