The people of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in South Gate lost two beloved priests within months. Their longtime rector, Fr. Edward Bresciani, who retired in 2023, died last year, as did Fr. Gustavo Hernandez, an assisting priest the congregation had also come to love. In church on Sunday, where I was along to preside and preach at a bilingual service, we contemplated the preciousness of life and the suddenness with which it sometimes ends.
Also in the spirit of Lent, we counted our blessings as well. The congregation loves their new priest, Fr. Jose Luis Garcia. The wardens and vestry are exceptionally devoted. The church, built in 1946 by an architect descended from the designer of the houses of Parliament in London, is in beautiful shape. The junior warden, Juan Gonzales, showed me a list of 20 major repair and maintenance projects completed since 2023, including one with support from a diocesan grant. The parish’s finances are strong thanks to the generosity of its members, income from three houses it rents out, and a new relationship with an organization that uses the the church for memorial services.
Deserving a special word is Donald L. R. Mitchell, a retired post office supervisor who has been associated with the parish for over 60 years and a leader for over 40. South Gate was principally Anglo when the Joplin, Missouri-born Don came to down. It is almost 100% Hispanic today. Another former rector, Fr. David Lopes II, launched Spanish-speaking ministry a half-century ago. As the parish changed, Don remained, now serving as church administrator. He will celebrate his 90th birthday on Nov. 9, so mark your calendars. Again serving as my chaplain, as during my prior visit in 2022, he assembled Bishop Bloy’s crozier in record time just as before, both for Bishop Bloy (who retired in 1973) and me.
Fr. Jose Luis works full-time outside the church. He also serves as the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles Cursillo coordinator. On Sunday, I was actually serving as a supply, or substitute, priest, to enable Jose Luis to have a rare day off. As I met and blessed folks at a delicious lunch after church, as welcoming as they were to me, they made it clear that they missed him. Everyone smiled when I promised he’d be back next Sunday.
