The sun’s rays beat down on the trail, making it seem even hotter than it was. Among the marching Spanish soldiers was a priest in a brown cassock covered in dust. He walked with a strong forward gait, despite a noticeable limp and the heat. Although he was 56 years old, he kept up with the younger men.

The priest must have had thoughts that his vocation had become a paradox. Formerly, as a professor of philosophy and a well-known theologian, he had taught in the tranquil surroundings of a university. Now, as a missionary, he was about to enter a new land not only as a priest but as a frontiersman. In this new land, he would establish missions that would serve Indians—Native North Americans—who were heathens and who spoke only their own tribal languages.

His new life would require even greater strength of purpose and leadership than required in his earlier missionary work in Mexico and Baja California. It would be his faith and dedication to God that would give him the determination and will power to accomplish all that he set out to do.

The priest stood just five-feet, two-inches. He was asthmatic and frequently suffered from other illnesses. The limp was caused by a chronic sore on his leg. The sore came from an insect bite received when he arrived in Mexico. He had walked after landing in Vera Cruz to Mexico City, a distance of 240 miles, and dedicated his vocation mission at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The priest was born Nov. 24, 1713, in Petra, on the island of Majorca, Spain. He had been given the name of Miguel Jose Serra y Abram at his baptism. During his early years, he showed unusual intelligence and spirituality. At age 15, he entered the Franciscan University at Palma, on Majorca, to study. At 17 he joined the Order of Friars Minor. He was ordained a priest at 23 and changed his first name to Junipero, the name of St. Francis’ beloved original companion friar.

Because of the competence and skill shown in his university studies, Fr. Serra was appointed lector of philosophy before his ordination to the priesthood. Later he received the degree of Doctor of Theology from Lullian University at Palma. For 14 years he taught students, seminarians, and priests. Fr. Serra’s desire to be a missionary developed during his early years. This desire grew stronger, and when he was 36 years old, he volunteered to transfer to the Franciscan missions in Mexico.

His first assignment was in the Sierra Gorda of north central Mexico. It was in the Sierra Gorda Missions that his reputation developed for being an outstanding administrator, as well as for being a successful and compassionate missionary among the Indians. He learned their language, translated the catechism into their language, and taught them how to read. He also taught them Spanish. During this time, Fr. Serra became a very fervent and effective missionary preacher. He was known to beat his chest while speaking to emphasize the need to love God.

In 1767, the Franciscans were asked to take over 14 Indian missions founded by the Jesuits in the Baja California region of Mexico. Fr. Serra was appointed superior of a group of 15 Franciscans to travel to the area and assume responsibility for their operation. Again, his zeal for missionary work and his strong organizational and administrative abilities became evident. It was during this same period that Spain became concerned that Russia was going to push south from Alaska and try to colonize what is now the state of California. Spain committed to prevent this and in 1769 launched a military expedition to go north from Mexico into the area. Fr. Serra went with them, despite his age, his limp, and his asthmatic condition. His goal was to set up missions to convert the Indians to Christianity.

The first mission set up by Fr. Serra was at San Diego on July 16, 1769. It was named Mission San Diego de Alcala. Eight other missions were established during the next 12 years. Settlements were built around each mission. He learned the language of the North American Native Indians, taught them Spanish, and showed them new agricultural and irrigation systems to increase their food output. Letters and military records show that he was an advocate for the Indians, especially the women and children, and fought for their protection from abuse and the immorality of the Spanish soldiers. And during all this, he never forgot his main purpose: to evangelize, convert the Indians to Christianity, and seek new workers for God.

His success can be measured by history. The foundation and spread of the church on the west coast of the U.S. is attributed to Fr. Serra. He also secured a bill of rights for the protection of the Indians from the Spanish Viceroy. Dr. David Hornbeck, professor of historical geography at California State University, says in his writings: “I look at him (Fr. Serra) as a leader in a sense of his extraordinary ability to coordinate the settlement of a whole new frontier all by himself.”

Historian Dr. Gloria Miranda, associate professor and chair of Chicano studies, Los Angeles Valley College, said in an interview with a member of the Serra Club of Bethlehem, PA: “He clearly saw the need for stability on the frontier. He was also very zealous in his protection of the tribes that he was working with. Often some of the soldiers who came north were not the best role models to imitate.”

Fr. Michael Mathes, professor of history, San Francisco University, adds: “He didn’t want these people (Indians) to be tainted with any possible abuses and immoral activities that the soldiers might be involved with. Father Serra argued with the military and the governors to insure protection of the Indians from the soldiers.”

In 1778, Fr. Serra received the faculty to administer the sacrament of confirmation. During the last three years of his life, he once more visited the missions from San Diego to San Francisco to confirm all whom he had baptized. He confirmed 5,309 of the 6,000 that his diary indicates he had baptized during the 14 years since 1770. 

Fr. Junipero Serra died from tuberculosis Aug. 28, 1784, while at Mission San Carlos Barromeo, Monterey, CA, and he is buried there under the sanctuary floor. A large bronze statue in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, represents him as a great apostolic preacher in California. A large granite monument was erected in his memory at Monterey. It was a gift by a non-Catholic member of the Stanford family.

On Sept. 25, 1988, Pope John Paul II beatified him. His canonization is pending. Serra Club, the namesake of Blessed Junipero Serra, is an international Roman Catholic organization of women and men. The Serra Club prays for and promotes vocations to the priesthood and to the religious life. It also provides other supporting activities for priests, sisters, and other religions.