01 Jul – My Daily Bread: A Reason2bCatholic blog

Born in Majorca, Junípero Serra joined the Franciscans in 1730. A gifted teacher, he left Spain for the Mexican missions in 1749. He was appointed superior of a group of Franciscans assigned to Alta California (now the state of California). Despite a painful leg injury, he preached Christ to the natives up and down the coast, founding the first nine California missions. When the Spanish military presence threatened the economic independence of the missions, he returned to Mexico City to plead for the rights of the natives. His personal motto was “Always forward, never back.” Junípero died at Mission Carmel in 1784, and was canonized on September 23, 2015. Credit: Magnificat Magazine, July 1, 2020. For more about this great saint, please click on the image. Peace be with you!

Katherine Ocello is a mother, wife, faithful lay Catholic, and blogger in her spare time. Her words from two years ago resonate today and will likely do so in the days, months, and years ahead. Hers is a message so many faithful Catholics need to hear today. We need not be discouraged at the state of affairs; rather, as Katherine wisely says, let's look to the saints - these holy men and women of our Catholic tradition - as an example of what we, ourselves, are each called upon to do each day. For Katherine's poignant message, "Such a Time As This," used with the generous permission of the author, please click on the image. Peace be with you!