Juniper Serra was born in Spain in 1713. As a young man he joined the Franciscans and became a missionary to California, when it was a Spanish territory. During his years, there he founded many missions, which ministered to the Native Americans, and brought many of them into the Catholic Church. 
    
There is a statue of St. Juniper Serra in the National Statuary Hall in the Capital of the United States.

St. Thomas, the Apostle, plays a very important role in the Gospels. After Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, He determined to do to Jerusalem, where He had recently been attacked and threatened. The other Apostles tried to talk Him out of it, but Thomas said, “Let us go with Him to Jerusalem, and die there with Him.” Here he shows great courage and love of Christ.
    
On Easter Sunday, Thomas, for some reason we are not given, is not with the others in the Upper Room when Jesus appears to them. When they tell Thomas that they have seen the Risen Lord, he refuses to believe them and cynically says he will not believe unless he can put his fingers into the nail marks in His hands and his hand into Jesus’ side. The following Sunday, Jesus appears to them again and Thomas is with them. Jesus shows Thomas His side and His hands. Thomas fell to his knees and proclaimed, “My Lord and my God,” the most profound act of faith in Jesus in the Gospels.
    
Unfortunately, Thomas is remembered for his doubt, rather than his faith and his courage.