Dolores Mission, Los Angeles is a

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

parish A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or m ...

in the largely

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

area of

Boyle Heights Boyle is an English, Irish and Scottish surname of Gaelic, Anglo-Saxon or Norman origin. In the northwest of Ireland it is one of the most common family names. Notable people with the surname include: Disambiguation *Adam Boyle (disambiguation), ...

in East

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. The parish has collaborated in various grassroots initiatives to combat adverse social conditions in the area, including

Homeboy Industries Homeboy Industries is a youth program founded in 1992 by Father Greg Boyle following the work of the Christian base communities at Dolores Mission Church in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. The program is intended to assist high-risk youth, former ...

, Proyecto Pastoral at Dolores Mission,

CHIRLA The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, also known as CHIRLA, is a Los Angeles county-based organization focusing on immigrant rights. While the organization did evolve from a local level, it is now recognized at a national level. The Coaliti ...

, and the East Los Angeles Housing Coalition.

History

The church began as a mission in St. Mary's parish in 1925 and in 1945 moved to its present site, renamed “The Mission of Nuestra Senora de los Dolores". In 1946, the Canonnesses of St. Augustine (later named the

Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary The Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (I.C.M.) are a Roman Catholic religious institute of pontifical right of women, dedicated to the service of those in need in the Third World. History The Sisters were founded in Mulagumudu, ...

) came from

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

to open the first

school in the neighborhood in 1952. After 1980, the Belgians were no longer able to staff Dolores Mission and the Jesuits, at the invitation of Cardinal Manning, came to this parish. The Jesuits took as their goal to empower parishioners to exercise leadership and to build community. Since then various grassroots organizations have sprouted and grown in the parish. From 1986 to 1992, its pastor was

Greg Boyle Gregory Joseph Boyle, S.J. (born May 19, 1954) is an American Roman Catholic priest of the Jesuit order. He is the founder and director of Homeboy Industries, the world's largest gang-intervention and rehabilitation program, and former pastor o ...

, who is also the founder of Homeboy Industries.

Projects

The "Projects" were founded after 1986 when the California Province of Jesuits was entrusted with the parish. Under community leadership, five organizations were formed providing training, education, and social services in the Pico-Aliso/Boyle Heights district of East Los Angeles. * IMPACTO (Imaginando Mañana Pico-Aliso Community Team Outreach) is a safe, after-school facility. It offers education to nearly 200 youth grades 2-12. A community garden is a part of its after-school programming. * Comunidad en Movimiento (Community in Action, CEM) brings community leaders together to resolve pressing issues. * Early Childhood Education Centers Two learning centers with 16 certified teachers for over 100 children, toddlers to age 5 * Guadalupe Homeless Project Since 1988 has two shelters offering up to 90 days room and board mainly for new immigrant men. In 2015 GHP opened a women's shelter which serves annually 60 homeless women.

References

{{Coord, 34, 2, 43.98, N, 118, 13, 24.54, W, display=title Eastside Los Angeles Jesuit development centres Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles Jesuit missions Boyle Heights, Los Angeles Organizations established in 1992 Homelessness charities Non-profit organizations based in the United States Development charities based in the United States Social welfare charities based in the United States

History

Projects

See also

References