• St. Joseph student and teacher receive service awards
    March 26, 2014  |  In The News  |  No Comment

    St. Joseph High School senior Alexis Laggren and Regine Donner, a St. Joseph French Teacher, were honored with Archdiocese of Los Angeles Christian Service Awards in a special Mass on March 18 at St. Basil’s Church in Los Angeles.

    Every year the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Department of Catholic Schools recognizes outstanding high school seniors who work to bring about change in their local communities, cities, and society at large, as well as teachers who also deserve recognition as an example of service to their local communities and to their students.

  • Young advocate seeks pope’s aid on immigration
    March 22, 2014  |  In The News  |  No Comment

    A 10-year-old student from Noble Avenue Elementary School in North Hills visited the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels last week on a diplomatic mission.

    Jersey Vargas, a fourth-grader, was about to leave for Rome and a possible visit with Pope Francis, but first she wanted to ask Archbishop Jose H. Gomez for his blessing and his help. Jersey said she hoped the archbishop will “help my Dad out, so he can be with me and my family, and we won’t be separated ever again.”

  • Attendees: They came, they saw, they said…
    March 20, 2014  |  Around the ADLA  |  No Comment

    The 40,000-plus who came to the Religious Education Congress March 14-16 offered comments on a variety of topics — from the workshops they attended to the faith they practice and proclaim. A sampling of their reflections (more online):

  • Search is on for Santacruzan 2014 ‘sagalas’
    March 20, 2014  |  Around the ADLA  |  No Comment

    In preparation for its annual Santacruzan on May 10 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is seeking “sagalas,” young women ages 13-35, who will comprise the Court of Honor for the procession of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

    Each candidates must be a baptized and practicing Catholic; must write an essay on: “How Can I be a Model for Today’s Young Women?”; and be able to attend mandatory preparation activities including Catechetical Day (April 12 at St. Stephen Martyr Church, Monterey Park) as part of faith formation, as well as a general practice (May 6, 7 p.m. at the Cathedral), the Santacruzan Celebration (May 10, 2:45 p.m. at the Cathedral) and the Santacruzan Dinner-Dance (May 10 at Almansor Court in Alhambra).

  • ‘For the ones we’ve lost, and the ones we’ve saved’
    March 20, 2014  |  Around the ADLA  |  No Comment

    “Defend Life,” “Women Do Regret Abortion,” “Men Regret Lost Fatherhood” and, simply, “Life” — those were the signs that greeted travelers March 15 along Ventura Boulevard in Encino.

    On this warm and sunny Saturday morning in Encino, more than 1,000 people of all ages and ethnicities marched along both sides of the San Fernando Valley’s busiest street, carrying signs proudly proclaiming their pro-life faith as they waved enthusiastically to those driving past.

  • Rabbis, Latino priests seek stronger ties at AJC event
    March 20, 2014  |  Around the ADLA  |  No Comment

    Dozens of local Latino Catholic priests and Jewish rabbis seeking to strengthen interfaith relations — and discuss their shared migrant experiences — came together March 10 for a day of fellowship and conversation at Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles.

  • ‘Cesar Chavez’: A stirring biopic
    March 20, 2014  |  Around the ADLA, The Latest  |  No Comment

    “Cesar Chavez: An American Hero,” director Diego Luna’s latest production, is a moving biography of the late civil rights activist, labor organizer and co-founder, with Dolores Huerta, of the United Farm Workers Union.

  • Youth at Congress: ‘Never Alone, Forever Accepted’
    March 20, 2014  |  The Latest  |  No Comment

    When she was younger, Lily Dougalas thought of faith as believing in God as someone with a large scroll who knew what was going to happen when and how. Now, the high school junior from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Hermosa Beach views her Catholicity differently.

  • In Anaheim: A Church ‘afire with hope’ at Congress
    March 20, 2014  |  The Latest  |  No Comment

    Near the end of the weekend celebration that is the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, 17 people came to the altar in the Anaheim Convention Center Arena to receive a special blessing from Archbishop José Gomez.

  • Unpacking #ReCongress Part Two: Mark Hart
    March 19, 2014  |  In The News  |  No Comment

    Yesterday, I shared a bit about the overall experience of getting to and being at Congress. With this post, I’ll begin sharing some of the special moments of the past few days and will invite you to “dig deeper” for more resources that will help you take in Congress. Our first talk was scheduled for the second period on Friday, so Sarah and I agreed that after the Opening Ceremony (which you can view here) we would spend time prepping in the wonderful Speakers’ Lounge at the Convention Center … [Read More…]