Though pastor at St. James Church in Redondo Beach for only two and a half years, Father James Kavanagh talks with affection and pride about his parish of about 6,000 families.

St. James, he says, has a style that many might say is reminiscent of parishes of 50 years ago, combined with "a more progressive approach to liturgy. I am delighted to be a part of this combination --- to hold on to what was precious, yet to bring the people to a new level through good music and to be present to them, to be there, to walk with them. I think you can mesh the new with the old."

Melding the old with the new comes naturally for this parish, long home to many generations of families. Nora Humting's family came to the parish in 1915. Bill Lippert, an usher and third generation parishioner, proudly points to his fourth generation junior-high son. His son has learned early that it is important to get involved in his parish as he passes out church bulletins after Sunday Mass. And Molly O'Neill, who teaches second grade in the parish school, is another third generation parishioner.

"There is a mutual admiration of the young and the old," says Father Kavanagh. "It's what community should ultimately be doing, learning from each other and growing with each other."

One important belief passed on from generation to generation is that of giving back to others less fortunate. Barbara Mullen, a relatively new parishioner (ten years) and a registered nurse, says that the young in the parish "start learning at age 9 that you have to give back." The religious education students collect items for the sick in Ensenada that Barbara delivers, and she accompanies dentists and doctors who repair hairlips and cleft palates for the poor in Baja.

Barbara is also a director of the parish's Feed the Needy Program which feeds about 50 homeless people a day, three days a week. Methodist and Presbyterian churches in Redondo Beach provide meals for other days. As a nurse Barbara's work is a natural fit in helping the needy. She sometimes will go and visit some of her homeless who stay under the pier, and will find emergency medical care and medicine for those who are very sick.

Many of the homeless who come for meals, Barbara points out, are mentally ill and not capable of holding jobs. Many are among the working poor who live in their cars. This December her group will feed up to 400 people at their Christmas party, and deliver toiletry bags to convalescent hospitals, bags decorated by St. James School students.

All of the services Feed the Needy provides are made possible by parishioners. "The people of the parish give very generously," Barbara says. "It's a wonderful parish and these people respond. And these workers are tremendous to work with."

Barbara is also a Eucharistic minister, leads Bible Study, helps to clean the church on Mondays and even teaches religious education on Tuesdays. St. James Parish, she says, "is everything. It's my life."