Funeral Mass will be held July 10 at 10 a.m. at St. Casimir Church, Los Angeles, for former pastor Msgr. Algirdas F. Olsauskas, 77, who died June 22. A vigil service will be held at the church July 9, 7 p.m. Both services will be conducted in Lithuanian.

Msgr. Algirdas F. Olsauskas

The tenth of 11 children born to a farming family in Zeimiai, Lithuania, Msgr. Olsauskas entered the seminary at Telsiai, Lithuania, where his eldest brother, Father Casimir Olsauskas, was a prefect of studies. He fled Lithuania after World War II, due to Communist repression, and lived for a couple of years in refugee camps. In 1946, he entered a seminary in Eichstaett, Bavaria, eventually completing his studies in Rome. He was ordained in 1952 and received a doctorate in theology from the University of St. John Lateran in 1954.

In 1955, at the invitation of Cardinal James Francis McIntyre, he arrived in Los Angeles where he initially worked as a chaplain at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. He served as an associate pastor at a number of parishes, including St. Joseph, Hawthorne (1955-56); St. Catherine of Siena, Laguna Beach (1956-59); St. Mark, Venice (1959-65); Sacred Heart, Los Angeles (1965-67); and St. Casimir (1967-1984). From 1959-84, he also worked as a chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange in addition to parish duties.

In 1984, he was named pastor of St. Casmir, replacing retiring pastor and fellow Lithuanian, Msgr. John Kucingis. In 1992, Pope John Paul II honored him as an Honorary Chaplain to His Holiness (monsignor). Cardinal Mahony wrote in a congratulatory letter at the time: "I am pleased that our Holy Father has so recognized you, and I know that all of our Lithuanian Catholic Community rejoices in this special honor for you and for them. As we are now witnessing the emergence of Lithuania as a separate Nation once again, we see the emergence of the Catholic Church there with new vigor and vitality. Lithuanians have suffered much over the past decades because of Communist oppression and persecution, but now, a new light of Faith continues to dawn." He retired as pastor in 2002.

Survivors include two sisters and one brother. Interment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City.

Fr. Enrique Parisi, OFM
Funeral Mass was celebrated June 24 at St. Joseph Church in Santa Ana for Franciscan Father Enrique Parisi, 72, who died June 17. A funeral Mass in Spanish was celebrated June 25 at St. Joseph Church in Los Angeles, where Father Parisi served as pastor from 1988-97.

Father Enrique Parisi

Father Parisi was a native of East Los Angeles and an alumnus of St. Joseph School. He made his novitiate at Mission San Miguel and studied theology at Mission Santa Barbara. Ordained in 1960 at Mission Santa Barbara by Bishop Alden J. Bell, he was active in the Cursillo Movement, serving for ten years as Cursillo co-director for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Beloved for his work among immigrants living in downtown Los Angeles, Father Parisi was a beacon of hope for many low-income families in the St. Joseph neighborhood. After serving as pastor, he continued to reside in the parish and worked with the Marriage Encounter movement for the archdiocese.

He is survived by his brother, Franciscan Father Salvador Parisi, who is on staff at Serra Retreat Center in Malibu. Burial was at Friar's Vaults at Old Mission Santa Barbara.

Elizabeth Irene Vadakin
Funeral Mass was celebrated July 6 at St. Anastasia Church in Los Angeles for Elizabeth (Betty) Irene Vadakin, who died July 1. She was the mother of Msgr. Royale Vadakin, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and pastor emeritus of St. Anastasia Church.

Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Betty married Henry Vadakin in 1934 in Detroit. The couple moved to Los Angeles in 1948, attending St. Monica Church in Santa Monica. They were founding members of Corpus Christi Church in Pacific Palisades and later attended Our Lady of Malibu Church when they moved to Malibu in 1965.

Married for over 69 years, Betty was deeply committed to her faith. She was a member of Lamda Tau Delta, a social sorority, for over 50 years. Survivors include her husband and son. Memorial donations may be made to Nazareth House, 3333 Manning Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90064.