It’s going to take a miracle for Blessed Father Junipero Serra, founder of the California missions, to become a saint. And, if it were up to Andrew Galvan, curator of Old Mission Dolores, that miracle would take place right there in San Francisco. Within the walls of the mission church would be just fine. Serra, who lived from 1713 to 1784, founded the first nine of the 21 California missions. He is buried at Mission San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel. For Galvan, a member of the board of directors of the Junipero Serra Cause for Canonization, the journey to sainthood for the Franciscan friar has been a long one. And, for some, the fact that Galvan, who traces his heritage to a pair of native people who were baptized by missionaries and are buried in the cemetery grounds for which he is now responsible, is on Serra’s side is a bit of a miracle in itself. Galvan has assisted in the cause for sainthood since meeting Father Noel Francis Moholy at Mission San Jose in 1978. “When Father Noel found out I was a California Mission Indian descendant who liked Father Serra — gold,” Galvan said.

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