Blessing of Santa Clara Mortuary, cemetery offices

On Nov. 2, Archbishop of Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony, will celebrate the annual All Souls Day Mass at 10 a.m. at Santa Clara Cemetery and Mausoleum in Oxnard. As part of this special celebration, His Eminence will also bless the new Santa Clara Mortuary & Cemetery Offices.

After the Mass and blessing, representatives from Catholic Mortuaries will speak, and then the public will be invited to meet the staff and enjoy refreshments. In addition, gifts will be given to those attending.

The blessing of Santa Clara Mortuary by Cardinal Mahony gives local Catholic families the option of choosing the convenience and security of arranging all their funeral needs serviced at a single location.

“We are committed to providing Catholic families throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles with the very finest and most convenient services and facilities during their time of bereavement,” said Jim Tixier, Director of Catholic Cemeteries for the Archdiocese. “We want to expand and enhance the Church’s ministry to bereaved Catholic families, and will make available mortuary services that fully support Catholic rites and traditions at Santa Clara Cemetery.”

The new mortuary is located on the grounds of Santa Clara Cemetery in Oxnard, the oldest operating Catholic cemetery in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Because the cemetery office will be located within the mortuary, it provides the opportunity for families to make all of their arrangements in one location, thereby easing the burden of securing final plans. The mortuary will also offer the ability to prearrange funeral plans for additional convenience.

The architecture of Santa Clara Mortuary & Cemetery Office is in the California mission style, and it was built with the comfort of visiting families in mind. The spacious building covers more than 11,000 square feet and offers families many places to gather. There are three large rooms where visitations can be held, as well as five arrangement offices. The mortuary also provides a chapel that seats 260 people as an added optional convenience for those familieswhose parish priest chooses to hold the funeral service onsite. In keeping with the “all services in one location” concept, flowers will also be available in the mortuary. Visitors to Santa Clara Cemetery can purchase bouquets for placement on the burial sites of their loved ones. Or, those attending a funeral service can call ahead and order stunning floral displays.

For more information, call (805) 485-5757.