Explores the life of the Spanish Franciscan missionary who traveled up the Pacific coast to convert the Native Americans to Catholicism and turn them into European-style farmers and explains why he is commonly credited as the father of modern California.

Mallorca -- Petra -- Becoming Junípero -- Priest and professor -- The voyage so far -- The Sierra Gorda: 1600-1750: the emergence of the Franciscan missions -- Serra in the Sierra Gorda missions -- The Convento de San Fernando and popular missions -- Agent of the inquisition -- Phoenix no more -- Securing Alta California -- Building the Escalera -- Father president/old father missionary.