St. Mary moves 'forward' with new buildings
In mid-September, St. Mary staff members in Palmdale moved into new parish offices, part of a recently-completed expansion building project that included a new parish hall and meeting rooms. San Fernando Region Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Wilkerson had previously blessed the new facilities Aug. 31 with parishioners, clergy and friends of the parish attending.
The new buildings serve the needs of a rapidly growing parish community. In the last 15 years, St. Mary has grown from 4,200 registered families in 1993 to 10,081 registered families in 2008. The new parish hall seats 600 in lecture style rows and can accommodate 380 people in banquet seating. Three new meeting rooms provide expanded space for classes and ministries to children, teens and adults. The previous parish offices will be used by the religious education program serving over 1,500 as well as other ministries.
According to Msgr. Stephen Downes, pastor, the parish rejoices in the new buildings, which complement the new church opened in December, 2005. "With much thanksgiving and openness to the Holy Spirit, St. Mary's parish moves forward in the love and service of the Lord and his people," said Msgr. Downes.
Former St. Ignatius associate pastor ordained a bishop in Nigeria
Msgr. Augustine Ukwuoma, a native Nigerian who served as an associate pastor at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church in Los Angeles from 1992-1995 while finishing a master's degree at Loyola Marymount University, was recently ordained a bishop of the Orlu Diocese in Imo State, Nigeria.
The ordaining prelate at the June 21 ordination in Holy Trinity Cathedral was Archbishop Renzo Fratini, Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria with Bishops Gregory Ochiaga, and A.J.V. Obima as Co-Consecrators.
Bishop Ukwuoma chose the motto "To love as Christ loved us" for his Coat of Arms. He is the second bishop to lead the Catholic Diocese of Orlu. Bishop Ukwuoma holds a Ph.D. in psychology from Akron University in Ohio, which he pursued after completing his master's degree in "Clinical Mental Health and Counseling" at LMU. He is remembered at St. Ignatius for being "so involved to the very core of the parish family" and serving as a spiritual director to several groups, including the English prayer group, the liturgical ministers, and the Henry T. Gage Council of the Knights of Columbus of St. Ignatius.
FSHA students attend Dominican preaching conference
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy campus minister and alum Becky Muhs traveled to Adrian, Mich., in June for a Dominican High Schools Preaching Conference with FSHA students Sarah Espinoza, Mia Fernandez and Rianne Herrera.
The students were eager to share with this year's student body what they discovered about the variety of prayer forms. Prayer, they learned, does not have to be solely contemplative or restricted to liturgical response. A meditative labyrinth walk, for example, can be a prayer.
Espinoza, ASB campus minister, has chosen to lead the school each morning in contemporary prayers written by students from across the country. "We get a student's perspective, and it's more powerful for kids to tell other kids how to apply the message to their everyday lives," she explained.
Alemany, Notre Dame join in food drive for MEND
Recognizing that the ongoing economic downturn has devastated local food banks, the students, faculty and families of Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills and Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks each held food drives the week of Oct. 13 benefiting MEND, the largest anti-poverty agency in the Valley. A special food box presentation was made to Ben Brown, MEND food pantry director, by students from both schools at the Oct. 17th football game between Notre Dame and Alemany at Father Milbauer Stadium across from the main campus of Alemany High School. More than 2,500 food items were donated to MEND. "This food comes at a critically important time," said Brown. "It is inspirational to see two high schools work together for such an important need."
Chaminade College Preparatory awarded for excellence
Chaminade College Preparatory's high school and middle school campuses were recently honored by two local magazines. Chaminade's high school campus in West Hills was recognized as one of the top private high schools in Los Angeles by Los Angeles Magazine and the middle school campus in Chatsworth won the Readers' Choice Award for Best Private Middle School in the San Fernando Valley according to voter-readers of the San Fernando Valley News.
"Chaminade's vision goal is to 'Set the Standard in Catholic Education,' and we are honored to accept external recognition that we are meeting our high expectations," said Jim Adams, president. Open houses will be held this month on both campuses for prospective students and their families: Nov. 16, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the middle school and Nov. 23, 1-3 p.m. at the high school. For information, call (818) 363-8127 (middle school) or (818) 347-8300 (high school).
St. Catherine of Siena School seeking alumni
St. Catherine of Siena School in Reseda recently announced the formation of an Alumni Association. Graduates of the school are encouraged to add their names and contact information to the alumni roster being compiled by Jean Brown at the parish. A future celebration is planned for those enrolling in the alumni association.
Interested alums can join the association by sending their name (maiden name for women), address, phone, graduation year, and email to the parish at 18115 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335. The information can also be emailed to: secretarycatherineofsiena.org. |