Standing in opposition to political controversy over the legacy of Catholic missionary work in California, a delegation of politicians and historians from Spain visited the state Nov. 29 – Dec. 4 to mark a decade since Saint Junípero Serra’s canonization and draw attention to his faith and dedication to native peoples.
The delegation included members of the Consell de Mallorca, which governs the island of Mallorca where St. Junípero was born.
Born in Spain, St. Junípero was a Franciscan priest who established eight missions in California to bring the Gospel to the New World. Critics have claimed that St. Junípero’s work was a colonialist imposition of Christianity upon native peoples. The state of California recently removed a statue of St. Junípero from a rest stop, according to Angelus News.
Yet many people from Mallorca, including political figures, believe the saint and his legacy deserve to be defended.
“Junípero Serra, despite the controversy surrounding him, remains a symbol of our identity and a point of connection between Mallorca and California,” Llorenç Galmés Verger, president of the Consell de Mallorca, said earlier this year, according to Angelus News.
Galmés Verger insists that St. Junípero is “the most universal Mallorcan.”
The Basilica of Sant Francesc in Palma, the capital of Mallorca, held a conference and concert Nov. 28, the day before the delegation’s trip, to mark the anniversary of the local hero’s canonization.
During their trip to California, the delegation visited the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption and three mission churches. The group also met with Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco and representatives from Silicon Valley tech companies.
A group of American and European experts on the saint held a roundtable discussion about the saint’s life and legacy Dec. 3. The event also included a preview of the forthcoming documentary California Made in Spain.
“The relationship between Mallorca, Spain, California, and the United States continues today, more vibrant than ever,” David Bolton, who moderated the panel, said after the event, according to Angelus News. “It is heartening to see that the bond first forged more than 250 years ago remains strong and meaningful, resonating with people on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Renee Vargas, who attended the roundtable, said sharing details regarding what St. Junípero did can help illuminate the saint’s virtues.
“I think the [Consell’s] commitment to retelling Junípero Serra’s story through actual documents and writings will reveal more of his compassion, ingenuity, and intentional discipleship that shaped the communities he walked with,” Vargas said, according to Angelus News. “As we share more of his truth, the facts will refute the misconceptions surrounding his mission.”
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