Letters to the Editor

Thank you to Heather King for the insightful and spot-on reminiscence of Msgr. Richey published on AngelusNews.com Jan. 6 (and in this issue on pages 34-35).   The last several years he lived at St. Basil’s in Koreatown, Father Sergio Garcia and I found ourselves increasingly assisting Msgr. It was made so much more enjoyable with his one-liners and that he was so accepting of his situation.  He was always upbeat. During the pandemic lockdown he wanted a haircut. I told him I could get a big pair of scissors or set-up a guillotine in the garden, whichever he preferred. In a rather dry response, he said, “I think the guillotine may be a bit extreme.” That kind of repartee went on all of the time. — Deacon Thomas Brandlin, St. Basil, Koreatown

When I read the headline “Pasadena parish lets LA Catholics ‘choose their moment’ in church” on AngelusNews.com, I will admit that I was a little concerned.  I assumed the story (which also appeared in the Dec. 16 issue) would be about some new experimental gimmick to get people back in the pews by any means possible. But when I read the article (always a good thing to do before forming an opinion based on a headline), I found the content and the strategy of this parish quite wonderful: This was a new marketing of "old" and timeless worship: Mass, confession, eucharistic adoration.  The final quote from Sarah Yaklic about the importance of keeping churches open took me back to my youth, when you could always walk into a Church at almost any time and kneel before a tabernacle. Nice article. — E.J. Taylor, Los Angeles

Thank you for the wonderful article by Mike Aquilina, “That Strange Word ‘Eucharist’ ” in the Nov. 18 issue. I wish more Christians understood the connections of the Catholic Church with her Jewish roots. There would be fewer divisions among Christians if this history were more widely known, and the Mass would be better appreciated. — Marilyn Boussaid, St. James Church, Redondo Beach

I was grateful to see Abigail Favale’s research plainly lay out the medical complications that result from “gender affirming care” in the essay “Making Sense of Our Gender Moment,” in the Nov. 18 issue of Angelus.  As an ER nurse, I would add that the surgeries, hormonal “treatments,” and other procedures these patients undergo complicate their holistic medical treatment, especially in emergency medicine. Because our teams have to sift through complicated medical histories — ones which involve novel interventions — we are sometimes delayed in providing timely and apt treatment in acute situations.  The ripple effects of this “care” are much more wide-ranging than its supporters might want to admit.  — Angela, Arlington, Virginia

Thank you for including the photo of the new 2022 Vatican Christmas stamps in your Always Forward newsletter. It’s wonderful how the Vatican chooses unique artists such as Francesco Canale, born without arms or legs, who paints holding a brush between his teeth. What moved me to tears was the way the artist managed to convey deep emotions of joy and astonishment in the two scenes with just a few simple brush strokes. This artist is truly gifted and was a great choice for 2022. — Marilyn Boussaid

I appreciated the coverage of John Shea’s life and legacy in the Nov. 4 issue following his passing last month, which I think captured an important truth about John and his wife, Dorothy: that there was no end to what they would do to help children and families. I first met John and Dorothy Shea when I was assistant superintendent of the Pasadena Unified School District in the early 1990s. I had the honor of working with them for 10 years (also later as superintendent), starting with their support for a four-year-old kindergarten program (such programs did not enjoy the public funding they do now). I believe this was their only investment in public schools before they became known for their generosity to Catholic schools. The Sheas inspired so many teachers like myself who have worked in different capacities in education. They understood the importance of early learning and early child development as well as anyone, including researchers, policymakers, or teachers. They were deeply committed to all aspects of forming our youngest children — especially those who didn’t have all that they needed — not just educationally, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well. And our Catholic children and families are the better for it. — Vera Vignes is the school board chair of St. Andrew’s Catholic School in Pasadena.