St. John’s Seminary: A diamond in Camarillo

Camarillo was an active farming community long before 1939. But with the establishment of St. John’s Seminary on 100 acres of what had been farmland, it could be said that these historic grounds have, indeed, continued to produce a very unique and, yes, essential element to nurture the faith of an increasingly large and diverse flock.

From the beginning: Southland seminaries

California is one of those singular areas of the Church universal where the notion of a seminary system predated by ten years the actual establishment of a diocesan government.

As early as the 1830s, the Presidente of the California missions, Fray Narciso Duran, suggested a seminary for the education of young men who felt inclined toward the ecclesiastical state. Six years later, the Franciscan Comisario Prefecto proposed establishing a college “to which all the youth of the Californias may flock, as well as many of the Indians of the various idioms, in order to receive the education and knowledge peculiar to their state,”

Grand Marian Procession: ‘Solemn and joyful’

“We are taking to the streets the treasures of our Catholic faith for all the world to see,” says Mark Anchor Albert, founding chairman of the Queen of Angels Foundation that is organizing the Sept. 13 Grand Marian Procession that will wind its way through the streets of downtown Los Angeles, ending at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

SCRC ’14: Support from the pope, stories of saints

In the early 1980s, the charismatic renewal started a lot of things in Steve Montross’ life, including a deeper relationship with the Lord and a budding desire, eventually fulfilled, to become a deacon at St. Raphael Church in Santa Barbara.

Brother Guerrero makes first profession as Salesian

Brother Benito Guerrero, Jr., made his first religious profession of the vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity as a Salesian of Don Bosco Aug. 16 at St. Dominic Savio Church in Bellflower.

The Salesians’ new provincial superior, Father Theodore Montemayor, received his vows in the name of the Rector Major of the Salesian Society. Brother Guerrero completed his year of novitiate at St. Joseph’s Novitiate in Rosemead under the direction of Salesian Father William Keane and other formation personnel.

‘We are called to invite others,’ archbishop tells seminarians

Seminarians, both new and returning, were welcomed to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Aug. 21 for a special Mass and luncheon with Archbishop José Gomez, who invited them to be mindful of the Gospel call of invitation to a closer relationship with God.

St. Camillus celebrates 60 years of care to patients

“You serve Jesus Christ — Jesus Christ in his passion, his suffering with the poor, the marginalized and those who have no one else to turn to. Your love for the suffering is a sign of God’s love. God’s compassion is in each of you in your compassion,” Archbishop José Gomez told 15 current and former hospital chaplains Aug. 24 during a Mass of Thanksgiving at the 60th anniversary of St. Camillus Center for Spiritual Care.

In South Los Angeles: ‘We feed the hungry’

“Here’s the crew,” Kim Williams exclaims this late weekday morning from her electric wheelchair. She reaches out with both arms to bear-hug a young man with Down Syndrome. “Charles, my baby. How you doing?”

Positive energy: LACPB speaker will ‘challenge’ youth

From its humble beginning nine years ago as an opportunity for the business community to gather for prayer and breakfast before the work day, the annual Los Angeles Catholic Prayer Breakfast has grown into a two-day event (this year Sept. 15-16) that will likely draw more than 2,500 people.

Catholic Charities helps with relief after Calif. quake

The Church in northern California is helping respond to a major earthquake, which shook Napa Valley early Sunday morning, the largest earthquake to hit the area in 25 years.

Jennielynn Holmes, director of shelter and housing for Catholic Charities in the area, said they are partnering with local emergency response programs to provide assistance.