Ministries

Religious Education Program   

The Religious Education Program of St. Teresa of Avila aims to provide Christ’s message and help students apply it to their lives to foster community, prayer, worship, and the desire to serve the Lord.

 Sacramental Preparation

First Holy Communion is a 2-year required program that for children starting at age 7. Children are normally prepared to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) and Holy Communion during their 2nd year in the program. Classes for the program is on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 11:00 am from September to May.

Confirmation is a 2-year required program for teens aged 14 to 17.  Classes for the program is on the 1st and 2nd Tuesdays of the month from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm September to May.

Ministry To The Sick

Music

Saint Teresa of Avila’s music ministry is comprised of two choirs doing the 8:00 am and the 10:00 Sunday masses. The 5:00 pm Saturday mass has a cantor and so with the 12:00 noon Sunday Spanish Mass. Please contact the rectory if you wish to join the music ministry.

Altar Servers

An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during mass. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as carrying the cross, carry the light of Christ as the Gospel is proclaimed and ringing the altar bell among others. An altar server should have made his First Communion. If you are interested in becoming an altar server, please contact the parish rectory.

Eucharistic Ministers

Lay Eucharistic Ministers are lay persons who assist the priest in administering the sacrament of Holy Communion during Holy Mass. They may also take the sacraments to those who are ill, or otherwise unable to attend mass.

Lectors

Lectors are referred to as religious readers. The lector proclaims the Scripture readings used in the Liturgy of the Word from the lectionary. Please contact the rectory if you wish to volunteer as a lector and get the required  training.   

Fraternity Poor of Jesus Christ

The Fraternity Poor of Jesus Christ is a missionary community founded in Brazil in 2001 by Father Gilson Sobreiro. He was inspired by the Holy Spirit to start a community that would live the Gospel as Saint Francis of Assisi and his companions did. Living by the providence of God, these sisters serve the poorest of the poor. 

As missionaries, in these 16 years, the Lord gave them the grace to be able to serve the poor in 10 countries around the world, having more than 80 mission houses. In 2011. the community arrived in the United States for the first time. They arrived in Kansas City, Kansas, and in these years, they have been working with the poor, evangelizing families, and helping people in need.

Last summer, the sisters were invited by Archbishop Jose Gomez to come to Los Angeles to start their ministry here with the poor in the name of the local church. He suggested that they could live at St. Teresa of Avila convent. To form this new community, they have four sisters: Sr. Maria Goretti, Sr. Amada, Sr. Serafica and Sr. Azucena. 

The sisters are so thankful for Father Roberto Pirrone and St. Teresa of Avila School staff for their warm welcoming and for all those whom they already met. Their first days in Los Angeles have been amazing, and they truly hope to serve with joy all those who the Lord will entrust them.

Their main ministry is to work with the poorest of the poor in their multiple faces. To that, they have what we call ministries: 

• Street Ministry: Giving clothes, food, hygiene and other supplies to those who are homeless.
• Jail Ministry: Visiting those who suffer behind bars and bring them the hope of Christ.
• Magdalene Ministry: Praying and talking with those who are in the situation of prostitution.
• Be Sober Ministry: Group who helps those that live the pain of drug and alcohol addiction.
• Franciscan Youth: Evangelization with the youth.

The Sisters are in need of volunteers to help with their mission. Please contact the parish rectory if you are interested in helping either financially or in kind or in volunteering your time.