Two statues of St. Junipero Serra have been moved from a Catholic mission and church in southern California amid fears of vandalism as protests around the state continue to topple statues.
The Mission San Juan Capistrano and its neighboring church have removed statues of Serra from their outside displays this week.
Diocese of Orange spokeswoman Tracey Kincaid told the OC Register that the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano moved the statue “out of precaution.” The statue, which was anchored to a pedestal at the entrance, was removed on June 23.
The mission next door relocated the statute from its front courtyard to its Sala building.
The above comes from a June 25 story on Catholic News Agency.
Lord willing, my wife and I will be up there praying! Saint Junipero, Apostle of California, pray for us!
I wish that I lived close enough to join in this tribute to St. Junipero.
This morning at 6 a.m. Archbishop Cordileone of San Francisco started the vigil by leading us in the rosary and prayers of exorcism. It was a powerful and blessed time of prayer. I encourage those of you in the Bay Area to attend and pray as you are able. For those who don’t live nearby, pray. And, maybe especially on Saint Junipero’s feast day today, pray at a statue of this Saint in your area. As Father Serra exhorts us, “Always go forward, never turn back!”