Before he was saint: An L.A. interview with Cardinal Wojtyla

During his 1976 visit to Los Angeles, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla (the future St. John Paul II) was interviewed by Tidings editor Al Antczak at Our Lady of the Bright Mount Church, where he celebrated Mass on Aug. 29. Following are excerpts from the 20-minute interview, published in The Tidings on Sept. 3, 1976.

2014 jubilarians: ‘The last of the old and the first of the new’

When the 16 men celebrating their golden jubilees of priesthood this year began their religious studies, Masses were celebrated in Latin and the celebrant faced the tabernacle in an alcove along the back wall — not the congregation.

L.A. pilgrims: ‘An unforgettable and prayerful experience’

Although most of the 52 pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles could not get into St. Peter’s Square April 27, they still were able to feel the excitement surrounding the “Eternal City” for the canonization of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II.

Guitarist Tony Melendez at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

We are called to be saints

This past weekend, we joined the universal Church in offering thanks and praise to God for our two new saints — the great 20th century popes, St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II.

Their canonizations show us that, even in our deeply secular age, the world is still moved by the example of holiness.

Priests of mercy, prophets of peace

I hope you all had a beautiful and peaceful Easter with your family and loved ones!

In Rome this coming Sunday, Mercy Sunday, our Holy Father Pope Francis will canonize two of his predecessors, Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II, making them saints.

Pilgrimage to Rome

Frances Mercado (left) and Carol Fritz met in 1986 at St Raphael Church in Santa Barbara. Having lost touch over the years, they reunited in …

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.

The beatitude of the persecuted

This Sunday we begin Holy Week. Our Lenten journey has led us to the final hours of Our Lord’s life, in which he suffered torture and death on the Cross.

All through his ministry, Jesus had prepared his disciples for his Passion. He told them that he would have to suffer many things, that he would be rejected, insulted, humiliated and killed.