On a recent Wednesday evening at St. Marianne School, parents of fifth grade students met in the church with Father David Gallardo, who --- in the course of explaining various aspects of the liturgy --- noted that the priest, lectors, servers and cross-bearer all walk toward the altar from the back of the church in procession as a sign that "we are people on a journey." The cross, he stressed, is "the symbol of our faith as we journey together."
St. Mariana de Paredes is a large and active parish, with 5,450 registered families, 500 children (plus 22 teachers and 23 aides) in First Communion, 200 teens in Confirmation, 500 infant baptisms each year, a parish school with 230 children, and a dozen Masses on weekends. The long list of activities and programs includes about 120 members of the Grupo de Oracion (Prayer Group) meeting weekly in the church, feeding the homeless in downtown L.A., and participation in the Cathedral's "Adopt-a-Family" program.
With many volunteers the parish is able to accomplish the unbelievable. Father Gallardo, pastor, and associate Father Paul Velazquez rely heavily on lay involvement. The confirmation classes host a Thanksgiving breakfast for some 300 elderly in the parish. The school's "Spare Change Program" during October collects coins at school and after all the Masses, to fund lunches for the homeless. The school children, confirmation and religious education classes all collect coloring books and art supplies for a Navidad en Baja gift box collection.
For all its size and activity, though, St. Mariana is a closely-knit parish as well. "This is my home," says business manager Marie Martinez, who also directs the confirmation program. "I worked for L.A. County for 27 years and I never found the job satisfaction and the peace that I have now. It's the best of all worlds."
With a special satisfaction she adds, "When we go downtown to feed the homeless, we see the faces. They are wonderful and remember us. They're all God's people."
The confirmation class teens and adult volunteers are among those who join Paul Pesqueira, presently in the diaconate program, in preparing meals for the homeless each Sunday morning. "We do all this to teach our young people how fortunate they are," says Martinez, "and how they must do the work of Jesus to help the less fortunate."
"We have an opportunity to live out the Gospel," adds Pesqueira, who with Martinez developed the feeding the homeless project. Before going to deliver the lunches, those who prepare them gather to pray and bless the meals, reading Matthew 25: 36 ("When you do something for the least of my brothers and sisters, you do it for me"). After distributing the lunches and interacting with the homeless, they return to St. Mariana and worship together at Mass.
"The generosity of the faith community of St. Mariana de Paredes is amazing," says Father Gallardo. "Whenever a need arises --- helping the victims of a natural disaster, collecting food for the poor, seeking volunteers for parish ministries or events --- our parishioners are ready to do whatever they can. And their response always surpasses the call of duty."
Such generosity and concern for others, he believes, "is deeply embedded in the hearts and lives of our parishioners because of their own recognition of God's generous love, blessings and presence in their lives and the life of our parish family. When one recognizes God's abundant love and generosity in one's life, it is only natural to share that love and generosity with others." |