Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    SGI-USA Santa Barbara

    4.5 (2 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    SGI-USA Santa Barbara Photos

    More like SGI-USA Santa Barbara

    Recommended Reviews - SGI-USA Santa Barbara

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration
    Photo of Rob E.
    31
    4
    0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Our Lady of Sorrows Church - Back of church; Parking lot view

    Our Lady of Sorrows Church

    4.4(10 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    A solo trip to Santa Barbara called me to visit Our Lady of Sorrows on a Thursday morning…read more I was lucky to have the church to "myself," to pray the rosary, reflect, and admire the artwork and statues that adorn the interior. They even have Holy Water "on tap" on either side of the church, which I was able to take some home with gratitude. Such a gem and I'm glad I was able to visit Easy to find, ample parking located on the back; beautiful grounds.

    I used to serve and do many other things in this parish when the Jesuits ran it (RIP Fr Cahill). We…read moreattended the 11 am mass which was very much diff at that time (Mrs Cunningham was the organist ). It took me the 4 + yrs of coming back to SB lately to even enter . I was petrified they had destroyed it . I was so relieved to see it was in tact . As far as Mass, it's in the same state of disrepair that it has been for 50 years . I did attend the daily Mass by the Salesian , who is leaving , and I was really surprised in a food way . I've attended the Sunday Mass several times and it's sheer chaos . I pray for the pastor . There's an overabundance or extraordinary ministers and deacons but that's par today . There have been those who have complained about it not being welcoming . I get that . There seems to be a one-sided welcoming environment. The standard disorder is omnipresent , people lifting up their hands every 3 seconds ; standing when they should be kneeling and the music is very "Me" oriented . Unfortunately this is all a result of the grave lack of catechesis in the last 50 yrs . That's why I don't want to hear anymore about the lack of understanding or reverence for the Eucharist . That education needs to come from the priest . As does the appropriate direction for the Mass . I doubt that is going to happen unless they get another associate . It's the clericalization of the laity and the laication of the clergy . Please don't believe there are no priests . I know of several religious order priests who'd come to OLS eg. VI , FSSP, CM .

    Photos
    Our Lady of Sorrows Church - Saint Ann & child Mary

    Saint Ann & child Mary

    Our Lady of Sorrows Church - Front of church

    Front of church

    Our Lady of Sorrows Church

    See all

    Mission Santa Barbara - Another heavenly day in Santa Barbara.

    Mission Santa Barbara

    4.1(365 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    I hadn't been to the Mission in years. This year I went to the Madonnari Chalk Festival - what a…read moregorgeous time. My mom and I had the best of times! Art, Music, food and just sooooo much fun! I danced so much and got to meet many wonderful artists. I def will be back next year and make a whole weekend out of it. I live nearby but I think, next year I'll stay a few days in SB. My mom is already looking forward to it!

    Mission Santa Barbara is a historic California landmark that also doubles as a museum. They even…read morehave actual mass in the mission, as well as Sunday service. It is a beautiful space filled with so much historic value. It was founded in 1786!! We got there around 3pm and purchased the Self Guided tour for $17 per person, which was a little high in my opinion. You walk through the museum and Mission grounds at your own pace and enjoy it on your own time. There are QR Codes that provide information to go along with your tour. We checked out the museum, garden, mausoleum, and even sat in the church for about 30 minutes just enjoying the beauty and peace. There is a gift shop you exit through that sells some lovely items such as shirts, sweaters, magnets, artwork, sculptures, candles and so much more. We bought a nice sweater with Santa Barbara written on it, a beautiful candle in a glass, and a small bookmark with a prayer symbol on it. They even have snacks/refreshments. They close at 5pm but sell their last ticket at 4pm. Parking is also free, which is always a plus. This was our third time here over the last 2 decades, and I'm not sure it's necessary to come back again. Once you've seen it, you've seen it.

    Photos
    Mission Santa Barbara - Rose garden in the front

    Rose garden in the front

    Mission Santa Barbara - Fountain in front of the mission

    Fountain in front of the mission

    Mission Santa Barbara - Moorish fountain 1808. Built to launder clothes as well as centerpiece.

    See all

    Moorish fountain 1808. Built to launder clothes as well as centerpiece.

    Vedanta Hindu Temple & Bookstore - Tranquility space

    Vedanta Hindu Temple & Bookstore

    4.6(9 reviews)
    7.5 mi

    No need to travel all the way to India to find Nirvana. Tranquility can be yours just two hours…read morenorth of LA (depending on the state of the 101 Parking Lot). Nestled in the foothills a smidge south and east of Santa Barbara, this divine spot is a naturalist's dream, with its landscape of native vegetation interspersed with stately eucalyptus groves. Built in the style of Southern Indian, this temple, elegant in its simplicity, is cleverly constructed of hand-hewn timber. Shoes must be left at the door, but not to worry, for the interior is carpeted with plush wall-to-wall, the soft color of a virgin's blush. Silence is golden and de rigeur when inside, but it is easy to hold one's tongue within this womb of cozy spirituality. The property is also the site of a convent for Vedanta nuns, whose novitiates run the wonderfully eclectic book and giftshop. Much like their contemporary Catholic counterparts, one would be hard pressed to identify them as clerics, due to the fact that they dress like regular folks. They are also very friendly, and quite helpful. The shop carries merchandise of all faiths and spiritual practices, as well as some very lovely handmade tschotchkes. They even have a special section for kids. Although, it's much smaller, it puts the Hipster Buddhist Mecca known as the Bodhi Tree to shame by sheer beauty of surroundings as well as, well, the authentic holiness of the ladies on the staff. The temple, shop and grounds are free and open to the public. Visitors of any, or no spiritual persuasion, are welcome to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the rustle of the breeze through the eucs, the spontaneous rounds of birdsong, as well as reveling in the spectacular mountain views. Winter hours, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; spring, 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Vespers: winter, 6 p.m.; spring, 6:30 p.m. Sun. lecture, 11 p.m. The bookstore is open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sun., 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

    I spent six years of my life in Santa Barbara. It will always be my heart's home. I became…read moreinterested in Eastern Religious beliefs at UCSB and subsequently found Vedanta. The small, serene temple sits on 45 acres of land in the hills of Montecito overlooking the ocean. Run by a a convent of seven nuns, activities include daily worship, meditation and vesper services. The best time to attend the evening vesper services is during daylight savings time when you can quietly observe the sunset. There's a rock not far from the steps outside. I used to sit there after the service in in the "otherworldy" silence that envelops the place and reflect. The following detail on the vespers service comes from their website. I couldn't do it justice, so I thought I'd add it. It is a quiet time, a time for reflection and meditation at the close of the day. During the ritual, five items, representing the subtle elements that form the universe, are offered back to the Lord. The ritual symbolizes the multiplicity of the world being dissolved into oneness. It is an act of surrender to God, an act of the soul's return to its Source. After a brief meditation, the worshiper begins the arati by lighting wicks in a special holder. These wicks are made of cotton dipped in melted ghee (clarified butter). The lights symbolize the light of Brahman (the Godhead). They also symbolize fire, one of the five elements that comprise the universe. The worshiper pours consecrated water three times over the handle of the arati holder as salutations are offered to the fire that is Brahman. Pouring the water three times is believed to aid the worshiper's commitment to the act, thereby enhancing the effect. The worshiper rings the bell continuously with the left hand, symbolizing the mystic sound OM, which eternally reverberates throughout the universe. With the right hand, the worshiper waves the light clockwise before the pictures of Ramakrishna, Jesus and Buddha, thus offering fire back to the Lord. The worshiper then kneels down and passes the right hand over the light and then over the head. By doing this, the worshiper is purified by the light of Brahman and takes the darshan (blessings) of the Lord. This act also signifies the desire for illumination, or for realization of the soul's oneness with God. The worshiper then pours water over the hand as an act of purification before the next, and each subsequent, offering is begun. The second offering is water, which is contained in a conch shell. Water is another element comprising the universe. The conch is waved in a circular motion before the holy pictures, and is then poured into an offering bowl. The third offering is a cloth, which symbolizes the element space. Cloth covers the body as space envelops all creation. The fourth offering is a flower, symbolizing the element earth. The last of the offerings is the chamara (a fan made of yak tail), which symbolizes the element air as it is gracefully waved before the holy pictures. Three songs accompany the vesper service: Khandana Bhaba Bandhana, a Bengali song to Sri Ramakrishna written by Swami Vivekananda; Om Hring Ritang, a Sanskrit hymn to Sri Ramakrishna written by Swami Vivekananda; and Sarva Mangala Mangalye, a Sanskrit hymn to the Divine Mother. The singing is often acccompanied by a harmonium (an Indian hand-held organ), a tampura (an Indian string instrument), tabla (Indian drums) and cymbals. It's truly calming.

    Photos
    Vedanta Hindu Temple & Bookstore
    Vedanta Hindu Temple & Bookstore
    Vedanta Hindu Temple & Bookstore - Tranquility assured here!

    See all

    Tranquility assured here!

    SGI-USA Santa Barbara - religiousorgs - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...