Two checks totaling $500,000 --- representing proceeds from the Cardinal's Awards Dinner held Feb. 4 --- were presented March 11 by Cardinal Roger Mahony to the parish of Sagrado Corazon y Santa Maria de Guadalupe Parish in Cudahy.

The funds will be used toward building a new church for the parish, which currently celebrates its Masses in a partially covered facility that requires some worshippers to be exposed to bad weather. Such was the case at the recent presentation, where freezing cold weather magnified the need for building a church

Attending the Mass and a festive dinner prepared by the parish were a significant number of Cardinal's Awards Dinner Committee members and their children, along with San Pedro Region Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Salazar, Sister of Mercy Mary Jean Meier, director of Special Services, and Judy DeRosa, Awards Dinner coordinator.

Missionary of the Sacred Heart Father Antonio Garnica, pastor of Sagrado Corazon, accepted the donation on behalf of his parishioners.