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Junípero Serra

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Junipero Serra
Junipero Serra

Blessed Junípero Serra (November 24, 1713 – August 28, 1784) was a Majorcan (Spain) Franciscan friar who founded the mission chain in Alta California. Born Miquel Josep Serra i Ferrer in Petra, Majorca, he renamed himself in honor of Saint Juniper, who had also been a Franciscan and a follower of St. Francis of Assisi.

After he entered the Order of Friars Minor, he received a doctorate in theology and taught philosophy at Lullian University in Palma. In 1749 he went to North America, first to Mexico City, where he taught at the College of San Fernando. He requested a transfer to the Sierra Gorda Mission where he spent nine years, including time as the mission's superior.

The Franciscans took over the administration of the missions on the Baja California Peninsula from the Jesuits after King Carlos III ordered them forcibly expelled from "New Spain" on February 3, 1768, with Father Serra serving as "Father Presidente." On March 12, 1768, Serra embarked from the Pacific port of San Blas on his way to the Californias. Misión San Fernando Rey de España de Velicatá (the only Franciscan mission in all of Baja California) and the nearby Visita de la Presentación were both founded under Serra's leadership.

In 1769, he accompanied Governor Gaspar de Portolà on his expedition to Nueva (or new) California. When the party reached San Diego, Serra stayed behind to start the Mission San Diego de Alcalá. When Monterey was reached and Mission San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo founded, Serra remained there as "Father Presidente" of the Alta California missions. In 1771 he relocated the mission to Carmel, which became known as "Mission Carmel" and served as his headquarters. Under his presidency were founded Mission San Antonio de Padua, Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, Mission San Luis Obispo, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Mission San Francisco de Asís, Mission Santa Clara de Asís and Mission San Buenaventura.

In 1773, Serra traveled to Mexico City to argue for the removal of Pedro Fages as the Governor of California Nueva. Viceroy Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursua ruled in Serra's favor on 30 of the 32 charges brought against Fages, and he was removed from office in 1774. In 1778, Serra was given dispensation to administer the sacrament of confirmation for the faithful in California. Despite a two year suspension ordered by governor Felipe de Neve, Serra officiated at 5309 confirmations.

The chapel at Mission San Juan Capistrano, built in 1782, is believed to be the oldest standing building in California. Known proudly as "Father Serra's Church," it has the distinction of being the only remaining church in which the padre is known to have officiated (he presided over the confirmations of 213 people on October 12 and 13, 1783). In 1784, at the age of 70, Father Serra died at Mission Carmel and was interred there under the sanctuary floor.

Serra was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 25, 1988, this being the first step towards canonization, or promotion to sainthood in the Catholic church. Some Native American groups are opposed to this, claiming that the missions mistreated their people.

See also

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