LOS ANGELES --- Mount St. Mary's College has been awarded a $2.5 million federal grant to help more Hispanic and low-income students finish four-year degrees in the critical disciplines of math and science. The grant is one of approximately 100 to be awarded nationwide by the U.S. Department of Education over the next two years to colleges and universities where at least 25 percent of students are Hispanic.

In addition to degree completion, the grant seeks to enhance relationships between two-year Hispanic-serving institutions and four-year institutions, especially focusing on students pursuing math and science. MSMC faculty will engage in curricular development with Pasadena City College, Santa Monica College and Los Angeles Trade-Tech College faculty, as well as with area high school faculty, in its efforts to boost the number of Hispanic students obtaining four-year degrees in these fields.

The funds will be used for laptops and new software that supports active, hands-on learning. MSMC also is creating a Success Center for Hispanic science and math students. The center will provide comprehensive services including tutoring in math and science during the regular academic year, as well as summer academies.

The grant, created as part of the federal College Cost Reduction Act, also will train professors to better engage Hispanic students and track their persistence toward completing a four-year education. About 44 percent of Mount St. Mary's baccalaureate students are Hispanic.

Catholic Underground: Oct. 18
HOLLYWOOD --- Catholic Underground is a monthly youth and young adult Catholic event in West Hollywood. Hosted by the Friars of the Renewal, all are invited to come every third Saturday of the month to St. Victor Church for an hour of adoration and confession. Prayer time is followed by a social time to meet with friends, enjoy refreshments and listen to Catholic artists. More than 200 youth and young adults have attended the monthly Catholic Undergrounds, along with priests available for confession. The next Catholic Underground takes place Oct 18, 8 p.m. at St. Victor Church, 8634 Holloway Dr., West Hollywood. The October entertainment is music provided Caitlin Crosby. An art show by local Catholic artists on the terrace of the parish will take place Oct. 18, 4-10 p.m., and Oct. 19, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

L.A. Youth Music Competition: Oct. 18
LOS ANGELES --- Young multi-cultural singers, bands and instrumentalists throughout Los Angeles will compete in the 2008 L.A. Youth Music Festival Competition at the historic Olvera Street Plaza in downtown Los Angeles Oct. 18 from 3-5:30 p.m. The best performer(s) will receive a scholarship award from Jovenes, Inc. See www.jovenesinc.org.

Interfaith Hope Concert: Nov. 16
LOS ANGELES --- A Concert of Hope for Intercultural Understanding, Reconciliation and Peace will take place Nov. 16, 6-9 p.m. at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 3300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Music will be presented by The Interfaith Connection Band, which includes guitarist Fidel Sanchez of Precious Blood Church. The concert benefits Caminos de Esperanza Cultural Center, formed to provide support to Los Angeles immigrants by building interfaith bridges to the wider community through the arts and storytelling. Tickets are $10 general, $5 students. Information: (323) 327-6880.

Orthodox, Catholic bishops share campus ministry standards at meeting
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The work of campus ministry was among the leading topics discussed at the Joint Committee of Orthodox and Catholic Bishops' 24th meeting, held Oct. 1-3 in Daphne, Ala. Hosted by retired Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb of Mobile, Ala., the meeting included a review by Bishop Tod D. Brown of Orange, Calif., of the U.S. Catholic bishops' 1985 pastoral letter on campus ministry. Father Mark Arey, general secretary of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, known as SCOBA, described how Orthodox Christian Fellowship promotes an Orthodox presence on college campuses. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington released a report on the meeting Oct. 9. It was co-chaired by Archbishop Lipscomb and Archbishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada, who is currently administrator of the Orthodox Church in America. Participants of the meeting also reviewed how bishops are named in their churches. Archbishop Lipscomb presented for the Catholic side, citing the Code of Canon Law. The Orthodox bishops described the process in their jurisdictions, which varies from church to church.

Legatus members find faith helps them cope with Wall Street upheaval
NEW YORK (CNS) -- Many Catholics who work on Wall Street and are trying to cope with the current upheaval in all sectors of the financial markets seem to be finding strength in their faith and the relationships they have made through Legatus, an organization of "ambassadors of Christ in the marketplace." Catholics "involved in the financial sector" are as vulnerable to "fluctuations in the economy as anyone else," said Daniel C. Schreck, coordinator for the Manhattan chapter of Legatus. "From what I have seen, I do think the Catholic faith has given them a sense of peace even in these turbulent times," he said in a Catholic News Service interview. "Due to the personal relationships which are the foundation of any Legatus chapter, members have a support system at their disposal," he continued, adding, "Bottom line -- Legatus gives these business executives the friendships and support necessary to confront life's ups and downs." Legatus -- which is Latin for ambassador -- is an organization of Catholic business leaders, both men and women.

Cardinal says Iraqi church leaders risk lives in 'tragic' situation
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Iraq's leading churchman said the situation in parts of his country remained "disastrous and tragic," and he said church leaders were risking their lives daily to proclaim the Gospel. Cardinal Emmanuel-Karim Delly of Baghdad, the Chaldean Catholic patriarch, made his comments Oct. 14 at the Synod of Bishops on the Bible. His speech received a huge round of applause from the more than 200 bishops present. Cardinal Delly said life in Iraq is like a Way of the Cross for many people. "Peace and security are lacking, just as the basic elements for daily life are lacking," he said. "There continue to be shortages of electricity, water and gasoline, telephone communication is increasingly difficult, roads are blocked, the schools are closed or endangered, hospitals run on a reduced staff and people fear for their safety," he said. He said everyone fears kidnapping and intimidation, including church workers. He noted that 16 priests and two bishops in Iraq have been abducted and released after payment of ransom.

Bishop says Vietnamese Catholics live out Bible in pro-life movement
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Decades of persecution have made Catholics in Vietnam fiercely committed to living out what they read in the Bible, and one of the results has been an active pro-life movement, said Bishop Joseph Nguyen Chi Linh of Thanh Hoa, Vietnam. Addressing the world Synod of Bishops on the Bible Oct. 14, the bishop said, "Unfortunately, Vietnam currently holds first place for the number of abortions performed." International organizations have estimated that between one-quarter and one-third of all pregnancies end in abortion in the country. In 2006, there were more abortions than live births in Ho Chi Minh City. Bishop Linh told the synod: "Paradoxically, this catastrophe has given rise to the pro-life movement among Catholics, a movement that particularly is involved in going to hospitals, recovering aborted babies, baptizing them if there is even the smallest sign of life and creating cemeteries to bury them. "Initially, this practice was considered a crime by the civil authorities and hospital directors," he said. Now, while the practice is not authorized, it is tolerated, the bishop said, and documentary filmmakers and journalists have written about it.