A Franciscan Center at Old Mission Santa Barbara
St. Barbara Parish anchors the eastern edge of Santa Barbara's historic Upper Riviera neighborhood, sharing its life with Old Mission Santa Barbara on Laguna Street. The Mission has been under the continuous care of the Franciscan friars since it was established in 1786, making it one of the oldest continuously operating Catholic communities on the Pacific coast. Fr. Dan Lackie, OFM, who became pastor in October 2017, named the parish a Franciscan Center of Evangelization, and that identity shapes everything that happens here: the preaching, the music, the formation programs, and the long list of outreach ministries that flow from the church out into the city.
The parish and the Mission site are intertwined. The Mission church is the parish church. The Mission friary is home to a Franciscan novitiate recently relocated to the Mission grounds. The parish's pastoral plan describes the broader vision shared by parish, friary, archives, and Mission site as offering "a gathering place where pilgrims, visitors, scholars, and communities can grow and thrive in God's goodness." As a national and state historical landmark, the Mission draws thousands of visitors each year, and the parish welcomes that intersection of longtime Catholics, returning Catholics, and pilgrims from around the world.
The parish mission statement is simple: "In response to God's call to love, we are a faith community that strives to live the gospel life in prayer, formation, evangelization, outreach and stewardship in the Franciscan tradition." St. Francis of Assisi, the Poor Man of Assisi, is the spiritual model. Praise of creation, preaching by word and example, service to the poor and marginalized, simplicity, humility, mercy, and forgiveness are the Franciscan marks that the parish tries to make visible.
Mass Times, Reconciliation, and the Sunday Livestream
The Mission Church is open for daily Mass at 8:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. On Saturday there is a Vigil Mass at 4:00 p.m. On Sunday, Mass is offered at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. The 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass is also the livestreamed Mass, viewable each week on the parish's YouTube channel via the YouTube Live Mass link on the parish home page.
Parishioners and visitors who prefer the sung liturgy with the parish choir are pointed to that 9:00 a.m. Mass (September through June) and to the 11:00 a.m. Mass, which features the professional Mission Schola ensemble. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday each have their own published schedules. Major liturgies such as the Good Friday Liturgy of the Lord's Passion and the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper are also livestreamed on the same YouTube channel.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated every Saturday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the confessionals at the back of the church. Access is through the side door near the iron gate. Penitents may choose face-to-face confession or anonymity behind a screen. During Advent and Lent the parish also schedules communal Penitential Services with other Santa Barbara parishes. Reconciliation is available by appointment through the parish office at (805) 682-4151, ext. 101.
The Oldest Continuous Choral Tradition in California
Music is at the heart of St. Barbara Parish's identity. Mission Santa Barbara has the oldest unbroken tradition of choral singing among the California Missions and, the parish proudly notes, of any California institution. The Mission archives hold one of the richest collections of colonial Franciscan music manuscripts known today, much of which has not yet been subjected to scholarly analysis.
Two choirs carry that tradition into the present. The St. Barbara Parish Choir sings each Sunday at the 9:00 a.m. Mass from September through June, at certain Feasts and Holy Days, and for liturgical celebrations throughout the church year. Membership is by audition. The choir has recorded several CDs and has toured Europe twice, singing in Italy in 2010 and Ireland in 2017.
Mission Schola is a professional vocal ensemble that sings each week at the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass and for parish weddings, funerals, and other events. Positions open as they become available, and auditions are by individual appointment. Rehearsals for both choirs take place on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. and on Sunday mornings at 8:00 a.m. from September through June. The Music Coordinator and Choir Director, Lance Crane, asks that singers only request an audition if they can make the ten-month annual commitment, and that they have sight-reading skills and previous choral experience. Audition requirements and a downloadable packet are available through the parish.
Faith Formation for Children, Teens, and Adults
Faith formation at St. Barbara Parish is built around the Roman Catholic Franciscan tradition and is meant to serve as a spiritual home for lifelong learning. The Director of Family Faith Formation, Robert Rocha, coordinates programming for every age.
For children in Grades 1 through 8, Family Faith Formation classes meet on Sunday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. beginning in mid-September. The materials fee is $65 per student. The program combines Sunday morning classes with monthly Parent Gatherings, family Mass attendance, participation in parish activities, and acts of service. Children preparing for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion complete a two-year preparation process, with the sacraments typically received near the end of the second year. The sacramental materials fee is $125. Both programs require that children be baptized; a baptismal certificate is required at registration.
High School Confirmation is a two-year program for teens in at least ninth grade, with confirmation ordinarily received in the spring of tenth grade. Classes meet every other Wednesday evening from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. beginning in late September and running through April. The materials fee is $100. Through prayer, retreats, classes, small group discussion, and service projects, candidates are formed in doctrine, spiritual life, works of charity, and liturgical celebration.
For adults, the parish supports the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), the discernment and formation process for non-Catholics seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist, and for Catholics who were never fully formed in the faith. RCIA sessions meet on Sunday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. in the Faith Formation Meeting Room, beginning in the fall. The Women's Faith Sharing group gathers on the second Saturday of each month at 9:30 a.m. for intergenerational conversation around a common book; the current read is Joan Chittister's "The Story of Ruth." Adult faith formation at St. Barbara is guided by three goals drawn from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: invite ongoing conversion to Jesus in holiness of life, promote active membership in the Christian community, and call and prepare adults to act as disciples in the world.
Twenty-Seven Ministries and a Welcoming Front Porch
The parish counts twenty-seven active ministries, all coordinated through the Parish Office. Visitors stepping into the Mission church are first met by the Usher Ministry, which stands at the church entryway greeting parishioners and visitors, helping those who need special seating, distributing bulletins, and assisting with the offertory collection. Ushers arrive thirty minutes before Mass and stay afterward to help tidy up; training is provided by appointment and monthly schedules are posted through Ministry Scheduler Pro.
Inside the liturgy, Altar Servers assist the celebrant at Mass and special liturgies throughout the year. The ministry welcomes Catholic adults and children who are active members of the parish, have received First Communion, and demonstrate reverence for the Mass. Children must be at least ten years old. Servers commit to a minimum of two Masses per month. Ministers of the Word, or Lectors, proclaim the Scriptures and lead the Prayers of the Faithful. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion serve the assembly at Mass and, through the Pastoral Care Ministry, bring Holy Communion to the sick and homebound. Eucharistic Ministers must be confirmed Catholics at least sixteen years old and living in harmony with Church teaching; training includes an annual diocesan session.
Behind the scenes, Sacristans prepare the liturgical books, vestments, vessels, and the sacristy itself. The Altar Linen and Ironing Angels assist with the washing and ironing of altar cloths, purificators, albs, and other linens used in the liturgies. The Ministers of Environment and Art plan and execute the floral and decorative environment of the church for weekend Masses and special feasts.
Outside the liturgy, the Coffee and Donuts Ministry is one of the most popular. After Mass, volunteers roll out carts of coffee and pastries to the front portico and serve for fifteen to twenty minutes, offering a warm Franciscan welcome to parishioners and visitors. The Hospitality Ministry organizes parish events that promote community, and the Muscle Ministry handles the setup and takedown of chairs, tents, and tables for outdoor gatherings.
Families Under the Pepper Tree is a newer fellowship initiative that gathers parishioners under the shade of the historic pepper tree in front of the Mission church after Sunday Masses, weather permitting. The gatherings offer coffee, light refreshments, and a welcoming space for newcomers, returning Catholics, and longtime parishioners to meet, with room for children to play.
The Green Team and Care for Our Common Home
Care for creation is a signature Franciscan priority at St. Barbara Parish. The parish Green Team assists the pastor, staff, and community in implementing Pope Francis's encyclical "Laudato Si': On Care for Our Common Home" as an imperative of Franciscan evangelization. The team meets on the first Monday of each month at 1:00 p.m. at the Mission and is open to all parishioners.
The Green Team hosts educational events that connect Catholic social teaching with the realities of life on California's Central Coast. Recent programs have included a panel discussion on California's wildfires, insurance risk, defensible space, and the parish call to protect creation, featuring experts from local insurance, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, and the Fire Safe Council of Santa Barbara County. The team has also organized Sacred Saunters, leisurely Sunday walks at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and a contemplative walk to the Labyrinth and Lagoon at UC Santa Barbara. Study resources circulated by the Green Team include Pope Francis's 2015 encyclical, his 2023 follow-up "Laudate Deum," "The Letter" film documentary, and the work of the Catholic Climate Covenant.
Outreach Beyond the Mission Walls
The parish reaches well beyond the Mission property through several long-standing outreach partnerships. The Fr. Virgil Cordano Center is a collaborative ministry of the Franciscan Friars of Old Mission Santa Barbara and the Daughters of Charity at St. Vincent's that serves the human and spiritual well-being of those in need. Rooted in the Gospel, Catholic social teaching, and the traditions of St. Francis and St. Vincent de Paul, the center welcomes volunteers eighteen and older for shifts from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., particularly on Thursdays and Fridays. Volunteer roles include serving meals, checking in guests, helping with laundry, reheating meals, cleanup, and preparing brown-bag lunches for delivery to a local laundromat.
The parish's Detention Ministry places trained volunteers in local adult detention facilities to bring a message of God's unconditional love, compassion, and forgiveness to those incarcerated. The Juvenile Detention Ministry offers the same witness to troubled youth and their families. The Transition House Ministry involves parish volunteers in preparing and serving a full dinner each month for more than sixty residents of Transition House, which provides food, shelter, and services to Santa Barbara families who have lost housing. Volunteers purchase and prepare portions of the meal and assist at the house; the parish also purchases ingredients for sack lunches distributed the next day.
In response to the current national immigration situation, the parish maintains an Immigration Resources page linking to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles's Immigration Resources and to a comprehensive FAQ document for undocumented persons. The parish has also organized responses to regional disasters, including volunteer efforts tied to California wildfire relief.
Sacraments of Marriage, First Communion, and Funeral Rites
The Mission Church is one of the most sought-after wedding venues on the California coast. The parish welcomes marriage inquiries from lifelong parishioners with deep family roots in the community and from couples coming to Old Mission Santa Barbara for the first time. Wedding preparation is coordinated through the parish office, and the Mission's two choirs, especially Mission Schola, are available to sing for weddings.
First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are received at the end of a two-year preparation process that begins as early as first grade. Children attend Sunday Family Faith Formation classes during that time and participate in monthly Parent Gatherings. High School Confirmation is a separate two-year program that ordinarily concludes with the sacrament in the spring of tenth grade. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults walks non-Catholic adults and uncatechized Catholics through the process leading to Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist.
Funerals are also a regular part of parish life at St. Barbara. The Mission Schola sings for funeral Masses in the Mission church, and the parish staff helps families plan the liturgies. The Funeral page on the parish site provides guidance for families navigating arrangements.
The Safeguard the Children Commitment
Because St. Barbara Parish is part of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, every volunteer who interacts with children is required to participate in the Safeguard the Children program. Adults eighteen and over complete a volunteer form, are fingerprinted through the Archdiocese (at no cost, with a valid photo ID), complete the three-hour initial VIRTUS Protecting God's Children training, and sign an Adults Interacting with Minors Acknowledgment form that is renewed annually. Ongoing VIRTUS renewal training is required every four years. The parish works with the Archdiocesan Safeguard the Children Office to keep all certifications current.
Visiting Old Mission Santa Barbara
Old Mission Santa Barbara is a national landmark, and the parish welcomes the many visitors who come to see the church, the museum, and the gardens each year. The Mission's walking surfaces are varied; much of the tour area is accessible via stone, tile, cement, or asphalt-paved walkways, and most tour areas offer stair-free options. However, because of the historic nature of the site, certain walkways include stairs and may be narrow, rough, uneven, or steep. The public restrooms at the front of the Mission are not ADA-compliant; visitors who need an accessible restroom or a family restroom are invited to inquire at the Porter's Office, where staff can direct them. Wheelchairs are not available on site. A new ADA ramp at the Mission church was completed and blessed in 2026, made possible by the generosity of parishioners and the wider Mission community.
The Old Mission Santa Barbara Gift Shop, located on the Mission grounds, sells handmade gifts, artisan jewelry, candles, and Mission wine. Shop hours are daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The gift shop can be reached at (805) 682-4149.
Pastoral Plan, Pastoral Council, and Parish Stewardship
The parish operates under a rolling Pastoral Plan, the most recent edition of which was adopted in March 2023 and runs through the 2025-2026 pastoral year. The plan, developed by Fr. Dan and the eight-member Pastoral Council, places strong emphasis on expanding liturgy, faith formation, community building, stewardship, and communication. It is reviewed each Lent by the pastoral leadership. Members of the 2023 Pastoral Council include Majalisa Van Thyne (Chair), Scott Maier, Kitty Murphy, Kerry Parker, William Espinosa, and Zandra Cholmondeley.
The plan frames the parish's mission in language drawn from Bishop Robert Barron, who has written of St. Francis: "Anchored by the still place where he meets Christ, Francis moves… Since Christ is love, we let him in by loving in his name, loving the difficult, loving the unlovable, loving when we are exhausted." That vision of discipleship, prayerful and active, contemplative and outward-moving, is what the parish tries to embody at every level.
Parishioners support the work of St. Barbara through the Sunday Offertory, online giving, text-to-give at 805-303-3152, planned giving and bequests, stock transfers, and qualified charitable distributions from IRAs. The parish participates annually in the Together in Mission campaign of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which supports schools and parishes in the region's poorest communities.
Pastoral Team and Parish Staff
Fr. Dan Lackie, OFM, is the pastor. The parish leadership team includes Lance Crane, Music Coordinator and Choir Director, and Terry Bascombe, Parish Manager. Patricia Orena coordinates Baptisms and weddings; Karin McAuliff is the bookkeeper; Valeria Cruz serves as Wedding Coordinator. The Music Coordinator can be reached at lcrane@saintbarbaraparish.org. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is closed on weekends; the mailing address is 2201 Laguna Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. For after-hours emergencies, the answering service at (805) 682-4151, ext. 101, can reach a priest.
The parish publishes a weekly email newsletter, a weekly e-message from Fr. Dan, and a weekly worship aid. Parish bulletins, the "Message of Faith" weekly reflection written by Fr. Dan and other Franciscan contributors, and stewardship reports from recent years are archived on the parish site. The weekly bulletin is available each Sunday and the gift shop at the Mission is open daily for visitors and parishioners alike.