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Seminarians, Jimmy Mendoza and Drew Stanley, ventured on an end-of-summer pilgrimage to central and northern California, in an effort to get away and find God’s presence in a place that neither had previously visited. Their departure date from the Kansas City area was July 26, 2025.
As their summer assignments were completed, they were free to journey together. Both served with Totus Tuus over the summer, and experience that both described as ‘very positive.’
“I had gone on a pilgrimage to France during the spring,” Drew admitted, “and it was a very spiritual journey,” he added as he began to tell me about the California excursion. I had been wanting to go to California and decided to ask Jimmy if he’d consider going with me.”
Jimmy reflected that Drew tossed out the idea in January, “after he got back from a pilgrimage to France in March.”
Drew’s experience in France was, by all indications, something other than ‘some sort of pilgrimage.’ Among the extraordinary blessings was the opportunity to see the shrine of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. He’d gone with a group of young adults, having never before been out of the country. “It was very spiritual,” he said, adding, “fantastic really!”
Jimmy indicated that, in his approach, after an open-ended question about their eventual destination, Drew pitched California. Despite his desire to see the California Redwoods in particular, Drew gives full credit to Jimmy about the final decision.
“We had no idea (what awaited us),” Jimmy mused.
They learned that the tomb of St. Junipero Serra is in California, in Carmel, to be sure, also known as Carmel-by-the-Sea. The Spanish founded a settlement on the Monterey Peninsula in 1771, when Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo was relocated by St. Junípero Serra from nearby Monterey. Mission Carmel served as the headquarters of the Californian mission system, until the Mexican secularization act of 1833, when the area was divided into rancho grants.
“We wanted to go there to pray for the Serrans, because they pray for us,” Jimmy observed. And that, they did! They requested prayer intentions of Serrans prior to their departure, “and we got quite a few,” Jimmy said. The men spent one day at the shrine.
They both acknowledged God’s providence and their distinct understanding of His presence with them at every turn. Jimmy recalled that when they stepped off the plane in Sacramento (where they began their California trek) a couple approached them and asked if they could pray with Jimmy and Drew.
“They were on the same flight,” Jimmy recalled. “They must have seen us praying evening prayer together at the Dallas airport before we boarded the second flight of our journey,” he added. “They were waiting for us when we exited the jetway after getting off the plane,” acknowledging that the duo were Protestant missionaries on mission to evangelize the city of Sacramento. They did pray together and then parted ways, each following where God seemed to be leading.
Both Jimmy and Drew spoke of their encounter with the Vietnamese community, and specifically a Vietnamese parish in Sacramento.
“I needed to go to confession, and it was Sunday,” Jimmy… confessed. “I hope Father knows English because I don’t know Vietnamese,” he recalled thinking. The Sacramental process went without a hitch. Afterward, the pair asked if there were any good places to eat nearby. It turned out that the parish Knights of Columbus ran a Vietnamese restaurant at the back of the church in a separate room, where they feasted until they could eat no more. During breakfast/brunch, they learned about the Vietnamese Martyrs, and they met a deacon who
told them about the many faithful Catholics in Sacramento. Drew acknowledged they left the parish with new friends.
Their mode of travel was a rental car. From Sacramento, they headed southwest to Santa Cruz.
They arrived in Santa Cruz (about 120 miles south of San Francisco) where, having emailed an order of priests beforehand asking about perhaps a place to stay, they were hosted by The Oblates of St. Joseph, who, it turns out, have a guest house where the duo were able to stay.
From here, they ventured a bit further south to Carmel, and to the Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, where St. Junipero Serra is buried. Though disappointed that they could not enter the Mission and see the burial site of St. Junipero Serra, they were both happy about the opportunity to stand in front of the Mission gate, where they offered all the specific Serran prayer intentions they carried with them, along with their own special intentions.
They made their way north through the Jedadiah Smith Redwoods State Park, where they saw trees taller than any they’d ever previously known. Drew had always wanted to see the Redwoods. Drew, as it turns out, has a friend in northern California, where they were able to stay for three nights. They eventually found their way to southern Oregon before returning to Sacramento, where they departed for Kansas City on August 2.
Their favorite parts of the trip?
Both were quick to identify the Shrine of St. Junipero Serra, and their opportunity to pray for Serrans at the shrine, as one of their favorite experiences.
“It’s hard to pick one,” Drew acknowledged, “but I’d have to say the most impactful moment for me was walking with Jimmy through the Holy Doors to receive a Plenary Indulgence (during the Jubilee Year).” One such occasion occurred at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento.
“I felt very close with our Blessed Mother during that prayer,” he recalled.
What is their message for Serrans as they head back to seminary life in St. Louis?
“Thank you for your prayers,” Jimmy quickly responded, to which he added, “Thank you for trusting us with your prayer intentions.” Drew agreed. They both acknowledged that seminary life is made significantly better through the prayers and the support of Serrans, recognizing that not all seminarians from other parts of the country enjoy the same.
“So many of our needs are fulfilled by the generosity of Serrans,” Drew observed with gratitude.
“God’s providence is so evident,” they both declared. “Experiences like this help you see the universality of the Church,” Drew concluded.
Both men are back in St. Louis at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, where Jimmy is in his final year of collegiate seminary studies (Discipleship Stage), and Drew begins his second year of philosophy studies (also Discipleship Stage). Both are looking forward to the bi-annual seminary visit by Serrans in October.
“I’m more excited than I’ve ever been!” Jimmy declared in reference to his return to seminary life, as we wrapped up our conversation. “This is where the Lord wants me to be.”
And that made me smile. God bless our terrific seminarians!
