Chapel of St. Maximilian Kolbe

04/01/2026

Liberation stories are never clean. Even on the way out of bo***ge, there is tension, doubt, and broken trust.

As our Jewish neighbors begin Pesach, telling again the story of freedom, the Church enters Spy Wednesday; the moment when betrayal enters the story, when things begin to fracture from the inside.

These are not the same story, and we don’t blur them together. But they meet in a very real, human place: that fragile space between bo***ge and freedom, between trust and its breaking.

We see that space all the time.

It looks like someone finally getting housed, but carrying years of trauma through the door.
It looks like a body trying to heal while addiction still pulls hard.
It looks like mental health struggles that don’t disappear just because the crisis has passed.

Freedom doesn’t arrive in an instant. And it doesn’t fix everything overnight. Freedom is a process.

Passover reminds us that liberation is possible, that God hears the cries of people who are suffering.

Spy Wednesday reminds us how complicated we are and how even in the middle of something holy, we can sometimes wound each other.

And still, God is present.

Not just in the victory of freedom, but in the messy middle — in the shelter room, the sidewalk, the hospital bed, the long road of recovery.

God is there, in the "trying again."

03/30/2026

Yesterday, Fr. Dylan had the honor of celebrating the life of Silvia.

Silvia was a resident at the Hotel Cecil and a familiar face in the spaces held there. Often described as a free spirit, she moved through the building in her own way, yet remained a steady and recognizable presence within the community.

She had been living with ongoing health issues. As her condition worsened, she was hesitant to seek medical care, concerned about the cost of treatment. That concern is a real and common barrier for many. By the time she made the decision to go to the hospital, it was too late.

In reflecting on Silvia’s life, both through conversations with her family and through shared experiences at the Cecil, what stands out most is how she engaged with others.

While she attended services from time to time, it was her personal interactions that left a lasting impression. Conversations were often brief and in passing, but consistently kind and genuine. She treated others with care and respect in ways that, over time, helped shape the sense of community around her.

Silvia was part of this community. She mattered here.

May she rest in peace.

03/24/2026

Since the beginning of the year, our clergy and community partners from Second Chance Recovery Alliance have been in MacArthur Park, walking with some of the most marginalized in our city, building trust and making connections.

Yesterday we ran into Valerie, a former park resident who just got an apartment in nearby Echo Park. Her boyfriend, still in active addiction, had left a few days ago and she was trying to find him. We were able to check arrest records and let her know he was not in jail.

Valerie also had a large open wound on her hand, a chemical burn she got while pulling recycling from a trash bin. We offered first aid, and she accepted. She asked that we not take her photo, and we respected that.

Over the course of the day, we connected with nearly 60 people, offering water, Gatorade, snacks, and hygiene kits. All with a smile. All without judgment.

Our purpose is simple: To be a consistent presence in a park that too many systems have forgotten.

11/22/2025

As Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week draws to a close, it's important to remember that the issues facing our residents at the Hotel Cecil and on Skid Row are still very much with us.

This week may end, but the daily realities of food insecurity, unstable housing, trauma, and loneliness continue for far too many of our neighbors.

At the Chapel of St. Maximilian Kolbe, through our Friends of the Cecil Ministry, we try to meet those realities with dignity, compassion, and presence — through our food pantry, one-on-one support, life-skills work, and simply showing up for people who rarely have anyone show up for them.

If you’re able, we invite you to stay connected: pray with us, walk with us, donate healthy foods, or spread the word. Awareness weeks end… but our shared responsibility to care for one another doesn’t.

Learn more or support the work at www.hotelcecil.org/snap.

08/19/2025

We give thanks for our partnership with Second Chance Recovery Alliance, whose gift of Narcan is helping us save lives on Skid Row.

Narcan may feel like a necessary evil, but in the midst of heartbreak and crisis it becomes an instrument of mercy. When one-third of all LA County overdoses happen on and around Skid Row, every dose carries the hope of another tomorrow.

Together, with compassion and courage, we choose life and dignity for our neighbors.

08/15/2025

God of mercy and courage,
on this memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, we remember his witness that love is stronger than hatred and self-giving stronger than tyranny.

As corrupt power and fascism rise again, make us steadfast in truth, bold in compassion, and unafraid to stand with the oppressed.

Through his intercession, may we resist evil with love and build a world where Your justice reigns.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

06/06/2025

The Free Boutique was open today at the Hotel Cecil — and what a day it was. Dishes, towels, and fresh bedding found new homes with over 25 residents. No price tags, just choice. Because dignity starts with having the essentials — and the freedom to choose them.

04/27/2025

Over the past few days, many have asked me what I hope for in our next pope. Now that Pope Francis has been laid to rest, it feels like the right time to share.

Personally, I’m praying for either:

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich — a courageous Jesuit calling for a Church that listens, learns, and embraces the dignity of LGBTQ+ people.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle — a missionary-hearted leader whose joy, humility, and love for the poor could renew the Church across the world.

Both, in different ways, carry forward Francis' vision of a merciful, open Church rooted in Christ’s love.

Realistically, other strong contenders include:

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi — a bridge-builder and pastor who supports LGBTQ+ outreach and unity.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin — a seasoned diplomat offering careful leadership and stability.

Cardinal Robert McElroy — an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion and social justice.

Whoever the Holy Spirit calls, my prayer is simple:

May our next pope be a man of humility, courage, tenderness, and hope — leading a Church that is not a fortress, but a field hospital.

And may we be ready to walk with him wherever the Gospel leads.

04/16/2025

Join us on Holy Thursday, April 17 at 9:00 AM for a powerful and prayerful Interdenominational Chrism Mass and Renewal of Priestly Promises. Experience the blessing of sacred oils, uplifting music, and a spirit of unity among clergy and faithful alike. All are welcome.
Location: 997 E. Walnut St., Pasadena, CA.

03/15/2025

Jesus calls us to a love that goes beyond the easy kind—not just for friends, but for enemies too (Matt. 5:43-48). That doesn’t mean ignoring harm, but refusing to let hate shape us. God’s love shines on everyone, and if we want to reflect that, we have to love bigger. Justice and love go hand in hand, changing the world not with fear, but with grace. Loving our enemies doesn’t mean giving in—it means refusing to become them.

02/28/2025

It's time to be part of the change on Main Street and Skid Row. Join the Friends of the Cecil and support residents with food, resources, and community. Together, we can bring hope, healing, and home.

The Friends of the Cecil provide essential support for residents of the Hotel Cecil in downtown Los Angeles. We offer program navigation, spiritual support, and resources like a food bank and clothing closet to help those who have recently overcome homelessness.