Serra Club of Beaumont

History

The first Serra Club was formed by four Catholic laypersons in 1935 in Seattle, Washington.

The founding Serrans chose Father Junipero Serra as their organization's patron. He was born in 1713 in Petra on the island of Mallorca, Spain. When he died in 1784, he was laid to rest in the San Carlos Borromeo mission, in Carmel, California. The 18th-century Franciscan missionaries founded many missions in Mexico and California. He established nine missions himself, and baptized thousands of Native Americans.

Father Serra was chosen as patron because of his commitment to his vocation, as exemplified by his notable quote: "Always go forward, never turn back." He was beatified toward Sainthood on September 25, 1988.

The Serra Club of Beaumont was chartered on October 5, 1949, with 41 members.

Currently, it has a membership of 39.

In October 1999, the Club received their 50th Anniversary Banner.