Catholics to Hold National Conference on Justice at UCLA

Responding to a call by Pope John Paul II to prepare for the new millennium through prayer, repentance and working for justice, more than 2,000 Roman Catholics will gather on the UCLA campus next week for a national conference on justice.

The first of its kind in the United States, the National Catholic Gathering for Jubilee Justice is intended to deepen the understanding of Catholic social teaching as Christianity enters its third millennium.

“It marks a real milestone in the history of the Catholic Church in the United States,” said Sister Mary Ann Walsh, a spokeswoman for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and U.S. Catholic Conference in Washington. “It’s the largest such gathering to celebrate our efforts for justice in the past and to mobilize them for the future,” she said.

Scheduled speakers include Nobel Peace Prize laureate Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo of East Timor, Father J. Bryan Hehir, Sister Helen Prejean, the author of “Dead Man Walking,” and CNN commentator Mark Shields. Cardinal Roger M. Mahony will celebrate Mass on the closing day of the conference, which will be held from July 15 to 18.

Workshops in English and Spanish will be held on more than 100 topics, including racism, the environment, health care, nonviolence, parish social ministry, liturgy and worship, debt forgiveness, sweatshops, immigration, euthanasia and other issues the church labels as “pro-life,” as well as education on justice and Catholic identity.

Co-chairs of the event are Annette Kane, executive director of the National Conference of Catholic Women, and the Rev. Robert Vitillo, executive director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

For information on registration call (202) 541-3149. Information may also be found on the Internet at https://www.nccbuscc.org/jubileejustice.

PEOPLE

The historic First Baptist Church of Los Angeles, founded 125 years ago and one of the so-called big steeple churches in the Mid-Wilshire district, has called the Rev. David L. Wheeler, 52, to be its new senior minister. Wheeler has been professor of theology and ethics at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Kan. Wheeler, who begins his new duties Aug. 8, received a bachelor of arts degree at Georgetown College in Kentucky, a master of divinity degree from Yale Divinity School and a doctorate in theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He succeeds the Rev. John Townsend, who served as senior pastor for more than 30 years.

EVENTS

White Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church will wrap up two days of celebration with a 3 p.m. concert today featuring the Spirit’s Roots Chorale and Pastor Jose Rojas, who will also preach at 11 a.m. Rojas, born in East Los Angeles, was involved in gangs during his youth before becoming a Christian. All events are free but concert tickets are limited. The church is at 401 N. State St., Los Angeles, (323) 264-2170.

* Youth Ambassadors, a group of 50 young people representing 50 countries, will give a free concert at 7 p.m. Friday at First Congregational Church, 393 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena. (626) 303-8811, Ext. 7932.

* Gina B. Nahai, author of “Moonlight on the Avenue of Faith,” will discuss her book at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Leo Baeck Temple, 1300 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. Free. (310) 476-2861. Nahai will also discuss her work at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. $8 general admission. Students free. (323) 655-8587.

* Jeffrey Mishlove will discuss “Parapsychology and Enlightenment” at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Philosophical Research Society, 3910 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles. $5 donation. (323) 663-2167.

* What is called the largest American Indian Catholic-sponsored powwow in the West will open at 10 a.m. today at Loyola Marymount University, West 80th Street at Loyola Boulevard. A Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Sunday and will include Native Americans in full regalia. The two-day event features Native American dancers and 70 vendors offering Native American arts, crafts and food. Free. Visitors are asked to bring their own chairs.

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