The Chinese New Year --- the Year of the Dog --- began on January 29. Accordingly, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Monterey Park, people attending all five weekend Masses (in English, Spanish and Chinese) received "hon poa," a gift for the New Year from members of the parish Chinese community. The New Year's gift bag contained "sweets" --- candy, a fortune cookie, and an orange, plus coins (for prosperity) in a red envelope, and a description of the Year of the Dog.

The previous morning, San Gabriel Region Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala installed Father Gabriel Lui as pastor. It was, for parishioners, a sign of good fortune for the culturally-diverse parish of 2,000 families.

St. Thomas Aquinas' predominant group is Latino, with between a fourth and a third of the parishioners of Chinese ancestry. Most Masses, however, are celebrated in English, with one Sunday Mass in Spanish and another standing-room-only Mass in Mandarin.

Fluent in Mandarin and English, Father Lui is learning Spanish --- a signal to parishioners of all ancestries that he is a man of warmth, caring and friendliness who believes in serving, and collaborating with, his parishioners.

"Under the leadership of Father Gabriel," says parishioner David Lau, a former mayor of Monterey Park, "the parish has been working collaboratively to share community. Everyone works as a team to serve the Church of God. Father Gabriel utilizes diversity as an asset and has everyone together working for a common goal. He trusts people and is well respected by all the people. He has a lot passion for what he is doing."

In Mandarin the word for reverence is dzung ching, a quality in plentiful supply at St. Thomas Aquinas, starting with the pastor. Two years ago when Father Lui (pronounced Loo) first became administrator, he changed the front page of the Sunday bulletin --- but not before he asked two long-time Anglo parishioners what he should do. "Do we want to put a building?" he asked. "Or do we want to emphasize us?"

With their encouragement he made the change, from the standard photo or drawing of the church front to photos of parishioners --- an Hispanic family at a meal, a woman and her Chinese baby, an elderly Anglo couple, and a Chinese man holding two small sons. Above the photos, the name of the church is written in English, Spanish and Chinese.

"Of course, we are the church," he says. "The church is people."

Also on the front of the bulletin is a list of the parish's 43 ministries. The Parish Council, begun two years ago, has a "very strong sense of ownership of the parish," says Father Lui. The leaders of the council sign 95 percent of all parish checks. Conversely, it's not uncommon for Father Lui to be the one serving refreshments at meetings, letting the parish leaders do their jobs.

Creating a unified community has been a number one priority for Father Lui since he was named administrator two years ago. Before this year's Chinese New Year, he said to the Chinese community, "Everyone has to have a little gift." So he said, "Raise a little money and share your joy with everyone. We have to convince people that we are Catholics. We are Catholics and we are not separate from the parish."

"And," he added, "say, 'Happy New Year!'"