St. Vincent's Santa Barbara

10/16/2026

We’re grateful to Santa Barbara City College for bringing its first resource fair to St. Vincent’s and helping make continuing education more accessible to our community.

A very special thank you to Isis Castañeda, Founder and Director at Creating Connections whose leadership, dedication, and partnership were instrumental in bringing this opportunity to our residents. We are incredibly grateful for her work in helping make this meaningful program possible.

The event connected residents with resources and opportunities to continue their education, including GED classes, certificate programs, and associate degree programs. We also want to thank Angelica Contreras, SBCC Senior Director of Admissions and Records and Dual Enrollment, for helping residents take those important first steps.

Several residents signed up for GED classes during the event, with many others asking about certificate and associate degree programs. Four mothers from our Family Strengthening Program connected with additional SBCC programs. Two will begin classes in the spring, and two who are already enrolled this semester are signing up for extra support.

https://www.independent.com/2026/10/02/santa-barbara-city-college-visits-st-vincents-campus-to-make-education-attainable/

We are excited for this to be the beginning of an ongoing relationship with SBCC and Creating Connections, and we look forward to creating even more opportunities for the St. Vincent’s community.

10/15/2026

Education has always been a cornerstone of the Daughters of Charity's mission. In 1858, they founded the first English-language school in Santa Barbara. Our commitment to quality education and enlightenment has remained unwavering for over 160 years. Today, St. Vincent's Children's Center continues this legacy by providing exceptional early childhood education.

This photo from 1952 shows a Daughter of Charity preparing for a lesson at St. Vincent's School, a testament to our enduring dedication to education.

10/14/2026

Last weekend we held our annual picnic for the volunteers of the Fr. Virgil Cordano Center. Shoreline Park, warm sun, the ocean right there.

For one afternoon the roles reversed. The Daughters of Charity, St. Vincent's associates, and a few spouses did the serving, and the people who serve all year sat down and enjoyed the afternoon.

They have earned it. The Center could not open its doors without them.

The picnic happens once a year, honoring what happens every weekday. That is how St. Vincent's has always understood charity: not a grand gesture on the calendar once a year, but small acts by many people, repeated, for neighbors who would otherwise be left behind.

To every volunteer at the Cordano Center, thank you.
https://youtu.be/-w6W1a6VdRU?si=aVnMNJAc_3-6-vEm

10/13/2026

Congratulations to the newly elected Officers of the Ladies of Charity of Santa Barbara! 🎉

President: Pam Langhorn
Vice President: Jeanine Wright
Secretary: Margaret Waters
Treasurer: Madeline Petrini

We were honored to celebrate with them at their Fall meeting, where Fr. John Hardin offered a special Mass — a beautiful reminder of the faith that anchors this remarkable organization.

Did you know? The Ladies of Charity have been serving alongside the Daughters of Charity for 400 years. Founded in 17th-century France by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, they have mobilized lay women to serve the poor with dignity and compassion — wherever the need is greatest.

In Santa Barbara, the Ladies of Charity have been woven into our community for more than 50 years. We are grateful for their partnership, their dedication, and their leadership. Congratulations, ladies! 💙

10/10/2026

Meet Jeanine! ✂️

A Santa Barbara cosmetologist for 43 years, Jeanine volunteers at the Fr. Virgil Cordano Center on the first Wednesday of every month, offering free haircuts to guests navigating homelessness.

First introduced to the Center through the Ladies of Charity, what started as a single visit has turned into a beautiful partnership—and an ongoing source of support from her generous salon clients.

📖 Read the full St. Vincent’s story: https://www.stvincents-sb.org/a-different-kind-of-appointment/

Once a month, longtime Santa Barbara cosmetologist Jeanine offers free haircuts to guests at the Fr. Virgil Cordano Center. Read how a Ladies of Charity connection turned into a lasting volunteer commitment.

10/10/2026

Eighteen holes is a long walk. Thank you to Procovry for bringing their Body Wellness & Fitness Recovery services to our 25th Annual Charity Golf Classic, and for helping our players feel better than when they started.

We’re grateful to partners who bring something unexpected to the day. Thank you, Procovry.

10/09/2026

We are deeply grateful to our in-kind sponsors for their contributions to St. Vincent’s 25th Annual Charity Golf Classic. Their generous donations of goods and services directly benefit St. Vincent’s Family Strengthening Program. Thank you for your generosity and commitment!

10/08/2026

This week in our archival collection, we're spotlighting the 1958 visit from France of Mother Francine Lepicard, Superior General of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. In this photo, the Daughters of Charity stand proudly in front of the main entrance to St. Vincent's School in Santa Barbara. The visit was a momentous occasion, garnering significant attention from the local press and underscoring St. Vincent's contributions to Santa Barbara's rich history of charity and service.
(St. Vincent's Archives ®, 1958)

10/06/2026

The last cart is in, the scorecards are tallied, and the 25th Annual Charity Golf Classic is done.

Taking Men’s First Place Gross with a score of 53: Bhavik Patel, Mike Valpredo, Colby Lewis, and Chad Brock.

Thank you to Drew Wakefield, who welcomed every one of us from the microphone and kept the energy up all day. Thank you to the students from Bishop Garcia Diego High School , who were everywhere we needed them. The raffle prizes have been handed out, the silent auction has closed, and dinner came with an ocean and a sunset.

And our deepest thanks to the Sarah Lee Pascoe Foundation, our Presentation Sponsor. Their support is what keeps the Family Strengthening Program going long after the carts are put away.

Twenty-five years ago, Bill Cordero started this tournament. Tonight he moves to the passenger seat, and his granddaughter Bella takes the wheel.

See you next year.

10/05/2026

The sky is blue, the players are hydrated, the rules have been read, and Fr. John Hardin has blessed the players. The 25th Annual Charity Golf Classic is underway at the Montecito Club.

Twenty-five years for this tournament, and twenty-five years for the Family Strengthening Program it supports, which gives single mothers and their children a safe place to live while they rebuild.

Thank you to the Sarah Lee Pascoe Foundation, our Presentation Sponsor, and to Connor Limont for joining us today. Thank you to the Santa Barbara Newcomers club and our finance team for running check-in. And thank you to our co-chair Bill Cordero, who has been behind this tournament since the beginning.

Alicia came through the Family Strengthening Program and came back to support other mothers. She says it best: "Where you started does not determine where you end up."

And they're off.