90,000 to Mark Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Coliseum

More than 90,000 Roman Catholics of every race are expected to gather at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum today to commemorate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The celebration, which has become an annual religious tradition in California and throughout the Southwest, will include African American, Vietnamese and Samoan choirs, as well as Aztec dancers, and a 1:30 p.m. Mass celebrated by the archbishop of Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony. The event also marks the farewell of a replica of the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, which has been traveling across the archdiocese since September.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the name given to a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego, a Christian Indian, in Mexico on Dec. 9, 1531. Tradition holds that she first appeared to Juan Diego as a dark-skinned Virgin on Tepeyac, a hill northwest of Mexico City. The actual feast day is Dec. 12, when believers say the Virgin Mary imprinted her image on Juan Diego’s cloak. On Sunday morning, parishes across the nation with large Latino congregations will celebrate the occasion at 6 a.m. with festive Masses known as Mananitas.

EVENTS

Adat Ari El Synagogue will transport its faithful to another land on Friday when it presents “An Evening in Yemen.” The event will include a Yemenite dinner at 6 p.m., followed by services with Yemenite music and liturgy led by Eli Dromney. At 9 p.m., Yemenite dancing with Pini Cohen will complete the night. Dinner costs $20 for adults, $15 for children. Dinner reservations are required by Monday. There is no charge for services or dancing. Adat Ari El Synagogue is at 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village. For details, call (818) 766-9426.

* Archangel Michael Orthodox Bookstore continues its lecture series this month featuring visiting professor Larentzakis Lascaris of the University of Thessaloniki in Greece. On Wednesday night, Lascaris will speak on “Iconography Throughout the Centuries: Its Origins, Methodologies, Schools, and Theological Basis.” On Dec. 19 at 7 p.m., Lascaris will focus on “The Eastern Orthodox Church in Albania: Reawakening of Faith Through Restoring Art.” Archangel Michael Orthodox Bookstore is at 12550 Washington Blvd., Culver City. The lecture is free and open to the public. For details, call (310) 390-8065.

* The Most Rev. Robert S. Morse, archbishop of the national Anglican Province of Christ the King, will make his annual episcopal visit to the Anglican Church of Our Saviour on Sunday and will preach at 10 a.m. The church is at 6301 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. For details, call (323) 935-0228.

MUSIC

Our Lady of Lourdes Children’s Choir will perform a Christmas concert Sunday night titled “A Great Light.” The event is intended to help raise funds for the choir’s planned trip to Rome. On Dec. 26, the Tujunga choir is scheduled to join 16,000 children from all over the world as they sing at Masses presided over by Pope John Paul II at St. Peter’s Basilica, and at other events in Assisi, Florence and Pisa, Italy. The holiday concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets cost $5. Our Lady of Lourdes Church is at 10321 Tujunga Canyon Blvd., Tujunga. Prospective donors can also visit the choir’s Web site at https://www.rome2000.org or contact the church at (818) 352-7209.

* St. James Armenian Apostolic Church will present its seventh annual Christmas concert at 4 p.m. Sunday with the Santa Barbara Choral Society and Orchestra performing Handel’s “Messiah” and the Christmas story according to St. Luke. After the concert there will be a gala reception and buffet featuring Armenian delicacies. Tickets for the concert and reception cost $20. St. James Armenian Apostolic Church is at 4950 Slauson Ave., Los Angeles. For details, call (323) 295-4588.

* Handel’s “Messiah” will also be performed Sunday at All Saints’ Episcopal Parish in Beverly Hills. Thomas Foster will conduct the Angelica Baroque Orchestra and the All Saints’ Choir at 5 p.m. The suggested donation is $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors. The church is at 504 N. Camden Drive. For more information, call (310) 275-2910.

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