L.A. Catholics present pope with letters from undocumented children

Ten-year-old Jersey Vargas met Pope Francis today.

Vargas joined a coalition from Southern California that journeyed to Vatican City to deliver letters from children with undocumented parents written to the Holy Father.

In her letter, Vargas wrote how she’d spent her last two birthdays without her father, who has been in custody with U.S. immigration officials. She told the pope about her father in person today after the general audience at St. Peter’s Basilica.

At the Cathedral: Fresh insights, inspired by faith

Graham Student Art Exhibit offers high school youth a showcase for their artistic talent.

Louisville High School senior Nathalie Moreno has applied to the University of Southern California to pursue a career in fine arts. On the afternoon of March 23, she was thrilled to learn that renowned artist Gayle Garner Roski — for whom USC’s Roski School of Art and Design is named — would back her with a letter of recommendation.

Garner Roski is a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels’ fine arts committee and a strong promoter of the fourth annual Robert Graham Memorial Student Art Exhibit, which opened March 23 and runs through May 4. Moreno is one of 72 Catholic high school participants, having created “The Lion of God,” an unusual but faith-based sculpture on display at the Cathedral.

Attendees: They came, they saw, they said…

The 40,000-plus who came to the Religious Education Congress March 14-16 offered comments on a variety of topics — from the workshops they attended to the faith they practice and proclaim. A sampling of their reflections (more online):

Search is on for Santacruzan 2014 ‘sagalas’

In preparation for its annual Santacruzan on May 10 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is seeking “sagalas,” young women ages 13-35, who will comprise the Court of Honor for the procession of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Each candidates must be a baptized and practicing Catholic; must write an essay on: “How Can I be a Model for Today’s Young Women?”; and be able to attend mandatory preparation activities including Catechetical Day (April 12 at St. Stephen Martyr Church, Monterey Park) as part of faith formation, as well as a general practice (May 6, 7 p.m. at the Cathedral), the Santacruzan Celebration (May 10, 2:45 p.m. at the Cathedral) and the Santacruzan Dinner-Dance (May 10 at Almansor Court in Alhambra).

‘For the ones we’ve lost, and the ones we’ve saved’

“Defend Life,” “Women Do Regret Abortion,” “Men Regret Lost Fatherhood” and, simply, “Life” — those were the signs that greeted travelers March 15 along Ventura Boulevard in Encino.

On this warm and sunny Saturday morning in Encino, more than 1,000 people of all ages and ethnicities marched along both sides of the San Fernando Valley’s busiest street, carrying signs proudly proclaiming their pro-life faith as they waved enthusiastically to those driving past.

Rabbis, Latino priests seek stronger ties at AJC event

Dozens of local Latino Catholic priests and Jewish rabbis seeking to strengthen interfaith relations — and discuss their shared migrant experiences — came together March 10 for a day of fellowship and conversation at Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles.

2014 LA Religious Ed Congress

I Will Lift My Eyes (Blessing over advocates of the undocumented, in their pilgramage to Rome)
Song written by Tony Alonso, © 2014 GIA Publications, Inc.

Funeral Mass celebrated for fallen LAPD Officer

packed and somber assembly at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels witnessed the March 13 funeral Mass of fallen LAPD Officer Nicholas Choung Lee.

The assembly included hundreds of fellow officers plus civic officials — among them, Gov. Jerry Brown and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Archbishop José Gomez presided at the Mass, while Father Edward Dover, pastor of Holy Redeemer Church in Montrose — which Lee’s family attends — delivered the homily.

Catholic schools win ‘realignment’ suit against CIF

Four parochial high schools (three of them Catholic) within Los Angeles and Ventura Counties were upheld March 7 in their lawsuit against the California Interscholastic Federation, and will not have to switch leagues that would have required their athletic teams to travel hundreds of extra miles over the course of the year.