This week The Tidings previews various upcoming archdiocesan celebrations happening early in 2008. More details on some of these gatherings will be presented close to their dates.

National Migration Week: Jan. 12-16
"From Many, One Family of God" is the theme of this year's National Migration Week which takes place Jan. 12-16 to honor the diversity and richness of God's family. "National Migration Week allows us to commit ourselves to work together in creating a climate of hospitality and a truly welcoming community to migrants so they can find a home and sit with us side by side around the Lord's table God has prepared for all of His family," wrote Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis, vicar for Ethnic Ministries, to parish pastors and leaders.

Parishes are encouraged to observe the week and were sent a resource kit from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Materials are also available on line at www.usccb.org/mrs/nmw.shtml.

Prayer for Christian Unity: Jan. 13
The liturgy commemorating the 100th Anniversary celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity takes place Jan. 13 at 4 p.m. at the United University Church at USC, 817 W. 34th St., Los Angeles. The ecumenical celebration is sponsored by the Southern California Ecumenical Council. Father Alexei Smith, director of the archdiocesan Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, is coordinating the service.

"Especially in our very divisive world today, I think it is important that Christians have a common voice and bear a common witness to our faith," Father Smith told The Tidings. This year's service will be held on a university campus for the first time. "We want to appeal to another generation of Christians, and instill in them the need to interact and pray with one another."

Gospel Music will be provided by the First AME Church Choir and preaching will be offered by Rev. Dr. John Hunter, senior minister of First AME church. For more information, call (213) 748-0209 or e-mail fwulf@usc.edu.

Requiem Mass for abortion victims: Jan. 19
The annual archdiocesan Requiem Mass in memory of all who have died from abortion takes place Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles. The pro-life liturgy and many other Respect Life Masses around the country are held each year near the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in the U.S. Cardinal Roger Mahony will celebrate the Mass with auxiliary bishops and archdiocesan priests concelebrating.

"Like our brothers and sisters across the nation, we are united in a common goal: to proclaim the inherent dignity of human life from the moment of conception to natural death," wrote Cardinal Roger Mahony to the archdiocesan faithful. "This beautiful and spiritually enriching celebration is most appropriate for families, children, young adults --- all who recognize the importance of celebrating life."

Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast: Jan. 21
Loyola Marymount University Professor Michael Datcher will speak at the 14th annual archdiocesan Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast Jan. 21. Datcher is a poet and critically acclaimed journalist. He authored the New York Times bestseller, "Raising Fences," a memoir about his fatherless childhood in inner-city Los Angeles and the desires of many black men to break the fatherless cycle into which they are born. Datcher also co-edited a compilation of essays on the life and death of Tupac Shakur.

The annual breakfast, sponsored by the African American Catholic Center for Evangelization (AACCFE), begins at 8 a.m. at Verbum Dei High School, 11100 South Central Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from parish representatives or from the AACCFE; call (323) 777-2106 or e-mail ashawfaaccfe@sbcglobal.net.

Celebration of Religious Jubilarians: Jan. 27
The annual archdiocesan Celebration of Religious Jubilarians takes place Jan. 27 at 3:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. This year 110 religious order priests, brothers and sisters are celebrating jubilees --- 25 to 75 years of religious profession or ordination. Cardinal Roger Mahony, main celebrant, will be joined by several auxiliary bishops, and archdiocesan priests are welcome to concelebrate. The archdiocesan faithful are invited to attend. A reception will follow in the Cathedral Conference Center.

"These days when we don't have a lot of examples of permanent or long-lasting commitment, this is a celebration of the commitment by men and women from around the world and country to serve to God's people," said Notre Dame Sister Anncarla Costello, vicar of the archdiocesan Office for Women Religious. Honoring jubilarians "is a way for our local church to acknowledge, recognize, and celebrate their wonderful commitment of fidelity, generosity, dedication and service."

World Marriage Day: Feb. 3
The archdiocesan celebration of World Marriage Day takes place Feb. 3 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Couples celebrating their 25th, 50th, 60th (or more) Wedding Anniversaries are invited to participate in the 10 a.m. Mass in English, or in the 12:30 p.m. Mass in Spanish, both with Cardinal Roger Mahony presiding. Couples will receive certificates and can take photographs with the cardinal on the Cathedral Plaza following the liturgy. To register, call or e-mail Deacon Manny Martinez at (213) 680-5203 or DnMMartinez@olacathedral.org.

Santa Barbara Region Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry will celebrate two World Marriage Day Masses in the Santa Barbara Region for couples wishing to celebrate any wedding anniversary. The bishop will present each participating couple with a certificate. The first takes place at St. Louis de Montfort Church, 1190 E. Clark Ave., Santa Maria, on Feb. 17, 2:30 p.m. The second will be at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 3175 Telegraph Rd., Ventura, 2:30 p.m. Registration forms have been sent to all the parishes in the region. Couples can also register by calling Sofie Hernandez at the Santa Barbara Regional Office at (805) 682-0442.

Cardinal's Awards Dinner: Feb. 9
The 19th Annual Cardinal's Awards Dinner Feb. 9 will honor five Catholics who have extensive and distinguished records of service. This year's honorees are Richard H. Closson, Antoinette Hodgkiss, Dorothy King, Gary Krauss and Jesuit Father Robert Lawton.

Dinner proceeds will benefit the efforts of San Miguel School in Watts to add a pre-school and to develop a specialized learning center for young students from pre-school through third grade. The black tie dinner begins with a 6 p.m. reception at The Grand Ballroom at Hollywood and Highland (home of the Kodak Theater) in Hollywood. For reservations, call Judy DeRosa Brooks, coordinator, at (213) 637-7636.

Religious Education Congress: Feb. 29-March 2
The annual Los Angeles Religious Education Congress takes place Feb. 29-March 2 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Religious Education, Congress draws more than 40,000 participants as well as nationally and internationally recognized speakers on matters of faith, religious education and contemporary moral issues.

"Lift Your Gaze…See Anew," the 2008 theme "reminds us of the gift of sight and of seeing with fresh vision," wrote Religious Sister of Charity Edith Prendergast, director of the Office of Religious Education, in the guidebook.

Volunteers are still needed to assist workshops, to serve as Eucharistic ministers or to participate in the Congress choir.

Registration for the general congress is $70. Registration for Youth Day Feb. 28 is closed. To register online, volunteer or for information on access or mobility concerns, see www.RECongress.org.