Large crowds are expected at the Día de los Muertos event at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills on Tuesday, Nov. 1, All Saints Day.
A traditional blessing of the altars will be held. Many people with loved ones buried at the Mission Cemetery will build ofrendas traditional altars at their gravesites.
Eighth graders from North Hollywood’s St. Charles Borromeo School will construct an altar to honor the students and teachers killed in the Uvalde massacre.
Large-scale projections are planned with performances by Mariachi Charros de Oro de Adrian Cruz,the Aztec dancers group Azteca Águilas del Tepeyac and the Ballet Folklorico Ollin. Art from local artists will also be on display.
“After a two-year absence, we are happy to be able to provide our Día de los Muertos celebrations for our patrons, their families and the local community,” said Brian McMahon, director of community outreach for Catholic Cemeteries & Mortuaries. “Understanding the importance of All Souls Day and Día de los Muertos to the Catholic faithful, we wanted to resume our in-person observances as soon as it was safe.
“This year, we are excited to bring our Día de los Muertos Vigil prayer service to San Fernando Mission Cemetery & Mission Hills Catholic Mortuary in Mission Hills. We have invited the public to join us for this beautiful outdoor evening service, which will also be livestreamed. The event in San Fernando will now become an annual tradition.”
This will be the ninth consecutive year that the Día de los Muertos is held at Calvary Cemetery. Due to the pandemic, the family day event — a vibrant faith-based tradition when the life of the deceased is honored and celebrated through songs, prayer and ofrendas (altars) — was replaced the last two years by a virtual Vigil Prayer Service. This will be the fifth anniversary of the celebration at Santa Clara.
San Fernando Mission Cemetery & Mission Hills Catholic Mortuary in Mission Hills (11160 Stranwood Ave., Mission Hills, CA 91345) will open its doors at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 1, All Saints Day. Festivities will begin with a welcome at 6:45 p.m. followed by a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Vigil service presided by Bishop Marc Trudeau, Auxiliary Bishop for the San Pedro Pastoral Region.