Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C., will speak at the 2007 Los Angeles Catholic Prayer Breakfast Sept. 18 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, where more than 1,000 parishioners are expected to gather for a day-breaking celebration of faith.
The third annual event will begin with a 6:30 a.m. rosary recitation led by Los Angeles auxiliary bishops followed by Mass with Cardinal Roger Mahony. Archbishop Wuerl's keynote address, "The Place of Religious Faith in the Public Forum," will take place during the post-Mass breakfast program on the Cathedral Plaza.
Last year's master of ceremonies Allen Lund --- co-chairing this year with his wife, Kathleen, and Tom and Margie Romano --- says the local event, inspired by the couples' attendance along with friends Bill and Helen Close at the May 2005 National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, has exceeded his expectations.
"I really knew we were on to something the first year. I figured people would straggle in for Mass and then keep straggling in and hit the breakfast. We had 90-95 percent of the 700 attendees on their knees at 6:30 a.m. It was amazing," said Lund, CEO of a national transportation brokerage firm based in La Caņada and a member of The Magis Institute, an association of Catholic business leaders and clergy founded in 2002 which is the main sponsor for the prayer breakfast.
Noting that pre-registrations exceeded 300 in mid-August, Lund anticipates more than 1,000 attendees. "We're shooting for 1,500," said Lund. He credits the volunteer work done by the 30-member organizing committee, including Auxiliary Bishops Oscar Solis and Alexander Salazar, Cathedral pastor Msgr. Kevin Kostelnik, and Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters representatives, among others, for what he expects will be "a much bigger crowd.
"We really appreciate the cardinal's support. He's been with us from day one when we had this brainstorm," said Lund. After the L.A. prayer breakfast debuted on Sept. 27, 2005, a similar event held in the Diocese of Orange in early December 2006 drew several hundred participants.
Father Alexei Smith, archdiocesan director of ecumenical/interreligious affairs and L.A. prayer breakfast committee member, said he found last year's Cathedral event a "thrilling experience. It was a powerful witness to see 800 people present at that hour of the morning bearing witness to their faith," said Father Smith.
Richard Gray, La Salle High School president and prayer breakfast committee member, said high school students from at least a half-dozen Catholic schools will attend, and assist, at the event. "The students are so captivated by the experience of seeing Catholics gather together so early in the morning," said Gray.
More than one La Salle student last year said they would like to return again, as did several attendees who wrote favorable comments on response cards. "It was worth getting up at 2:45 a.m. to be able to come," wrote Catherine Hutzler from Sacred Heart Church in Lancaster.
"We'd like to see this spread," said Lund, who noted plans are pending for prayer breakfasts in Portland, Seattle and Denver. Over the past three years, The Magis Institute has expanded its mission to include promoting regional Catholic Prayer Breakfasts.
The Magis Institute administers the L.A. Catholic Prayer Breakfast website: www.californiaprayerbreakfast.com, where individual tickets can be pre-ordered for $30 and a table of 10 can be reserved for $250. "No one should miss this event because of an inability to pay," said Lund. Persons unable to afford the ticket price may call (800) 838-1356, ext. 130 to register. Discounted Cathedral parking will be available for $5.
"The prayer breakfast is great because it brings us together as a community of Catholics," said Lund. "It's a good news thing. We've been through some tough times, and I think this could be a springboard to bringing our diocese together." |