10 churches to visit in the South Bay for Visita Iglesia

Roman Catholics worldwide, including Filipinos in the United States, gear up as Holy Week approaches, a period of spiritual devotion and tradition. 

In the Philippines, it’s a time of panata (holy vows), penitensya (sacrifice), meat abstinence and Visita Iglesia. And if you’re from the South Bay in Los Angeles County and plotting your course for this journey of reflection, we’ve curated a list of churches you can visit.

What is Visita Iglesia

Normally starting on Holy Thursday, this spiritual odyssey involves the visitation of seven or 14 churches to pray and meditate on the Passion of Christ.  
But why seven or fourteen churches? Seven embodies the seven last words and  the seven holy wounds of Jesus, while other devotees aim for 14 to mirror the Stations of the Cross — with the belief that completing these stations can lead to answered prayers.

Your Visita Iglesia itinerary in the Bay Area

You may already be observing meat abstinence every Friday during the Lenten season, and to complete your spiritual journey, here are 10 churches to visit in the South Bay for Visita Iglesia.

Nativity Catholic Church | 1447 Engracia Ave, Torrance, CA 90501

• Stations of the Cross: Fridays at 6 p.m.

Check out their complete Holy Week schedule here.

Saint Anthony De Padua | 1050 W 163rd St, Gardena, CA 90247

Good Friday schedule:

• Office of Readings and Morning Prayer: 8 a.m.
• Chaplet & Novena of Divine Mercy: 12 noon
• Rosary with Sorrowful Mysteries: 12:30 p.m.

For a complete Lenten season schedule, click here.

Saint Joseph Catholic Church | 11886 Acacia Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250

• English Liturgy: Good Friday at 12 p.m.

            Check out their complete Holy Week schedule here.

American Martyrs Church | 624 15th St, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

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Good Friday events:

• “The Lamentations”: 12 p.m.
• Way of the Cross (dramatization): 12:30 p.m.
• Good Friday Service: 2 p.m.

For a complete Lenten season schedule, click here.

St. Catherine Laboure Church | 3846 Redondo Beach Blvd, Torrance, CA 90504

Good Friday Events:

• Church opens for private Stations of the Cross: 9 a.m.
• Living Stations of the Cross: 1:30 p.m.
• Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion (English/Bilingual): 3 p.m.

Check out their complete Holy Week schedule here.

You may also like: Holy Week in PH: Crowded churches, mountains and beaches are back

Saint James Catholic Church | 415 Vincent St, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Good Friday schedule:

• Morning Prayer: 8 a.m.
• Solemn Liturgies: 12 noon & 7:30 p.m.
• Stations of the Cross: 1:15 p.m.

For a complete Lenten season schedule, click here.

Saint John Fisher Church | 5448 Crest Rd, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

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Good Friday events:

• Stations of the Cross (outside): 1 p.m.
• Celebration of the Lord’s Passion: 7:30 p.m.

Check out their complete Holy Week schedule here.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church | 340 Massey St, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

• Good Friday Liturgy & Veneration of the Cross (English): 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.

For a complete Lenten season schedule, click here.

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish | 25511 Eshelman Ave, Lomita, CA 90717

Good Friday events:

• Stations of the Cross: 12 p.m. 
• Solemn Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion: 1:30 p.m.

Check out their complete Holy Week schedule here.

Holy Family Church | 1011 E L St, Wilmington, CA 90744

Good Friday highlights:

• Liturgy of the Passion and Communion,
• Veneration of the Holy Cross
• Live Stations of the Cross
• Procession of the Holy Sepulcher

For a complete Lenten season schedule, click here.

All the listed South Bay churches for your Visita Iglesia have their full Holy Week schedule on their websites.