Dolores Mission, Los Angeles


Dolores Mission, Los Angeles is a Catholic parish in the largely Hispanic area of Boyle Heights east of downtown Los Angeles. The parish has collaborated in various grassroots initiatives to combat adverse social conditions in the area, including Homeboy Industries, Proyecto Pastoral at Dolores Mission, CHIRLA, and the East Los Angeles Housing Coalition.

History

The church began as a mission in St. Mary's parish in 1925 and in 1945 moved to its present site, renamed “The Mission of Nuestra Senora de los Dolores". In 1946, the Canonnesses of St. Augustine came from Belgium to open the first Catholic school in the neighborhood in 1952. After 1980, the Belgians were no longer able to staff Dolores Mission and the Jesuits, at the invitation of Cardinal Manning, came to this parish. The Jesuits took as their goal to empower parishioners to exercise leadership and to build community. Since then various grassroots organizations have sprouted and grown in the parish.
From 1986 to 1992, its pastor was Greg Boyle, who is also the fonder of Homeboy Industries.

Projects

The "Projects" were founded after 1986 when the California Province of Jesuits was entrusted with the parish. Under community leadership, five organizations were formed providing training, education, and social services in the Pico-Aliso/Boyle Heights district of East Los Angeles.