Religious Education Our religious education is in charge of all catechism-related topics. If you have any questions or concerns for this department contact our parish office . Below are some topics that are part of Religious education. Coordinator: Sr. Luz del Carmen Perez, E.F.M.S Contact Information: (323) 269-7248 Office Hours: Monday - Wednesday 2:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. Friday - Saturday 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Holy Baptism The Holy Baptism is our most sacred celebration in the Catholic Community. Not only is it the start of an amazing journey in faith with Jesus Christ, but it also welcomes us to the enlightenment of God above all. Read More Confirmation The confirmation is the finding with the Holy Spirit, the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults states that Jesus' entire mission occurred in communion with the Spirit and that before his death he made a promise that the Spirit would be given to his apostles and the entire church. First Communion The First Holy Communion is the pronunciation of standing in good faith with God and Jesus Christ. This sacrament is the second of three and happens to be more than a sign of devotion to the catholic church. Read More OCIA or RCIA for Adults As mentioned in Americanmartyrs.org, the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults is a sacrament for adults who have decided to be a part of the Catholic community. Read More Read More

Our History FOUNDATION The Catholic Church, Our Lady of Solitude, happens to be a historical staple in the heart of East Los Angeles, California. With almost 100 years of life, it's still a masterpiece of a church despite its long years. In our Golden Jubilee, it’s said that our church was founded by a Father named Msgr. Michael Sheahan around December or Christmas of 1925. It is said that Our Lady of Solitude happens to be the third church built for our Spanish-speaking community n ow known as East Los Angeles. Before Our Lady of Solitude Before Our Lady of Solitude was built, there was a mission that the Fathers and this city had. The mission was to have another foundation before the 1920’s ended. But still, regardless of not having a church, Fathers J. Grajalves and Guadalupe del Rio, OFM, celebrated Holy Mass in a bakery that was previously on Arizona Street, then at the Azteca Theater on McDonell Street, and even in a garage. INTERESTING FACT As we have now progressed and have a community of our own, the history of this church has not always been as it looks. Our first-ever celebration was accompanied by approximately fourteen worshippers who were informed by others from the community. Later that day, mass was hosted a second time bringing in seventy more new parishioners. Despite not being informed by our holy bells, our community made it official that Our Lady of Solitude was a new parish for its people of East Los Angeles. Our First Sisters Since the late 1920s, our sisters have been present in our church. The first sisters to arrive were the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. As the Golden Jubilee mentions, several spent time in La Soledad before 1930. (On the left is an image of said sisters, among this group are Sra María de Jesús Cagigas, Madre Cristo Rey, Mrs. M. Rosario, and Mother Clemencia. Our First Fathers Our founding Father, Michael Sheahan spent most of his time at Soledad until he had to be transferred to Oxnard. After his transfer, he left Father Juan Montana and Jose Gargallo to assist him. Until 1931, when they withdrew service here at Soledad the Claretian Fathers were brought upon our parish with the pastorship of Rev. Bonifacio Mayer, CMF. * The picture to the right is the Solemn procession of the Corpus of Guadalupe to Soledad* Our Lady of Solitude School Back in 1926, Mrs. John Lyons came from Chicago to speak with the Pastor of our church. She asked him a couple of questions leading them to speak on what the community needed the most, his answer being, “a grammar school”. Although the Adoratrices had their education in Spanish classes, sewing, and handicrafts, this form of learning was the first official formal education, it was the beginning of something prosperous for the community. A year later the school had been built, and up and running with the help of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. They opened classrooms for up to eight grades in September 1927, and even the sisters settled down and found a home near the community.

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults Ephesians 1:11-12 - "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory." OCIA for Adults As mentioned in Americanmartyrs.org, the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults is a sacrament for those who have decided to be a part of the Catholic community. In partaking in the teaching of this sacrament youll be receving a baptism if not baptized, the eucaristic sacrament along with the confirmtation. To become part of this program, one must know its a significant responsibility and must be willing to commit to its activities along with the teachings it comes with as it brings a good reward being your faith in Christ and having the gift of receiving him. Requirements for OCIA Personal information required of the OCIA team, Religious background information, Copy of any baptismal record if any exists. Any marital history to see if there's a need for annulment or convalidation Information from OCIA Questions you may have and answers from OCIA: If baptized, there is no need for rebaptism. In the catholic community there is only one baptism. What is needed would be a profession of Faith and receiving the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation. Need help locating your baptismal certificate? Call the celebrating church and locate your document with them, in any scenario that it does not work out, a copy or any form of documentation to show proof of your event will work, including a letter from a witness who attended the event. Of course, this will be the last resort however it will remain an option. Can't make it to a class or activity? Don't miss out and inform us, we will do what we can to assist you with what you'll miss. For more information you can contact our office to reach out to the Religious Education team. Our Lady of Solitude Office: (323) 269-7248 LaSoledad@sbcglobal.net

Daily Readings Mass Schedule Our mass schedule to the bottom right is up to date. For any questions or concerns please contact our office. Special Masses For special masses such as celebrations: Marriage, presentation of a child, sweet 16, birthdays, intentions, or any important dates, contact our Parish Office as this consist of a donation as well as annotations in our agenda. Register to our church To become a member at our church c all or visit to fill out a form. We will provide your envelopes to donate and more information about becoming a member at Our Lady of Solitude. The following is information we require: Name Address City Zip Code Phone number Name of children if any Join Us Confession Confessions take place Saturday afternoons at 5:00 p.m. and end before our evening mass at 6:00 p.m. Confessions are in our church and in an enclosed room, the priest confessing differs and won't remain the same. If you're in need of a private confession with the Father call our office to make an appointment. Confession Saturday 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. More Topics Special Masses Our page regarding special masses has more information on what types of celebrations we offer and what we ask of you when in need of one. Intentions Your intentions are welcomed at our church, for an annotation of such a date and time is asked for including a $10 donation if possible. Sacraments The page under sacraments lists what we offer at our church. There you'll find the necessary information each sacrament requires of you.

Celebrations Certificate of Sacraments If you need a copy of your Certificate of Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, or Wedding, visit us or contact our parish office and provide the following information: Information required: - Full name, ( if your name was changed from the initial celebration, please provide us with the name used when celebrated.) - Name of Parents - Date of Birth - Approximate date of occasion - Picture of ID when picking up the certificate, or when emailing us this information. - A phone number to contact once the certificate is ready. - A donation of $10 Since we have many archives give us 2-3 days or a week to locate your information. We will call once it's ready and you may pick it up at our office from Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / Saturday 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Call us for any questions or concerns. (323) 269-7248 Quinceaneras If you're here congratulations! Our church is thrilled to host your mass for your blessed fifteenth birthday. The most important part of this day is attending the mass, where you and your family will thank God for allowing you the time to celebrate this joyous celebration. Not only will this be a moment for you to thank god, but it will also consist of you giving into your faith and taking the path of being part of the catholic community. This special tradition is something you’ll remember for the rest of your life as you celebrate your adolescent years into becoming a young lady. It's an amazing moment to reflect on your life and continue your path of faith with God and Jesus Christ. As we know this is an emotional moment for the birthday girl and her family, which is why we are thankful that you’ve chosen our temple. We now say enjoy your celebration, and may you and your family continue to be blessed. Requirements - Arrangements must be made 5 months before the date desired. Donation for the Mass is $500.00 – Flowers and music not included. A deposit of $100 is required at the time of registration. - The young lady must have sacraments of Baptism, First Communion and be registered for, or attending, Confirmation Class. If she has not received Baptism and First Holy Communion, please make an appointment to speak with the priest. - Sponsors must be a man and a woman, the sponsors of baptism, the parents, friends, or only one godmother and one godfather. - The parents agree to be on time for Mass. After a tardiness of 15 minutes, the Mass will be canceled and the amount paid will not be reimbursed. - The form to be filled requires Quinceanera's name, date of birth, home address, telephone, mother's name, father's name, date and time of the celebration. Presentation of Child The presentation of a child in a catholic church is a special moment for the child as well as the family of the child. Not only are you introducing your baby to your faith, but you're also introducing them to a path of faith they will once welcome. When bringing your child to be presented it's almost as if they're one step closer to being baptized. For this ritual, we ask you to choose godparents who are catholic and attend church. We invite you to be well-dressed and presented to the community accordingly. On this note, we are delighted to have you join us for the presentation of your baby, below are some requirements for the said celebration. Requirements: - Place an intention at our parish office for your presentation - The intention must be placed a week before your chosen mass. - Information needed, child's full name, age, date, and time of mass. - Donation of $10 We are currently not doing private mass for this celebration, for any questions contact us. Marriage Marriage by the church is a sacred moment for the man and the lady in partnership. As this builds and strengthens the bond, they are making a promise to remain together through the end of times alongside God and the Holy Catholic Church. Being said in the Nuptial Blessings during a liturgical celebration of marriage, “Father, you have made the union of man and wife so holy a mystery that it symbolizes the marriage of Christ and his Church.” Since marriage shall take place at a temple, our church is awaiting your visit to make this your place of faith and complete union with your partner. Below are what we require of you for this celebration. Legal Requirements for Marriage All the documents asked for are more a protection than a control. Matrimony is an institution protected by the State and by the Church. The state protects the social dimension, while the Church protects the religious dimension. Both have a right to ask for certain legal requirements. THE STATE - Application for a Marriage License - YOU DO NOT NEED A BLOOD TEST. - If you are underage, you must provide proof of age with the appropriate documents. Minors are subject to special regulations. - There are different offices where you can obtain a license. The closest one here is at Centro Maravilla, 4716 Cesar Chavez Avenue (between Dangler and Arizona Avenues). For information about the cost of the license, call (323) 260-2991. NOTE: You do not have to be married civilly to be married by the Church. When you are married by the Church, it is both a civil and a sacramental marriage (two-in-one). But you must bring that license to the priest before the marriage. THE CHURCH - Baptismal Certificate - You must obtain a recently dated copy of your Baptism Certificate. -- You must go to the church of your baptism, or write to them asking for a recently dated copy. - Confirmation and First Communion Certificates - A photocopy of the original certificates is sufficient. If you have difficulties in obtaining these, let the priest know. Banns Marriage is not a private matter. In your parish, if you do not live near La Soledad Parish, you must let them know of your forthcoming marriage and they, like here, will announce your marriage in three weeks. Premarriage Instructions The priest will indicate these to you. - Testimony of Two Family Members Your parents, or other family members, must come in and swear and sign documents indicating that you are free to marry. - Premarriage Questionnaire The priest will do this investigation before your marriage. - Persons who have been Married Civilly (not through the Church) The priest will explain the procedure you must take. - Details of the Religious Ceremony This matter will be discussed with the priest regarding flowers, photography, video, etc. No picture taking after the ceremony. No rice throwing as you leave. No throwing flower petals in Church. Note: Please call our Parish office 6 months in advance of your celebration. DONATION: $500.00 (This does not include music). For music information, please call the parish office at (323) 269-7248. Blessings The blessing from a father is a sacred moment for those who ask for it. In general, receiving a blessing in private or mass is equivalent to a strong prayer for you to be safe and remain in faith at all times. Blessings for a religious item, holy water, car, house, business, etc, require a $10 donation and you must visit us or call our parish office to schedule an appointment. Other Celebrations Funerals When one is born a Christian or has later in life become one, it is right to celebrate death with the three stations that lead to eternal life in peace with God. That being the wake at the vigil service where we pray for the forgiveness and peace of those who have passed, which leads to the mass at a church or the funeral home filled with celebration for the life of the deceased, and lastly, the burial of the body at a cemetery which is a moment where loved ones pray for the resurrection of the passed loved one as Jesus himself did. As a Catholic Christian, you have been baptized and have assisted the Eucharistic table and we believe commemorating life through the church is the right thing for those who passed with faith in Christ. When the funeral rite is put into practice, we are in the presence of those who’ve passed and are praying for their passing along with our mourning for the deceased. Not only do we pray for them to be in internal peace, but we also pray to God, and Jesus Christ to forgive them for their sins, and for allowing us the presence of those who passed. The funeral Liturgy happens to be similar to that of the baptism, they both consist of being part of God's path for life and once dismissed from this path full of belief, they’ll receive their eternal peace. Information required The following are what we ask when a funeral will take place at our Church. - Name, age, and address of the deceased - Did the deceased have a Spouse, any children, or siblings? - Date of death, cause of death? - Body in a casket or ashes in the urn? - Name and phone number of the person making arrangements? - Relationship to the deceased? - Name of the funeral home, name of the cemetery? - Rosary date? Rosary location? Rosary will be led by? - Mass date, day, time, and celebrant? - Music/ Choir? - Are there any additional comments or information we should be aware of? DONATION: $500.00 (This does not include music or floral arrangements). For music information, please call the parish office at (323) 269-7248. *Currently, the Father at our church cannot attend the cemetery for burials or interment. Please contact us to see if we can provide the presence of our Decan.* Memorial For Deceased Our private memorials commemorate those who have passed on to a better life. They may no longer be present but we are rest assured that they are in eternal peace alongside god. For a private mass, we ask for the following information: - Full name of deceased - Date of birth - Date of death - Name and number of person making the arrangments - Date and time for the celebration - A donation of $500 for the mass. (The mass does not include music or floral arrangments) For more information or questions, contact our Parish Office. Our Lady of Solitude Office: (323) 269-7248 LaSoledad@sbcglobal.net