Apostle of California’s Legacy Lives On as National Eucharistic Revival Approaches Final Year
SAN MATEO, CA – As the Church’s National Eucharistic Revival enters its final phase, the theme of “Going Out on Mission” takes center stage, echoing the spirit of Saint Junípero Serra. The Revival, which seeks to restore understanding and devotion to the Eucharist, will culminate on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2025, marking the end of a multi-year movement.
The year following Pentecost will hold particular significance as the Church commemorates the 10th anniversary of the canonization of Saint Junípero Serra, the 18th-century missionary who played a key role in spreading the Gospel in what is now California. His canonization, celebrated by Pope Francis in 2015, underscored his embodiment of a Church “which goes forth,” as the pontiff described during the canonization Mass:
“Father Junípero Serra was the embodiment of ‘a Church which goes forth,’ a Church which sets out to bring everywhere the reconciling tenderness of God,” Pope Francis said.
Christian Clifford, an author and historian specializing in the Catholic Church’s early presence in California, sees a connection between the National Eucharistic Revival and Serra’s missionary zeal. Clifford noted, “The National Eucharistic Revival, a movement to restore understanding and devotion to the Eucharist, is a powerful example of what Pope Francis shared.”
A key highlight of the Revival was the National Eucharistic Congress, held in Indianapolis in July 2024, the first such gathering in 83 years. The Congress began with Eucharistic processions along four pilgrimage routes that converged in Indianapolis, including the western route named in honor of Saint Junípero Serra. This route, which began in San Francisco and spanned 2,200 miles, reflected the vast distances Serra traveled—an estimated 24,000 miles over his lifetime—to spread the Gospel, often on foot and in great physical pain.
As the Revival’s final year continues, organizers are planning a significant pilgrimage starting in Indianapolis and ending in Los Angeles on Corpus Christi Sunday, June 22, 2025. Clifford hopes that this pilgrimage will pass through Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, a historic site central to California’s Catholic and colonial history.
Mission San Gabriel, founded in 1771 under the direction of Saint Junípero Serra, played a vital role in the Spanish colonization of California. It served as a way-point for numerous expeditions, including the Anza Expedition, which crossed the Sonora and Mojave deserts to reach the mission in 1776. The colonists later moved on to establish Pueblo de Los Ángeles, now the city of Los Angeles.
Clifford, who has walked nearly 800 miles along the California Missions Trail, is deeply inspired by the early Catholic settlers—indigenous, Spanish, and mestizo—who formed the fabric of California’s Catholic history. His personal pilgrimage mirrors the Church’s call to “go forth” on mission, a theme central to the Revival’s final phase.
For those looking to deepen their understanding of Saint Junípero Serra and his contributions to the faith, Clifford offers a range of resources available at missions1769.com/saint-junipero-serra. These materials aim to inspire Catholics to carry out their mission with the same courage and devotion that Serra exemplified.
As the Church continues to embrace its mission, the legacy of Saint Junípero Serra remains a powerful reminder of the enduring call to bring the Good News to all.
For more information, visit www.Missions1769.com or contact Christian Clifford at missions1769@gmail.com.
