St Francis Xavier Chapel "Maryknoll" Japanese Catholic Center, 222 S. Hewitt Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Formerly known as "Maryknoll"
Mission Statement
We of Saint Francis Xavier Chapel, as members of the Body of Christ, are called to announce in word and in deed the Good News of the Lord Jesus, through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
We recognize our community's call to holiness based on mutuality, reciprocity, and interdependence and its ministry focusing on Japanese Catholics while also welcoming all in our greater community.
Fr. Doan Hoang's Message for December 21, 2025
Dear brothers and sisters,
The gospel of today tells us that Joseph learned that Mary, his wife to be, was going to have a baby and he knew he was not the father. It might be worth mentioning that in that culture engagement was as much of a commitment as marriage. That’s why sometimes in the gospel it says Joseph and Mary were betrothed and sometimes Mary is called Joseph’s wife. It’s just that couples didn’t begin to live together until they were formally married. We do not know whether Mary told Joseph that it was by the power of the Holy Spirit that she conceived. Some biblical scholars suggest that she did, and St. Joseph believed her and decided he was unworthy to be associated with such special people as Mary and her son to be – a Son who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Joseph decided to end their relationship, but if there were any questions Joseph might still have had, then the angel made it clear to him in his dream. He was to take Mary into his home, and he would be the head of the family. As head of the family, Joseph would give Jesus his name, a Hebrew name meaning “Yahweh saves.” The angel makes a point of this when he tells Joseph, “you are to name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” It is also Joseph who would give Jesus his social status. That status was indicated by the way the angel greeted Joseph as “Joseph, son of David.” Jesus would belong to the house of David, a royal family. In fact that Jesus had this social standing is very important for the people expected the Messiah to come from David’s line as God had promised David his kingdom would endure forever.
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, the Church is reminding us of the exulted dignity of the child whose birth we are about to celebrate. He is more than human, because he was conceived in a unique way, through the Holy Spirit, thus he is Son of God. Let us reflect on the name Emmanuel, too! St. Mathew tells us here, in the beginning of his Gospel that Jesus’ birth, in the fullest sense of the word, is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah. Jesus is “God with us: Emmanuel!” If we go to the very end of the Gospel of St. Mathew, in the very last verse, as Jesus was ascending into heaven, he told his disciples: “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the ages.” May our celebration of Christmas truly be a celebration of our belief in, “Emmanuel: God is with us.” And may it lead us to greater appreciation of the Eucharist we celebrate each week.”
親愛なる兄弟姉妹の皆様、
今日の福音書によれば、ヨセフは、将来の妻マリアが赤ちゃんを産むことを知り、自分は父親ではないことを知っていました。その文化における婚約は結婚と同じくらい契約であったことを言及する価値があるはずです。そのため、福音書では、ヨセフとマリアは婚約し、マリアはヨセフの妻と呼ばれることもあります。それは、夫婦が正式に結婚するまで一緒に住み始めなかったということです。マリアがヨセフに、聖霊の力で妊娠していることだと言ったかどうかはわかりません。一句人の聖書学者たちは彼女がそうすることを示唆し、聖ヨセフは彼女を信じ、その特別な神聖のようなマリアとその息子と関係するのにふさわしくないと判断したこと、聖霊の力によって生まれた息子なのです。
ヨセフはその夫婦関係を終わらせるようにしたが、ヨセフがまだ疑問を抱いているから、天使は彼の夢の中でそれを明らかにしました。彼はマリア様を自分の家に連れて行くことになって、その家族の頭になるように示しました。ヨセフは自分が家族の頭として、イエス「ヤハウェが救う」という意味のヘブライ語の名前を付けるようにと、天使はヨセフに言いました。イエスに社会的地位を与えるのはヨセフでもあります。その状態は、天使がヨセフに「ダビデの子ヨセフ」と挨拶した方法によって示されました。イエスはダビデの王族に属することを示されました。神がダビデの王国を永遠に永続させるとを約束されたように、イエスがメシアとして、その社会的地位を持っていることは、ダビデの家系から来ることを期待する人々にとって非常に重要なことです。
待降節のこの第四日曜日に、教会が、その尊厳の高貴な聖なる幼子の誕生を祝おうとしていることを私たちに思い出させています。その赤ん坊は人間以上の存在です。なぜなら、彼は聖霊を通して雄一的な方法で妊娠したからです。したがって、彼は神の子です。エマニュエルの名前についても考えてみましょう！聖マタイはここで、福音書の冒頭で、イエスの誕生は言葉の最も広い意味でイザヤの預言の成就であると語っています。イエスは「私たちと共にいる神：エマニュエル！」聖マタイの福音書の最後に行くと、イエスが天に昇っていた時、弟子たちに最後の言葉として、「私は、いつまでも、あなたがたと共にいる」と言われました。私たちのクリスマスのお祝いが、「エマニュエル：私たちと共におられる神」という私たちの信仰のお祝いになることを願っています。そして、私たちが毎日曜日の祝うミサにより、大きな感謝につながるように。」
in-church masses Schedule
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. Japanese Mass
10:00 a.m. English Mass
Saturday: 5:00 p.m. English Vigil Mass/
HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION:
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
Monday, December 8, 2025, Mass: 12:05 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE THE NEW DAYS FOR WEEKDAY MASSES
Weekday Masses are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 12:05 p.m.
Weekday Masses are subject to change due to funerals or illness.
First Saturday Devotion: 9:00 a.m., Mass followed by Rosary and Divine Mercy. Confessions are available after the Mass.
Donations
Thank you for your continued support! We are grateful to all who donate to SFXCJCC. We are open for weekend and weekday Masses. And are slowly opening our facility to our ministries and groups.
We are still in need of your financial help! Would you please continue making your Sunday Collection contributions or donating to St Francis Xavier Chapel?
You can mail checks to the office:
SFXCJCC
222 S Hewitt Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
To donate by credit card, click the button below.
Get Involved
Are you passionate about what we're doing? Let us know! We are always looking for volunteers to help us make our vision a reality. We'll help you find a way to volunteer that best suits you. We're excited to have you join the team!
Thank you!
Whether you help through monetary donations, volunteering your time, or spreading our mission through word-of-mouth, thank you. We couldn't accomplish our goals without the help of supporters like you. .