Sacraments & Rites
The Second Vatican Council said that the Sacred Liturgy was “the summit to which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time it is the fount from which all her power flows ... most of all in the divine sacrifice of the Eucharist, is the outstanding means whereby the faithful may express in their lives, and manifest to others, the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true Church.” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, arts.2,10). This is why Sunday Mass is so important to us.
Weekend Masses
Sunday Mass at Our Lady Queen of Angels is the heart and center of our parish life! Every Sunday at Our Lady Queen of Angels about 2600 people celebrate the Eucharist at six Sunday Masses. There is also a morning and evening mass on Saturday. Below are the times and descriptions for our weekend masses.
Sunday Morning at 7:00am - Cantor and Organist
This Mass is quieter with a minimum of singing. Coffee and Donuts served after Mass in the Gathering area.
Sunday Morning at 8:30am - Contemporary Choir, Cantor and Organist
Children’s Liturgy of the Word for children 5 and older takes place at this Mass as does Dismissal for the adult Catechumens preparing for Baptism. This Mass is family oriented and lively. Childcare is provided in the Parish Center, 3 months to 5 years. Coffee and Donuts served after Mass in the Gathering area.
Sunday Morning at 10:00am - Adult Choir, Cantor and Organist
This Mass is more formal with sung preface and prayers and our wonderful parish choir and cantors. Childcare is provided in the Parish Center, 3 months to 5 years. Coffee and Donuts served after Mass in the Gathering area.
Sunday Morning at 11:30am - Cantor and Organist
Sunday at 5pm - Contemporary Band
This is our Youth Mass focusing on our high school and young adult community with the loudest and the liveliest music. Pick up a song sheet at the doors of the church and join in. Youth Night usually follows Mass with food and youth-centered activities in the Parish Center and all high school youth are welcome. On first Sunday of month, come 15 minutes early for praise music.
Saturday at 5pm - Cantor and Organist
The celebration of Sunday Eucharist—or Sunday Mass—as it is more often called, is the center of parish life. Following Jesus’ commandment at the Last Supper to “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19) Catholic Christians have gathered from the earliest days in Jerusalem on the first day of the week, the day of the Lord’s resurrection, for the teaching of the apostles, the communal life, “the breaking of the bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). This is why Sunday Mass is so important to us.
Weekday Masses
The Eucharist is celebrated three times each weekday: 6:30 and 8:30 am and 5:30 pm and at 8:30 am each Saturday.
Special Days of the Year
The Easter Triduum which includes Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday beginning with the Easter Vigil is the most important liturgical celebration of the year for Catholics. See the Easter Triduum schedule on the home page of this website for the exact times of services.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of lent, a special time of preparation for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist for adults entering the Church. Lent is a time for spiritual renewal and on Easter Sunday recommitment to our baptismal promises
On the Holy Days of Obligation of The Assumption of Our Lady (August 15), All Saints (November 2) and The Immaculate Conception (December 8), Mass is celebrated at 6:30 am, 8:30 am and 12:30 pm and 5:30 pm (When those days fall on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday the 12:30 Mass is omitted.)
The Holy Day of the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, is celebrated on January 1 but is not a day of obligation in California. See the Christmas Schedule on the home page of this website for the Mass times.
The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is celebrated on Sunday during the Easter Season in the dioceses of California and most of the United States.
The Sacraments of Initiation into Christ and His Church
The Sacrament of Baptism
The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated for adults asking to be baptized at the Easter Vigil each year. The process of preparation begins with a phone call to Dr. Victoria Dendinger at (949) 219-1408 or to one of the priests or the deacon. Adult Christians who are already baptized are not baptized a second time but they are invited to prepare to be received into full communion in the Catholic Church and to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist through a similar process of prayerful and educational preparation.
The Sacrament of Baptism for Children under the age of seven is celebrated at least twice a month. These baptisms take place in church either at one of the Sunday morning Masses or in the afternoon at 1 pm.
Parents are required to participate in one preparation session before the baptism. Parents are encouraged to attend before the baby is born if possible for their own ease and as a prayerful preparation for the delivery of the child. This session usually takes place on the first Monday of the month at 7:30pm. Godparents are welcome to come but not required. Both godparents must be baptized Christians and at least one needs to be a confirmed Catholic. Please call the parish office at (949) 644-0200 for the schedule of meeting nights, for further information and scheduling.
The Sacrament of Baptism for Children seven years of age and older but not yet in junior high involves a preparation process appropriate for the child to understand and takes place in coordination with the child’s participation in the faith formation program for children. Please call the Children’s Faith Formation office at (949) 219-1497.
The Sacrament of Baptism for Teenagers is prepared for through the Youth Ministry program. Please call Frank Moraga or Meghan McNeill in Youth Ministry (949) 219-1404.
The Sacrament of Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation , the Gift of the Holy Spirit with which we live our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ is celebrated with adults at the Easter Vigil and when children seven years and older are baptized. Teenagers receive the Sacrament of Confirmation during Easter Season when the Bishop visits the parish. The process of preparation begins usually in the ninth grade and candidates are confirmed in the tenth grade.
Call the Confirmation Coordinator, Melissa Contreras at (949) 219-1499, ext. 294 for more information.
The Sacrament of the Eucharist
Catholics are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist each Sunday at Mass if they are spiritually prepared. Adults and children of seven years and older who have just been baptized receive the Eucharist for the first time at the Easter Vigil. Children of seven years of age who were baptized as infants receive their First Holy Communion after a process of preparation that usually begins in first grade and continues into the following year.
The Sacraments of Healing
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)
The Sacrament of Reconciliation better known as Confession is celebrated three times each week at Our Lady Queen of Angels. Penitents have the option of kneeling behind the priest or sitting face to face.
- Wednesday evening at 6 pm
- Thursday evenings at 6 pm
- Saturday afternoon at 3:30 – 4:30pm.
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
The other sacrament of healing, The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is available at any time for those seriously ill, facing serious surgery or experiencing the burden of years. The sacrament is celebrated individually with the priest and also in community on Sunday afternoons about four times a year. Communion for the sick in hospital or those homebound is also made available by a large group of Eucharistic Ministers of the Sick.
Please call the parish office at (949) 644-0200 as soon as a person is seriously ill so that they might consciously experience the grace of the sacrament.
The Sacraments of Vocation
The Sacrament of Matrimony
The Sacrament of Matrimony is celebrated on Saturdays or Friday evenings as desired at OLQA. A six month preparation process with the aid of our parish priests, music ministry, wedding coordinators and marriage preparation team is needed. Do not set a date or place a deposit for the reception until you know that the church building is available and you have spoken with a priest. The parish encourages the use of FOCUS (an engaged couples inventory) and Engaged Encounter (a weekend for engaged couples) as part of the preparation process along with alternative programs such as “Marriage in the Lord.” For couples who have been married before and now wish to be married in the Catholic Church there is assistance available through Deacon Charlie Bouyer or one of the priests to acquire the permissions and approvals and annulments if needed.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a priest or a deacon please contact one of the priests of the parish. There is a great need in the church at this time for priests and deacons to serve a growing Catholic population. Ministry in the Church offers a most rewarding and satisfying vocation to those God has called to serve. Call one of the priests at (949) 644-0200.
Worship is the expression of our love for God and even more importantly, God’s love for us through the gift of the sacraments. In the liturgy or worship of the Church Christ continues his saving work of baptizing, confirming, nourishing, forgiving us. By his grace we experience God’s love, strength and healing in our lives and respond to it with grateful hearts.
Mass of Christian Burial
The Rite of Christian Funerals is celebrated as needed and at a time convenient for grieving families. For Christians death is not the end of all life but the final transition in life into the world to come where there will be no more dying. In these difficult moments the parish community gathers around to support those who are grieving.
Please call the parish office whenever death appears to be near at hand at (949) 644-0200.
Families are invited to choose the scriptures and the music and to fully participate in the Funeral Mass. Our Bereavement Ministry helps families to prepare and our excellent Music Ministry also is available. The full Rite of Christian Funerals includes:
- prayers in the home or hospital at the time of death,
- the vigil in the church or the mortuary chapel,
- the reception of the body at the church and the Funeral Mass
- with final prayers and commendation and
- the burial at the graveside.
Families often choose which parts of the funeral rites they would like to use. All baptized Catholics should have a Funeral (Mass with the body or the cremated remains present) or a Memorial Mass (Mass without the body or the cremated remains present) offered for the eternal life of the person who has died.
Cremation is permitted as long as there is no denial of our faith in the resurrection from the dead on the last day and as long as there is no intent to show disrespect for the body which is the temple of God. Burial in the ground is preferred as being more respectful.
Grief workshops are also offered at different times during the year.
Devotions and Prayers
Holy Hour
Eucharistic Adoration and the Holy Hour is a popular devotion here at Our Lady Queen of Angels. Most hours of the day and night at least one parishioner is in the church before the Blessed Sacrament in personal prayer for the needs of the parish and the world. For further information contact the parish center.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
On the 27th day of each month Our Lady Queen of Angels holds 24 hours of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament as part of the diocesan wide program of prayer for the Unity of our Diocese of Orange and for an increase in Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life.
Rosary
The rosary is prayed in church each weekday morning before the 8:30 am Mass.
All are welcome.
Stations of the Cross
The beautiful meditation known as the Stations of the Cross is presented on Fridays during Lent immediately following the parish Lenten Fishbake. Different groups in the parish take turns presenting their reflections.
