The Missionaries of St. Charles --- the Scalabrinian priests and brothers --- are committed in their various works to provide pastoral care for migrants and refugees. Their special charism is especially evident at the parish they administer in Sun Valley, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, and its mission, Our Lady of Zapopan in North Hollywood.

A mainly Hispanic (85 percent) and Filipino (10 percent) parish of nearly 5,000 registered families, Masses are generally standing room only at the six Spanish language Masses each Sunday at the parish and mission churches. Once a month a Mass is said in Tagalog for the Filipino community and three Masses each Sunday are in English.

Scalabrinian Father Richard Zanotti, the pastor for the past two years, says most of his parishioners are "immigrants --- and hardworking --- and they work hard for little salary. And they are very hungry to have education in the faith." His parish has activities every day and evening of the week with two charismatic prayer groups (500-800 in an adult group, 200 in a young adult group). The parish also has Bible study groups, small group communities in Spanish and Tagalog, Marriage Encounter groups, a large religious education program (1,000 children mainly in sacramental preparation) and a parish school. "It's the busiest parish I've been in," says Father Zanotti.

The people of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary are very generous, notes both the pastor and the school principal, Servant of the Blessed Sacrament Sister Gemma Briseno. "There's a lot of enthusiasm in the parish and they help a lot in the school," says Sister Gemma. "They're generous in many different ways. They struggle with money but that doesn't have anything to do with the generosity of the people and disposable income that they have," says Father Zanotti.

The parishioners of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary are quick to help the less fortunate. Each week they provide hot meals for those without work: the day laborers, struggling to work from one job to another, often standing on street corners waiting to be employed. The city of Sun Valley has allocated an area of the city where these day laborers go to await jobs. And the people Our Lady of the Holy Rosary provide meals twice a week and Mass is celebrated at their location once a month.

Parishioners also take up collections for the poor of the parish and always attempt to help out whenever possible. Parishioners since 1968, Angie and Abe Juse are originally from an area of the Philippines north of Manila. Abe is an usher at the 9 a.m. Sunday Mass. "We keep coming back," Angie says. "People help each other here."