The seventh annual Archdiocesan Celebration of the First Day of the Simbang Gabi Novena of Masses will take place Dec. 15 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

The 6:30 p.m. event officially begins the Simbang Gabi observance that will take place in 115 parishes throughout the five pastoral regions of the archdiocese. In 2008, 17 parishes are celebrating the nine days novena, with six celebrating at dawn (4:30 or 5 a.m.) as is done in the Philippines.

"And The Word Was Made Flesh ... And He Lived Among Us! ("Ang Salita Ay Nagkatawang-Tao ... At Nakipamuhay Kapiling Natin") is the theme for this year's Simbang Gabi, drawn from the Gospel of John (1: 14).

"This theme was chosen after looking at the reality of our world that has become so materialistic and consumeristic, and seems to be losing a sense of God, of the Divine," said Good Shepherd Sister Mary Christine Sevilla, director of Filipino Ministry for the archdiocese. "The theme is a reminder for each one of us that Jesus did come, that he lived among us and continues to live in our midst in and through each other."

Cardinal Roger Mahony will preside at the Cathedral celebration with the auxiliary bishops among the concelebrating priests. The Parade of Parols --- from participating parishes and organizations --- will begin the liturgy, and the parols will be blessed by Cardinal Mahony.

Members from the different ethnic communities will dress the altar, said Sister Sevilla, "as a manifestation of our intercultural collaboration and a strengthening of the ties that bond the different ethnic communities in the archdiocese."

This year's sponsoring region for the Cathedral celebration is Our Lady of the Angels with 11 parishes involved in the planning: Blessed Sacrament, Christ the King, Good Shepherd, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Our Lady of Loretto, Our Mother of Good Counsel, St. Basil, St. Brendan, St. Columban, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Mary Magdalen.

Mely Trillo is chairperson for the event, which features the combined Choirs of the Philippine Chamber Singers-Los Angeles, Harana Men's Chorus, and the Our Lady of the Angels Interparish Choir, directed by Gelo Francisco.

The schedule of celebrations, by region:

SIMBANG GABI 2007 SCHEDULE

Our Lady of the Angels Region
A novena of Simbang Gabi Masses Dec. 16-23 takes place at the following parishes:
---Immaculate Heart of Mary, L.A., 5 a.m.
---St. Brendan, L.A., 6 a.m. (Dec. 16 & 23); 8 a.m. (Dec. 17-22, 24)
---St. Columban, L.A., 7 p.m.; 5 p.m. (Dec. 16 and 23); 6 a.m. (Dec. 24).
---Blessed Sacrament, Hollywood (call for schedule: (323) 462-6311).

Additional celebrations:
Dec. 16
Our Mother of Good Counsel, L.A., 6:30 p.m.
St. Basil, L.A., 7 p.m.

Dec. 17
St. Francis of Assisi, L.A., 7 p.m.
Cathedral Chapel, L.A., 7 p.m.

Dec. 20
St. Mary Magdalen/Holy Spirit, L.A., 5 p.m.
Christ the King, L.A., 5:30 p.m.
St. Joan of Arc, L.A., 7 p.m.
St. Gerard Majella, L.A., 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 21
Blessed Sacrament, Hollywood, 5:30 p.m.
St. Mark, Venice, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 22
Good Shepherd, Beverly Hills, 7 p.m.
Santa Barbara Region

A novena of Masses Dec. 16-24 takes place at the following parishes:
---Queen of Angels, Lompoc (call for schedule; (805) 733-2735).
---St. Rose of Lima, Simi Valley, 5 a.m.
---St. Jude, Westlake Village, 5:30 a.m.
---Mary Star of the Sea, Oxnard, 7 p.m. weekdays, 5:30 p.m. weekends.

Additional celebrations:
Dec. 17
San Buenaventura Mission, Ventura, 7 p.m.
St. Julie Billiart, Newbury Park, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18
St. Paschal Baylon, Thousand Oaks, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19
Mission Santa Barbara, 6 p.m.
St. Peter Claver, Simi Valley, 7 p.m.

Dec. 20
Blessed Junípero Serra, Camarillo, 5 p.m.
St. Jude, Westlake Village, 5 p.m.

Dec. 21
St. Rose of Lima, Simi Valley, 6 p.m.

San Fernando Region
A novena of Masses Dec. 16-23 takes place at the following parishes:
---Our Lady of the Valley, Canoga Park, 5 a.m.
---St. Genevieve, Panorama City, 5:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. Dec. 21)
---Holy Trinity, Atwater, 7 p.m.
---St. Elizabeth, Van Nuys, 7 p.m.

Additional celebrations:
Dec. 16
Our Lady of Peace, North Hills, 7 p.m.
St. Catherine of Siena, Reseda, 7 p.m.
St. Ferdinand, San Fernando, 7 p.m.
St. Finbar, Burbank, 7 p.m.

Dec. 17
Holy Family, Glendale, 6:30 p.m.
Blessed Kateri, Santa Clarita, 7 p.m.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Northridge, 7 p.m.
St. Bernard, Glassel Park, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18
St. Ann, L.A., 7 p.m.
St. Bridget of Sweden, Van Nuys, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19
Incarnation, Glendale, 7 p.m.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Santa Clarita, 7 p.m.
St. Bede, La Canada Flintridge, 7 p.m.
St. Dominic, Eagle Rock, 7 p.m.
St. Francis Xavier, Burbank, 7 p.m.
St. Jane Frances de Chantal, North Hollywood, 7 p.m.
St. Mel, Woodland Hills, 7 p.m.
St. Didacus, Sylmar, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 20
Blessed Junípero Serra, Lancaster, 5 p.m.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Tujunga, 5 p.m.
Sacred Heart, Lancaster, 5:30 p.m.
St. Patrick, North Hollywood, 5:30 p.m.
Our Lady of the Rosary, Sun Valley, 7 p.m.
St. Elizabeth, Van Nuys, 7 p.m.
St. Ignatius, Highland Park, 7 p.m.
St. John Baptist de La Salle, Granada Hills, 7 p.m.
St. Charles Borromeo, North Hollywood, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 21
St. Clare, Santa Clarita, 4:30 p.m.
St. Robert Bellarmine, Burbank, 5 p.m.
St. Euphrasia, Granada Hills, 7 p.m.

Dec. 22
St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park, 7 p.m.

Dec. 23
Holy Trinity, Atwater, 5 p.m.
St. John Eudes, Chatsworth, 7 p.m.

San Gabriel Region
A novena of Masses Dec. 15-23 takes place at the following parishes:
---Annunciation, Arcadia, 6 a.m. (Dec. 20, 7 a.m.)
---St. Christopher, West Covina, 7 p.m.

Additional celebrations:
Dec. 13
Immaculate Conception, Monrovia, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 16
Our Lady of Miraculous Medal, Montebello, 7 p.m.

Dec. 17
Holy Family, South Pasadena, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18
St. Benedict, Montebello, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19
St. Denis, Diamond Bar, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 20
St. Lorenzo Ruiz, Walnut, 5 a.m.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Rowland Heights, 5:30 a.m.
St. Elizabeth, Altadena, 5 p.m.
St. Louis of France, La Puente, 5 p.m.
St. Stephen, Monterey Park, 5 p.m.
St. John Vianney, Hacienda Heights, 5:15 p.m.
Holy Name of Mary, San Dimas, 7 p.m.
St. Dorothy, Glendora, 7 p.m.
San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, 7 p.m.
St. John the Baptist, Baldwin Park, 7 p.m.
St. Louise de Marillac, Covina, 7 p.m.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Irwindale, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 21
St. Lorenzo Ruiz, Walnut, 5 a.m.
Sacred Heart, Altadena, 5 p.m.
St. Martha, Valinda, 5 p.m.
St. Anthony, San Gabriel, 7 p.m.

Dec. 22
St. Joseph, La Puente, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph, Pomona, 7 p.m.
Sacred Heart, Covina, 7 p.m.

San Pedro Region
A novena of Masses Dec. 16-23 takes place at the following parishes:
---Holy Family, Artesia, 5 a.m.
---St. Lucy, Long Beach, 6 p.m.
---St. Philomena, Carson, 7 p.m.

Additional celebrations:
Dec. 16
St. Paul of the Cross, La Mirada, 5 p.m.

Dec. 17
St. Pancratius, Lakewood, 6:30 p.m.
St. Peter Chanel, Hawaiian Gardens, 6:30 p.m.
St. Pius X, Santa Fe Springs, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18
St. Cornelius, Long Beach, 7 p.m.
St. Linus, Norwalk, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19
St. Raymond, Downey, 6:30 p.m.
Beatitudes of Our Lord, La Mirada, 7 p.m.
St. Anthony, El Segundo, 7 p.m.
St. John Fisher, Rancho Palos Verdes, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph, Hawthorne, 7 p.m.

Dec. 20
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Lomita, 8:15 a.m.
Holy Innocents, Long Beach, 5 p.m.
St. Cyprian, Long Beach, 5 p.m.
Mary Star of the Sea, San Pedro, 5:15 p.m.
St. Athanasius, Long Beach, 5:30 p.m.
St. Hilary, Pico Rivera, 5:30 p.m.
St. Anthony of Padua, Gardena, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 21
St. John of God, Norwalk, 4:45 p.m.

Dec. 22
St. Dominic Savio, Bellflower, 7 p.m.

Dec. 23
St. Bernard, Bellflower, 6:15 p.m.
St. Gregory the Great, Whittier, 7 p.m.