Santa Prays the Rosary

Santa Prays the Rosary

Catholics Come Home

Catholics Come Home

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

Gaudete! Gaudete!

Gaudete! Gaudete!

Overwhelming Force

Overwhelming Force

Thanksgiving/Grateful Hearts

Thanksgiving/Grateful Hearts

Christ the King In Hollywood

Christ the King In Hollywood

November Nights

November Nights

Speaking of Heaven

Speaking of Heaven

Not Angels but Real Human Persons

Not Angels but Real Human Persons

The Last Summit

The Last Summit

Shame, Shame Shame!

Shame, Shame Shame!

Family Rosary Today–still Possible?

Family Rosary Today–still Possible?

A Visit from Saint Joseph

A Visit from Saint Joseph

Bon Fire of the Vanities

Bon Fire of the Vanities

I Thirst

I Thirst

A Pound of Mom is Worth a Ton of Priest

A Pound of Mom is Worth a Ton of Priest

MEMORARE

MEMORARE

Men in Blue, Dodger Blue that is

Men in Blue, Dodger Blue that is

Here we are with:

• The legendary coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Joe Torre;
• myself,
• Brian Golden, sports columnist and good friend; The great Manny Mota who was on the Pittsburgh Pirates with the revered Roberto Clemente. Manny serves as an extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist.
• And the all-star Dodger outfielder Andre Ethier, who is a lector at Mass.
• This is at Dodger Stadium before the Saturday afternoon vigil Mass. Vince Scully is also a regular and a lector at Mass. Vince is seen by many as the best and most highly respected long-time announcer for the Dodgers. Billy De Lury is the Advisor and Travel Secretary for the team and sacristan for Mass. De Lury and Scully both moved to Los Angeles more than 50 years ago with the Dodgers. 50 years is a long time in Hollywood.

Monday Bible Study/Friday Holy Hour

BIBLE STUDY-PRAYER-DISCUSSION:
Every Monday from 7-9 PM there is a Bible Study, Prayer Service and Discussion of the Hollywood scene at Family Theater Productions, 7201 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood. In this experience we hope:

1. to deepen our personal experience of the Risen Lord as the real center of our lives,
2. to experience the joy that comes from spending time consciously in His presence,
3. and recognize the beautiful role of Mary in our midst as a comfort and inspiration.

This is a small intimate group that reflects on the scriptures for the upcoming Sunday, spends a brief period of time in pray and then disucsses, often hotly, the role of faith and religion in Hollywood. I have found it a great opportunity to reflect with others on the scriptures and also on the ever changing and challening scene in Hollywood for people of faith. Because the group is small there is ample time and room for each person who chooses to share his/her faith experiences, opinions and doubts, concerns and prayers. This has become a valuable part of my week.

HOLY HOUR:
Every Friday from 3-4 PM,

• We conclude the work week with a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament.
• This is a special time resting in the Real Presence of the Risen Lord in the Holy Sacrament,
• To bring Him the presssing needs of everyone in Hollywood.
• During this hour we like to pray that the men and women in Hollywood will use their immense pools of talent, energy, wealth and other resources to create works of art that hold up the true dignity and beauty of the human person and family,
• And ultimately give glory to God.
• Everyone is welcome to this profound experience of prayer in the very Presence of God in the Blessed Sacrament.

Patricia Neal/Mother Teresa

The great actress Patricia Neal died this past week on Martha's Vineyard. She won an Oscar for best actress for her role opposite Paul Newman in Hud. She was a woman of faith and generosity and great courage battling back form strokes and three weeks in a coma over 40 years ago. She worked with the USCCB and Family Theater on the 2001 documentary The Face: Jesus in Art. We are praying for her this week and will remember her at Mass on Tuesday at Family Theater. May God bless Patricia Neal and welcome her into the fulness of eternal life soon.

Mother Teresa at 100

Wow, it's hard to believe but Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta will turn 100 on August 26, 2010. Wouldn't it be delightful to mark her birthday by lighting up the Empire State Building in New York City with Blue and White for the colors of her Missionaries of Charity habit! In Hollywood, we have a number of people thinking about celebrating her 100th year. But how to do it? We could start a national campaign to raise funds to purchase a star on the Hollywood Walk of fame. Cost, at least $25,000. We could air on You-Tube the interview Father Peyton, CSC, conducted with her in the 1970's, we could have a poetry contest, or a song contest to see who comes up with the most beautiful, eloquent and elegant song or poem to mark her centennial birthday. Any Ideas? Please share them with us. We have a year and 16 days to mark her benchmark birthday.

Good-bye Anne Rice

This week, Anne Rice announced on Facebook that she has left the Catholic Church and Christianity. I am sorry to see her go.

Her reasons for departing the Christian community but still believing in Christ are that Christians squabble and are less than perfect. These are not a novel reasons for departing the fold. At just about every wedding reception I attend I run into some uncle of the bride on his third Jamesons who says he left the Catholic Church long ago because it is filled with hypocrites. I always try to respond with sincere Christian charity that he is welcome back anytime unless he himself is an angelic creature in which case he has no need of the Church.

In all candor, to say that one is leaving the Catholic Church for such surprising reasons is like saying I never go to the doctor or to hospitals because they are filled with sick people. If you are a person with a body you will need physical checkups and a visit to the hospital from time to time. If you are a person with a soul you need regular visits to the Lord's House for community, for nourishment of word and sacrament, and occasionally sacraments of healing and forgiveness.

Father Henri Nouwen was a wise doctor of souls and spirits who knew that all humans are flawed and wounded. By God's grace, even with our wounds, we are able to be wounded healers of others. What do you think? Let me know.

Legatus of Hollywood welcomes Archbishop Jose Gomez

Hi Friends,

With this blog I hope to help people keep an eye on what Catholics are doing in Hollywood.

• Legatus is a monthly Mass, Meal and Program to help Catholic heads of business and their spouses to study, live and spread the faith in their business, professional and personal lives. Tomoorow evening, the new Hollywood chapter of Legatus will welcome Coadjutor Archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose Gomez, as presider at Mass and guest speaker as well.

Hollywood Legatus is less than a year old and is moving quickly to become the Legatus chapter for Catholic leaders in the entertainment and media worlds.