GROUNDBREAKING: Monks at St. Andrew’s Abbey will...

GROUNDBREAKING: Monks at St. Andrew’s Abbey will break ground Sunday for a $1.5-million chapel at the popular retreat grounds at Valyermo in the Antelope Valley.

The work marks the start of the abbey’s plans, which eventually call for building new dormitories, staff quarters and an administration building to replace the converted farm and military buildings that have been used by Catholics and people of other faiths for 30 years.

The groundbreaking ceremony at 4:15 p.m. will bring together the monks of the Benedictine order as well as friends, neighbors and local merchants. The public is invited.

For information, call (805) 944-2178.

GRACE CONCERT: A 100-voice choir and a concert orchestra will perform tonight and Sunday night at the large Grace Community Church in Sun Valley.

The congregation’s annual Spring Concert, directed by Clayton Erb, minister of music, is free but tickets obtained at the church, 13348 Roscoe Blvd., provide early seating. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. today and 6 p.m. Sunday.

For information, call (818) 909-5550.

HEALTH FAIR: Stephen S. Wise Temple will hold its first-ever clinical health fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at its hilltop site near Mulholland Drive.

Member physicians and temple volunteers will provide pediatric exams and fingerprinting for more than 100 children. Also included will be health screenings for Soviet Jews new to the area and for 100 adults from First African Methodist Church of Los Angeles.

Various hospitals and health foundations will have workers present to provide other health clinic services, a spokesman said.

For information, call the temple, 15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive, at (818) 718-8586.

GOSPEL MUSIC: A combined choir from four churches will give a free concert 6 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church of Canoga Park, 20553 Sherman Way.

Besides traditional gospel music, the concert will also feature Jamaican and Latin music, according to the concert co-sponsor, the West Valley Christian Church.

MORMON WORKSHOPS: Open houses and workshops on “Strengthening the Family” will be held 7 p.m. Sunday at four Mormon church sites in the San Fernando Valley.

Practical advice on steering children away from gangs, drugs and other social ills will be included in the simultaneous programs. The church sites are at 11830 Saticoy St., North Hollywood; 136 N. Sunset Canyon Drive, Burbank; 11022 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood, and 13680 Sayre St., Sylmar.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY: To celebrate the ethnic backgrounds of its parish, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 3801 Scott Road, Burbank, has asked members who attend the 10:30 a.m. liturgy on Sunday to wear clothes reflecting dress in their country of origin.

A potluck lunch and entertainment will follow the service, a spokesman said.

COPING ADVICE: Post-earthquake stress will be discussed in a workshop sponsored by Project Rebound to be held at 11:30 a.m. Sunday at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 5619 Lindley Ave., Tarzana. For more information, call (818) 708-7068.

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