Name of Church Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
Address 1300 East Valley Road, Montecito, CA 93108
Phone number (805) 969-6868
Website www.mtcarmelsb.com
Mass times Saturday vigil 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.; 10 a.m.; noon. Weekday and Saturday, 7:45 a.m.
Confessions 3:30 – 4:15 p.m.
Music Adult, children’s and teen choirs
Names of priests Fr. Lawrence Seyer, pastor. Msgr. Stephen Downes and Fr. Maurice O’Mahony, both pastor emeritus. Fr. Seyer came to the parish in 2016, after spending 11 years as pastor of Our Savior Parish and the USC Caruso Center in Los Angeles, serving USC students. While there, he played a key role in the designing and building of an impressive new church; it was built in the more traditional style, he explained, because “the students wanted a church that looked like a church.” Despite working on a college campus he publicly voiced his support for California’s Proposition 8, which sought to maintain the traditional definition of marriage, in 2008. He’s a good homilist; listen to him address students by clicking here.
School Yes. Pre-K through 8th grade.
Special parish groups Community of Churches in Montecito, small faith-sharing groups
Fellow parishioners This is a wealthier community in Santa Barbara County; there are also many tourists who visit the area.
Parking Parking alongside the church.
Additional observations Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a historic parish built in the mission style. It was established in 1856, initially served by the priests of the nearby Santa Barbara Mission. The current church was built in 1938. Its tabernacle, sanctuary lamp and altar crucifix are silver and modeled after the designs of 17th century Spanish colonial silversmiths; its buildings also incorporate the building styles of the Pueblo Indians. (Take a quick tour: video)
Lovely church; no TLM.
You do the math.
St. Christopher, could it be that no one at the parish has requested that the TLM be offered there?
Likely not true, “Anonymous.” In any event, Benedict, in Summorum Pontificum clearly anticipated some initiative by pastors to instruct their faithful about Catholic Tradition.
This church is yet another outstanding example of the work of the great Catholic architect, Ross Montgomery (1888-1969), along with William Mullay, who drew from several southwest Jesuit mission church examples (San Xavier del Bac, San Cayetano del Tubac, others) and designed this church. Following those examples, it has a roof comprised of a herringbone pattern of eucalyptus saplings, not only unusual but perfectly functional nearly 90 years later.
Ross Montgomery also designed St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Los Angeles, St. Andrews in Pasadena (the tall belltower you see beside the Pasadena 210 Freeway) , and perhaps his magnum opus, St. Anthony Seminary Chapel in Santa Barbara:
https://www.sasalumni.org/reredos
‘This Church was built for the TLM yet has none SHAMEFUL!!!
There is one today. At 5pm
Behold the Beautiful Mt. Carmel Church still standing strong .We don’t officially belong but we feel so at home here. Attended Christmas Eve 9:15 service… it was so meaningful .
You can feel the Love the minute you step on the property. We’ve lived in Montecito for almost 30 years this church is so welcoming and I love the atmosphere of love it’s like we are transported into Italy right here in California. Our eldest daughter was married at Mt.Carmel by the late Father Virgil Cordero in 2007. It’s such a wonderful community treat. May I suggest you visit and enjoy a blessing ,whisper a prayer for yourself, loved ones and our world. Blessings in this New Year 2020.
Really???? Nothing about the Sisters who work and contribute so
Much to the quality of this Parish!
I hope this point is well taken!