Dolores Mission, Los Angeles

Dolores Mission, Los Angeles

Established	1925 (1925)
Type	Hispanic ministries
Location	171 South Gless St. Los Angeles, California
Director	Fr. Ted Gabrielli, S.J.
Affiliations	Jesuit, Catholic
Website	Dolores Mission

Dolores Mission, Los Angeles is a Catholic parish in the largely Hispanic area of Boyle Heights east of downtown Los Angeles, marked by poverty, drugs, and gang battles. The parish has spawned or collaborated in various grassroots initiatives including Homeboy Industries, Proyecto Pastoral at Dolores Mission, CHIRLA, and East Los Angeles Housing Coalition.

History

The church began as a mission in St. Mary's parish in 1925 and in 1945 moved to its present site, renamed “The Mission of Nuestra Senora de los Dolores.” In 1946 the Canonnesses of St. Augustine (later named the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) came from Belgium to open the first Catholic school in the neighborhood, which received a new, three-story building in 1952. After 1980 the Belgians were no longer able to staff Dolores Mission and the Jesuits, at the invitation of Cardinal Manning, came to this poverty-ridden parish hampered by 7-9 active gangs. The Jesuits took as their goal to empower parishioners to exercise leadership and to build community. Since then various grassroots organizations have sprouted and grown in the parish.

Proyecto Pastoral

The "Projects" were founded after 1986 when the California Province of Jesuits was entrusted with the parish. Under community leadership, five organizations were formed providing training, education, and social services in the Pico-Aliso/Boyle Heights district of East Los Angeles. One such project is a Thrift Store. The other four follow.

IMPACTO (Imaginando Mañana Pico-Aliso Community Team Outreach) is a safe, after-school haven in a gang-ridden neighborhood. It offers educational enrichment to nearly 200 youth grades 2-12 at the parish school and at IMPACTO's own service center at 135 N. Mission Rd. It runs from 2:30 to 6:00 pm during the school year and from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm in summer. It lists its services as academic assistance (with homework, reading and language, math and science activities, tutoring and mentoring), educational enrichment (youth development, recreation and nutrition, arts and music), and parent support (family nights and parent education workshop).

Comunidad en Movimiento (Community in Action, CEM) brings community leaders together to resolve pressing issues. Since 1999 they have organized Camino Seguro (Safe Passage) to make the violence-ridden streets of the Pico-Aliso community in Boyle Height safer, especially for children moving to and from school. Volunteers stand on street corners at these times. CEM also holds Peace Walks and meets with police and government officials about the crisis. Another CEM program through its Women's Conference holds workshops on preventive health and on environmental sensitivity.

Early Childhood Education Centers has two learning centers with 16 certified teachers for over 100 children, toddlers to age 5; fees are minimal and can be waived. Objectives of the program are to build curiosity, trust, and basic literacy and math skills. Parents are encouraged to be advocates in the interest of their children.

Guadalupe Homeless Project (GHP) since 1988 has two shelters offering up to 90 days room and board mainly for new immigrant men, while offering a host of services to get them employed and living independently. In 2015 GHP opened a women's shelter which serves annually 60 of the estimated 14,000 homeless women in Los Angeles County. It offers the same services as the men's facilities. They can get free clothing at Proyecto’s La Tiendita/Thrift Center. Medical and dental services for the men and women are provided free through a network of collaborators: Queens Care Medical Center, Clinica Romero, Union Rescue Mission, University of Southern California County General Hospital, White Memorial Hospital, and Altamed. Loyola Marymount University and Catholic Charities contribute drug treatment and counselling. Seminars are offered on tenant rights, labor rights, addiction, and spirituality, as well as ESL classes through the International Institute of Los Angeles. Finally, clients are assisted with skills like saving, budgeting, and negotiating rental agreements.

In addition to its own projects, Projecto has taken the lead in Promesa Boyle Heights which brings together residents, organizations, businesses, and schools to better the educational and wellness opportunities in the area. It also helps with direction of the LA Voice which speaks out for communities throughout the LA area.

Pastoral ministries

To animate its own projects Dolores has six Ecclesial Base Communities (CEB) with around ten parishioners in each. At weekly meetings they reflect on family or social issues in the light the gospel and discuss a Christian response. They serve as a seedbed for community organizing and action. Other pastoral ministries include the parish grade school, youth and leadership formation, neighborhood clean-ups, Walk for Peace, Marriage Encounter, and hosting free Queens Care nursing. Dolores Mission welcomes students for immersion experiences.