Blessed Junípero Serra (November 24, 1713 - August 28, 1784) was a Catalan Franciscan who founded the mission chain in Alta California. Born Miquel Josep Serra i Ferrer in Petra, Majorca, he renamed himself in honor of Saint Juniper, who had also been a Franciscan and a follower of St. Francis of Assisi. Once he entered religion, he taught philosophy in Palma, but in 1749 he went to North America, first to Mexico City, where he taught at the College of San Fernando. Spanish missionary Junipero Serra This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ... November 24 is the 328th day (329th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events April 11 - War of the Spanish Succession: Treaty of Utrecht June 23 - French residents of Acadia given one year to declare allegiance to Britain or leave Nova Scotia Canada first Orrery built by George Graham Ongoing events Great Northern War (1700-1721) War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713... August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ... 1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Capital Barcelona Official languages Spanish and Catalan In Val dAran, also Aranese. ... The Order of Friars Minor (commonly called the Franciscans) is a mendicant religious order of men tracing their origin to Francis of Assisi and following the Rule of St. ... The Spanish Missions of California (more simply referred to as the California Missions) comprise a series of religious outposts established by Spanish Catholic Dominicans, Jesuits, and Franciscans, to spread the Christian doctrine among the local Native Americans, but with the added benefit of giving Spain a toehold in the frontier... Alta California (Upper California) was formed in 1804 when the province of California, then a part of the Spanish colony of Dominican missions in the south. ... Petra is a town on the island of Majorca in Spain. ... Majorca (Mallorca in Catalan and Spanish. ... Saint Francis of Assisi (born in Assisi, Italy, 1181; died there on October 4, 1226) founded the Franciscan Order or Friars Minor. He is the patron saint of animals, merchants, Catholic action and the environment. ... Events While in debtors prison, John Cleland writes Fanny Hill (Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure). ... World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is the third largest continent in area and in population after Eurasia and Africa. ... Mexico City (Spanish: Ciudad de México) is the federal capital of, and largest city in, Mexico. ...

In 1767, the Franciscans took over from the Jesuits the administration of the missions on the Baja California Peninsula, with Father Serra serving as president. 1767 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Society of Jesus — also known by its Latin name Societas Iesu or its English variant Jesuit Order — is a Christian religious order of the Roman Catholic Church in direct service to the Pope. ... Since the Lausanne Congress of 1974, a widely-accepted definition of a Christian mission has been to form a viable indigenous church-planting movement. ... Baja California (highlighted) Alternative use: Baja California (state) Baja California or Lower California is a peninsula in the west of Mexico. ...

In 1769, he accompanied Gaspar de Portolà on his expedition to Nueva (or new) California. When the party reached San Diego, Serra stayed behind to start the Mission San Diego de Alcalá. When Monterey was reached and Mission San Carlos Borromeo founded, Serra remained there as president of the Alta California missions. In 1771 he moved the mission to Carmel, which became known as Mission Carmel and was his headquarters. Under his presidency were founded Mission San Antonio de Padua, Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, Mission San Luis Obispo, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Mission San Francisco de Asís, Mission Santa Clara de Asís and Mission San Buenaventura. 1769 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Gaspar de Portolà (ca. ... State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ... City nickname Americas Finest City City flower Carnation City urban tree Jacaranda City native tree Torrey Pine Mayor Dick Murphy* City Attorney Michael Aguirre City Council District One District Two District Three District Four District Five District Six District Seven District Eight Scott Peters Michael Zucchet Toni Atkins Tony... Mission San Diego de Alcalá as it stood circa 1900. ... The Customs House at Monterey View of Monterey Bay and its kelp A sea lion rookery at the marina Museum interior with ship models and equipment Kelp Forest display at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Monterey is a city near the Pacific coast in northern California. ... The basilica of the Mission from the central courtyard Mission Basilica San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo was founded on June 3, 1770, the second mission of the 21 California missions. ... 1771 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Carmel-by-the-Sea is a city located in Monterey County, California. ... Mission San Antonio de Padua was founded on July 14, 1771, the third mission founded in California by Father Junipero Serra. ... The main façade of Mission San Gabriel Arcángel and its six-bell camapanario (bell wall), circa 1897. ... Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was founded on September 1, 1772. ... Pond inside Mission San Juan Capistrano Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano was founded on November 1, 1776 by Father Junipero Serra, the seventh mission in the California mission chain. ... A view of Mission Dolores on a rain-soaked San Francisco day in December 2004. ... Mission Santa Clara de Asís circa 1910. ... Mission San Buenaventura was founded on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1782 by Father Junipero Serra, the ninth mission in the California mission chain. ...

In 1784, at the age of 70, Father Serra died at Mission Carmel and is interred there under the sanctuary floor. 1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Serra was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 25, 1988, and many are pushing for his canonization, or promotion to the sainthood. However, Native American groups are opposed to this, on the grounds that his missions enslaved their people. In Catholicism, beatification (from Greek μακαριος, makarios) is a recognition accorded by the church of a dead persons accession to Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name (intercession of saints). ... The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches. ... His Holiness Pope John Paul II (Latin: ), born Karol Józef Wojtyła [1] (May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005), reigned as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City for almost 27 years, from 16 October 1978 until his death. ... September 25 is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years). ... 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Canonization is the process of making someone into a saint and involves proving that a candidate has lived in such a way that he or she is worthy of sainthood. ...

See also

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External links

• The Humanity of Junípero Serra (http://www.serraus.org/news_&_events/the_serran/the_serran_mar01/v55_3Mar01p10.htm), an article by Thomas Davis at the Serra International (http://www.serraus.org/news_&_events/the_serran/in_this_issue_of_the_serran.htm#Vol.%2055,%20Num%203,%20Mar%202001) official website
• Padre Serra Parish (http://www.padreserra.org/) in Camarillo, California, official website
• Serra Retreat Center (http://www.sbfranciscans.org/communities/retreats/serra/) in Malibu, California, official website