St. Junipero Serra (1713-1784) Part the Second Last week I gave you a brief biography of St. Junipero Serra, the “Father of California” and Franciscan Missionary from Spain. Born in 1713 and died at his California Mission San Carlos in 1784. He founded nine missions in California that protected, taught and catechized Native Americans up and down what would become the State of California. You can still visit all of them and they are a national treasure.
On September 23rd, 2015, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass on the east portico of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. During Mass, Pope Francis will be canonizing Blessed Junipero Serra, a Spanish-born Franciscan Friar known for starting nine Spanish missions in California in the 1700’s. Born at Petra, Majorca, Spain, November 24, 1713, Junípero Serra was baptized on the same day
On August 1, 2015 my letter of appointment from Timothy Cardinal Dolan made me the first Pastor of a new parish in the Archdiocese of New York. Merging the two historically rich and important parishes of Immaculate Conception and Assumption into a single family in Tuckahoe and Eastchester, NY would form the parish. Throughout the Archdiocese of New York the two-year project of Making All Things New concluded with the merger and I want to thank Deacon Anthony Viola and the members of the parishes that joined the cluster to assist Cardinal Dolan in this monumental effort.
Was it just on July 1st, 2005, Father Raaser became pastor of the Churches of Immaculate Conception and Assumption? Has it really been ten years that Fr. Raaser has ministered among us: baptizing our children, witnessing our marriages, anointing our sick, burying our dead, celebrating God's forgiveness of our sins and celebrating the Eucharist? It is ten years! Ten years of selfgiving love.
Join us on Monday, October 5, as we ponder the Mercy of God as revealed to St. Faustina on her Feast Day! Enjoy the changing leaves as we drive there! Take the time to pause and refresh yourself!