PRAYER MARKS HOLIDAY; MAHONY OFFICIATES AT MASS IN VALLEY.

Byline: Sharline Chiang Daily News Staff Writer

Delivering his Christmas message, Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony emphasized the importance of remembering that God is everywhere, as it will ``free you from anxiety and distress.''

``God is all around us. We need to do something to tune God into our daily lives, to realize his presence is all around us,'' the leader of the nation's largest Roman Catholic archdiocese told about 500 parishioners at St. Francis de Sales Church in Sherman Oaks.

Pierre Truyoo, a Sherman Oaks resident, said Mahony's visit made this year's Christmas unforgettable for his family.

``To have his presence here today made it very special. I think we're going to remember this forever,'' said the 47-year-old business owner.

Across the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles, residents celebrated Christmas with family and friends and through prayer and good deeds.

Assemblyman Tony Cardenas, D-Panorama City, and his staff passed out toys to children who spent Christmas at hospitals including Pacifica Hospital of the Valley in Sun Valley and Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar.

In Granada Hills, following a 20-year-old tradition, eight newborns at Granada Hills Community Hospital were delivered to their mothers nestled in hand-sewn red stockings and wearing hand-knit red wool caps.

``We wrapped them up like gifts. They were really cute with lace and bows,'' said nurse Patty Egetoe. ``It was very much appreciated.''

Some 1,000 volunteers joined the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles' fifth annual Tikkun L.A. Community Volunteer Day helping to collect and give out food, toys and clothing at 30 sites across the city.

``This year was much bigger. It's meeting a demand. We're going to try to do this during the year too,'' said federation spokeswoman Annabelle Stevens.

Donning a red Santa suit, Irie the Great Dane visited patients at the Glendale Adventist Medical Center, bringing ``smiles and tears of happiness,'' said Alicia Gonzalez, hospital spokeswoman.

In Canyon Country, volunteers dished out scrambled eggs with ham and cheese, crispy potatoes, bacon, oversize muffins and fruit salad to nine homeless people.

At the Fred Jordan Mission in downtown Los Angeles, the Rev. Maurice Chase handed out 10,000 one-dollar bills to the poor and homeless. Celebrities including Gregory Peck, Bob Newhart and Vin Scully donated the money, according to Chase.

And at the Union Rescue Mission, volunteers served about 250 Christmas hams and 100 roast turkeys to nearly 2,500 men, women and children.

Mahony started the morning by leading a service at the Men's Central Jail, where he was joined by Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca.

Next, the cardinal stopped at St. Francis de Sales Church, where he celebrated a Christmas Mass. Mahony last visited the Sherman Oaks church after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.

``I always get a lot of energy and strength when I get out to the parish and the people,'' he said afterward, as worshippers lined up to greet him.

The diocese's Los Angeles headquarters was severely damaged in the 1994 quake and will reopen on a new site in 2001.

During his sermon, Mahony urged people to embrace God's presence.

``I just urge you to open your hearts and souls to the Lord and allow that wonderful presence of God to overwhelm you and to free you from anxiety and distress and to give you that sense of freedom and sense of peacefulness to move you forward well throughout the coming new year,'' he said.

``In this room right now there are probably hundreds of radio waves . . . but we don't hear them, do we? Because we have to tune them in, we have to turn on some device to allow us then to take what is really surrounding us and to make it into music or spoken words,'' Mahony said. ``And it's something like that with us and God.''

Jamey Madden, 12, an altar boy from Sherman Oaks, ended the procession beaming. Sharing the stage with the cardinal was ``really, really fun. It was different. It felt good,'' he said.

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Photo: Cardinal Roger Mahony celebrates Christmas Mass at Sherman Oaks' St. Francis de Sales Church after visiting the county jail.

Myung J. Chun/Daily News