The History of Father Junipero Serra Bl. Junipero Serra: Rim of Christendom

Mar 30, 2015

Editor's note: This is part 12 of a series on the life of Bl. Junipero Serra in anticipation of his canonization. To read other articles in the series, click here.

THE third expeditionary force, the first to travel overland, departed for Alta California in mid-March of 1769. Fray Junípero Serra was to accompany the fourth and final arm of the expedition which was scheduled to leave from Loreto. Gaspar de Portolá was commander and Serra chaplain and diarist.

In the opening words of his account, Serra set the tone by observing that it was a journey undertaken "for the greater glory of God and the conversion of the pagans to our holy Catholic faith." To Serra, the faith was a gift and he was determined to share it with others. When hesitation was expressed about Serra's ability to withstand the rigors of travel, because of his infected foot and leg, the decision was made to also assign Fray Miguel de la Campa to accompany the expedition. Serra would join them on the frontier.

Meanwhile, officials at San Fernando College had named Fray Francisco Paloú as presidente for Baja California, an appointment that would become effective the moment Serra left the frontier for the north. Serra had been careful to provide for the spiritualities of the peninsular missions after his departure.

When at last he was able to travel, it was necessary that two men lift Serra onto his mule and adjust him in the saddle. Few would have imagined that the determined friar was destined to work yet another fifteen years, accomplishing much for the Lord along El Camino Real. The worn-out mule and aging padre made their painful way from Loreto to the north. Throughout the journey, Serra kept a meticulous diary, the most valuable and surely the longest document he ever wrote.

At San Borja Mission, Serra was enthusiastically welcomed by Fray Fermín Francisco de Lasuén, who would one day succeed him as presidente of the Alta California missions. The two friars spent several days planning for the present and anticipating the future. On May day, Serra moved on toward the frontier mission of Santa Maria and there, on the rim of Christendom, he caught up with Gaspar de Portolá, de la Campa and other members of the expedition.

On May 13th, the small contingency arrived at Velicatá where, on the Feast of Pentecost, Serra founded his first mission. A cross was raised, bells were rung and Holy Mass was offered under the patronage of San Fernando. Few missions have been founded in such impoverished circumstances. As Serra himself noted, the celebration took place "with all the neatness of holy poverty." Several days later, when a number of Indians appeared on the scene, Serra explained the reason for his presence among them.

Early in June, the Gaspar de Portolá expedition reached San Diego, where they were heartened at seeing the San Carlos and the San Antonio riding at anchor near the mouth of the bay. Serra recorded in his diary that "it was a day of great rejoicing and merriment for all .... And although this sort of consolation appears to be the solace of the miserable, for us it was the source of happiness."

Serra was especially jubilant. He had traveled nine hundred miles from Loreto, two thousand miles from San Fernando, eight thousand miles from Mallorca, to reach Alta California. Now he was in the beautiful harbor of San Diego on the Pacific, ready to raise aloft the cross of Christ.