Blessed Junípero Serra
The Serra Club is named after Blessed Junípero Serra, a famous Spanish pioneer missionary. Like Father Serra, today’s Serrans put faith into action. Whether through meetings, vocational programs, or personal involvement in school, parish and diocesan activities, Serrans accept the challenge of fostering vocations and encouraging spiritual growth.
Early Life
Junípero Serra was born Miquel Josep Serra i Ferrer on the Island of Mallorca, Spain in 1713. At the age of 16, he entered the order of the Franciscans, taking the name Junípero – after Saint Juniper, the companion of St. Francis.
Friar Serra studied philosophy and theology in Spain, and was ordained a priest. For a number of years he taught and preached at the Convent of San Francisco in Mallorca.
Missionary Life
In 1749, at the age of 36, Father Serra volunteered to serve the Franciscan missions in the new world. He left Spain and sailed for Vera Cruz, Mexico. From there, he set out on foot to Mexico City to dedicate his mission vocation at the shrine of Mexico’s Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Father Serra spent nearly 20 years establishing and maintaining missions in Mexico, eventually being appointed the superior of a band of 15 Franciscans. In 1769, he traveled to modern-day California, where he founded nine missions and was responsible for numerous others.
In 1784, at the age or 70, and after traveling 24,000 miles and baptizing 6,000 Indians (about 10 percent of the California Native American population), Father Junípero Serra died at Mission San Carlos Borromeo, where he remains buried under the sanctuary floor.
Legacy
Father Serra is remembered as an important historical figure in California to this day. Many places and streets are named after him, statues have been erected of him, and Spain and the United States have both featured Father Serra on postage stamps.
More importantly, however, Father Serra’s missionary legacy lives on. The site of his burial, the mission of San Carlos Borromeo, remains a place of public veneration. August 28th is the anniversary of the death of Father Serra, and is set aside in special remembrance of his many contributions to the Catholic Church in America.
Junípero Serra was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 25, 1988 – bringing him one step closer to being canonized a saint.
Let Father Serra inspire us to nurture vocations and become missionaries ourselves as we work for vocations!
Read more about Father Serra at the website of the Serra Club of Bethlehem, PA or at Wikipedia.
Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Junipero Serra
Heavenly Father, we ask you to look lovingly on the missionary journey
of your faithful servant, Junípero Serra.
His steadfast efforts in founding nine missions in California
and the conversion of thousands of Native Americans
have inspired the formation and work of Serra International.
This ministry in Father Serra’s name is to encourage and affirm
vocations to priesthood and vowed religious life.
We pray that you bless this holy and courageous missionary
and grant him the ultimate honor of Sainthood
in your heavenly kingdom.
We ask this in the name of Thy Blessed Trinity
and of Mary, Queen of vocations.Amen.
Club Officers
Mary Wackwitz - President
Mary and her husband Don recently moved to Madison from Green Bay, where they were active in the local Serra Club. As President of the Serra club, she organizes and leads our bi-weekly meetings, as well as overseeing general club operations.Fr. Paul Arinze - Chaplain
Fr. Paul is the Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Madison. As the Chaplain, he leads the Serra club in prayer and helps to coordinate joint Serra Club-Vocations Office efforts. In his spare time, Fr. Paul enjoys tennis.Grant Emmel - VP of Programs
Grant works as assistant to the Office of the Vicar General for the Diocese of Madison. As Vice President of Programs, he organizes speakers for our bi-weekly meetings and other events.Mary Uhler - VP of Membership
Mary is the Editor of the Catholic Herald, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Madison. As Vice President of Membership, she works to recruit new members to the Serra Club.Chris Reitz - VP of Vocations
Chris works at the University of Wisconsin - Madison doing engine research. As Vice President of Vocations, he helps to develop programs that foster vocations in the Diocese. In his spare time, Chris enjoys Jeeping.
