THOUSANDS GATHERED IN DOWNTOWN LA TO CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY AND DIGNITY OF HUMAN LIFE AT 8TH ANNUAL ONELIFE LA
January 22, 2022  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

—The Society of St. Vincent de Paul received a $10,000 award to support its mission to serve the disadvantaged of any religion for free—

Thousands of Southern Californians gathered back in-person to join Archbishop José H. Gomez at the eighth annual OneLife LA today at Los Angeles State Historic Park in downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the beauty and dignity of every human life from conception to natural death.

“We have come together today, peacefully and joyfully, to build a society where it is easier for people to love and be loved,” said Archbishop Gomez. “We show that love by the way we care for one another especially the weak and vulnerable. OneLife LA reminds us of the beautiful truth that we are all children of God, and that every life is sacred. We go Forward in Hope, in the spirit of OneLife LA, to create a civilization of love that celebrates and protects the beauty and dignity of all human life.”

Archbishop Gomez was joined by Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Alex Aclan and David O’Connell, Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno Joseph Brennan, Bishop Emeritus for the Diocese of Fresno Armando Xavier Ochoa, Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Orange Timothy Freyer, and Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of San Diego Ramon Bejarano.

OneLife LA seeks to promote a culture of life, where every human life is dignified, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized. Spearheaded by the Archdiocese’s Office of Life, Justice and Peace, the event kicked off at the city’s birthplace, La Placita, with a welcome from Archbishop Gomez, who leaded a Walk for Life from Olvera Street to Los Angeles State Historic Park for the official program and celebration. The program and family festival included a roster of dynamic voices sharing their personal and life-affirming stories.

“What an amazing honor for each of us to testify to the sanctity and dignity of human life from conception to natural death. Each of us has been created in the image and likeness of God. With this understanding, we are given a great responsibility to respect life in all stages,” said Michael P. Donaldson, senior director of the Office of Life, Justice and Peace of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. “Thank you for joining us for OneLife LA, Forward in Hope! as we gathered at Olvera Street and walked to Los Angeles State Historic Park to be witnesses and bearers of hope.”

During the event, families were able to engage with community partners that offered service projects in foster care, mental health, services for the homeless, and combating human trafficking as ways for attendees to get involved in the mission of OneLife LA beyond the day of the event.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Los Angeles received the third annual OneLife LA Service Award of $10,000 to support its mission to serve the disadvantaged of any religion for free. The Catholic volunteer-based organization helps the underserved become self-sufficient by providing financial and emotional support, food, clothing, furniture, appliances, and resources to connect them to helpful sources in Los Angeles.

OneLife LA was followed by the 27th annual “Requiem for the Unborn” Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gomez at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to remember the babies lost to abortion daily in Southern California.

To honor the beauty and dignity of life, and to pray for the well-being of all those participating in OneLife LA, St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Gardena hosted a OneLife LA Holy Hour on Friday, January 21, including the recitation of the Rosary by seminarians of St. John’s Seminary of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

OneLife LA 2022 speakers and performers included:

  • Sister Bethany Madonna, from the Sisters of Life, whose mission is to care for women who are pregnant and in crisis.
  • Gloria Purvis, a public speaker and radio host dedicated to promoting the dignity of human life, marriage, and creating a just society for all.
  • Sister Norma Pimentel, named one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential People of 2020, is a member of the Sisters Missionaries of Jesus and has served as Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley for more than 12 years working with migrant families and children. She has also been the recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. “Keep the Dream Alive” award from Catholic Charities USA in 2015.
  • Ed Shoener serves on the Council on Mental Illness of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability and on the Board of Pathways to Promise, an interfaith cooperative that facilitates the faith community’s work in reaching out to those with mental illnesses and their families. He founded The Katie Foundation after his daughter, Kathleen, died by suicide in 2016.
  • Mari Pablo has worked in youth ministry for more than 15 years, both as a youth minister and theology teacher. Mari is well known for her dynamic presentations at the annual Steubenville Youth Conferences.
  • Performers include Francis Cabildo, a Southern California singer-songwriter, worship leader and speaker; Las Colibrí (The Hummingbirds), who play all-string instruments of the early 20th century Mariachi tradition; and Sarah Kroger, a worship leader and songwriter.

OneLife LA was first celebrated on January 17, 2015, and virtually in January 2021 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. To see highlights of OneLife LA 2022, photos of the event and more, please visit www.onelifela.org

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