Día de Los Muertos at the San Antonio Missions

An ofrenda at Mission Concepción. Photo courtesy Ken Erfurth
In October, visitors to the San Antonio Missions will find colorful altars or ofrendas with photographs of deceased parishioners, religious icons, and sugar skulls. This custom of remembrance known as Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a vibrant tradition connected to the Catholic feast days of All Saints and All Souls, celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. In Colonial times, Spanish All Souls Day traditions such as placing flowers and candles on family gravesites travelled to what is now Mexico and intertwined with indigenous customs. The result is a unique practice that honors deceased loved ones, blending Catholic theology with pre-Hispanic rituals in a colorful celebration of remembrance. In Mexico, Día de Los Muertos is a religious tradition, where family, friends, and important figures of the community are remembered. In the home, deceased loved ones are remembered and their lives celebrated through family altar displays featuring photographs and the favorite food and drink of the deceased, traditional decorations, and candles.
Our Catholic faith embraces all these ways of remembering the dead whether in traditional prayer for all the faithful departed on All Souls or through the customs of Día de Los Muertos. Families and the larger family of faith gather around altars to affirm life amid death, and joy in sorrow finding hope for eternal life.


El Camino de San Antonio Missions invites you to experience the Día de Los Muertos Altar Exhibit at the Margil Center! The unique exhibit features ofrendas created by the parish communities of the San Antonio Missions — Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan, and Mission San Francisco de la Espada. These altars reflect the rich Hispanic-Indigenous Catholic traditions that honor the lives of those who have passed. As Margil Center manager Binisa Zentella explains: “The Altars exhibit is a way to visually connect to the roots of the faithful people of San Antonio, celebrating life and death as a passageway to Eternal Life”. Come and be a part of this deeply meaningful tradition.
This free event runs from Saturday, October 12th – Friday November 15th. The Margil Center is open Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm and is located at 263 Felisa St. San Antonio, TX 78210.