The Father Luis Jayme Cross

Father Melcor (Luis) Jayme became pastor of Mission San Diego de Alcalá in 1771 and was instrumental in moving the mission to its present site – six miles east of the original site. The reasons for moving the mission were: to be closer to the Native Villages and a better source of water and soil to grow the crops and to separate the Mission from the Presidio which remained at the original site.

The mission was moved to this site in August of 1774. By December, several adobe and thatched buildings were constructed. Crops were planted and many of the Native Americans joined in mission life and were baptized.

Progress was being made until the early morning hours of Nov. 5, 1775 when 600 – 800 Native Americans raided Mission San Diego. The Native Americans began to take items from the mission and an open fire erupted. When Padre Jayme ran out to them with his usual greeting “Amar a Dios, hijos ! – love God, my children”, he was stoned to death.

Padre Jayme became California’s first Christian martyr. His remains are buried in the sanctuary in the church at Mission San Diego.