March 19
SWALLOW DAY
This is St. Joseph’s Day, the day that those little birds known as swallows traditionally return to the Mission San Juan Capistrano in California. Every March 19th since 1776 (with very few exceptions), the birds come back to usher in spring in this Southern California seaside town. But the swallow population had dwindled since the turn of the 21st century. Development in the community, and the stabilization of the Ruins of the Great Stone Church, where the swallows nests were removed by preservationists, forced the birds to find alternative locations to build their nests -- apart from the Mission. This decrease in the swallow population led to efforts to lure the birds back to the Mission to nest.
“We actually have brought swallows back to the Mission, and it’s exciting because we’re seeing them in the Great Stone Church,” said Mechelle Lawrence Adams, Executive Director of Mission San Juan Capistrano. What was important was how do we return the favor of making the Mission a place for home. Home for the birds, home for our visitors, home for the students, home for the faithful and those needing respite and inspiration. It’s always been a theme for our team, that the Mission is home.”
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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