Old Mission Santa Barbara (OMSB) is a unique and significant cultural resource in Santa Barbara. Home to a community of Franciscan Friars since its founding in 1786, OMSB is a center of Franciscan heritage in the West and welcomes all who strive to build a future based on reconciliation and justice that honors creation and all people. Thousands of people come to the Mission, which is an educational, cultural, spiritual and civic center. The generosity of donors enables us to continue to serve the broader community as a cultural, historical and spiritual gathering place.
Many different ways to support Old Mission Santa Barbara
Greatest Need
All unrestricted gifts go to the greatest need at Old Mission Santa Barbara. These gifts allow the Mission to conserve these historic buildings, gardens, artifacts, and art collections, as well as provide educational resources and improved access for researchers, educators, students, visitors, and the local community.
Virgil Cordano Living Memory Fund
The beloved Fr. Virgil gave unselfishly to the people of Santa Barbara for more than 60 years – ministering, teaching, loving, and being with them. On May 22, 2008, just a few months prior to his ninetieth birthday, Fr. Virgil passed away, but his vision and spirit certainly live on. To honor a personal request by Fr. Virgil, we have established this living memory fund for the preservation and advancement of Old Mission Santa Barbara.
Fr. Virgil expressed his hope that the important work he loved would continue, and that the people of the community would be able to share in his vision. This is your opportunity to give and to share in both celebrating and perpetuating this important place.
“May We Celebrate What Unites Us.” - Fr. Virgil Cordano, OFM
Adopt-a-Bench
Honor the special people and events in your life and provide lasting beautification at Old Mission Santa Barbara! Any individual, family, business or community group can purchase a bench with a personal message on an engraved plaque.
For more information:
E-mail: development@sboldmission.org
Lienzo Preservation Project
Support an important preservation project! We are restoring a panel of the original lienzo or canvas which comprised the reredos that hung behind the altar of the 1820 Mission church. The reredos can be seen in the photo from 1914 published in Painting and Sculpture at Mission Santa Barbara by art historian Kurt Baer. This lienzo was removed after the 1925 earthquake and the five surviving panels have been stored at the Mission for decades.
There are a total of five panels in need of conservation, costing close to $100,000 for the entire project! We are focusing on one panel at a time to make the project manageable and are currently $3,000 away from raising the funds for this one panel. Once completed the panel will be on display in the Mission museum with the original Mission church altar.
For more information or questions please contact Donna Reeves at development@sboldmission.org or 805-682-4713 ext. 196.