Spanish missions that dot the landscape in California today exist as centers of historical interpretation. Visitors to California, residents of the state, and school children often turn to these sites to learn about the early history of the region. Unbeknownst to many visitors, the history presented at many contemporary California mission sites…

Spanish-speaking people constitute almost one-fourth of the American Catholic Church's membership, yet they have had little representation in the structure of the Church. In the 130 years of interaction of the Chicano population with the Church, little indigenous leadership has emerged from its ranks; of the 58,301 American priests today, less…