The Marines are not the only ones...

The Marines are not the only ones looking for a few good men. Catholic Big Brothers and Jewish Big Brothers are seeking to expand the ranks of their volunteers.

Both organizations were founded in the early 1900s on the theory that fatherless children could benefit from a one-to-one friendship with an adult male who volunteers to give a few hours of his time on a regular basis.

Stephanie Wilson, director of recruitment for Catholic Big Brothers, said she now has about 260 children who have been matched with volunteers, but more than 140 are on her waiting list. She said the demand for big brothers is a reflection of parents’ fears about the dangers facing their children--from drugs to gangs to dropping out of school.

Joanne Leinow, director of volunteers for Jewish Big Brothers, said her agency asks volunteers to commit at least one year to developing a relationship with a fatherless child. “These kids have already suffered a lot of loss in their lives,” she said. “You also need patience--you don’t see immediate results.”

Leinow now has 170 children who have been paired with big brothers, but about 50 children--ranging in age from 6 to 18--are on her growing waiting list.

Both directors agreed that the ability to be a good listener and to be responsive to a child is important. But the volunteers also need to know how to have fun with the children, they added.

For volunteers, seeing the children blossom as the mentor relationship ripens is a rich reward.

“There’s something we call ‘the magic of the match,’ ” said attorney Brian Appel, 31, a Jewish Big Brother. “Sometimes you pick your head up and realize you’ve made a difference. You’ve given them something they can take with them for the rest of their life. To experience it is the only way to understand it,” he said.

Catholic Big Brothers accepts volunteers and children of all faiths. It tries to match Catholic children with Catholic volunteers. The group also runs a program that matches hearing-impaired boys and girls of all religions with volunteers fluent in sign language.

Jewish Big Brothers matches Jewish children from 6 to 18 with Jewish volunteers who take them on outings biweekly. It also owns and operates a summer and holiday camp and runs a program for children of all religions who have physical and developmental disabilities.

Both groups are members of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, which sets national standards and stringent application procedures for volunteers, including several levels of legal and psychological screening, reference and background checks and orientation sessions with social workers. Matches are based on compatibility of personalities and interests and on geographical proximity.

For information about Catholic Big Brothers or Jewish Big Brothers, phone (800) 453-KIDS. For a referral to a sectarian or non-sectarian big brother or big sister program anywhere in Southern California, phone (800) 321-PALS.

SPEAKERS

Ray Bradbury, the prolific science fiction writer, will speak at 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City. He will answer questions during the service and autograph copies of his new book, “Yestermorrow.” Admission is free. The church is located at 12355 Moorpark St., Studio City, (818) 769-5911.

Jeremy Levin, CNN’s former Beirut bureau chief and a released hostage, and nonviolence advocate Mubarak Awad, a Palestinian who was deported from Israel in 1988, are among the speakers slated for a symposium to be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena. Their topic is “Endangered Christians: The Vanishing Church in the Holy Land.” Admission is free. The church is located at 132 N. Euclid Ave., Pasadena, (213) 662-5132.

Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton), a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Gov. Pete Wilson, will speak at worship services at 9 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in South Gate. A reception will follow. The church is located at 2626 Liberty Blvd., South Gate (213) 588-0934.

A leader of the Jewish Reconstructionist Movement, Arthur Green, will speak on the relationship between ancient mysticism and theology to contemporary Jewish theology at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, at the McAlister Center for Religious Activities, 919 N. Columbia St., Claremont. Admission is free. (714) 621-8000, ext. 2937.

HONORS

Actress-singer Bette Midler will present the “Shofar of Peace” award to Arif Mardin at a scholarship fund-raising dinner for the Sephardic Hebrew Academy on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The award is intended to foster harmony between religions and cultures worldwide. U.S. Sen. John Seymour (R-Calif.) and Leon Levy, president of the American Sephardi Federation, will present awards to Jona Goldrich and Irving Benveniste for their work in furthering peaceful coexistence among people of different cultures. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills. Tickets are $250 per person. For more information, call (310) 659-2456.

EVENTS

To mark the first anniversary of the Persian Gulf War, the Religious Community Against War will hold an interfaith reflection from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Islamic Center. Some affiliated parties are the Islamic Center, United Muslims of America, American Friends Service Committee, All Saints Episcopal Church and Rabbis Leonard Beerman, Steven Jacobs and Neil Comess-Daniels. The address is 434 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, (818) 791-1978.

Church leaders can learn how to improve their public-relations skills at a free all-day workshop Saturday, Jan. 25, sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Subjects covered will be advertising, brochures, newsletters, photography and newspaper and television coverage. The session begins with coffee at 9:30 a.m.; participants should bring a brown-bag lunch. The address is Church of Our Saviour, 535 W. Roses Road., San Gabriel, (818) 284-6761.

WORSHIP

The Southern California Renewal Communities will sponsor a special charismatic mass and healing service at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church in San Pedro. Author, television host and priest Ron Roth will be the chief celebrant. The address is 870 W. 8th St., San Pedro, (310) 833-3541.

Please address notices to: Southern California File, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053. To receive consideration, an item must arrive at least two weeks before the event.