Los Angeles Interfaith Memorial Service for the Unhoused; Hsi Lai Temple Joins in Prayer
Report by Pan Ching-Hsia, The Life News Agency, Los Angeles, USA
On December 21, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles held an Interfaith Memorial Service for the Unhoused at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Representatives and faithful from Catholicism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism—approximately 500 people in total—gathered to pray for the 1,564 unhoused individuals who passed away on the streets over the past year. Venerable Huize of Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple led a delegation of 11 Fo Guang members, including Echo Tsai, President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA), in participating in the service.
The ceremony was held in conjunction with National Unhoused Persons’ Memorial Day, observed annually since 1990 on the winter solstice (December 21). As the longest and coldest night of the year, the date symbolizes the harsh realities faced by people experiencing homelessness and serves as a reminder that the dignity of every life must never be overlooked.
The service opened with the hymn “Amazing Grace.” Students from Catholic and non-Catholic schools entered the cathedral carrying candles inscribed with the names of deceased unhoused individuals, symbolizing hope and the responsibility shared by all across generations and faith traditions. Following this, under the leadership of Archbishop José H. Gomez, representatives of the various religions processed into the cathedral together to begin the interfaith memorial prayers.
Speakers from different faith traditions then offered reflections, including Tim Compton of the Hollywood Church of Christ, Rabbi Susan Nanus of Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Omar Ricci of the Islamic Center of Southern California, and Pravrajika Saradeshaprana of the Hindu Vedanta Society.
In his address, Archbishop Gomez referenced the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, emphasizing that a true neighbor is not defined by identity or religious affiliation, but by the willingness to extend help when others are suffering. Together with leaders of other faiths, he invited participants to reflect on how society can truly “see” and accompany those experiencing homelessness, and to renew a shared commitment to respond with compassion, unity, and concrete action.
At the conclusion of the service, following a moment of silent prayer, religious representatives lit candles symbolizing each of the deceased unhoused individuals. Participants were invited to take the candles home, gathering collective blessings and prayers. With the hope that, guided by their respective faiths, the departed may journey peacefully to the Pure Land or heaven they aspired to, Fo Guang members likewise joined in this act of remembrance.
Venerable Huize noted that the day coincided with the commencement of the Seven-Day Amitabha Buddha Chanting Retreat at Hsi Lai Temple, during which Fo Guang members could further dedicate prayers for the deceased unhoused individuals, expressing their compassion and heartfelt intentions.
Photo Captions (Photos 01–08 by Chang Chih-Cheng)
