Pilgrimage to St. Mary in Sherman Oaks

[Elizium23]

I have occasion to be in Los Angeles next month, and I thought I would seek out a local church where I can visit and enjoy some morning worship. I found St. Fancis de Sales parish, and then it occurred to me to seek out Eastern parishes. Lo and behold, St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Proto-Cathedral is right down the street from my hotel! So I plan to make a small pilgrimage there and, God willing, participate in the liturgy (or morning prayer, whatever it will be) at 8:30am on a Thursday.

It has been several years since I attended a Byzantine church, and my life in the Latin Church has been so busy, I just hope I can remember enough to get by.

If anyone has been to this place I’d be happy to hear your stories and advice!

 

[Symeon]

Hi, Elizium. I am a parishioner and live very close to St. Mary’s. Most Thursday mornings there are no services. If you were coming this week, there is a vigil vespers+divine liturgy for Ascension Thursday, but nothing on Thursday morning. Thursday evening there is also a divine liturgy for the Ascension at St. Andrew’s Russian Greek-Catholic parish in El Segundo, not too for away. The weekday schedule at St. Mary’s tends to change from week to week. And by all means PM me for more info…

 

[theistgal]

Hey, I just saw your post and thought I’d let you know, I am one of the cantors at St. Mary’s!

We had a Vigil Liturgy for the Ascension on Wednesday evening; however, we did not have one on Thursday morning, because our priest is on jury duty.

I hope you were able to go to St. Andrew’s in El Segundo - this is a wonderful Russian Catholic Church and we have many friends there!

If you are still in town I hope you will visit St. Mary’s - we have a Liturgy this Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m.; and on Sunday we have two Liturgies: the Ruthenian at 9:30 and the Romanian at 11:30.

Please let me know if you have any questions - hope we will see you there!