Three Los Angeles students of different faiths...

Three Los Angeles students of different faiths boarded an Iberia Airlines flight to Madrid Sept. 4 with high expectations. They returned nine days later with stories about the country that sent Christopher Columbus sailing to the New World, and about their own voyage of understanding.

The interfaith pilgrimage of Bernardo Osuna Jr., Judith Schindler and Leila Ansari--timed to precede the anniversary of Columbus’ landing in the Americas--was the brainchild of Msgr. Royale M. Vadakin, the pastor of St. Anastasia’s Church in Los Angeles and former director of the Office of Ecumenical and Religious Affairs of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Vadakin wanted the students--part of the immigrant Catholic, Jewish and Muslim communities that coexist in the world that Columbus opened up--to find a meaningful way to commemorate the year 1492.

Along with Columbus’ departure from Spain, 1492 was the year Spanish Jews--a large community with a flourishing culture, well integrated into the country’s economy--were forced to convert or be expelled from the country. Muslims, the predominant force in the region until their caliphates were destroyed by Ferdinand and Isabella, were denied religious and other freedoms and also eventually expelled.

The fateful year, Vadakin said, “sadly marked the end of a brilliant and beautiful era in the Iberian Peninsula.”

Vadakin believed the students would be “a visible symbol of our continued efforts in Los Angeles to provide creative and positive interaction among the Catholic, Jewish and Muslim communities.” He invited some enthusiastic friends to underwrite the trip and asked Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Loyola Marymount University and the Islamic Center of Southern California to each select a student.

Each student wrote a brief statement of expectations and set up contacts within his or her religion in Spain. They visited four cities in Spain, where they met with Catholic, Jewish and Muslim leaders and attended religious services.

“I thought it was a great success--really educational and a completely new experience,” said Osuna, a junior studying Spanish and communications at Loyola Marymount. “At the airport, we were still on the shy, polite side--very tentative and hoping we didn’t offend each other.” But they quickly became friends and learned about each other’s religious views and practices, he said.

“The most important part for us was figuring out what to do with the year 1492,” Osuna said. “We came up with the conclusion that it was not something we could celebrate, but instead had to commemorate and not forget. We had the feeling that we all lost out.”

Schindler, a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College who holds a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology, said it was “inspiring to be in cities where great Jewish philosophers like Judah Halevi and Maimonides had had such great influence, but sad that there remain just the museums and a small Jewish population.”

For Ansari, an English and Iranian studies major at UCLA and editor-in-chief of the Daily Bruin, the trip brought fuller understanding of her Muslim heritage. “In the United States, we hear a lot about what happened to the Jews during the (Spanish) Inquisition but not so much about Muslims. I didn’t really understand the full impact until I was there.”

She agreed that the trip was worthwhile. “We kept thinking that we were like the beginning of a joke--’A Catholic, a Jew and a Muslim go on a trip together . . . ‘ Only we never got to the punch line because we got along so well,” she said.

They have written a joint statement about their trip and the sense of shared loss they feel. They will celebrate the pre-1492 spirit of tolerance that permitted Islamic, Jewish and Christian communities to thrive, side by side, by making public appearances together to talk about their experiences in Spain. For information, call the office of Msgr. Royale Vadakin at (310) 670-2243.

DEDICATION

St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral celebrates its 40th anniversary Oct. 3-4. Religious services, a luncheon and a dinner dance are included in the festivities. The address is 1324 S. Normandie Ave., Los Angeles. For a complete schedule of events and ticket information, call (213) 465-9664 or (818) 799-0400.

HONORED

Marsha McIntosh of Downey has begun a two-year term of voluntary service with the Mennonite Board of Missions. She serves as local program coordinator at the voluntary service unit in Downey. About 70 volunteers a year commit to service throughout North America in a variety of assignments.

DATES

The domestic mission arm of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will hold a national conference on urban ministry Oct. 1-3 at United Christian Church in Los Angeles. A response to the Los Angeles riots, the gathering is the first in a series of such conferences.The address is 623 E. 43rd St., Los Angeles. (213) 747-6357.

St. Stephen Presbyterian Church sponsors a “Crime Awareness and Child Safety” program at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. A police officer will speak. The address is 20121 Devonshire St., Chatsworth. (818) 360-7460.

Georgia Lambert will discuss “The Nature of the Soul: Blending the Aspects of Father, Son and Mother via Meditation” at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Philosophical Research Society. Admission is $8. The address is 3910 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles. (213) 663-2167.

St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church will hold a Blessing of the Animals at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 3. The event is in honor of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. The address is 7501 Hollywood Blvd. (213) 876-2102.

GATHERING

Thomas Hoyt, Jr., professor of Biblical studies at Hartford Seminary, will speak at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the School of Theology at Claremont. He will discuss “Jesus and the Disinherited Revisited: The Poor and the Rich in Luke-Acts.” Admission is free. (714) 626-3521.