Quezi

Father Junipero Serra, Founder of the Mission at San Luis Obispo - courtesy Clinton Steeds - CC-BY

Fr. Junípero Serra was born on the Island of Majorca in 1713.

He entered the Franciscan Order, later ordained and received the degree of Doctor of Theology from Lullian University at Palma

While traveling on foot from Vera Cruz to the capital, he hurt his leg and suffered from it throughout his life.

In 1767 he was appointed superior Franciscans for the Indian Missions of Lower California. Then, early in 1769 he went with Portolá’s land expedition to Upper California. He arrived at San Diego on 1 July, and on 16 July founded the first of the twenty-one California missions which accomplished the conversions of the coastal American Indians as far as Sonoma in the north. Those missions established by Father Serra or during his administration were San Carlos (3 June, 1770); San Antonio (14 July, 1771); San Gabriel (8 September, 1771); San Luis Obispo (1 September, 1772); San Francisco de Asis (8 October, 1776); San Juan Capistrano (1 Nov. 1776); Santa Clara (12 January, 1777); San Buenaventura (31 March, 1782).

If you notice, the Queen of Missions, Santa Barbara is not on the list.

He was present at the founding of the presidio of Santa Barbara (21 April, 1782), but was prevented from locating the mission there at the time through the animosity of Governor Philipe de Neve.

After Junípero Serra died In Carmel, August 28, 1784, Father Fermin Lasuén, one of the missionaries who had arrived with Serra at San Diego, became the new Padre Presidente and the actual founder of Mission Santa Barbara, December 4, 1786.

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