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Rosary Beads
If you would like to share a photo of your Rosary Beads with our readers, please send a photo and brief description. Include your name and parish to: editor@occatholic.com
Inspirational Catholic Women Heart of Mary
APRIL
20, 2025
CONTENTS
5 7 “I WANT TO BE A SAINT”
13
Ten-year-old Kaylie Adame looks forward to her faith journey.
OC CATHOLIC RECIPE SWAP
Celebrate the Passion of Christ with a traditional bread pudding.
CONVERSATION WITH PAPAL DIPLOMAT
Msgr. Kevin Kimtis of the Diplomatic Corp of the Holy See visits a La Habra parish.
14 A NEVER-ENDING LOVE
Easter is so much more than Easter baskets, bunnies and eggs.
ORANGE
COUNTY CATHOLIC MISSION STATEMENT
The Orange County Catholic Newspaper seeks to illuminate and animate the journey of faith for Catholics within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange – building solidarity among the faithful and inviting a deeper understanding and involvement in the mission of Christ – through the timely sharing of news, commentary and feature content in an engaging, accessible and compelling format.
ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC
The Official Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange Diocese of Orange Pastoral Center, 13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove 92840
Publisher: The Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of Orange
Director of Custom Content: Caroline Wong, cawong@scng.com
SCNG CUSTOM CONTENT
Managing Editor: Caitlin Adams Art Director:
Delivered weekly to parishes and homes throughout Orange County, Calif., Orange County Catholic is published by SCNG Custom Content, a division of Southern California News Group that offers content development and design expertise to businesses and nonprofit institutions. The Orange County Catholic editorial staff and editorial council are responsible for the content contained herein. Events and products advertised in Orange County Catholic do not carry the implicit endorsement of the Diocese of Orange or SCNG Custom Content.
Friday, May 16, 2025
Please join us as we honor and celebrate this year's inspirational Catholic women in the Diocese of Orange.
Hosted by
To purchase tickets or for sponsorship opportunities, please scan the QR code or visit ccoc.org/events/ICW-2025
For questions please email ICW@ccoc.org
ROSARY BEADS
READER CALL-OUT
These Rosary Beads are made of glass and were purchased in Portugal.
Commemorative Fatima Centennial Rosary: My late mother and I went on a pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal, in the summer of 2017, the 100th anniversary of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three shepherd children in October 1917. It was my mother's first pilgrimage trip which made it special as she was in her 80s at the time. We also visited Lourdes, France. This Rosary reminds me of my dear mother who was a devout and faith-filled Catholic.
—Lila Moulton, St. Martin de Porres parish, Yorba Linda
If you would like to share a photo of your Rosary Beads with our readers, please send a photo and brief description (include your name and parish) to: editor@occatholic.com C
“ Each of us has a vision of good and of evil. We have to encourage people to move towards what they think is good”
— Pope Francis
SAINT PROFILE
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
ACTS 2:14, 22-33; PSALM 16:1-2A AND 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11; MATTHEW 28:8-15
TUESDAY
ACTS 2:36-41; PSALM 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 AND 22; JOHN 20:1118
WEDNESDAY
ACTS 3:1-10; PSALM 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9; LUKE 24:13-35
THURSDAY
ACTS 3:11-26; PSALM 8:2AB AND 5, 6-7, 8-9; LUKE 24:35-48
ANSELM C.1033-1109
THIS SCHOLARLY ITALIAN youth wanted to become a monk, but his father's disapproval pushed him to a secular life that he later described as dissipated. After his mother died, he moved to France to continue studies with her family. In 1060 he joined the Benedictines at Bec in Normandy, and in 1078 was elected abbot, which increasingly involved him in civil and church affairs in France and England. In 1093 he became archbishop of Canterbury, a post held until his death. During his tenure, Canterbury became England's primatial see, but Anselm was twice exiled over conflicts with English monarchs. He penned a systematic study of Christian beliefs and many letters to his beloved monks. He is a doctor of the church.C
FRIDAY
ACTS 4:1-12; PSALM 118:1-2 AND 4, 22-24, 25-27A; JOHN 21:1-14
PHOTOS:
SATURDAY
ACTS 4:13-21; PSALM 118:1 AND 14-15AB, 16-18, 1921L; MARK 16:9-15
KAYLIE ADAME LOOKS FORWARD TO BEING BAPTIZED IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH, RECEIVING CONFIRMATION AND RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION
BY JORGE LUIS MACÍAS
TALKING ABOUT THE LOVE
of God and our Lord Jesus Christ brings tears of love to Kaylie Adame.
The girl and her sister Emily are ready to receive the three sacraments of Christian initiation on April 19, in a special ceremony at Christ Cathedral.
“I want to read the Scriptures and probably be a saint someday,” said
10-year-old Kaylie. “I want to be a good Catholic and be kind.”
Do you really want to be a saint?
“Yes,” she answered without hesitation.
Is it a commitment for you?
“Yes,” she repeated.
Can you do it?
“Yes.”
Do you want to do it?
“Yes.”
Since 2010, Cristina Escalante, originally from Chihuahua, and her husband
José Adame, from Purépero, Michoacán, have been parishioners of Christ Cathedral, where their daughters were born to the faith.
“As a father, it's important and beautiful for me that the girls know the love of God and the love of our Lord Jesus,” said José, who owns an auto electrical shop in Fullerton.
His wife, Cristina, recalled that her introduction to the faith began in her homeland and was inherited from her grandparents, Fe Corral and Ricardo Escalante.
“I was baptized as a child and made my First Communion at 10 years old,” she recalled.
She said it took a while to baptize the girls because it was difficult to find suit-
able godparents for Kaylie and Emily. They wanted to find people who were in full communion with the Catholic Church and were true witnesses to the love of Christ.
However, it was the girls themselves who discovered their godparents: Stephanie Ramírez and Noah Szceszinski, in Kaylie's case, and Marlene Rubio, (José's sister-in-law), in Emily's case.
“Our daughters chose their godparents,” said José. “They are college-educated people, educated in the Catholic faith. If anything happens, they will be in good hands.”
The Adame-Escalante family recognizes that the sacraments of Christian initiation—Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion—will lay the foundation for a Christian life, allowing them to be born to a new life, strengthened in faith and nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ.
For two years, Kaylie and her sister Emily, 11, received formation in the Catholic faith with catechists Edye Reinaga, Mayra Fonseca, Guadalupe Neri and Mónica Castro.
They worked under the supervision of Sr. Rosemary Nguyen, LHC (Lovers of the Holy Cross), coordinator of children's faith formation at Christ Cathedral.
Sr. Rosemary reported that this year they will have 39 catechumens and 41 candidates who will be in full communion with the Catholic Church, receiving the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion.
GOD IS ALWAYS WITH YOU
With a tender smile and a soft voice, Kaylie said she would like to be a religious sister in the future.
“It’s a commitment,” she said. “I think I’ll live well because I want to support Catholics, Christians, God and Jesus.” Kaylie imagines her future life in a religious congregation.
“It doesn’t matter where you go,” she said. “God is always with you.”
THE ADAME-ESCALANTE FAMILY IS WITH FR. BAO THAI, RECTOR OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL, MAKENNA AALIYAN WELLS AND HER GODFATHER DAVID HARDEN. PHOTO BY JORGE LUIS MACÍAS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
She has read the life of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and admires her because the Discalced Carmelite sister—also known as Thérèse of Lisieux—left behind a legacy of lifelong teachings of simplicity, love and trust in God.
“From her, I learned that she helped people, bringing them peace of heart and the Spirit to be pure human beings,” Kaylie said.
She reflects that, in the life of holiness, some people could look up to her and she might be an example for other girls.
“Then the world would be a better place if we all do good to others, because no matter what happens, God will always be there for everyone,” she shared.
The girl's spiritual growth is noticeable. Her soul has been captured by the power of the Holy Spirit and her knowledge of the Church and the things of God is evident in her words.
“If you don't know God, you don't
know His Son, Jesus,” said Kaylie. “He is truly good. He's really great! He is simply beautiful and has beautiful moments for you.”
In fact, in her analysis of Jesus Christ's human qualities, Kaylie singles out love as the most important.
“His love is how He saved and healed people,” she said. “I want to receive it now!”
Kaylie even gave her sister Emily some advice.
“I want you to always be close to God,” she told her sister. “To pay attention to the teachings of the Church. To be kind to everyone, and no matter what happens, God will always be there with you.”
While the family plans to celebrate the religious event of April 19 with a dinner at home, the next day Emily would like to eat a delicious pozole soup, while Kaylie would like some chicken tamales C
EMILY AND KAYLIE ADAME AND MAKENNA AALIYAN WELLS WILL RECEIVE THEIR SACRAMENTS AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL. PHOTOS BY JORGE LUIS MACÍAS
KAYLIE AND HER SISTER EMILY ADAME WILL RECEIVE THE SACRAMENTS OF BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION AND HOLY COMMUNION ON APRIL 19 AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL.
OC CATHOLIC RECIPE SWAP
CAPIROTADA OR MEXICAN BREAD PUDDING
INGREDIENTS
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I often would help my grandmother make a traditional bread pudding known as capirotada. First, she'd make the sweet syrup, and the aroma of simmering cinnamon would soon fill the entire kitchen. I was much too young to be near the stove, so my task was to tear botillo rolls into large pieces and assemble the other ingredients. In Mexican culture, capirotada is traditionally served during Lent and during the Christmas season.
Capirotada is viewed as a reminder of the Passion of Christ. The bread symbolizes the Body of Christ, the dark syrup His blood, the whole cloves the nails placed in His hands and feet, the soft melted cheese is the Holy Shroud. Lastly, the cinnamon sticks symbolizes the cross. There are many versions of this delectable dish, all are heavenly. Here is my mother's recipe handed down from my grandmother that is especially comforting and filled with savory goodness.
—Submitted by Vivian Frahm, St. Vincent de Paul parish in Huntington Beach
3-4 botillo rolls or crusty French rolls
10 oz piloncillo cones found in Mexican specialty stores or 1 1/2 brown sugar
4 1/2 water
3-4 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
1 tsp. vanilla
2 C cubed cheddar cheese
1 C raisins
1 C dry peanuts or any nut variety
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Tear or slice buttered stale rolls and layer in a baking sheet. Bake for 3 minutes on each side until toasted and golden. Set to the side.
Combine the water, piloncillo, cinnamon sticks and cloves in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Allow to steep covered for 2 hours. Strain and set syrup aside.
Spray a 8x10 baking dish with non-stick spray, layer ingredients starting with a third of the bread, a third of the raisins, a third of the cheese and pour a third of the sweet syrup evenly over the bread. Wait 20 minutes and repeat in two additional layers in same sequence, waiting 20 minutes between layers and another 20 minutes before baking.
Cover the dish with foil and bake 40 minutes until the cheese is melted.
Serve warm with whipping cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy! C
PHOTO COURTESY OF VIVIAN FRAHM
PREPARING FOR THE JOY OF EASTER SUNDAY
SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO PARISHIONERS, STAFF, SHARE HOW THEIR MINISTRIES AND POSITIONS IN THE CHURCH MAKE AN IMPACT ON HOLY WEEK
BY MIKE VULPO
THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY
of the liturgical year calls for some very thoughtful preparation.
As Catholics across Orange County prepare to celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, many have been working behind the scenes to ensure Masses are extra special for parishioners.
“Easter is a little taste of heaven,” San Francisco Solano Catholic Church parochial vicar Fr. Cole Buzon shared. “That’s how I look at it, and the joy that we taste there, the joy that we experience with each other, it's just a foreshadowing
of what's to come.”
In honor of Easter weekend, we spoke to different leaders at San Francisco Solano in Rancho Santa Margarita to share what the season means to them. Keep reading to see how they prepared to celebrate the triumph of good over sin and death.
MUSIC AND PRODUCTION DIRECTOR JACKIE KEARNS
Preparing for Holy Week and Easter Sunday takes a lot of preparation for music directors at churches throughout Orange County.
“It's such a busy time for people, and they want to be with their family, so it is a sacrifice to ask, ‘Hey, we need people to lead these Masses and to give up your talents and your time,’” Kearns explained. “But it's such a beautiful week. It really does start a little somber on Good Friday. You’re kind of telling the
CONTINUES ON PAGE 9
FR. COLE BUZON PREPARES FOR MASS AT SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CATHOLIC CHURCH IN RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA.
DEACON DAVID STROMSWOLD AND HIS WIFE KIMBERLY STROMSWOLD VOLUNTEER AT SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CATHOLIC CHURCH. PHOTOS BY MIKE VULPO
ERICA CHRISTENSEN AND GLORIA BRIONES VOLUNTEER AT SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO’S FISH FRY DURING LENT.
PAROCHIAL VICAR FR. COLE BUZON
For 40 days, Fr. Cole has preached to his community the importance of Lent and how it’s an opportunity to be with Jesus in the desert.
“The reason why He went to the desert and the Holy Spirit brought Him was simply because He wanted to remind us that in the deserts of our lives, we are not alone,” Fr. Cole explained. “He has sanctified loneliness, that He has sanctified suffering, that He has sanctified just simply struggling, being alone. It's an honor to journey with people through that.”
With Easter Sunday arriving, Fr. Cole hopes to remind new and old parishioners that Jesus is with each of us every step of our journey.
“Christ desires to share not just a Sunday with us, but an eternity with us,” he shared. “Easter is our opportunity to experience that joy and to continue on that journey.”
ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR AND FISH FRY VOLUNTEER GLORIA BRIONES
For nearly seven years, Briones has spent her Friday nights during Lent volunteering at San Francisco Solano’s Fish Fry. Close to 300 people gather as a community every week to prepare for Easter weekend.
“Fish Fries are just a time of reflecting back on a journey that you want to have with the Lord,” she explained. “And if you're not Catholic or Christian, you can always come. We bond together and break bread together. We just love everyone to be here to be a family.”
Briones also sees examples of almsgiving
as she witnesses volunteers give back each and every week.
“It just brings me so much joy to see all the families here,” she said. “The teenagers love to come and help clean up. I have a group of women who love to help behind the scenes and decorate. Everybody's included in this. It takes many hands to do light work, and we're just so grateful for everybody.”
DEACON DAVID STROMSWOLD AND LITURGY DIRECTOR KIMBERLY STROMSWOLD
As volunteers of San Francisco Solano’s RCIA program, both Deacon David and his wife Kimberly know how powerful the Easter vigil can be every year.
“Having experienced it on both sides as someone coming into their faith and someone being on a team helping people journey to that, it’s indescribable because it’s the Holy Spirit,” said Kimberly — who converted from Episcopalian to Catholicism in 2018. “It’s overwhelming because you are coming into the true faith. You are coming into the Church of God that He created. You’re coming into the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and you are receiving the Eucharist.”
Deacon David believes RCIA is one of the most important ministries in the church as you work with individuals “thirsty for the Lord.”
“Watching the transformation of someone who raises their hand one day and says, ‘I think I’m being called’ and to walk with them and see their growth,” he shared, “it is pretty incredible.” C
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
story of Jesus and how it all comes to be on the cross. And so, for Easter, we just want to make it as joyous as we can.”
Kearns tries to incorporate as many musicians and voices as possible to “fill the sound” of the church.
“For me, truly, what I hope is that people just feel Jesus,” she explained before getting emotional. “My hope is that you loved the music because you felt Jesus. If you haven't come in a long time, I hope you felt Jesus or He spoke to you. That’s what we want.”
JACKIE KEARNS PREPARES TO SING DURING MASS AT SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CATHOLIC CHURCH. PHOTO BY MIKE VULPO
GUIDING LIGHT: THE POOR CLARE MISSIONARY SISTERS
BY LOU PONSI
FOR 60 YEARS, THE Poor Clare Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament have been guiding the lives of young children at the Santa Clara Day Nursery School while following the Franciscan ideals of adoring the Lord, living simply and devoting their time to prayer and community service.
Blessed Maria Inés Teresa of The Blessed Sacrament founded the Poor Clare Missionary Sisters in Mexico 100 years ago during a time of widespread persecution of Christians.
She opened the preschool in 1965 to help the families of Orange County by providing a safe and nurturing environment for their young children.
The Poor Clare Missionary Sisters have been continuing her work there ever since.
“Our mother foundress wanted to provide a safe place for children and youth, where parents could leave their children knowing they would be cared for spiritually and educationally,” said Sister Superior Yanori Zuniga, who joined the Missionary Sisters 36 Years ago in her native Costa Rica after a deacon in her parish introduced her to the order.
“And when deacon took me to see the sisters, he said the moment would be special,” Sr. Yanori said. “So, I was waiting for that moment. And that moment came when I stepped in the convent of the Poor Clare Missionary Sisters.”
While the Poor Clare Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament are an independent order, their roots can be traced back to the Poor Clare Sisters, a Franciscan order founded by St. Clare of Assisi in the early 1200s.
The Poor Clare Missionary Sisters emulate the same Franciscan tenets of poverty, chastity and obedience.
“We are 50 percent active and 50 percent contemplative,” Sr. Yanori said. “We
SR. ADRIANA RAMIREZ AND HER ASSISTANT SR. ANA MARIA GARCIA TEACH HAPPY PRESCHOOLERS AT THE SANTA CLARA DAY NURSERY SCHOOL. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
SR. GUADALUPE TORRES TEACHES COLORS AND SHAPES TO HER STUDENTS.
wake up early for prayer and Mass, and then spend the day in various activities, including teaching and community service.”
Of the 18 sisters in the order, 12 work in the preschool.
All of the sisters live in the convent, which is on the same campus as the school.
The furnishings in the convent reflect the order’s vow of poverty — basic tables, chairs and desks.
Funds are used only for needed repairs on the grounds or to purchase new items when old items are no longer functional.
“The less we have, the more we get,” Sr. Yanori said. “It's about living simply and focusing on what truly matters.”
Sr. Hena Andrade, Santa Clara’s program director, said she felt Jesus calling her to the order through her aunt, who was also a Poor Clare Missionary Sister.
Sr. Hena was inspired by the stories surrounding the work the Poor Clare Missionary Sisters were doing around the world.
“I visited other communities, but I felt God was leading me here,” Sr. Hena said.
The sisters' commitment to serve can sometimes extend beyond the walls of the nursery school.
Two sisters from the Santa Ana convent are doing missionary work in Michoacan, Mexico, during Holy Week, Sr. Yanori said.
Sr. Guadalupe Torres, a teach-
er at the preschool who joined the order 36 years ago in her native Mexico, spent 23 years doing missionary work in India, where she helped build schools and medical facilities for poor children and families.
The sisters planted rice and vegetables and taught women how to use sewing machines, she said.
“In India, you have to go ready to help the poor people,” Sr. Guadalupe said. “The children were not knowing about God. So, I was teaching Spanish, and I was also telling them that God is there and is close to
them and God created them.”
There are currently 85 children enrolled in the Santa Clara Day Nursery, up considerably from the low enrollment in the wake of the corona virus pandemic. Pre-COVID, a waiting list of 30 to 40 students was typical.
The Poor Clare Missionary Sisters are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Santa Clara Day Nursery with a Mass and reception beginning at 3 p.m. June 21 at Christ Cathedral. C
TIME FOR HOPSCOTCH AT RECESS AT THE SANTA CLARA DAY NURSERY SCHOOL IN COSTA MESA. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
SISTER SUPERIOR YANORI ZUNIGA (LEFT), SR. KARLA ANTONIO AND SR. HENA ANDRADE PAUSE FOR A PHOTO WHILE STUDENTS PLAY ON THE PLAYGROUND.
FOOD AND CONVERSATION WITH PAPAL DIPLOMAT
MSGR. KEVIN KIMTIS VISITS
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE (LA HABRA)
BY MEG WATERS
WHEN GENERAL Garibaldi laid siege to the Papal States in 1870, he believed that by taking the sizable land holdings held by the Holy See, he was effectively ending the Papacy which operated in many ways like any other nation-states. And, in a sense, he did end the Catholic Church’s place as a traditional government power. But ironically, without a temporal kingdom, the Holy See became much more influential in world affairs, said Msgr. Kevin Kimtis, a member of the Diplomatic Corps of the Holy See who recently visited Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in La Habra on April 4.
Over the next 60 years, after they were elected, the popes considered themselves prisoners of the Vatican, because to leave Vatican Hill, would be to enter hostile territory in Italy. But the Holy Father’s isolation also liberated the role of the Holy See to act as an influential and neutral player in world affairs. At first in small things like facilitating negotiations between Germany and Spain over islands in the middle of the Pacific. The Holy See’s ability to be neutral and seek peaceful outcomes between nations grew more important as world affairs became more dire.
“During World War I the Holy See mediated for peace, delivered mail to prisoners of war, gave tuberculosis vaccines to 26,000 prisoners and civilians in Switzerland,” said Msgr. Kimtis, who was ordained for the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey in 2011 and served in several parishes before studying abroad in Rome.
“By the end of the war, Pope Benedict XV had nearly exhausted the treasury trying to carry out peace mediation and charitable works,” he added.
After the war, he saw that not possess-
ing land gave the pope influence but at the same time he wanted to resolve the stalemate surrounding the Vatican.
Msgr. Kimtis explained that in 1920, the new Soviet Union was beginning its military expansion and targeted Poland. At the time, Archbishop Achille Ratti was the Papal Nuncio to Warsaw. During the Battle of Warsaw, the entire diplomatic corps fled the capital with the exceptions of Archbishop Ratti and the Turkish ambassador. Ratti believed it to be his moral duty to accompany the Poles at their time of trial and he visited Polish troops on the front.
For this, he gained great respect among the Poles who established a monument to him in front of the papal nunciature
in Warsaw. By 1923, Archbishop Ratti became Pope Pius XI.
“A lifelong Papal diplomat” added the monsignor, “he was instrumental in forming the Holy See’s Diplomatic Corps and in 1929 he reached an accord with the Italian government and Vatican City, the smallest sovereign state in the world, was born.”
During the 20th century and into the 21st century, the Diplomatic Corps has played an important role in foreign affairs, often behind the scenes. Today, the Holy See maintains formal diplomatic relations with nearly 200 countries plus several international organizations such as the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the World Trade Or-
ganization. While Spain and France have had diplomatic relations with the Holy See since the 15th century, most offices opened after 1870. The United States established formal diplomatic relations in 1984, two years after Great Britain. The Holy See also has formal diplomatic relationships with several primarily Muslim nations including Syria, Egypt and Bahrain.
Fr. William Goldin, parochial administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe, has been friends with Msgr. Kimtis since the two were earning advanced degrees in Rome. After their time in Rome, Bishop Vann assigned Fr. Goldin to parish ministry and teaching in the Diocese of Orange, and Msgr. Kimtis was selected for his role in the Diplomatic Corps. C
A GROUP OF PARISH STAFF AND ATTENDEES POSE FOR A GROUP PHOTO WITH FR. WILLIAM GOLDIN AND MSGR. KEVIN KIMTIS FOLLOWING A SPECIAL TALK GIVEN BY THE PAPAL DIPLOMAT.
MSGR. KEVIN KIMTIS CHATS WITH A GUEST OF THE APRIL 4 SPECIAL LENTEN DINNER AND TALK GIVEN BY THE PAPAL DIPLOMAT.
MSGR. KEVIN KIMTIS, A MEMBER OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS OF THE HOLY SEE, AND FR. WILLIAM GOLDIN, PAROCHIAL ADMINISTRATOR OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LA HABRA, POSE FOR A PHOTO ON APRIL 4. PHOTOS BY YUAN WANG/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
A SPECIAL LENTEN DINNER AND TALK BY MSGR. KEVIN KIMTIS, A MEMBER OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS OF THE HOLY SEE, WAS HELD ON APRIL 4 AT OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PARISH.
A NEVER-ENDING LOVE
BY SR. DIANE HEISS, SDSH
“ J
ESUS CHRIST IS RISEN
Today, Alleluia...”
Thus begins a traditional Easter hymn which many of us will undoubtedly sing in our parishes throughout this Easter season. Although numerous stores set up their Easter displays on Feb. 15, immediately after removing those from Valentine’s Day, Easter is so much more than Easter baskets, bunnies and eggs.
Due to the supreme importance of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, with the consequent invitation to each of us to “Come Home” to an eternal dwelling where a loving Father awaits us, Easter Sunday lasts a week (Easter week), followed by the Easter season for a total of six weeks. The liturgical colors are gold or white, so we will see this color not only covering the altars and on banners, but it will also be the color the priest wears on his chasuble (the outer vestment).
Each of us wants to love and to be loved, since we were created out of love and are invited to live with love forever. In what greater way can love be expressed than by giving one’s life to save the Beloved?
On Holy Thursday, the night before He died, Jesus, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity and Son of God, told the apostles, His closest friends, that “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)
Of course, Jesus could have accomplished our redemption in any number of other ways, even with a mere three words such as “You are saved” or by shedding a few drops of blood at His circumcision; or as a small child falling and scraping His knee. On a larger scale,
He could have given a considerable amount of blood when He sweat blood during His agony in the garden; or when flogged; or crowned with thorns; or nailed to the cross. Why did He give all His blood, every drop of it, when His side was pierced by the soldier’s lance and witnesses saw blood and water flowing
kindness, love and mercy to others) and thanking Him for his goodness to us. If not, it is never too late to start. Should these Lenten practices and expressions of love cease now that Lent is over? By no means! Are we content if “the love of our life” says we are precious and loved for only one and a half months each year? Hopefully not. Jesus never tires of pouring out His infinite love for each of us, so let us not limit or tire of expressing our love for him through our thoughts, words, and deeds. Happy Easter!
FOR YOUR FAMILY:
■ Attend Mass as frequently as possible during the Easter season and especially during Easter week.
■ Pray for your deceased family and friends, asking Jesus, our Risen Lord, to bring them to share in the fullness of His Risen Life as soon as possible if they are not yet at home in heaven.
■ Find special ways to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, the second Sunday of Easter. C
from His side? Only one word, a small four-letter word, is sufficient to explain it, LOVE.
And we will need all eternity to just barely begin to comprehend such an infinite love.
Hopefully we have spent time with Jesus during these past six weeks of Lent and especially during Holy Week, expressing our love for Him through prayer, penance and almsgiving (acts of
PHOTO BY THANTI RIESS ON UNSPLASH
OC Catholic Afar
JSerra Catholic High School’s inaugural Humanities twelfth grade class recently took the program’s first annual capstone excursion to Rome. Here they are in front of the main altar of St. John Lateran!
—Pat Reidy VP of Mission and Faith at JSerra Catholic High School
We want your photos! Send your pictures of “OC Catholic Afar” — of you, family or friends visiting Catholic churches and other interesting places — to editor@occatholic.com. Please include a brief description of the photo, the name of the person(s) featured in the photo and their home parish.
ST. JOHN’S SEMINARY CAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA
This program will help lay ministers increase their knowledge of the Catholic intellectual tradition and improve their ministerial skills for the life of the Church. Students will be prepared to work in different areas of ministry and make professional and personal connections with others of the same mind and spirit. ST. JOHN’S SEMINARY NOW OFFERS AN ONLINE M.A. IN PASTORAL MINISTRY PROGRAM FOR THE LAITY
For more information
Email: mapm@stjohnsem.edu or visit www.stjohnsem.edu
Watch a brief video about the program
A studio with professional video, audio, and lighting equipment has been built to produce visually stunning content by our world-class faculty. This studio allows our students to have an enjoyable technological experience.
