A large and loving parish in Lynwood

The sheer size of St. Emydius Parish is almost incomprehensible — 20,000 registered families, and many more not as yet registered. But beyond numbers is the great love that these parishioners have for their church.

Father Rigoberto Rodriguez, the pastor known simply as “Father Rigo,” loves this parish, as evidenced by how his face lights up as parishioners approach him after Mass on Sundays. They line up to wait for just a word with the priest — about a sick child, the need for a job, a single elderly parent who is lonely, a young couple wanting a blessing for a new-born first child.

San Gabriel Congress: Deep thinking, engaging practices, and fellowship

Underneath a bright sun and blue skies, spiritual and faith-filled workshops and liturgies highlighted at the San Gabriel Regional Congress Oct. 18 at Bishop Amat High School in La Puente.

The warm vibe also translated into the day’s fellowship moments and musical interludes that rode the wave of learning, supporting and sharing.

Christian Service 4LIFE: ‘There is always hope; God is always there’

The enthusiasm and joyful noise of more than 6,000 Catholic middle school and high school students electrified the open-air tennis stadium at the StubHub Center in Carson on Oct. 14 during the annual Christian Service 4LIFE rally, which featured special guest speakers and activities all celebrating and supporting the sanctity of life.

Santa Barbara Congress: ‘Belong to Christ, Live as Christ’

So often those who teach and work with the young are reminded of the importance of being the message in religious education since the young can see transparency very easily. The Santa Barbara Religious Education Congress, held Oct. 11 at Bishop Garcia Diego High School, was a wonderful reminder of the need to be what one says he or she believes.

Cure for Cancer Mass: ‘What a treasure life is’

For 79-year-old Maria Montes de Oca, a parishioner at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church in Los Angeles, every day is a challenge. But she faces each day with courage and great faith, according to her daughter, Maria Elena Rodriguez.

Montes de Oca was diagnosed with breast cancer more than 12 years ago and soon after went into remission. Since then the cancer has returned, more than once, and her latest relapse came in late 2013. The life-long Catholic is currently undergoing chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer, and she is doing so in typical fashion, by exhibiting her trademark strength.

Exide’s toxic waste found leaking from tractor-trailers

“It’s just another sign of their lack of oversight. It’s just another sign. You know, they’re not going to do anything until the judge orders them to do something to fix up that place,” Msgr. John Moretta, pastor of Resurrection Church in Boyle Heights, was saying with some weariness in his voice.

That place is Exide Technologies.

MCA Mass: ‘We all come together as a family’

Colorful balloon arcs swayed in the cool morning breeze at the entrance to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Oct. 15 as more than 3,000 students from the Los Angeles Archdiocese (some skipping and hopping) entered to join in the nation’s largest children’s Eucharistic celebration.

Archbishop José Gomez presided at the twelfth annual Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) Mass to celebrate the contributions of local youth who help underserved children in 90-plus countries around the world.

Tillie Shafer: L.A.’s first Catholic HS connection to the Fall Classic

Tillie Shafer — that name ring a bell? Local product. Navy veteran of World War I. Amateur golf champ. Successful businessman. “Haberdasher to the stars” of the 1930s and ’40s. Good family man.

And, by all accounts, the very first product of a Los Angeles area Catholic high school to play in baseball’s World Series. Twice in fact, in 1912 and 1913, for the New York Giants.

Local Catholic hospitals step up Ebola preparedness

Local Catholic hospitals have infectious disease protocols for the possibility of managing both suspected and confirmed Ebola patients and are providing ongoing training and safety precautions to protect healthcare workers, say area hospital officials.

Loyola ‘Innocence Day’ panel addresses wrongfully convicted

“The legal system failed each one of you. I’m part of that system. I don’t know if anyone has ever apologized to you — has said, ‘We are sorry for what has happened to you, personally.’ I think everybody in the chain of command that put you where you were should have the humility and the decency and the humanity to have apologized to you years ago.”