This year, Calvary Cemetery & Mortuary welcomed students and educators from
11 Catholic schools for our annual Catechetical Day, a special opportunity for young people to come together in faith, prayer, learning, and remembrance.
While the weather had other plans for us, a little rain certainly did not dampen our spirits.
Our team quickly adjusted the day’s program to accommodate the changing conditions, and students, teachers, volunteers, and staff embraced those changes with patience and enthusiasm. What could have been a disruption instead became a wonderful reminder that faith calls us to be flexible, joyful, and present to one another, whatever the circumstances.
A Cemetery as a Place of Faith and Learning
Catechetical Day gives students a unique opportunity to experience a Catholic cemetery not simply as a place of burial, but as
sacred ground and a living expression of our Catholic faith.
Through the day’s activities, students were invited to reflect on prayer, remembrance, Catholic traditions, and the hope we share in the promise of eternal life. The day also gives young Catholics an opportunity to better understand the Church’s ministry to families during some of the most sacred and difficult moments of their lives.
For Catholic Cemeteries & Mortuaries, welcoming students is especially meaningful. Our cemeteries are places where generations of Catholics are remembered, families gather in prayer, and the dignity of every person is honored.
11 Schools, One Catholic Community
Having
11 schools participate this year made the day especially meaningful. Each school brought its own students, teachers, and energy, but together they reflected something much larger: our identity as
one Body of Christ.
That sense of community showed throughout the day. Despite the rain and the necessary program changes, everyone moved forward with a positive, joyful spirit.
In many ways, that became part of the lesson.
Faith does not depend on perfect circumstances. It calls us to encounter Christ wherever we find ourselves, to care for one another, and to respond to the unexpected with hope.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
The day's impact was clearly reflected in the feedback we received from participating schools.
Mrs. Lilybeth Martin of Our Lady of Talpa School described Catechetical Day as an invaluable learning experience for her third-grade students. She shared that their firsthand encounter with the depth, richness, and beauty of Día de los Muertos offered the kind of joyful learning that extends far beyond the classroom.
Mrs. Anabel Rodriguez, Principal of St. Michael’s School, echoed that sentiment, sharing how much her students enjoyed the crafts, face painting, lunch, and especially the opportunity to
create altars honoring their loved ones.
For the St. Michael’s community, seeing the altar dedicated to
Bishop David O’Connell was particularly meaningful. Mrs. Rodriguez also expressed appreciation for
Fr. Jorge Moncada of Resurrection Catholic Church in East Los Angeles, who blessed the children’s altars, bringing an additional dimension of faith and prayer to the experience. Mrs. Rodriguez described the experience beautifully as a
“memorable day of faith, learning, and remembrance.”
Together, these reflections capture what we hope to accomplish through Catechetical Day:
to create experiences where faith, culture, tradition, learning, and remembrance come together in meaningful ways for our young people.
Planting Seeds of Faith
Catechetical Day ultimately plants seeds of faith.
We hope that when students return to their schools and families, they carry with them a deeper understanding of our Catholic traditions and of the hope at the heart of our faith:
our belief in the Resurrection and the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. In remembering those who have gone before us, we are reminded that death is not the end and that, in Christ, we live in the hope of being reunited with our loved ones.
Through Baptism, each of us is called to live in that hope and to carry Christ’s love into our families, schools, parishes, communities, and the world. Opportunities like Catechetical Day help our young people experience the meaning of prayer, remembrance, service, and compassion while discovering that they, too, have a place and a purpose within the life and mission of the Church.
Grateful for Our Community Partners
Days like Catechetical Day are even more special because of the generosity of those who support our students and our community.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the
Office of Religious Education of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for partnering with us and helping us make Catechetical Day a meaningful experience for our students. Their collaboration helps us create opportunities for young people to deepen their faith, grow in their understanding of our Catholic traditions, and experience the hope and promise of Christ in meaningful ways.
We extend a special thank you to
Vallarta Supermarkets for their generous support and for providing
water and traditional Pan de Muerto for our students and guests. Their generosity helped add to the warmth and hospitality of this special day.
The rain may have changed our plans,
but it never changed the spirit of the day.
We are grateful to the 11 participating schools, their students, teachers, and administrators, as well as our staff, volunteers, sponsors, and everyone who helped make this year’s Catechetical Day such a meaningful experience.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for another memorable Catechetical Day at Calvary.
Coming Up: Día de los Muertos Masses & Community Days
Although
Calvary Cemetery’s Día de los Muertos Mass and Community Day took place on October 24, the celebration continues. Visitors are invited to experience the beautiful altars honoring loved ones, which
will remain on display through Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
Then, bring the family and join us on
Saturday, November 7, for our Día de los Muertos Masses and Community Days at
Santa Clara Cemetery & Mortuary in Oxnard and
San Fernando Mission Cemetery & Mission Hills Catholic Mortuary in Mission Hills.
Together, we’ll remember our loved ones, celebrate our faith and traditions, and share in
the hope of the Resurrection and the promise of eternal life in Christ.
All are welcome!
More Día de los Muertos Information
