Michael Joseph was born in Petra on the island of Mallorca on 24 November 1713, the son of Antonio Serra and Margaret Ferrer. He received his confirmation at the age of 2, on the occasion of a visit by the Bishop of Mallorca. As a boy, he helped his family in the fields and attended the school attached to the Franciscan convent of San Bernardino.
After a year of philosophical studies in the convent of St Francis in Palma, he took the Franciscan habit in the convent of St Mary of Jesus at the age of 17. On 15 September 1731 he took his vows and took the name of Junípero because of his great admiration for Friar Juniper, one of the first companions of St Francis. After completing his theological studies with distinction, he was ordained a deacon in 1736. He was then ordained a priest at an uncertain date, but it is certain that in 1743 he was assigned to teach philosophy at the convent of St Francis of Palma, where he had spent his formative years and completed his theological studies. This first period of teaching highlighted his gifts as a fine orator, so much so that his fame and admiration grew throughout the island, so much so that he was called to occupy the chair of Scotist theology at the famous Lulliana University in Palma de Mallorca.
Br. Junípero left for the Missions of America at the age of 35, accompanied by one of his disciples, Br. Francisco Palóu, who remained close to him throughout his life.
He left Malaga, near Cádiz, on 13 April 1749 and, after a dramatic crossing, arrived in San Juan de Puerto Rico on 18 October, landing on the Mexican coast on 7 December. After preparing for the mission among the indigenous people, he and his companion, Br. Palóu, set off for the Sierra Gorda in north-central Mexico, arriving in Jalpán on 16 June. Here he began to preach to the natives, helping them not only to know the common prayers and the catechism, which he translated into the local language, but also to learn the rudiments of science and art and to work the land. Thanks to their help, he was able to build a stone temple in Santiago de Jalpán in the Baroque style, which is still considered architecturally interesting and which was later used as a model for the construction of four churches in the other missions. His activity was extraordinary in every field, but especially in evangelisation.
From 1758 to 1767 he lived in the Apostolic College of San Ferdinando as master of novices and preacher of missions in various Mexican dioceses. He never neglected the importance of liturgical celebrations, but above all he introduced a model of community life and economic organisation, teaching how to work the fields, raise livestock and practise the art of pottery.
In June 1767, following the expulsion of the Jesuits from the possessions of the Vice-Kingdom of Spain by Charles III, the missions of Lower California were entrusted to the Franciscans and Br. Junípero was appointed their superior. On 1 April 1768, together with 14 other companions, he made the courageous and arduous journey to the peninsula of Lower California, where he spared no effort. After only two years he was able to found the first Californian mission, San Diego d'Alcalà; later, moving to Upper California, he founded the missions of San Carlos Borromeo in Monterey (later moved to the banks of the Carmel River), San Antonio de Padua on 14 July 1771, St Gabriel (now part of the city of Los Angeles) on 8 September 1771, and San Luis Obispo de Tolosa on 1 September 1772. He continued his slow but inexorable work of missionary evangelisation by founding new missions: that of San Francisco on 1 August 1776, that of San Juan Capestrano on 1 November and that of Santa Clara on 7 January 1777.
It is from these missions that the Franciscan names of such important cities as San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles... are derived.
He died on 28 August 1784 at the Carmelite retreat in Monterey, California, at the age of 71, having spent 36 years in the mission. His faithful disciple, Brother Francis Palóu, wrote an eyewitness account of his adventurous life.
Since 1 March 1931, his statue, representing the State of California, has stood among those of the Founding Fathers of the United States in the Hall of Congress in Washington, the only one of a religious in the Shrine of the Illustrious Americans. The highest peak of the Santa Lucia mountain range in California bears his name.
He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 25 September 1988 and canonised by Pope Francis on 23 September 2015.
Cf. Friars Minor Saints and Blesseds, edited by Br. Silvano Bracci, OFM and Sr. Antonietta Pozzebon, FMSC. Editrice Velar, 2009, pp. 334-337.