OXNARD --- Some 2,000 members of the Santa Clara parish community attended a celebration Aug. 22 marking the 100th anniversary of the church building, a historic landmark in the downtown area of the city.

Cardinal Roger Mahony presided at the liturgy, concelebrated by numerous priests, many of whom had formerly served at the venerable parish (founded in 1885), or grew up in the area.

The Mass --- with chairs set up outside to handle the overflow turnout --- was followed by a reception in the middle of E Street, closed off for the day.

St. Vincent de Paul to hold auto auction Aug. 28
LOS ANGELES -- In an effort to help children and families in extreme need, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Los Angeles --- which serves the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara, as well as portions of the Inland Empire --- will hold its first-ever Auto Auction at 11 a.m. Aug. 28 at the Society's thrift store, 210 N. Avenue 21 in Los Angeles (Lincoln Heights area). The auction will include 100 donated cars, vans and more, ranging in makes, models and years, including a couple BMW's and a 1965 and 1979 Mercedes.

"This auction is important in that it not only helps our crucial outreach programs, but it also aids individuals who need a vehicle but can't afford a new model," said Jose Rossier, CEO of the Society's Council of Los Angeles.

The Society helps children and adults year-round and of all faiths through its shelters, a year-round camp and a free distribution program. Last year, St. Vincent de Paul and its many volunteers helped more than 431,000 individuals.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is also seeking donated vehicles in running condition to add to the auction. The terms of the auction includes the following: a $300 refundable deposit, a 10 percent buyer premium, no checks and a $100 performance deposit to be returned upon the proof of auto title. For more information, please call 323-224-6273 or 800-974-3571.

Annual Public Safety Officers Mass set Sept. 5
LOS ANGELES --- The Desert Refuge for Peace Officers is holding its 15th annual Public Safety Officers Mass and Badge Blessing Sept. 5 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Cardinal Roger Mahony will preside. Public Safety Officers are invited to bring their family and friends to join in worship and fellowship with other peace officers, fire and emergency personnel and those who support them in the greater Los Angeles area. The Cathedral is located at 555. W. Temple Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. For more information contact Father Michael McCullough, LAPD chaplain, at (323) 298-7174.

Life Teen parishes to make changes to Mass
ST. LOUIS (CNS) -- Much like a precious jewel that sometimes needs polishing, Life Teen is making some changes to the way its teen Mass is celebrated. That's the analogy Msgr. James Moroney, executive director of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Liturgy, used in a recent video sent to 952 Life Teen parishes around the country regarding the changes. The changes in the Life Teen model of liturgy are in accord with the most recent version of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, which Pope John Paul II released in 2000. Two of the most noticeable changes with the Life Teen Mass are the cessation of a period during the Mass when teens would normally enter the sanctuary and gather around the altar during the eucharistic prayer. Life Teen also is asking its participating parishes to stop the practice of saying, "The Mass never ends. It must be lived," at the conclusion of the liturgy.

Respect Life program kits ready for dioceses, parishes
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities has published the 2004-05 Respect Life Program kit materials in English and Spanish for use in Catholic dioceses, parishes and organizations. The theme for this year's observances is "Made in His Image," or, in Spanish, "A imagen de Dios los creo." Most U.S. Catholic parishes observe the first Sunday of October -- Oct. 3 this year -- as Respect Life Sunday. "The Respect Life program is the primary educational vehicle for the (bishops') Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities," said Msgr. William P. Fay, general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The 2004-05 kit includes a poster in English and Spanish, fliers on the theme in English and Spanish, six educational essays on life issues, clip art for church bulletins or newsletters, a liturgy guide and a catalog of pro-life publications and resources. The fliers, essays and liturgy guide are also available online at www.usccb.org/prolife, along with electronic versions of essays and other resources from past programs going back to 1996.

Pope prays that return of icon brings Catholics, Orthodox closer
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Calling the Blessed Virgin Mary the "mother of unity and of love," Pope John Paul II prayed that the return of a Marian icon to the Russian Orthodox Church would bring the Catholic and Orthodox churches closer together. Marking the Aug. 22 feast of the Queenship of Mary, the pope also expressed again his thanks to God and to the individuals who helped him make his Aug. 14-15 pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France. Speaking to several thousand visitors gathered in the courtyard of his summer villa for the recitation of the Angelus, the pope prayed that "the heavenly mother of the redeemer would be more welcomed, loved and venerated by the Christian people." The pope asked his visitors to turn in prayer with him "to the Virgin Mary venerated under the title of 'Mother of God of Kazan.'" Pope John Paul explained that an icon of the Mother of God of Kazan image, which left Russia sometime in the 1920s, "after a prolonged stay in different places, reached the apartment of the pope some years ago." Since 1993, he said, he had kept the Marian icon above his desk, where it has "watched over" his daily work.

---CNS