In light of recent events in regards to statue removals and the relocation of Saint Junipero Serra there was some good news. Mission San Buenaventura was just unveiled as the first basilica in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the 88th in the United States.
“When the pope designates a basilica, it means this is holy ground, that something beautiful and important in the history of salvation happened here,” Archbishop Gomez said.
The pope declared the Mission in Ventura as one of his own when he upgraded its status as a basilica. There are six basilicas in California.