‘Follow me’: Mass honors service of religious sisters and brothers

Archbishop José H. Gomez, together with auxiliary bishops, priests and lay faithful, celebrated the many women and men who, through their consecrated lives, have given service to the Church.

The annual Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels honored these women and men and their religious congregations, particularly recognizing those marking 80, 75, 70, 65, 60, 55, 50, 40 and 25 years of service.

The archbishop also recognized those religious congregations who have given continuous service to the archdiocese and have celebrated significant anniversaries of their foundations.  

Dominican Sister Cecilia Canales, vicar for Women Religious, said the service of these religious women and men in health care, pastoral ministry, education, prison ministry and social services is unequaled, and at times even overlooked and unsung. Nonetheless, this service is invaluable to the Church and to those around the world who benefit from it.  

In the Gospel, Jesus said to the simple fishermen who would become his followers, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” And from that moment on they left their boat and followed Jesus.