“Always go forward and never turn back.”
Miguel Jose Serra was born on Spain’s island of Mallorca in 1713 and took the name of his friend, Junipero in 1730 when he entered the Franciscan Order.
He was ordained in 1737 and taught philosophy and theology at the University of Padua. He became famous for his preaching.
At the age of 37, he suddenly gave it all up and followed his desire after hearing about the missionary work of Saint Francis Solano in South America. He traveled to Mexico and then walked 250 miles to Mexico City. Along the trip his leg became infected from insect bites and would plague him for the rest of his life. He worked in central Mexico and became president of the missions there.
18 years later, by the order of Charles III of Spain, a Spanish spiritual conquistador was directed to beat the Russians to the Alaskan territory. He persuaded Junipero to set out with him. The first mission founded after the 900 mile journey was San Diego in 1769. There was a shortage of food that year and Junipero and another friar vowed to stay with the local people of California.
While the American Revolution was beginning in the east, he journeyed to found numerous missions including San Francisco and Santa Clara. His hard work was a large part of the foundation and spread of the Church on the West Coast of the United States when it was still a mission territory. He founded 21 missions altogether and converted thousands of Indians who were also taught agriculture and cattle raising.
He later made a long trip to Mexico City to settle great differences in the territory with the military commander, arriving at the point of death. The outcome was what he sought, the famous “Regulation” protecting the Indians and the missions. It was the basis for the first significant legislation in California forming a “Bill of Rights” for the Native Americans. The friars were made their legal guardians.
His life was a long battle with unsympathetic military and danger of death from non-Christian locals. He baptized over 6,000 people and confirmed 5,000. He had won the Native American’s love as witnessed during their great grief at his death in 1784. He is buried at Mission San Carlo Borromeo, Carmel and was canonized in 2015.
“I pray God may preserve your health and life many years.”
He is the patron saint of California Missions.
His feast day is July 1.
For God’s Glory.
Mission San Diego de Alcala in California
