After ministering for 36 years in the archdiocese without a permanent home, the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master joyfully celebrated the dedication of their new Liturgical Apostolic Center and convent in Los Angeles with a May 5 liturgy and Rite of Blessing led by Cardinal Roger Mahony.

More than 150 guests, including members of the sisters' religious congregation from Ireland, Italy, Indonesia, Mexico, the U.S., Vietnam, and the Philippines, gathered for the historic occasion at the three-story, mission tile-roofed center at 501 N. Beaudry Ave. just a few blocks away from the Cathedral on the northbound side of the 101.

Sister Disciple Celine Cunha, Rome-based PDDM general counselor, was among those greeting the guests as they toured the ceramic-tiled ground floor store, central courtyard and 70-seat chapel featuring a 21 feet wide-by-seven feet high stained glass window of the Eucharistic Christ designed by Los Angeles liturgical artist Isabel Piczek.

"When I saw the house, I really felt grateful because we have been waiting for 36 years to have a house of our own here," said Sister Cunha. "Now I think our dream is fulfilled."

PDDM sisters are part of the Pauline Family founded by Venerable Father James Alberione in Italy in 1924. They are a contemplative/active religious order dedicated to honoring and serving Christ in the Eucharist, symbolized by their logo of a stylized Communion wafer depicted on the top exterior of the center's tower.

There are about 1,450 PDDM sisters worldwide in 29 countries ministering in liturgical apostolates with ten currently residing at the Los Angeles center.

In his homily, Cardinal Mahony said the PDDM sisters "very correctly understand that the work of good liturgy is to help people discover ever more deeply the person of Jesus Christ, to come into that personal encounter with Jesus in order to bring about conversion of heart and life."

He noted it was "interesting" that the different communities started by Father Alberione, including priest and religious' congregations, all "had the goal of evangelization." The PDDM sisters, "not so much through the preparation of materials and evangelization in that sense, but through adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and in helping to create beautiful and meaningful liturgies," share in "this apostolate of making Jesus known to the world," he said.

"The hours they spend in adoration, the way they help priests in parishes and communities celebrate good liturgy is part of the evangelization of Jesus Christ," said the cardinal. Among their local ministries, the PDDM sisters have prepared vestments for priests and deacons during their long-time occupancy at St. Vibiana's School next to the former cathedral, served as parish sacristans and operated liturgical resource shops, most recently in East L.A.

Cardinal Mahony said he thought the location of the new PDDM center just a few car lengths down the freeway from the Cathedral was "very symbolic and significant." He noted, with a smile, that "we kind of have the folks on the freeway trapped in the good spiritual sense. As the sisters pray for the north-bound people, we are praying for the south-bound people.

"Just as the Cathedral and its cross, your center and your cross serve as beacons of hope, symbols of God's presence. And, hopefully, like the Cathedral, [your center] will attract people to come and see what is here, which means helping them to come find Jesus."

Sister Disciple Lucille Van Hoogmoed, who helped oversee the project from its 1999 land purchase, told The Tidings the new center with conference facilities will allow the sisters' ministries to expand. "We'll be able to provide many more services than we were before," said Sister Van Hoogmoed.

"It's a dream come true for the sisters after a lot of sacrifice and effort," said Sister Disciple Anne Breen, recently assigned to Los Angeles from Ireland. "A lot of people will come to pray, appreciate the beauty of religious art and hear about the word of God. It will be a place of catechesis and peace."

Cora Labung, who traveled from Fresno where the PDDM sisters have another liturgical apostolate center, said she found the facility very peaceful. "It's an anointed place," said Labung.