Rare vesture worn by popes on display in Cathedral exhibit
Intricately hand-embroidered vesture worn by popes, and rare Italian ceramic sculpture depicting Our Lady of the Angels, are the unique features of an exhibition currently on display through May 31 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles.

"For the Greater Glory of God: Religious and Liturgical Art for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles" documents more than 60 years of artistic creation. The exhibition highlights several beautifully embroidered antique vestments depicting the image of Our Lady of the Angels. All of the vestments, including those worn by Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, were created by the Stadelmaier Company of Nijmegen, Holland.

In this comprehensive exhibition, vestments from 1930 to 2004 document the change of style in vesture with that of post Vatican II liturgy. The exhibition is a first of its kind in the United States and is a must-see for those interested in the lost art of hand-embroidery, appliqué, hand-weaving and historic textiles.

Cerramic Majolica sculptures by renowned Florentine sculptor Eugenio Pattarino (1885-1971) are also featured. The exhibition is installed in the side chapels of the cathedral, and is free and open to the public.

'Balancing Faith and Journalism' subject of UCLA talk
"Sex Abuse, Papal Elections, and Catholic Politicians: Balancing Faith and Journalism at the New York Times" will be presented Feb. 21 at UCLA's University Catholic Center in Westwood.

Melinda Henneberger, who has reported extensively on politics and the Catholic Church for the New York Times and Newsweek, will be the featured speaker. The event, free and open to the public, is part of the University Catholic Center and Commonweal magazine's College Speakers Program.

The presentation (with questions and answers) will begin at 7:30 p.m. The University Catholic Center is located at 633 Gayley Ave. Westwood. For information, contact Chad Rehmann at (310) 208-5015 ext. 22, or access: http://www.uccla.org.

Mission Doctors Assn. retreat-seminar set March 7-9
The Mission Doctors Association is sponsoring its annual retreat/seminar for physicians and dentists and their spouses who are considering short-term (one to three months) mission service in Africa or Latin America.

The March 7-9 event at Loyola Marymount University will enable attendees to hear from doctors and their spouses who have served both long and short term, as well as address the practical aspects of visas, licenses and other matters. Currently Mission Doctors are seeking doctors to serve in Africa and Latin America.

The weekend begins at 6 p.m. March 7, and concludes with Mass and lunch on March 9. For information, contact the Mission Doctors Association at (213) 368-1875, or http://www.MissionDoctors.org.

'Orthodoxy, Ecumenism and Environment' to be held at LMU
Loyola Marymount University's Huffington Ecumenical Institute, an initiative to foster relations with Orthodox Christians, is hosting its third ecumenical symposium, "Orthodoxy, Ecumenism and the Environment," Feb. 21, at 5:00 p.m., on the campus of Loyola Marymount University.

The keynote speaker is Father John Chryssavgis, theological adviser on environmental issues to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, and author of "Cosmic Grace, Humble Prayer: The Ecological Vision of the Green Patriarch Bartholomew I," and many other books on Orthodox spirituality.

This symposium is free and open to the public; reservations are necessary. For more information, call (310) 338-5278.