Spirited by unity and a desire to help its neighboring congregation, St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Santa Monica welcomed Pacific Palisades parishioners from Corpus Christi Church to its Mass Sunday morning, Jan. 12.
Earlier in the week, the Palisades fire destroyed the 60-year-old church.
“It’s just unthinkable to be in this situation,” said Danielle Villalobos, coordinator for children’s faith foundations with St. Monica’s. “I think it’s still sinking in.”
She said that though they’re separate churches, many members from each congregation will sometimes attend Mass at the other’s church.
“We have many members who live in the Palisades,” she said, with St. Monica’s located on the northwest side of the city at 725 California Ave., close to the Palisades’ border. “Many of our parishioners, they go back and forth … so we share a lot.”
Along with St. Monica’s longtime Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson, the service, which drew more than 200 people, was led by Bishop Matthew Elshoff.
“As I was in touch with various people and read different articles, as I read texts and different stories that are posted on social media, I couldn’t help but be touched by the generosity of people,” Elshoff said, citing examples of bravery and kindness related to the fires.
“In that person we see someone who has a sense of identity and a sense of mission …
“That is who we are and that is what we are called to do,” he said. “This is what church means. This is what church means in our lives.
“We flourish as a church when we are challenged to live our faith … We are not meant to live our spirituality in isolation, but rather we live that as a community,” he said.
Torgerson led a special prayer for Palisades residents who were in crisis, with about 15 of those parishioners standing while the congregation, many with hands raised, prayed for them.
“My heart goes out to all of you,” Torgerson said.
If you’re here, I just want…
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