Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries

What Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries does

Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries (CCM) is a ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, operating as a corporation sole under Archbishop José H. Gomez. The organization runs 12 cemeteries and 6 mortuaries across Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties, with the oldest active site (Santa Clara Cemetery in Oxnard) tracing back to 1841. Its portfolio spans ground burial (single/double graves, lawn crypts, family monuments), above-ground options (community mausoleums, family estates), cremation products (cremation gardens, feature niches, pedestals, cremorials), and three funeral service tiers (Commemorative, Conventional, Basic). Pre-planning services, patron services for existing contracts, and a community outreach ministry that supports parish bereavement programs extend the offering beyond the point of need.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time transactions: burial property sales, interment fees, memorial installations, and funeral service packages, with secondary income from preneed contracts financed over up to 60 months. Pricing is not publicly disclosed (a General Price List PDF is provided on request), which is consistent with consumer funeral industry practice. CCM's go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer service through physical locations, 24-hour phone assistance, and online pre-planning intake forms with a community-led motion of parish presentations, catechetical programs (e.g., Día de los Muertos events for Catholic schoolchildren), and bereavement ministry training. Marketing channels include Facebook livestreams, email prayer requests, free online planning seminars, blog content, and event sponsorships such as the St. Anthony High School Saints 5K.

Technology plays a supporting but non-differentiated role: the Cemetery360 virtual tour platform enables remote facility exploration, livestreaming extends Memorial Mass participation, and online forms streamline pre-planning intake. No proprietary software, AI/ML capabilities, or data platforms are disclosed. Headcount is not publicly stated. The organization is wholly owned by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and proceeds support broader archdiocesan ministries serving approximately 5 million Catholics in the region. Leadership transitioned unexpectedly in July 2026 following the death of CEO Douglas S. Farruggia.

Name

Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries

Legal name

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, a corp. sole

Website

https://catholiccm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1841

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries is a ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles operating 12 cemeteries and 6 mortuaries across Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties, providing burial, cremation, and funeral services to Catholic families in the region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cemetery and Mortuary Services

NAICS

Funeral Homes and Funeral Services (812210), Cemeteries and Crematories (812220), Death Care Services (8122)

akta.pro primary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

End-of-Life Emotional & Spiritual Support (Chaplaincy/Counseling) In-Home (HSABAFAH)

Keywords

• Catholic cemetery services
• Mortuary funeral services
• Cremation services
• Traditional ground burial
• Funeral pre-planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Cemetery Burial Services: Traditional ground burial, lawn crypts, mausoleum crypts, family estates, and niche placements. Revenue from grave/crypt sales, interment fees, and memorial installations.
2. Mortuary/Funeral Services: Full funeral service offerings including vigil, funeral mass, and committal services. Options include Commemorative, Conventional, and Basic packages with casket selections.
3. Cremation Services: Cremation options including Conventional (mass before cremation) and Alternative (all services after cremation). Includes cremation gardens, niches, and cremorial placements.
4. Payment Plan Financing: Preneed cemetery purchases may be financed with low down payment and monthly payments up to 60 months.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries sells traditional Catholic burial, cremation, and funeral services across 12 cemeteries and 6 mortuaries in Southern California. Core offerings include ground burial, mausoleum crypts, cremation gardens, niches, and funeral service packages (Commemorative, Conventional, Basic), delivered on consecrated ground in accordance with Catholic Canon Law. Pre-planning services with payment plan financing up to 60 months are offered alongside immediate-need arrangements supported by 24-hour telephone assistance.

Product overview

Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries operates as a unified ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, offering cemetery and mortuary services across 11 active cemeteries and 6 mortuaries in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. The organization provides a portfolio of burial and cremation products including Community Mausoleums (above-ground crypts and niches), Family Estates (private/semi-private sections), Ground Burial options (traditional graves, lawn crypts, family monuments), and comprehensive Cremation options (cremation gardens, feature niches, pedestals, cremorials). Service offerings include traditional funeral services (Commemorative, Conventional, and Basic tiers), pre-planning arrangements, patron services (account management and payments), community outreach ministry, and monthly memorial mass livestreams. The organization utilizes Cemetery360 virtual tour technology to allow remote exploration of facilities. The 11 cemeteries and 6 mortuaries function as integrated locations providing both cemetery plots and mortuary services at some sites.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Mausoleum Above-ground burial option featuring clean, dry, ventilated crypts and niches for year-round visitation regardless of weather, designed for Catholic families seeking a mausoleum alternative to ground burial.
• Family Estate Private or semi-private cemetery sections accommodating 2-8 loved ones, walled, gated, or hedged for complete privacy, designed for Catholic families who wish to be buried together.
• Ground Burial Traditional in-ground burial options including single/double capacity graves, lawn crypts, and family monument sections with upright monuments accommodating 2-16 family members.
• Funeral Services (Commemorative, Conventional, Basic) Traditional funeral service packages with staff and facility support for vigil at mortuary locations, Funeral Mass, and committal service. Includes remembrance packages with personalized register books, memorial videos, prayer cards, and floral allowances.
• Cremation Services (Conventional and Alternative) Cremation services with the Conventional option featuring Mass prior to cremation and Alternative option with all services after cremation, including staff support, Mass, committal service, and remembrance packages.
• Cremation Gardens Outdoor areas designed for burial of cremated remains, offering urn outer burial containers and memorials in a natural setting, with both individual and companion spaces available.
• Feature Niche Focal point niches in garden or cemetery sections, often featuring religious sculptures or mosaics with multiple niches installed as part of the supporting base structure.
• Feature Pedestal Single family use pedestals designed to contain urn(s) with cremated remains, with capacity dependent on pedestal size.
• Cremorial Rectangular canisters installed vertically or horizontally in walls or ground, accepting urns or remains directly in the unit.
• Pre-Planning Services Advance funeral and burial planning services allowing individuals to make arrangements in advance, with payment plans up to 60 months and low down payments, relieving families of emotional and financial burden.
• Patron Services Account management services including payment acceptance (by mail, phone, or automatic payments), correspondence handling, and account billing services for existing cemetery agreements.
• Community Outreach Ministry Ministry providing formation, training, and support for parish bereavement ministry, outreach presentations on Catholic funeral rites, and pastoral care for families before, during, and after loss.
• Memorial Mass Livestreams Monthly memorial Mass celebrated on the second Tuesday of each month at Mission San Fernando Rey de España, offered both in-person and via livestream for remembrance of departed loved ones.
• Cemetery360 Virtual Tours Virtual tour platform allowing exploration of cemetery and mortuary facilities in 360-degree detail from anywhere, available 24/7.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• St. Anthony High SchoolminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 March 2026CCM sponsored the 17th annual Saints 5K Run hosted by St. Anthony High School in Long Beach. The event generates funds for tuition assistance and builds community awareness of CCM's services.
• EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 November 2024The 2024 All Souls Day Mass at Santa Clara Cemetery was broadcast nationally on EWTN Catholic Global Network, extending CCM's reach to Catholic audiences nationwide.
• Ministry of Consolation (Parish Bereavement Ministry)coreOthersCCM supports and trains Ministers of Consolation serving in parishes throughout the archdiocese. These parish volunteers provide listening hearts, prayerful presence, and practical support to grieving families, extending CCM's pastoral reach into local faith communities.
• Office of Religious EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCM partners with the Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education to host catechetical programs for children, including annual Día de los Muertos educational days for third graders from Catholic schools.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Carriage Services: Publicly traded death-care operator of funeral homes and cemeteries across the U.S. Overlapping product set (burial, cremation, pre-need) and customer base (families at need) make it a comparable broad incumbent.
• Dignity plc: UK-listed funeral services group with U.S. Dignity Memorial operations. A broad incumbent in the death-care space providing funeral, cremation, and pre-need planning services across multiple geographies.
• Park Lawn Corporation: Cemetery, funeral, and cremation operator with operations in the U.S. and Canada. Comparable portfolio breadth across death-care segments to CCM's integrated burial/cremation/funeral offering.
• NorthStar Memorial Group: Private cemetery and funeral home operator with locations across multiple U.S. states. Competes in the same cemetery and funeral segments as CCM, though without a faith-based affiliation.
• StoneMor Partners: Publicly traded operator of cemeteries and funeral homes with a multi-state footprint. Comparable business model centered on cemetery operations, burial products, and pre-need sales.
• Service Corporation International (SCI): Largest North American funeral and cemetery operator (Dignity Memorial, Rose Hills competitor brands). Operates broadly across funeral, cremation, and cemetery segments nationally and competes for secular share of the SoCal market.

Direct peers

• Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries: Major Southern California cemetery and mortuary operator with multiple flagship memorial parks across LA County. Closest non-Catholic geographic competitor to CCM in the SoCal death-care market.
• Rose Hills Memorial Park: One of the largest cemeteries in the United States, located in Whittier within the LA metro. Competes directly with CCM for traditional burial, mausoleum, and cremation demand in the same regional market.
• Mount Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuaries: LA-based Jewish-affiliated cemetery and mortuary operator with multiple locations. Closest religious-affiliated peer to CCM in Southern California, with a similar faith-based service model and consecrated-ground positioning.
• Catholic Cemeteries, Archdiocese of Los Angeles (other diocesan operators): Catholic diocesan cemetery/funeral operators in other major U.S. archdioceses (e.g., Brooklyn-Queens, Chicago). Closest operational peers by service model, Canon Law structure, and Archdiocese sponsorship, though operating in different markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lacatholics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries