When Father Roger Labonte, pastor of St. Paul of the Cross Parish in La Mirada, heard about the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, his first concern was for the families that evacuated with no place to go. Instead of asking parishioners for monetary donations, he thought a better way to make a long-term difference would be to help one of the many families displaced by the hurricane who had come to California to start a new life. The parish formed a Hurricane Katrina Committee and, through Catholic Charities, found Schewon Kelly, who lived here with her two oldest daughters, two young grandsons and son-in-law in a one-room shelter. After a long apartment search, the parish moved Kelly into a fully furnished, three-bedroom townhouse.Now that she's settled, she can finally be reunited with her two youngest children who stayed with her sister in Chicago until Kelly found a home.The high school students will be attending St. Paul High School, tuition-free, for a year.At St. Paul of the Cross Church, after helping Schewon Kelly, Father Labonte met Stepane and Soledad Akli and learned that they, too, had no permanent residence.

Father Roger Labonte of Holy Family Church in South Pasadena said he has found himself hesitating over whether to place his hands on a parishioner's head during absolution rituals, straighten an altar server's collar or even take some neighborhood children to a movie. After Mass last Sunday, he said, several children ran to him, hugging his legs, but he kept his arms straight at his side. Labonte, a Canadian native who said that touch is important in his culture, said the self-imposed restrictions are "just not me."

Father Roger Labonte of Holy Family Church in South Pasadena said he has found himself hesitating over whether to place his hands on a parishioner's head during absolution rituals, straighten an altar server's collar or even take some neighborhood children to a movie.After Mass last Sunday, he said, several children ran to him, hugging his legs, but he kept his arms straight at his side. Labonte, a Canadian native who said that touch is important in his culture, said the self-imposed restrictions are "just not me." "I can't pick the children up and hug them and squeeze them," said Labonte, 48, who quit an accounting career eight years ago to become a priest and is particularly popular with children, who are drawn to his youthful energy."I think we're guilty until proven innocent and that's a sad thing."

ADVENT/CHRISTMAS STUDENT BODY MASS: Fr. Roger Labonte from Holy Family Church in Pasadena will send us forth on our Christmas vacation by celebrating Mass Wednesday, December 20 at 11:00am.