The traditional Simbang Gabi celebration in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will begin at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels for the second consecutive year, and then continue in 105 parishes in the five pastoral regions.

Cardinal Roger Mahony will preside at the Dec. 15 Cathedral event, beginning at 6:30 p.m. For the third year, the Cathedral Mass is being sponsored by one of the five regions (San Pedro) under the auspicies of the archdiocesan Office of Filipino Ministry.

The theme for the 2005 celebrations is "Eucharistic Family: Giving Thanks, Sharing, Serving" (Pamilyang Pinagbubuklod ng Eukaristiya: Nagpapasalamat, Nagbabahaginan, Naglilingkod), said Good Shepherd Sister Mary Christina Sevilla, ministry director for the Filipino Community.

"The theme incorporates, and hopes to provide continuity to, the recently concluded Year of the Eucharist proclaimed by the late Pope John Paul II," she explained, "and underscores the vital roles played by families in the formation of today's society."

During the Cathedral Mass, families representing parishes which are celebrating Simbang Gabi Masses will each carry a parol, or Christmas star lantern, the Philippine Christmas symbol. "The parol symbolizes Christ as the light of the world who overcomes darkness," said Sister Sevilla, noting that the parol is used when walking to Mass before dawn.

Simbang Gabi is a Philippine Advent tradition, a novena of Masses that literally means "night Mass." A uniquely Filipino custom dating back nearly 500 years, Simbang Gabi begins nine nights before Christmas Eve. In the Philippines, families usually make their way to church in the dark to attend dawn Mass; in the U.S. Masses are often held in the evening.

More than 100 parishes of the archdiocese are hosting one or more nights of Simbang Gabi celebrations, some for all nine. For more information, call the Office of Filipino Ministry at (323) 662-8480. For information on a particular celebration, call the parish.

SIMBANG GABI 2005 SCHEDULE

Our Lady of the Angels Region

A novena of Simbang Gabi Masses Dec. 16-24 takes place at the following parishes:

---Immaculate Heart of Mary, L.A., 5 a.m.
---St. Brendan, L.A., 6 a.m.
---St. Columban, L.A., 7 p.m. except Dec. 18, 5 p.m.; Dec. 24, 6 a.m.

Additional celebrations:

Dec. 16
Our Mother of Good Counsel, L.A., 7 p.m.
St. Francis of Assisi, L.A., 7 p.m.
St. Basil, L.A., 7 p.m.
St. Mark, Venice, 7 p.m.

Dec. 17
St. Gerard Majella, L.A., 5:30 p.m.
St. Gregory Nazianzen, L.A., 5:30 p.m.
St. Augustine, Culver City, 7 p.m.
Christ the King, L.A., 7 p.m.
St. Mary Magdalen, L.A., 7 p.m.
Cathedral Chapel, L.A., 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 18
Blessed Sacrament, L.A., 6 p.m.

Dec. 22
St. Anne, Santa Monica, 6 p.m.
St. Joan of Arc, L.A., 6:30 p.m.

Santa Barbara Region

A novena of Masses Dec. 16-23 takes place at the following parishes:

---Queen of Angels, Lompoc (call for schedule; (805) 733-2735).
---Mary Star of the Sea, Oxnard, 7 p.m. weekdays, 5:30 p.m. weekends.

Additional celebrations:

Dec. 17
St. Jude, Westlake Village, 5 p.m.
Blessed Junipero Serra, Camarillo, 5 p.m.
St. Peter Claver, Simi Valley, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18
St. Rose of Lima, Simi Valley, 6 p.m.

Dec. 20
St. Paschal Baylon, Thousand Oaks, 7 p.m.

Dec. 21
| St. Julie Billiart, Newbury Park, 7 p.m.

San Fernando Region

A novena of Masses Dec. 16-24 takes place at the following parishes:

---Blessed Kateri, Santa Clarita, 5 a.m.
---Our Lady of the Valley, Canoga Park, 5 a.m.
---Holy Trinity, Atwater, 7 p.m.
---St. Genevieve, Panorama City, 5:30 a.m. (from Dec. 17)

Additional celebrations:

Dec. 16
Incarnation, Glendale, 7 p.m.
St. Euphrasia, Granada Hills, 7 p.m.
St. Francis Xavier, Burbank, 7 p.m.
St. Genevieve, Panorama City, 7 p.m.
St. Robert Bellarmine, Burbank, 7 p.m.
St. Didacus, Sylmar, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 17
Blessed Junípero Serra, Lancaster, 5 p.m.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Tujunga, 5:30 p.m.
St. Mary, Palmdale, 5:30 p.m.
St. Patrick, North Hollywood, 5:30 p.m.
St. Elizabeth, Van Nuys, 7 p.m.
St. Ignatius, L.A., 7 p.m.
St. Bernardine of Siena, Woodland Hills, 7:45 p.m.

Dec. 18
St. Catherine of Siena, Reseda, 5 p.m.
St. Clare, Santa Clarita, 5:30 p.m.
Our Lady of the Rosary, Sun Valley, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19
Our Lady of Peace, North Hills, 7 p.m.
St. Bede, La Canada Flintridge, 7 p.m.
St. Jane Frances de Chantal, North Hollywood, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park, 7 p.m.

Dec. 20
Sacred Heart, Lancaster, 7 p.m.
St. Bridget of Sweden, Van Nuys, 7 p.m.
St. Ferdinand, San Fernando, 7 p.m.
St. Finbar, Burbank, 7 p.m.

Dec. 21
Holy Family, Glendale, 7:15 p.m.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Santa Clarita, 7 p.m.
St. Bernard, Glassel Park, 7 p.m.
St. Dominic, Eagle Rock, 7 p.m.
St. Mel, Woodland Hills, 7 p.m.

Dec. 22
Our Lady of Lourdes, Northridge, 7 p.m.

Dec. 23
St. Charles Borromeo, North Hollywood, 7 p.m.
St. John Eudes, Chatsworth, 7 p.m.

San Gabriel Region

A novena of Masses Dec. 15-23 takes place at the following parish:
---Annunciation, Arcadia, 6 a.m.

Additional celebrations:

Dec. 16
St. Denis, Diamond Bar, 6:30 p.m.
Holy Family, South Pasadena, 7 p.m.
Immaculate Conception, Monrovia, 7 p.m.
Our Lady of Miraculous Medal, Montebello, 7 p.m.
St. Louise de Marillac, Covina, 7 p.m.

Dec. 17
St. Andrew, Pasadena, 5 p.m.
St. Anthony, San Gabriel, 5 p.m.
St. Stephen, Monterey Park, 5 p.m.
San Lorenzo Ruiz, Walnut, 5 p.m.
St. John Vianney, Hacienda Heights, 5:15 p.m.
San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, 5:30 p.m.
Holy Name of Mary, San Dimas, 6:30 p.m.
St. Christopher, West Covina, 7 p.m.
St. Dorothy, Glendora, 7 p.m.
St. Elizabeth, Altadena, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18
St. Martha, Valinda, 5 p.m.
St. Benedict, Montebello, 6 p.m.

Dec. 19
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Rowland Heights, 7 p.m.
St. John the Baptist, Baldwin Park, 7 p.m.

Dec. 20
St. Joseph, La Puente, 7 p.m.

Dec. 22
Sacred Heart, Covina, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 23
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Irwindale, 7:30 p.m.

San Pedro Region

A novena of Masses Dec. 15-23 takes place at the following parishes:

---Holy Family, Artesia, 5:30 a.m.
---St. Lucy, Long Beach, 6 p.m.
---Holy Innocents, Long Beach, 7 p.m.
---St. Philomena, Carson, 7 p.m.

Additional celebrations:

Dec. 16
St. Joseph, Hawthorne, 7 p.m.
St. Pancratius, Lakewood, 6:30 p.m.
St. Raymond, Downey, 7 p.m.

Dec. 17
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Lomita, 6 a.m.
Mary Star of the Sea, San Pedro, 5:15 p.m.
St. Anthony of Padua, Gardena, 5:30 p.m.
St. Athanasius, Long Beach, 5:30 p.m.
St. Hilary, Pico Rivera, 5:30 p.m.
St. Peter Chanel, Hawaiian Gardens, 6 p.m.
Beatitudes of Our Lord, La Mirada, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18
St. John of God, Norwalk, 4:45 p.m.
St. Pius X, Santa Fe Springs, 5 p.m.

Dec. 19
St. Dominic Savio, Bellflower, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 20
St. Gregory the Great, Whittier, 7 p.m.

Dec. 21
St. Paul of the Cross, La Mirada, 7 p.m.

Dec. 22
St. Bernard, Bellflower, 7 p.m.

Dec. 23
St. Cyprian, Long Beach, 7 p.m.
St. Linus, Norwalk, 7 p.m.