Old Mission Santa Ines

Welcome from Fr. Mike

Fr. Michael Ronayne, OFM Cap., Pastor, invites newcomers to explore the parish. On behalf of the Capuchin Friars (Fr. Bob, Fr. Moses, and Fr. Peter), he welcomes visitors to 'The Mission of the Passes' in the Santa Ynez Valley. Together with the Sisters Devoted to the Sacred Heart, his goal is to deepen parishioners' spiritual life in the spirit of their founders, St. Francis of Assisi and Sr. Ida Peterfy.

Mission and Parish Identity

Old Mission Santa Inés is the 19th of the 21 California Missions established by Franciscan priests from 1769 to 1823. Its mission statement reads: 'We the people of Old Mission Santa Inés, following the path of Jesus Christ, are making His vision a reality through love, unity, justice, joy and hope.' The parish is a rich mix of gender, age, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and socio-economic diversity, and is part of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Since the mission's founding, Masses have been celebrated in multiple languages; today, Mass is offered in English and Spanish, with most Holy Days and other celebrations bilingual.

• Founded September 17, 1804
• Named for Saint Agnes (Santa Inés)
• Active parish of ~1,000 families
• Capuchin Franciscan administration since 1924

Founders Day and Annual Celebration

On September 17, 2022, the parish celebrated 218 years since the founding of the mission with a Founders Day Mass. The celebration began at 7:00 PM in the Old Mission Church with the 'Mass of Santa Inés' sung for the first time at the mission in Latin, English, and Spanish, followed by a reception in the Parish Hall open to the entire Santa Ynez Valley community.

Pastoral Team

The Capuchin priests bring their unique spiritual gifts and inspiration to the parish, serving from different backgrounds and experiences. Deacon Ancelmo Aguirre assists the priests in the Hispanic Masses and ministry. The Sacred Heart Sisters (Sisters Devoted to the Sacred Heart, SDSH) staff the religious education programs.

• Fr. Michael Ronayne, OFM Cap. — Pastor (ext. 223)
• Fr. Moses Khisa, OFM Cap. (ext. 224)
• Fr. Peter Banks, OFM Cap. (ext. 227) — Director, Capuchin Vocation Office (805-686-4127 direct)
• Fr. Robert Kose, OFM Cap. (ext. 238)
• Fr. Paul Nzomo, OFM Cap. (ext. 224)
• Deacon Ancelmo Aguirre (ext. 225)
• Br. Lance Love, OFM Cap. — In Residence (ext. 244/252)
• Sacred Heart Sisters: Sr. Lucia Tu (ext. 228), Sr. Carmen Acosta (ext. 241), Sr. Virginia Stewart (ext. 226), Sr. Diane Heiss, Sr. Andrea Chiang (ext. 228), Sr. Martha Muñoz (Dir. Religious Education, 688-4138)
• Sacred Heart Convent: (805) 688-6158

Parish Office and Staff

The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with both English and Spanish-speaking staff (Oficina Parroquial).

• Eva P. Cázares — Business Administrator / Parish Administrator (ext. 222)
• Megan Segal — Administrative Assistant (ext. 290)
• Hugo Frausto — Administrative Assistant (ext. 290)
• Humberto Figueroa — Maintenance (ext. 229)
• Sonia De Luna — Mission Gift Shop Manager, (805) 688-6763

Sacramental Preparation

Structured programs are offered for all ages — infants to adults — for each of the seven sacraments. The parish notes the change from 'RCIA' to 'OCIA' (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adult initiation.

• Baptism: Infant, Children & Youth, Adult (OCIA)
• Confirmation: Youth and Adult preparation
• First Communion: 2-year preparation beginning in 2nd grade
• Reconciliation: Saturday 3:00–4:45 PM; child/youth prep via Religious Education
• Anointing of the Sick: Parish Healing Mass
• Matrimony: 9-month preparation, contact parish office
• Holy Orders: Contact parish priests
• Annulments: Contact parish office

Faith Formation and Religious Education

Faith Formation at Old Mission Santa Inés is a lifelong process. After children receive the sacraments they are encouraged to continue attending Religious Education classes each year. Programs serve English-speaking and Hispanic communities in parallel, including youth, young adult, and adult offerings.

• Religious Education (grades 1–6)
• Youth Ministry and Confirmation
• Sacramental Preparation (children, youth, adults)
• RCIA / OCIA
• Eagles Wings (adult faith journey)
• Adult Faith Formation / Adult Confirmation
• Pastor Juvenil (Hispanic Youth & Young Adult)
• Jovenes Adultos (Hispanic Young Adult)
• Grupo De Adolocentes (Hispanic Youth)
• Grupo De Matrimonios y Parejas (Hispanic couples)

Museum, Tours and Gift Shop

The Old Mission Santa Inés museum preserves a rich collection of paintings, statuary, vestments, manuscripts, and artifacts from the early Franciscans and California life. Self-guided tours are available, with children under 18 required to be accompanied by an adult. Docent-led tours can be scheduled Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 by calling the Mission Gift Shop; proceeds support Mission restoration. The Gift Shop is open daily (except holidays), and offers a part-time job opportunity that includes weekend shifts.

• Museum hours (except holidays): 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
• Gift Shop hours (except holidays): 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Self-Guided Tours available; children under 18 must be with adult
• Docent-Led Mission Tours: ~1 hour, Mon–Sat 10:00 AM – 3:00
• Healing Garden Bricks available for purchase (quarterly orders)

Mission History

Mission Santa Inés was established in 1804 to acculturate the Chumash of the Santa Ynez Valley and to serve as a link between the missions of Santa Barbara and La Purísima Concepción. The 1812 earthquake destroyed most of the original church; a rebuilt church with massive walls and pine beams from Figueroa Mountain was dedicated in 1817. The mission thrived until Mexican secularization in 1835. In 1843 Bishop Francisco García Diego y Moreno founded the first seminary in Alta California here (the College of Our Lady of Refuge). The Donahue family arrived in 1882 and Father Alexander Buckler began repairs in 1904. The Capuchin Franciscans from Ireland arrived in 1924, with major restoration supported by the Hearst Foundation beginning in 1947.

• 1804 — Founded by Fr. Estevan Tapis
• 1812 — Earthquake destroys original church (Dec 21)
• 1817 — Rebuilt church dedicated July 4
• 1824 — Chumash Revolt sparked in part by mission events
• 1835 — Secularized by Mexican government
• 1843 — First seminary in Alta California established here
• 1882 — Donahue family arrives; buildings deteriorating
• 1904 — Fr. Alexander Buckler begins repairs
• 1924 — Capuchin Franciscans from Ireland arrive
• 1947 — Major Hearst Foundation-funded restoration begins

Devotions and Parish Life

The parish supports a range of devotional and community gatherings drawn from both English- and Spanish-speaking traditions, including a monthly Rosary for Life, a Hispanic prayer and evangelization school (Grupo De Oración la Escuela de Evangelización), a Hispanic couples group, and Lenten Soup Supper speakers.

• Rosary for Life
• Grupo De Oración la Escuela de Evangelización
• Grupo De Parejas / Grupo De Matrimonios y Parejas
• Parish Healing Mass
• Parish Lenten Soup Supper Speakers
• Parish Mission Speakers

Map and Directions

Old Mission Santa Inés is located at 1760 Mission Drive, Solvang, CA 93464 (Mailing: P.O. Box 408, Solvang, CA 93464). The mission sits on a hill commanding views of the Santa Ynez River Valley and the Santa Ynez and San Rafael mountain ranges.

• Address: 1760 Mission Drive, Solvang, CA 93464
• Mailing: P.O. Box 408, Solvang, CA 93464
• Phone: (805) 688-4815
• Fax: (805) 686-4468
• Email: [email protected]