Welcome to the Old Mission San Buenaventura!...the Mission by the Sea! 

We are open 361 days of the year!

At Mission San Buenaventura we often sing the hymn "In This Place" composed by Trevor Thompson that reminds us of the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ among us. One verse goes like this:

We are gathered at table as one in the Lord.
We are gathered as people who are living the Word.
Our hearts and our spirits are nurtured by grace.
It is Jesus who fills us. He is here in this place.

You are cordially invited to join us for our liturgies. We celebrate Mass daily at 7:30 AM (9:00 AM on Monday during the school year). We have six Masses every weekend. Since the Lord's Day begins at sunset, we celebrate the Saturday Vigil at 5:30pm in English and 7:30pm in Spanish in the Old Mission Church. We celebrate three Sunday Masses in English at 7:30am, 9am and 12:15pm. We have a hugely attended Mass in Spanish at 10:30am in O'Brien Hall, the three story building behind the Mission church.  Join us, won't you?

Click here to take a tour of the Mission with Fr. Tom and Joe Estevez as seen on "All Things Catholic" NETNY.TV Brooklyn, New York Television

Amgen Cycle Tour 2018 in Beautiful Downtown Ventura!

The Thomas Fire, December 2017 is the largest in the state of California history. Mission San Buenaventura welcomed and hosted World Central Kitchen, founded by Chef Jose Andres.  Coordinated by L.A. Kitchen, Chef Jason Collis and Chef Tim Kilcoyne with hundreds of volunteers served 36,000 meals and prepared 90,000 dishes for Thomas Fire evacuees, First Responders and young children in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. 

To help sustain the legacy of our historic Mission: please remember Mission San Buenaventura in your Will or Trust planning.

"Siempre Adelante: United in the love of God as a Mission Family."  Shalom, Fr. Tom Elewaut, Pastor.

Pope Francis letter fto US Bisops on retreat, Janaury 1, 2019.

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People is a comprehensive set of procedures originally established by the USCCB at the June 2002 meeting in Dallas for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy. The Charter also includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse. It was revised in 2005, 2011, and 2018.

The Charter directs action in all the following matters:
 Creating a safe environment for children and young people;
 Healing and reconciliation of victims and survivors;
 Making prompt and effective response to allegations;
 Cooperating with civil authorities;
 Disciplining offenders;
 Providing for means of accountability for the future to ensure the problem continues to be effectively dealt with through the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection and the National Review Board.

Click Here to read the Chartedr in English

Oprima  Aqui por leer el Charter en espanol

Janaury 9, 2019: The PA grand-jury report: Not what it seems. Former Commonweal editor Peter Steinfels read the 1,300-page report closely, examining its contents and scrutinizing its findings. His conclusion: The stomach-churning abuse documented in the report is real and unconscionable, but the sweeping accusation that the church only sought to cover up the crimes of priests is contradicted by material found in the report itself.

Brothers and Sisters,

We are working hard in the U.S. Bishops’ conference to address the scandals in the Church.

We continue to be deeply disturbed and saddened by what has happened. We are determined to seek answers to questions that have been raised. And we are committed to take every step necessary to ensure that we are protecting the people we are called to shepherd and holding ourselves to the highest standards of accountability before God and before the whole family of God.

I urge you to read today’s statement from the U.S. bishops' administrative committee. CLICK HERE It is only the beginning of what needs to be done. But I believe it is a good, solid beginning.

This is a time for prayer and penance and purification for those of us who are bishops and priests. And as we work for the renewal and reform of the Church, we are asking humbly for your assistance and expertise — as mothers and fathers, and as faithful Catholics in all walks of life.

Please keep praying for our Holy Father and for our Church. And please pray even harder for those who have been hurt. Together let us work to bring healing and restore justice.

May our Blessed Mother Mary intercede for the Church, that we might have the wisdom and courage to do all that the Lord requires in this moment.

Article on Bishop Alex Salazar               Press Releasse on Bishop Alex Salazar

Hermanos y Hermanas,

Estamos trabajando arduamente en la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos para resolver los escándalos en la Iglesia.

Seguimos estando profundamente perturbados y entristecidos por lo que ha sucedido. Estamos decididos a buscar respuestas a las preguntas que han surgido. Y estamos comprometidos a tomar todas las medidas necesarias para asegurar que estemos protegiendo a las personas a las que estamos llamados a cuidar y a mantenernos a los más altos estándares de responsabilidad ante Dios y ante toda la familia de Dios.

Los invito a que lean la reciente Declaración del Comité Administrativo de los Obispos de los Estados Unidos.   OPRIMA AQUI  Es sólo el comienzo de lo que hay que hacer. Pero creo que es un comienzo bueno y sólido. Este es un tiempo de oración y de penitencia y purificación para aquellos de nosotros que somos obispos y sacerdotes. Y mientras trabajamos para la renovación y reforma de la iglesia, pedimos humildemente su ayuda y experiencia, como madres y padres, y como fieles católicos en todos los ámbitos de la vida.

Por favor, sigan orando por nuestro Santo Padre y por nuestra Iglesia. Y por favor oren aún más por aquellos que han sido heridos. Juntos vamos a trabajar para traer sanación y restaurar la justicia.

Que nuestra Santísima Madre María interceda por la Iglesia, para que tengamos la sabiduría y el coraje para hacer todo lo que el Señor requiere que hagamos en este momento.

Noticia de Obispo Alex Salazar        Retirement Letter Obispo Alex Salazar