Blessed Junípero Serra
1713 - 1784
Father Serra, a zealous and courageous missionary who traveled the length of California, and founded the Missions, was born on the Island of Majorca, November 24, 1713. After his ordination as a Franciscan, he taught philosophy and theology with great distinction at the Lullian University at Palma. In 1749, he volunteered for the Missions of the New World and sailed for Mexico to enter the Apostolic College of San Fernando. For the next eighteen years, he zealously labored at various Missions in Baja California. In 1767, when the Spanish governor exiled the Jesuits from Baja California, Father Serra was named president of the Missions there. Two years later, at the age of fifty-five and afflicted with an ulcerous leg, he set out on an expedition with Portola, traveling almost a thousand miles and landing at San Diego where he founded his first Mission. For the remainder of his life, he traveled the length of the State, founding eight additional Missions. Worn out by excessive toil, he died at Carmel, on August 27, 1784, at the age of seventy-one. A signal honor was accorded him in 1913. His statue was placed in the Hall of Fame in the Capitol at Washington. In 1934, at the request of the bishop of Monterey-Fresno and the Provincial of the Franciscans at Santa Barbara, his cause for sainthood was begun. This reached a successful conclusion in September 1988, when he was declared Blessed by Pope John Paul II before a large concourse of people at St. Peter's Basilica, Rome.
Chronology
1713 . . Miguel Jose Serra, born at Petra on the Island of Mallorca, Spain.
1729 . . At the age of 16 he entered the service of the Catholic Church. He soon entered the Order of St. Francis of Assisi, and and took a new first name, Junípero, that of St. Francis' beloved original companion friar.
1749 . . Father Serra volunteered to serve the Franciscan missions in the new world. He left Cadiz, Spain and sailed for Vera Cruz, Mexico, at the age al 36. He traveled by foot to Mexico City to dedicate his mission vocation at the shrine of Mexico's Our Lady of Guadalupe. His first assignment was in the Sierra Gorda in Mexico.
1767 . . The Franciscans of Mexico were asked to take over missions in Baja California. These remote facilities became Father Serra's responsibility.
1769 . . Spain began settlement of Alta California with the Sacred Expedition which Serra accompanied. The first destination was San Diego. It was on Presidio Hill where Serra planted the cross and dedicated the first mission in Alta California. At this same time, the first fortified settlement was founded. Serra himself established nine missions, with a total of twenty-one missions eventually being established along the El Camino Real, from San Diego to Sonoma, a distance of 700 miles.
1784 . . At the age of 70, and after traveling 24,000 miles, Father Junípero Serra died at Mission San Carlos Borromeo and is buried there under the sanctuary floor.
CALIFORNIA'S 36 MISSIONS
LOWER CALIFORNIA
Serra was president of the following missions.
(all founded by the Jesuits)
1. 1697 - Nuestra Señora de Loreto
2. 1699 - San Francisco Xavier
3. 1705 - Santa Rosalía de Mulegé
4. 1708 - San José de Comondú
5. 1720 - La Purísima Concepción de
. . . . . . . .María Cadegomó
6. 1720 - Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
7. 1721 - Santiago de las Coras
8. 1721 - Nuestra Señora de los Dolores
9. 1728 - San Ignacio
10. 1730 - San José del Cabo
11. 1733 - Todos Santos
12. 1737 - San Luís Gonzaga
13. 1752 - Santa Gertrudis
14. 1762 - San Francisco de Borja
15. 1767 - Santa María de Los Angeles | UPPER CALIFORNIA
Serra was responsible for the founding of the first nine missions.
1) 1769 - San Diego de Alcalá
2) 1770 - San Carlos Borromeo
3) 1771 - San Antonio de Padua
4) 1771 - San Gabriel Arcángel
5) 1772 - San Luís Obispo de Tolosa
6) 1776 - San Francisco de Asís
7) 1776 - San Juan Capistrano
8) 1777 - Santa Clara de Asís
9) 1782 - San Buenaventura
The next nine missions founded by Rev. Fermín Francisco Lasuén.
10) 1786 - Santa Bárbara
11) 1787 - La Purisima Concepción
12) 1791 - Santa Cruz
13) 1791 - Nuestra Señora de la Soledae
14) 1797 - San José de Guadalupe
15) 1797 - San Juan Bautista
16) 1797 - San Miguel Arcángel
17) 1797 - San Fernando Rey de Espana
18) 1798 - San Luís Rey de Francia
Founded by others.
19) 1804 - Santa Inés
20) 1817 - San Rafael Arcángel
21) 1823 - San Francisco Solano de Sonoma |
San Carlos Borromeo, Carmel California
Founded in 1770
Serra's final resting place.
Content from:
Serra International & the Serra Club of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
