L.A. ARCHDIOCESE CELEBRATES AND THANKS MOTHERS
May 10, 2019  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

—Archbishop Gomez will bless mothers and present them carnations at Mass in English at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Sunday, May 12; the Cathedral’s English Choir will present the “Songs of Mary” free concert on Sunday, May 19 at 6pm—

As Catholics dedicate May to Mary, Mother of Jesus, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will honor mothers in all of its parishes throughout the three counties it comprises (Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura) on Sunday, May 12. Today, the Archdiocese released a video extending gratitude toward all mothers – foster, adoptive, special needs, birth, healing from loss or abortion, grandmothers, godmothers – for their love and dedication. The video is available at https://onelifela.org/happy-mothers-day.

“We should give thanks to God for our mothers every day! For all their sacrifices and love. We should give thanks especially this Sunday — as we join our brothers and sisters of all faiths in celebrating national Mother’s Day. For Catholics, motherhood is a vocation, a special calling from Jesus Christ,” said Archbishop José H. Gomez. “Mothers especially, are our first teachers about prayer, charity and the practices of our Christian faith. As Christians, we are blessed to have two mothers. We have our natural mothers who brought us into this world. And we have our spiritual mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. It’s appropriate that May, when we celebrate Mother’s Day, is traditionally the “Month of Mary” in our Church.”

On Sunday, May 12, Archbishop Gomez will celebrate Mass in English at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels at 10 a.m., where he will bless and present carnations to all mothers. The Cathedral’s pastor, Father David Gallardo, will do the same at the Mass in English at 8 a.m. and at the Mass in Spanish at 12:30 p.m.

The Cathedral’s English choir concert “Songs of Mary” on Sunday, May 19 at 6 p.m. will include choral works centered on Mary, and will conclude with Kim André Arnesen’s Magnificat, a major work for chorus, strings, piano, organ, and soprano solo. The concert is open to the public; offerings are welcomed to help support the Cathedral’s Music Ministry activities.

For centuries, the Catholic Church has set aside the entire month of Mary to honor Mary, Mother of God. Throughout the centuries, the Church has turned to the Blessed Virgin in order to come closer to Christ. It honors her as the Mother of God, looks to her as a model of perfect discipleship, and asks for her prayers to God on our behalf.

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