Columbine Survivor to Address Catholic Youths

An estimated 15,000 Catholic youths are expected to attend a “Young Church 2000 Jubilee Rally” today at Dodger Stadium that will feature a former Columbine High School student who]

survived the terrorist attack by two fellow students.

The event will mark the first time that Nick Baumgart, now 18, has spoken to a large]

audience about his experience during the assault that resulted in the deaths of 12 students, a teacher and the two student assailants.

Baumgart is a parishioner and youth group member at Light of the World Catholic Church in]

Littleton, Colo. He graduated from Columbine last June.

The day’s festivities, to highlight the Roman Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year themes of]

celebration, forgiveness and justice, will open with an Olympic-style procession, music by pop artist Michael W. Smith, and Jesuit Father J. Glenn Murray as keynote speaker.

PEOPLE

Father Gregory Coiro, 47, has resigned as media relations director of the Roman Catholic]

Archdiocese of Los Angeles, effective June 30. Coiro, a Capuchin Franciscan father who has worked in the church’s media office since 1987 and as director since 1994, will become]

associate pastor of Our Lady of Angels Church in Burlingame, Calif. Coiro will also quit as host of the radio program, “Clergy on Call” on KPLS (830 AM). The program’s last broadcast]

will be June 25 at 10 p.m. Coiro said he informed Cardinal Roger M. Mahony last January of his wishes. He said he told Mahony “that I felt I was running out of steam and that he needs]

someone as media relations director who’s running full throttle.”

EVENTS

Buddhist, Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders will hold a prayer service Sunday]

for the embattled Los Angeles Police Department. The Very Rev. John S. Bakas, dean of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, said the event is being held “to celebrate and acknowledge]

the commitment to public service of the men and women of the police department.” Police

Chief Bernard C. Parks will also speak. The interfaith prayer service will be open to the]

public. It will be held Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Episcopal Cathedral Center of St. Paul, 840 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles. Free.

* An interfaith conference to abolish the death penalty will be held Sunday from 1 p.m. to]

7 p.m. at the University of Southern California’s Catholic and Hillel Centers, 3207 University Ave., Los Angeles. A panel will include Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Roman Catholic]

and United Methodist representatives. Free. (213) 637-7402.

* Married couples remember when they said, “I do.” Now, a conference with the theme, “I]

still do,” will be held today from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. sponsored by the Little Rock-based Familylife ministry at Arrowhead Pond, 2695 East Katella Ave., Anaheim. The program is]

intended to help married couples “breathe new life into their marriages and strengthen their families.” $75 per person. Includes lunch.

* The Skirball Cultural Center and Yiddishkayt Los Angeles present the Yiddishkayt Family]

Festival on Sunday, a day of music, workshops, storytelling, food, crafts and celebration, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles.]

Admission $8 adult, $4 for Skirball members and children. (323) 655-8587.

* His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya, a Sakya lineage holder in the Tibetan Buddhist]

tradition dating from the 12th century, will officiate at a Vajrapani Empowerment (Protection) ritual from 10 a.m. to noon today at Westwood United Methodist Church’s]

fellowship hall, 10497 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. A meditation teaching follows at 2 p.m. $30 donation. (310) 276-6232.

* Dagmola Jamyang Sakya, a female Tibetan Buddhist teacher and elder, will lead a Green]

Tara Empowerment at 10 a.m. Sunday at Yugean Kang’s, 8826 Melrose Ave., (between Doheny Drive and Robertson Boulevard.) Los Angeles. Green Tara is the feminine embodiment of the]

Great Wisdom Mother and is viewed as the Great Savioress of all beings. $15. (310) 276-6232.

* Bob Cornuke, an explorer and biblical researcher who has searched for the remains of]

Noah’s ark and retraced the Exodus route of Moses across the Egyptian desert, will speak Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Los Angeles Bahai Center, 5755 Rodeo Road, Los Angeles. $12 adults, $6]

children 14 and under. (310) 967-1338.

MUSIC

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The Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra will perform Erwin Schulhoff’s Third Symphony and other works May 24 at 8 p.m. at Stephen S. Wise Temple, 15500 Stephen S. Wise Dr., east of Mulholland Drive off the 405 Freeway. Free, donations accepted. (310) 476-8561.

* A symphonette concert will be held Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Westside Jewish Community Center, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. Free. (323) 938-2531.

* The Chancel Choir, chamber orchestra and soloists of Westwood United Methodist Church will perform Beethoven’s Mass in C on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the church, 10497 Wilshire Blvd. Free. (310) 474-4511.

* An organ recital by Philip Allen Smith featuring the works of French composers will be held Sunday at 4 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 540 S. Commonwealth Ave., Los Angeles. $11 adults, $7 seniors and students. (213) 385-1345.

* Temple Beth Hillel’s cantor emeritus, Samuel Brown, will present “Songs and Stories for all Generations: A Personal Journey” on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the temple social hall, 12326 Riverside Dr., Valley Village (North Hollywood region). $23 adults, $10 children. (818) 763-9148.

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