When Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School alumni get together for their 50th reunion May 20, one of them will have tales to tell of far away lands and the challenges and triumphs of mission work.

Maryknoll Sister Jean Pruitt, a Los Angeles native, works with street children through an organization she founded called the Dogodogo ("small ones") Street Children Center in Tanzania. Her quest in the last 15 years has been to empower street children to achieve their potential through education and/or vocational training.

For her three decades of contribution to the development of art and culture in Tanzania, Sister Pruitt was the 2005 recipient of the National Zeze Award; she also received the Tanzanian National Award in 1985 for her work to the develop the small scale industry in the African country.

"My life has been touched by the profound joy that emanates from a people in a nation considered by the world as one of the least developed countries," says Sister Pruitt about her work, which, she continues, is an ongoing test of humanity.

"In my daily life in Tanzania," she says, "I have learned to forgive when someone has stolen my property or betrayed me in some way. To embrace the person who has stolen your property, and truly mean it, is a peak moment in Christian life."

For information on the reunion, call (323) 737-0012.

Golden anniversary celebrated by LaSalle HS
Founded in 1956 at the request of the Archbishop of Los Angeles, La Salle High School was created by the Christian Brothers to serve Catholic boys in the northeastern sections the San Gabriel Valley.

Now, 50 years later, the Pasadena school marked its golden anniversary at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels attended by the entire student body and faculty of 800 as well as an additional 500 guests. Cardinal Roger Mahony presided and was joined by 12 priests (including three La Salle alums) who concelebrated along with Auxiliary Bishops Gabino Zavala and Alexander Salazar.

The liturgy was followed by a banquet in the Cathedral Center Ballroom. The celebration was a reminder for all guests, students and faculty members that the school --- now a co-educational college preparatory --- is still in keeping with its Lasallian philosophy and continues to draw inspiration from the Christian Brothers.

St. Philip the Apostle students create First Communion boxes
St. Philip the Apostle School continued its "Gift Giving Campaign" as 60 second graders at the Pasadena school created 38 "Happy First Communion" boxes for its sister school, St. Alphonsus School in East Los Angeles.

The seven and eight-year-old students also made cards wishing the St. Alphonsus students "good luck" and "congratulations" as classes at both schools prepared for their First Communion in May.

Students imaginatively decorated the boxes which contained various religious items such as rosaries, holy cards, religious coins and magnets, scapulars and silicone bracelets --- many donated by parents at the school.

At a recent class Mass at St. Philip, Father Patrick Rodrigues blessed the various religious items, which will be delivered to St. Alphonsus just in time for the students' First Communion.

Prayer retreats in silence at St. Joseph Center
"Lord Teach Me to Pray" is the topic of a prayer retreat May 26-27 at the St. Joseph Center in Alhambra.

The retreat will be led by Carmelite Father Datius Kanjiramukil, from the Manjummel Province of India where he has been a retreat leader and director of the Institute of Spirituality.

Father Kanjiramukil has been very interested in directing silence prayer retreats which enable participants to engage in deeper forms of prayer, which can lighten the path to a deeper and more personal relationship with God.

Seating is limited. Call Bernadette St. James, (310) 548-1443. There is no set fee for the retreat, but a freewill offering will be accepted.