[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 53 (Thursday, April 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E549-E550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A TRIBUTE IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE MINISTRY OF 
  THE CLARETIAN MISSIONARIES AT THE HISTORIC OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS 
                         CHURCH, ``LA PLACITA''

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 15, 2010

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th 
anniversary of the Claretian Missionaries' service to the first church 
of Los Angeles, Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church--
affectionately known to its parishioners in Spanish as ``La Placita'' 
or ``The Little Plaza'' church--located in Downtown Los Angeles in the 
34th Congressional District.

[[Page E550]]

  The Claretians are a Catholic missionary order founded in Spain in 
1849 by St. Anthony Mary Claret. In 1906, the Claretian Missionary 
Fathers arrived in California to work in the San Fernando Mission. Two 
years later, the missionaries moved their headquarters to San Gabriel 
Mission where they continue to preach today. In 1910, the Claretian 
Fathers traveled 10 miles west to expand their ministry to La Placita.
  Father Rosendo Urrabazo characterizes the missionary vocation of the 
church as ``bringing the message of God's love, mercy and justice to 
every part of the world.'' This guiding principle is clearly evident at 
La Placita where the Claretian Fathers' dedication to spiritual and 
community service makes the church a home and refuge for people of all 
faiths and backgrounds.
  On any given weekend, thousands of parishioners from all walks of 
life attend religious services at La Placita offered in both English 
and Spanish. Whether the parishioners are homeless, recent immigrants 
from Mexico, Central and Latin America or vacationing families, La 
Placita welcomes everyone with open doors, love and compassion.
  Each week, pastoral services at the church include: 30 regular 
Masses; weddings and Quinceaneras; 10 scheduled hours of confession; 
baptism celebrations (totaling more than 25,000 last year alone); and 
religious education programs for children, youth and adults. The church 
also offers a monthly program to provide liturgical services to 
residents of a local housing project.
  In addition to addressing the spiritual needs of its parishioners, 
the church helps struggling families in a wide variety of ways. 
Assisted by more than 80 volunteers, the parish operates a full time 
social office that organizes community outreach services and programs, 
including a health clinic, English classes, food distribution for the 
elderly, meals for the homeless, legal aid for immigrants, income tax 
help and a weekly 12-step program for persons suffering from addiction.
  Madam Speaker, over the past 100 years, many Claretian missionaries 
have dedicated their lives to serving the families of the La Placita 
community. This anniversary, however, three missionaries in particular 
will be recognized for their outstanding service at the church's May 20 
centennial dinner celebration.
  Selected by the centennial celebration committee for their tireless 
pastoral and humanitarian service, the following missionaries will be 
honored: Fr. Tomas Maten, CMF (1900-1975) who defended the rights of 
the displaced residents of the Chavez Ravine area now the site of 
Dodger Stadium; Fr. Luis Olivares, CMF (1934-1993) who worked 
tirelessly to bring the cause of the homeless and immigrants to the 
attention of local and national policy makers; and Fr. Albert Vazquez, 
CMF, (1928- ) educator and pastor who shaped the pastoral direction of 
the parish and its school for more than 27 years.
  Today, the clergy and parishioners of La Placita continue the 
tremendous work and legacy of these three exemplary missionaries.
  Recognizing the tremendous needs of immigrants to our country, the 
church is a local leader in raising awareness and support for 
comprehensive immigration reform. During the 1980s, the church called 
itself a sanctuary for refugees threatened with deportation to El 
Salvador. In recent months, I have had the privilege of participating 
in two immigration town halls held at La Placita, both of which were 
attended by hundreds of area advocates demanding the reform of our 
nation's broken and unjust immigration laws. The seamless 
transformation of this historic church from a place of worship to a 
town meeting hall for political action truly typifies the Claretian 
Fathers' dedication to achieving justice and social change on behalf of 
their parishioners and our community.
  Beyond the walls of La Placita, the Claretian Fathers' prayers could 
be heard across the country and throughout the halls of Congress on 
September 19, 2007 when Father Richard Estrada accepted a rare 
invitation to give the opening prayer in the U.S. House of 
Representatives. Calling on lawmakers to draw strength from their 
diversity and make laws to protect all of God's children, he prayed for 
God to, ``Inspire our nation's leaders to seek justice, defend liberty 
and unite diverse cultures and languages.''
  Madam Speaker, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the 
Claretian Missionaries' service at La Placita, I ask my colleagues to 
join me in thanking and congratulating them for their devotion and 
enormous contributions on behalf of the most vulnerable in our 
community, and I extend to the Order our best wishes for many more 
years of doing God's work in the historic area of our great city's 
birth, Downtown Los Angeles.

                          ____________________