Discover the Unexpected: Top 15 Fun Facts About Junipero Serra You Never Knew!

1. Pen Pal with George Washington

Who knew Saint Junipero Serra was a budding pen pal with good ol' George Washington? Well, now you do: This Franciscan friar, who flexed his mission-establishing muscles by founding nine of California's 21 missions, also secretly drummed up donations from his parishes to fund the American Revolution, sending the contributions directly to General Washington himself.
Source => californiamissionguide.com

2. California's Missionary Man

Before painting with all the colors of the wind, Junipero Serra was California's missionary man on a serious mission: He founded the first of 21 Spanish missions along the California coast, which were key in converting Native Americans to Christianity, teaching them various skills, but also sparking controversy with the exploitation of indigenous populations and the spread of disease.
Source => nps.gov

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=> Fun Facts about Explorers

3. Saintly Horsepower Denial

They said no to horsepower before it was cool: Junipero Serra and a fellow friar trekked all the way to Mexico City on foot, turning down royal offers of equine assistance, as their devotion to their patron Saint Francis of Assisi's rules allowed only for horse rides during infirmity or necessity – even when Serra suffered from a painful foot wound.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. California's Unstoppable Expeditioner

From being stingy with the term "walking on sunshine" to penning a love letter to mosquitoes that made him itch, Junipero Serra was truly committed to making Upper California a hotspot for missions: Despite his asthma and mosquito-induced leg issues, this unstoppable missionary founded nine missions, baptized thousands of Native Americans, and even trekked 250 miles between Vera Cruz and Mexico City, willingly joining Upper Californian expeditions.
Source => usccb.org

5. Dysfunctional Evangelism

Who needs GPS when you've got Junipero Serra? This bumbling missionary put the "fun" in "dysfunctional evangelism" when he set out to save the souls along the Pacific coast: But in reality, Junipero Serra’s mission work was far from perfect—founding nine missions, he brought much suffering to the Native American tribes. Far from just a mild case of broken compass syndrome, Serra's overzealous methods led to years of trauma and even wiped out entire tribes.
Source => theguardian.com

6. Gospel-spreading Energizer Bunny

Channeling his inner Energizer Bunny and spreading the good word like it was Nutella on toast, Junipero Serra set out to cover America in Catholic goodness: This relentless missionary crossed oceans, leaving his cushy university gig in Mallorca, all to advance the Gospel across what's now the southern US, notably founding multiple missions in California, and earning major bonus points for a devout dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary, focusing particularly on Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Source => ewtn.com

7. Holy Guacamole Gardener

Who knew Junipero Serra was a holy guacamole kind of guy? With a green thumb holier than the Pope's slipper: he was a pro-level gardener and secret horticulture mastermind, tactfully transforming the barren California landscape, nourishing both missions and their residents with bountiful harvests.
Source => medium.com

8. Sandal-wearing Hero

They say not all heroes wear capes, but some do wear sandals – and boy, did they put in the legwork: Junipero Serra walked a whopping 6,000 miles on foot, establishing 9 of the 21 missions that stretch 700 miles along California's El Camino Real.
Source => carmelmission.org

9. Controversial Saint Debate

Who needs a time machine when you've got a one-way ticket to Controversy Town? All aboard the Junipero Serra Express: Though revered as a saint by Pope Francis, Junipero Serra's role in founding Catholic missions in colonial California and the forced conversion of Native Americans has left many seeing him as a symbol of colonialism and cultural genocide, sparking debates around cultural imperialism, evangelism, and the Catholic Church's impact on native populations.
Source => vox.com

10. First U.S. Canonization

Move over Kardashians, Junipero Serra's got a holy claim to fame: In 2015, he became the first saint to be canonized on U.S. soil during a historic ceremony at Catholic University in Washington, despite some controversy over his role in the Spanish colonization of California.
Source => cnn.com

11. California City-Founder

You know that game we all play, 'Six Degrees of Father Serra'? That's right: without him, you'd be missing iconic Cali spots! The lovable padre turned city maker: Junipero Serra founded nine of California's 21 missions, which eventually became foundations for major cities in the Golden State.
Source => cacatholic.org

12. Limping Legendary Road Trips

He may have been a saint with a limp, but his road trips were legendary: Saint Junípero Serra traveled over 6,000 miles across Alta California despite a leg injury, founding missions, confirming 5,309 people, and kickstarting the region's economy.
Source => carmelmission.org

13. The Hop-along Saint

Junipero Serra was the OG California hop-along, taking footloose to a whole new level – quite literally: Despite a persistent swollen foot, which plagued him throughout his life, Serra managed to found nine out of twenty-one California missions - spanning from San Diego to San Francisco - all while traveling and serving the poor and marginalized communities along the coast.
Source => californiamissionsfoundation.org

14. Soul Train to California

While some folks trekked to the West for gold, ol' Junipero Serra hopped on the soul train northbound and made California his divine destination: He established nearly two dozen Catholic missions, ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of Native Americans, and playing a crucial role in spreading Christianity and Christian values throughout the region.
Source => encyclopedia.com

15. Inspired Name Change

Before monks were sporting hoodies and sandals like chillest dudes of the 18th century, Junipero Serra decided to play the name game in the Franciscan world: Inspired by Brother Juniper, a 13th-century Italian friar, he adopted the name Junipero in reverence, giving a whole new meaning to the phrase "What's in a name?"
Source => californiamissionsfoundation.org