We, the People of God of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, humbly accept our
mission to continue the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
Baptized into the Body of Christ, confirmed in the Holy Spirit, and
nourished by the Word and Eucharist, we share Christ's mission of priest,
prophet and servant.
We affirm our oneness with the Catholic Church throughout the world, in
communion with our Holy Father.
With the pastoral leadership of our Archbishop, we collaborate in various
ways to live and proclaim the gospel.
Christ announced the reign of God. As Church, we are the instrument of this
reign in the world. We commit ourselves to build a community of faith and
love.
With Christ, we bring good news to the poor. We commit ourselves to
eliminate the many faces of poverty in our midst— spiritual and moral.
With Christ, we uphold the dignity of human life. We commit ourselves to
cherish each person and to be faithful stewards of all God's creation.
With Christ, we affirm the bonds that unite us. We commit ourselves to
remove the barriers that divide people in the large, complex, and multicultural
society of Southern California.
We dedicate our parish communities and our schools, institutions,
ministries, and organizations to fulfill this mission under the loving patronage
of Mary, Queen of the Angels.The Archdiocese of Los Angeles comprises three counties in the southern
part of the State of California: Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara
Counties. The area extends from the northern county line of Santa Barbara
County, near the city of Santa Maria, to the southern county line of Los Angeles
County.
It covers 8,762 square miles (22,430 square kilometers) of territory. The
total Roman Catholic population, as of 2005, stands at 4,349,267 people living
among a total population of 11,258,600.
There are 288 parishes located in 120 cities throughout the Archdiocese in
the three counties. There are seven missions and chapels and nine Eastern
Catholic churches. In all, there are a total of 225 Catholic elementary schools
serving some 65,000 students, while there are 53 Catholic high schools with
about 30,000 students enrolled. Together they comprise one of the three largest
school systems in California in either the public or private sector.
Ethnic services in a very culturally mixed environment are offered to 72
different groups. These services include clergy, liturgy, social services,
publications, counseling, and cultural affairs.