Francisco Pareja facts for kids

Francisco Pareja (born around 1570 – died January 25, 1628) was a Franciscan missionary. He worked in Spanish Florida, mainly at a mission called San Juan del Puerto. Pareja was an important leader for the Franciscans. He spoke for them to the Spanish government. He also served as a custodio, which was a leader for the group of missionaries in Florida.

Later, the Franciscan group in Florida became a bigger organization called a provincia (province). In 1616, his fellow missionaries chose Pareja to be their leader, called a provincial.

Pareja is most famous as a linguist. He created the first writing system for the Native American Timucua language. In 1612, he published the first book ever written in a native language of the United States. It was a catechism, which is a book of Christian teachings, in both Spanish and Timucua. Between 1612 and 1627, he published eight more books in these languages. These books helped other missionaries teach. Six of his books are still around today. He taught Timucuan people to read and write in just six months.

The first church in what is now the United States was started by Fray Francisco de Pareja in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1560. However, many Spanish churches existed in America even earlier.

Early Life of Francisco Pareja

Pareja was likely born in Auñón, Spain. This town was part of the Diocese of Toledo. We don't know the exact year he was born. He would have studied at a school and seminary there to become a priest.

Pareja's Missionary Work

In 1595, Pareja traveled to Florida with eleven other Franciscans. The Spanish government sent them to start missions for the Native Americans. This was the third time Spain tried to set up missions in Florida. Earlier attempts by Jesuit missionaries had failed. Some Jesuits were even killed, and others went back to Spain. A group of 13 Franciscans arrived in St. Augustine in 1587. But within five years, most of them felt discouraged and left.

Pareja worked as a missionary on the east coast of Florida. He was especially active at San Juan del Puerto. This was a doctrina, or mission, that Franciscans started in 1587. It was located at the main village of the Saturiwa chiefdom. The Saturiwa people were good farmers, hunters, and fishers. They also had a well-organized government.

The Franciscans set up their missions in different levels. A doctrina was the main base where a friar lived and taught Christianity. Visitas were smaller sites in other villages. The friar from the doctrina would visit these visitas on Sundays and special holy days. All the friars connected to a doctrina formed a custodia. One of them, called a custodio, led this group. By 1602, the San Juan del Puerto doctrina had nine visitas linked to it.

Pareja's doctrina was on what is now Fort George Island. This island is near the mouth of the St. Johns River in modern-day Jacksonville. A cacique, or chief, ruled the Timucuan village connected to San Juan del Puerto. The people there spoke the Mocama dialect. In 1603, a Saturiwa chief named Maria told the Spanish that her people were happy with Father Pareja. She might have ruled until the 1620s.

Pareja had good success with the Saturiwa people. By 1602, his custodio had 500 Christians. Almost that many people were confirmed during a visit in 1606 by Bishop Altamirano. This included Cacica Maria and five of her chiefs from the area.

Creating Written Timucuan

Pareja's most important achievement was creating a written form of the Timucua language. His catechism in Spanish and Timucua was published in 1612. This was the first book ever written in a native language of the United States. He published several other books in both languages until 1627. Because of his books and teaching, both Timucuan men and women learned to read and write in less than six months. They could even write letters to each other in their own language. His books were given to other Franciscans. This helped them teach reading, writing, and Christianity to the Timucua people. Since the 1900s, Pareja's work has also helped experts learn about the Timucua people's culture and history.

Pareja also worked at Mission San Pedro de Mocama on Cumberland Island in present-day Georgia. There, he served the Tacatacuru, another group who spoke Mocama. He was there during the Guale revolt in 1597. Later, he became a guardian, or officer, at the monastery of the Immaculate Conception in St. Augustine. From 1609 to 1612, he was the custodio for the Franciscans in Florida.

The Franciscan church group in Florida and Cuba was later made into a larger organization called a province. It was named Santa Elena de Florida. In 1616, Pareja was chosen by his fellow Franciscans to be the provincial, or leader, of this new province. He wanted more money to support the Franciscans. He wrote to the government, which seemed to give more money to soldiers. He said, "we are the ones who bear the burden and heats, and we are the ones subduing and conquering the land." The last mention of him by another Franciscan was in a book published in 1627, talking about his work in Florida.

In his final assignment, Pareja joined the province of the Holy Gospel in Mexico. He died in Mexico in 1628.

Pareja's Published Works

Francisco Pareja is famous for publishing the first books in the language of a native tribe (the Timucua) within the present-day United States. He published several works between 1612 and 1627 in Timucua and Spanish. Some of these books have been lost over time. His books that are still available today are:

• Catecismo En lengua Castellana y Timuquana (Mexico, 1612) - A catechism in Spanish and Timucua.
• Catecismo y Breve Exposición de la Doctrina Cristiana (Mexico, 1612) - A catechism and short explanation of Christian teachings.
• Confessionario En lengua Castellana y Timuquana Con algunos consejos para animar al penitente (Mexico, 1613) - A confessional guide with advice for those confessing sins.
• Gramatica de la lengua Timuquana de Florida (Mexico, 1614) - A grammar book for the Timucua language.
• Catecismo de la Doctrina Cristiana En lengua Timuquana (Mexico, 1627) - A catechism of Christian teachings in Timucua.
• Catecismo y Examen para los que Comulgan, En lengua Castellana y Timuquana (Mexico, 1627) - A catechism and examination for those receiving communion.

He also published two other religious books and created a dictionary, but these have not survived.

See also

In Spanish: Francisco Pareja para niños