The Mass of the Sacred Heart was celebrated at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Sept. 22 in honor of the 100th anniversary of Sacred Heart High School in Lincoln Heights.

Acknowledging the many Sacred Heart High students in attendance, Cardinal Roger Mahony asked them what had prompted them to attend Sacred Heart. "Family" was the first response, followed by "great teachers." How, the cardinal asked the students, did they reach out to those in the area? "Adopt-a-family," they said, as well as "help in the elementary school," and more.

"The deeper spirit of what you are is more than studying," Cardinal Mahony noted. Commenting on their school motto and the Latin word "veritas," he told them, "You have to be true to yourself if you are to be true to others." The Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose who have staffed the school for 100 years, he said, have "kept that spirit of veritas alive: the spirit of veritas, the spirit of love of God and love of one another."

Before the celebration, Mission San Jose Dominican Sister Mary Diane Scott, principal of the 370-student school, spoke of Sacred Heart's importance to the sisters. "It was our first foundation in Los Angeles, and because it was founded by Mother Maria Pia Backes, who was our foundress, it has a special place in our hearts."

The Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose have staffed Sacred Heart High School from the start --- from 1907-1949 as owners and sponsors; from 1949 to 1979, when it was a parish high school; and since 1979, as an archdiocesan high school. Always, it has provided a special place for young women in Lincoln Heights, especially at a time when a good education was practically unavailable for young women of color.

"Mother Backes founded Sacred Heart to meet the needs of the students seeking an education here," said Sister Scott. "It's the right thing to do. We have kids at Berkeley, Notre Dame, Fordham, UCLA and CSUs and community colleges - and at the same time we have students with special needs who are able to reach grade level with time and go on to college. We're proud of Sacred Heart and what we can provide our girls."

At the anniversary Mass, Cecilia Perea, class of 1969, shared her fond memories of four years at Sacred Heart High. "I really felt the sense of family," she said. "I met some wonderful lifelong friends and I remember the school as an extension of my own family, the values." Perea attended UCLA after Sacred Heart and has worked for LAUSD for the last 33 years as an administrator.

Seated in front of Perea at the cathedral, Ramona Carrillo Trujillo, class of 1979, remembered Sacred Heart as being "a joyous place to go every day - meeting new girls and learning about them and their families. I enjoyed my four years immensely." Trujillo attended Rio Hondo College, and for 15 years has worked with International Paper.

At the end of the cathedral Mass, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa presented a declaration on behalf of the City of Los Angeles to Sister Scott. The mayor, whose mother and sisters attended Sacred Heart, said the school "provided an entree to children of color when others would not." That impact has been felt for generations and he thanked the Dominican Sisters for all that they have accomplished for the families in Lincoln Heights.

This year's Sacred Heart ASB president, Martha Joaquin, is perhaps what the history of Sacred Heart is all about. Martha --- who plans to study architecture or engineering at either Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cornell, Notre Dame or USC --- has a cumulative GPA of 4.1 and is a member of the numerous school clubs and the video production team. On the side she takes orchestra classes at L.A. City College.

"I am a hard worker who just wants to enjoy high school," says Martha, "but I also follow the rules of the school. My parents are very supportive and they worry that I do too much, but their support is a big part of how I am today. Sacred Heart is a big family where I have grown and matured because of the support of the teachers and administration and the whole student body - my friends."