St. Junipero Serra: A saint for those discerning their vocation

Miguel Serra, known as Saint Junipero Serra, was born in 1713 on the island of Mallorca. After an initial rejection from the Franciscans due to his age and health, he successfully joined the order in 1731. He chose the name Junipero to honor a companion of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Serra served as a philosophy professor before requesting permission from his superior in 1748 to travel to North America to evangelize indigenous peoples. He eventually became the first canonized American saint of Hispanic origin.