don't believe the answer they give you
To save the souls of whoever they found here.
Native Americans did most of the work of building the missions. Fr. Junipero Serra was sent to California by Spain for the purpose of building missions.
to make the californian indians(all of them) catholic
to make the californian indians(all of them) catholic
to make the californian indians(all of them) catholic
to make the californian indians(all of them) catholic
POOP
The priest's purpose in building missions was to spread the Catholic religion. The Catholic Church was especially active in building missions, since their clergy believed that Catholicism was the one true faith. This meant the gospel must be preached to those who were not Catholics, and especially to those who were considered heathens, which meant the Indians (Native Americans). By building missions, it was easier for members of the church (not just priests, but bishops as well) to preach to the native people and, it was hoped, to persuade them to convert to Christianity.
The country of Spain sponsored the building of missions to help new settlers establish a presence along the coast, before anyone else.
The priest's purpose in building missions was to spread the Catholic religion. The Catholic Church was especially active in building missions, since their clergy believed that Catholicism was the one true faith. This meant the gospel must be preached to those who were not Catholics, and especially to those who were considered heathens, which meant the Indians (Native Americans). By building missions, it was easier for members of the church (not just priests, but bishops as well) to preach to the native people and, it was hoped, to persuade them to convert to Christianity.
so the missions could have churches
to converts "heathens" to the catholic religion