The chapel in Little Tokyo, east of downtown Los Angeles is formally reverting back to its original name --- St. Francis Xavier Chapel, Japanese Catholic Center. By formalizing its ministry to Japanese Catholics in the official name, the chapel is recognized for its long ministry to Japanese Catholics beginning in 1939 when the chapel was first erected and dedicated.

Ministry to Japanese Catholics in Los Angeles dates back to 1912 when Father Albert Breton preached a homily in Japanese to Japanese immigrants and their families at Settlement Chapel of Brownson House in the Boyle Heights neighborhood. Maryknoll sisters and fathers began working with the Japanese in the 1920s and served the community until the mid 1990s.

Today at St. Francis Xavier Chapel, Mass is said on Sundays in Japanese at 8:30 a.m. followed by a Mass in English at 10 a.m. Father John Koji Mitsudome serves as church administrator. The Japanese Catholic Center ensures that religious education, catechetical classes and spiritual formation are offered in Japanese and English.

"The church welcomes anybody of Japanese heritage as well as any other person," said George Takahashi, interim parish office manager and a parishioner since 1949.

The emphasis on using the name "Japanese Catholic Center" was motivated by a desire to increase the visibility of Japanese Catholics, said Takahashi.

"Very few people look at the Asian community, particularly the Japanese, as a Christian community," he added. "Now people will realize there is a strong Japanese Christian community."

Getty exhibition highlights collection of illuminated choir books

Some of the largest and most beautiful manuscripts that survive from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance are books containing music of Christian church ceremonies. "Music for the Masses: Illuminated Choir Books," at the Getty Museum, is an exhibition of over 40 manuscripts and leaves exploring the various types of choir books and their characteristic illumination. The exhibit runs through Oct. 28.

In early medieval Europe, music was generally transmitted from generation to generation orally until the 800s, when monks began to transcribe their melodies in choir books. The volumes eventually grew to be impressively large, so that they could be seen by groups of singers during the church service.

The elaborate decoration at the beginning of each chant acted as a bookmark for the singers, a visual reminder of the feast being celebrated, and inspiration for their singing.

The Getty collection of choir books has grown dramatically in the past three years. The exhibition will present for the first time six recent acquisitions that have been made since 2005. Accompanying the exhibition are recorded versions of selected chants from the manuscripts on display.

Youth Ministry Specialization takes place Aug. 25-26

Training for youth ministry coordinators, confirmation coordinators, volunteers and all who work with young people will take place Aug. 25-26 at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center, 3424 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.

Participants will gain valuable skills, practical ideas and the confidence to create solid youth programs. The Office of Religious Education-sponsored training covers all eight components of a healthy youth ministry program. Topics include comprehensive youth ministry, adolescent development, volunteer recruitment, building core teams, leadership styles and group dynamics.

The training takes place 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. The fee is $35 with advanced registration required. Call John Rinaldo, (213) 637-7616 or e-mail jmrinaldo@la-archdiocese.org.