Have you ever been to a primary care doctor and wondered why they focus on treating symptoms instead of addressing the root cause of your illness? Rather than take a patient-centered approach to address questions like, “Why are you ill?” they prescribe medications that alleviate symptoms but don’t do much to solve the underlying issue that’s causing you to be sick.
When you have a runny nose, you’re handed an antihistamine. When you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, you’re prescribed a pill that treats the number. The truth is that this approach only tackles your symptoms. When the root cause isn’t fixed, your symptoms can get exponentially worse. Remember - your body’s dysfunction isn’t due to your meds not working.
This begs the question: Wouldn't you rather address the underlying cause of your health concerns so you can experience long-term relief? As a naturopathic doctor in San Luis Rey, CA, Dr. Erica Oberg takes a functional approach to medicine and well-being instead of treating the symptoms her patients endure.
Health is a state of vibrant vitality, abundant energy, and positive affect. It can be learned, cultivated, and practiced by everyone. Dr. Oberg's approach to health and medicine combines the rigors of science with the wisdom of nature and our bodies. She is passionate about helping people experience a higher level of health and vitality. As such, her clinical practice focuses on preventing, reversing, and taming chronic disease, neuro-degeneration, and anti-aging.
Dr. Oberg specializes in nutrition & lifestyle, IV therapy, and identifying the underlying causes of disease using advanced testing and creating customized treatment plans to help individuals dial in their lifestyle, dietary supplements, peptides, bioidentical hormones, anti-aging pharmaceuticals, and more. If you’re looking for individualized, science-based, proactive functional, integrative, or natural medicine, we believe you’ll resonate with Dr. Oberg and work your way through life’s challenges with help from our functional medicine clinic in San Luis Rey, CA.
Dr. Oberg and her team of licensed providers specialize in a range of naturopathic and science-based services, including but not limited to:
If you're ready to reclaim your vitality and learn more about Dr. Oberg's approach to health and medicine, we make it easy to get started. The first step is to have a complimentary 15-minute phone call to ask questions and determine if her approach is a good fit. Once Dr. Oberg understands your health needs and goals, your journey to optimal health and wellness truly begins.
Now that you know more about what makes Dr. Oberg different from other physicians, let's dig a little deeper into some of the most popular programs and clinical services offered at her functional medicine clinic.
As people get older, many things change in life. Often, those changes are good, like having more self-control, financial freedom, and patience. Others are hard to deal with, especially when they're out of our control. Like all things in life, our hormones change when we get older. These fluctuations can cause problems for both men and women, including:
If those symptoms sound familiar, you're not alone. A 2019 American Psychological Association survey found that almost half of women aged 30 to 60 in the US have experienced symptoms of a hormonal imbalance. Of course, as men age, they suffer from imbalanced hormones, too. Research from BodyLogicMD states that nearly 38% of males in America aged 45 and older have a testosterone deficiency.
The good news is that balancing your hormones and addressing the root cause of your symptoms doesn’t have to be hard. It’s a realistic goal with Dr. Oberg by your side. As a functional medicine doctor in San Luis Rey, CA, she can help your body metabolize and detoxify both your own hormones and the endocrine-disrupting chemicals infiltrating your life. When your hormones are in harmony, you experience improved energy, mood, and overall health – and that’s something to be excited about.
Our comprehensive Three-Month Hormone Balancing Program is designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools to take control of your hormonal health. This is no "one-and-done service" - it's a holistic journey that spans three transformative months, offering the support and guidance to become confident, capable, and healthier than ever. Features of our hormone balancing program include:
You will receive support throughout your journey from Dr. Oberg, who will provide healthcare services, and our health coaches, who offers personalized coaching tailored to your specific needs.
Nutrition has a significant impact on hormonal health. A customized hormone-balancing diet plan will be provided to help nourish the body optimally based on individual goals.
We provide a range of practical strategies and tips for regulating hormone balance through your nervous system. These techniques aim to empower you to take control of your well-being.
When appropriate, we’ll prescribe you hormone replacement therapy (HRT), testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), or growth hormone peptide therapy to help balance your hormones.
At our functional medical office, we make it a point to correct the root causes of our patient's problems. We don't treat symptoms - but we do use them to figure out the underlying issues you're facing. If you notice any of the following symptoms, it could be time to consider HRT.
When you mention hormone replacement therapy, most people think the treatment is exclusively for females going through menopause. While that's partially true - HRT can relieve night sweats, hot flashes, and other menopause-related problems - men also deal with imbalanced hormones.
Testosterone plays a crucial role in male sexual health. Low levels can result in decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and other sexual performance issues. Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection may be a sign of imbalanced hormones or low testosterone levels.
When your sleep patterns change - like when you have trouble falling or staying asleep - it could be a sign of a hormone imbalance. Testosterone is involved in regulating the sleep cycle, and insufficient levels of it can disrupt quality rest.
Imbalances in hormones can affect mental health and mood. If a man shows signs of irritability, mood swings, or depression, it could indicate low testosterone or other hormonal issues. Hormone replacement therapy can help regulate mood by balancing your hormone levels.
Menopause happens when a woman has not had a menstrual cycle for at least 12 consecutive months. It is a result of declining sex hormone levels, causing the ovaries to stop releasing egg cells. During menopause, women face a range of challenges.
Testosterone plays a crucial role in male sexual health. Low levels can result in decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and other sexual performance issues. Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection may be a sign of imbalanced hormones or low testosterone levels.
Irregular menstrual cycles are a common sign that women are nearing menopause, and their hormone levels may be shifting. The frequency of their periods may increase or decrease, and the amount of bleeding could be more or less than usual, while also lasting for a shorter or longer time.
Hot flashes are perhaps the most well-known symptom of menopause and a frequent sign that a woman's hormones are imbalanced. Hot flashes are sudden feelings of warmth and sweating that are usually most intense on your face, neck, and chest.
Don't let hormone imbalances dictate your life. Take the first step towards reclaiming your balance, energy, and vitality. By working together with Dr. Oberg and her team, you can unlock the path to a healthier, more harmonious you.
When you choose Dr. Oberg as your naturopathic doctor in San Luis Rey, CA, a new world of healthy living and wellness options are at your disposal. One of the most popular and effective ways to give your body the goodness it needs is with custom IV therapy at our functional medicine office.
Customized IV therapy from Dr. Oberg is all about tailoring your treatment to meet your health goals and needs. Unlike one-size-fits-all IV clinics, our team considers factors like nutrient deficiencies, hydration levels, and overall health to create a customized infusion. This personalized approach gives you better and more applicable results, whether you're looking to get a boost of energy, fortify your immune system, or get relief from a specific ailment.
Your custom IV therapy begins with a consultation with Dr. Oberg. During your initial meeting, we’ll get a better sense of what your brain and body needs. From there, we’ll create a custom infusion for you – not just a formula that matches your height, weight, and age.
Our IV drip therapy menu includes infusions such as:
IV therapy is considered one of the best ways to get the nutrients and immune-boosting goodness your body needs because it gives you a more direct, efficient means of delivery. Unlike oral supplement, which often falls short due to digestive limitations, IV therapy ensures swift and comprehensive nutrient absorption. Some of the biggest benefits of IV therapy from a functional medicine doctor in San Luis Rey, CA include the following:
IV fluids and electrolytes rapidly hydrate your body, providing an efficient remedy for dehydration resulting from illness, physical activity, or excessive alcohol intake.
IV treatment is able to increase energy and fight tiredness, which can make you feel re-energized.
IV infusions containing immune-enhancing vitamins and antioxidants can fortify your immune system and assist in recovering from illness.
IV therapy containing growth factors, exosomes, and vitamins is effective in improving the health and appearance of the skin and hair. These components complement hair and facial microneedling treatments exceptionally well.
IV therapy can help reduce the symptoms of toxic exposure, like headaches, nausea, fatigue, and dehydration, whether it's from a basic hangover or prolonged exposure to molds, heavy metals, or other toxins.
Dr. Oberg’s personalized IV infusions can serve as an initial boost for making lifestyle changes and play a role in a sustained plan to control persistent conditions like diabetes, autoimmune disorders, cancer, heart disease, and others.
Support Mitochondria function and Anti-aging
Dr. Oberg offers carefully sourced and research backed regenerative therapies such as exosome and stem cell infusions. These can be powerful options for people recovering from chronic infections such as long COVID or Epstein Barr or Lyme. They are also powerful for neuro-regeneration and we frequently use them in stroke recovery and for traumatic brain injury.
Dr. Oberg offers personalized IV micronutrient therapy tailored to address specific nutritional deficiencies, hydration needs, and overall health. This therapy is based on advanced testing that evaluates your cells' nutrient levels. Whether you need more energy, a stronger immune system, or relief from different health issues, IV drip therapy can be customized to help you rediscover the very best version of yourself.
As we get older, our bodies experience a range of changes that affect our health and appearance. These changes are primarily caused by issues with mitochondria and cellular aging. However, there have been significant developments in regenerative medicine, offering the potential to turn back the hands of time and improve health. Schedule a consultation today with Dr. Oberg to begin your journey with regenerative medicine.
Regenerative medicine is an exciting, innovative field that centers on activating your body's innate regenerative abilities to repair and revitalize tissues, cells, and organs. Its focus is on improving your body's natural healing processes to counteract the impacts of aging and different health issues. If you find that old, nagging injuries won’t go away or that fine lines and wrinkles have become overwhelming, anti-aging medicine from a functional medicine doctor in San Luis Rey, CA may be perfect for you.
At our naturopathic medical office, we use treatments like IV therapy, hormone replacement therapy, and Peptide Therapy to manage a broad array of health and aesthetic concerns. These treatments can aid in tissue repair, inflammation reduction, and enhancement of cellular function.
Anti-aging services offered at our functional medicine clinic include the following:
Peptides are fundamental components of proteins and play a crucial role in various biological processes, such as the aging process. Dr. Oberg offers peptide treatments to help counteract age-related decline, enhance muscle growth and performance, improve skin health, and more.
When you bring your hormones back into balance, you can fight back against issues such as fatigue, mood swings, reduced libido, and even erectile dysfunction.
Replenish vital nutrients, antioxidants, and hydration for improved energy levels, skin health, and immune support.
Exosomes are tiny vesicles generated from mesenchymal stem cells. These vesicles serve as powerful communicators, transmitting signals to various tissues in the body. Their main function is to trigger healing, regeneration, and repair processes, mimicking the actions of younger cells. They are considered to be one of the most effective strategies for combating the aging process.
When nutrition guidance, lifestyle adaptations, and powerful supplements are combined with naturopathic medical therapies from Dr. Oberg, you can reverse chronic diseases in your life and reach your anti-aging goals.
Our goal with regenerative medicine treatments is to rejuvenate deteriorating or aging tissue. Our approach to treatment centers on fixing and reversing damage instead of solely addressing symptoms like pain. Regenerative medicine harnesses the power of healthy cells to renew and restore function by enhancing the body's innate capacity for self-healing.
Dr. Oberg uses regenerative medicine to treat a range of issues, both aesthetic and injury-related, including the following:
Experience the future of anti-aging and regenerative medicine with Dr. Erica Oberg. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and embark on your journey to a healthier, more youthful you.
When you visit our functional medicine clinic, you can rest easy knowing Dr. Erica Oberg uses her unique skills, knowledge, and naturopathic principles for the betterment of your health and well-being. Unlike many traditional primary care providers, our team combines the best aspects of traditional wisdom and modern scientific medicine to diagnose, treat, and prevent chronic diseases.
You don't have to worry about us suggesting addictive pain medications or treatments that simply mask your aesthetic or medical challenges. Instead, our goal is to address the underlying factors holding you back. If you're ready to take the first step toward purposeful progress and healthy living, contact us today.
Unrecognized in California: Federal Acknowledgment and the San Luis Rey Band of Mission IndiansBy Olivia M. Chilcote University of Washington Press: 218 pages, $30 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.One September afternoon in 2016, I sat on a bench in front of the National Archives in Washington after a long day of research. As I scrolled through s...
Unrecognized in California: Federal Acknowledgment and the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians
By Olivia M. Chilcote University of Washington Press: 218 pages, $30 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.
One September afternoon in 2016, I sat on a bench in front of the National Archives in Washington after a long day of research. As I scrolled through social media to pass the time before my ride arrived, a news release shared by a colleague caught my attention. In just two days, the National Museum of the American Indian would unveil, for the first time, one of the treaties the California Indian Nations had negotiated with the United States.
“The Treaty of Temecula is one of 18 treaties negotiated between the United States and American Indian Nations in California and submitted to the United States Senate on June 1, 1852, by President Millard Fillmore,” the announcement read. “Unbeknownst to the American Indian signatories, the U.S. Senate rejected the treaties and ordered them to be held in secrecy for over fifty years,” leaving the tribes “homeless without any local, state or federal legal recourse” and leading “to an ethnic cleansing in which the American Indian population in California plunged from perhaps 150,000 to 30,000 between 1846 and 1870.”
My heart skipped a beat. The museum planned to unveil the treaty that a captain of my tribe, San Diego County’s San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, had signed more than a century and a half ago to no avail.
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Jan. 8, 2024
The news release went on to say that tribal representatives from four nations affected by the treaty would be present. I called my mom and asked whether she had heard about it through any tribal council communications. She confirmed that no one from my tribe was aware of the unveiling, even though our captain, Pedro Ka-wa-wish, was among the signatories. My mom cried on the other end of the line.
“Olivia,” she said, “you have to be there. … You need to represent San Luis Rey because no one else will.”
After unsuccessful attempts to communicate with museum officials, I arrived on the morning of the unveiling as an uninvited guest. I walked around the deserted sidewalks in front of the building for a few minutes until I saw some people enter through the glass doors. I followed.
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An employee who took me for a tourist informed me that the museum was not yet open.
“I’m here for the treaty event,” I said confidently. She took out a list of invitees and asked for my affiliation, but she could not locate my tribe on the list. After I told her the San Luis Rey Band’s captain had signed the Treaty of Temecula, she decided to let me wait there as members of the invited tribal delegations viewed the treaty in private before its installation.
Jan. 10, 2023
Once it was installed, I joined the invitees in the dimly lit exhibit space. We gathered around the treaty, which looked small compared with the glass case in which it rested, illuminated from above by a single light. The museum director delivered opening remarks before offering the floor to representatives of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the Ramona Band of Cahuilla.
The tribal leaders spoke powerfully about how the failure to ratify the treaties had affected California tribes. Mark Macarro, chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, recollected fellow Native Americans insisting that “Mission Indians” are not like other Indians because they don’t have treaties with the United States. As he spoke, the Treaty of Temecula, negotiated within Pechanga territory, served as a physical reminder that the California Indian experience is just as valid as any Native American experience.
I felt humbled to be part of the unveiling ceremony and beamed with pride in my California Indian identity. But I also grew deeply uncomfortable, surrounded as I was by delegations of federally recognized tribes. I felt out of place as I remembered that no one had invited me or my tribe to participate in the historic occasion.
The treaty glaringly reminded me that the United States does not acknowledge the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians’ inherent sovereignty, despite our Gold Rush-era negotiations. I wondered why the museum did not inform my tribe about the event, and I could not help but think my community’s lack of federal recognition might be the reason. I looked at the treaty and saw Ka-wa-wish’s X-mark next to those of the Luiseño, Cupeño, Cahuilla and Serrano signatories. One hundred sixty-four years later, I stood alongside representatives of the very same people.
My experience at the unveiling illustrates the complexity and contradictions of unrecognized tribal status in California. The 18 treaties’ lack of ratification set the tone for the federal government’s long-standing uneven treatment of California Indian people and tribes. At the same time, the treaties became the key to strengthening California Indian activism in the early 20th century, which led to contemporary tribal pursuit of federal recognition.
California has more tribes that are not federally recognized than any other state, raising questions about California Indians’ history with the U.S. government, the politics of Native American identity and the problems of the Department of the Interior’s proffered path to recognition, known as the federal acknowledgment process. Eighty-one California tribes have sought acknowledgment since 1978, but just one has secured federal recognition.
California’s federally unrecognized tribes contend with intertwined legacies of Spanish and Mexican colonization, California- and U.S.-funded genocide, congressional refusal to ratify treaties and state tribal terminations. From the nature of our highly diverse pre-contact society of small, autonomous polities to the destructive forces of successive colonial regimes, California Indians’ distinct history is often incompatible with federal acknowledgment criteria.
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The process is part of a long lineage of colonial policies designed to establish federal authority over Native communities. In pursuing federal recognition, tribes confront the United States’ enduring power to define Indigenous identities on its own terms. Even as unrecognized tribes work to assert their inherent sovereignty, settler structures serve to disempower us.
Olivia M. Chilcote is an assistant professor of American Indian studies at San Diego State University and the author of “Unrecognized in California: Federal Acknowledgment and the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians,” from which this is adapted.
It's been five years since the Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside has lit up with bright and colorful Native American regalia moving to the beats of bells and drums."We've been a part of the pow wow community for so long — for 23 years — and then COVID happened," said Mel Vernon, the captain of the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians.But the pow wow is back this weekend, and despite being on a COVID-19 hiatus since the 2019 event, the tribe is calling it the ...
It's been five years since the Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside has lit up with bright and colorful Native American regalia moving to the beats of bells and drums.
"We've been a part of the pow wow community for so long — for 23 years — and then COVID happened," said Mel Vernon, the captain of the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians.
But the pow wow is back this weekend, and despite being on a COVID-19 hiatus since the 2019 event, the tribe is calling it the 24th Annual San Luis Rey Intertribal Pow Wow.
Intertribal means all tribes and dancers in the area are welcome.
"You're going to see dancers that are coming maybe for the first or second time dancing as a youth. And you're going to see some dancers that have been dancing for quite a while. So it's a combining of the elders and the youth," Vernon said.
He said pow wows happen all throughout the year and around the country. Their return is plugging his tribe back into the pow wow circuit.
"It brings us together as the native people of this local area. So it's a time for us to have community, share, and catch up with each other again, And just show a welcoming spirit to what we're doing," Vernon said. "That's really what it's all about."
While the mission grounds are lined with Franciscan history, Vernon said the pow wow highlights the important role Native Americans played in the mission's inception.
"It gives us a chance to actually plug into the present and not necessarily focus on the past ... because we're here to accept what's happened — in a certain way — but we're projecting towards the future and make it positive for everybody, for their tribes, the people, and the mission — as we're a part of it," Vernon said.
Gwyn Grimes, the executive director of the mission, said the property has undergone some changes.
Parking for the pow wow will look different because the space has been leased by the mission to a new senior living community.
The Hacienda Mission San Luis Rey is leasing the land from the mission for the next 100 years. It will offer 213 units made up of independent living, assisted living and memory care for seniors. But Grimes said they will continue to work with the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians to keep their history present and celebrated.
"Our relationship with the tribe continues to grow. It's a really important relationship for us, and we think for them as well," Grimes said. "And so we want to just always be able to support each other. And so we open up the mission grounds to the pow wow."
Traditional food and arts and crafts will be on sale to the public.
Festivities will run Saturday from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Published:One of 21 missions originally built by the Spanish in California, Mission San Luis Rey church, known as the ‘King of Missions’, was founded in Oceanside in 1798. Today it stands as one of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial architecture, a national historic landmark that Franciscan Friars call home.San Diego-based AV company Sound Image Integration, now part of Clair Global Integration, have been servicing the Mission’s audio, camera, and video distribution requirements for the past 20 years. Bus...
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One of 21 missions originally built by the Spanish in California, Mission San Luis Rey church, known as the ‘King of Missions’, was founded in Oceanside in 1798. Today it stands as one of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial architecture, a national historic landmark that Franciscan Friars call home.
San Diego-based AV company Sound Image Integration, now part of Clair Global Integration, have been servicing the Mission’s audio, camera, and video distribution requirements for the past 20 years. Business Development Manager, Scott Coyle, explained that to keep the Serra Center worship space fully operable as it carries out vital community work, previously sympathetic budget decisions were undertaken.
That was until a decision was made to reorientate the interior, from its traditional long rectangular shape, through 90°, to bring the congregation—which can reach 1200—closer to the altar. Coyle recognised that “While it made more sense that way, the sound was compromised due to a succession of ceiling speakers.”
When administrators recognised that a more serious and permanent approach to their sound was required, it was the Martin Audio TORUS T820 constant curvature solution that Coyle proposed, bearing in mind that with the reconfiguration, the church now had extraordinary width but little depth.
“We knew the focus needed to be principally the spoken word,” he said. “However, at the same time they have large congregations attending their weekend masses when a full choir and band perform.”
This was a perfect project for the TORUS 8.Scott Coyle, Sound Image Integration
They looked at the space, and reviewed the types of speakers that would serve best for clarity, coverage and budget. “Having undertaken several projects with Martin Audio over the years in the house of worship space TORUS was our recommendation. Based on our long-standing relationship I knew we would have their trust,” he added.
An approach was made to Martin Audio Product Support Engineer, Will Harris, who duly set to work on a design. “When [the church] saw the visualisation and coverage map of how the speakers would react within the room, they were truly wowed,” said Coyle.
Harris himself recalled, “With such a beautiful and historic building I knew that the minimal visual footprint would be needed to get this done right and the TORUS T820 really fit the bill. We were able to get them well tucked away within the architecture of the building.”
Delivering high output from an 8” speaker within a compact footprint, it is the 100° horizontal and 20° vertical dispersion pattern that make it so ideal for the short throw requirement within this space. Left/Right flown pairs flank a central cluster of four T820 elements, while out wide on each wing wall-mounted Martin Audio CDD10’s provide optional outfill reinforcement, generally depending on whether the choir is in session. SX112 subwoofers warm up the sound and fit snugly into the existing cut-outs in the ceiling, while the entire rig is powered by a pair of matched iKON iK81 eight-channel amplifiers.
Finally, working in such historic buildings—this unique space enjoys classical and baroque architecture—as the integration experts at Sound Image often do, this installation was undertaken with great sensitivity. “Once our engineering team had purpose manufactured good rigging points, the system went up easily.”
When it came to fine-tuning the system, Coyle said they were fortunate in that the room was not as ‘live’ as is typical in what he terms as “an A-frame type of scenario.”
Will Harris undertook final commissioning. “When he fired the system up, he looked at his screen, smiled and said, ‘This is why I love these boxes!’” reminisced Coyle. “Testament not only to the box but to our installation craftsmanship.
“This was a perfect project for the TORUS 8. The constant curvature systems just work so well together delivering even and seamless coverage across the entire room, while handling the entire frequency spectrum with very little effort.”
Kerey Quaid, The Mission’s Music Director, agreed wholeheartedly. “The new speakers and amplification system are a great improvement for both music and spoken word in our worship space. We have both clarity and bass (for the first time), and equally good sound for the whole congregation. Great equipment!”
California has a rich Catholic history dating back to the 1600s, so we had an incredibly hard time narrowing down this list of holy places!California has a rich Catholic history dating back to the 1600s, and today the state has many beautiful sacred sites where Catholics would enjoy visiting.We had an incredibly hard time narrowing down the list to these sites, so don’t be too bummed if your favorite Catholic site in California isn’t on here. Let us know what you’d add to the list in the comments!If you...
California has a rich Catholic history dating back to the 1600s, so we had an incredibly hard time narrowing down this list of holy places!
California has a rich Catholic history dating back to the 1600s, and today the state has many beautiful sacred sites where Catholics would enjoy visiting.
We had an incredibly hard time narrowing down the list to these sites, so don’t be too bummed if your favorite Catholic site in California isn’t on here. Let us know what you’d add to the list in the comments!
If you’re heading to California on a trip, you live in California, or you are curious about The Golden State’s Catholic history, check out these 5 sacred sites not to miss in California.
It feels like a side-step to list all 21 missions as one item, but we couldn’t resist including them all since their history is so incredible.
The California Missions Trail stretches from San Diego to Sonoma. These 21 historic sites were built from 1769 to 1823, several of them founded by St. Junipero Serra. Only 8 of the missions are still active Catholic parishes, but all are worth visiting.
The missions include San Diego de Alcala, San Luis Rey de Francia, San Juan Capistrano, San Gabriel Arcangel, San Buenaventura, San Fernando Rey de Espana, Santa Barbara, Santa Ines, La Purisima Conception, San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, San Miguel Arcangel, San Antonia de Padua, Nuestra Senora de la Soledad, San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, San Juan Bautista, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara de Asis, San Jose, San Francisco de Asis Mission Dolores, San Rafael Arcangel and San Francisco Solano.
We especially recommend visiting the Basilica of San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel, where St. Junipero Serra is buried; and the Royal Presidio Chapel in Monterey, which is the oldest continuously operating parish in the state.
The Norbertine Fathers have served California for decades, but their new abbey in Silverado was just completed in 2021.
The best day to visit is on the feast of St. Michael, the abbey’s patron, when the abbey was designed in such a way that the sun from its rose window illuminates the high altar. According to their website:
Designed by architect Jean Louis Pagès, the abbey church tells a triumphant story with color and light. Each year, on Michaelmas, the rays of the sun from the rose window set on the high altar during vespers. This powerful moment literally illuminates the profound mystery we encounter in each Mass—the victory of light over darkness, the descent of the Holy Spirit, and the union of heaven and earth.
Prominent statues of holy images provide a beautiful witness to the world of love and devotion. At this church, you can visit and pray at a 32-foot statue of Our Lady and take photos to remember the experience. With lots of available options for Mass, Confession, and Adoration, there are many opportunities for prayer while you visit.
A piece St. Juan Diego’s tilma, believed to be the only one in the United States, is enshrined here. The cathedral is also home to the tomb of St. Vibiana, a 3rd-century Italian saint whose feast day is September 1.
The massive cathedral also has a display of papal relics and 25 fresco-like tapestries depicting 135 saints and blesseds, as well as several side chapels and many pieces of art.
Los Angeles is, of course, known as the home of movie stars, but a visit to the city's cathedral will make your visit truly heavenly!
St. Francis Parish, now the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, existed even before the city of San Francisco and the statehood of California.
With extensive murals hand painted by Italian artists and stained glass windows throughout the shrine, this site is a feast for the eyes as well as the soul. Devotees of St. Francis will love seeing the shrine’s scale replica of St. Francis’ Porziuncola in Assisi, Italy.
We hope one of these sites will be part of your itinerary on your next visit to California, or can be a meaningful short trip if you live in the state. What other sites would you add?
This small, picturesque town is a bit of a trek, so consider it a visit for explorers. Located in the Santa Clara Mountains, it was the home of Servant of God Cora Louise Evans in the last years of her life. A convert from Mormonism, a housewife, and hidden mystic, Cora Evans claimed to have received private visits from Jesus and Mary. She also manifested the stigmata on her hands. Many Mormons were brought to the Catholic faith through her example. The Vatican is currently reviewing her cause for canonization.
Enjoy the local scenery, visit the local Catholic parish of St. Michael, then take a hike in the nearby Big Basins Redwood State Park. There was a major fire in the park in 2020, but the forest is regrowing and will remind you that God is always at work renewing his creation.
Read also :Shrines in Catholicism: Sites of devotion and pilgrimage
Read also :Take a virtual pilgrimage to California’s historic Catholic missions
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Loading your audio articleConstruction could begin next year on a new railroad bridge to replace the century-old span across the San Luis Rey River near the Oceanside harbor.Completion of the double-tracked, concrete-girder structure will eliminate one of the remaining bottlenecks on the only rail connection between San Diego and the rest of the United States.The Oceanside City Council approved a Section 408 permit for the project on Aug. 23, a routine document giving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permission to procee...
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Construction could begin next year on a new railroad bridge to replace the century-old span across the San Luis Rey River near the Oceanside harbor.
Completion of the double-tracked, concrete-girder structure will eliminate one of the remaining bottlenecks on the only rail connection between San Diego and the rest of the United States.
The Oceanside City Council approved a Section 408 permit for the project on Aug. 23, a routine document giving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permission to proceed with the project under an agreement with the city, the San Diego Association of Governments and North County Transit District.
Plans include enhanced bicycle and pedestrian crossings beneath the bridge and a connection to the San Luis Rey River Trail, according to SANDAG. The new structure also will have less of a footprint in the riverbed, which will benefit the Corps of Engineers’ flood-control efforts.
Engineering and design have been completed, a SANDAG official said Thursday. However, a start date for construction depends on obtaining full funding, which was estimated at $91 million in February 2022.
Elected officials announced in October 2022 that $27.3 million had been allocated by the federal Department of Transportation toward construction costs. So far no additional construction funding has been announced.
Engineering, design and other pre-construction costs for the project were paid with about $5 million from the regional TransNet half-cent sales tax for transportation, $3.5 million from the federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act and $2 million in state funding.
Construction is expected to take about two years once full funding is secured, SANDAG officials said, and train service should not be interrupted by the work.
“Federal funding for the San Luis Rey River bridge replacement will support economic activity and improve experiences for both passengers and pedestrians in the surrounding community,” Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, said last October when the allocation was announced.
“Replacing the aging San Luis Rey River bridge is vital to improving safety, speed, and wait times up and down the LOSSAN corridor,” said state Sen. Catherine Blakespear, who at the time was mayor of Encinitas and chair of the SANDAG board.
The LOSSAN corridor is a 351-mile-long coastal rail route between San Diego, Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo.
About three-quarters of San Diego County’s 60-mile piece of the LOSSAN corridor has been double-tracked so far. The new bridge, along with 0.6 mile of additional second track being built as part of the project, will create 10.3 miles of continuous second track.
Double-tracking has been a priority for SANDAG and NCTD for years because it allows trains traveling in opposite directions to pass each other without slowing or stopping, which means faster and more efficient service all along the route.
The San Luis Rey River railroad bridge was built in 1913 and rehabilitated in 1970, according to SANDAG. Amtrak, Metrolink, Coaster and BNSF freight trains use it as many as 70 times a day. As many as 90 trains daily are expected in a few more years as rail service increases.
The bridge is one of several Southern California bottlenecks that limit train traffic in the LOSSAN corridor.
Another one is about 1.7 miles of track on the coastal bluff in Del Mar. Plans are under way to reroute that section through an inland tunnel, but completion is unlikely before 2035 and depends upon obtaining an estimated $4 billion in construction funding.
Also slowing train traffic is a 7-mile bottleneck at San Clemente in Orange County, where the tracks are in a narrow right-of-way along the beach near homes and other development.
Orange County officials recently began efforts to look at possible solutions, but so far there is no plan to relocate the tracks there.
In addition to the lack of space to build a second set of tracks, both the Del Mar and San Clemente sections of railroad are threatened by environmental constraints such as erosion, landslides and bluff failures.
Originally Published: September 1, 2023 at 8:25 p.m.
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