May 2026

‘Greetings from the Great 8!’

by the Very Rev. Jeanette Repp, dean  

This is the eighth in a series of Angelus columns offering news about congregations in diocesan deaneries.

Jeanette Repp

Deanery 8 encompasses the churches of L.A.’s South Bay: 17 ministries total that include 16 congregations and a ministry at The Canterbury retirement community. Stretching from Huntington Park, El Segundo, and Downey to the north, to Palos Verdes, San Pedro and Long Beach in the south, Deanery 8 spans approximately 500 square miles. I have served as the dean here for five years now.

A vibrant deanery, we have churches that are large and small, thriving and struggling, and yet all with members who love their faith communities, and serving their congregations and the larger communities around them. Hereis how the congregations describe themselves:

The Canterbury. At The Canterbury we create community and connection by residents and team members sharing many talents, cultures, and presence. Our many beliefs are treasured in spiritual connection. We support one another on our spiritual journey: one flock, all individuals.

Compton. At St. Timothy’s Parish Episcopal Church, we cherish the vibrant spirit and resilience of our Compton community, which fosters unity and support among its diverse residents. We love how our neighbors come together to uplift one another, creating a shared sense of belonging and hope. A long-time ministry is the St. Timothy’s Tower and Manor, offering senior independent living home units.

Downey. St. Mark’s Parish is a community formed in Christ, expressing our love for Jesus, one another, and the broader world through Word and Sacrament. We are an open and inclusive congregation; and we welcome anyone who comes through our doors seeking a relationship with God.

El Segundo. Throughout the year at St. Michael the Archangel we offer different ways of learning, and each month, we continue to support our outreach programs to the homeless, veterans, and those with food insecurity in the South Bay. In the past year and a half, we broadened our outreach scope with two different programs —providing Family worship twice a month to the parents of our students at St. Michael’s Children Center, and by partnering with Otis College of Art and Design to provide “make your own PBJ sandwiches” every week.

Gardena. The Church of the Holy Communion in Gardena nurtures a diverse and welcoming community committed to following Jesus Christ.

Hermosa Beach, St. Cross Parish has been serving the South Bay for over 100 years. We are a beach church who love to do work in our community, pray for one another, and we always love to enjoy a meal together. 

Huntington Park. What I love about St. Clement’s is that we are doing our best to be ambassadors of Christ’s love in the world; we are a community “de barrio” looking out for one another from elderly, and young, from citizens to immigrants. We are first and foremost brothers and sisters, we are one family in Christ.

Long Beach. At St. Gregory’s Parish “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You” is not just a statement of aspiration. Hospitality and community are an inherent and integral part of our parish DNA. Hospitality permeates everything we do, from worship to Sunday Coffee Hour, from Bible Study to parish dinners. Hospitality is especially at the heart of our primary outreach ministries: our Food Bank and Feed My Lambs (where once a month, we provide meals to the guests of the shower program at our sister parish of St. Luke’s). Our innate sense of and commitment to hospitality has resulted in a strong, tight-knit community that is open to welcoming and including all who find their way to our doors.

Long Beach. St. Luke’s Parish/San Lucas has the gift of welcoming all people who come to our campus. It is in the culture of the community to be an open house that celebrates God’s infinite love for every human being.

Long Beach. St. Thomas of Canterbury Mission is a community built for people at every stage of the journey: newcomers and those returning, seekers and believers, individuals and families in all their forms. We cultivate a culture of radical belonging, where encounters with God and with one another are transformative.

Palos Verdes Estates. The people of St. Francis Parish are both welcoming and humble, quietly serving God and the community around them.

Redondo Beach, Christ Church Parish Christ Church Redondo Beach and St. Andrew’s Torrance merged in 2018 and worship together at Christ Church each Sunday. We are a close community with a dedicated morning prayer group, bible study group, Sunday school, monthly Taizé services, and two food programs for people in need. 

San Pedro, St. Peter’s Parish: At St. Peter’s, we love our beautiful people and our beautiful space, and celebrate this with our time together in worship, socializing and serving in the larger community through Family Promise, Laundry Love and many other ministries.

South Gate, St. Margaret’s Parish: We are a loving and welcoming community serving a diverse population

Wilmington. St. John’s Wilmington is a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument located in the Wilmington California, near the Port of Los Angeles. Built in 1883, it is the oldest church building in the harbor area that is still used for regular worship services. It was moved to its present site in 1943. It was joined with the congregation of Holy Child Philippine Independent Church ( PIC ) in 1983 and both have been in Full Communion with each other since 1961. St. John’s + Holy Child is a Mission serving a diverse cultural group worshipping as one.

— The Very Rev. Jeanette Repp is rector of St. Peter’s Church, San Pedro and dean of Deanery 8.

Gifts invited to new NYA scholarship fund honoring Bishop Taylor

The Neighborhood Youth Association, a diocesan institution specializing in 100% college placement of under-resourced students, invites financial contributions to its new Bishop John Harvey Taylor Scholarship Fund, established to express appreciation for his leadership and to mark his upcoming retirement later this year.

NYA clergy trustees Susan Anderson-Smith, Jennifer Wagner Pavia, and Joseph Oloimooja plan to share scholarship information at the upcoming Clergy Conference in Riverside.

Gifts may be made online here, or checks — payable to Neighborhood Youth Association (spelled out) — may be sent by postal mail to NYA’s main office at 3590 Grand View Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066.

“We are deeply grateful to Bishop Taylor for his tireless and strategic support,” NYA’s board of trustees said in a statement announcing the scholarship. “His leadership in chairing NYA’s board has anchored the agency with wise guidance and new opportunities, including his securing a $1.2 million endowment restricted for program. Through the new scholarship, we look forward to furthering Bishop Taylor’s dedication to NYA’s students and families, and we welcome contributions to build a strong fund that can grow to serve students for years to come.”

The initial award will be presented June 6 at NYA’s 43rd Annual Scholarship Celebration, set for St. Bede’s Episcopal Church in L.A.’s Mar Vista district. Reservation information will be posted in coming weeks.

Photo: Bishop John Harvey Taylor joins NYA college student Heidi Soriano — a mechanical engineering major at Cal-State Long Beach — for a “selfie” photo during a recent scholarship celebration. NYA photo by Penny Jennings

Join Us May 4-6 in Riverside for Spring Clergy Conference:

“Love in the Time of Rampant Injustice: Sacred Resistance & Renewing Christian Community in the Way of Jesus”

The Rev. Dr. Francisco Garcia (and friends) set to keynote

Drawing on his academic research on community-based ecclesiologies and personal organizing and ministry experience, Francisco will share a vision for an expansive notion of Sacred Resistance as a centerpiece for what it means to walk in the way of Jesus in times of fearmongering, uncertainty, state-sanctioned violence, and abuse of power.

This will NOT be a traditional lecture or presentation — but will feature a series of modules with mini-lectures and participatory elements that allow for individual, small group, and large group engagement blending theological reflection, spiritual practices, and practical ministry tools. Francisco will also invite a team of active Sacred Resistance clergy to join in facilitating activities and conversations.”

As a reminder, attendance at this event is expected of all active clergy in the diocese.

The Rev. Dr. Francisco García is an Episcopal priest, organizer, and theologian. He works as a Campaign Director with Bargaining for the Common Good at the Action Center on Race and the Economy, and teaches as an adjunct instructor at Church Divinity School of the Pacific. He co-founded and co-chairs Sacred Resistance, a social justice ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles that organizes and mobilizes people of faith and conscience to offer tangible forms of solidarity with immigrants, refugees, and other communities experiencing oppression. Rev. García’s work is rooted in the philosophy and practice of nonviolent direct action and prioritizes community, labor, congregational, and interfaith organizing efforts seeking systemic change.  

“Amor en tiempos de injusticia desenfrenada: resistencia sagrada y la renovación de la comunidad cristiana en el camino de Jesús”
El Rev. Dr. Francisco García (¡y amigos!)

“Basándose en su investigación académica sobre eclesiologías comunitarias y en su experiencia personal en organización y ministerio, Francisco compartirá una visión amplia de la Resistencia Sagrada como elemento central de lo que significa caminar en el camino de Jesús en tiempos de miedo, incertidumbre, violencia avalada por el Estado y abuso de poder.

Esta NO será una conferencia o presentación tradicional, sino que incluirá una serie de módulos con mini charlas y elementos participativos que permitirán la participación individual, en grupos pequeños y en grupo grande, integrando reflexión teológica, prácticas espirituales y herramientas prácticas para el ministerio. Francisco también invitará a un equipo de líderes religiosos activos en la Resistencia Sagrada para colaborar en la facilitación de actividades y conversaciones.”

Como recordatorio, se espera la asistencia a este evento de todos los clérigos activos en la diócesis.

El Rev. Dr. Francisco García es un sacerdote episcopal, organizador y teólogo. Se desempeña como Director de Campañas con Bargaining for the Common Good en el Action Center on Race and the Economy, y enseña como profesor adjunto en la Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Es cofundador y copresidente de Sacred Resistance, un ministerio de justicia social de la Diócesis Episcopal de Los Ángeles que organiza y moviliza a personas de fe y conciencia para ofrecer formas concretas de solidaridad con inmigrantes, refugiados y otras comunidades que enfrentan opresión. El trabajo del Rev. García está arraigado en la filosofía y práctica de la acción directa no violenta, y prioriza los esfuerzos de organización comunitaria, laboral, congregacional e interreligiosa que buscan un cambio sistémico. Antes de sus funciones actuales, Francisco se desempeñó como Rector de la Iglesia Episcopal Holy Faith en Inglewood, y como Director de Paz y Justicia y sacerdote asociado en la Iglesia Episcopal All Saints en Pasadena.

New ‘Vocation Hub’ platform is replacing OTM Profile; action required ASAP

ANDREW BARNETT will begin serving as rector of All Saints, Beverly Hills on June 28. He had served as the senior associate rector of All Saints, Atlanta, since 2019. He has roots in the L.A. diocese, having served at Campbell Hall and as the Bishop’s Chair for Environmental Studies. He is the founding director of the Theodicy Jazz Collective and has served as associate for music and worship at the Washington National Cathedral (2016-2019).

GREG BROWN will be installed as rector of Holy Nativity Parish in Westchester at 10AM, Saturday, May 30, by Bishop John Harvey Taylor. The diocesan community is invited to attend. Holy Nativity is located at 6700 W. 83rd Street, Westchester.

JON FEUSS has been named by Bishop-elect Antonio J. Gallardo L. to serve as diocesan canon to the ordinary and chief of staff beginning July 11. He has been serving as associate rector of St. James’ in-the-City, L.A.

FRANCISCO GARCIA will begin serving as Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries at CDSP, beginning July 1.

OPEN

Receiving names/developing profile

Apple Valley, St. Timothy’s Parish–possible shared ministry with Hesperia. Full-time Rector/Vicar.

Fullerton, St. Andrew’s Parish – Full-time Rector

Granada Hills, St. Andrew and Charles Parish – part-time Rector

Hesperia, St. Hilary’s – Part-time Vicar

Laguna Beach, St. Mary’s – Part-time Rector

Lancaster, St. Paul’s Parish Long Beach / Joint call with St. Stepehen’s Lutheran, Full-time Rector/Pastor

Long Beach, St. Thomas of Canterbury, Part-time Vicar

Los Angeles, St. John’s Cathedral – Full-time Dean

Ojai, St. Andrew’s Parish – Part-time Rector

Pasadena, Church of the Angels – Bishop’s Chapel – Full-time Vicar/Rector

OPEN

No longer receiving names/Interviewing candidate

 South Pasadena, St. James – Full-time Rector

MISSION & OTHER POSITION APPOINTMENTS

Mission congregation positions, some of them part time, for which the Formation and Transition Ministry office is presently receiving names for the bishop’s consideration.

Barstow, St. Paul’s Mission and Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran

Big Bear, St. Columba / Spirit of Peace Mission

Gardena, Holy Communion Mission

Lake Arrowhead, St. Richard of Chichester Mission

La Verne, St. John’s Mission

Moreno Valley, Grace Mission

Needles, St. John’s Mission

Norwalk, St. Francis Mission

Rialto, St. Peter’s Mission

Simi Valley, St. Francis Mission

Wilmington, St. John’s / Holy Child (PIC) Mission

Yucca Valley, St. Joseph of Arimathea Mission