Dear Friend,
Soon after Pope Francis announced in early 2015 that Bl. Junípero Serra would be canonized, I began a journey of discovery leading to writing four books (two of which received Catholic Media Association Book Awards), many articles, public speaking engagements, and walking the 800-mile California Missions Trail.
This past year marked the 10th anniversary of St. Junípero Serra’s canonization and was full of opportunities to speak and write about him.
Hands down, the highlight was visiting Mallorca, Spain, home to St. Junípero Serra for the first 36 years of his life. It was so special. I gave a talk just feet from the baptismal font where he was baptized! My host was the wonderful Catalina Font, President of the Casa Serra Foundation, whom I also saw during her recent visit to San Francisco (read about it here). Also noteworthy was my breaking news story regarding the removal of the statue of Junípero Serra in Hillsborough, California.
Below is a recap of what I did since my last holiday letter.
- I was interviewed by . . .
Brandon & Raul of the JP2 Morning Crew on St. JP2 Catholic Radio in San Diego
José Luis López-Linares of Madrid, director and producer of WE THE HISPANOS @ Lópezli Films
Guillermo Bauzá at Ràdio Petra, Petra, Mallorca, Spain
James Day for Columbia, the magazine of the Knights of Columbus
Nick Patrick of The Friar, the student newspaper of Junipero Serra High School
- I wrote in . . .
Independent Catholic News (London)
Articles in the National Catholic Register
- From Indianapolis to LA: National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Sets Off on the Drexel Route
- 5 Reasons to Make a Pilgrimage on the California Missions Trail
- 10 Years a Saint: The Enduring Witness of Junípero Serra
- Where Is St. Junípero Serra? Mystery Over Missing Freeway Landmark
- I was a guest speaker at the following . . .
El Carmelo School, 4th grade, Palo Alto, CA
Camino de California, St. Phillip the Apostle Church, Pasadena, CA
Convent of Sant Bernardí in Petra, Mallorca, Spain
Camino Serra, Mission Santa Clara, Santa Clara, CA
- Special Notes
“Catholics in the New World”, that I was interviewed for the summer of 2024, was released by the Diocese of Savannah.
The petition to nominate Pablo Tac for the cause of canonization is close to 700 signatures!
I have been on the ground floor of an exciting project on the California Missions Trail. Expect news about it in February on socials @Missions1769. #Buencamino
Thank you for your continued support!
Merry Christmas! ¡Feliz Navidad! عيد ميلاد سعيد!Maligayang Pasko! Bon Nadal! Feliz Natal! Fröhliche Weihnachten!Felicem natalem Christi!
Happy New Year!¡Feliz año nuevo! สวัสดีปีใหม่! Maligayang bagong taon! Bon any nou! Felice anno nuovo! Bonne année!
Saint Junípero Serra and Pablo Tac, pray for us!
¡Siempre adelante y nunca para atrás! #GoGoStJunipero #PabloTacPray4Us #CaliforniaMissionsTrail
—
Christian Clifford
Missions1769.com
Author/ Educator/ Freelance Writer / Speaker
PABLO TAC PETITION /FB/Twitter/IG/TikTok/Linkedin/Goodreads/Amazon/flickr/Quoura
CHRISTIAN CLIFFORD @ Missions1769.com 