Mission Basilica San Buenaventura 1782 — Attraction in Ventura

I was disappointed. I spent the last couple years living in Santa Barbara going to Ventura once a week. I am a regular attendee and choir member at the mission Santa Barbara and love to go and pray in the church when I am on Main Street. A friend of mine (who normally stays away from Catholic Churches due to being forced to attend as a child) very reluctantly agreed to go with me as she was visiting from out of state. The first impression was not nice. They tried to take money from us to pray in the church, which is not supposed to happen. I pointed that out and lady was upset and said “ fine but no walking around and no pictures” which was very abrasive and ridiculous. We went in the church and said our prayers and after which i talked to some of the church members who were tending the garden and told them about the experienced and were very upset. They let us know that this was first and foremost a church and that we were welcome here and to feel free and take picture. Just then, the lady from the shop runs out and tried to make us leave for taking pictures. I voiced that at my church, mission Santa Barbara, we do not charge people to pray and are more warm to people coming to gods house. She began to raise her voice, and pointed at other visitors and said “look these people paid see?” And the poor people looked quite embarrassed.i then voiced that mission Santa Barbara does not charge people to pray in gods house and does not treat people this way, and she became defensive and tried to explain that they do mentioning the priest of my church. However, I’m sure she was mislead that I am actually employed by the mission Santa Barbara and serve the church with music. I then said that this was a very unchristian way to act with visitors from another church, or not church at all! When she stormed away, the memebers of the church came over to us and apologized for her poor actions and attitude and said it has been a problem. Unfortunately, a sanctuary that is first and foremost supposed to be a place to worship and be closer to god felt like a place of unwelcome, which was uncomfortable and sad. I plan on writing to the priest of the church and explaining the situation. The only reason this place gets any stars at all is for the compassion and love of the church members, not terrible, unprofessional, and so called “catholic” shop worker who needs to read the Bible a little more to be more aware and accustomed to Christian beliefs.

Anyone who is ever in the area Feel free to come pray at mission Santa Barbara free of charged, all are welcome. If you come to pray, say so in the office or shop and you will be brought to the sanctuary, and you will not be ridiculed for a photograph. Shame on you mission Sam...

Mission San Buenaventura, the 9th of 21 Alta California missions, was founded by Father Junipero Serra in 1782. As the last mission that Fr Serra dedicated, it was the final mission built during his lifetime. He died in 1784 and was interred beneath the chapel floor of the nearby Mission San Carlos de Borromeo del Carmelo.

With a fire that destroyed its first construction, Mission San Buenaventura was finally completed in 1809. A seven mile aqueduct was built to bring water from the Ventura River to the mission and its fields. The massive earthquake in 1812 caused a immense tidal wave that damaged many of its buildings and aqueduct. A new mission was completed by 1816. Another major earthquake in 1857 collapsed its tile roof. The current church was restored in 1956-1957.

What is unique about Mission San Buenaventura was its wooden bells, on display. Carved from solid wood blocks, these bells were used during the week of Easter. Cast bells were used the rest of the year (two of its current five bells were cast in 1781). No other mission used wooden bells. Also displayed are other original artifacts, this museum being one of the best along the Camino Real. Notable is the church alter installed in 1809 from Mexico.

Buenaventura means good luck or good fortune. Yet this mission was destroyed by fire, earthquake and a tidal wave. Remarkably, after years of continued disrepair, the parish here has survived and continues...

Ventura has a very sweet Mission, and my biggest CONGRATS goes to the groundskeepers & gardeners! They do a FANTASTIC job maintaining the surrounding gardens! We were there in late July and yet their garden courtyard was STILL bursting with colorful flowers & healthy-looking plants at every turn! True gardeners will appreciate the variety. We enjoyed browsing the giftshop, but found everything to be rather "overpriced." So consider your purchase an additional Gift to the Mission! The place seemed very well maintained, inside and out, but the grounds weren't quite as expansive as I'd hoped. You won't get much walking in here, unless you leave the main "campus," & head up the hill to see the old cistern (part of the aqueduct system) that had stored water for the old orchards... You might also want to know that the "museum" amounts to one small room (smaller than the gift shop), & you'll need the CODE to use the restrooms! The replica of Michelangelo's "Pieta" & several other pieces of Art are certainly worth a look. TIP on Entry: You have to enter via the giftshop, on...