Red Mass Honoring the Legal Profession Scheduled for October 1st

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles’ legal community will gather at the new Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels for the 21st annual Red Mass on Wednesday, October 1, 2003, 5 p.m., 555 W. Temple Street, with a reception following in the Cathedral Courtyard. His excellency Cardinal Roger Mahony will be the principal celebrant and Archbishop Justin Rigali of St. Louis, soon to oversee the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will be the homilist.

Each year the liturgy and reception, sponsored by the Los Angeles Chapter of the St. Thomas More Law Society and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, continues to grow, and Roger M. Sullivan, partner at the Los Angeles law firm of Sullivan, Workman & Dee, who is one of the co-chairs of the St. Thomas More Law Society, suggests that reservations be made early. The other five co-chairs of the event are the Dean of Loyola Law School David Burcham; Judge of the Superior Court Lawrence Crispo; attorney Rolando Hidalgo of the Law Offices of Manue Hildago, professor and dean emeritus of Loyola Law School Gerald T. McLaughlin; and retired Superior Court Judge Lawrence Waddington.

“The name ‘Red Mass’ derives from the color of the vestments worn by the celebrants of the Mass in the 11th century when the tradition began in France,” said Sullivan. “The robes of the attending royal judges were also bright scarlet, thus providing an additional reason for naming the liturgy the ‘Red Mass.’ Celebrated around the world for centuries, the Red Mass has had a rich history and is an event widely attended by judges, lawyers and officials of all faiths for the purpose of invoking God’s blessing and guidance in the administration of justice.”

There will be a traditional entrance procession of all the co-celebrants from the Archdiocesan Tribunal and priests from Loyola Marymount University, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Papal Knights, state and federal judges, state and local officials, faculty from Loyola Law School, and members of the Red Mass Advisory Committee. The music will be provided by the Cathedral Chamber Choir under the direction of Frank Brownstead.

The 2003 St. Thomas More Law Society’s Red Mass Advisory Committee members are: Oscar A. Acosta, Enrique Arevalo, Suzanne L. Austin, Thomas Patrick Beck, Hon. Joseph J. Birney III, Camilla Broderick, James A. Broderick, Janice H. Burrill, Mark A. Byrne, Hon. Richard P. Byrne, Thomas P. Cacciatore, Hon. Victor E. Chavez, Richard M. Coleman, District Attorney Steve Cooley, Prof. Jan C. Costello, Hon. Lawrence Crispo, George D. Crook, Lawrence W. Dailey, Jr., Daniel V. Duross, William J. Emanuel, Michael Scott Feeley, Thomas L. Flattery, Hon. Charles E. Frisco, Bonifacio Bonny Garcia, Hon. Richard G. Harris, Hon. A. Andrew Hauk, Manuel Hidalgo, Nancy L. Iredale, Hon. George Kalinski, Ronald L. Katsky, Baldo Kristovich, Hon. Marlene Kristovich, Philip Lanzafame, Hon. Stephen G. Larson, Bernard LeSage, Hon. Frederick J. Lower, Jr., Hon. Robert Mallano, Michael J. Maloney, Phillip R. Marrone, Molly Munger, Hon. Mary Ann Murphy, Lili B. Musil, Daniel V. Nixon, Dean Francis Pace, Armando J. Paz, Anthony J. Pullara, Frances A. Pullara, Douglas C. Purdy, Hon. Manuel L. Real, Thomas H. Reilly, Gilbert Rodriguez, Patrick G. Rogan, Benjamin B. Salvaty, Prof. Daniel P. Selmi, Hon. John P. Shook, Thomas Viola, William Wardlaw, and Molly M. White.

While there is no charge for attending the Mass and reception, contributions to the non-profit St. Thomas More Society will be accepted at the reception. Guests may park at the Cathedral at the reduced rate of $5.

To RSVP for the 2003 Red Mass and reception, or to receive further information and directions, please e-mail laredmass@earthlink.net or call the Red Mass Message Center at (310) 316-0817.