Father Junipero Serra Canonized Saint Junipero Serra September 23, 2015

For the last nine months, ever since the day Pope Francis unexpectedly announced, while flying to the Philippines from Sri Lanka that he planned to canonize Fr. Junipero Serra the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea has been buzzing with opinions.  And as you would expect, the town was far from united in their opinion.  In fact opinions were clearly polarized as usual into opposing factions. 

On Wednesday September 23, 2015 I witnessed Father Junipero Serra canonized – Saint Junipero Serra in the Carmel Mission Basilica courtyard. 

With Father Paul in Washington at the actual canonization, Father Miquel Rodriguez and Deacon Bill precised over our noon mass.  The Basilica was filled with residents, visitors and lots of press.  

Junipero Serra School was closed 

so that the students could participate serving and attending Mass. 

After Mass, Father Miquel reverently carried the First Degree Relic of Saint Junipero Serra to the front door of the mission. 

Here hundreds of us lined up to have a personal moment of blessing as Father Miquel gently touched each of our foreheads or our rosary or religious object with the relic whispering the words, Saint Junipero, pray for us.  

From here the crowd filed into the mission courtyard where more press, security, and a jumbotron awaited. 

We now stood or sat patiently waiting to hear Pope Francis announce Serra's sainthood.  The day was perfect, sunny, warm with a slight breeze as if the Holy Spirit was putting His kiss on the day.  

At 1:15 the crowd turned their attention to the jumbotron showing the Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., and listened to the words of Pope Francis.   

"Junipero sought to defend the dignity of the native community, to protect it from those who had mistreated and abused it....Having given mature deliberation and having begged the help of Divine Grace and the opinion of many of our brothers, Blessed Junipero Serra, we discern and define to be a saint, and we inscribe him in the catalog of saints, establishing him in the universal church among the saints who should be appealed to with devotion. in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen." 

And with that announcement, the mission bells rang loud and strong for minutes while the crowd cheered.  

For devotional items related to the Catholic Church and Saint Junipero Serra medals, please visit Lynn's Timeless Treasures.  

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A photography by L.A. Momboisse 

Saint Junipero Serra - July 1

Saint Junipero Serra 

July 1 

Miguel Jose Serra was born on the island of Majorca, Spain, in 1713.  He entered the Franciscan Order in 1730, taking the name Junipero.  Ordained in 1737 he taught for philosophy and theology at the University of Padua twelve years.  In December of 1749 he crossed the Atlantic to Vera Cruz, Mexico then walked 275 miles to Mexico City where he became a missionary for eight years among the Pame Indians.

At the age of 53, Junipero traveled to Lower California as the newly appointed president of the peninsula's fifteen missions. A few years later he volunteered to help settle the missions of Upper California, arriving after a 750 mile land journey in San Diego July 1, 1769.

On July 14 Junipero Serra established the first Christian settlement in Upper California, Presidio-Mission San Diego de Alcala.  He went on to establish nine more 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.

At 70 years of age, after traveling some 24,000 miles, Father Junipero Serra died at Mission San Carlos Borromeo and is buried there under the sanctuary floor. He was proclaimed Blessed by Blessed Pope John Paul II on September 25, 1988.

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Photo Credits - L. A. Momboisse
Father Serra Statue front garden Mission San Carlos Borromeo.
Monument commemorating the missionary labors of Spain in California - Given to Mission San Carlos Borromeo in 1948 by The Institute of Hispanic Culture of Madrid.
Cenotaph memorial of Father Serra Mission San Carlos Borromeo -  by Jo J. Mora in 1924.