Mission San Buenaventura, California

We went to Mass at Mission Basilica San Buenaventura in Ventura, California. The mission was founded on March 31,1782, the ninth of the twenty-one mission and the last one to be founded by Junipero Serra. The first church was destroyed in a fire, leaving the Franciscans to rebuild in 1792. That church survives to today. The interior was "modernized" in 1893 and then restored to its original appearance in 1956. It is a beautiful and active parish. 

The exterior has the classic look of a mission with a tall bell tower and the clean, white front.

Mission San Buenaventura

The nave is spacious though there are no side aisles. Before Mass started, they asked if any visitors were in the congregation. We stood up along with a handful of other people. When asked where they were from, most people were mid-westerners. We said we were from Maryland, and the usher said we were probably from the farthest away. Two groups back were some people from the Philippines, so we were not from farthest away!

Nave

Going to communion was a little awkward. The ushers had the people at the back come forward first, returning to their pews down a middle lane between those coming up for communion. It worked surprisingly well. Otherwise the Mass was great.

The main altar has a statue of Saint Bonaventure, a Franciscan from the thirteenth century who was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1588. He is flanked by Our Lady and Saint Joseph.

Main altar

Side altars include a painting from 1747 of Our Lady of Guadalupe and a scene of the Crucifixion.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Crucifixion altar

As a minor basilica, the church displays the umbraculum, a small umbrella with papal insignia showing that the pope (in this case, Pope Francis in 2020) bestowed that honor. Typically, churches are declared basilicas because of historic or artistic importance. This one has both!

Umbraculum

Choir loft

The back of the church has a copy of Michelangelo's Pieta and a lot of relics from various saints.

Pieta

Reliquaries

Since it was Sunday, the museum was not open yet. They did have a celebration going on in the mission square.

Fountain in the square

People enjoying food and fellowship

We did not get to the museum and thus didn't get a stamp for our "mission passport." I guess we will have to go back some day!