Our Mission We are a faith-filled Catholic community. We come together to celebrate God’s presence in our lives, and to nurture one another. As a welcoming community we honor diversity. We are committed to reach beyond ourselves into the greater community, to bring to life the Word of God. Somos una comunidad catolica llena de fe. Nos juntamos para celebrar la presencia de Dios en nuestras vidas y para fortalecer y apoyarnos los unos a los otros. Como una comunidad acogedora respetamos la diversidad. Estamos comprometidos ha alcanzar mas alla de nosotros a la comunidad en general para llevarles la palabra de Dios. Our History "A people without a story is a people without a life." (Un pueblo sin una historia es un pueblo sin una vida.) Telling our story is how we remember who we are – and who we are called to be. The community of Our Lady Star of the Sea began its journey in the year 1947 when our parish was formed and conducted its first services in the Old Seabright Hotel. Our present church building was completed in 1949. (The hall, where our first religious education classes were held, was built shortly after.) Our present property configuration, including our classrooms and the convent building (renamed Marist Chapel and residence), started to take shape. When in 1969, a fire did extensive damage to the rear of the church, the present sacristy and workrooms were added. An apartment was added to the rectory in 1972, and the present Outreach Building was renovated in 1991. In 1985, the Villa Maria del Mar Chapel was added to our parish community. The last several years have seen substantial improvements to the structure and beauty of our church building and hall. The movement of the altar from the back to side, then center, of the church (1991) represented not only physical change but clearly culminated the slow movement of the parish membership to a wider sharing in community life and responsibility. Back in 1970, the first parish lay board was formed, called Christian and Family Living Program. Ten years later, the first parish council was organized; and in 1985, the present Pastoral Council was born. Most of our present commissions and committees have their roots in the late ‘80s. In 1991, several Small Church Communities, reminiscent of the "base communities" of Central and South America, were formed to offset the size and anonymity of the large parish. If our story is essential to our life so is our dream, a vision of a better community. A recent succession of changes in our pastoral team and in our other organization has stimulated many members to re-examine parish direction and rededicate themselves to the goal of being a stronger, more united, more just, and more concerned community. We now have a more beautiful church facility, a more vibrant liturgy, better formation programs, a more mature pastoral council and supportive commissions, a seasoned pastoral team and staff, and outstanding participation in events celebrating our life together. Our Small Church communities are slowly maturing. Now, more than before, the Anglo and Hispanic communities are reaching out to each other, as they work and celebrate together in special liturgies and festivities. This may be the time when the entire parish community needs to come together in some new way to more clearly define its vision and goals in a sharing of insights and gifts. Whether new member or old – or not yet a member – you can be a part of this exciting process of identifying the dream that takes us into the 21st Century. [Back to top] Our Invitation In breaking bread with his followers the night before he died, Jesus invited each of us to share his life. Earlier he said, "I call you not servants but friends." His friends, those he called to new life, were sinners, the poor, the sick, the handicapped, the lonely, the hungry, and the despairing – those who had little to lose but who, like the poor widow, gave a little of themselves. On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit breathed into life a new creation, forming out of these friends of Jesus a community, a body of believers we now call the Church. No doubt inspired by Mary, the mother of Jesus, these first Christians took care of each other, bonding together in a ministry of service, celebration and witness. In a special way, the church members of Our Lady Star of the Sea are marked with the same sense of community. We are individuals from many walks and level of life, enriched by our differences and united by mutual appreciation and the desire to serve each other. We work hard to be one in Christ’s body. We invite you to bring your own needs and your gifts to our community. If you do not come to our church, please visit. If you come sometimes to Mass but feel like a stranger, please know that we are looking for ways to get to know you. If you like us but are not involved in any ministry, search for an activity corresponding to your interests; if you see needs not being met by any ministry, share your concern with our pastor or one of our Pastoral Council members. If you are already involved, consider how you might share the loaf of friendship with someone who seems to be apart. Please help us to make Our Lady Star of the Sea a beacon of light and hope for ourselves and for those who call to us in the night in this sea voyage we call life. [Back to top] [Home Page]