Father Serra Founds the First California Mission 

Father Junipero Serra

On July 16, 1769, Father Junipero Serra founded the mission at San Diego. The simple, original structure on Presidio Hill also served as the first church building. Yet early on, there were misunderstandings and problems with the local Indians. Even after the troubles calmed, the priest desperately wanted to see converts among the Indians, but after six months, he had not baptized a single one.

San Diego Mission today

The following January, an exploration expedition that had traveled north toward San Francisco returned exhausted and nearly starved, but they reported that the Indians they had seen appeared friendly and eager to learn about the gospel. Father Serra became excited and wrote to Mexico requesting more missionaries be sent to California. He was ready to seize the opportunity.

San Carlos Mission today

When a ship sailed into San Diego, Serra eventually sailed up the coast with them. They reached Monterey Bay in May. Here they established the mission San Carlos Borromeo. Thus went the California mission system which would dot the coast about a day's ride apart. Their main purpose was to convert the native population, but they would also provide accommodations to travelers up and down the California coast. Serra himself would found the first nine of what would be twenty-one missions. They not only played an important part in California history and also that of America.

Father Serra is often depicted with an Indian child
since he had such a heart for them

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