Funerals and Vigils

The Christian meaning of death is revealed in the light of the Paschal mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ in whom resides our only hope. The Christian who dies in Christ Jesus is “away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

For the Christian the day of death inaugurates, at the end of sacramental life, the fulfillment of new birth begun at Baptism, the definitive “conformity” to “the image of the Son” conferred by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and participation in the feast of the Kingdom which was anticipated in the Eucharist – even if final purifications are still necessary in order to be clothed with the nuptial garment.

The Church who, as Mother, has borne the Christian sacramentally in her womb during our earthly pilgrimage, accompanies us at journey’s end, in order to surrender us “into the Father’s hands.” She offers to the Father, in Christ, the child of his grace, and she commits to the earth, in hope, the seed of the body that will rise in glory. This offering is fully celebrated in the Eucharistic sacrifice; the blessings before and after Mass are sacramentals.

The Christian funeral is a liturgical celebration of the Church. The ministry of the Church in this instance aims at expressing efficacious communion with the deceased, at the participation in that communion of the community gathered for the funeral, and at the proclamation of eternal life to the community.
— the Catechism of the Catholic Church

For information about planning Funerals, Memorials or Vigils 
please contact the Parish Center at (310) 285-5425.

Votive candles and Mass Cards are available for a small offering from the Parish Center.