WELCOME!

The Franciscan community of friars, staff, and volunteers welcome you to Old Mission Santa Barbara. Old Mission Santa Barbara is the 10th of 21 Missions of Alta California founded by Franciscan Friars between 1769 and 1833 located from San Diego to Sonoma. Since its establishment, the Mission has served as a gathering place and spiritual home for many. Some traditions have continued through the generations. For instance, you can still hear the Mission bells ring daily at 6 a.m., 12 noon, and again at 6 p.m., as well as for masses, weddings, and other celebrations. As alive as ever, the Mission today is home to a museum, historic church, a cemetery and mausoleum, “La Huerta” historical garden, and a community of Franciscan Friars.

Franciscan Friars are men who have dedicated their lives to living out the values of prayer, fraternity, joy and service. They give special attention to walking with the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable of society.  In a wider sense, the Franciscan tradition began over 800 years ago by St. Francis of Assisi as part of the broader Catholic Church. Today it includes men and women, religious and lay people across the world. Rooted in the understanding of God as love, the Franciscan movement is founded on service and strives to reflect a deep sense of joy and hope.

During the Mission era in California from 1769-1833, Mission settlements were primarily communities of baptized Native Peoples with only one or two Friars in residence. Old Mission Santa Barbara was founded by Fray Fermín Lasuén on December 4, 1786 and was built and inhabited by the Chumash people. After secularization, or the end of the Mission era in the 1830s, this Mission became primarily a community of Franciscan Friars. Old Mission Santa Barbara is the only Mission of the 21 that has been continuously occupied by the Franciscan Friars since its founding.

As part of the Franciscan movement, we are committed to maintaining the tradition of radical hospitality in the humble spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. The Mission is home base for other non-profits such as St. Barbara Parish which operates under the authority of the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Santa Bárbara Mission Archive-Library, and a national Franciscan Novitiate for the education and spiritual formation of new friars. The Mission also serves as a gathering place where community celebrations and festivals take place. Signature events include the annual “I Madonnari” chalk painting festival which benefits art programs in local schools. Each year, the church steps are the location of “Fiesta Pequeña,” the opening ceremony to Santa Barbara’s week-long Fiesta celebrating music and dance of early California.

Along with community events, about 200 thousand visitors visit Old Mission Santa Barbara each year including thousands of students learning about the influential Mission Era of California history. In addition to supporting community celebrations and educational experiences, Old Mission Santa Barbara works to bring diverse communities together to work toward healing and reconciliation. A relationship remains between the Mission and the diverse Chumash people. For example, the Mission supports the Barbareño Band of Chumash Indians by providing space for Barbareño Chumash language classes and other cultural revitalization programs.

Old Mission Santa Barbara is a community of many parts but one spirit, as a diverse collaboration of men and women continue the Franciscan tradition of service to God and to all people of goodwill. We are glad that you are here visiting!