This week The Tidings previews various upcoming archdiocesan celebrations happening early in 2006. More details on some of these events will be presented closer to their occurrence.

Daughters of Charity 150th Anniversary: Jan. 7
A Mass to commemorate the arrival of the Daughters of Charity to Los Angeles 150 years ago will take place Jan. 7, 4:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple Street in Los Angeles. Cardinal Roger Mahony will preside.

National Migration Week Mass: Jan. 14
To commemorate National Migration Week Jan. 8-14, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels will host a Mass Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. with Cardinal Mahony presiding. The liturgy will be followed by a festival of cultures, including entertainment with cultural/religious and food booths at the Los Angeles County Mall located across the street from the south side of the Cathedral. For more information, contact the archdiocesan Office of Ethnic Ministry at (213) 637-7356.

In announcing the upcoming 25th annual weeklong observation with its theme "Journey to Justice," Bishop Gerald B. Barnes of San Bernardino, chairman of the bishops' Committee on Migration, said all people are called to make a journey "in solidarity with migrants, immigrants, refugees, human trafficking victims and other people on the move seeking justice and peace."

The bishop stressed that National Migration Week provides a good opportunity for parishes and schools to address issues facing immigrants and to find ways to learn more or help others in their community. He suggested that parish and school leaders could increase their awareness of these issues by looking into the Justice for Immigrants campaign launched this year by more than a dozen church organizations and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The campaign is intended to educate the public, and Catholics in particular, about how immigration and immigrants benefit the nation; to improve public opinion about the contributions of immigrants; to advocate for changes in immigration laws and policies; and to organize networks that assist immigrants with legal problems. More information on the campaign can be found online at www.justiceforimmigrants.org.

The campaign's Web site and materials from the bishops' migration committee, on the Web at www.usccb.org/mrs/nmw.shtml, provide resources for parishes and schools to use during National Migration Week.

Mass of El Santo Niño: Jan. 15
Cardinal Mahony preside at a Mass commemorating the Feast of Santo Niño on Jan. 15, 3 p.m. at the Cathedral. Santo Niño is the oldest Christian religious image in the Philippines. The wooden image of Jesus the Holy Child was brought to the Philippines in the early 1500s.

Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast: Jan. 16
The Office of African American Catholic Center for Evangelization will host their 12th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast, Jan. 16, 8:30 a.m. at Verbum Dei High School, 11100 S. Central Ave. in Los Angeles. The event, "In the Spirit of Unity and Service: Remember! Celebrate! Act!, will feature the Voices of Care Choir. Deacon William Hawkins, chair of the commemorative event promises that this will be a memorable occasion. Tickets are $20 and are sold in advance. For reservations call (323) 777-2106.

The African American Catholic Center for Evangelization (AACCFE), under the direction of Anderson F. Shaw, serves approximately 25,000 African American Catholics within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in collaboration with local parishes and organizations such as the Knights of Peter Claver and the Ladies Auxiliary, to develop and support programs of evangelization and education. It provides opportunities for the African American Catholic community to gather and to share resources, talents and gifts. It also works to raise the consciousness of all to the rich contributions of the African American Catholics to the Catholic Church.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Jan. 18-25
During the annual world-wide Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 18-25 Christians of different denominations are encouraged to reach out to one another. This year's global theme is "Where two or three are gathered in my name…"

In Los Angeles, the Wilshire Center Interfaith Council will hold an ecumenical prayer service Jan. 18, 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Los Angeles, 760 S. Westmoreland Ave. An optional fellowship dinner is scheduled before the service at 6 p.m. with an $8 donation. To RSVP for the dinner, call (213) 384-2151.

The Southern California Ecumenical Council is sponsoring a prayer celebration Jan. 22, 4 p.m. at the Armenian Orthodox Cathedral, 3325 Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank. Episcopal Bishop J. Jon Bruno of Los Angeles will preach. A reception will follow the service.

Father Alexei Smith, ecumenical and interreligious officer for the archdiocese, noted the Pope Benedict XVI has called for "concrete gestures" between Christians to express their unity.

"It would be a very concrete gesture if the people of Archdiocese of Los Angeles supported this Week of Prayer for Christian unity by either participating in these or similar events or at least by praying for Christian unity in their parishes," said Father Smith.

Pope Benedict will close the week with an evening prayer service at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome.

For parish planning resources and a sample prayer service, scroll down the archdiocesan web site at www.archdiocese.la.

Pro-Life Conference: Jan. 21
The Right to Life League's 16th Pro-Life Education Conference takes place Jan. 21, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene, 3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. in Pasadena.

Topics will address abstinence, pro-life activism, media, and advertising strategies for the pro-life movement. A live sonography will be discussed.

"It's a really great time for people in the general public who want to find out what happening in pro-life movement in 2006, what are the goals and plans and what can they do," said Bethany Layton, life services director for the Right to Life League.

Early bird registration is $25 by Jan. 16, $30 at the door, and $10 for students. The fee includes lunch and materials. To register, call (626) 398-6100.

Requiem Mass for the Unborn: Jan. 21
The fourth annual Requiem Mass for the Unborn at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m. will be celebrated in memory of all who have died from abortion in the past year. Cardinal Mahony will serve as principal celebrant and the fourth degree Knights of Columbus will form an honor guard in full regalia. Original score by John Bonaduce will be sung by the Shantigarh choir.

Anyone who is pro-life, regardless of their faith denomination, is welcomed to attend, said Licia Nicassio, a member of the Commission for Catholic Life issues.

Santo Niño Fiesta Celebration: Jan. 21
The 14th Anniversary Celebration of the Feasts of Santo Niño and His Blessed Mother Mary will take place Jan. 21, at 5 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 1835 Larkvane Rd., in Rowland Heights. The principal celebrant of the Mass is San Gabriel Region Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala. A novena will begin at 4 p.m. and following the Mass there will be a procession around the church grounds. The faithful are invited to bring their rosaries and images of Sant Niño and Our Lady of Prompt Succor to be blessed and used in the procession. Afterwards, all are invited to the parish hall for a potluck dinner and entertainment.

Cardinal's Award Dinner: Feb. 3
The 17th Annual Cardinal's Award Dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Friday, Feb. 3 will honor five Catholics who have long and distinguished records of service. This year's honorees are Deacon Hosea Alexander, Mary Pat Cooper, Fran Curry, Clyde Von der Ahe and William Wardlaw.

Dinner proceeds will benefit Sagrado Corazon Church in Cudahy, which hopes to build a new and larger church. Since 1990, funds raised from the Cardinal's Award Dinner have supported programs, agencies and relief efforts in all pastoral regions of the archdiocese.

The 2006 honorees bring to 84 the number of men and women honored with the award. For information on the 2006 Cardinal's Award Dinner, call (213) 637-7636.

Catholic News Service contributed to this article.