Blessed Junipero Serra

In 1935 the founding Serrans, a small group of laymen in Seattle, USA, chose as their patron Father Junipero Serra, who was influential in establishing the missions in California and Mexico. Father Serra was beatified in 1988.

Blessed Junipero Serra was an 18th century Franciscan missionary priest in California in the harsh days of the Spanish colonisation, when political, military and missionary ends intertwinned . A tireless worker, Father Serra was a dedicated religious and missionary, penitent and austere in all areas of his life. Father Serra was responsible for having many American Indians trained in European methods of agriculture, cattle husbandry, and crafts.