Music, dance, colorful memories and altars — this was the Día de los Muertos celebration from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries.
The free event, celebrated Saturday, Oct. 28 at Calvary Cemetery in East L.A., honors the Mexican-Catholic tradition of the Day of the Dead, or All Souls Day. A news release said that the lives of the deceased are honored and celebrated through song, prayer and vibrant ofrendas, or altars of offering. The event was an opportunity for families to celebrate a tradition that unites their faith and cultural heritage.
A Mass was celebrated by Msgr. John Moretta, pastor of Resurrection Parish in Boyle Heights, followed by a procession around the cemetery’s mausoleum accompanied by a mariachi band. Over 50 ofrenda altars, built by local families and church ministries, were blessed and on display at the main mausoleum.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles celebrated Día de los Muertos on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Calvary Cemetery, with a blessing of 54 altars on display at the main mausoleum. The celebration included a Mass, arts and crafts, music and performances from folkloric dancers. (Courtesy of John Rueda / Archdiocese of Los Angeles)
A community ofrenda, or altar, at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Día de los Muertos celebration Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Calvary Cemetery. (Courtesy of John Rueda / Archdiocese of Los Angeles)
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles celebrated Día de los Muertos on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Calvary Cemetery, with a blessing of 54 altars on display at the main mausoleum. The celebration included a Mass, arts and crafts, music and performances from folkloric dancers. (Courtesy of John Rueda / Archdiocese of Los Angeles)
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles celebrated Día de los Muertos on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Calvary Cemetery, with a blessing of 54 altars on display at the main mausoleum. The celebration included a Mass, arts and crafts, music and performances from folkloric dancers. (Courtesy of John Rueda / Archdiocese of Los Angeles)
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles celebrated Día de los Muertos on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Calvary Cemetery, with a blessing of 54 altars on display at the main mausoleum. The celebration included a Mass, arts and crafts, music and performances from folkloric dancers. (Courtesy of John Rueda / Archdiocese of Los Angeles)
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles celebrated Día de los Muertos on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Calvary Cemetery, with a blessing of 54 altars on display at the main mausoleum. The celebration included a Mass, arts and crafts, music and performances from folkloric dancers. (Courtesy of John Rueda / Archdiocese of Los Angeles)
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles celebrated Día de los Muertos on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Calvary Cemetery, with a blessing of 54 altars on display at the main mausoleum. The celebration included a Mass, arts and crafts, music and performances from folkloric dancers. (Courtesy of John Rueda / Archdiocese of Los Angeles)
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles celebrated Día de los Muertos on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Calvary Cemetery, with a blessing of 54 altars on display at the main mausoleum. The celebration included a Mass, arts and crafts, music and performances from folkloric dancers. (Courtesy of John Rueda / Archdiocese of Los Angeles)
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles celebrated Día de los Muertos on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Calvary Cemetery. The celebration included a sawdust carpet with the image of late Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell being embraced by Our Lady of Guadalupe, made by an artist from Guanajuato, Mexico. (Courtesy of John Rueda / Archdiocese of Los Angeles)
The large-scale community altar at the Calvary Cemetery in East L.A. Thousands of marigolds, symbolizing sunshine and light, adorned the altar, as well as traditional elements like pan de muerto, Mexican candies and fruits. (Courtesy of Catholic Cemeteries & Mortuaries / Archdiocese of L.A.)
The large-scale community altar at the Calvary Cemetery in East L.A. Thousands of marigolds, symbolizing sunshine and light, adorned the altar, as well as traditional elements like pan de muerto, Mexican candies and fruits. (Courtesy of Catholic Cemeteries & Mortuaries / Archdiocese of L.A.)
A large-scale community altar, built by the cemetery staff, celebrates the lives of their patrons, deceased personnel and members of the East L.A. community, the release said. Thousands of marigolds, symbolizing sunshine and light, adorned the altar, as well as traditional elements like pan de muerto, Mexican candies and fruits.
Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, in 2021. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Other highlights included calavera face painting for kids, crafts, performances from Mariachi Octavo and Mila and Friends folkloric dancers, and local art showcaes from sacred art specialist Lalo Garcia and other local artists.
A sawdust carpet, adorned with O’Connell’s image being embraced by Our Lady of Guadalupe, was created live by an artist from Guanajuato, Mexico.
A special ofrenda dedicated to the late, beloved bishop is on display at the Calvary mausoleum. Over the last week, the altar was created by staff who worked with him in the large area where he served, the San Gabriel Pastoral Region.
Papel picado, flowers, photos, rosaries and more adorn the late Bishop David O’Connell’s ofrenda, on display at the Calvary Cemetery mausoleum. (Courtesy of Catholic Cemeteries & Mortuaries / Archdiocese of L.A.)
Papel picado, flowers, favorite foods, photos of Our Lady of Guadalupe and more adorn the late Bishop David O’Connell’s ofrenda altar, on display at the Calvary Cemetery mausoleum. (Courtesy of Catholic Cemeteries & Mortuaries / Archdiocese of L.A.)
Papel picado, flowers, photos, rosaries and more adorn the late Bishop David O’Connell’s ofrenda, on display at the Calvary Cemetery mausoleum. (Courtesy of Nancy Juarez / Archdiocese of L.A.)
An image of Our Lady of Guadalupe with the late Bishop David O’Connell’s ofrenda, on display at the Calvary Cemetery mausoleum. (Courtesy of Nancy Juarez / Archdiocese of L.A.)
Carmen Vaca and Nancy Nazarian Medina, staff members from the San Gabriel Pastoral Region office of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, take a photo with the late Bishop David O’Connell’s ofrenda at the Calvary Cemetery mausoleum. (Courtesy of Nancy Juarez / Archdiocese of L.A.)
Carmen Vaca, Nancy Nazarian Medina, Nancy Juarez and Sylvia Woodson, staff members from the San Gabriel Pastoral Region office of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, take a photo with the late Bishop David O’Connell’s ofrenda at the Calvary Cemetery mausoleum. (Courtesy of Nancy Juarez / Archdiocese of L.A.)
Staff with the San Gabriel Pastoral Region office of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles help create Bishop David O’Connell’s ofrenda, on display at the Calvary Cemetery mausoleum. (Courtesy of Nancy Juarez / Archdiocese of L.A.)
Papel picado, flowers, favorite foods and more adorn the late Bishop David O’Connell’s ofrenda altar, on display at the Calvary Cemetery mausoleum. (Courtesy of Catholic Cemeteries & Mortuaries / Archdiocese of L.A.)
Papel picado, flowers, photos, rosaries and more adorn the late Bishop David O’Connell’s ofrenda, on display at the Calvary Cemetery mausoleum. (Courtesy of Nancy Juarez / Archdiocese of L.A.)
Part of the ofrenda altar for the late Bishop David O’Connell. (Courtesy of Catholic Cemeteries & Mortuaries / Archdiocese of L.A.)
Pictures and flowers adorn Bishop David O’Connell’s ofrenda, on display at the Calvary Cemetery mausoleum. (Courtesy of Nancy Juarez / Archdiocese of L.A.)
Papel picado, flowers, favorite foods and more adorn the late Bishop David O’Connell’s ofrenda altar, on display at the Calvary Cemetery mausoleum. (Courtesy of Catholic Cemeteries & Mortuaries / Archdiocese of L.A.)
Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, in 2021. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Nancy Juarez was a personal secretary for O’Connell with the San Gabriel Regional office.
“Here you don’t come to an office, you come to a home. We are family — and that’s what Bishop Dave did for us,” Juarez said. “He would be looking down on this (ofrenda) and say, you don’t have to do that. He was a humble man, but in our hearts, he is huge. His faith in God and in Our Lady is so big.”
Juarez said that the staff purposely compiled O’Connell’s many favorites — from herbal teas and coffees; to his dog, favorite foods, even his signature hat — for his ofrenda. The bishop’s dedication to the Blessed Mother and Our Lady of Guadalupe is proudly displayed. The ofrenda is adorned with colorful papel picado and flowers — his favorites were roses, which reminded him of Our Lady, Juarez said.
Other Catholic schools and parishes across the L.A. Archdiocese also honored the beloved bishop in different ways, from personal ofrendas to art displays, Juarez said.
“It’s for everybody to know that Bishop is still very much alive — not only in the San Gabriel region but around the world,” she said. “Seeing the altar gives us a remembrance that he will still be around as an intercessor for us. He reminds us that, with everything we go through, to never forget to trust in Jesus.”
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