THE CARMELITE SISTERS OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF LOS ANGELES ANNOUNCED AS ONELIFE LA 2024 GRANT RECIPIENT
January 16, 2024  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles’s Office of Life, Justice and Peace announced today that The Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles, will receive the fifth annual OneLife LA Service Grant of $10,000 to support its mission, which states that “every person has a sanctity and dignity that cannot be diminished by illness or disability, and cannot be limited by race, age, sex or social condition.” The grant will be presented on Saturday, January 20, 2024, in downtown Los Angeles, where Archbishop José H. Gomez will be joined by thousands of supporters to experience inspiring testimonials and performances at the 10th year anniversary celebration of OneLife LA, themed “10 Years Together as ONE.”

The Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles exemplifies the mission of OneLife LA through their pastoral work at the Santa Teresita Assisted Living in Duarte, California. What began as a tuberculosis sanatorium for young women and girls in the 1930s has transitioned into Santa Teresita’s Neighborhood of Care specializing in healthcare for seniors in assisted living. Their mission is rooted in shared values and steadfast adherence to the ethical principles of the Catholic Church. They are dedicated to the physical, spiritual, and relational needs of each resident and strive to provide the most homelike and supportive environment possible so they may thrive during their golden years. It is because of these steadfastly held principles that families throughout the United States have made Santa Teresita an option of choice for their loved one.

“We are filled with joy to award this year’s OneLife LA grant to the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles. We recognize the tremendous gift that the Sisters have been to people of Los Angeles. The Carmelite Sisters and professional staff at Santa Teresita are truly dedicated to respecting all stages of human life. They have created an environment of care, support, and love for those they serve,” said Michael P. Donaldson, Senior Director of the Archdiocese’s Office of Life, Justice, and Peace.

OneLife LA highlights the mission to unite communities and inspire positive action by celebrating the beauty and dignity of every human life. This year’s speakers include Amilyon (Millie) Nelson, who was born to a single mom who was homeless, helpless, and in serious need. Nelson was abandoned by her mother for long periods of time and eventually placed into foster care and adopted into a family full of love. She uses her story to break the stereotypes around foster care and adoption, highlighting the work organizations like FosterAll do to help bring real hope and love to helpless children like herself and give them a most priceless gift, a forever family.

Katie Prejean hosts the Ave Explores podcast, a long-form interview style podcast that digs into various Catholic topics relevant to people who want to learn more and live their faith in a real, practical way. The show has accumulated more than 275,000 downloads and has been honored by the Catholic Media Association. Prejean McGrady regularly writes for Blessed is She, Catholic News Service, and appears as a commentator on CNN and other various news outlets.

Jorge Giron is a parishioner at St. John Eudes Catholic Church in Chatsworth. Jorge’s life changed in 2021. His wife Veronica, who was pregnant with their 6th child, tested positive for COVID-19. Unfortunately, Veronica passed a week after giving birth to a precious girl who they named Imani. Veronica’s love for Jesus and life has continued to inspire not only Jorge but the entire parish community. Jorge now continues the respect life efforts at the parish and is an advocate for human dignity at all stages of life.

After powerfully encountering Jesus in the Eucharist as a teenager, Fr. Josh Johnson dedicated his life to becoming a wholehearted disciple of Jesus Christ. Ordained for the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 2014, Fr. Josh now travels widely as a speaker. He is well known for his podcast Ask Father Josh as well as his Q&A video show on Ascension Presents. He has written several books, including the Pocket Guide to Adoration. Fr. Josh is the Vocations Director for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, as well as pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church and School.

Gloria Purvis is an author, commentator, and the host of The Gloria Purvis Podcast. She is a strong Catholic voice for life issues, religious liberty, and racial justice. Appearing in numerous media outlets, she also presented a powerful video series entitled “Racism, Human Dignity and the Catholic Church” through the Word on Fire Institute. Gloria is the Inaugural Pastoral Fellow at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and holds honorary doctorates in Humane Letters from the University of Portland in Oregon and Saint Martin’s University in Washington State.

Masters of Ceremony include Brenda Noriega, a national speaker who collaborates in national and international ministry committees, such as the International Youth Advisory Body for the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life in Rome. Brenda is passionate about a holistic and transformational pastoral approach that includes life, dignity, justice, and mission. Benito Medrano is the Young Adult Ministry coordinator for the Diocese of Orange, CA. Previously, he worked for the Office of Formation and Evangelization in the Diocese of Fresno as Hispanic and Youth and Young Adult Ministry Coordinator, which included ministry to migrant communities and Spanish-speaking apostolic movements. Father Victor is a Capuchin Franciscan Friar and Priest, and a native of Southern California. Besides doing retreats, talks, and conferences, Father Vic loves to share the Gospel message through Catholic Rap music in live events, social media, and Spotify, going by the moniker, “Bro Vic.”

OneLife LA 2024 will include musical performances by Francis Cabildo, a singer-songwriter, worship leader and speaker from Southern California, who has shared his gifts and talents with NET Ministries, Life Teen, Inc., 242Revolution.com college ministry; Kairy Marquez, full-time worship leader and speaker from Dominican Republic who is daughter to a former Aguilas del Cibao baseball player; and LA native Gabe Reyes, who has journeyed in faith and service at various parishes for the past 20 years.

For more information, or to register for OneLife LA 2024, visit onelifela.org or #1lifela.

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