St. Junipero Serra

The Latest

Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles blesses the newly renovated Mission San Gabriel at a June 27, 2023, ceremony.

After devastating arson, Los Angeles’ famed Mission San Gabriel reopens for worship

Jul 3, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

“Mission San Gabriel will always be the true spiritual heart of Los Angeles,” Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles said... Read more

A statue of St. Junipero Serra, which was defaced and torn down by protesters Oct. 12, 2020, at Mission San Rafael Arcangel in San Rafael, California. Courtesy photo.

Cordileone on Serra statue case: Prosecutor signaled attacks against Catholics go unpunished

May 26, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

“It is clear to me that this course of action would not have been taken with anyone else,” Archbishop Salvatore... Read more

Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles preaches during a Mass at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel in San Gabriel, Calif., April 2, 2022.

Archbishop Gomez encourages pilgrims marking jubilee of Christianity in Los Angeles

Apr 5, 2022

By CNA Staff

Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles urged those making a pilgrimage Saturday to mark 250 years of Christianity in the... Read more

An illustration of Saint Junipero Serra.

Petition seeks to return St. Junipero Serra statue to ‘place of honor’ at Catholic university

Nov 24, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

A statue of Saint Junipero Serra must return to the Loyola Marymount University campus, an alumni group has said in... Read more

Photograph of a bronze statue of Saint Father Junipero Serra in the Gardens of the Carmel Mission Basilica in Carmel, California

Los Angeles renames Father Junipero Serra Park, despite Catholic praise for sainted missionary

Oct 16, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

While Catholic leaders have made strong defenses of St. Junipero Serra after a wave of vandalism and crime targeted Catholic... Read more

Lalo Garcia's painting of Saint Junípero Serra is featured in the '250 Years of Mission' exhibit.

Local artists add beauty to Los Angeles exhibit ‘250 Years of Mission’ to celebrate Jubilee Year

Sep 20, 2021

By Autumn Jones

On September 11, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles began a Jubilee Year, Forward in Mission, to mark 250 years since... Read more

Statue of St. Junipero Serra in Golden Gate Park.

It's time to start telling the truth about St. Junípero Serra

Sep 13, 2021

By Angelus News

Misinformation and deliberate disinformation continue to surround the memory of St. Junípero Serra, the Apostle of California.  Read more

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco (left) and Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles (right)

Archbishops criticize ‘outrageous’ claims against St Junipero Serra

Sep 13, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

A California bill to replace a statue of St. Junipero Serra at the state capitol unfairly slanders the saint’s legacy,... Read more

A statue of St. Junipero Serra outside the California capitol in Sacramento, which was destroyed by a mob July 4, 2020.

Catholics ask Gov. Newsom to reject St. Junipero Serra falsehoods

Sep 10, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Misleading claims about St. Junipero Serra have made their way into a bill sent to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk,... Read more

Statue of St. Junipero Serra in Golden Gate Park.

Archbishop Gomez: Catholic missionaries such as St Junipero witness to the 'American creed'

Jul 2, 2021

The early Catholic missionaries to what became the United States were witnesses to the American belief that all persons have... Read more

Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles visits the scene of the fire at San Gabriel mission, July 11, 2020

Man charged with arson in connection with Mission San Gabriel fire

May 5, 2021

A California man was charged with arson Tuesday in connection with a fire that ravaged a historic mission church in... Read more

The interior of the fire-damaged Mission San Gabriel April 19, 2021, after new steel beams were installed to begin construction of a new roof.

Fire reveals pieces of Mission San Gabriel's past as it prepares for jubilee year

May 1, 2021

By Pablo Kay / Angelus

Nine months after a mysterious fire ripped through Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, the historic church is still a mess. Read more

Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif. Credit: Burkhard Mücke via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Catholic group receives grant to restore historic California mission

Mar 7, 2021

By Perry West

A Catholic group has received a large grant to restore one of the oldest California missions and to provide a... Read more

A statue of St. Junipero Serra, which was defaced and torn down by protesters Oct. 12, at Mission San Rafael Arcangel in San Rafael, California. Courtesy photo.

Archbishop Cordileone commends prosecution of Serra statue vandals for working justice

Feb 22, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

Amid calls from California activists to drop vandalism charges against five assailants who destroyed a statue of St. Junipero Serra... Read more

A statue of St. Junipero Serra, which was defaced and torn down by protesters Oct. 12, at Mission San Rafael Arcangel in San Rafael, California. Courtesy photo.

Archbishop Cordileone applauds prosecution of St. Junipero Serra statue vandalism

Nov 13, 2020

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco applauded the Marin County District Attorney for filing charges over the vandalism of a... Read more

A statue of St. Junipero Serra, which was defaced and torn down by protesters Oct. 12, at Mission San Rafael Arcangel in San Rafael, Calif. Courtesy photo.

San Francisco archbishop asks DA to prosecute Serra statue vandalism

Oct 28, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco has asked the Marin County district attorney to prosecute those arrested after an Oct.... Read more

Pope Francis kisses a relic of St. Junipero Serra in Rome, May 2, 2015.

Junipero Serra among 'inappropriate' San Francisco school names, district committee says

Oct 22, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

A San Francisco public school district committee this month recommended that 44 schools with “inappropriate” names be renamed, with Junipero... Read more

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone performs an exorcism rite outside Mission San Rafael Arcangel in San Rafael, California.

San Francisco archbishop performs exorcism at site of destroyed St. Junipero Serra statue

Oct 20, 2020

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco on Saturday performed an exorcism at the site of a destroyed statue of St.... Read more

Father Kyle Faller leads prayers at the site of a destroyed statue of St. Junipero Serra on Oct. 13, 2020.

California Catholics pray, protest at destroyed St. Junipero Serra statue

Oct 14, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

Catholics in California rallied in a peaceful demonstration Tuesday evening at the former site of a statue of St. Junipero... Read more

A statue of St. Junipero Serra, which was defaced and torn down by protesters Oct. 12, at Mission San Rafael Arcangel in San Rafael, California. Courtesy photo.

St. Junipero Serra statue defaced, pulled down on California's Indigenous People’s Day

Oct 13, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

A group of activists near San Francisco on Monday defaced a statue of St. Junipero Serra on private property with... Read more