A few minutes after the end of Mass at St. Matthias Church one recent Sunday, a man coming out of church stopped and knelt along the sidewalk on Mission Place where a small white cross had been painted. There he bent to touch the cross, touched his fingers to his lips, made the sign of the cross and spent several moments in silent prayer.

It was the spot where only two weeks earlier, Father Sam Villegas --- retired and in residence at St. Matthias Church --- had died suddenly, just after having received Holy Communion, stopping to pray and then crossing the street to buy fruit for the rectory. He had served the parish for 25 years.

Reverence and faith are strong among the people of St. Matthias Church, who see their church as a mainstay in their lives and community. Jorge Camaal, a parishioner for 20 years who lives near the church, loves what he calls "la comunidad (the people)." His fellow parishioners, he says, are "religious, united as a people, kind and generous."

Like Camaal, many see their Huntington Park parish as a very caring and kind place, a piece of home, in spite of its massive size. Father Abelardo Bailon, pastor since 1999, estimates that St. Matthias has 10,000 members, with 10 Masses celebrated each Sunday, at least 100 babies baptized each weekend, marriages performed every hour between 8 a.m. and 7:15 p.m. on Saturdays, and usually three or four funerals each week.

Amidst so much work Padre Abelardo, as his parishioners call him, loves his people. "It's an open parish," he says. "We always ask, 'How can we help you?' I enjoy it. I love the people, especially the kids." And he is "very proud" of their generosity. "Anything you ask, they give it to you --- time, money and help. They form a community. You can see that at the festival. Everyone is involved."

Everyone, indeed, is involved. With close to 1,200 children in religious education, 500 in First Communion, 300 young people in the confirmation program, 200 youth in Life Teen, and between 50 and 80 in "Robles de Justicia" (Oaks of Justice), everyone is busy.

Parish young adults belong to Robles de Justicia, whose members lector, usher, act as greeters and provide music at most Sunday Masses. They have weekly meetings, periodic retreats, pray the rosary every Thursday in members' homes, and visit area convalescent homes on Sunday afternoons. With the elderly they pray, sing hymns, read the Sunday readings and share reflections. "We simply try to make them comfortable," says leader Angie de la Rosa, 35. Most importantly they are the parish and church to the elderly and sick.

Of their pastor, de la Rosa says, "We are very blessed to have him." He attends most of their functions and gives the group support. "He gives the members confidence and trust. He always has an open door for them. He gives great advice. He doesn't solve our problems but gives us another way of looking at them. He inspires us all to do many things."