Andrés Quintana

Who was Andrés Quintana?

Andrés Quintana, O.F.M. was a Spanish missionary who labored at Mission Santa Cruz in California during the early part of the 19th century.

Born in Antonossa, in the Province of Álava, Spain, Andrés Quintana joined the Franciscan Order in 1794 when he was 17 years of age. Nine years later he had completed his formation and achieved the priesthood in the province of Cantabria, as did a great many of the Spanish missionaries. In 1804 he sailed to the New World to join the missionary College of San Fernando de Mexico, a springboard for all missionaries doing work in New Spain. There he received further instruction and preparation for his assignment to Mission Santa Cruz. Sailing from San Blas in 1805, he arrived at Monterey, capital of Spanish Alta California, and became one of two missionary fathers stationed at Mission Santa Cruz. He was killed at the mission on the evening of October 12, 1812, by Indians under his care. The following notation appears on his burial record: "[Frey Andrés was from] the province of Cantabria [Spain]. OFM Bro. José Casa Viader, minister of Mission Santa Clara, sang the mass over his body, accompanied by OFM Bro.