On a weekend when many in Los Angeles were deeply aware of the firestorms blazing around the region and the reality of homelessness facing many, the Archdiocese recognized many parishes and organizations whose daily work is that of assisting the poor and homeless.

The 19th annual Justice and Peace Recognition Dinner, held Nov. 15 at St. Mel Church in Woodland Hills, saw 33 cash grants conferred by national organizations such as the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Relief Services. The Archdiocesan Commission on Justice and Peace presented its 2008 Empowerment Award on the Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN) for its work with the poor who live in Central City East, or Skid Row, on the streets and in residential hotels, home to LA's poorest.

LA CAN empowers the poor and homeless and those lost in the shadows. The agency helped pass a moratorium on demolition of residential hotels, has been committed to preserving the dignity of the person, and has promoted "real community change," said Cardinal Roger Mahony in presenting the award.

Earlier, the cardinal spoke of the "outrage" that should be felt by all in the face of Los Angeles' high number of homeless, in what is still considered the most prosperous country in the world. Thousands of homeless children, women and men live on LA's streets "in the shadow of Los Angeles' financial district," said the cardinal.

"If the measurement of a society is how it treats its poor and homeless, then we have failed," he said. On the other hand, Cardinal Mahony noted that LA CAN did not "wait for solutions to happen, they are making them happen with its Share the Wealth Campaign."

"Building Solidarity" was the theme of this year's recognition dinner, with Archdiocesan Parish Justice Awards conferred on the following parishes (one in each pastoral region: St. Bede the Venerable, La Canada ; St. Louis of France, La Puente; Holy Family, Artesia; St. Raphael, Los Angeles; and St. Barbara, Santa Barbara.

Catholic Relief Services' Operation Rice Bowl grants of $4,000 each were given to the following parishes to assist in purchase of food for the needy: St. Bernard, Bellflower; St. Martha, Valinda; St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park; St. Peter, Los Angeles; and St. Julie Billiart, Newbury Park.

Receiving local grant monetary awards were: 9 to 5 Los Angeles, Cause, Coalition LA, Garment Worker Center, Housing Long Beach, Innercity Struggle, Institute for Urban Research And Development, L.A. Alliance for a New Economy, Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE), Steering Committee for the Honor Program, and Ventura County Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice.

National grant monetary awards went to: Enlace, Figueroa Corridor Coalition for Economic Justice, Figueroa Corridor Community Land Trust, Greater Long Beach Interfaith Community Organization, Instituto De Educacion Popular Del Sur de California, L.A. VOICE, L.A. Community Action Network (CANGRESS), People Organized for Westside Renewal (POWER), People United for Economic Justice Building Leadership Through Organizing (PUEBLO), Regional Congregations & Neighborhood Organizations and Southern California Education Fund.

To view detailed information on additional awards within the archdiocese, see www.the-tidings.com.