Helping the LAPD deal with deaths — Part I

he spring has been deadly for the Los Angeles Police Department. In just over two months, four officers died in horrendous traffic collisions. Another died from an apparent heart attack.

—Officer Nicholas Lee died on March 7 when an out-of-control dump truck coming down Loma Vista Drive in Beverly Hills smashed into his patrol car. The 40-year-old’s partner in the black-and-white was also injured.

In Glendale: An outreach to refugees fleeing persecution

“Gemma” and her husband, Armenian Apostolic Christians, fled religious persecution in their native Iran by paying smugglers to take them to Turkey. From there, they proceeded on to Bosnia and finally arrived in Austria, their last stop before being interviewed and accepted as refugees to the United States in 2000.

At St. Anthony’s: Fun, faith, fellowship and football

Few of them expected a victory — at least, not on the field, where their beloved Croatian national soccer team was playing hometown favorite Brazil in the opening match of the World Cup soccer tournament in Rio de Janeiro.

L.A. peace prayer: A gathering of ‘three beautiful faiths’

Two days before Pope Francis’ prayer gathering at the Vatican, representatives of Catholic, Jewish and Muslim leadership in Southern California united for “Prayers for Peace in the Holy Land,” a private prayer service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

Deacon ordination: ‘Your ministry will change people’s lives’

In the days leading up to his ordination to the permanent diaconate, Ryan Adams was reflecting on his relationship with the Holy Spirit — how, in his ministry as a deacon, he “must be a living vessel for the Spirit to not only dwell in, but also a vessel for the Spirit to work through,” serving others in need.

Celebrating the Holy Spirit at work

The parking lot at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels was filled to capacity almost two hours before the scheduled start of the June 8 Mass that would celebrate the Los Angeles Archdiocese’s numerous lay ecclesial movements — the first-ever such formal celebration.

“When I got here early to start preparing for the Mass, one whole section [of the Cathedral] was filled, it made me cry,” said Alicia Hernandez of the Office of the New Evangelization that organized the event. “People really wanted to be a part of this celebration.”

‘Healing Our City’ from gun violence

Suzanne Verge-Peak, president of the L.A. chapter of the Brady Campaign to prevent gun violence, was the first to ring the gold bell — a hard pull in memory of brother Peter Verge. Peter was 18, she 15, when he was shot and killed two weeks before Christmas in 1978, just a mile from their Santa Monica home.

Stepping forward, a gray-haired woman in a jean jacket and pants said, “I ring the bell for my daughter Wendy, who was murdered. She was in the prime of her life. She died in New Mexico, where she was raised. It’s been a while. But coming together with the group here brings it all …,” she struggled to finish, but couldn’t.

Called to serve: The St. Thomas the Apostle Formation Class of 2014

Archbishop José Gomez will ordain 15 men to the Sacred Order of Deacon on June 7 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

Those to be ordained and their wives have undergone a five-year period of formation in preparation for ministry in their parishes. The formation process integrates academic, pastoral and spiritual dimensions towards forming deacons and their wives in ministries of word, liturgy and charity.

CIMA honors excellence in storytelling at awards ceremony

With seagulls flying above and the sound of the surf below, attendees at this year’s Catholic in Media Associates (CIMA) awards were greeted by a picture perfect Southern California backdrop for the group’s annual Mass, reception and ceremonies held in Pacific Palisades.

Now in its 22nd year, CIMA presented its yearly awards honoring excellence in media, with the feature film “The Monuments Men,” the feature documentary “Cesar’s Last Fast” and the television news program “CBS News Sunday Morning” receiving accolades for stories with uplifting messages that promote positive messages and themes.