Western Diocese Represented At The 37Th Annual Red Mass

(Photo courtesy of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles)

Sponsored by the St. Thomas More Society of Los Angeles, the 37th annual Red Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, on Tuesday October 15, 2019. The Diocesan Primate was represented at the service by the Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian and the Rev. Fr. Yeremia Khachatryan.

The day’s celebrant was the Most Reverend José H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles. The homily was delivered by Father Kevin O’Brien, SJ, President of Santa Clara University. The Honorable Michael Fitzgerald, U.S. District Court — Central District of California delivered the closing remarks.

The Red Mass is an annual event traditionally held at the opening of the judicial year. Judges and lawyers attend in a body, joined by public officials and law faculty. The Red Mass was first celebrated in Paris in 1245. From the time of Edward I, the Mass was offered in England at Westminster Abbey and received its name from the scarlet robes worn by the Lord High Justices. The first American Red Mass was held in New York City on October 6, 1928 at Old St. Andrew's Church on Duane Street. In Washington D.C., the Red Mass opens the new term of the U.S. Supreme Court each year. The justices join in the celebration at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle.