Dear Friends,
To know the impact of Charlie and Tracy, Will and Krista, Pete and Christine Smith is to witness a legacy of love in action, one that spans generations and continues to shape the lives of our community through the spirit of kinship and love for all people. Introduced to Dolores Mission in the 1980s by Father Greg Boyle, the Smith family embraced a calling to serve, becoming steadfast advocates for education, social justice, and the transformative power of community. Their story is one of faith in action, a testament to what happens when compassion meets movement, ensuring that every child, every family, and every individual is met with kindness, dignity, and opportunity.
For more than four decades, the Smith family has been at the forefront of efforts to provide access to a Jesuit education for all children, believing deeply that no student should be turned away due to financial hardship. In the 1990s, amid the turmoil and violence in East Los Angeles, they responded with steadfast leadership, working alongside friends and colleagues to establish the Jesuit Charities Golf Tournament, an event that has since become a cornerstone of fundraising for Dolores Mission Church and School. This tournament, which has continued to thrive for 28 years, holds a special place in the Smith family’s heart, as Charlie’s grandfather played his last game of golf at the event, a moment that highlights their deep, personal connection to this mission.
Their love for Dolores Mission is woven into the very fabric of their lives, not only through their philanthropy and leadership but through the sacred moments they have shared within its walls. Weddings, baptisms, and countless celebrations of faith have brought their family together here, reinforcing their belief in the power of community and the presence of Christ in every act of service. As Charlie so beautifully puts it, “The power of the Holy Spirit is more present at Dolores Mission than anywhere I’ve ever been.” Tracy echoes this sentiment, saying, “Christ has always been very present at Dolores Mission. Watching every family get treated with dignity and respect is something we did not see anywhere else.”
Yet, if you ask any member of the Smith family about their years of service, they will tell you that they have received far more than they have given. Their commitment extends beyond financial support, it is an embodiment of love in action, a reflection of their belief in “forming men and women for and with others.” Their leadership ensures that the work of Dolores Mission continues for generations to come, creating bridges of opportunity for low-income students and their families.
It is with immense gratitude that we honor the Smith family legacy for exemplifying the, “Spirit of Dolores Mission.” Congratulations to Charlie and Tracy, Will and Krista, Pete and Christine Smith for your unwavering faith, generosity, and dedication to our community. We are truly blessed to have you as part of the Dolores Mission family.
With gratitude and love,
Dolores Mission
Dear Friends of Dolores Mission,
When we think about the legacy of love and community at Dolores Mission, the name Amada Holguin always comes to mind. First welcomed to the community by neighbors who invited her to mass and encouraged her to become part of the Communidades Escesiales de Base (CEB), Amada’s dedication to service quickly found a home. It was at Dolores Mission that she discovered her calling to care for others, protect the most vulnerable, and offer comfort in any way she could. Throughout her more than four decades of service, Amada’s love has been transforming the community, shaping the very core of Boyle Heights.
After years of raising her children in Lincoln Heights her family moved to Pico Gardens Housing Development in 1985, where she became a pillar of strength for immigrant families navigating an uncertain future. When the 1986 Amnesty program offered a pathway to residency, Amada walked alongside her neighbors to Dolores Mission, where classes in English and literacy gave them the tools to secure their future. She saw education as a key to dignity and stability, ensuring that no family had to face these challenges alone.
While balancing her work as a home health provider and night maintenance worker, Amada’s role as a leader in the CEB became an extension of her deep sense of responsibility. She joined the Comité Pro Paz in 1987, driven by a mother’s instinct to protect the young men of her community. Late at night, she would speak with them on street corners, urging them toward a different path, one rooted in faith and opportunity. She crossed invisible gang lines to meet with other women in surrounding CEB groups through public housing developments, recognizing that solidarity in actions, movements, and advocacy were necessary to bring about change.
In 1988, when Proyecto Pastoral at Dolores Mission was founded, the heart of the community centralized and began programs to better support the needs of each person, Amada embraced its mission as if it were her own. Whether she was feeding the men of the Guadalupe Homeless Project and supporting their annual Christmas Drive, supporting the safe passage programs through Comunidad en Movimiento, or advocating for housing and education, and funding opportunities, she always led with her heart. When Jobs for a Future later became Homeboy Industries, she continued to champion its work, believing deeply in redemption and second chances.
As the HOPE VI redevelopment project reshaped Boyle Heights in 1999, displacing families, Amada joined Vecinos Unidos, fighting for tenants’ rights and standing at the forefront of community advocacy. In conversations, protests and rallies, she raised her voice for those who had been silenced, ensuring that families were not forgotten in the wake of change.
Even through personal heartbreak, Amada never wavered in her devotion to others. In 2014, after the loss of her son Tobi, she found renewed faith through Healing Hearts Restoring Hope, a group that gave her the strength to turn loss into purpose. By sharing her story, she offered young people a chance to learn, heal, and grow, showing them that even in grief, love can still lead the way.
Now, at 85 years old, Amada remains a steadfast presence in the community. She is still at the front lines, supporting food distribution efforts, ensuring the safety of children through safe passage programs, and attending community events that continue the work she started decades ago. She represents the many women whose labor built and shaped the Dolores Mission community, and reminds us to always spread love everywhere we go.
It is with deepest love and gratitude that we honor Amada Holguin, whose spirit of faith, strength, and boundless generosity embodies the very heart of Dolores Mission. Her legacy is not only in what she has done but in the lives she has transformed.
We are profoundly blessed to call her our own.
With deep gratitude and love,
Dolores Mission
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