Guide
The missions
California’s missions within a day of downtown Los Angeles, oldest first. Most are still parishes, so you can go to Mass where the Franciscans first said it.
Founded 1771 · the 4th missionMission San Gabriel Arcángel
The fourth California mission, and a parish the Claretian Missionaries have run since 1908. An arson fire in July 2020 nearly destroyed the church; it reopened with a rebuilt museum on July 1, 2023, after three years of restoration.
- Sunday Mass
- Sat 5:30 PM, 7 PM (Vietnamese) · Sun 7, 8:30 AM (Spanish), 10, 11:30 AM, 1 PM (Spanish), 3 PM (Vietnamese)Only the Sunday 7 and 10 AM Masses are in the old mission church
- Visiting
- Tue to Sun 8 AM to 4 PM, last entry 3 PM · $15 adultsSeniors and military $12, youth and college students $10, under 5 free. Closed Mondays.
Founded 1782 · the 9th missionMission Basilica San Buenaventura
The ninth mission, founded by St. Junípero Serra on Easter Sunday 1782, the last he founded in his lifetime. In 2020 it became a minor basilica, the first in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. A visit takes in the church, the garden and grotto, and a small museum with the mission's original wooden bells.
- Sunday Mass
- Sat 5:30 PM, 7:30 PM (Spanish) · Sun 7:15, 9 AM, 10:45 AM (Spanish), 12:30 PM
- Visiting
- Daily 9 AM to 4 PM · $8 adultsSeniors and military $5, youth $3, under 5 free. Tours start at the gift shop, 225 E. Main Street.
Founded 1786 · the 10th missionOld Mission Santa Barbara
The tenth mission, and home to Franciscan friars without a break since its founding in 1786; novices still train here. The self-guided tour covers the church, the cemetery, a nine-room museum and the gardens. Mass in the mission church is celebrated by St. Barbara Parish.
- Sunday Mass
- Sat 4 PM · Sun 7:30, 9, 11 AM
- Visiting
- Mon to Sat 9:30 AM to 5 PM · Sun 12:30 to 5 PM · $17 adultsLast ticket at 4 PM. Seniors and military $15, youth $12, 4 and under free. Closed Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Founded 1787 · the 11th missionLa Purísima Mission State Historic Park
Rebuilt at its present site after the 1812 earthquakes destroyed the first buildings, it is now a California state historic park rather than a parish. The church, living quarters and workshops stand in one long line, with a mission garden and corrals of burros, horses, longhorn cattle, sheep and goats.
- Sunday Mass
- No Mass hereIt is a state park, not a parish
- Visiting
- Historic buildings daily 9 AM to 4 PM · $6 per carFree guided tours Wed to Sun at 1 PM, and Sat at 11 AM, from the visitor center
Founded 1797 · the 17th missionMission San Fernando Rey de España
The 17th mission, known for its convento, which the mission calls the largest two-story adobe in California, with a colonnade of 19 arches. The church was rebuilt after the 1971 earthquake and now holds one Sunday Mass. Bob Hope is buried in the memorial garden beside it.
- Sunday Mass
- Sun 9:30 AM
- Visiting
- Daily 9 AM to 4:30 PMTickets at the gift shop; the price is not posted. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and July 4.
Founded 1804 · the 19th missionOld Mission Santa Inés
The 19th mission, founded in 1804 and still a parish, run by Capuchin Franciscan friars who came from Ireland in 1924. The Chumash revolt of 1824 began here, and California's first seminary opened on the grounds in 1844. The museum keeps mission-era art, bells and vestments.
- Sunday Mass
- Sat 5 PM, 7 PM (Spanish) · Sun 8, 9:30 AM, 11 AM (bilingual), 12:30 PM (Spanish)
- Visiting
- Self-guided tours 9 AM to 4:30 PM · $8 adultsSeniors $7, ages 6 to 12 $5, free for 5 and under and for veterans and military
Just outside the archdiocese
Founded 1776 · the 7th missionMission San Juan Capistrano
The seventh mission, founded in 1776, is now a museum and historic landmark marking its 250th year. Its Serra Chapel is the only chapel still standing where St. Junípero Serra said Mass, and weekday Mass is still said there, beside the ruins of the Great Stone Church. The swallows' return is celebrated every March 19.
- Sunday Mass
- Sat 4:30 PM, 6 PM (Spanish) · Sun 7:30, 9, 11 AM, 1 PM (Spanish), 5 PMWeekend Masses are at the Mission Basilica next door, 31520 Camino Capistrano
- Visiting
- Tue to Sun 9 AM to 5 PM · $19 adultsSeniors $16, youth and students $11, 4 and under free. Closed Mondays.
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