A Year of Jubilee: Santa Barbara Pastoral Regional Mass

December 19, 2021, 5:00 PM

NOTE:  The Mission Basilica and Gift Shop will close to the Public at 2:00 PM on December 19, 2021.

You are cordially invited to join Archbishop Jose Gomez and Bishop Robert Barron, Clergy and faithful throughout the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region for a Procession, Mass, and Garden Reception to formally commemorate Mission Basilica of San Buenaventura and the Jubilee Year celebrating the 250th founding of Mission San Gabriel, the first church in what is now the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

A candlelight procession from the Chumash Hutash Festival site and San Miguel Chapel (Thompson Street at Palm Street) will commence at 5:00 PM on Sunday, December 19, 2021, followed by a solemn Mass in the basilica and a garden reception.

Seating for Mass in the Mission Basilica is limited to designated representatives from each of the 37 parishes in the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region, Barbareño-Ventureño Band of Mission Indians, and Civic representatives. Additional non-reserved seating in O’Brian Hall with live simulcast of the Mass is available to all who wish to participate.

The First Peoples known as the Chumash inhabited this land for nearly 10,000 years. In 1769 Fray Junipero Serra brought the Christian faith to Alta California. Mission San Buenaventura was founded in 1782 and a church was erected by the hands of the Chumash peoples. For 239 years Mission San Buenaventura has been the center of what is now known as the Ventura Downtown District.

On June 9, 2020, Pope Francis elevated the mission to a minor basilica; henceforth the name of this sacred place of worship is Mission Basilica of San Buenaventura. Mission Basilica of San Buenaventura is the first basilica in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles spanning three counties: Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara, the largest diocese in the nation.

Mission Basilica of San Buenaventura is the fifth mission among seven houses of worship in the state of California designated as minor basilica. A basilica is holy ground. The Chumash, the Spaniards, the Mexicans, and now Californians and people throughout our nation and the world share the history of this holy ground. This distinction is indeed an honor for the faithful and people of good will in the City of San Buenaventura, the County of Ventura, and beyond.

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

At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, we hear Jesus commission His disciples (MT 28: 16-20): “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

This is our baptismal identity and calling…to be disciples of the Lord Jesus who is risen from the dead. To help us to remember who we are in Jesus and what we are called to do, you will see and read new signage in the back of the Basilica and in the foyer of O’Brien Hall. We are called to be DYNAMIC DISCIPLES.

A Dynamic Disciple Believes in Jesus as Savior.
A Dynamic Disciple Grows in following Jesus.
A Dynamic Disciple Gathers in a faith community.
A Dynamic Disciple Loves unconditionally.
A Dynamic Disciple Leads other to Jesus.

Jubilee Year: Septermber 2021-September 2022 Commemorates the 250th founding anniversary of our sister Mission San Gabriel.  For "everything Jubilee", please see the link above.

Click here for a Jubilee Year Musical Tribute by Brien Alkire.

For recent or future ministies or events please viw our parish bulletin link to the rightside of the website or view the calendar of events under "EVENTS" above.

Click here to view an exceptional video on the life and discipleship of St. Junipero Serra sponorded by the Kinghs of Columbus 2021.

Saint Junipero Serra First Annual Two-Day Walk July 25-26, 2021 from Santa Barbara to Ventura along the El Camino Real video clips:  No.1  No.2 

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 2019 in Beautiful Downtown Ventura!

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

"Siempre Adelante"  Shalom, Fr. Tom Elewaut

We urge all Californians to get vaccinated to ensure that infection and hospitalization rates remain low across the state and that we can all return to the activities we love.  CLICK HERE TO READ MORE from Pope Francis and Archbishop Gomez in both English and Espanol.

Masks ARE REQUIRED INSIDE THE BASILICA AND INDOORS in all buildings effective Auguat 21, 2021 per tthe County Health Department.  Additionally, masks are required outdoors when social distancing is not possible.

Archbishop Jose Gomez writes: “The coronavirus pandemic has affected our world in way we could never have imagined. We remain strong in our faith knowing that God will always be on our side.” “And so, on June 19/20, I encourage the Catholic Faithful of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to return to in-person Sunday Mass and the celebration of the Sacraments, especially those who are in good health. Therefore, the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of obligation is lifted. Understandably, those who have serious and legitimate reasons due to illness or other health issues are dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass.”

Click here for an Act of Spiritual Communion Prayer/Acto de comunión espiritual