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The
Tapestries of Saints at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
provided ample material Oct. 13 for Msgr. Terrance Fleming
to stress to some 2,000 youth at the annual Holy Childhood
Association Mass that "Our faith belongs in the world, not
just in America."
Pointing
to various saints depicted in John Nava's tapestries that
line the Cathedral walls, Msgr. Fleming --- director of the
Mission Office of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles --- told
the assembled youth that, collectively, "These people ---
famous and anonymous --- are a picture of what our church
is all about. These are the people who make a difference in
helping others around the world who are not as fortunate."
They
provide models for the assembled children who, in schools
throughout the archdiocese, have performed a variety of projects
that support the Holy Childhood Association. The 161-year-old
HCA is an international organization dedicated to fostering
children's awareness of the missionary nature of the church
through Catholic elementary schools and religious education
programs.
As
he walked through the assembly, Msgr. Fleming pointed out
various saints --- Elizabeth of Portugal, who gave up a fortune
to support the poor, for example --- who engaged themselves
in the church's social mission of addressing the needs of
poor throughout the world.
"There
are all kinds of faces, nationalities, ages represented on
these walls," Msgr. Fleming said. "And notice, too, that they
are all facing toward the altar, going toward the altar to
receive Christ and be light to the world. That is what we
are all called to do."
At
the end of the Mass, Msgr. Fleming congratulated Alexandra
Burgos of St. Mary Magdalen School, Camarillo, whose artwork
was selected from more than 10,000 entries nationwide to be
included as one of 25 depicted in the Holy Childhood Association's
Christmas Seals for 2004.
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