It was very beautiful. Though the museum and gift shop was small. The local historical society and community are really working at putting together some more informative and interesting events.

Small, not too much to see other than the church and the gift shop.

St Raphael is the Archangel of Health.And boy is he handsome!Being healthy is being wealthy and being wealthy from health is Wise and Wisdom brings real lasting Joy.So Archangel Raphael is by far a good guide for us to consider:Rest, healthy food, and prayer to have a good heart along with lots of exercise daily is what Archangel Raphael encourages.The church itself is beautiful. People are people, not always nice but they try.The service is usually a helpful one to start the week and there is a prayer book to write prayer wishes to have prayed by the clergy there.There is a beautiful room on the left with the Virgin De Guadalupe inside, or is it Mother Mary? I think both.The beautiful stars in that room make for such a beautiful sleep.The majority of the attendees are hispanic so sometimes that can be a bit much without enough diversity, but overall the church still has a mission they try to upkeep.There is a full blown school there and many other projects going on. There is a lovely store that sells nice crosses and gifts.I had to ask for the ascended swedish cross to be ordered though because this cross is very rare in the U.S.Some of my friends who attend from time to time and my family, we enjoy taking the best from the experience and work in our little ways towards the type of improvement that Archangel Raphael would approve.

Beautiful church with beautiful stained glass, pipe organ, lots of seating available....I told my friend I would want to get married in this church!

The mission itself is restored. But it is a pleasant site to visit.

Old mission turned School. Not a lot as a museum at all but still representing the missions of California.

Loving mission on the Camino de Real

Very beautiful mission church

It is a very happy place for all to come to visit the church i am latino and i go every Mondays Wednesday and other holidays in the gym you should come by and visit

This little mission is part of a church complex that includes a newer cathedral, a school and a museum. It is a nice historical place right downtown. Lots if other more modern places nearby to eat, shop, bank and so on.

This church, been more specific the mission San Rafael is one of the mission built by Junifero Sierra .The church is beautiful and suuding.

Its ok, but very limited historical architecture and artifacts. Makes for a quick visit, compared to some of the other historic Spanish Missions in California.

The website said the church and gift shop are open Mon-sat 9am to 5pm. After driving 2 hours on Tuesday, they were closed. You need to update your website

Great place to pray for my children

I have foot and bad coy so by buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu dy I love you

Pretty Pepto-Bismol color mission and the grounds are very clean.

Take the time to pull over and go in. Lovely church. I was there just after the recent crisis re Abuse and Priests. The pastor delivered the most poignant, heartfelt, comments/ account of his chagrin and anger. Very impressive.

Great place to vist

Sit through a mass... theres room, if our visit was any indication. Appreciated the tradition and beauty of the ceremony and the structure itself.

Beautiful church and school.

200th anniversary of the founding of this historic California Mission, dedicated to the Angel Rafael, the Healer. The well-meaning missionary Padres, like so many of the European colonizers, contributed to the decimation of the Native peoples who they came to evangelize. Masses here are in Spanish, Vietnamese, Portuguese and English. A warm and inviting parish Community.

The mission is very beautiful and the gift shop was quaint.

Ive had the honor of releasing my white doves at many many weddings here.This church is a beautiful historic church in the middle of San Rafael.

As someone who grew up Catholic, I find a lot of peace in Catholic sanctuaries. The Mission San Rafael is a really gorgeous example of a sacred place, and a historical site. Beautiful.

Awesome! But I hate that its locked other than mass times. It should be open every day.

I grew up going to this church. I visit once in a while now... its still a beautiful, clean building to visit. Same with the mission.

Beautiful architecture. Very small grounds.

I love that this church is still in use! However, this does prevent others from being able to examine & observe its interior. I dont see how anything can or should be done to change this fact.

While not much of the original Mission is left, the site remains worth a visit if interested in Mission history. The dedication to Saint Raphael (patron of health) and the use of the site for medical purposes were very interesting.

I’ve never bin there but sounds wonderful

Historical and spiritually important place.

Very friendly place and clean.

Many people confuse Old Mission San Rafael with the current replacement Mission San Rafael. Others confuse it with the Church of Saint Raphael. If youre looking for the historical old mission, it just doesnt exist anymore.Old Mission San Rafael was founded in 1817. Originally built to serve as a sub-mission and hospital to Mission San Francisco, it basically contained two adobe structures that served as a hospital building and housing for the Catholic Fathers. It did eventually receive mission status.By 1844, after Mexican Secularization, Old Mission San Rafael was abandoned. Completely in ruins, another church was built nearby in 1885. Old Mission San Rafael was completely torn down by 1870. At that time, only a single pear tree was listed as the last remnant at the original mission site.Even the church built in 1885 no longer exists. The striking Church of Saint Raphael was built here in 1919. It is adjacent to the smaller Mission church.During a rush to save Californias historic mission ruins along the Camino Real, this mission was different. There were no ruins. There were no records, drawings or pictures existing that showed what the original Mission looked like. In 1949 when architects designed Mission San Rafael, an old romanticised postcard was used as a basis of its construction. Mission San Rafael was rebuilt using a fictional image drawn by Felix Raymaud.All that remains of Old Mission San Rafael are the original bells. Three currently hang outside the doors of Mission San Rafael.If visiting Mission San Rafael, the museum and gift shop are currently closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Good for your life, good for everyone.

Beautiful!

Another great mission visit. Very peaceful after sf.

A very Good place And also big Where you can find community events And more fun stuff.

The service with Father Teodore was absolutely wonderful. But unfortunately it was a lot of people packed like Sardines!! in that a little Chapel, and the big Church wasClose and locked. We need more of FatherTeodoro Dirk Kranz. Im a Catholic and I came back to the Catholic Church through aPriest like Fr. Dirk Kranz.

Alot of history

It was very pleasant and quiet.

Beautiful old church not original mission but very nice. Great customer service in their Gift shop.

Interesting historic site, although the mission is basically a reconstruction with only limited fidelity to the original. Nice little museum.

I love mission church of Saint Raphael. I loved gift shop religious.

Would have loved to visit the church but the gift shop employee told us that the church is only open to the public during service...

A word of caution: this is the site of the San Rafael Mission. Nothing remains from the mission period except for a couple of artifacts in the gift shop. Theres not much to see, so dont go out of your way to visit. Its really just a parish church and school these days.

I also love it since my 4th grade teacher told me to do it yay -_- c:

Part of my pilgrimage of seeing all 21.

Love this place.

I place luminaries here every year with Troop 200, great people.

Deacon Gene has great homilies.

An OK replica of the mission, the gift shop said it was open on Google but it wasnt.

Horribly awful theres only lots of parking cuz no one goes here!!!

Very pretty church.

Beautiful mission

I did it for my mission project and OMG! that was soooo gorgeus !

I love it because a I have to do a project about missions.

Walking along in the mission in the rain

I loved it because I have to do a mission project on itLOL

Unfortunately locked up when I tried to stop by Easter afternoon

Cool dude i am in school

I love it...

Beautiful Mission

I visited the gift store, this time. George, the volunteer, was a pleasure to talk with. We need more people like George in this world of ours.

So awesome! Because I have to do a report!

Well maintained and peaceful.

Excelent !!!Great place.

Must visit. Dont forget to pray.

SpanishSunday: 12:00 noon and 7:00 pm

Very nice Church!

The original Mission San Rafael is Beautiful, historic, awe inspiring.

Beautiful house of the Lord!

Beautiful Mission

Peace

Big and friendly

Beautiful

Beautiful and inspiring

Food

Beautiful

Nice

I love it

Biutyfu church

One of California 21 oldest Mission

So so amongst Californias Missions

Beautiful

Is amazing the best place for come to pray!!!!

Great customer service

Historical location.

Excellent mass.

I gotta do it too 4th grade..

I have to do a project on mission San Rafael

Just da best

Saint Raphael is a beautiful church and wonderful community.

On a small lot unlike other Spanish missions. Didnt spend much time.

Nice place

Awesome history

Love it

Itis my mission for school

It was OK i mean i didnt like it mainly cause our class is studying them and it sucked

Loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!