Pilgrimages are becoming more popular, these days for many purposes. In addition to gain indulgences by visiting and praying to holy shrines, the pilgrim is able to make discoveries along the way, about his or her self, the human spirit and the culture of the land to be explored. Meeting people of diverse backgrounds, sharing experiences, camaraderie and interactions will provide a better understanding of our faith community. Through this, we put our prayers into action. The following is the itinerary for this year's Pilgrimage of Mercy from August 11-20, 2023:
In observance of the World Day of the Sick, which coincides with the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, there will be a Healing Mass and Anointing of the Sick on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 3:00PM. Mask is required for the immune compromised and for those who cannot make it, you can fill up a prayer request form to be put on the altar.
"Real joy comes from giving, especially when we give with no thoughts of receiving anything in return. Such giving is the source of true happiness and captures the real spirit of Christmas. Today, we celebrate the birth of a child who is the ultimate example of giving - giving his own life as an act of amazing grace." Our wishes of a grace filled celebration and may love prevail in your homes this holiday season.
Six Lithuanian holy men who walked the streets of Lithuania are featured in the new devotions room where the former baptistery was. We invite everyone to drop by for private prayers. Andrew Bobola popularly known the Apostle of Lithuania, Jesuit missionary, evangelized in cities and towns. Raphael Kalinowski of Vilnius, engineer, helped design the Odessa-Kyiv-Kursk railway, former military,became a Carmelite monk, founder of Catholic organizations in Poland and Ukraine. Jurgis Matulaitis of Marijampole,superior and founder of religious congregations, Bishop of Vilnius, negotiator of political and national conflicts on the demands of Christian charity. Faustina Kowalska, a religious assigned in Vilnius, received revelations of God’s loving message of Divine Mercy Michael Sopocko, theology professor of the University of Vilnius, pastor and confessor. Together with Faustina, collaborated on the painting of the image and promotion of Divine Mercy. Teofilius Matulionis of Moletai, prelate and martyr.As bishop of Kaisiadorys, encouraged priests to stay with the people in times of German and Soviet occupation.
We invite everyone to send their prayer requests to be placed on our newly consecrated altar. Forms are available at the vestibule and you can mail or drop them at the basket provided in the sanctuary area.
Starting this Sunday, July 3, 2022, our Sunday Masses will be held at the newly renovated church. Masses will be in English at 9:00 AM and in Lithuanian at 11:00 AM. We thank God for another enhanced environment for worship and prayer.
St. Casimir Church Los Angeles will reopen its doors on Sunday, June 26, 2022. The day will begin with the Eucharistic celebration and the consecration of the new altar. The renovated church will feature interpretation of the Hill of Crosses and cross crafting which are listed in the UNESCO World Heritage. Jousta patterns weave around the interiors, commonly seen in the national costume. The crowns of St. Casimir as the Grand Duke of Lithuania and that of Our Lady Gate of Dawn (Ausros Vartu Marija) as Queen of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania welcome every visitor. St. Casimir Church Los Angeles is the only sanctuary of Lithuanian Catholic faith, traditions, art and culture in the Archdiocese.
If you wish to sponsor a voto tile and your name or loved one included on the Matulionis Mural, please call 323-530-7652 for details. Votos are heart shaped, usually made of silver or tin, offered next to religious icons in thanksgiving for favor granted, answered prayer or in honor of a loved one, a sacred and popular tradition in Lithuania, Mexico and other Latin countries.
St. Casimir's Church joins the Pope and Bishops all over the world in consecrating Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the end of war and world peace.
During these difficult and trying times, the faith of our parishioners becomes strong as we hope for better days ahead. Our prayers sustain us with the fear, restrictions and separation around us. God will always take care of us. He is our help and shield! The church renovation was initially planned before the pandemic to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the establishment of St. Casimir’s Church in Los Angeles. Please consider a tax deductible donation. Without your support we will not be able to continue the different work.
A tile mural of Lithuanian martyr and hero will grace the exterior wall of the parish hall, as a gift to the Catholic faithful of Los Angeles, in thanksgiving of eighty years of God's unending graces from 1941-2021. To include your name, family, organization or to honor a loved one on the commemorative marker, call the parish office for details.
Registration is now open for English classes to First Holy Communion and Confirmation. For inquiries send email to Cristeta Acayan, moderator at St. Casimir27cris@gmail.com. Volunteers are also needed to help prepare our children and youth for these Sacraments.
Pope Francis declared this Sunday (July 25, 2021) as the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, to remind them of their responsibility to establish a tone for generations to come: they must continue to promote traditions and offer them as a promise to little children. On this day, the young are also reminded of the older people’s greater perspective, depth of experience, and appreciation of life’s profound rhythms which should not to be taken lightly or ignored. Grandparents and elderly of our parish were invited to the sanctuary and presented with blessed candles to remind them to continue with their mission of passing through their children and grandchildren the traditions and teachings of our faith. Afterwards, a special prayer and blessing was bestowed upon them.
Twenty one LIthuanians received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Sunday, June 6, 2021 from His Excellency Edward Clark, Auxiliary Bishop for the Our Lady of the Angels Region in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
The Mass in Lithuanian is available on live stream direct from the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Vilnius, daily at 8:00 AM, Pacific Time. Go to You Tube and search for the Divine Mercy Sanctuary (Dievo Gailestinguno Sventone) or go to : http://www.gailestingumas.lt
The Filipino community celebrates the arrival of the Catholic faith to Philippine shores five hundred years ago. On March 16, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan of Spain landed on the island of Cebu to bring the good news and God's love. Several days later, the Cross was planted and the first Mass was offered. The theme of the 500 years jubilee celebration is Gifted to Give. During the beatification of the first Filipino saint Lorenzo Ruiz, Pope John Paul II reminded Filipinos that Christianity means daily giving, in response to the gift of Christ who came into the world so that all might have life and have it to the full. Pope Francis urged them to preserve the faith and keep bringing the joy of the gospel throughout the world. Los Angeles Auxilliary bishop Robert Baron said: “I do think in God’s often strange providence he’ll take a particular church, a particular people, and use them as a means to invigorate and evangelize the rest of the Catholic world, and I do believe in God’s always beguiling providence [that] you’re playing that role now – the Church of the Philippines .“ At Mass, Filipinos renewed their baptismal promises and at the end each was presented a lighted candle with the Philippine flag to go out on a mission and to bring God's love wherever they are.
A Mass was celebrated to commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the signing of the Act of Independence that re-established Lithuania’s sovereignty. It is also known as Restoration of the State Day. In the 18th century, Lithuania was under the Russian empire. During WWI, German troops occupied and controlled the region while marching to Russia. In the Russian revolution of 1917, Germany gave Lithuanians the choice to be aligned either with Germany or Russia, which they ignored and instead sign the Act of Independence on February 16, 1918. Independence was only temporary for Lithuania to be occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940 during WWII. The peaceful demonstration known as the Baltic Way that took place on August 23, 1989 restored freedom to Lithuania. On May 1, 2004, Lithuania became a member of the European Union.
We are inviting everyone to submit their petitions in front of the image of Virgen de los Remedios, which is enshrined at St. Casimir's Church. A candle will be lighted with your intentions, please click the donate button above.
Pilgrimages are becoming more popular, these days for many purposes. In addition to gain indulgences by visiting and praying to holy shrines, the pilgrim is able to make discoveries along the way, about his or her self, the human spirit and the culture of the land to be explored. Meeting people of diverse backgrounds, sharing experiences, camaraderie and interactions will provide a better understanding of our faith community. Through this, we put our prayers into action. Every year, our parish holds an annual ministry to promote goodwill and brotherhood between Lithuanians and Americans .