Challenges: Nearly deported, newly graduated from Loyola

Education, education, education. That is what Enrique and his sister always heard from their undocumented Mexican parents. Florian and Beatriz toiled daily to support their Los Angeles-born children, sending them to St. Cecilia School and petitioning for years to be legal residents.

When Enrique was in the eighth grade and in the top three of his class, a judge ruled that the family be deported. During the proceedings, the judge learned that Enrique had been accepted to Loyola High School. The judge reversed his deportation ruling, saying how fortunate Enrique was to be admitted to Loyola and that it could change Enrique’s life.

Challenges: Twin success, centered in faith at St. Joseph

Life has not always been easy for the Castellanos brothers. Sometimes it even seemed downright impossible. No matter what life threw their way, however, perseverance and tenacity ruled the day.

Raised only by their father, Quentin, from the time they were one week old, twins Joaquin and Joseph have worked hard for everything they have, including their Catholic education. On May 25, they graduated from St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria, each with high grade point averages, multiple athletic honors and an extensive involvement in school and service organizations.

Martha Elena Bautista: ‘I’m very blessed’

Martha Elena Bautista wasn’t wearing a royal blue cap and gown like the 28 eighth-grade graduates inside St. Columbkille Church in the late afternoon of June 18. Instead, she wore a green-patterned, sleeveless blouse and navy skirt with dark stockings.

But when the 29-year-old mother received her GED high school-equivalency diploma, members of the packed-together congregation in the narrow church clapped as loud and long as they did for each of the 16 girls and 12 boys at the Los Angeles parochial school on West 64th Street. And when she walked out with the Class of 2014, trying not to smile too broadly, they clapped even harder.

From age to age: Memories and support

On May 30, Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School held its 90th commencement exercise. Jan Chambers has been present for 40 of them.

Throughout that time, the school has changed names, principals (she has worked with six administrators), uniform styles and more. Chambers herself has served as department chair, athletic director, coach, teacher and yearbook moderator.

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.