Our Lady of Lourdes

From the Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

As an active and faithful parishioner, you are aware of the many blessings for which we are so grateful at Our Lady of Lourdes. Your family has likely celebrated many rites of passage here, such as baptism and first communion. You may have exchanged wedding vows in our church or bid farewell to a beloved friend or loved one in the comfort of your spiritual home. Truly, our parish plays a vital role throughout our lives.

But have you ever stopped to reflect on who is responsible for all we enjoy and use today? Just as we now benefit from the generosity of those who came before us, we too are Called to Renew our church so future generations can worship and encounter Christ. In January 2020 I was pleased to announce the launch of our parish’s Called to Renew campaign. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic shortly afterwards, forced a suspension of our campaign, but I am really happy to re-launch Called to Renew at Our Lady of Lourdes, and invite you to fully consider God’s many blessings in your life, our parish, and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

In these past two years of pandemic, the importance of our parish ministries and efforts to support and sustain our community was underscored. While so much was impacted by the pandemic, nonetheless we adapted to the rapidly changing conditions, while continuing to provide ministry in creative and meaningful ways. The Church building may have been closed, but we initiated a live-streamed service for our community. We continued to administer the sacraments with the safety and well-being of our parishioners uppermost in our minds. With the commitment and resolve of our clergy and lay leaders, and with the support of yourself and many other parishioners like you, our parish was able to continue its mission undaunted. 

In consultation with parish leaders and longtime members of the Our Lady of Lourdes community, we established a goal for our parish campaign of $2,300,000 of which more than $1,500,000 will remain at our parish. The bulk of these funds will directly address the immediate needs detailed on the following page. We also will retain 100% of the funds we collect over our goal. Some of our funds will also support efforts of the larger church that are vitally important to all of us but beyond the capabilities of any single parish. We are committed to this shared effort, which will invest in seminary formation and chaplaincies in hospitals and on college campuses. In addition, we will also contribute to a central “maintenance fund.”

To reach our goal, I am asking you to prayerfully consider a five-year pledge. This campaign is important to ensuring our church is vibrant and healthy, and our parish remain a presence in the lives of parishioners and our community for years to come.

I hope you will join me in supporting Called to Renew.

Peace in Christ,

Rev. David Loftus