St. Junipero Serra

The Latest

St. Junipero Serra. public domain.

Bishop Barron defends Junipero Serra: Evangelization is not ‘cultural aggression’

Aug 30, 2020

Bishop Robert Barron this week delivered a homily in support of St. Junipero Serra, an 18th century Franciscan missionary whose... Read more

The statue of Bl. Junipero Serra at the Mission San Miguel in California.

Spanish bishop defends Junipero Serra’s legacy

Jul 24, 2020

A Spanish bishop recently celebrated Mass in the church where St. Junipero Serra was baptized, defending the saint’s legacy against... Read more

The seal of Ventura County, California.

St. Junipero Serra could soon be removed from California county seal

Jul 21, 2020

By Kevin J. Jones

A proposal to remove St. Junipero Serra from Ventura County’s official seal is unwarranted, and elected officials need to know... Read more

View of Father Serra Statue and California Street from steps of Ventura City Hall.

California city will remove St. Junipero Serra statue from public grounds

Jul 16, 2020

The City Council of Ventura, California has voted to remove a statue of St. Junipero Serra from the grounds of... Read more

Statue of Christ the Good Shepherd after attack Tuesday night.

Christ statue beheaded in new Catholic statue attacks

Jul 16, 2020

By Christine Rousselle

The recent series of attacks on church buildings and property continued Tuesday night, as a statue of Christ was toppled... Read more

Queen of Peace Catholic Church after a fire July 11.

Anti-Catholic attacks merit national media scrutiny, Irish-American group says

Jul 15, 2020

National news media cannot ignore intolerance against Catholics, the Ancient Order of Hibernians has said, citing recent attacks on Catholic... Read more

San Buenaventura Mission in Ventura, Ca.

Pope Francis makes mission founded by St. Junipero Serra a minor basilica

Jul 15, 2020

Pope Francis has elevated a California mission church founded by St. Junipero Serra to the rank of minor basilica. The... Read more

An academic building on the campus of the University of San Diego.

California Catholic university puts St. Junipero Serra statue in storage

Jul 14, 2020

By JD Flynn

A California Catholic university has placed a statue of St. Junipero Serra in storage after at least three statues of... Read more

Archbishop Jose Gomez and a local pilgrim outside the San Gabriel Mission July 12.

After a devastating fire, Mission San Gabriel community vows to rebuild

Jul 13, 2020

The fire that ravaged Mission San Gabriel Arcángel church in the predawn hours of Saturday, July 11, left behind a... Read more

Statue of Mary outside Cathedral Prep School and Seminary, Queens, New York.

Statues of Mary vandalized in weekend of Catholic church attacks

Jul 12, 2020

Boston police are investigating an arson attack on a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary Saturday night, the second attack... Read more

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

Gomez asks for prayers after fire at 'spiritual heart of Los Angeles'

Jul 11, 2020

Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles has expressed his “terrible sadness” after a fire at a 249-year-old mission church founded... Read more

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

Mission founded by St. Junípero Serra burns in overnight fire

Jul 11, 2020

Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez called the fire at San Gabriel Mission church, founded by St. Junipero Serra, “devastating.”  Read more

The small prayer shrine Audrey Ortega placed at the former site of a statue of St. Junipero Serra. Courtesy photo.

Catholic builds a shrine to St. Junipero Serra on the site of destroyed Sacramento statue

Jul 8, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

After rioters pulled down a statue of St. Junipero Serra in Sacramento on July 4, a local Catholic told CNA... Read more

The statue of St. Junipero Serra outside the California State Capitol.

St. Junípero Serra statue destroyed at California state capitol

Jul 5, 2020

On the evening of Independence Day, a crowd in Sacramento tore down a statue of St. Junipero Serra, set fire... Read more

Statue of St. Junipero Serra in Golden Gate Park.

St. Junipero Serra protested colonial oppression and abuses, Archbishop Gomez says

Jun 30, 2020

Those who “slander” the legacy of St. Junipero Serra ignore his history of opposing colonial oppression and abuses of indigenous... Read more

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone during a June 27 prayer service in Golden Gate Park.

After St. Junípero Serra statue torn down, Archbishop Cordileone offers exorcism prayers

Jun 29, 2020

After a mob tore down statues, including a figure of St. Junípero Serra statue, in a San Francisco park, Archbishop... Read more

Mission San Antonio de Padua in Monterey County, Calif.

Teacher completes walking pilgrimage to California's 21 missions

Jun 28, 2020

By Perry West

A Catholic teacher who finished a pilgrimage to the Spanish Missions in California this week has emphasized his devotion to... Read more

St. Junipero Serra statue, San Juan Capistrano.

San Juan Capistrano Mission relocates St. Junipero Serra statues for protection 

Jun 25, 2020

Two statues of St. Junipero Serra have been moved from a Catholic mission and church in southern California amid fears... Read more

Statue of St. Junipero Serra in Golden Gate Park.

Spanish mayor offers to take downed St. Junipero Serra statue

Jun 24, 2020

The mayor of Boadilla del Monte, a town just west of metro Madrid in central Spain, has offered to take... Read more

A statue of Junipero Serra inside the National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C.

Toppling statues of Junipero Serra ‘fails test’ of history, California Catholic bishops say

Jun 22, 2020

The Catholic bishops of California have defended St. Junipero Serra following recent protests against racism. The bishops said that the... Read more