Later entering the Franciscan Order, he took the name of St Francis' childlike companion, Brother Juniper. God most High, your servant Junipero Serra brought the gospel of Christ to the peoples of Mexico and California and firmly established the Church among them. Throughout, he did much to defend the native people, including on one occasion, walking all the way to Mexico City and back on foot to ensure that that Spanish Viceroy upheld the legal rights of the people his care.”. His feast day is July 1. ... St. Junipero Serra. Nov 23 2020 - 1:00pm. Find out what Serrans around the world are doing in support and celebration of our mission. Happy Feast Day! His feast day is celebrated on 29 January. Rosary for Vocations. “Today should be a day for celebration. In Petra, Serra attended the primary school of … Our ministry is global, but local vocations needs are unique. Nov 23 2020 - 7:00pm. He … Junípero Serra (1713–1784, Miquel Josep Serra i Ferrer) took the name in honor of Saint Juniper. July 1 is his feast day in America to honor the day he arrived in San Diego. Today is the Feast of Saint Junipero, the 18th century Franciscan missionary who did much to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of North America’s west coast baptizing, as he did, over 6,000 native Americans during his lifetime. Saint of the Day – St Junipero Serra O.F.M., Apostle of California- 1 July – Priest, Religious Friar, Missionary, Theologian, Philospher, Teacher, Evangelist – (born Miguel Jose 24 November 1713 at Petra, Spanish Majorca as Miguel Jose Serra – 28 August 1784 of tuberculosis at Mission San Carlos, California of natural causes).  After nine years, he was asked to undertake his missionary work some 1,200 km away on the Pacific coast of the North American continent, much of the time suffering with an ulcerated leg. St. Junipero Serra Public Domain Image . That means that he is now officially recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church and has his own feast day (July 1 in the United States, August 28 everywhere else). A few hours after birth, he was baptized in the village church. St. Junípero Serra, O.F.M. Fray Junipero Serra was transferred to the Sierra Gorda region at his own request, and was appointed President of the Sierra Gorda missions in 1751. Born at Petra, Majorca, Spain, November 24, 1713, a son of Antonio Nadal Serra and Margarita Rosa Ferrer who spent their lives as farmers, Junípero Serra was baptized on the same day at St. Peter’s Church and was given the name Miguel José. Feast Day: July 1 Beatified: September 25, 1988 Venerated: May 9, 1985 Born on the island of Mallorca near Spain in 1713, Miguel Jose Serra wanted to be a monk. “Given that today is the Feast Day of Saint Junipero Serra, her condemnation of mob violence would be especially timely,” McCarthy said. Junipero Serra Feast Day Not only because of his place in American history as the founder of a chain of missions in Mexico and California, but also because of his life of priestly zeal and heroic virtue, Fray Junipero Serra, OFM, was chosen as the patron of our apostolate.  This gifted Franciscan friar had occupied the Duns Scotus chair of philosophy in Mallorca, Spain, until he felt the call to commit himself further to the service of Christ as a missionary in the New World. The feast day of Bl. Serra and his fellow Franciscan friars eventually established a chain of missions in Alta California and worked tirelessly to bring Christ to the indigenous peoples. Saint Juinpero Serra, pray for us!  Fr. All rights reserved 333 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 500 - Chicago, IL 60606QUESTIONS? Thomas’ devotion to St. Junipero Serra began when he received an assignment at Our Lady of Santa Clara Retreat Center in Cupertino, CA. In recent weeks, however, anti-racism protestors have accused Saint Junipero of oppressing native Americans and, indeed, mobs have torn down statues of him in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Saint Junipero Serra, your missionary zeal brought the light of Christ to millions. He was baptized the same day he was born, and was later sent to be educated by the Franciscans. Born at Petra, Majorca, Spain, Nov. 24, 1713, Junípero Serra was baptized on the same day at St. Peter’s Church and was given the name Miguel José. Nov 24 2020 - 6:00am to 10:00pm. “Today should be a day for celebration. St. Junípero Serra was born on November 24, 1713 on the island of Majorca, Spain.  From there, he journeyed on foot to Mexico City, where tradition has it that he prayed at the church built over the famous site where the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to St. Juan Diego in 1531. Born Miguel Jose Serra at Petra on the Spanish Island of Mallorca, Spain. The nine missions Blessed Junipero founded: Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, July 16, 1769, present-day San Diego, California. To this day, he is still very beloved by the vast majority of the people in that part of Mexico.”, “Saint Junipero then went onto Baja California and California where he founded many other mission sites. Sitemap His feast day is 29 January. Susana writes: “Saint Junipero Serra was born into a wealthy Spanish family, he received a good education, he taught philosophy and theology at the University of Padua in Italy for 12 years and yet he gave up his wealth, his comfort, his academic standing, everything, in order to venture to a faraway land where he would face great risk and great discomfort and all to bring the greatest gift, the greatest good imaginable, Jesus Christ, to people who did not yet know the Good Lord.”, “As a Franciscan he embraced the most radical form of poverty which saw him, upon arrival in the New World, choose to walk on foot from the Port of Vera Cruz to Mexico City – that’s 250 miles! “Given that today is the Feast Day of Saint Junipero Serra, her condemnation of mob violence would be especially timely,” McCarthy said in a statement. St. Junipero Serra’s Feast Day: July 1st Why Pray the St. Junipero Serra Novena? July 1—Memorial Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of California and vocations “Always forward!” was his motto and his life The United States of America’s impressive Capitol building in Washington, D.C., includes the majestic, semicircular Statuary Hall. In 1730 he joined the Franciscans and was ordained to the priesthood. Contact St. Junipero Serra is the patron saint of vocations. In 2015, Pope Francis made Junipero Serra a saint during his first visit to the United States. He joined the order of St. Francis Assisi when he was 15 and called himself Junípero. Outreach Mass, © 2020 Diocese of Lansing: 228 N. Walnut St  |  Lansing, MI 48933  |  517-342-2440, Sign up below to receive daily scripture readings sent via e-mail or text message. Sign-Up e-news Continue reading about St. Junipero Serra SERRA INTERNATIONAL July 1 A Spanish missionary who is buried in California, Miguel José Serra was born on the Mediterranean island of Majorca. His kindness, piety and learning, however, led those people peaceably embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Saint Junipero Serra (1713-1784) July 1 is the feast day of St. Junipero Serra on the Liturgical Calendar. Nov 24 2020 - 7:45am. You can ask him to pray for you if you are discerning your vocation, or you can ask him to pray for someone you know who is discerning their vocation. Pope Francis canonized Saint Junipero Serra during his visit to the United States in September 2015 making him the nation’s first Hispanic saint. ST. JUNIPERO SERRA. Not only because of his place in American history as the founder of a chain of missions in Mexico and California, but also because of his life of priestly zeal and heroic virtue, Fray Junipero Serra, OFM, was chosen as the patron of our apostolate. "In this hour of trial in our nation, when once again we are confronting America’s shameful legacy of racism, I invite you to join me in observing St. Junipero's feast day, July 1, as a day of prayer, fasting and charity," Archbishop Gomez said in an open letter to Catholics. St. Junípero Serra (1713–1784), born Miquel Josep Serra i Ferrer, took his religious name in honor of Brother Juniper when he was received into the Order. The archbishop called for the observance of St. Junipero Serra’s July 1 feast day as “a day of prayer, fasting and charity.” Numerous statues of historic figures have been pulled down in recent weeks amid ongoing protests and riots throughout the country. Jul 1, 2015 Brian Kelly. Blessed Junipero Serra Feast Day – August 28 Born at Petra on the Spanish island of Malorca on November 24, 1713, Blessed Junipero Serra entered the Franciscan Order at the age of sixteen and was ordained a priest in 1738. 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