Grand Avenue Festival: Oct. 7
The annual Grand Avenue Festival in downtown Los Angeles Oct. 7 will include events at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Beginning at 11 a.m. on the Plaza students from Our Lady of the Rosary School in Paramount will participate in Italian sidewalk chalk drawing, a centuries-old tradition that took place in the plazas of ancient cathedrals in Europe. Students will be drawing images of the Madonna as Oct. 7 is the Feast Day of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Also at 11 a.m. on the plaza stage, the Harmonies Girls Choir will perform an outdoor concert under the direction of founder Antoino Espinal. The choir, comprised of girls ages 8-18, sings a variety of musical styles including classical, popular, contemporary and Latin American in several languages.

An organ concert by Cathedral organist Sal Soria will take place at 1 p.m. in the Cathedral. The downtown festival continues until 5 p.m. with other public events and family entertainment at nearby concert halls and museums. The Cathedral is located at 555 W. Temple Street. For more information, see www.olacathedral.org.

'Celebration of Humanity': Oct. 11
The archdiocesan Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs is among many cosponsors of a "Celebration of Humanity" to be held Oct. 11 at the Ismael Abu Dawood Hall of the Omar Ibn Al Khattab Foundation in Los Angeles. The event (dinner, entertainment and fellowship) honors Judaism's Festival of Sukkot, Christianity's St. Francis of Assisi feast day, and Islam's Ramadan observance.

The 15 sponsoring organizations also include the St. Camillus Center for Pastoral Care and Pax Christi Los Angeles, as well as Jewish, Islamic, Episcopal, Presbyterian and interfaith groups and L.A. City and County Human Relations Commissions.

The Omar Ibn Al Khattab Foundation is located at 1025 W. Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. Tickets for the 6-8 p.m. event are $10, and reservations are recommended. Contact Aziza Hasan at (213) 383-3443 or aziza@mpac.org.

Pro-Life talks throughout October
St. Philip the Apostle Church in Pasadena is hosting a series of pro-life talks and events every Friday in October starting at 7 p.m. These events are open to the general public. The one and a half hour talks include "Euthanasia: Duty to Die?" on Oct. 6 by Dr. Milton Smith, a Pasadena cardiologist; "Reframing the Debate: Abortion and Christianity" on Oct. 13 by Greg Hall, a graduate theology student a Fuller Seminary; and "Voting as a Christian" on Oct. 20 by Mike Spence, vice president of California Pro-Life. Adoration, pro-life rosary, worship, testimonies, and fellowship concludes the series on Oct. 27 from 7-9:30 p.m.

St. Philip the Apostle is located at 151 S. Hill Ave. For information, contact The Right to Life League of Southern California, (626) 398-6100.

CIMA Awards Presentation: Nov. 5
Catholics in Media Association (CIMA) will host its 14th annual Mass and Awards Luncheon Nov. 5 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. This year's awards will honor "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" in the motion picture category, and the television series "Cold Case." Receiving the Board of Directors' Award is the television show "7th Heaven."

The awards are intended to recognize professionals in the entertainment industry and to honor their work as a ministry that influences people all over the world. Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Wilkerson will preside at the 10 a.m. Mass followed by the awards luncheon. For tickets, call (818) 907-2734 or visit www.catholicsinmedia.org.