One hundred-fifty years ago, in 1864, Christmas Day fell on a Sunday. The Civil War continued to divide and to grieve the nation. Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who decried his son’s decision to join the Union forces, had penned these familiar words: “And in despair I bowed my head; ‘There is no peace on earth,’ […]
The Bishop’s Guild, which has aided the bishops of Los Angeles for a century, and has since 1935 offered financial and spiritual support to seminarians of the diocese, held its annual garden party in 102-degree weather on Oct. 4 at the Pasadena home of Bishop Jon and Mary Bruno. About 80 guests had opportunities to […]
When the Rev. Gerardo Romo, vicar of St. Hilary’s Episcopal Church in the high-desert community of Hesperia, noticed an abundance of food provided at coffee hour and potluck gatherings of the congregation, the idea occurred to him to share with day laborers seeking employment at local building-supply retailers. Soon I found two eager volunteers to […]
Greg Kimura is excitedly pointing out “Hello Kitty” backpacks, toothbrushes, fanny packs, artwork, a Swarovski crystal Hello Kitty, a Sesame Street Elmo Hello Kitty, images of the twinkling-eyed character depicted in dresses for Lady Gaga and America’s Top Model Competition — even a Hello Kitty robot. “If you speak to it in Japanese, it’ll say […]
The Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel at Holy Trinity Church in Covina is a center of bustling activity as Dia de los Muertos fast approaches. Molds for the traditional sugar skulls and their accessories — feathers, sequins, bright foil, colored sugars — are stacking up, and the Rev. Steve DeMuth is collecting candles, photos and […]
When members of All Saints Church in Pasadena received a report of a gunman on campus one Sunday a few months ago, they quickly sprang into action. “We were in between services and we had a report that a man had entered the church. There was a report he had a gun. We evacuated the […]
Since St. Paul’s Church in Tustin started Sunday Supper to feed the hungry, it’s been like “loaves and fishes,” multiplying all the way, according to the Rev. Kay Sylvester, rector. “One of the most basic ways to serve Christ in all people is to feed them,” she said. “After, all, it’s what Jesus did.” In […]
The Diocese of Los Angeles is “ready and waiting” to aid unaccompanied children fleeing Central American violence by crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Diocesan Bishop J. Jon Bruno. But, he added, there are no quick fixes. “We need to look at the long term for the young people who have arrived in Southern California […]
When asked to reflect about being the first woman ordained a priest in the Diocese of Los Angeles, the Rev. Canon Victoria Hatch has said it before and she says it again, with feeling: “It’s been a wild ride, but it’s been full of grace.” Such moments of grace included attending the 1974 ordinations of […]
The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno has created the Bishop’s Chair for Environmental Science & Food Justice and named the Rev. Andrew K. Barnett to the new post at Campbell Hall Episcopal in North Hollywood, California. “Our children and youth need to be equipped with skills rooted in science and ethics to address the serious […]
