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Our Lady Queen of Angels
by Fr. Andrew Bartus
September 6, 2011
On Sunday was the 230th anniversary of the founding of Los Angeles, and on Saturday afternoon and evening the Queen of Angels Foundation hosted a massive procession, rosary, and Mass in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. As I said previously, I would post photos.
St. Mary of the Angels was privileged and honored to be invited to attend, not only because of the name of our parish, but also because of our entrance into the Catholic Church via the Ordinariate.
The Archbishop, Jose Gomez, came out to greet us and bless us before the Rosary began at the end of the procession, which went from the plaza on Olvera Street (from the very first church in Los Angeles) winding down to the Cathedral. After the Rosary, St Mary's was honored again with seats right near the altar and the Cathedral's pastor, Msgr. Kostelnick, gave us a warm welcome.
The full representation of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles was there, from bagpipes and traditional devotional societies, to Aztec dancers!
It was truly humbling when he announced to the hundreds of people there that we were Anglicans and were to be welcomed as we were becoming Roman Catholics through the Holy Father's provision of Anglicanorum coetibus!
I think it caught the whole room off-guard, as they were no doubt used to seeing ecumenical participants, but not participants who were actually acting on true unity! There were several audible gasps and "ooos" and "ahhs" coming from around the Cathedral, and the place erupted in applause. It was truly humbling.
