Serra Missions - California

(CNS photo/Bob Mullen)

Destination:  Pope Francis has announced that Blessed Junipero Serra will be canonized this year. If you plan a trip to California in the future, now would be a good time to plan stops at the nine missions in Southern California founded by the Spanish missionary. In all, the Franciscans founded 21 missions in California.
Father Serra founded seven:

• San Diego de Alcalá, July 16, 1769
• San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, June 3, 1770
• San Antonio de Padua, July 14, 1771
• San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, Sept. 1, 1772
• San Juan Capistrano, Nov. 1, 1776
• Santa Clara de Asís, Jan. 12, 1777
• San Buenaventura, March 31, 1782

(It would also be a good time to learn more about the Serrans, an organization of about 20,000 members throughout the world who are dedicated to fostering and promoting vocations to the Catholic priesthood and religious life through activities and prayer. For information in the Rockford Diocese, call Mike McKee at 630/896-6834 or email him at MMckee5@aol.com.)
Mass times vary at the missions, most of which remain active parishes.
The map (left) shows all of the Franciscan missions in California. The statue of Blessed Junipero Serra (right) stands outside Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano, California.
Why to go:  Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala was founded July 16, 1769, and was the first to be established by Father Serra in what is now the state of California. The current church was built in 1931 and is north of San Diego’s downtown area. Blessed Serra, who will be canonized later this year by Pope Francis, founded the first of California’s 21 missions.
(Grand) Kid friendly:  Grandchildren will love the chance to see where real Church history was made in some of the earliest missions in the New World.
Info: Because there are so many missions, we’re referring you to a California historical site. You can also search online for individual parishes. Web: www.mtycounty.com/pgs-missions/the21missions.html

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org