(Photo: Archbishop José H. Gomez celebrated the Lunar New Year at St. Bridget Chinese Catholic Church and blessed the newly constructed Mary Help of Christians Center.)

LOS ANGELES, CA – Most Reverend Archbishop José H. Gomez joined the Provincial of Salesians USA West Fr. Mel Trinidad, SDB; Pastor Fr. John Lam, SDB; and Assistant Pastor Fr. Peter Pong, SDB, at St. Bridget Chinese Catholic Church to celebrate the Lunar New Year and bless the newly constructed Mary Help of Christians Center. In the Mass, Archbishop Jose Gomez also blessed 21 couples who celebrated their milestone wedding anniversaries. “The St. Bridget Chinese Catholic Community has dreamed of building the Mary Help of Christians Center for more than 30 years. With God’s grace and the support of our Blessed Mother, we are able to continue the spiritual mission of this missionary church,” Fr. Lam said.

St. Bridget Chinese Catholic Church was founded in 1940 by the Missionary Society of Saint Columban. It serves Chinese Catholics from Los Angeles and neighboring counties. The new Mary Help of Christians Center will provide a new gathering place for St. Bridget events and celebrations, host CCD classes on weekends, and offer a space to conduct evangelization programs with the local community on weekdays.

“St. Bridget has been a vibrant church community for the last 80 years. The new Mary Help of Christians Center will ensure that the Chinese Catholic Community of Los Angeles has a spiritual home for decades to come,” said Fr. Pong.