Mission San Buenaventura

One of the many incredible historical icons of California are the number of Catholic missions throughout the state. Today I visited the Mission San Buenaventura.

A very brief history. On Easter morning, March 31, 1782, Priest Fray Junipero Serra raised the Cross at "la playa del canal de Santa Barbara" (the beach of the Santa Barbara Channel).

In 1834 the Mexican government issued a secularization decree divesting the padres of administrative control over the Mission. Around 1845 the Mission was illegally sold to Don José Arnez. After California became a state of the Union, Bishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany petitioned the U.S. Government to return the church, clergy residence, cemetery, orchard and vineyard to the Catholic Church. President Abraham Lincoln granted the Proclamation on May 23, 1862.

The Mission has a compact courtyard with lovely vibrant colored flowers, shrubs, trees, and grotto. A gift shop and Mission Museum that houses the original wooden bell of the Mission. The Holy Cross School sits behind the Mission.Read more