VISTA – Bishop Michael Pham blessed a new diocesan Catholic cemetery in North County, which is poised to open in the coming days.
He led a rite on Aug. 22 that blessed Good Shepherd Catholic Cemetery, located directly northeast of St. Thomas More Parish in Oceanside. It will be the second diocesan Catholic cemetery in San Diego County, after Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum.
Bishop Pham presided over the ceremony, held under a canopy protecting participants from the hot midday sun. He led a special prayer then he walked the perimeter of the approximately 14.5-acre property sprinkling holy water to consecrate and purify the resting place.
“This is such a beautiful, wonderful day that we gather here to bless this piece of land for Catholic faithful and others,” Bishop Pham said in his opening remarks. “We want to prepare this land so people can rest here in peace while waiting to enter the kingdom of Heaven, both body and soul.”
He was accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Pulido, who assisted in the rite, and by Father Efraín Bautista, the Director of Diocesan Cemeteries; Robert Dorsey, Executive Director and Manager of Diocesan Cemeteries; diocesan Chancellor Marioly Galván; Shirley Pajanor, diocesan Director of Finance; Appaswamy “Vino” Pajanor, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego, Ron Briseño, Director of Development and Stewardship at St. Thomas More Parish, and support diocesan and cemetery staff members.
The cemetery will begin interring the departed in the coming days. More information about the diocesan cemeteries is available on this page.
“After preparing this resting place for the dead, we shall raise our hearts from earth to heaven and look to Christ, who suffered and rose again for our salvation,” Bishop Pham said. “He has commanded that we keep watch for his coming and has promised to meet us when we rise again.”
