Blessed Sacrament Church (BSC) in Hollywood is similar to St. Francis Xavier. Both are large, beautiful churches right in the heart of town. Blessed Sacrament is located on Sunset Boulevard and is about 15 years older than SFX.

For many years BSC was known as the “Church of the Stars.” Such parishioner names as Irene Dunne, Ray Bolger, Loretta Young and Ricardo Montalban were often mentioned. Many famous celebrities were either married or buried from there.

By the time I arrived in 1988, much of that had changed. The area surrounding the church (the flat lands) were inhabited by immigrants from Central America and Mexico. Those who lived within our parish boundaries in the Hollywood Hills had begun to frequent the wealthier parishes to the west.

I became pastor in 1989, following Fr. Ed Callanan, S.J. To be honest, I do not remember much of the experience of my five years there except that there never seemed to be a dull moment. The economic contrast of the poor neighbors and the homeless who slept on the front steps of the church and the wealthy businesses surrounding us was stark.