The Dolores Mission/Holy Family Connection
For several years, Holy Family parishioners have enjoyed a special and unique relationship with Dolores Mission — a Jesuit parish in the Boyle Heights section of East Los Angeles. The proximity to South Pasadena enables the Holy Family community to be in a relationship of solidarity — a friendship among people who share a common faith and a desire for deeper understanding and cultural enrichment.
Our Time and Talent at Dolores Mission
Holy Family’s involvement with the people of Dolores Mission includes Bridges, a friendship building program between the children of Holy Family and Dolores Mission schools. Holy Family parishioners serve on the Dolores Mission School Advisory Board which recently oversaw a major school renovation project. Other parishioners serve on the Dolores Mission parish finance and development
advisory committee. Other Holy Family parishioners can be found working in the organic garden created for the children of Dolores Mission, teaching poetry and writing to the school children, and tutoring in the after-school program. Most
recently, a group of retired educators has undertaken a remediation program for the children of Dolores Mission School.
Each January, many Holy Family parishioners participate in an annual party which raises funds for the various needs of Dolores Mission Parish and School.
Connecting to Our Lady of Guadalupe School
In 2012, we expanded our Tutoring Ministry to include Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLG), Rose Hills in El Sereno. We’ve also begun collecting, cataloging and shelving, books in a classroom for a library there. We are hoping to dedicate and open the library this fall, 2016. Holy Family has also have found two art teachers who volunteer to teach art classes to grades 3-8 at OLG. One of our volunteers has started an after school Chess Club. We are going to be looking for volunteers to help with some drama experiences for the middle school this year.
The partnership between the two parishes has also included a playground beautification effort of the OLG playground with OLG students and students from Holy Family’s Religious Education program working together to paint murals.
We believe in our mission to bring Christ with us into the schools to show His love for the children and their education. We believe our program has been very successful. We have made many friends with students, parents and staff in each of the schools. We are supporting Catholic Education.
Volunteer Opportunities – Tutor Ministry
Our ministry has brought us together as friends. Last year we had sixteen volunteers. We have a good time when we all meet. We usually have a Christmas Get-together and an End of the Year Party. Some of us go out to lunch together every week we tutor!
Opportunities exist for retired educators, tutors and other interested groups or individuals who would like to share their time or talent.
- Mentor and tutor Dolores Mission and Our Lady of Guadalupe School children
- Help the children to choose and check-out books at the school libraries
Contact
To volunteer at Dolores Mission or Our Lady of Guadalupe School:
Diane Sternal
disternal@sbcglobal.net