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One Life LA

One Life LA
This is the image for the news article titled One Life LA

Earlier this year, Pope Francis challenged us with these words:

The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty.

We do not judge our progress based on how the wealthiest are doing. Instead, we evaluate our greatness by observing how the most vulnerable are fairing. And then, whenever we see deficiencies, we are called to respond in faith.

On January 17, 2015, Blessed Sacrament School will be joining Archbishop Gomez and thousands of people from throughout Southern California at OneLife LA, the first-ever large-scale event in downtown Los Angeles (La Placita Park near Olvera Street), an annual event that promotes the beauty and dignity of every human life from conception to natural death.

One Life LA is partnering with organizations that feed the homeless, liberate trafficking victims, find adoptive families for foster children, provide life-affirming services for pregnant women, include those with special needs, and accompany the dying through their final days.

Social justice is a hallmark of Ignatian spirituality as well as Jesuit formation and education.  The early Jesuits often described their work as simply “helping souls.” Today, here at Blessed Sacrament, for the faculty and staff it simply means that we are educating “boys and girls for others.” 

As our partners, we hope that you recognize that our CARE program just isn’t a school club nor is Respect Life Week just a special week in our curriculum nor is Christian Service 4 Life just another great field trip our students to experience.  We also want to challenge our students by giving them various opportunities and experiences to be more for others.   One Life LA is another such opportunity for our students and our school community to experience and witness our deep commitment to social justice.  

OneLife LA is trying to build understanding and friendships and bring together the many good people who are working to build a culture of life and mercy in our communities — including Catholic Charities and St. Vincent de Paul programs and ministries serving the unborn and expectant mothers, the homeless, orphans, victims of human trafficking, refugees, the handicapped and the terminally ill. 

The program for OneLife LA reflects the beautiful clarity of the Catholic vision — that all human life reflects the image of our Creator and that every life, even the weak and the small, has infinite significance in God’s plan for creation and history.

Throughout this Advent, Archbishop Gomez is also challenging us “to go deeper in our experience of God’s mercy and our imitation of Jesus Christ’s works of mercy to others.”

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta is the inspiration and “patroness” for OneLife LA. Because by her witness, she showed us the beauty of all human life — and the need to protect life— from the child in the womb, to the innocent victims of war, to the sick and the dying.

Mother Teresa used to say, “Be somebody to somebody.” It is a beautiful way to express our duty to do works of mercy. 

Archbishop Gomez invites all of us to join him in a “challenge.” Let’s try every day in Advent to “be somebody to somebody” — especially those in our families and those who are poor and lonely — so they will feel God’s mercy and love.

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