Never Turn Back

Never Turn Back: Father Serra’s Mission describes the life of the Spanish priest, Father Junípero Serra, who established missions in California in the late eighteenth century and discusses the lack of understanding between him and the Indians he came to convert.

In 1769, Father Serra journeys to Alta California to found a Roman Catholic mission among the American Indian people. If successful, it will be the first Spanish settlement in present-day California. Father Serra is an extremely important figure in the development of present-day California. His missions not only served as the centerpiece to the development of Catholicism in California, but also as a key foundation to the growth of metropolitan cities such as San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego.

Father Junípero Serra’s legacy still remains along the former El Camino Real (the present-day Highway 101 & San Diego Freeway) in the form of twenty-one missions, nine of which he personally founded and developed. Each mission has its own individual identity, history, and unique traditions.

The Mission System was implemented under the guidelines of the Catholic Church and the Spanish government. They were set up to become the primary center of evangelization to Christianize the Native Americans, and also were designed to train the natives to become successful tradespeople in the new Spanish society.

Alex Haley, as General Editor, wrote the introduction.