Though St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Burbank has gone through many changes over its 100-year history, adding buildings and broadening its ethnic diversity, one thing parishioners insist has not varied is its mission of hospitality.

"All are welcome," was the slogan of their late pastor, Father Lawrence Signey, and parishioners make it a point to keep his words active and vibrant.

Over the past year, the parish has celebrated its 100th anniversary with Masses, picnics, church history lessons and feast days. The festivities drew to a close on Sept. 16, with Mass in the church celebrated by Cardinal Roger Mahony and concelebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Eugene Wilkerson, Father John Collins (St. Robert Bellarmine administrator pro tempore), Msgr. Patrick Reilly (pastor emeritus) and Msgr. Peter Healy as well as about 10 other priests. The Mass was followed by a gala celebration in the hall attended by more than 500 people.

A large group of dedicated parishioners worked to plan and execute the events. They spent countless hours creating a yearbook of parishioners and decorating the church for the closing Mass, complete with gold tapestries containing black and white historical photos that lined the walls.

"We at St. Robert's have a lot to be thankful for with the rich history that the parish provides," said Robert Wyar, jubilee committee chairman. "It is a home away from home for many. All are definitely welcome here."

The parish's history includes a unique pastor, Father Martin Cody Keating, who served 1930-67. During that time, the former World War I Army chaplain constructed the present church, opened the grammar school in 1936 and built Bellarmine-Jefferson High School in 1945. He changed the church name from Holy Trinity to St. Robert Bellarmine, the Italian Jesuit Cardinal who influenced the work of Thomas Jefferson, one of Father Keating's heroes.

So impressed was he of the founding father that the priest designed the church to look like the entrance to Monticello and the façade of the high school to resemble Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The property is filled with symbolism and likenesses from both American history and to the life of Father Bellarmine in Rome.

In his homily, Cardinal Mahony said his older brother attended Bellarmine-Jefferson High School and the cardinal remembered going on his days off with his mother to take his brother to school. He recalled seeing Father Keating dressed in an Army uniform for the flag raising ceremony and opening prayer.

"He had great devotion to his country as well as to God," Cardinal Mahony said.

Beyond the church's beautiful stained glass windows and quiet charm, what keeps visitors coming back is the genuine love and care of parishioners in the community. Sergio Guevara and his wife, Jennifer, have been in the parish for 15 years, and now have three children who were all baptized in the church.

"The first time I walked into Mass, the ushers saying 'Good Morning' to me was just amazing," Guevara said. "From there on out, people came up to us and introduced themselves without us having to say anything first. The feeling of being welcomed every single Sunday brought me back."

The parish has seen its share of heartache. Halfway through their jubilee year, their beloved pastor, Father Signey, died suddenly after a short illness last March at age 45.

"He was such a young priest and so loved by the people," Father Collins said. "I knew Father Lawrence for several years and I already knew he was an extremely hard act to follow."

Father Collins said that in coming to St. Robert Bellarmine, he hoped he could "bring about some healing again."

"In these couple of months I found a community that instantly made me welcome and made it very clear that they were delighted to have me here," Father Collins said. "They were very supportive."

Michael Apruzzese has been in the parish since 1955, when he first moved to California. He and his wife Marilyn, married for 40 years, serve as Eucharistic ministers, lectors and ministers to the sick.

"When Father Lawrence was here, he brought forth a lot of young people," Marilyn said. "I see the youth taking part in things right now."

Parishioner Angela Kramer received all of her sacraments at the church, attended the grade and high school and grew up across the street from the convent. She has seen the parish become more diverse ethnically, which she believes is a good change.

Rudy and Yoli Nicolas have been in the parish since 1979. Their three children attended Bellarmine-Jefferson High School. They organized the Filipino group in the parish in 1991 and now serve as Eucharistic ministers to the sick. They, too, echo the feeling of "home" that the parish brings to its parishioners.

"I will never get out of the parish," Yoli said. "We are here to stay."