It is no small accident that the newest parish in Camarillo is named after Blessed Junípero Serra and constructed in the mission style of early California. Along the foothills of Camarillo, the area is rich in agriculture and new housing.

Padre Serra Church faces onto a horseshoe-shaped courtyard, used as a place of gathering after Mass on Sundays and special events. It is "a mission for the 21st century, a beautiful village," says Father Jarlath Dolan, pastor. After Mass families, old and young, sit at tables, share food and visit with one another.

This summer the courtyard was also the gathering area for the Padre Serra Summer Camp 2004 for children of the parish. The theme of the camp, "God the Builder," was appropriate for a parish named after a builder of missions.

Father Dolan says that the parish is very focused on the family, with a five-year pastoral plan which focuses on evangelization. To meet the challenges of the Synod, the parish is implementing "whole family catechesis," an approach that entails Catholic education with conversion before catechesis --- "building strong Catholic homes," says the pastor.

Padre Serra Parish has grown tremendously since its founding in 1988, growing very quickly from an initial 250 families. "It's a parish that is very young at heart, young in spirit, and they like liturgies that foster and encourage them to participate," says Father Dolan. "They want to be active throughout the liturgy. And, if there is a clear, explicit need, they will respond for the poor, the marginalized, the challenged, the homeless. They are particularly generous."

Padre Serra Parish is a special place for parishioners of all age levels and ability to participate. Parishioners have developed their own "grassroots level of organization which is very collaborative," says Father Dolan. The seniors are mainly the "Marthas" and the "Matthews" of the parish. They clean the church, act as altar servers during the week, and are very involved in a number of social service ministries to the poor and needy.

Since many parishioners are commuters who travel great distances to work, their involvement revolves around already tight schedules. But there is great participation in groups like the Padre Serra Moms, religious education, Renew, Bereavement Support, Adult Bible Study, Knights of Columbus, Youth Ministry, Serra Singles, Justice and Peace, Stephen Ministries, and Landings (for Returning Catholics), to name a few.

The people drive this parish, says Father Dolan. They have formed "a grassroots level of organization which is very collaborative. And the ministries of the parish flow out of the liturgies and back into it. It's a parish that is very liturgical." And always looking forward --- or, in the words of its patron saint, "Siempre adelante."