Loyola Marymount Breaks Ground on Housing for Jesuits

Loyola Marymount University officials broke ground recently on a Jesuit residence to be built on campus. The residence will house members of the university’s founding religious order and will be built on the campus bluff near a grove of oak trees. It will include two housing areas with 39 residence rooms, a common area, administrative offices and a guest house.

Loyola Marymount President Thomas P. O’Malley described Xavier Hall, where the Jesuits have lived for nearly 70 years and one of the two original buildings on campus, as a place to find thought-provoking discussions on a wide range of issues. That tradition will continue at the new residence, he said.

Architect David Jay Flood designed the new residence. The $6.9-million project is slated for completion in June 1999.

AWARDS

Harbor Interfaith Shelter will present its first Humanitarian of the Year award to Kelly Stone of Planet Hope. The award will be presented during a special program Aug. 22 at Ft. MacArthur in San Pedro. The theme of the evening, “Take a Sentimental Journey,” will transport attendees back to the 1940s and will feature a live auction, a jitterbug contest and other entertainment.

Stone, along with her sister, actress Sharon Stone, founded Planet Hope in Santa Monica. It provides job training for homeless parents and services for the children of homeless families such as Camp Planet Hope in Malibu.

Harbor Interfaith Shelter was founded in 1983 and provides food, shelter, job and career planning and other services to the homeless and working poor families in the South Bay. For more information call (310) 831-0603.

BROADCAST

The Odyssey Channel, an interfaith channel available on satellite and many local cable outlets, continues its series chronicling America’s diverse religious heritage, “Landmarks of Faith,” with “The California Missions,” airing Wednesday at 7 p.m.

PEOPLE

To meet the needs of a growing population of young Jewish families in San Diego’s North County area, Temple Judea in Vista is moving forward with plans to expand its religious school. One of the first tasks undertaken has been the hiring of Nomi Butler as principal of the school. Butler most recently was the education director at Temple Beth Am in Houston and has taught at Tel Aviv University and the University of Houston. Temple Judea’s Religious School starts Sept. 8. For information call (760) 724-8318.

SERVICES

The Rev. Swamiji Maharaj will address the congregation of the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Maharaj is a follower of Mohandas K. Gandhi and worked with him for many years. He was imprisoned for his participation in the struggle for India’s independence. The church is located at 1259 Victoria St., Costa Mesa. Call (714) 646-4652.

LECTURES

Willow LaMonte, editor and publisher of a newspaper that examines goddess-oriented cultures of the past and contemporary interest in goddess religion, will present a slide lecture on “The Goddess and the Black Madonnas of Malta and Gozo” on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at New Beginnings Health Care, 16917 Clark Ave., Bellflower. The program will look at female deities of the ancient Maltese along with present-day devotion to the Virgin Mary.

On Wednesday, LaMonte will discuss “The Megaliths and Mega-Goddesses of Malta” at Raven’s Flight Bookstore, 5042 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood. The presentation will explore megalithic stone temples and goddess figures and other artifacts found there.

A donation of $5 to $8 is requested for each evening’s program. Call (310) 450-6661.

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EVENTS

The Morning Star Commission of Hadassah Southern California will feature an evening of comedy, the first event of its kind, to explore images of Jewish women in film and television at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Comedy Store in Hollywood. The evening’s entertainment will feature prominent performers such as Wendy Liebman of HBO’s “Women of the Night,” Rhonda Shear of “USA: Up All Night,” and special guest star David Steinberg. Through comedy and entertainment, the group hopes to raise understanding and public awareness of the impact of negative stereotypes and create positive portrayals of Jewish women in the media. Tickets are $25, $50 and $100, with proceeds benefiting the commission. Seating is limited; reservations are required. Call (310) 659-7410, Ext. 213.