Welcome to Saint Catherine Laboure Catholic Church. We are a welcoming
and worshipping community of Roman Catholic disciples of the Lord Jesus, who
express His presence in us by active involvement with one another and our
outreach to the larger human family to build the KINGDOM of GOD.
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Pastor's Retirement Message
OF MANY THINGS
There’s a cute story from the days of the old catholic nuns. Joey was being a bit rambunctious. Sr. George took him by the shoulders and said “Joey, I think the devil’s got a hold of you!” Joey mumbled back: “I think so too, Sister!” On August 3, 1955, on my way to Lourdes, I served 6:30 a.m. Mass at the shrine of St. Catherine Laboure at the Rue du Bac in Paris, the shrine where the body of St. Catherine Laboure is miraculously preserved. I think she decided our lives would be entwined. Twenty years and six months later, Cardinal Timothy Manning assigned me here, thirty six years ago on January 14th, 1976, P.T.L. Only God knew it would be until death do us part! I think St. Catherine took a hold of me!
Following my fiftieth Anniversary celebration last June 18th, I made the decision to retire as Pastor. My liver cancer has been slowly progressing since 1997 and my emphysema likewise (I never smoked!) Last October, I wrote Archbishop Gomez asking his permission to retire on July 1, 2012. He graciously granted my request. I shall live out the days of my life and my priesthood here at St. Catherine’s, God willing. I will have served the parish for thirty six and a half years, the last twenty four as Pastor (September 23, 1987 to June 30 2012). The regular retirement age for pastors is 70-75 years.
The priests of the Archdiocese were officially notified last November of Pastorates available on July 1, 2012. Priests apply to the Archbishop for consideration for any open parish of their choice. The Personnel Board (of thirteen) evaluate the needs of the parish and the suitability of a priest to meet those needs, in consultation with the Regional Bishop and the local dean. They make a recommendation to the Archbishop who usually accepts their choice and makes the appointment. I have no input in who gets chosen. The new man will be appointed for six years, renewable once. I was reappointed in 1999, by Cardinal Mahoney because I was then nine months into my sixty-fifth year when further moves are not required. Besides, with liver cancer, everyone thought I’d soon be gone to glory! God, it seems, had other plans! Blessed be God forever! AMEN.
I am making this announcement today January 29th, because it is my seventy-seventh Birthday, God be praised! February 1st (Wednesday) will be the 77th anniversary of my Baptism. It killed the pastor! It was his last priestly service. He died two weeks later!
We should know who the new Pastor will be about March 1st. The new pastors (and associates) will be announced in the Tidings whenever the appointments are complete, probably in March. Last year on July 1, 2011, ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY ONE PRIESTS were transferred. The Personnel Board has their work cut out for them!
I have tried to give you all the relevant information you need so please---no gossip, no speculation – the Holy Spirit is in charge of all this so pray to Her! Pope John Paul I said God was more Mother to us then Father. Actually, it is equal, but the Holy Spirit is sometimes referred to as the feminine aspect of God. So, please, no offence. Our God is infinitely bigger than our ideas, our words, our definitions. You cannot empty the Pacific Ocean (GOD) with a teaspoon (our minds)!!
P.S. I shall engage here in some nostalgia in the weeks and months ahead. I have lived the history of St. Catherine Laboure for more than half the life of the Parish and more than two thirds of my priesthood. P.T.L.
Msgr. John O’Byrne, Pastor
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Get Involved!
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Eucharistic Ministers for Liturgy ~ Eucharistic Ministry for the Homebound
Lectors - English Masses ~ Bereavement - Spanish
Senior Citizens ~ St. Vincent de Paul
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Rev. Msgr. John O'Byrne ~ Pastor
Rev. John Vo ~ Parochial Vicar
Rev. Tovia Lui ~ Parochial Vicar
Rev. Camillo Bonsuuri ~ In Residence
Rev. Jesuraj Sebastian; ~ In Residence
June LoCascio ~ Parish Business/Finance Manager
Monty Chew ~ Parish Office Manager
Kathleen Gorze ~ School Principal
Jeannie Nestojko ~ Director of Faith Formation
3846 Redondo Beach Boulevard
Torrance, CA 90504
(310) 323-8900
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Today's Readings
Sacred Space - A Prayer Site
Protecting God's Children
The Tidings
Archdiocese of Los Angeles