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History: This family oriented guild was established on January 4, 1987 under the patronage of St. Nikola Tavelic, the first canonized Croatian saint. The members immediately took an active role in all church activities of Mary Star of the Sea Parish.
Members are encouraged to foster and develop Croatian Catholic heritage within the parish through maintaining Christian values and customs specific to Croatian traditions. Participation in Croatian language liturgies, devotions and rcligious celebrations; studying and discussing religious and moral questions in order to improve understanding of Catholic teaching.
The St Joseph Society of Mary Star of the Sea was established in March of 1973. It is a society which celebrates St Joseph's feast day on March 19th or the closest Sunday before.
The celebration consists of an altar set up in the auditorium. In the center is the statue of St Joseph surrounded by an arch of flowers. Below the statue are various foods, fresh fruits, vegetables and baked goods. It is a tribute for the bounty that St Joseph provides.
On Sunday there is a procession from the auditorium to the church. All the societies and ministers participate. The chant of "Viva San Guiseppe" can be heard
The procession leads the followers to the church where a concelebrated mass is held. After the mass the crowd exits the church again in a procession.
It proceeds back to the auditorium where the blessed family (Joseph, Mary & Jesus) knocks on the door to seek shelter. Once everyone is in the auditorium a poor man's lunch is served. The lunch usually consists of salad, pasta fazoli squid (if available), bread and dessert. There is no set price for the lunch. All the society asks for is a donation.
With the donations received the society gives away scholarships to a Mary Star of the Sea High School student and a student from San Pedro High. A private sponsor also gives a scholarship to the seminary.
This isn't all the St Joseph society does. It continues to support the church each year with a donation made from various fundraisers. The society along with the Trapetto club has also pledged $25,000 toward the new Mary Star High School.
The society also has a specialty coffee and dessert booth at the annual parish fiesta.
The St Joseph society is a non-profit organization. It works throughout the year to benefit the church. All volunteers and donations are accepted.
History: Before the founding of the Croatian Catholic Family Guild in 1987, the Croatian members of Mary Star of the Sea Parish used the music of their culture to praise God in the manner in which they had been taught. Mary Star of the Sea Croatian Choir was established in January, 1983 by Father Mate Bizaca.
The choir's primary role is to enhance ecclesial and liturgical inculturation of the Croatian immigrants into their local parish The choir performs each Sunday at Mary Star Church at the 1:30 p.m. Croatian Mass, by leading congregational singing and doing its own choir parts as well. However, participating at special parish liturgies on major holidays together with other parish choirs, the Croatian Choir promotes the unique sense of parish unity manifested in the rich diversity of cultural and linguistic expressions.
The choir was part of the Intercultural Choral Fest in Long Beach; the Los Angeles County Christmas Program at the Los Angeles Music Center and the Parish Christmas Concert.
History: The Italian Catholic Federation.
On September 18, 1954, Branch 115 of the Italian Catholic Federation became a part of Mary Star of the Sea Parish by reorganizing under the patronage of San Giovan Giuseppe della Croce. It is the largest branch in the Los Angeles District with a membership of 200 persons.
The members of the group are dedicated to the goals of Charity, Love, Apostolic works and support of the church.
St. Joseph's Table
Since 1973, on the Sunday nearest to the feast of St Joseph, a large arrangement of food is displayed throughout the parish auditorium. At the conclusion of a special Mass, officers carry the statue of their patron saint around the boundaries of the church. The statue is carried to the auditorium to be displayed and parishioners are invited to partake of a simple meal. The proceeds and the food which remains are donated to the poor. This celebration is held every year and the congregation is increased by visitors from all over the Southern California area.
Club Trappeto
This club was founded by a group of Italians who originated in the city of Trappeto, Province of Trapani in Sicily. In 1994, the club became part of the Mary Star of the Sea Italian community. At present, the group numbers around 300 throughout the San Pedro area.
Fund raisers are held during the year and the proceeds donated to the church.
History: In order to bring together the parishioners who were Hispanic in their ethnicity, the 'Hispanic Group' was founded in September, 1986. The first event of the group was the sponsorship of a festive parish Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December, 1987. By laws were written and the first election and oath of office took place in January, 1988. When a Spanish liturgy was included in the Sunday Mass schedule, members formed the Coro Hispano in order to enrich the liturgy with traditional and modern liturgical music along with Spanish Bible studies.
The Hispanic Group holds general meetings on the second Sunday of the month and provides a monthly social for members and their families. In addition to the Coro Hispano, members serve as lectors and ushers during the Sunday liturgies. Major activities include the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December and a fund raising dinner-dance in the spring along with a Taco booth during the annual fiesta in July.
History: The youngest organization in Mary Star of the Sea Parish, the members of the Filipino community joined together to bring cohesiveness to the growing numbers of the Asian Pacific parishioners in the area. The group was formed in October, 1995.
Members became hosts for the annual 'Volunteer Dinner' in February, 1996. Other activities included celebrations May Crowning, Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz, Simbang Gabi and the enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to homes of our parishioners.