The work of the oldest incorporated Catholic women's organization in the nation --- started by three women who decided to help a friend who was in need and had no family to help her --- was celebrated at the recent 105th convention of Young Ladies' Institute in Ventura.

Approximately 400 women and their guests attended the YLI convention at the Marriott Beach Hotel. The event included Masses celebrated by Santa Barbara Region Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry, at St. Mary Magdalen Church, Camarillo, and past Grand Chaplain, Father Richard S. Deitch, at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Ventura.

During the past year, YLI members devoted volunteer and fundraising efforts on behalf of Catholic Charities. More than $115,000 plus 4,065 hours of volunteer time was donated in the effort, with the six YLI Institutes in the Los Angeles Archdiocese --- Pomona, Long Beach, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Santa Paula and Camarillo --- contributing more than $30,000 in donations and 914 volunteer hours.

Other YLI charitable projects for the Church and community include the Golden Jubilee Burse for Seminarians, started in 1937, and by far their largest. To date the contributions have totaled close to $2.9 million with the L.A. Archdiocese receiving $280,000. Last fall the six L.A. Institutes presented a check for $8,968 for the current year to support St. John's Seminary in Camarillo.

Organized in San Francisco on Sept. 22, 1887, and open to all Catholic women, YLI is active in California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. Its members continue to practice principles of unity, protection and sisterly love. For information about an Institute, call (415) 346-4367, or email grandsecretary@sbcglobal.net.

La Purisíma Concepción School plans 50th anniversary celebration
A "Walk Down Memory Lane" will kick off the golden jubilee celebration of La Purisíma Concepción School in Lompoc Aug. 22-24.

The Aug. 22 reception (5-8 p.m.) will bring together alumni, past and current faculty and their families to tour the school and share memories. On Aug. 24, Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry will preside at a 10 a.m. Mass at La Purisíma Concepción Church, which will also celebrate the installation of Father Thomas Cook as pastor. A barbecue prepared by the La Purisíma Knights of Columbus will follow.

The school opened its doors in 1957, and serves the Lompoc Valley. For information, call (805) 735-3068, or visit www.lapurisimaschool.myevent.com.

St. Mary hosts 'St. Catherine of Siena' performance
In dramatizing vignettes from St. Catherine of Siena's life, Dominican Sister Nancy Murray uses minimal props, but beautifully brings to life a believable Catherine who understood that love of God is love of neighbor: "On two feet you must walk my way; on two wings you will fly to heaven."

On Aug. 21, Sister Murray, a nun since 1966 and the older sister of actor Bill Murray, will bring her one-woman performance to St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Santa Maria. Having been a servant of the poor in inner-city Chicago, as well as a teacher, a vocation director and a hospital chaplain, she has performed 340 times around the world.

Tickets are $20 for adults; proceeds of the 7 p.m. performance will benefit the scholarship fund of St. Mary of the Assumption School. For information, call (805) 925-6713.