St. Junípero Serra was born on November 24, 1713 on the island of Majorca, Spain. He joined the Franciscans in 1730, and became so accomplished as a student that he was appointed a lector of philosophy before his ordination. As an academic, he was promising. After earning his PhD, he …

by Christine Rousselle Washington D.C., Sep 13, 2021 / 12:04 pm A California bill to replace a statue of St. Junipero Serra at the state capitol unfairly slanders the saint’s legacy, two archbishops claimed in a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Sunday, Sept. 12. Last month, California lawmakers voted overwhelmingly …

CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2020 / 04:34 pm MT (CNA).- The historical preservation commission of Santa Cruz, California last week advised the city council to remove a replica mission bell from a city intersection, saying the bell represents painful history for the indigenous people of the city. In a Nov. …

by Jonah McKeown Denver Newsroom, Oct 14, 2020 / 03:33 pm MT (CNA).- Catholics in California rallied in a peaceful demonstration Tuesday evening at the former site of a statue of St. Junipero Serra, which a group of activists defaced and pulled down earlier this week. The riot at which …

by Jonah McKeown Denver Newsroom, Oct 13, 2020 / 03:54 pm MT (CNA).- A group of activists near San Francisco on Monday defaced a statue of St. Junipero Serra on private property with red spray paint before tearing it from its foundation. Serra, an 18th-century Franciscan priest and missionary, is …

CNA Staff, Aug 30, 2020 / 04:00 am MT (CNA).- Bishop Robert Barron this week delivered a homily in support of St. Junipero Serra, an 18th century Franciscan missionary whose legacy has drawn renewed scrutiny in recent months from some who consider him a symbol of an oppressive colonial system. …

by Kevin Jones Denver Newsroom, Jul 21, 2020 / 05:40 pm MT (CNA).- A proposal to remove St. Junipero Serra from Ventura County’s official seal is unwarranted, and elected officials need to know Serra’s true story, according to the priest who heads the final mission the sainted Spanish missionary founded …

CNA Staff, Jul 15, 2020 / 12:30 pm MT (CNA).- Pope Francis has elevated a California mission church founded by St. Junipero Serra to the rank of minor basilica. The San Buenaventura Mission in Ventura was granted the title by the pope in an announcement from the Archdiocese of Los …

By Pablo Kay/Angelus News Los Angeles, Calif., Jul 13, 2020 / 04:37 pm MT (CNA).- Reprinted with permission from Angelus News. The fire that ravaged Mission San Gabriel Arcángel church in the predawn hours of Saturday, July 11, left behind a haunting scene. In a matter of minutes, the mission’s …

CNA Staff, Jul 11, 2020 / 12:40 pm MT (CNA).- A massive fire devastated an eighteenth century mission church in San Gabriel, in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, July 11. Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles called the fire at San Gabriel Mission church, founded by St. Junipero Serra, “devastating.” …