St. Mary Magdalen Chapel nears 100th anniversary event

Known affectionately in and around the Camarillo community as The Chapel On the Hill, St. Mary Magdalen Chapel will mark its Centennial Mass and Celebration on July 4.

A series of events are planned prior to the celebration, including the Juan and Adolfo Camarillo Dinner on April 26 in the Chapel Courtyard.

‘JP2, we love you!’ Young adults explain how John Paul II influenced their lives

Even though youth and young adults were not even conceived during Pope John XXIII’s papacy, all have experienced his legacy through his successor Pope John Paul II.

“He cared. Along with Pope John XXIII, he genuinely cared for people,” said Jillian Ford of St. Francis de Sales parish in Sherman Oaks.

On way to canonization: First stop, Assisi

“It looks like California to me,” says Patrick Kellogg, while peaking outside the window of the bus heading to the medieval town of Assisi (about 150 miles West of Rome) April 23 in the afternoon.

Pilgrims from archdiocese overcome by visit to Assisi

Emily Chavez said that as soon as she got to the Ròseo Hotel in Assisi she laid on the bed, and as she stood in silence in a state of contemplation, tears betrayed her and started exiting from the corner of her eyes.

L.A. Vigil to celebrate Pope John Paul II’s pontificate L.A. visit

The Archdiocese’s Office of New Evangelization with the Knights of Columbus will hold a special vigil to honor the life and pontificate of Pope John Paul II on the eve of his canonization in Rome, April 26, 7-11 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

“Pope John Paul II was a gift from God for our times,” said Archbishop José Gomez. “He was a man of the Eucharist and a true spiritual father for our world. Our Archdiocese came together in celebration during his visit in 1987, and we will gather once again to rejoice his canonization. He was truly a saint among us, and he continues to bring us closer to Christ through his example.”

L.A. pilgrims headed for Rome: ‘What an opportunity!’

Nancy Bohte and her best friend Ellen Harrington have been traveling the world since they first met nearly 40 years ago, while teaching for the South Pasadena Unified School District.

But this week the retired high school teachers embarked on a special trip to Rome. Having visited the city before, this time they will see it with different eyes, they said, since they will be part of the historic canonization of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II.

Easter and the blessings of the Kingdom

We have a vocation to blessedness. This is what the Beatitudes of Jesus teach us.

The path of the Beatitudes leads out from Christ’s empty tomb. We can walk this path because by his love Jesus conquered the hatred of sin and the corruption of death.

Nativity receives Innovations in Catholic Education Award

“We’re just a little school in El Monte so getting this national attention is such an honor,” says Sister of St. Louis Stacy Reineman, principal at Nativity Elementary School, one of 12 recipients of the 2014 Innovations in Catholic Education Awards from Today’s Catholic Teacher.

St. Lawrence Martyr rakes 3rd at State Junior High Decathlon

St. Lawrence Martyr School, of Redondo Beach earned third place at the 2014 California State Academic Junior High Decathlon, held April 5 at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino.

Serra Catholic School, from the Diocese of Orange, won the event which featured nine teams from junior high schools throughout California, plus a team invited from Denver. St. Lawrence Martyr represented the Archdiocese of Los Angeles after the team’s third consecutive winning performance in the local competition March 1.

‘His music rose to God in blessing and in praise’

Paul Salamunovich began his role as music director at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in North Hollywood when my twin brother and I were in the eighth grade at St. Charles School —in 1949. Over these 65 years it has been a privilege to have known Paul and to experience his extraordinary music genius on so many occasions, both at the parish and in many other venues where he directed choirs.