Fr. Michael Carcerano (6/2/1950 - 2/14/2026)

Photos of Fr. Carcerano

Obituary from Angelus

Summary at the Mission & Chapel

The Traditional Latin Mass Community enjoyed the historical Mission San Buenaventura for 15 years during which Fr. Carcerano was assigned as Pastor from 2008 to 2011.  From the very beginning he took interest in the TLM.  Altar Servers assisted with his learning of the rubrics.  Fr. Michael practiced in private for quite some time as he wanted to be as "perfect" as he could be before saying his first public Latin Low Mass.  That day arrived November 17, 2008.  After Mass, out on the plaza, he turned to me and said "I have been a Priest for 30 years, and today I have found the Mass of my vocation!"

The new home for the Traditional Latin Mass Community was established at Saint Mary Magdalen Chapel, on Palm Sunday 2013 where Fr. Michael participated.  Una Voce Ventura County offered to send him to the FSSP Seminary in Denton, Nebraska for Sung High Mass training, for which he eagerly agreed.  Upon return, he sang his first Missa Cantata on June 16, 2013.

Over the years at both the Mission and the Chapel, the TLM Community was served by many other Priests including Chaplains from Thomas Aquinas College and ultimately when the FSSP was welcomed into the LA Archdiocese, the FSSP took over responsibility for the TLM Community at St. Mary Magdalen.  In his later years, Fr. Michael became a Diocesan Hermit with the permission of the Archbishop, with the request that he minister to the homebound elderly who wanted the Traditional Rites anywhere in the Archdiocese!

Fr. Michael Carcerano was a living example of all the Virtues!  May God grant Eternal Blessing to His good and faithful servant!

Leo Raab, Former Una Voce Ventura President

Rev. Michael J. Carcerano - Visitation & Funeral Services

Fr. James Fryar, FSSP will be the celebrant for a Traditional Latin Requiem Mass.

https://www.holycrossmortuary.org/obituary/rev-michael-carcerano  

Saturday Mass and Lent Talks

This Saturday, February 21, Father James Fryar, FSSP, Pastor  of St Vitus Parish, will be celebrating mass and giving Lent talks at Mary Magdalen Chapel, for our Latin Mass Community. Mass will begin at 1 PM, with talks ending at 5 PM.

Announcing the death of Father Mike Carcerano

Father Michael Carcerano, who formerly celebrated our community's Latin Mass, passed away on Saturday, February 14. This was announced at mass on Sunday. Information about his Requiem mass will be shared when it is available.

Father Mike Carcerano was a priest of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. While serving as pastor of Mission San Buenaventura, where our Latin Mass used to be celebrated, he was inspired to learn the traditional form of the Roman Right. When our Traditional Latin Mass was moved to Mary Magdalen Chapel in Camarillo in 2014, he was our most common celebrant until about 2017 when Father James Fryar and other Fraternity of St Peter priests took over. He continued celebrating other Traditional Latin Masses in the Los Angeles area, leading rosary groups, and distributing communion to those bound at home.

On a personal note, I (Skylar Covich) began attending the Traditional Latin Mass right after the move to Mary Magdalen Chapel, so I learned much from him and he performed our marriage.

We pray for his soul, and are grateful for his ministry and friendship to many of us.