Angelus News | February 23, 2024 | Vol. 9 No. 4

and his parents when they entered the
Catholic Church in 2008. “His gift
of inclusivity is calling people of all
faiths and walks of life to be leaders.”
Thomas said he sees his support for
vocations as a way of paying it forward.
“It’s important to me to help them
because those coming into this will
be our spiritual directors of the future,
and it’s natural to honor those who
have served us so well in the past …
they are a great example of those who
come before them.”
Lew and Lisa Horne know a thing or
two about being community leaders.
For years, Lisa has led a weekly
rosary group for friends to pray for
their children’s path toward heaven.
A Dame of the Sovereign Military
Order of Malta, she has found her
faith strengthened during the order’s
annual trips to Lourdes. After their
daughter Christina was diagnosed
with multiple sclerosis (MS) soon
after graduating from USC, they knew
what to do.
“Taking her to Lourdes as well was
an important part of the healing
process … I wanted to give her that
faith moment,” Lisa said. The Hornes
have funded research for MS and are
proud to share that Christina and her
husband, Dane, recently celebrated
the birth of a son.
Lew is the board vice chair for
Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters,
a member of the Caruso Catholic
Center Advisory Board, and a board
member and past chair at the Los
Angeles County Economic Development
Corporation. He also serves as
co-chair of the Central City Association
Homelessness Initiative, a responsibility
borne out of a family connection:
He lost his brother to life on the
streets in a homeless encampment.
In May 2023, Lew was honored at
the Champions for Youth Gala by
Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters, an
honor that resonates strongly with
him: He began sponsoring a little
brother named Eddie 13 years ago.
Delia Wilson-Johnson has been an
influential voice and inspirational
example of compassion, prayer, and
change in South Los Angeles for
decades.
A Compton resident and parishioner
at St. Lawrence of Brindisi Church in
Watts, Delia’s knowledge and expertise
have benefited numerous archdiocesan
outreach programs, including
the African American Catholic
Center for Evangelization and the
Anti-Racism Task Force. She is also a
member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the
Knights of Peter Claver, which focuses
on portraying higher principles of
Christian womanhood and promoting
friendship, unity, and Christian
charity.
But her most rewarding role these
days, she said, is facilitating the Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults: “Every
conversation I have with those in formation
helps me grow in my faith.”
Her former pastor at St. Lawrence,
Bishop Matthew Elshoff, described
Delia as a force of nature.
“She proclaims the word ‘evangelization’
with an exclamation point,”
said Bishop Elshoff. “On top of that
is an incredible faith where she will
always assure people the Holy Spirit is
present and will help.”
Daniel K. Walker is the fourth-generation
leader of Farmers & Merchants
Bank, which his great-grandfather
C.J. Walker started in Long
Beach in 1907. Now the executive
chairman of the board, he believes in
modeling the bank’s five basic pillars:
honesty, integrity, the home, the
church, and service above self.
“Our bank is God’s blessing,” Daniel
said. “As I have been getting closer to
Catholic organizations … I have told
them clearly: My involvement with
you is to allow you the opportunity to
transform individuals in need of faith.
If we don’t accomplish that goal, we
are not following what the Bible is
teaching us.”
When the Archdiocese of LA decided
during the COVID-19 pandemic
that it needed the support of the
government’s Paycheck Protection
Program (PPP), the bank made more
than 350 PPP loans totaling $50
million available to the archdiocese.
More than 66,000 Catholic school
students benefited from keeping
their teachers, with some 5,400 jobs
retained.
In the 1950s, the bank assisted
Rev. Robert Schuller when he built
a church that became the famous
February 23, 2024 • ANGELUS • 21