More than 700 people attending the inaugural Southern California Catholic Prayer Breakfast Sept. 27, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels were urged by Cardinal Roger Mahony to "recommit ourselves to be the church of the Eucharist and the church of the poor."

During his homily at the 7 a.m. Mass, the cardinal noted that often the media moves from one tragedy to another --- Darfur, Niger, tsunami, and the hurricanes of the gulf coast. "We are the church of the poor," the cardinal reminded those present, citing the example of St. Vincent de Paul, whose feast day is Sept. 27.

Cardinal Mahony invited those attending to "look around and make the marginalized objects of our prayer, care and concern." At the breakfast itself, Msgr. Kevin Kostelnik, Cathedral pastor, introduced Denise Jackson and her mother Audrey Forte, who had been homeless since the hurricanes and flooding affected New Orleans. The Cathedral parish --- in line with what other parishes around the U.S. have been doing since the hurricanes left thousands homeless --- has adopted Denise and her mother.

The event began at 6:30 a.m. with recitation of the Luminous Mysteries of the rosary led by Auxiliary Bishops Joseph Sartoris, Gerald Wilkerson and Oscar Solis. Jesuit Father Robert J. Spitzer, president of Gonzaga University, concelebrated the Mass and was the breakfast's keynote speaker, discussing the pillars of contemplative prayer in action, especially the importance of the Eucharist and several forms of spontaneous prayer.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, one of several government officials in attendance, led the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the breakfast in the Cathedral Conference Center. The Magis Institute of Gonzaga University and a number of donors who have repeatedly supported projects of the archdiocese sponsored the event. Prayer breakfast co-chairs Margie and Tom Romano, members of St. Rita Church, Sierra Madre, were thanked for their hard work and organization.