‘Time, talent, treasure’ help create new altar at St. Paul of the Cross

At the mid-morning Mass on Sept. 15, parishioners of St. Paul of the Cross Church in La Mirada celebrated a milestone moment: the consecration of the church’s new altar by Archbishop José Gomez.In addition to the new altar, the church also unveiled a new matching ambo. Both the altar and the ambo were handcrafted by parishioner Albert Letona, and the altar’s marble top was donated by parishioners Rudy and Emy DeCasto. According to parish secretary Barbara Woods, all labor and materials were donated by the parish community.“We have been blessed with these wonderful parishioners, [with their] time, talent and treasure, all under our pastor Father Joseph Visperas,” said Woods.Archbishop Gomez — joined at the celebration by Auxiliary Bishops Oscar Solis and Alexander Salazar — spoke of the “high significance” of the altar in a church.“[The altar] is where Christ becomes present, where He becomes food for our souls during the Holy Eucharist, when we all unite as one family of God,” he said.{gallery width=100 height=100}gallery/2013/1004/spaltar/{/gallery}