Bl. Junipero Serra

Blessed Junípero Serra, an 18th-century Franciscan missionary, is best known for founding a series of missions along the coast of what is now California. Leaving behind a prestigious academic life in Spain and later in Mexico, Serra chose instead the path of hardship and evangelization. He walked thousands of miles—despite debilitating leg pain—to bring the Gospel to Indigenous peoples, establishing nine of California’s twenty-one missions.

For Catholic professionals, Serra’s legacy offers a profound reflection on perseverance, vision, and the missionary spirit within daily work. He embodied the idea that true leadership involves both sacrifice and service. In a professional context, this translates into a willingness to go beyond comfort zones for the sake of a greater mission—whether that’s innovating ethically, mentoring others, or standing up for human dignity in challenging situations.

Yet Serra’s story is also one that invites discernment. His life reminds us that missionary efforts, especially those entwined with colonial systems, must always be examined through the lens of justice, humility, and respect for all cultures. As professionals, we are similarly called to evaluate the broader impact of our work: are we building systems that uplift the vulnerable, or entrenching inequality?

In both his zeal and his flaws, Junípero Serra teaches us that holiness in work is not about perfection, but about persistence in striving to do good—and the courage to be transformed along the way. May his example inspire us to build not just careers, but legacies rooted in service, truth, and faith.