The
Cathedral
of
Our
Lady
of
the
Angels
welcomes
Volunteers
from
all
walks
of
life
and
a
variety
of
cultural
backgrounds.
Men
and
women,
students
and
seniors
make
an
important
contribution
to
the
Cathedral
and
to
our
community.
The
Volunteers
aspire
to
create
and
sustain
the
Cathedral's
vision
of
hospitality,
enlightenment,
inspiration
and
outreach.
Volunteer
programs
serve
our
home
parish,
our
community,
and
the
entire
Los
Angeles
Archdiocese.
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The
Volunteer
Program
is
designed
as
a
total
unit
which
includes
all
of
the
Cathedral's
Volunteers,
regardless
of
age.
There
is
one
application
package,
general
orientation,
and
one
set
of
standards
for
both
students
and
adults.
At
the
orientation
meeting
Volunteers
are
given
an
overview
of
the
Cathedral
and
its
mission
and
are
encouraged
to
ask
questions.
Volunteer
Services
places
the
Volunteer
in
a
service
assignment
based
on
interests,
skills,
availability,
and
the
needs
of
the
Cathedral.
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"The
opportunities
at
the
Cathedral
are
unique,"
explains
Manager
of
Volunteer
Services
Sue
Burnett,
"because
we
are
able
to
help
not
only
our
parishioners,
but
the
broader
community
and
visitors
from
all
over
the
world."
She
likes
to
think
of
herself
as
"playing
matchmaker,"
a
job
she
has
done
for
the
last
10
years
in
the
healthcare
industry;
most
recently
as
manager
of
volunteer
services
and
medical
education
programs
for
over
600
physicians
at
St.
Francis
Medical
Center
and
Robert
F.
Kennedy
Medical
Center.
Volunteers
serve
in
many
capacities
to
meet
the
needs
of
a
wide
variety
of
activities.
For
example:
Through
ministries
that
help
the
homeless
and
recent
immigrants,
that
help
at-risk
youths
and
those
who
wish
to
quit
gang
membership,
and
that
bring
the
word
of
God
to
the
imprisoned.
Plans
are
being
developed
for
additional
ministries
to
the
elderly,
to
the
bereaved,
to
the
hospitalized
and
shut-ins.
Through
teaching
and
hospitality
ministries,
such
as,
tour
volunteers,
lecturers
and
docents,
who
are
committed
to
educating
the
Roman
Catholic
community
and
the
general
public
about
the
history,
role,
architectural
and
artistic
components,
and
mission
of
the
Cathedral.
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Through
services
that
include
clerical
assistants,
computer
experts,
receptionists,
as
well
as,
information
desk
and
gift
shop
volunteers.
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Through
ministries
under
the
guidance
of
Gabriela
Esparza
Reitzell,
Director
of
Liturgy,
that
include
greeters,
ushers,
Eucharistic
Ministers,
lectors,
choir
members,
sacristans,
and
others.
"I
believe
there
is
an
outpouring
of
interest
in
our
Faith,"
says
Burnett,
"and
a
renewal
and
hunger
for
Faith."
She
finds
this
particularly
when
she
visits
young
people
each
Wednesday
night
at
Los
Angeles
County's
Juvenile
Hall.
As
graduates
of
the
Archdiocesan
Detention
Ministry
training,
she
and
her
husband
bring
the
word
of
God
and
a
compassionate
ear
to
the
imprisoned.
Gus
Catipon
and
Gil
Luna
are
two
volunteers
among
many
that
help
make
possible
the
Cathedral's
outreach
to
the
homeless
and
hungry.
Each
Tuesday
and
Thursday
in
the
Conference
Center
kitchen
they
make
over
a
hundred
and
sixty
sandwiches
with
meat
donated
by
Farmer
John's.
They
tuck
a
special
prayer
of
love
in
English
and
Spanish
in
each
bag
before
taking
them
to
Jovenés,
Inc.
and
to
the
day
laborers
on
the
streets.
Catipon
came
to
the
Cathedral
wanting
to
work
with
the
homeless.
Remembering
the
poor
in
his
native
Philippines,
he
finds
it
spiritually
rewarding
to
help
the
poor
of
Los
Angeles.
Each
Sunday
after
Mass
he
goes
with
three
teams
of
St.
Margaret
Mary
parishioners
from
Lomita
to
feed
the
hungry
under
bridges
and
behind
downtown
factories.
The
first
time
he
visited
the
homeless
for
the
Cathedral
on
a
weekday,
the
people
were
surprised
and
pleased
to
greet
their
friend.
He
hopes
the
Cathedral
food
program
will
be
able
to
grow
to
a
daily
activity.
Gil
Luna's
dedication
to
feeding
the
hungry
began
with his wife, Cecilia, in their work
for
St.
Vincent
de
Paul
and
for
the
food
bank
of
St.
Dominic's
and
nine
other
churches
in
Eagle
Rock,
California.
Although
Cecilia has now passed away due to cancer, she served as an example, volunteering even through treatment until Our Lord called her. She would say that she felt
blessed
to
be
able
to
make
sandwiches
for
the
homeless.
Gil continues to volunteer even today, and enjoys
the
camaraderie
of
the
volunteer
group
and
the
sharing
of
the
joyous
spirit
of
giving.
Thank
you
for
your
enormous
generosity,
Gus, Gil
and
other
Food
Prep
Volunteers!
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Volunteer
Services
is
open
Monday
through
Friday
from
8:00
a.m.
to
5:00
p.m.
Watch
the
web
site
for
General
Orientation
Training
dates
in
the
Fall.
|
Click
on
the
images
for
larger
version.
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If
you
would
like
to
volunteer
your
services,
please
contact:
Sue
Burnett
Director
of
Volunteers
(213) 680-5281
E-mail:
volunteers@olacathedral.org.
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