It’s Back! Three Locations Mark 2022 Day of the Dead

For the thousands of faithful who enjoy celebrating the Day of the Dead (Día de Los Muertos) at our Catholic cemeteries, the last two years brought a sad interruption to a longstanding tradition. Pandemic restrictions forced the cancellation of in-person events at our locations, forcing people instead to watch celebrations streamed from near-empty cemeteries via our website and Facebook pages.
The unwelcome hiatus made the 2022 festivities even more special as our cemeteries opened their gates to all for the first time since 2019. The public responded grandly, with large crowds flocking to the grounds at two of our oldest locations – Calvary Cemetery in East Los Angeles on Saturday, Oct. 29, and Santa Clara Cemetery in Oxnard the following Saturday, Nov. 5.
At both venues, they celebrated, well, like it was 2019. Mariachi groups filled the air with their festive music; folkloric dancers foot-stomped and twirled across wooden stages; children lined up at face-painting booths. Tasty snacks awaited visitors as well – sizzling tacos, Mexican-style corn, crispy churros, and plenty of other fare. Yet, amid it all, there was time for reverence and quiet reflection. Bilingual Masses took place at both cemeteries, with Msgr. John Moretta of Resurrection Church in Boyle Heights leading the service at Calvary, and Fr. Leon Hutton of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Ventura presiding at Santa Clara.
If there was any doubt about which day they were observing, a gaze across the cemetery grounds made it clear. Thousands upon thousands of graves were adorned with fresh flowers – nearly all the bright yellow and deep orange marigolds central to the Day of the Dead remembrances. Elsewhere, crowding the mausoleums were dozens of shrines that families had built to honor their loved ones, filling them with photos, flowers, favorite foods and beverages, and other items that recalled their years on this earth.
San Fernando Joins the Celebration
In addition to all that, there was something completely new this year. For the first time, San Fernando Mission Cemetery held its special observance on the day of the holiday. On Tuesday evening, Nov. 1, the cemetery hosted a Vigil Prayer Service, drawing hundreds to the south side of the mausoleum.
It commenced soon after nightfall, right on time for an awe-inspiring light show that illuminated the mausoleum wall. As Bishop Marc Trudeau led the flock in prayer, a procession of huge, color-drenched images flashed across the wall – monarch butterflies, an ornate mission chapel, children kneeling before a flower-adorned cross, and the inevitable sprouts of orange marigolds.
We look forward to seeing you at our Day of the Dead celebrations and some of the other events we hold during the year at our 11 Catholic cemeteries.