spring 2023
100 Years of Catholic Life / Campaign Celebration
Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.”
— 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
Thank you for your dedication to our Trojan Catholic family. I want you to know I am praying for you and asking God to bless you with His grace and peace.
The Caruso Catholic Center is celebrating 100 years of Catholic life on campus this year. This longevity is a testament to the faithfulness of people like you who make our mission possible.
In the Book of Hebrews, we are encouraged to “persevere in running the race that lies before us” (12:1).
Indeed, committing to a life of faith in Christ is very much like running a long race. A distance runner must train tirelessly, eat a healthy diet, and stay focused on the big picture. To strive for holiness, each of us must participate in Mass regularly, nourish ourselves through the Eucharist, and keep our eyes on the ultimate prize: eternal life with God.
In this newsletter, you’ll meet three inspiring students who have the determination, stamina, and courage not only to run the race, but to “run so as to win.”
Through your prayers and financial gifts, you accompany all our students — and the members of our entire parish community — on every step of their faith journeys. I am deeply grateful for your steadfast support. May God bless you abundantly!
With fatherly affection, I am
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Fr. Richard Sunwoo
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Cover: Over 120 people attended the 2nd Annual “Race with Spirit” 5K to support the USC Caruso Catholic Center.
LEADERSHIP
ADVISORY BOARD
Yvonne Bogdanovich
Joseph Boskovich, Sr. ‘75 ‘77
Marc Caruso ‘89
Rick Caruso ‘80
James Child, Jr. ‘61
Jacqueline Connor ‘73 ‘76
Tim Dunn ‘80
Michael Felix ‘83
Bridget Harris
Lewis Horne ‘80
Michelle Katnik ‘88
Susan Leonis-Jensen
Kathleen McCarthy ‘57
Nancy Novokmet ‘83
Samantha Nugent
Dr. Willa Olsen ‘58 ‘62
Joseph Rich, Jr. ‘86
Kevin Shannon ‘81
Michael Uranga ‘86 ‘95
Kevin White
HONORARY BOARD
Thomas Condon
Ed Roski
STAFF
Fr. Richard Sunwoo, Pastor
Jamie Cappetta, President
Nysa Beliard
Abigail Brucelo
Francis Cabildo
Yvette Cardona
Ricky Cruz
Jazmin De Guzman
Scarlet Gross
Sr. Josefa Ha
Fr. Joseph Kim, OFM Conv.
Rich Loesing
Rudy Lowe
Miguel Mendoza
Nora Morales
Xochitl Nisbet
Julia Osiripaibul
Dcn. Paul Pesqueira
Rose Ramirez
Tricia Tembreull
Sr. Thuy Tran
YOUNG ALUMNI
Elizabeth Rojas ‘17 ‘19
Michael Wurth ‘13
Introducing RICH LOESING
Our Savior Parish and the USC Caruso Catholic Center are pleased to welcome our new Vice President of Advancement, Rich Loesing. Rich comes to us from Movember, the world’s largest men’s health charity, where he spearheaded high-level fundraising campaigns and activations all across the United States. As well as being a licensed attorney, he brings over a decade of experience in fundraising, development, and sales.
When asked why he is excited to join the Catholic Trojan family, Rich responded, “The opportunity to bring young people closer to Christ, especially at a time they need it most, is one that is incredibly appealing to me. I am beyond excited to assist in advancing the Center’s mission of developing loving disciples that will transform the world.”
EX OFFICIO
Most Reverend José H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles
Fr. Richard Sunwoo, Pastor
Rich resides in Long Beach with his wife, Brenda, and their son, Ricky, as they await their second child’s arrival in September. A passionate Catholic, his interests include men’s ministry, public speaking, Catholic apologetics, and supporting his beloved Cincinnati Bengals. Please join us in welcoming Rich Loesing.
Thanks to the generous support of our Trojan Catholic community
FROM 2016 – 2022, USC CARUSO CATHOLIC CENTER
COMPLETED OUR CAMPAIGN RAISING MORE THAN $35M IN DONATIONS, PLEDGES, AND LEGACY GIFTS.
More than 2,800 alumni, students, parents, parishioners and donors joined together in this collective initiative. We are so joyful to see the fruit that your financial sacrifices are bearing to support Catholic Life on the Campus of USC, and the Parish. From establishing several endowments to the daily operating budget, the Catholic Center is alive with activities thanks to this campaign that helps us honor our past and prepare for the future.
Even with the challenges the pandemic brought to our community, the support of our Trojan Catholic community never wavered. This allowed our ministries to pivot and provide programs online, and now that students are back on campus, our programs are flourishing again. The impact of donor support can be seen throughout our ministries as young adults learn and grow in their faith at events like Sunday SCuppers, retreats, service projects and our vibrant ministry programs.
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15,795 NUMBER OF TOTAL GIFTS
$35,771,208
TOTAL AMOUNT RAISED
BY THE NUMBERS
2,824 NUMBER OF DONORS
$16,105,243
TOTAL ENDOWMENT GIFTS AND PLEDGES
724 NUMBER OF STUDENTS/ALUMNI WHO GAVE
2,413 NUMBER OF NEW DONORS (7/1/16-12/31/22)
YOUR TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT IN THE CATHOLIC CENTER WILL PROVIDE THE FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT NEEDED AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 100 YEARS OF CATHOLIC LIFE AT USC.
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USC CARUSO CATHOLIC CENTER
CAMPAIGN CELEBRATION
On April 20th, students, staff, and supporters gathered at Perch in downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the conclusion of the Caruso Catholic Center’s comprehensive campaign. With music, guest speakers, and spiritual fellowship, it was truly a night to remember.
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100 YEARS OF CATHOLIC LIFE AT USC
1923 - On January 17, the Newman Club was officially formed with 62 participating students. It was founded with the desire “to provide Catholic students a means of becoming acquainted and to give them an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the literature of the Church.”
1945 - Referring to themselves as “Newmanites,” the 93 members enjoyed weekly meetings, guest speakers, dances, masses, retreats, and service opportunities throughout the academic year.
1958 - Following the formal establishment of Our Savior Parish, the first mass was celebrated at the newly constructed church on February 16. Fr. Joseph Weyer was named the inaugural pastor and director of the Newman Center.
1970 s - The Order of Servites joined the Newman Center, parents began playing a more active role in the Newman Guild, and Sr. Noelle O’Shea and Sr. Joan Bauer worked as the first nuns on staff.
1982 - The Newman Center celebrated its Silver Jubilee with Cardinal Manning. As one of the only parishes in L.A. ministering to college students, mass attendance regularly exceeded 600 students per week. Fr. Lawrence Martin Jenco was also assigned to the Newman Center and is now a proposed candidate for sainthood.
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1923 was a big year: Yankee Stadium hosted its first game, the Hollywood (land) sign was erected, and the USC Alumni Association got its start. Most importantly, it marked the founding of the USC Newman Club and the beginning of Catholic life at USC. Newman Centers, Newman Houses, Newman Clubs, or Newman Communities are Catholic campus ministry centers at secular universities throughout the U.S. and the world. This “Newman movement” was inspired by the writings of St. John Henry Newman, the 19th century’s most important English-speaking Catholic theologian. Here’s a brief history of ours:
2000 s - The Archdiocese of Los Angeles steps in to manage the Center and Parish under the guidance of Fr. William Messenger.
2002 - The vision for a new church and center was formulated and a capital campaign was launched. Over the next 10 years, this vision was led by Cardinal Roger Mahoney, Joe Boskovich (USC Trustee), Steve Sample (USC President), Fr. Lawrence Seyer (Pastor), and Rick Caruso.
2012 - After the completion of a monumental building project, Our Savior Parish celebrated the first Mass in the new church, and the USC Caruso Catholic Center was established.
2014 - The Newman Guild was relaunched to support the student life of Catholic Trojans on campus. Today, more than 90 women—from USC alumni to mothers and friends—participate in this staple of our Catholic community.
2023 - The Trojan community is proud to celebrate 100 years of Catholic life at USC. The Newman Guild looks forward to another century of bringing students closer to Christ.
Although 100 years have passed, the mission of the original Newman club remains: keeping Christ at the center of our lives. With continued prayers and support, Catholic Trojans will continue to “Fight On and Pray On” for another century and beyond!
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SERVE On a Mission to
Berenice Rodriguez knows what it takes to be a successful runner — she won the "Race with Spirit 5K" in February.
She approaches her faith with the same tenacity and dedication. Berenice understands that living a life of faith is a marathon, not a sprint. So, when she was choosing which college she would attend, the presence of a lively Catholic Center was a high priority.
She found what she was looking for in the Caruso Catholic Center.
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BERENICE'S STORY
“The CC does such a wonderful job of putting out all the resources they offer to be able to stay strong in your faith,” says Berenice, who just finished her second year as an occupational therapy major. “Definitely community is huge for me, surrounding myself with friends who will push me for the things I know are truly, genuinely good for me.”
Berenice is Missions Chair of the Caruso Catholic Center’s Student Executive Board. One of her goals is to grow the center’s ministries so her fellow students have more opportunities to put their faith into action through service.
Programs like Alternative Spring Break have helped Berenice see service in a new light. She has learned that giving of your time can be every bit as impactful as donating material goods, especially when serving our unhoused or elderly Los Angeles neighbors.
“Now I realize that conversation, a listening ear, is just as important in giving back,” Berenice says. “People don’t necessarily need food or clothing. They want to have a simple conversation. (It’s about) bringing back humanity and helping others remember their dignity.”
She encourages other students to commit to making time for service, even if it’s only an hour here and there.
“You will get so much more back than what you think,” she says. “Your heart will be changed in so many different ways.”
As a runner, Berenice knows that every step you take makes a difference when it’s a step taken in faith.
People don’t necessarily need food or clothing. THEY WANT TO HAVE A SIMPLE CONVERSATION.
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BERENICE RODRIGUEZ ’25 IS MISSIONS CHAIR OF THE CARUSO CATHOLIC CENTER’S STUDENT EXECUTIVE BOARD.
HOME A Home away from
BASILICA'S STORY
When Basilica Gomes attended her first Mass at Our Savior Parish, she saw a sign bearing the words her heart had been longing for: Welcome Home .
“I had tears in my eyes,” Basilica recalls. “For the first time, I felt like there was someplace I belonged that I’m not completely out of water, where I don’t have to constantly be on guard and know what to say. I could just be myself.”
It took incredible courage and perseverance for Basilica to move to USC from India. When she felt homesick, the Caruso Catholic Center helped her find her place.
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Basilica, a graduate student in business analytics, had been a youth ministry leader in her parish at home. Even while balancing her busy class schedule with a job, she wanted to find a way to serve her new community.
“The Caruso Catholic Center just makes it so much easier for you to do this,” Basilica says. “You don’t have to go and find anything. Everything is really well-organized. And they make it so much fun! So it’s not just work. It’s more of a holistic experience.”
Basilica participated in Alternative Spring Break this year. She loved getting to talk with the people she served at Casa Milagrosa. And she thrived off the positive energy created by joining with other Catholic students to serve her neighbors in need.
The sense that she was making a difference — that she was truly living her faith — gave Basilica a warm, familiar feeling.
“Yes, I do miss home,” she says, “but this almost feels like home to be around people who just want to do something and give back.”
At the Caruso Catholic Center, “Welcome Home” is more than just a sign—it’s a promise.
BASILICA GOMES ’23 IS PURSUING HER MASTER’S OF BUSINESS ANALYTICS IN MARSHALL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.
Alternative Spring Break:
GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY
Alternative Spring Break offers an opportunity for our Trojan men and women to immerse themselves in their faith and in service to others during their week off from classes.
In addition to service projects, participants can attend daily Mass and engage in group discussions to help them better understand the Catholic social teaching that underlies the service work they do.
This year, we offered service opportunities at three locations within the Westlake district of central Los Angeles:
• At Casa Milagrosa, we organized food donations, prepared meals, and interacted with guests at this day center for more than 66,000 men, women, and children experiencing homelessness.
• At Hotel Dieu, an affordable senior apartment complex developed by the Daughters of Charity, our students provided elder care and companionship for residents . We also helped the Daughters of Charity host a fun and festive St. Patrick’s Day lunch.
• At St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, students packed meals and delivered them to homebound seniors and neighbors with disabilities.
We are incredibly proud of our students for their commitment to serving their community.
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FOR THE FIRST TIME, I FELT LIKE THERE WAS SOMEPLACE I BELONGED.
ULTIMATE GOAL Training for the
JERYN'S STORY
Playing basketball and coaching youth soccer taught Jeryn Dizon about the importance of training to reach a goal. When he arrived at USC last fall, he dedicated himself to achieving a different kind of objective.
“You’re only on this earth for a limited amount of time,” Jeryn says, “and you’re trying to do everything you can to make the steps in order to get into salvation and be able to bring loved ones with you. That’s kind of the ultimate goal. And what I value the most in terms of my life is to make sure that I worked on myself and my relationship with God in order to do that.”
For Jeryn, the community at the Caruso Catholic Center has provided him with the perfect teammates: devoted Catholic friends who share his values.
He knew he was in the right place on his first visit to the center, when he met Campus Minister Tricia Tembreull.
“Tricia was emphasizing, ‘This is your home,’ and I took that to heart,” Jeryn says. “I spend more time at the center than I do anywhere else.”
As a freshman, making authentic friendships on campus can be challenging. Jeryn, who’s majoring in lifespan health, made a point of filling his inner circle with people he met at the CC. With faith at the core of his relationships, everything else fell into place.
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“Religion is a big part of my life,” he says. “If I’m not able to talk about my faith with others, then I’m not able to show my true self. So that was my priority, to meet people with common goals.”
Together, Jeryn and his friends at the Caruso Catholic Center are training with discipline and running so as to win the prize (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:24).
IF I’M NOT ABLE TO TALK ABOUT MY FAITH WITH OTHERS, THEN I’M NOT ABLE TO SHOW MY TRUE SELF.
JERYN DIZON ’26 is a Student Ambassador for the Caruso Catholic Center.
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The OneLife LA march hosted by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles was attended by several passionate Catholic Trojan students.
Students joined on campus for prayer and a worship service with the distribution of ashes to commemorate the holy season of Lent.
Joining the Mass choir is one way that students dedicate their time and talent to the Our Savior Parish and the Caruso Catholic Center.
Volunteering at Casa Milagrosa gives students and staff the opportunity to serve those in need on a regular basis.
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“Mass on the Grass” takes place once a month at USC’s Alumni Park.
More than 100 runners and walkers participated in the 2nd annual “Race with Spirit” 5k.
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The 10th Anniversary Mass & Christmas Tree Lighting helped kick off the Christmas season celebrations.
A group of young adults celebrates the Sacrament of Confirmation.
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Students enact the Live Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, April 2023.
Students enjoy an evening of ice skating.
The Catholic Trojan Retreat allows young adults to build community and strengthen their relationships with Christ.
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