Oliva was born in Martín del Río in the ancient kingdom of Aragon, and joined the Order in the convent of Nuestra Señora de Jesus, Zaragosa, on February 1, 1799.
He left for the Apostolic College of San Fernando de Mexico on March 29, 1810; form there he departed for Alta California in early July, 1811 but due to various setbacks and illness did not reach Monterey until August 1813.
Oliva was allowed to officiate over his first baptism at Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo on October 28 of that year.
Father Oliva made his first entry in the Baptismal Register of Mission San Juan Capistrano on September 6, 1846.
In mid-December 1912 the Reverend St. John O'Sullivan arranged for excavations to be made to find Father Oliva's remains, when it was found that the body has been buried in the sacred vestments worn by priests at the holy "Sacrifice of the Mass."