VIETNAMESE: Father John Vo, an associate pastor...

VIETNAMESE: Father John Vo, an associate pastor of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in North Hills, has been named by Cardinal Roger M. Mahony as liaison to the Los Angeles archdiocese’s 12,000-member Vietnamese community.

The 40-year-old priest will be responsible for coordinating pastoral plans for Vietnamese Catholics in collaboration with other Vietnamese priests in the three-county archdiocese. Vo replaces Father John Nghi, who had served in that position since 1989.

A native of Vietnam, Vo entered the religious order of St. Dominic in 1972, came to the United States during the Vietnam War and was ordained a priest in Oakland in 1986. He has been an associate pastor at Our Lady of Peace parish since 1988.

“Part of my responsibility is to try to help people integrate into the mainstream of the Catholic Church while keeping alive our Vietnamese culture and customs,” Vo said.

Masses in Vietnamese are celebrated at three parishes in the Valley: 6:30 p.m. Saturdays at St. Finbar in Burbank; 3:45 p.m. Sundays at Vo’s parish in North Hills, and 5 p.m. Sundays at St. Joseph the Worker in Canoga Park.

MARCH FOR JESUS: Christians from as many 40 churches, primarily evangelical and charismatic congregations in the Santa Clarita Valley, will “march for Jesus” along Valencia Boulevard today--one of about 350 such rallies across the country.

Chairwoman Cathy Love, a member of Santa Clarita Foursquare Gospel Church, said that the 9:30 a.m. parade, starting across from the College of the Canyons campus, will end up at Town Center where prayers will be led by 15 pastors.

Sound vehicles accompanying the marchers will play music selected by the national organizers, a group called March for Jesus U.S.A., based in Austin, Tex.

Although a similar parade today in Torrance is sponsored by a South Bay antiabortion group, Love said: “This is bigger than the pro-life movement. We will have prayers for our churches, for our communities and the world.”

At least five churches from the San Fernando Valley have pledged participation, Love said. For more information, call (805) 297-0091.

BUDDHIST EDUCATION: A daylong seminar on teaching methods in Buddhist schools of various ethnic traditions will be held today at the Wat Thai Temple in North Hollywood. Sponsored jointly by the American Buddhist Congress and the Buddhist Sangha Council of Southern California, the program features speakers Terri Nakawatasai of the Buddhist Churches of America and Abby Bloom, who teaches at Swarthmore College.

“An important part of this seminar is to exchange information and share ideas,” said the Venerable Havanpola Ratanasara, president of both the national and regional sponsoring groups. Ratanasara has urged teachers in Buddhist classes who have materials in English to bring them for display during the lunch break.

Registration will be at 9 a.m. at the Thai temple, 12909 Cantara St., near the Roscoe Boulevard exit from the Hollywood Freeway. The seminar, which costs $15, will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

ANTI-DEATH PENALTY: Starting Tuesday, Unitarians will meet in front of the State Office Building in Van Nuys to stage a weekly low-key protest against capital punishment, according to the social concerns committee of the Sepulveda Unitarian-Universalist Society.

“When facts about the death penalty are examined, troubled voters may realize how political leaders have pandered to our passion for vengeance,” said the Rev. Charlotte Shivvers, pastor of the congregation. The peace and justice committee of the Valley Interfaith Council, among others, has endorsed the non-confrontational protest plans.

Guidelines for the protest, developed in conjunction with police, stipulate that the orderly vigil will last from 12:15 to 1 p.m. each Tuesday and be conducted on public sidewalks at 6150 Van Nuys Blvd., allowing easy access to buildings and parked vehicles. For more information, call (818) 982-8818.

LECTURE: Stan Liebling of the Plato Society will speak Monday in North Hollywood on “The Bible and the Sword: Britain and the Balfour Declaration,” contending that England’s historical affinity for biblical Israel resulted in the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. Liebling’s talk will be at 12:30 p.m. at the Valley Storefront Multiservice Center for Seniors, 12821 Victory Blvd., sponsored by the Jewish Family Service. Preregistration is required. Call (818) 984-0276, mornings only.

CONCERT: Music from Broadway productions, ranging from “Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserables” to “Oklahoma!” will be performed 7 p.m. Sunday at Northridge United Methodist Church, 9650 Reseda Blvd., by its chancel choir and an instrumental ensemble. Admission is $8 adults, $4 children. For information, call (818) 886-1555.

PRAYER: St. Mary’s Catholic Church is sponsoring a three-hour prayer workshop 1 p.m. Sunday as a precursor to the church’s formal start this fall in a three-year Christian renewal program, popularly known in parishes as RENEW. More information is available at (805) 264-2782.

News and announcements for this column may be sent to Religion Desk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311.