Today we celebrate St. Junipero Serra, canonized by Pope Francis in 2015. He left a comfortable position in Spain to sail across two oceans in 1748 to bring the good news of God’s love to a new and beautiful people. The current black legend portrays Fr. Serra as a tyrannical abuser, but the proof that protected the people of California from harm lies in my city of San Francisco. “Mission San Francisco”, which he founded on June 29, 1776 (our city is six days older than our country) is three miles from the Spanish military garrison, known as “the Presidio.” The government, in fact, encouraged missionaries to build close to the protection of the military, but Serra wanted to maintain a healthy distance between the Indians and the Spanish soldiers, even at risk to himself. In fact, at some of his friars were murdered by pillaging native Californians (the missions had stores of food, livestock, and other goods) because they were so far from the military garrisons. Of course, not all the missionary priests were as saintly as Serra, and many made mistakes and some committed crimes, as all people do. But the historically false black legend about Fr. Serra must be vigorously rejected. The missionaries faced great hardships and opposition, both from the native Americans and from the Spanish government, but they considered promoting the love of Jesus worth every difficulty.
On July 1, 2016, a few priest buddies and I were on a day off at Carmel. We drove to Mission Carmel to concelebrate the morning Mass and found the local bishop, Rich Garcia, vesting in the sacristy. We all knew him, and he welcomed us for the very first Mass of the new saint on his feast day (he had been canonized in September the year before), in the chapel where he was buried. Bishop Richard provided chairs for us in the sanctuary, and I sat just behind his grave, with my big toe resting on his tombstone. I’ve had the sense, since that wonderful day, that God has given me a mission too, under the patronage of Junipero Serra, to promote the love of Jesus to California, especially under any form of hardship or opposition.
On July 1, 2016, a few priest buddies and I were on a day off at Carmel. We drove to Mission Carmel to concelebrate the morning Mass and found the local bishop, Rich Garcia, vesting in the sacristy. We all knew him, and he welcomed us for the very first Mass of the new saint on his feast day (he had been canonized in September the year before), in the chapel where he was buried. Bishop Richard provided chairs for us in the sanctuary, and I sat just behind his grave, with my big toe resting on his tombstone. I’ve had the sense, since that wonderful day, that God has given me a mission too, under the patronage of Junipero Serra, to promote the love of Jesus to California, especially under any form of hardship or opposition.
Fr. Serra's gravestone on the floor of the sanctuary at Mission Carmel
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