St. Junipero Serra & Our Fransiscan Tradition

Some History of St. Junipero Serra

• Born on the island of Majorica, part of the Kingdom of Spain, on November 24, 1713.
• On September 14, 1730, he entered the Order of Friars Minor.
• Journeyed to North America, first to Mexico City, where he taught.
• Fr. Serra refused to ride the mule that was provided for him and walked from Veracruz to the capital. En route he was bitten by an insect and suffered from it throughout his life.
• In 1768, Serra was appointed superior of a band of 15 Franciscans for the Missions of Baja, California.
• 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.
• Fr. Serra became the “Father Presidente” on March 12, 1768.
• Fr. Serra embarked from the Pacific port of San Blas on his way to California. Early in the year 1769, he accompanied Governor Gaspar de Portola on his expedition to Alta California. On the way, he established the Mission of San Fernando Rey of spain on May 14 (the only Franciscan mission in all of Baja California)
• When the party reached San Diego on July 1, Serra stayed behind to start the mission San Diego, the first of 21 California Franciscan missions (though not all were founded by Fr. Serra)
• Fr. Serra moved to the area which is now Monterey in 1770, and founded Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo. He remained there as “Father Presidente” of the Alta California missions.
• In 1771, Serra 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 Arcangel, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Mission San Francisco de Assisi, Mission Santa Clara de Assisi, and Mission San Buenaventura.
• During the last three years of his life he once more visited the missions from San Diego to San Francisco, traveling more than 600 miles in the process, in order to confirm all who had been baptized. He suffered intensely from his crippled leg and from his chest, yet he would use no remedies.
• He confirmed 5,309 persons, who with few exceptions, were Native Americans (“neophytes”) whom he converted during the 14 years from 1770-1784.
• At 71, on the 28 of August, 1784, aged 71 he died at the Mission San Carlos Borromeo of Carmel, near Monterey where he is buried under the sanctuary floor.