By Joseph Ng

On Sunday, February 11, 2024, St. Bridget Chinese Catholic Church in Chinatown, Los Angeles, celebrated the Grand Opening of the Mary Help of Christians Center. Bishop Matthew Elshoff, OFM, Cap. joined St. Bridget Pastor Father Peter Pong, SDB, in presiding over the Center’s Grand Opening ribbon cutting. The new Center will be dedicated to supporting the teachings of St. John Bosco by helping the Los Angeles youth grow and develop into upright citizens and good Christians.

Other dignitaries whose presence contributed to the festive spirit of the event include Father Chris Saenz, U.S. Regional Director of the Missionary Society of St. Columban; Sister Mary Beth Ingham, General Superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange; Father James Nieblas, SDB, Director of Los Angeles Salesian Community; Father Marco Riveros, pastor of St. Mary’s parish and Santa Isabel parish, SDB, and former St. Bridget pastor Father John Lam, SDB.

The Grand Opening event also included two special celebrations, including recognizing milestone wedding anniversaries, with the longest-married couple being Mr. and Mrs. Tom and Lily Lowe, who are celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary. The whole event was wrapped around the broader celebration of the Lunar New Year, with the Chinese community welcoming the Year of the Dragon.

We express our deep gratitude for the generous support of benefactors and prayers in making this Center a reality. We also thank the more than 450 joyful attendees who made the entire Grand Opening a celebratory event. After Mass, Bishop Matthew distributed red envelopes to the parishioners for good luck. St. Bridget hosted a courtyard festival with all the sodalities preparing food samples to share, including traditional roast pork, dumplings, and sweet treats. The youth of St. Bridget performed a lion dance and traditional Chinese opera to celebrate the Chinese New Year.