For the third consecutive year, the traditional Simbang Gabi celebration in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will begin at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and then continue in 114 parishes in the five pastoral regions.

The theme for the 2006 celebrations, taken from the Gospel of Luke (2:12), is "You will find a Child ... lying in a manger" (Makikita ninyo ang isang SANGGOL ... na nakahimlay sa sabsaban). It is a theme that was inspired by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales of the Archdiocese of Manila when he visited Los Angeles in October to promote his project "Pondo ng Pinoy" (literally translated, Funds for the Filipino) and his Theology of the Crumbs based on the story of Lazarus, the poor man waiting for crumbs to fall from the rich man's (Dives) table.

"It is taking care of our 'Lazaruses' --- the poor who are just waiting for the crumbs to fall from our tables, the crumbs that we share --- that will bring us to heaven," said Good Shepherd Sister Mary Christina Sevilla, ministry director for the Filipino Community.

"Our theme speaks of a God who became like us taking on our human condition --- poor in more ways than one," she continued. "It is a God who taught us the way to heaven is through little and simple ways: 'When I was hungry, you gave me to eat, when I was thirsty, you gave me to drink ... now enter into the home of my Father.'"

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.

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 Gabriel) under the auspices of the archdiocesan Office of Filipino Ministry. An inter-parish choir formed for this celebration --- the San Gabriel Valley Filipino Choir --- are led by husband and wife team Luningning and Joemari Manahan, conductor and music director.

Of the participating parishes hosting one or more nights of Simbang Gabi celebrations, 14 are celebrating a novena of Masses, six at dawn. 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., 5:30 a.m.
---St. Brendan, L.A., 6 a.m.
---St. Columban, L.A., 7 p.m. except Dec. 17, 5 p.m.; Dec. 24, 6 a.m.

Additional celebrations:
Dec. 15
St. Mark, Venice, 7 p.m.

Dec. 16
Christ the King, L.A., 5:30 p.m.
St. Gerard Majella, L.A., 5:30 p.m.
St. Gregory Nazianzen, L.A., 5:30 p.m.
Blessed Sacrament, L.A., 6 p.m.
Our Mother of Good Counsel, L.A., 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 19
St. Basil, L.A., 7 p.m.

Dec. 20
St. Francis of Assisi, L.A., 7 p.m.

Dec. 21
Cathedral Chapel, L.A., 7 p.m.

Dec. 22
St. Joan of Arc/St. Sebastian, L.A., 7 p.m.

Dec. 23
St. Mary Magdalen/Holy Spirit, L.A., 5 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. 16
St. Jude, Westlake Village, 5 p.m.
St. Peter Claver, Simi Valley, 7 p.m.

Dec. 17
St. Rose of Lima, Simi Valley, 6 p.m.
Mission Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18
St. Julie Billiart, Newbury Park, 7 p.m.

Dec. 22
St. Paschal Baylon, Thousand Oaks, 7 p.m.

Dec. 23
Blessed Junípero Serra, Camarillo, 5 p.m.

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

---Our Lady of the Valley, Canoga Park, 5 a.m.
---Holy Trinity, Atwater, 5 or 7 p.m. (schedule varies; call parish)
---St. Genevieve, Panorama City, 5:30 a.m. (5 a.m. Sundays)

Additional celebrations:
Dec. 16
Our Lady of Lourdes, Tujunga, 5 p.m.
Sacred Heart, Lancaster, 5:30 p.m.
St. Patrick, North Hollywood, 5:30 p.m.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Northridge, 7 p.m.
St. Ignatius, L.A., 7 p.m.

Dec. 17
St. Robert Bellarmine, Burbank, 5 p.m.
St. Catherine of Siena, Reseda, 5:30 p.m.
St. Clare, Santa Clarita, 5:30 p.m.
St. Jane Frances de Chantal, North Hollywood, 6 p.m.
Our Lady of the Rosary, Sun Valley, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18
Blessed Kateri, Santa Clarita, 7 p.m.
Our Lady of Peace, North Hills, 7 p.m.
St. Bede, La Canada Flintridge, 7 p.m.
St. Euphrasia, Granada Hills, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19
St. Ann, L.A., 6:30 p.m.
Blessed Kateri, Santa Clarita, 7 p.m.
St. Bridget of Sweden, Van Nuys, 7 p.m.
St. Finbar, Burbank, 7 p.m.

Dec. 20
Holy Family, Glendale, 6:30 p.m.
Blessed Kateri, Santa Clarita, 7 p.m.
St. Bernard, Glassel Park, 7 p.m.
St. Bernardine of Siena, Woodland Hills, 7 p.m.
St. Ferdinand, San Fernando, 7 p.m.

Dec. 21
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Santa Clarita, 7 p.m.
St. Mel, Woodland Hills, 7 p.m.

Dec. 22
Blessed Kateri, Santa Clarita, 7 p.m.
Incarnation, Glendale, 7 p.m.
St. Francis Xavier, Burbank, 7 p.m.
St. John Eudes, Chatsworth, 7 p.m.
St. Didacus, Sylmar, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 23
Blessed Junípero Serra, Lancaster, 5 p.m.
St. Mary, Palmdale, 5:30 p.m.
St. Elizabeth, Van Nuys, 6:30 p.m.
St. Charles Borromeo, North Hollywood, 7 p.m.
St. John Baptist de La sale, Granada Hills, 7 p.m.

San Gabriel Region
A novena of Masses Dec. 15-24 takes place at the following parishes:

---Annunciation, Arcadia, 6 a.m. (Dec. 23, 7 a.m.)
---St. Lorenzo Ruiz, Walnut, 5 a.m.

Additional celebrations:
Dec. 16
Assumption BVM, Pasadena, 6 a.m.
Our Lady of Miraculous Medal, Montebello, 5 p.m.
St. Denis, Diamond Bar, 5 p.m.
St. Elizabeth, Altadena, 5 p.m.
St. John the Baptist, Baldwin Park, 5 p.m.
St. Stephen, Monterey Park, 5 p.m.
St. John Vianney, Hacienda Heights, 5:15 p.m.
St. Dorothy, Glendora, 7 p.m.
St. Louise de Marillac, Covina, 7 p.m.
Immaculate Conception, Monrovia, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 17
St. Martha, Valinda, 5 p.m.
St. Benedict, Montebello, 6 p.m.

Dec. 18
Holy Family, South Pasadena, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph, Pomona, 7 p.m.
San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Rowland Heights, 7 p.m.

Dec. 21
Sacred Heart, Covina, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 22
St. Anthony, San Gabriel, 6:30 p.m.
St. Joseph, La Puente, 7 p.m.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Irwindale, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 23
St. Louis of France, La Puente, 5 p.m.
Holy Name of Mary, San Dimas, 7 p.m.
St. Christopher, West Covina, 7 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. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Lomita, 8:15 a.m.
St. Linus, Norwalk, 5:30 p.m.
St. Anthony of Padua, Gardena, 7 p.m.
St. Cyprian, Long Beach, 7 p.m.
St. Pancratius, Lakewood, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 17
Beatitudes of Our Lord, La Mirada, 5:30 p.m.
St. Peter Chanel, Hawaiian Gardens, 6 p.m.
St. Gregory the Great, Whittier, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19
St. Raymond, Downey, 6:30 p.m.
St. Pius X, Santa Fe Springs, 7 p.m.

Dec. 20
Mary Star of the Sea, San Pedro, 5:15 p.m.
St. Dominic Savio, Bellflower, 7 p.m.

Dec. 21
St. Bernard, Bellflower, 6:15 p.m.

Dec. 22
St. Pancratius, Lakewood, 6:30 p.m.
St. Joseph, Hawthorne, 7 p.m.
St. Paul of the Cross, La Mirada, 7 p.m.

Dec. 23
St. John of God, Norwalk, 4:45 p.m.
St. Athanasius, Long Beach, 5:30 p.m.