About Santa Barbara Mission · Santa Barbara, California
Old Mission Santa Barbara, often called the 'Queen of the Missions,' is a Spanish Franciscan mission and active parish church in Santa Barbara, California, founded on December 4, 1786 — the feast day of Saint Barbara — by Padre Fermín Francisco de Lasuén as the tenth of the 21 California missions. It is the only one of the 21 missions to have been under the continuous care of the Franciscan Friars since its founding, and it is the oldest continuous choral-liturgical tradition among them. The mission sits on roughly 15 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, operates the Saint Barbara Parish under the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and also houses a Franciscan novitiate, a museum, the Santa Bárbara Mission Archive-Library, a cemetery and mausoleum, and a gift shop.
- Established
- 1786
- Patron
- Saint Barbara
- Rector
- Fr. Dan Lackie, OFM
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Why belong here
Saint Barbara Parish offers daily Mass in the original 1820 sandstone church — the only California mission church that has remained in continuous liturgical use — plus weekday Mass in the intimate Serra Chapel and Saturday confessions right in the Mission church. It is grounded in the Franciscan tradition of radical hospitality, with a year-round Faith Formation program for children and adults, a two-year Confirmation process, OCIA (RCIA) for those entering the Church, a family liturgy of the word (F.L.O.W.), and a collaborative ministry with the Daughters of Charity at the Fr. Virgil Cordano Center / St. Vincent's serving those in need.
Mass times at Santa Barbara Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM in the Old Mission Church (access through side doors near the iron gate; face-to-face or behind a screen)
- By appointment with a priest (call parish office 805-682-4151, ext. 102)
- Penitential Services with other city parishes during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- No regularly scheduled public adoration hours published on the parish or mission site
Mission & History
Old Mission Santa Barbara was founded on December 4, 1786, the feast of Saint Barbara, by Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén as the tenth of the 21 Spanish Franciscan missions in Alta California. It is the only California mission that has remained under the continuous guidance of the Franciscan Friars since its founding, and it has the oldest liturgical choral singing tradition of any California mission. Three adobe churches preceded the present stone church, which was begun in 1815 after the 1812 earthquake destroyed the third adobe and was largely completed in 1820 by Chumash Canalino labor under Mexican master stonemason José Antonio Ramírez. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960, the Mission has survived the 1812 and 1925 earthquakes, secularization (1834), sale (1846), the establishment in 1842 of California's first bishop's see at the Mission, the 1853 founding of a Franciscan missionary college on site, and a multi-year 2013–2015 preservation project on the façade, bell towers, and adjoining convento.
- Founded December 4, 1786 by Fr. Fermín Francisco de Lasuén, OFM
- Tenth of the 21 California missions
- Present stone church built 1815–1820
- National Historic Landmark (1960)
- Served the Chumash-Barbareño people
- Major preservation project completed August 2015
Architecture & Sacred Art
The present church is a Neoclassical / Greco-Roman-influenced design (with later Spanish Colonial Revival restoration touches) inspired by an illustration in the 1787 Madrid edition of Vitruvius's Ten Books on Architecture — a copy of which was in the mission library. The walls are solid yellow native sandstone blocks roughly 5½ feet thick, bound with lime mortar made from seashells, reinforced with nine-foot stone buttresses, and finished with the original tile roof. The church is about 162 feet long, 27 feet wide, and 42 feet high. Two matching bell towers, the only pair among the 21 missions, rise 87 feet and are 20 feet square, with the second tower added in 1831–1833. Statues of Faith, Hope, and Charity stand on the roofline; the statue of Saint Barbara was added in 1927.
- Sandstone walls ~5½ feet thick, lime-and-seashell mortar, 9-foot buttresses
- Twin 87-foot bell towers (only matching pair in the mission chain)
- Original tile roof, floor, and ceiling decoration (winged lightning motif from Vitruvius)
- Original chandeliers (retrofitted for electricity; candles lit for Christmas Midnight Mass and Easter Vigil)
- Trompe-l'œil painted window preserving Neoclassical symmetry
- Two paintings more than 200 years old
- Altar lamp reportedly burning continuously since 1789
- Towers rebuilt in wood and concrete in 1950s — the 'stones' are painted (trompe-l'œil)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at Saint Barbara Parish is rooted in the Franciscan tradition and aims to be a lifelong spiritual home. Children's faith formation is offered for grades 1–8, with First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation beginning as early as 1st grade. High School Confirmation is a two-year integrated program of doctrine, spiritual formation, works of charity, and liturgical celebration, with the earliest confirmation in the spring of 10th grade. Adult Faith Formation supports ongoing conversion, active membership in the Christian community, and missionary discipleship. Family Faith Formation, the F.L.O.W. (Family Liturgy of the Word) on Sundays, and Family Gatherings strengthen parish and family community.
- Elementary Faith Formation grades 1–8
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion preparation (begins as early as 1st grade)
- High School Confirmation — two-year program
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA / RCIA) — Sundays 9:00–10:45 AM
- Family Faith Formation and Family Liturgy of the Word (F.L.O.W.) on Sundays
- Adult Faith Formation — adult faith sessions Sunday mornings
- Family Gatherings throughout the year
- Contact: Terry Bascombe, parish office, (805) 682-4151 ext. 102
Franciscan Friars & Novitiate
The Franciscan Friars have lived continuously at Mission Santa Barbara since its founding in 1786. The resident friar community includes both professed Friars (who have taken vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty) and novices in formation. The Friars serve in parish ministry, education, medicine, and social justice, and walk with people in the manner of St. Francis and St. Clare. The Mission is also home to a Franciscan Novitiate, providing the first year of education for friars in training from across the United States.
- Only California mission with continuous Franciscan care since 1786
- Resident professed friars and novitiate
- Collaborative ministry with Daughters of Charity at the Fr. Virgil Cordano Center / St. Vincent's
- Friars serve in parish, education, medicine, and social-justice ministries
Outreach & Social Justice
Rooted in the Franciscan commitment to serve the poor and marginalized, the Friars of Old Mission Santa Barbara collaborate with the Daughters of Charity at the Fr. Virgil Cordano Center (also known as St. Vincent's) to provide a place of welcome and support for the human and spiritual well-being of sisters and brothers in need. Parish volunteers are active in faith formation, hospitality, and service projects integrated with Confirmation preparation.
- Fr. Virgil Cordano Center / St. Vincent's with the Daughters of Charity
- Service projects integrated with Confirmation formation
- Hospitality and F.L.O.W. ministries
Museum, Gardens, Cemetery & Mausoleum
Old Mission Santa Barbara operates a nine-room museum of historical artwork and artifacts as the heart of its self-guided tour, with audio guides in six languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Korean). The 15-acre grounds include several historic gardens, a cemetery, and a mausoleum, all overlooking the Pacific Ocean. A free picnic area is available near the parking lot. The Santa Bárbara Mission Archive-Library, a separate Franciscan-sponsored non-profit, preserves rare documents including the 1787 Madrid Vitruvius used in designing the church façade.
- Nine-room museum of historical artwork and artifacts
- Audio tour in English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Korean
- Historic gardens and grounds (15 acres)
- Cemetery and mausoleum
- Santa Bárbara Mission Archive-Library (separate non-profit)
Serra Gift Shop
The Serra Gift Shop at Old Mission Santa Barbara offers handmade gifts, Mission wine, artisan jewelry, candles, and religious items, and is open daily from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. It is the last stop on the self-guided tour route. Phone: (805) 682-4149.
- Open daily 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Handmade gifts, Mission wine, artisan jewelry, candles
- Phone: (805) 682-4149
Visiting Old Mission Santa Barbara
The Mission welcomes self-guided tour visitors Monday–Saturday 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (last ticket sold 4:00 PM) and Sundays 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM (last ticket sold 4:00 PM). It is closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Admission is $17 for adults 18–64, $15 for seniors 65+ and active military with ID, $12 for youth 5–17, free for children 4 and under, $3 for SNAP/EBT cardholders under the Museums for All program, and free for Friends of the Mission. Free first-come, first-served parking is available in the front lot off Los Olivos Street. Service animals are the only pets allowed, and the tour route is one-way — restrooms should be used before ticket purchase.
- Mon–Sat 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Sun 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM (last ticket 4:00 PM)
- Adults $17, Seniors/Military $15, Youth $12, Under 5 free, EBT $3, Friends free
- Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day
- Free parking on the front lot off Los Olivos Street
- Service animals only; one-way tour route
Staff, Office & Contact
Parish office hours are Monday through Friday 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with appointments recommended. The parish office number is (805) 682-4151 (ext. 102) and the emergency/after-hours line is ext. 101. Email [email protected]. Faith Formation contact is Lisa Chadwick ([email protected], ext. 116). Old Mission Santa Barbara (the museum, gift shop, and grounds operations) is run by a separate non-profit leadership team including the President, Executive Director, Director of Finance (Jim Balsitis), Director of Facilities (Dawn Williams), Marketing & Communications Manager (Monica Orozco, PhD), Retail Manager (John Stephens), Mausoleum & Office Manager (Natalie Terrell), Operations Coordinator (Ian Craddock), and Fr. Joe Schwab, OFM, with Jacquie Kamlet as parish administrator.
- Parish Office: 2201 Laguna Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
- Phone: (805) 682-4151, ext. 102 (office) / ext. 101 (emergency)
- Email: [email protected]
- Faith Formation: Lisa Chadwick, ext. 116, [email protected]
- Pastor: Fr. Dan Lackie, OFM; Associate Pastor: Fr. Larry Gosselin, OFM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Fermín Francisco de Lasuén, OFM1786–1803
Founder of the Mission; consecrated it December 4, 1786 (feast of St. Barbara) and is traditionally credited with first lighting the altar lamp in 1789. Later became Father-President of the California mission chain.
- Padres of the Chumash-Barbareño Mission community1803–1834
Mission operated continuously by rotating Franciscan padres; the third adobe church was destroyed in the 1812 earthquake, prompting construction of the present stone church.
- Last Franciscan Father-President of the California missions (resident here)1834–1846
After Mexican secularization (1834) and sale (1846) the Franciscans were allowed to remain and the Mission became the Franciscan capital of California, home of the last father-president.
- Bishop Francisco García Diego y Moreno1842 (arrived)
First Bishop of California; established his see at the Mission in 1842, administering the Diocese of Both Californias from this site.
- Franciscan Missionary College communityfrom 1853
In 1853 the Church established a Franciscan missionary college at the Mission, cementing Santa Barbara as the center of the Franciscan order in California; the U.S. Government returned 283 acres to the Catholic Church in 1865.
- Fr. Larry Gosselin, OFMapprox. 2010s – present (as Associate)
After roughly 12 years at the Old Mission, took on additional duties that split his time with a position in Malibu; currently listed as Associate Pastor.
- Fr. Dan Lackie, OFMpresent
Current Pastor of Saint Barbara Parish. Born 1957 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, raised in Atlanta, Georgia; entered the Franciscan Order in 1984.
