For the last four years the Knights of Columbus in St. Denis Parish --- like many Knights' councils in the San Gabriel Valley, and throughout the country --- have been involved with the Wheelchair Foundation. Like other councils, St. Denis' Knights know how to get their message across.

Earlier this year, the Knights showed a four-minute video of people crawling to a distribution center to receive donated wheelchairs in foreign countries. That day, a second collection at Mass brought enough money to help provide 436 wheelchairs to those in need, especially in the Philippines and Mexico. "These wheelchairs go all around the world," says Grand Knight Art Herrera.

The Knights work together with other parish organizations and support their efforts. Very involved in Lifelong Faith Formation in the parish, the knights currently use the Catechism of the Church at their meetings. Connecting faith formation with all ministries in the parish has been a goal and a means of community building within St. Denis.

"The work we do to support them goes hand in hand with our faith," says Herrera. "St. Denis is special because of the effort we make to support those in need."

At most of its eight Masses, Patrick Zubiate either cantors or directs the choirs. For him, liturgical music "has become a vocation. Music brings another dimension to the prayer life of the church. "It is a wonderful way of evangelizing and communicating the message of Christ to this community, a very different experience than the spoken word."

Angie Perez, parish director of Lifelong Faith Formation, sees her position as "a resource for bringing back adults to the faith community or to attract those who are active so that they might receive enrichment and deepen their faith. Even as an adult you have the need for lifelong faith development." All parish activities, she says, are "community faith building."

Perez has long been involved in confirmation and youth ministry. "I began to see that the parents needed updating, and I wanted to give them an opportunity to have something for themselves and to benefit them. One of my goals is for this to be fun, too. We serve food and meet their spiritual needs. We hold family assemblies and teaching gatherings where the whole family can come. We are blessed with people here who are 'try-hards.' They want something more."

Liz Fan, director of the parish's Christian Service Program with over 40 volunteers, has coordinated the parish Thanksgiving and Christmas basket drives for over 300 families. The drive benefits Catholic Charities in the area and this year her group will be doing adopt-a-family outreach. The group also provides short-term help for those WHO have immediate needs.

"It's how you live the 'dash' - how you live the time between the day you were born and the day you die - that is what is important," says Fan. "We are by no means rich here, but we are rich in the faith."

That richness of faith takes time to develop. When Msgr. Loughnane arrived as pastor in 1993, he wanted to get to know his new parish. Usually on Sundays new registrations would arrive in the office, so on Monday and Tuesday he went out to visit new parishioners in their homes. He also held several large meetings asking people what they wanted for their parish.

"We kind of grew together," he says. "I didn't come with the idea that 'I know everything and you know nothing.' It is just all of us together seeing what is best for this parish."

"It's just a good place. They're good folks. They're doing their best," says Msgr. Loughnane. "They're friendly people." Looking back on these years of growth and faith building, he says, "A lot of work has gone into it. And we're not finished yet."