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The Los Angeles Catholic Prayer Breakfast saw a record turnout this year, with over 2,000 attendees gathering at the Cathedral Plaza on September 17. The event featured Father Mike Schmitz as the keynote speaker, who emphasized the importance of recognizing one's own brokenness to fully experience God's mercy.
Father Schmitz, known for his popular podcast "The Bible in a Year," addressed the audience by stating, “Mercy is the love we need the most and deserve the least.” He added that “God’s mercy is strong enough to carry the weight of your sins.”
The day began with a rosary at 6:30 a.m., followed by a Mass celebrated by Archbishop José H. Gomez inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. The Mass was attended by nearly full capacity.
Father Schmitz's influence as a speaker and podcaster likely contributed to this year's high attendance. His previous work includes leading campus ministry at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and serving as director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Duluth.
During his speech, Father Schmitz referenced Jesuit priest Father Walter Ciszek's memoir "He Leadeth Me," sharing insights about recognizing personal shortcomings. He encouraged attendees to seek moments of self-realization about their own brokenness.
Father Schmitz also shared a poignant conversation with his mother before her passing from pancreatic cancer last year. She questioned whether she had fully given herself to God, highlighting trust in divine mercy as crucial, especially at life's end.
Attendees included over 100 local Catholic high school students and representatives from various parishes and religious orders within the archdiocese. Music during Mass was provided by more than 50 singers directed by Paul Puccinelli from St. Rita Church in Sierra Madre.
Caterer Alan Mork prepared breakfast for guests after arriving early that morning. Following Father Schmitz's address, he received a Los Angeles Dodgers jersey and cap signed by Archbishop Gomez as tokens of appreciation.
The event concluded with Father Schmitz offering a final prayer and blessing "Back to Mass kits" distributed to guests. These kits contained items like invitation cards and bracelets from My Saint My Hero, promoting participation in church activities through findamass.org.
Pablo Kay serves as editor-in-chief for Angelus, affiliated with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
