ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ ENCOURAGES FOOD DRIVES AT PARISHES ON THE WEEKEND OF PENTECOST, MAY 30-31, AS AN EXPRESSION OF JESUS’ LOVE
May 28, 2020  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

—Parishes will display the Blessed Sacrament for outdoor adoration next weekend; donations will be shared with parish food pantries and local agencies, including St. Vincent De Paul— 

After reiterating that Jesus Christ is alive and present “even in the darkest hour,” in a letter addressed to pastors, administrators and business managers about the celebration of Pentecost the weekend of May 30-31, 2020,  Archbishop José H. Gomez expressed his appreciation for all their good work during this difficult time of the pandemic. He recommended that parishes conduct food drives in their parking lots as a practical way to show the love of Jesus.

“It is important to demonstrate that our Church continues to be alive and active even in the midst of ‘stay-at-home orders,’” said Archbishop Gomez in the letter dated May 23. “Our celebration of Pentecost next weekend reminds us of our identity as missionary disciples. It is ‘the birthday of the Church,’ a day to celebrate the mission Jesus left us, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to let every person know of God’s love.

“Since the collection of food for our needy brothers and sisters remains essential, I would like to recommend that pastors conduct a food drive in their parking lot next weekend as a very practical way to show them the love of Jesus,” said Archbishop Gomez in the letter.

He suggested to use the opportunity for the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in an outdoor place where the faithful may adore the Lord as they drive through and to be able to drop donations, which will be shared with parish pantries and local councils of St. Vincent De Paul, which has partnered with the Archdiocese’s Office of Life, Justice and Peace on the Hearts to Serve program to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the pandemic, or other agencies.

Among the parishes that will be giving away or collecting food are Christ the King in Los Angeles (624 N. Rossmore Ave., LA 90004), St. Patrick in North Hollywood (6153 Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood, 91606), St. Sebastian in Los Angeles (1453 Federal Ave., LA 90025). For coverage, please call contacts above.

Pentecost Sunday, which this year falls on May 31, is widely celebrated by Christians on the 7th Sunday after Easter Sunday, to commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ, described in the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2.

Pentecost will be celebrated in the Archdiocese this year as Catholic churches prepare to reopen in accordance with new guidelines announced by Archbishop Gomez on May 26. The reopening will take place in steps. Pastors who are ready after receiving approval of their reopening plan from their Regional Bishop, may open their church for personal prayer. Pastors can begin offering Mass on June 3 and can schedule confessions following strict social distancing guidelines.

Due to capacity limitations by state government and public health authorities, which limit capacity to 25% or no more than 100 people, parishes will continue to offer Mass online for those who are not able to attend Mass in person. Catholics in the Archdiocese will continue to be dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass until further notice.

Masses are livestreamed from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and are also being televised during the pandemic in Spanish via Univision’s affiliate UniMás-KFTR-Channel 46, daily at 7 a.m. and on Sundays at 7 a.m., and in English via Fox 11 News affiliate, KCOP-Channel 13 at 10 a.m. For a list of parishes providing livestreamed Masses please visit, https://lacatholics.org/parish-livestreams/.

For more information and updates, please visit https://lacatholics.org/.

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