Father Junipero Serra 1713-1784 Franciscan Missionary

Fr. Juniper0 Serra is still a well-known figure in California, USA. A virtual icon of the colonial era whose statue stands in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park and the U.S. Capitol's Hall of Fame, the only Franciscan since 1913. Beatified in 1987, by Pope John Paul II. Two centuries after his death, he is still a pivotal figure in California history and the history of the American West.
Who was he? Father Serra was born in Petra on the isle of Mallorca in the Mediterranean Sea. His parents were farmers. In 1729, he became a Franciscan and enrolled in the prominent Franciscan in nearby Palma. He was ordained in 1737 and was 24 yrs. old. He taught Theology at the Franciscan University of Palma. He went onto a professorship at the Lullian University.
He went to Mexico to work in 1750, having joined the missionary College of San Fernando.
In 1767, the Jesuits were expelled by the Spanish Emperor from the Spanish colonies. This led to the government to ask the Franciscans to replace them as missionaries in Lower California. Father Serra was appointed head of these missions. The next year the Spanish governor explored and founded missions in upper California, the area of the now State of California. At age 50, weak and injured in one leg, the undaunting Father Serra founded in 1769 the Mission of San Diego and then founded 9 more Missions along the coast of California by the time of his death in 1784. He had nominally converted nearly 5000 Indians.
He held authority over the Franciscans, the army present there, and over the baptized Indians having increased the financial and military support for expansion of his missions.

"Blessed Father Junipero Serra, pray for the Americas, and in particular for California."