Two Communities Can Become One

* I read with great interest The Times’ report Sept. 3 on the proposed closing of St. Isidore church in Los Alamitos.

During my 10 years of priesthood in the Diocese of Orange, I have worked in three Hispanic Catholic communities.

The love and dedication of Hispanics for the church is a constant blessing and promise of its a magnificent future in the county.

At times, however, when the community must grow and adapt to sometimes difficult realities.

The situation of St. Isidore is one of those moments. A present lack of priests to minister in Spanish, the cost of retrofitting and a no-growth reality as far as property availability are serious reasons to relocate to St. Hedwig’s.

Through a move, a building is left behind but two communities are enriched and become one without suffering a loss of identity.

As regards the Rev. Daniel Hopcus of St. Hedwig, I have known him since I served Mass for him as a young child at St. Columban.

For some to infer that he is insensitive to Hispanics is not only sad but wrong. I know him to be a dedicated and model priest who loves all his people and is greatly respected by his brother priests.

THE REV. ALFRED S. BACA

Anaheim