Msgr. J. Michael McKiernan serves as the 35th pastor in a line of succession from Saint Junipero Serra, founder of the Historic Mission San Juan Capistrano.Msgr. McKiernan was ordained as a Diocesan Priest in the County of Orange on June 8, 1991. Prior to his post as Pastor and Rector of the dynamic Mission Campus, he was the founding Pastor of Christ Our Savior Catholic Church in Santa Ana and the Director of Clergy Personnel for the Diocese of Orange.
Msgr. McKiernan’s educational background includes a Master of Arts in Pastoral Liturgy from Santa Clara University, a Master of Arts in Theology and a Master of Divinity in Religion from Saint John’s Seminary College. He began his education with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy also from Saint John’s Seminary College. Along with his many and varied duties at the Historic Mission, Church and School, Msgr. McKiernan also serves on the School Board of JSerra Catholic High School.