Procession Will Honor Patroness

The Diocese of Orange, in cooperation with the Fiesta Marketplace and the Downtown Santa Ana Business Assn., will conduct a religious procession down 4th Street in Santa Ana on Sunday.

The procession, which starts at 3 p.m., is in anticipation of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is celebrated on Wednesday. Beginning at Main and 4th streets, the procession will continue to Spurgeon Street.

In the small plaza at Spurgeon and 4th streets, the heart of the Fiesta Marketplace, the Most Rev. Norman F. McFarland, bishop of Orange, will bless a newly installed mosaic of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the official patroness of the Diocese of Orange.

Msgr. Jaime Soto said: “The devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe has always been among the strongest expressions of the fervent religiosity of the Mexican people. This potent religious character is an essential part of all Latino cultures. Our celebration on the 9th of December will coincide with the first Mass, celebrated at the Basilica in Mexico City, in honor of blessed Juan Diego, who was among the first evangelizers of the Americas. It is my hope that this public celebration by the Catholic community will help engender a respect for the cultural roots of the Latino people as well as foster an appreciation for their profoundly rich religiosity.”

Information: (714) 974-7120.

The black-tie “Celebration of Lights” Hanukkah ball will be held Sunday at the Anaheim Marriott. It is the local Jewish community’s major fund-raising event of the year for Heritage Pointe, the area’s first Jewish retirement community. Information: (714) 253-6161.

“The Art of Letting Go--Stress Management Strategies for Busy Unitarian Universalists” is Chris Schriner’s topic Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Temple Beth Tikdah, 1600 N. Acacia Ave., Fullerton.

Schriner is the author of three books, including “Feel Better Now: 30 Ways to Handle Frustration in Three Minutes or Less” (Jalmar, 1990).

Information: (714) 779-6592.

The Temple Bat Yahm Sisterhood presents “Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Mark S. Miller “ at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. The topic will be “Hannah and Her Seven Sons.”

Call Sharon Weidberg for lunch reservations at (714) 854-5221. Temple Bat Yahm is at 1011 Camelback Road, Newport Beach.

Ian Ker, professor of theology at Oxford University, will give a lecture on “The Greatness of John Henry Newman” at noon Wednesday at Cal State Fullerton.

Cardinal Newman, a 19th-Century theologian, was a leader of religious reform in the Church of England. After his conversion to Catholicism in 1845, he wrote histories of early Christianity and served as a university president, essayist and journal editor.

Ker is the world’s leading scholar on Newman’s life and work. He has edited Newman’s letters, prepared critical editions of “The Idea of a University” and “An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent” and written an authoritative biography of Newman.

Information: (714) 773-2441.

“Suffering Is Optional--So Is Joy” is the topic that guest speaker Dr. Harold Greenwald will discuss from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Rancho Capistrano Community Church.

Greenwald is a clinical professor of psychiatry at UC San Diego and is the author of several books, including “The Happy Person,” “Active Psychotherapy” and “Direct Decision Therapy.”

Rancho Capistrano Community Church is at 29251 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. Information: (714) 582-2700.

The First Presbyterian Church in Santa Ana has organized advent luncheons to be held at McFarland Hall, 614 N. Main St., Santa Ana, at noon on Tuesday and Dec. 18.

There will be a speaker during each luncheon discussing topics relating to Christianity in the business world.

The luncheons cost $3. Parking is available at Main Street and Santa Ana Boulevard. Information: (714) 542-7253.