Thirty years ago this morning, the Northridge earthquake rocked Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. Many businesses, homes, and yes – places of worship – were terribly damaged and even destroyed. According to the LA Times, the "6.7 magnitude quake centered in Northridge resulted in more than 9,000 injuries, 60 fatalities and up to $20 billion in property damage, plus $40 billion in economic losses."

The resilience of the St. Monica community was and remains unmatched. We recall pivotal moments in the rebuilding process such as celebrating Mass in the gym and nailing down pews in the church only an hour before the first services back.

Today, we pray for all victims of natural disasters. We are so fortunate to be able to rebuild and bounce back when there are so many who cannot. We thank God for the gift of our church, our community, and our many blessings.

From the trials of the earthquake to the hardships of COVID and beyond, we continue to prove we are #StillStMonica.