NEW PARISH: Cardinal Roger M. Mahony will...

NEW PARISH: Cardinal Roger M. Mahony will preside today over groundbreaking ceremonies for a new Catholic parish that will be named after Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, the 17th-Century Mohawk woman who was beatified by the Vatican in 1980, a church-bestowed status just short of sainthood.

An American Indian pipe ceremony will be included in the 10 a.m. groundbreaking event. It will be performed by James Slack, a Native American who will be a member of the future parish, which previously has been a mission of St. Clare parish in Canyon Country.

The mission group consists of about 2,000 families who currently attend Masses at Arroyo Seco Junior High School in Saugus.

A St. Clare parish spokeswoman said that the parish will be the first in California named after the American Indian woman who was converted by Jesuits and whose relics are buried near Montreal.

The new parish’s first building, scheduled for completion in the spring of 1997, will be a multipurpose structure to be used as a temporary church, classroom and meeting hall. Eventually, an elementary school will be built on the property, which is at Copperhill Drive and Tamarack Lane.

CROUCH BAPTISMS: Gospel singer-composer Andrae Crouch, who began assuming pastor duties at his late father’s church in Pacoima in May, said that Christ Memorial Church has added 350 members since January.

Crouch, a seven-time Grammy award winner, baptized 43 members on Nov. 5 and will baptize a similar number Sunday during the 6 p.m. service at the church at 13333 Vaughn St.

The musician, who was installed officially as pastor in September, credits his gospel-singing twin sister, Sandra, who also participates in leading services, for helping to revive the church in its transition stage.

CHRISTMAS MUSIC: A variety of holiday music programs are scheduled in San Fernando Valley-area churches in coming days. They include:

* Advent and Christmas music will be performed in a candlelight service at 7:30 p.m. Sunday by the 50-voice choir of St. Cyril of Jerusalem Catholic Church, 15520 Ventura Blvd., Encino, under the direction of William Beck. No admission charge. Information: (310) 475-2693.

* An old-fashioned Christmas sing-along, assisted by the Santa Clarita Valley Concert Band, will begin at 4 p.m. Sunday at Panorama Presbyterian Church, 14201 Roscoe Blvd. Wassail will be served after the free concert.

* The 40-voice Schola Cantorum of the Pacific will present an Advent concert vespers at 3 p.m. Sunday at the San Fernando Mission in Mission Hills. Music by Mozart and Gregorian and Anglican chants are included in the program led by Father Douglas Cook of Costa Mesa. Information: (818) 347-4464.

* Handel’s “Messiah” will be performed by the choir and chamber orchestra of the Glendale City Seventh-day Adventist Church, 610 E. California Ave., at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Admission is free. Information: (818) 244-7241.

* A Christmas concert to benefit Angels Way Maternity Home of Woodland Hills will be presented by the New Horizon Singers and Pacific Pop Orchestra at 8 p.m. next Saturday at Northridge United Methodist Church, 9650 Reseda Blvd. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. Information: (818) 879-8444.

* Metropolitan Community Church in the Valley will present two performances of its annual Christmas concert at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. next Saturday. The program, involving 40 singers and 20 instrumentalists, will be presented in the sanctuary of another North Hollywood church--the First Christian Church, 4390 Colfax Ave. A donation of $10 will be asked for non-reserved seating. Information: (818) 762-1133.

* A Christmas concert including adult and youth choirs, carillons and a children’s bell choir will be performed at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday and Dec. 10 at the Congregational Church of Northridge, 9659 Balboa Blvd. There is no charge. To attend the preceding dinners at the church, call (818) 349-2400 for information.

* “Nine Lessons and Carols of Christmas” will be presented by the choirs of Bethel Lutheran Church, 17500 Burbank Blvd., Encino, at 4 p.m. Dec. 10. Information: (818) 788-2653.

OLD BETHLEHEM: Based on the Gospel depiction of Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, a recreated village on the grounds of the Church at Rocky Peak will be peopled with robed merchants, craftsmen, shepherds and magi for five evenings starting next Friday.

The free dramatic production, which allows visitors to mingle with the “townspeople,” is at the church at 22601 Santa Susana Pass Road, Chatsworth. The presentations last two hours each weekend night, starting at 7. Information: (818) 709-0113.

JEWISH SCHOLAR: Norman Mirsky, professor of contemporary Jewish studies and sociology at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles, will serve as scholar-in-residence at West Hills’ Temple Solael for three days, starting Dec. 15.

Author of “Unorthodox Judaism,” Mirsky is also serving currently as visiting rabbi at Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles’ Westside. Rabbi Harry Essrig of Temple Solael will moderate discussions prompted by Mirsky’s talks on Dec. 15 and 16. The synagogue is at 6601 Valley Circle Drive. Information: (818) 348-3885.

RETIREE CHURCH: The Rev. Davida Foy Crabtree, top executive for the United Church of Christ in Southern California, will be the pulpit guest Dec. 10 at the 9 a.m. Sunday service of Quartz Hill Congregational Church of Christ, an 80-member church celebrating its first 30 years at the Mayflower Gardens Retirement Community, 6570 West Avenue L-12. Information: (805) 943-6423.

LARUE TALK: Gerald Larue, a USC professor emeritus, will lecture on how students are taught about religion in secular schools at 7:30 p.m. Monday at a meeting of the San Fernando Valley chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The free talk and meeting will be at First United Methodist Church of Reseda, 18120 Saticoy St. Information: (818) 998-5414.

SOLOIST: Sally Klein O’Connor, returning from a three-month national singing tour, will give a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday in her home church, the Valley Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 6642 Reseda Blvd., Reseda. Information: (818) 508-1428.