Rev. Lourdes Pena

How I began

I led the bereavement ministry at a parish in Cicero for sixteen years as a lay volunteer, sitting rosaries almost every week. I was ordained as an interfaith minister in 2021 so that I could keep doing it for families the parish could not serve.

Why families choose me

El rosario es para la familia; el funeral es para todos. The rosary the night before is where a family actually grieves — in a smaller room, in Spanish, with the grandmothers leading and the children half asleep — and it is the part of the week I am asked for most. I lead rosaries at funeral homes and in living rooms, funeral services for families who are not in communion with a parish, and prayers at the graveside. I am an ordained interfaith minister rather than a Catholic priest, and I say so plainly to every family before they book me, because it matters to some of them and it should be their decision rather than a surprise. Everything is in Spanish, English or both, and I will write out the responses for grandchildren who do not read Spanish so they can join in.

Ownership