Point Loma in San Diego in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

First Holy Mass Celebrated in California

First Holy Mass Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker

1. First Holy Mass Marker

Inscription. This boulder erected November 12, 1932 by Court San Diego de Alcalá, No. 1099 of the Catholic Daughters of America, to commemorate the first Holy Mass celebrated in California, November 12, 1602 upon the arrival on this site of Sebastián Vizcaíno who named the port San Diego in honor of the Feast of Señor San Diego de Alcalá and who was accompanied by three Carmelite Friars, Fray Andrés de la Asumpción, Fray Antonio de la Ascensión and Fray Tomás de Aquino.

Erected 1932 by Court San Diego de Alcalá, No. 1099 of the Catholic Daughters of America.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is November 12, 1797.

Location. 32° 41.243′ N, 117° 14.383′ W. Marker is in San Diego, California, in San Diego County. It is in Point Loma. It is at the intersection of Rosecrans Street and Kephart Road, on the right when traveling south on Rosecrans Street. This Marker is located inside Naval Base Point Loma. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Diego CA 92106, 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: Post Chapel, Building 213 (a few steps from this marker); Moreton Bay Fig (approx. 0.2 miles away); Buque Escuela Juan Sebastian de Elcano

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(approx. 0.3 miles away); Albert Smith, Civilian (approx. 0.3 miles away); Cabrillo Landing (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ballast Point Whaling Station Site (approx. 0.3 miles away); In Memory of the Mormon Battalion (approx. 0.3 miles away); In Memory of the Heroes of the Battle of San Pasqual (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Diego.

Photographed by Kevin W., March 4, 2015

2. First Holy Mass Marker

Photographed by Kevin W., March 4, 2015

3. First Holy Mass Marker

The marker is at the bottom of this photo.

Photographed by Kevin W., March 4, 2015

4. Chapel

Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 6, 2015, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 807 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 13, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3. submitted on March 6, 2015, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 4. submitted on February 13, 2026.