Join us on Friday, December 10, 2021, for the annual Light Up Our Landmark Trees on Main Street...an 80+ year tradition!  This year the Mission Trees are veiled in a new lighting concept.

Bring the family...bring the whole neighborhood!  The festivities begin at 6:00 PM with community choirs singing.

At 7:00 PM our Mayor and the Pastor of the Mission Basilica welcome Santa Claus. When Santa lights the trees the magic begins with snow and festive music. Activities for children of all ages are sponsored by the businesses of the Downtown District. Bring a chair and enjoy the evening.

The twin trees are national landmarks and designated as Millennium Trees by the State of California and the Federal Government in 2000. Planted circa 1880 there are two stores about the origin of the trees: 1) planted by a sea captain should he need a new mast; 2) donated by a local family. Regardless, these trees bring distinction to the Downtown District of Ventura.

Gather in front of Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, Figueroa Plaza, and in Mission Park.  View canned food Christmas trees sponsored by Food Share.

We owe gratitude for our benefactors who contributed to sustain the tree lights: TAFT Electric, MarVista Lighting, R&R Pumping, Downtown Ventura Partners, H.M. Ironworks, and Mission Basilica of San Buenaventura parishioners.

Come and Join us: Advent and Christmas 2021 at the Basilica

Thursdays, December 2, 9, 16, 23: Adoration/Benediction, 7:00 PM

Sunday, December 5: Credo Catholic Choir Concert, 4:00 PM

Wednesday, December 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 7:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 6:00 PM, 7:30 PM (Spanish)

Friday, December 10: Tree Lighting on Main Street, 6:00 PM

Monday, December 13: Choral Vespers/Concert, 8:00 PM

Thursday, December 16: Penance Service/Adoration, 7:00 PM

December 16-23: Las Posadas, 7:00 PM

Sunday, December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe, 5:00 AM Las Mañanitas y Misa con Mariachi, 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, (no 10:30
Mass) 12:15 PM, Procession and Misa con Mariachi, 6:00 PM

Monday, December 13: Choral Vespers and Concert, 7:00 PM

Saturday, December 18: Vespers Service, 4:30 PM

Sunday, December 19: Jubilee Procession and Mass, 5:00 PM

Friday, December 24: Christmas Eve Masses, 4:00 PM (Children’s Mass), 6:00 PM (English), 8:00 PM (Spanish)

Saturday, December 25: Christmas Midnight Bilingual Mass at 12:00AM, 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM (Spanish) and 12:00 PM (No evening Masses)

Sunday, December 26: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM (Spanish), 12:15 PM

Recognition of the Contributions of Junipero Serra and the Mission Era
to the County of Ventura County

In a letter dated October 12, 2021, Supervisors Linda Parks and Carmen Ramirez proposed that the County of Ventura Board of Supervisors establish a subcommittee of themselves to “explore options for an updated County Seal…” They continued: “Our current seal was adopted in 1964 and while we appreciate its historical value, some of the images featured are no longer representative of Ventura County and we believe it is time for an updated County seal.”

In 2020 the County commissioned a new logo which is not a replacement for the County’s official seal, they also noted.

Parishioners and citizens of Ventura who value the contributions of Junipero Serra and the Mission era which need to be distinguished from the rule of the Spanish Crown, are invited to express their opinions to the County Board of Supervisors to retain the relevance and image of Junipero Serra and the Mission era which remains relevant to the agriculture, commerce, and culture throughout the County. PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION DOWNLOAD HERE

It is incredible that the Board of Supervisors of this great county would consider the removal of Serra’s image given the broad contemporary academic research on him and the Mission era. Perhaps a different pair of supervisors than the ones proposing the changes would be a more objective subcommittee. Better yet, it would be far more constructive for the Board of Supervisors to appoint a large committee of educated, capable and qualified citizens to examine the matter over a period of time sufficient to obtain clarity and the necessary knowledge to make a wise set of recommendations.

The Supervisors would do well to read (particularly pp. 205-245) Junipero Serra: California, Indians, and the Transformation of a Missionary by Robert M. Senkewicz, a professor of history and Rose Marie Beebe, a professor of Spanish literature who spent 15 years of research for the book. Dr. Beebe studied the language of Serra’s day to best translate his letters and diaries. Among other credible works, they would do well to study these three books:

Junipero Serra: California, Indians, and the Transformation of a Missionary by Robert M. Senkewicz and Rose Marie Beebe, 2015, University of Oakland Press.

Journey to the Sun: Junipero Serra's Dream and the Founding of California by Gregory Orfalea, 2014, Simon & Schuster.

Junipero Serra: California's Founding Father by Steven W. Hackel, 2014, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

Supervisors Parks and Ramirez seek community input and will soon bring a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. Please contact our County of Ventura Board of Supervisors to express your opinion.

Members of the County Board of Supervisors: Linda Parks, Chair, Matt LaVerre, Kelly Long, Robert O. Huber, and Carmen Ramirez, Board of Supervisors, County of Ventura, 800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009 or www.ventura.org/board-of-supervisors/