Each month, The Tidings lists dates in the church's calendar which commemorate saints and other noteworthy celebrations during the upcoming month, and archdiocesan parishes named in their honor. The list may not include all the feast days in a particular month.

Dec. 3: St. Francis Xavier, one of the original seven members of the Society of Jesus in the 16th century. He was sent as a missionary to the East Indies and Japan, but died on his way to China. Francis converted thousands and is the patron of all foreign missions. Parishes: St. Francis Xavier, Burbank and Pico Rivera; St. Francis Xavier Japanese Mission, Los Angeles.

Dec. 4: St. Barbara, virgin martyr of the fourth century, patroness of architects and firemen. Parish: Old Mission Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara.

Dec. 6: St. Nicholas, legendary fourth century bishop, famous for his charitable deeds and love of children. Although no local parish bears his name, he is the basis for the figure of Santa Claus and a popular saint in both Roman and Orthodox Churches.

Dec. 7: St. Ambrose, fourth century bishop and doctor of the church who was proclaimed a bishop by the people before his baptism. Ambrose baptized St. Augustine and was named one of the four great doctors of the Latin Church. He made extensive use of hymns as a means of divine praise. Parish: St. Ambrose, West Hollywood.

Dec. 8: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this feast dedicated to Mary's conception started in the seventh century and by the 12th it was firmly established in England. On Dec. 8, 1854 Pope Pius IX defined the doctrine that Mary was "exempt from all stain of original sin." It is now the patronal feast of the Catholic Church of the United States and is a Holy Day of Obligation. Parishes: Immaculate Conception in Los Angeles, Monrovia and New Cuyama.

Dec. 9: St. Juan Diego was canonized in 2002. On this date in 1531 the Blessed Virgin appeared to him with instructions for the local bishop to build a church and miraculously revealed her image on his cape. This relic is preserved in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.

Dec. 10: Our Lady of Loretto, a Marian feast named after the town in Italy where legend claims the angels moved Mary's home. Parish: Our Lady of Loretto, Los Angeles.

Dec. 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mary's appearance to the native, Juan Diego in 1531 is a major feast of Central America and Mexico. Parishes: Our Lady of Guadalupe in El Monte, Guadalupe, Hermosa Beach, Irwindale, East Los Angeles (Hammel Street and Rosehill), Oxnard, Santa Barbara and Santa Paula; Our Lady of Guadalupe Sanctuary, Los Angeles.

Dec. 13: St. Lucy, martyred in 304 during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. Many details of her life are vague but during the Middle Ages many sought her aid from eye problems as her name is derived from lux (light). Parishes: St. Lucy in Long Beach and Los Angeles.

Dec. 13: St. Odilia, the eighth century abbess who was born blind but at age 12 miraculously had her sight restored when she was baptized. Parish: St. Odilia, Los Angeles.

Dec. 25: Nativity of the Lord, a Holy Day of Obligation, celebrated with three Masses, midnight, dawn and during the day. The origin of the word "Christmas" comes from Old English 11th century Cristes Maesse, the Mass of Christ. In 1223 St. Francis of Assisi created the first Nativity scene. Parishes: Nativity in El Monte, Los Angeles and Torrance.

Dec. 25: St. Anastasia, fourth century martyr whose feast is commemorated in the second Mass on Christmas Day, she is the patron of weavers and invoked against poison. Parish: St. Anastasia, Los Angeles.

Dec. 26: Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, a feast observed on the Sunday after Christmas. The devotional background was strong in the 17th century and in the next century prayers were composed for a special Mass. In 1921 Pope Benedict XV extended the feast to the whole Church. Parishes: Holy Family in Artesia, Glendale, South Pasadena and Wilmington.

Dec. 26: St. Stephen, first martyr of the church as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. As he was stoned to death, he cried, "Lord, Jesus, receive my spirit." Parish: St. Stephen, Monterey Park.

Dec. 27: St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, the author of the fourth Gospel and the Book of Revelation. With his brothers, James and Peter, he witnessed the Transfiguration and the Agony in the Garden and is called "the Beloved Disciple." Parish: St. John the Evangelist, Los Angeles.

Dec. 28: The Holy Innocents, martyrs, commemorates all the male children killed by King Herod in revenge against the birth of Christ. Parish: Holy Innocents, Long Beach.