Several archdiocesan annual events will take place in the early part of 2014, starting off in mid-January with the Requiem for the Unborn Mass at the Cathedral. A round-up of these events open to the public follows.

---Requiem for the Unborn, Jan. 18, 6 p.m., Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Archbishop José Gomez will preside at the annual archdiocesan Respect Life Mass. The event’s solemn candle ceremony commemorates those who lose their lives to abortion on an average day in Los Angeles. For more information, call kathleen-domingo, archdiocesan Respect Life coordinator, (213) 637-7236.

---Religious Jubilarians Mass, Jan. 26, 3:30 p.m., Cathedral. The annual Mass, with Archbishop Gomez presiding, will honor 87 women and men religious marking milestone jubilees in 2014. To RSVP, call the Office of the Vicar for Women Religious at (213) 637-7559.

---World Marriage Day Mass, Feb. 9, 10 a.m. (English), 12:30 p.m. (Spanish), Cathedral. At the annual celebration, with Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis presiding, couples celebrating significant anniversaries (25 or more years) of their Sacrament of Marriage will be recognized and have their sacramental vows renewed. Register ahead of time to receive a commemorative certificate and the opportunity to take a photo with Bishop Solis. Registration forms are on the Cathedral website: www.olacathedral.org Information: Shirley Manning, (213) 680-5232; [email protected].

---Cardinal’s Awards Dinner, March 1, 6 p.m., L.A. Live in Los Angeles. The 25th annual Cardinal Awards Dinner in 2014 will honor four members of the Los Angeles Catholic community who have distinguished records of service: Louis Castruccio, parishioner at St. Paul the Apostle (Westwood); Janet Feeley, St. Paul the Apostle; R-lene Mijares deLang, St. Andrew (Pasadena); and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Sartoris, retired San Pedro Region Bishop. This year’s beneficiary is St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo. For information and reservations, contact Judy Brooks, director of the Office of Special Services, (213) 637-7636; email [email protected]; or visit www.cardinalsawardsdinner.org.   

---Religious Education Congress, March 13-16, Anaheim Convention Center. The largest catechetical event of its kind in the world, drawing more than 40,000 participants from the U.S. and abroad, begins with Youth Day for high school students on March 13. The remaining three days open to adults and young adults includes in excess of 309 workshops covering a range of topics from spirituality, music and personal development to Biblical studies and catechesis. A short list of distinguished speakers includes Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez-Maradiaga, of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, who will lead two workshops and preside at the Saturday evening Mayan Mass; Dr. Carolyn Woo, head of Catholic Relief Services, who will deliver the Sunday morning English address; and Archbishop José Gomez, who will preside at the March 16 closing Mass in the arena. The registration fee for Congress ($70 by Jan. 22 deadline; $80 after) covers admission to all events, workshops (tickets required), concerts, liturgies and exhibits (name badges required). Online registration is available at www.RECongress.org.

More information on these and other events will be provided in upcoming issues of The Tidings.