Parishioners are invited to donate a piece of china --- a porcelain or ceramic cup or plate --- to help complete the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

Artist Lalo Garcia will use the shards of china in a new mosaic on the Shrine's wall, as part of the second phase of the project. Garcia, born in Mexico, is a celebrated local artist who created the Shrine at the Cathedral. He said he wanted parishioners to feel that they are a part of ongoing development of the Shrine by bringing an offering from their household.

"Bring something that you love, something that is precious to you in your home and a part of your family," said Garcia. "It needs to have that energy, love and devotion in order to transmit that love and make it a sacred space."

Garcia, who will break the china into to pieces to be used in a mosaic, said he was looking for ceramic and porcelain in a variety of colors --- light to dark blue, pink to deep red, yellow and gold, white, and the cream color of the Cathedral building.

"This is a more personal and a more intimate way of participating and becoming a part of the Shrine," added Garcia. "[The china] that was once at your table for dinner fed you physically. But now it's going to feed you spiritually."

The completion of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe will depict all six apparitions of Our Lady to Juan Diego, something rarely seen. It will also include elaborate Mexican Talavera tile work on the wall, new candle stands, carved Cantera stones facing from the candle stands, and the mosaic using community-donated china shards. Garcia's love for Native culture and his commitment to preserving Mexican folklore are reflected in the design of the Shrine which uses a variety of Aztec motifs symbolizing life, strength and beauty.

But missing from the mosaic will be depictions of roses.

"The rose is the most important symbol in the story of Guadalupe. That's the sign the bishop was asking Juan Diego to bring him so he would believe," said Garcia. This made the artist hesitant to depict roses using ceramic, because when Juan Diego returned to the bishop and unfolded his tilma or cloak, fresh roses fell out and the miraculous image of a dark-skinned Our Lady of Guadalupe was emblazoned on his cloak.

The roses at the Shrine, added Garcia, need to be alive and real, "so you can touch it and smell it and experience it as a beautiful thing."

To resolve this artistic dilemma, climbing roses will be planted on the freeway side of the Cathedral that in time will grow to drape over the top of the Shrine.

"That will be heaven on earth," mused the artist.

Be a part of the Shrine: What: Donate a piece of china --- a porcelain or ceramic cup or plate. One piece of china per household. Where: Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles. When: Dec. 9, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Dec. 10, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Dec. 11, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Dec. 12, 4:40 a.m.-8 p.m. Parking: $5 on weekends and after 4 p.m. weekdays. Regular parking rates apply weekdays before 4 p.m.