Petra...The Birthplace of Father Junipero Serra

Growing up in Southern California, the name Junipero Serra is synonymous with the California missions. Our landlord in Mallorca encouraged us to visit the village of Petra, the birthplace and childhood home of Serra. We arrived in the picturesque town on the eastern side of the island and found this to be the 300h year of his birth. And, as Ian's fourth grade class is in the midst of studying the missions and their connections to Spain, the timing of our visit couldn't have been more perfect.

We stopped in a beautiful church and followed signs to the museum. Closed when we arrived, we stood out front, took photos of the tile plaques of the missions, including the San Gabriel Mission that is close to our home. An older couple sitting outside a home across the alley from the museum asked (in Spanish) what we were up to and we were able to communicate that we were from California and interested in Serra. Within a minute or so, a woman who worked at the museum came out to greet us, and spent some time helping us to understand the contents and layout of the museum. This town is very proud of their native son and his spiritual contributions to bringing both Christianity and agricultural education to the California native peoples he and his compatriots encountered along the way. The museum did a good job in helping orient me to the greater mission that was being carried out, as well as the full life of education, teaching, and leading that Serra lived even prior to entering into his role as head of the California Missions.

After our museum tour, we were led next door and the home where Serra was born and raised was opened up just for us. Simple and elementary, it is well preserved and gives a good window into the agricultural and living patterns that shaped Mallorcan life three hundred years ago. This was a special visit to a very special place and we are thankful to those responsible for celebrating the life of Serra far away from the missions that were his final home.