Honor Your Deacon
at Catholic Charities of Orange County’s
Mardi Gras Gala
At this year’s Mardi Gras Gala, we are honoring the Diaconate of Orange for their outstanding service and dedication. Celebrate Deacons of your local parish for all they do by showing up to support! Reserve your parish table today!
FEBRUARY
9, 2025
CONTENTS
THE FEAST OF SANTO NIÑO
One of the largest Filipino cultural festivals, Sinulog celebrates the sacred image of the Holy Child.
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA CELEBRATES THE BLACK NAZARENE
The Lake Forest parish’s celebration included a candlelight procession with Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno. 14 BETTER TOGETHER
A marriage means ‘me time’ can become ‘us time’.
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
Executive Editor: Jarryd Gonzales
Managing Editor: Patricia Mahoney, editor@occatholic.com
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CUSTOM CONTENT
Managing Editor: Caitlin Adams Art Director: Ryann Beveridge
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.
Learn concrete ways to attract fallen-away loved ones back to the truth and beauty of our Catholic faith
Cost is $50 per ticket. Please bring your own sack lunch. To reserve your seat, aim your camera at the QR code or go to the following link: https://www.zeffy.com/enUS/ticketing/return-of-the-prodigal-conference www.maryscpr.org
Cyndi Peterson
Tim Staples
Fr. Mike Barry, SS.CC.
ROSARY BEADS
PHOTO COURTESY OF DELORES BOLLE
READER CALL-OUT
I bought the purple Rosary at the LaSalette Shrine in 1988 when my husband and I first were married.
I bought the Medjugorje Rosary when I was fortunate enough to go to Medjugorje in 1994. It was the start of the war out there. We were ushered off our bus with armed guards constantly. We were at the Mass at St. James Catholic Church, and we could hear the bombings.
Our Lady protected us. Both Rosaries have very special meaning to me.
—Delores Bolle, St. Philip Benizi parish in Fullerton
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
“ Let us make room in our lives for the word of God...”
SAINT PROFILE
— Pope Francis APOLLONIA DIED CIRCA 249
AMIDDLE-AGED VIRGIN MARTYR and a female deacon in Alexandria, Apollonia was martyred there when mobs roamed the streets torturing and killing Christians. Her death was described by St. Dionysius of Alexandria in a letter to the bishop of Antioch: “Next they seized the wonderful old lady Apollonia, battered her till they knocked out all her teeth, built a pyre ... and threatened to burn her alive unless she repeated after them their heathen incantations.” She refused and jumped into the fire on her own. St. Augustine later said she must have been directed in this by the Holy Spirit. The patron of dentists, Apollonia is also invoked for toothaches and gum disease. U.S. dental societies and journals have taken her name. C
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
GENESIS 1:1-19; PSALM 104:12A, 5-6, 10, 12, 24, 35C; MARK 6:53-56
TUESDAY
GENESIS 1:20— 2:4A; PSALM 8:45, 6-7, 8-9; MARK 7:1-13
WEDNESDAY
GENESIS 2:4B9, 15-17; PSALM 104:1-2A, 27-28, 29BC-30; MARK 7:14-23
THURSDAY
GENESIS 2:18-25; PSALM 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; MARK 7:24-30
FRIDAY
GENESIS 3:1-8; PSALM 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7; MARK 7:31-37
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
SATURDAY
GENESIS 3:924; PSALM 90:2, 3-4ABC, 5-6, 12-13; MARK 8:1-10
SUNDAY
JEREMIAH 17:5-8; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:12, 16-20; LUKE 6:17, 20-26; PSALM 1
‘LOVE, YOUR VALENTINE’
IT’S ALMOST FEB. 14, BUT WHO WAS ST. VALENTINE — AND WHAT SHOULD THE DAY MEAN FOR CATHOLICS?
BY GREG HARDESTY
AS THE DELUGE OF purchases for chocolate, flowers, jewelry and other gifts reaches peak torrential levels ahead of Valentine’s Day, Catholics may wonder: How did Feb. 14 become a cash cow for Hallmark and other retailers?
And should Cupid’s arrow cut deeper than romantic love?
And who was St. Valentine, anyway?
All good questions whose answers have been well documented by historians and religious scholars, although debate and myth still surround the life of this saint who lived more than 1,700 years ago.
A GRUESOME DEATH
Scholars appear to settle on the existence of three Valentines (a common name, along with Valentina, in the third century) who were saints and martyrs: Valentine of Rome, Valentine of Interamna (modern-day Terni, Italy) and the lesser-known Valentine of Africa (from modern-day Tunisia or Algeria), as explained in a post on walksofitaly.com, a travel website.
Both Valentine of Rome and Terni preached in the third century and were martyred on Feb. 14, 269 A.D., under Emperor Claudius II during a period of widespread persecution in Rome before Christianity was legalized in the 300s A.D. Claudius II thought married men made bad soldiers and thus made marriage and engagements illegal in Rome to sway male soldiers to stay in the army and fight his wars, according to an article on history.com and other sources.
The Roman priest Valentine, whom sev-
eral historical sources appear to settle on as being the St. Valentine whose life inspired the Feb. 14 commemoration, married many couples in secret.
When Claudius II discovered this, he sentenced Valentine, who also was a physician, to a gruesome execution of beating, stoning and beheading — a reality that is about far away as one can get, thematically, from the typically treacly musings on modern-day Valentine’s Day cards.
As for those cards?
Valentine, while awaiting his brutal demise, supposedly wrote a letter in prison signed, “From your Valentine” — the inspiration, according to many historians, for the Feb. 14 tradition of lovers sending each other cards and signing them with the same moniker.
ROSES ARE RED
St. Valentine has since become a patron saint of love, beekeepers, epileptics, greeters and engaged couples — among others. In the 400s A.D., Pope Gelasius I, the bishop of Rome from March 1, 492 to his death on Nov. 19, 496, declared Feb. 14 the day to commemorate St. Valentine.
That day, however, wasn’t associated with romantic love until the 14th century, when Geoffrey Chaucer, the English poet, author and civil servant best known for “The Canterbury Tales,” first alluded to Valentine’s Day traditions in his poem, “Parlement of Foules,” which touches on the theme of courtly love through the interactions of lovebirds in early spring.
The custom of lovers exchanging gifts on Feb. 14 flourished in 18th century England
and by the 1800s, mass-produced Valentine’s Day cards were being exchanged in the United States.
Today, several countries celebrate Valentine’s Day — some in different ways.
For example, in Japan, women give men chocolates on Feb. 14, and a month later, on March 14 — known as White Day — men return the favor with sweets and, typically, more expensive gifts. South Korean singles fete a third Valentine’s Day on April 14 in by gathering and eating ceremonial food.
A DEEPER MEANING
So, what does all of this have to do with Catholicism?
“Alike Christmas, the true meaning behind the celebration can be lost in the saturation of the secular demand,” said Fr. Brandon Dang, administrator of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Aliso Viejo. “Now, this is not to say that Catholics do not or should not celebrate these holidays with their popularity, but we should do so without forgetting the deep meaning behind it all.”
Although exchanging sweets, flowers, gifts and cards with loved ones is a fun and time-honored tradition, Feb. 14 should be a reminder for Catholics to reflect deeper on the legacy of St. Valentine, according to the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land and other religious sources.
St. Valentine should be remembered for his remarkable compassion and love.
“Picture him as a compassionate helper, extending kindness to everyone, regardless of their background or beliefs,” the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land wrote in
an article. “In an era marked by mistreatment based on one’s beliefs, St. Valentine courageously stood up for love and faith.” Valentine’s Day is a moment to honor someone who loved others so profoundly that he sacrificed everything.
“His story serves as a powerful lesson, encouraging us to be kind, loving and steadfast in standing up for our beliefs, no matter how daunting the circumstances,” the article continued.
WHAT OUR CATHOLIC FAITH TEACHES US ABOUT LOVE
Joan Patten, AO, delegate for Consecrated Life in the Diocese of Orange, has this to say about love and the Catholic faith:
“Our Catholic faith teaches us that true love requires sacrifice. The greatest icon of sacrificial love is Jesus, Our Bridegroom, who pours Himself out freely in love for us on the cross. When we gaze upon the crucifix, we understand that true love calls us to give ourselves completely to our beloved and hold nothing back. Our faithfulness to our vows, promises and friendships is the gift we give every day and is expressed by our abiding presence regardless of the circumstances. While we may attempt to express our love with material goods such as flowers and gifts, we can also give in to the preferences of our loved ones, giving our attention to their desires and surrendering our will to their choices.”
She added, “Instead of measuring our relationships by materialistic expressions endorsed by our modern culture, consider the gifts of forgiveness, a listening presence and the luxury of time freely offered with full delight and attention. While we may prefer to use hearts to symbolize love instead of a cross on Valentine's Day, we know that the love Jesus offers and models to us is what we truly desire. May His sacrificial love awaken our hearts to respond with generosity, freedom and joy. “
So, as we celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, perhaps we can see beyond the cupids and candy hearts and look a bit deeper. Let us try to incorporate expressing our love in more altruistic ways such as acts of kindness and selfless giving. C
PHOTO BY LAURA OCKEL ON UNSPLASH
CATHOLIC STORIES FOR CHILDREN: HELPING THE NEXT GENERATION UNDERSTAND THE FAITH
BY BRITNEY ZINT
ACRADLE CATHOLIC, TREVOR
Rothaus never doubted his beliefs, but his faith was filled with confusion until he accidentally signed up for a deep-dive Bible study. So, when he began teaching confirmation prep classes to teenagers and found they too were confused, he decided he wanted to help the next generation of Catholics deepen their understanding while meeting them where they are: online.
“I realized that there is so much they don’t know about the faith, but they’re all on their phones all the time on Instagram, on YouTube, watching videos,” said Rothaus, a 32-year-old Placentia resident.
Thus, was born the nonprofit Catholic Stories for Children, an expanding library of child-friendly animated videos created to clear up any theological misunderstandings early. The website, catholicstoriesforchildren.com, features animated videos for young children explaining prayers like the “Hail Mary” and “St. Michael”; a bite-sized series called “Daisy and Sheep” on the different parts of Mass; and a series called “Prayer Time with Angels” about guardian angels.
“The importance of Catholic Stories for Children is their dedication to faith and accuracy,” said friend and fellow St. Norbert Catholic Church parishioner Jeff Acton. “They actually take the time to have their work looked over by religious leaders and strive to be faithful to the Holy Trinity.”
Rothaus said the idea is to provide what was missing from his own Catholic education — context — while helping children grow in virtue. To help teach children gratitude, there are videos on praying before meals; for humility, there are acts of contrition; for love, the prayers of intercession.
“Prayer is one of the basic building blocks of our faith and one of the things
that people don’t always think about,” Rothaus explained. “With prayer, it changes you.”
THE BEGINNING
Rothaus grew up in a Catholic family, attending Mass every Sunday and graduating from St. Joseph Catholic School in Placentia and Servite High School.
“It was more going through the steps of going to Mass and praying the Rosary and just trying to live a very moral life,” Rothaus said, “as opposed to trying to live a very Catholic faith-filled life.”
It was actually his mom’s persistence
that finally broke through to him.
While home on break from Tufts University, she would continually invite him to join her Bible study. Finally, deciding to attend one night, Rothaus signed in and took his seat. It was then that he realized he had actually not merely signed in but signed up for a six-month Revelation through Genesis study.
“I was just planning to go to one,” Rothaus recalled.
Still, he decided to take it one week at a time and see how it went.
“That was what really made me fall in love with the Catholic faith, with God,
with Christ,” he added. “That really opened my eyes, and it gave context to everything; you see where it all fits into the story of salvation history.”
After the Bible study course, Rothaus, who was then a graduate working as a software engineer, decided he needed more. So, he started volunteering. He was excited about his Catholic faith and wanted to learn more and pray more, which led him to teach confirmation classes at Christ Cathedral.
While there he found that his students were struggling with understanding, just
TREVOR ROTHAUS IS THE CREATOR OF CATHOLIC STORIES FOR CHILDREN, DESIGNED TO TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE CATHOLIC FAITH. PHOTO BY SCOTT SMELTZER/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE
like he did.
“After doing all this, I was like, ‘OK, I need to teach other people this. Other people need to know this,’” Rothaus said. “If I went through a Catholic school and still felt like so much was missing, that was definitely the case for other people.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
Now that Rothaus has graduated from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with a master’s in theology, he wants to build up Catholic Stories for Children. He is looking to add content for older children and even young adults.
In the works are two new series. “Songs of Saints” takes children into a moment in the life of a saint, where their prayer is composed into a song, like a “tiny musical,” Rothaus said. The other series is “Praying with Saints,” where children can pray along with their favorite saint. The nonprofit is finding “different stories that inspire kids, that educate them on the Catholic faith, that foster understanding of the beauty and joy of God’s love,” Rothaus said.
All the work, which takes animators, composers and a director, is paid through grants and individual donations.
“I always wonder how it’s going to keep on going, but God keeps on pulling through,” Rothaus said. “But it’s through other people. We constantly need other people to step up and help us, because this is helping so many parents and kids.” C
FEATURE
CATHOLIC STORIES FOR CHILDREN OFFERS SHORT, CHILD-FRIENDLY ANIMATIONS ABOUT THE CATHOLIC FAITH FEATURING GUARDIAN ANGELS, ST. MICHAEL, ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX AND MORE. IMAGES COURTESY OF TREVOR ROTHAUS
FILIPINO CATHOLICS CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF SANTO NIÑO
BY RON KUZLIK
FILIPINO CATHOLICS IN the Diocese of Orange celebrated Sinulog, or Santo Niño Festival, on Saturday, Jan. 18 at St. Pius V Catholic Church in Buena Park and Sunday, Jan. 19 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Orange.
Santo Niño means “Holy Child” and refers to the sacred image of the infant Jesus Christ.
The tradition celebrates the birth of Catholicism in the Philippines more than 500 years ago when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan offered an image
of the Baby Jesus to Queen Juana after she and her husband, Rajah Humabon, King of Cebu, converted to Christianity.
In the Philippines, Sinulog is one of the largest annual cultural festivals, featuring special Masses, song and ritual prayer dances that accompany blessing of the Baby Jesus statues.
It is also commonplace in many American parishes and dioceses with Filipino parishioners.
The population of Filipino Americans in California is about 1.6 million which accounts for about 38% of the entire Filipino American population in the United States.
Here in the Diocese of Orange, a nine-day Santo Niño Novena leading up to the feast day was concluded with a special Santo Niño Mass.
In addition to the Masses were processions by faithful of all ages, young and old alike, carrying their Santo Niño statues to be blessed. The statues ranged in size from a few inches tall to over a couple feet in height.
Afterwards were receptions and celebrations with song, dance and of course, a selection of Filipino foods and desserts.
According to Zaida DeLeon, leader of the St. Paul V Simbang Gabi Group, the Santo Niño Celebration at St. Pius V Catholic Church started around 1997.
“A group of Santo Niño devotees from Cebu, Philippines,” said DeLeon, “reached out to Johnny Cortes, the leader of the Filipino Community at St. Pius V about organizing a Feast of Santo Niño, similar to the annual celebration held in Cebu annually in the month of January.”
The Santo Niño celebration at St. Pius V was suspended during the pandemic, but resumed in 2023 when combined Simbang Gabi and Santo Niño Groups planned and prepared an 18-day long Feast of Santo Niño Celebration which was attended by over 800 people.
Currently, Simbang Gabi and Santo Niño Group members plan the celebration a year in advance.
To raise funds for the celebration, a
HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ORANGE CELEBRATED THE FEAST OF SANTO NIÑO ON JAN. 19. PHOTO BY JOSHUA SUDOCK/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE
SANTO NIÑO STATUES ARE LEFT ON THE ALTAR OF HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH TO BE BLESSED. PHOTO BY
JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
ST. PIUS V PARISH RECENTLY HELD MASSES, PROCESSIONS AND RECEPTIONS TO COMMEMORATE THE FEAST OF SANTO NIÑO. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. PIUS V PARISH
Luau Dinner Dance Fundraiser attended by around 400 people was held in August 2024. Santo Niño t-shirts made in Cebu were sold during the Simbang Gabi celebration in December 2024 and after Sunday Masses in early January 2025. Members of the group also solicited for donations from Santo Niño devotees, families and friends.
“Most attendees are Filipino Americans who migrated from the Philippines or who were born and raised in the U.S. by Filipino immigrants,” DeLeon said.
“The Hispanic community at St. Pius V also attends the celebration.”
Fr. Sy Nguyen is the pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Orange. Even though this is the parish’s first time cele-
brating Sinulog, or Santo Niño, he is very hopeful going forward.
“Our Filipino community here at Holy Family was formed only two years ago,” he said. “The devotion to the Santo Niño has become an integral part of the religious practice in the Philippines. If you go to a Catholic Filipino home, you will almost certainly see a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a statue of the Santo Niño.
“I am excited to begin this tradition of Sinulog in our parish, the joyful and festive dancing with the Santo Niño is a unique cultural feature that attracts the rest of the community.”
For more information visit stpiusvbp.org or hforange.org C
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SANTO NIÑO MEANS “HOLY CHILD” AND REFERS TO THE SACRED IMAGE OF THE INFANT JESUS CHRIST. PHOTO BY JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
OC CATHOLIC RECIPE SWAP EASY BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP
JUST IN TIME FOR Super Bowl weekend, this quick and easy buffalo chicken dip recipe is sure to be a crowd pleaser during the big game!
—Submitted by Ron Kuzlik, contributing writer for OC Catholic
INGREDIENTS
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
¾ cup chicken broth
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
Salt & Pepper
DIRECTIONS
Prepare the shredded cooked chicken
Start by drizzling a little olive oil into a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the chicken breast and sprinkle salt and pepper generously on the top side.
Cook for 5 minutes (until slightly golden), then use tongs to flip the chicken over. Add 3/4 cup of chicken broth to the pan and cover with a lid to keep the chicken moist while cooking it fast. Cook the chicken for another 7-10 minutes.
Place the cooked chicken breast on a plate or cutting board. Use two forks to separate the chicken meat and shred the entire chicken breast
Cooking the cheesy chicken dip
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Spoon into a shallow 1-quart baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes or until mixture is heated well, then stir. Sprinkle with green onions and additional blue cheese, if desired, and serve with chips, crackers and/or cut up veggies. Enjoy! C
PHOTO BY RON KUZLIK
MARDI GRAS IS COMING TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES
BY MEG WATERS
ON SATURDAY, FEB. 22, Catholic Charities of Orange County (CCOC) will celebrate its 35th annual Mardi Gras fundraiser with a gala at the Pasèa Resort and Spa in Huntington Beach. The much-anticipated black-tie event draws 300-400 people each year and is the largest fundraiser for Catholic Charities. This year’s event is a tribute to the Diaconate of Orange for their outstanding service in the local community and the work they do in collaboration with Catholic Charities of Orange County. The setting at Pasèa Resort is new for Mardi Gras, where a sweeping ocean view forms the background for the
festivities. The event will include several Mardi Gras staples, including a parade and stilt walkers. Guests will also enjoy dancing to the Luke Carson band and bid on exciting live auction items.
Catholic Charities of Orange County is an independent and a stand-alone 501(c) 3. It aids residents only within the county lines and is not involved with providing respite centers or other services as agencies located on the U.S./ Mexico border. Catholic Charities of Orange County assists people with a legal path to citizenship and who reside in Orange County. The Orange County chapter was established in 1976, well before the Diocese of Orange was formed out of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. In the 49 years since then, CCOC has been
an integral part of Orange County’s nonprofit social service network—which also includes mental health assistance, through the New Hope Counseling Services and the largest food pantry in Orange County, the Cantlay Food Distribution Center. New Hope offers quality mental health for families and schools.
Catholic Charities counseling team is currently implementing the human dignity curriculum in local Catholic schools. The program focuses on the truth that all people are made in the image and likeness of God and have an inherent human dignity given to them by God. Students learn to keep their minds and bodies healthy and safe and strive for human excellence. The program explains and reinforces the pro-life message absent from public schools. The Mardi Gras gala’s main goal is to help raise funds to expand the Human
Dignity Curriculum to more schools in the Diocese.
“Today when children face a variety of pressures from academic stress to social media it is crucial to prioritize their mental health,” expressed Ellen Roy, executive director of Catholic Charities of Orange County.
“This is why Catholic Charities of Orange County has implemented the Human Dignity Curriculum by the World Youth Alliance to promote the intrinsic value of each individual, empowering the youth to understand and respect their dignity as well as others.”
Individual tickets are $300; sponsorships are still available and purchasing a separate ticket for a priest or deacon enables clergy to attend. For more information, please contact Mariajose Garorti, director of Communications and Development, at mgarorti@ccoc.org C
DIOCESE OF ORANGE CHRIST CATHEDRAL
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ORANGE COUNTY HOSTED ITS 34TH MARDI GRAS GALA ON FEB. 10, 2024, AT THE BALBOA BAY RESORT IN NEWPORT BEACH. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA CELEBRATES FEAST DAY OF THE POON JESUS NAZARENO (BLACK NAZARENE)
BY REBECCA TAMONDONG
ON
JAN. 9, SANTIAGO DE Compostela Catholic Church in Lake Forest hosted the first-ever celebration of the feast day of the Black Nazarene in the Diocese of Orange. The Black Nazarene is known to its devotees as Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, or simply Poon Jesus Nazareno.
The event began with a candlelight procession with some 500 devotees praying the Rosary while walking behind the life-size image of the Poon Jesus Nazareno. The familiar hymn of “Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno” was playing in the background. The life-size image carried on the shoulders of volunteer Hijos de Nazareno then made its entrance to the church where the people welcomed the Poon by waving maroon-colored handkerchiefs, a devotional item used in the veneration of the sacred image.
The Mass was presided by Fr. Thomas Naval, pastor, along with Fr. Douglas Zavala, parochial vicar, Fr. Mark Cruz and Fr. Romeo Ascan of Alagad ni Maria as concelebrants. The church was fully packed with lively and animated attendees of various ethnicities. Every time Fr. Thomas prompted the congregation with “Viva Padre Jesus Nazareno,” the crowd enthusiastically responded with “Viva!” After the Mass, people lined up for the veneration of the Poon – their chance to wipe the foot of the Nazarene with their handkerchiefs and offer a prayer of petition or thanksgiving.
WHY PEOPLE ARE DEVOTED TO THE BLACK NAZARENE
Myriads of miraculous occurrences are attributed to the Poon Jesus Naza-
reno. Some devotees state that at times as they come to the Nazareno to pray, they have an unspoken prayer request in the back of their minds, only to realize that the response to their request is already happening. Devotees with prayer requests, mostly for good health or the healing of a loved one, assistance in passing an exam, receiving a job offer, conversion or safety of family members, success in work or studies, direction toward making the right decision — all have experienced a response to their prayer that is uniquely personal and intended for them.
The replica of the Black Nazarene that is currently visiting various parishes in the Diocese of Orange was donated by a Filipina devotee who was healed from cancer. This fulfills the promise she made that when healed she would help spread the devotion to the Poon among the Filipinos in the United States.
BLACK NAZARENE FEAST CELEBRATION IN THE PHILIPPINES
The celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene has been a traditionally phenomenal religious celebration in the Philippines for many years, but the devotion to the Black Nazarene is fairly new to the United States. Every year in Quiapo, Manila, a religious procession called Traslacion takes place on Jan. 9, the Feast Day of the Poon Jesus Nazareno. The procession on the streets of Manila starts from the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park where the faithful gather for Mass before the procession begins. It commemorates the transfer (“traslacion”) of the sacred image of the Black Nazarene from the church it was originally housed when brought to the
procession, no major incidents of injury or harm are reported. Although there is outward manifestation of religious fervor, like reaching out and touching the image of the Poon, a sense of piety and intense devotion to the Poon prevails.
Filipinos are known for their deep faith and religious devotion. Professor Fernando Zialcita of Ateneo de Manila, who is a resident of Quiapo, stated that he doesn’t know of any other practice that comes close to the intensity of devotion displayed by Filipino devotees as that shown to the Nazareno.
This year’s Feast of the Black Nazarene in the Philippines drew 8 million devotees from all walks of life — young and old, men and women, coming from near and far. It was an overwhelming sea of humanity that came together and walked the 6 km religious procession route which took 21 hours. Every year the number of devotees attending this phenomenal event in Quiapo increases. According to the devotees, this is the one day that they claim they give to the Lord with all their heart and strength, coupled with an ardent hope to be physically present with God.
WHY AND HOW FILIPINOS VENERATE THE POON JESUS NAZARENO
Philippines from Mexico to the church in Quiapo which is now a minor basilica and a national shrine for the Black Nazarene.
Devotees join the procession to express their love and thanksgiving to the Poon for the graces and blessings received, and to make their prayerful requests for the most important things in their lives. At the Traslacion, their only focus is on the Poon Jesus Nazareno. So, regardless of the tumultuous crowd and thousands of people joining the
Most devotees come to express their thanksgiving to God for blessings and favors received in their lives. The Poon Nazareno’s presence to them signifies the presence of God, and people want to be there at the Traslacion to feel His presence. They need to touch, feel and get a part of the image with them, even if it means simply wiping the foot of the Nazarene with a handkerchief to take home to share with a sick family member who hopefully will be healed. For Filipinos, the Nazareno is a symbol of hope.
As Filipino Cardinal Jose Advincula of the Archdiocese of Manila conveyed in his homily last Jan. 9, “Our hope as a people lives, because our Poon Nazareno lives. While there is hope, there is life.”C
ON JAN. 9, SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LAKE FOREST HOSTED A CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST DAY OF THE BLACK NAZARENE. PHOTO COURTESY OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA PARISH
THE VINCENTIANS
Celebrating 400 Years in 2025
The Vincentians of the Congregation of the Mission Western Province brought St. Vincent de Paul’s 200-year-old mission and charism to America in 1818.
• Evangelizing the forgotten members of society with ministries to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless, and much more
• Forming thousands of clergy members as teachers and administrators in seminaries
• Serving in over 100 parishes in the western U.S. as pastors and parish priests
• Educating the laity in elementary and secondary schools and colleges like DePaul University
• Bringing Christ’s loving message to the people with popular missions, prison ministry, and online ministries like The God Minute www.vincentian.org
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
Rosary Beads
BETTER TOGETHER
THE GIFT OF TIME
BY REBEKAH VALERRAMA
LIKE THE REST OF YOU, I'm a busy person. I have writing deadlines, homeschool lessons to prepare and never-ending household projects to fill my days and nights.
When things slow down for a minute, I often want nothing more than some quiet time with an audiobook and a needlework project, while my husband spends his own brief moments on the other side of the house with a video game or painting models.
Self-care is important, but sometimes it comes at the expense of time we should be spending together.
At the end of the night, I never regret the evenings that we spend doing things together instead of apart. Hobbies, conversation, even just enjoying a movie is better together than apart. We both come out of our times together filled far more emotionally and spiritually than if we were left to our own solitary "self-care."
But when I'm run ragged, the temptation is to take the easy way and focus only on myself. It takes effort to choose to actively love my spouse with the gift of my time. I have to remind myself that it's not giving away my "me" time, but sharing "us" time, making it twice as healing.
So how can we dedicate ourselves to more and better-quality time with our spouses?
First, pray together daily. My husband and I take a few minutes to sit down together right after we've put our four young children to bed. We briefly share things on our minds and ask for prayers for specific intentions. Then we take turns praying for each other. It only takes a few minutes, but our evening off starts
on the right foot. I find that the seasons of life when we've let this habit lapse have been more trying on our relationship. It's such a simple practice, but it yields such great benefits. It also gives us the opportunity to share our goals. Early in our marriage, we weren't good about this, leading to frustration when one person's goals were at odds with another's. For example, maybe he would have plans to spend his weekend
plans so I could go to the library and get some writing done.
Another way to build stronger a relationship is to prioritize your spouse's goals and frustrations. Maybe taking on a few of their chores when they're feeling overwhelmed. If you never have time for your husband because of all the laundry and dishes, then it's time for your husband to do some laundry and dishes.
Finally, the hardest part can sometimes be choosing to love and honor your spouse with your time and attention. This is a daily choice to put aside your own desires and fight the force of habit.
We are called to radical love, desiring the good of those around us more than our own. It's hard to see this when you're exhausted, but in a healthy relationship, time invested into your spouse is time your spouse is investing back into you. In the end, you're getting more peace and validation than you put in, if you trust that your spouse wants what's best for you too. C
trimming a tree outside the office window, while my plan was to record a video in that office, requiring no background noise. Discussing our goals and intentions and deadlines allows us to help each other achieve those goals. One time, my husband needed some space and quiet to work on a project, so I turned my plans to run errands into an outing to the mall with the kids, leaving the house empty for him all afternoon. Another time, he modified his
PHOTO BY DREW COFFMAN ON UNSPLASH
Moments in our Journey
JSERRA HIGH SCHOOL SUPPORTS L.A.COUNTY FIRE VICTIMS
Right: JSerra Catholic High School rallied its community to support L.A. by holding a donation fundraiser that raised between $15,000 and $20,000 for the L.A. Regional Food Bank.
JSerra’s boys basketball team partnered with the Pasadena YMCA to deliver water and meals to volunteers.
JSerra’s Families4Families initiative filled two U-Haul trailers with donations for those in need.
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