Mission Valley in San Diego in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Padre Luis Jayme

July 23, 2024

1. Padre Luis Jayme Marker

Inscription. Born Melchor Jayme on October 18, 1740, in the farming village of San Juan, Majorca, Spain. In 1760, he was received into the Franciscan Order and chose "Luis" as his religious name. Padre Jayme became pastor of Mission San Diego in 1771 and was instrumental in moving the Mission inland from the Presidio to the present site in August of 1774. By December of that year, number of adobe and thatch buildings were constructed. Crops were planted and many natives joined the Mission life and were baptized as Christians.

Progress was being made until the early morning hours of November 5, 1775, when hundreds of natives from remote villages set fire to the Mission Buildings, pillaged the church and cruelly murdered Padre Jayme as he met them with his usual greeting, "¡Amar a Dios, hijos! - Love God, my children!"

Padre Jayme became California's first Christian martyr because of his self-sacrifice, devotion, faith and love. His remains are buried in the sanctuary of the church at Mission San Diego de Alcalá.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is November 5, 1775.

Location. 32° 47.043′ N, 117° 6.354′ W. Marker is

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

in San Diego, California, in San Diego County. It is in Mission Valley. It is on San Diego Mission Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10818 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego CA 92108, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Peninsular Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mission Indians (within shouting distance of this marker); El Camino Real (within shouting distance of this marker); Mission San Diego de Alcala (within shouting distance of this marker); Padres' Living Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Spanish Explorations (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Mission San Diego de Alcala (within shouting distance of this marker); The Five Churches of Mission San Diego de Alcalá (within shouting distance of this marker); The Façade (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Diego.

Photographed by Adam Margolis, July 23, 2024

2. Padre Luis Jayme Marker

Photographed by Adam Margolis, July 23, 2024

3. Padre Luis Jayme Marker

Padre Luis Jayme Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Adam Margolis, July 23, 2024

4. Padre Luis Jayme Memorial

Photographed by Adam Margolis, July 23, 2024

5. Padre Luis Jayme Memorial

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 10, 2026

6. Padre Luis Jayme Memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on May 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 19, 2024, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 569 times since then and 96 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 14, 2026. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 19, 2024, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 6. submitted on March 31, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.