Mater Dei senior Addison Deal is among the state’s best basketball players.
REAGAN KREMMERER LOVES JESUS CHRIST
The St. Junipero Serra Catholic School eighth grader placed first in a regional civics competition.
CELEBRATING LOVE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Local couples reflect on their weddings at diocesan parishes.
ST. CECILIA LENTEN DINNER
The parish served a special meal on a rainy Friday evening.
TELL JESUS EVERYTHING
Friendship is another word for communion.
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: 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.
ROSARY BEADS
READER CALL-OUT
This is the Rosary I received from my son as a Christmas gift a few years back. It is a rugged, paracord knotted Rosary.
Pictured, my Rosary is soaking up water from the Grotto of the Sanctuary of Our Lady, in Lourdes, France.
—Nathalie Fisher, Mission Basilica SJC.
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
“ No one can grow if he does not accept his smallness.” — Pope Francis
SAINT PROFILE
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
ISAIAH 65:17-21; PSALM 30:2 AND 4, 5-6, 11-12A AND 13B; JOHN 4:43-54
TUESDAY
EZEKIEL 47:1-9, 12; PSALM 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; JOHN 5:1-16
WEDNESDAY
ISAIAH 49:8-15; PSALM 145:8-9, 13CD-14, 17-18; JOHN 5:17-30
THURSDAY
EXODUS 32:7-14; PSALM 106:1920, 21-22, 23; JOHN 5:31-47
GUY OF POMPOSA ?-1046
THIS HUMBLE ITALIAN MONK was raised with fine clothes and the best education available. Eventually he grew weary of keeping up appearances, sold his clothing, gave the money to the poor and set out for Rome in shabby garments. He befriended the hermit Martin and later joined a community of monks at Pomposa Abbey, where he became abbot. He was much sought after as a spiritual advisor and his devotion drew many followers. St. Peter Damian dedicated to St. Guy his book "The Way to the Perfection of Monks." C
FRIDAY
WISDOM 2:1A, 12-22; PSALM 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 AND 23; JOHN 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
SATURDAY
JEREMIAH 11:1820; PSALM 7:2-3, 9BC-10, 11-12; JOHN 7:40-53
THE ENERGY WAS pure joy as the St. Columban Women’s Council celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with “Shake Your Shamrocks,” the fourth annual dinner dance for adults with disabilities at St. Columban parish in Garden Grove.
Hilda Mendez, vice president of the Women’s Council, called the annual event, which was held on March 14, “her baby.” Her inspiration was her grandson Markus Morales, age 35, who is part of the Empower Day Program in Stanton.
“Markus is an honorary member of the Women’s Club,” said Mendez. “He goes out of his way to help us all the time.”
Mendez shared that Markus has a general disability and functions at a 13 year old level, but nothing stops him. He is also an entrepreneur. He goes up and down the main street and offers services like cleaning to the businesses.
“Markus never sits still,” she shared. “He’s an avid basketball player, swimmer and dancer.”
The dinner and dance is held annually at St. Columban for adults with intellectual or physical disabilities.
“Our Women’s Council chose to do this because there aren’t many safe spaces for adults with disabilities to go and have fun,” said Mendez. “This is a chance for them to get all dressed up and enjoy an evening out with dinner, dancing and community — just like anyone else.”
Guests are invited to the event through the Empower Community, which focuses on life skills and academics, the Comfort Connection Family Resource Center in Santa Ana and the Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC).
“All these organizations do so much good for our community,” said Mendez, “so we are happy to provide this special evening for their clients.”
The response was tremendous. The Women’s Club set up for 150, and every seat was filled – maybe a little more.
“It keeps growing every year,” said Mendez.
Murphy Hall at St. Columban was decked out in St. Patrick’s Day style — from a green and white balloon arch over the dance floor, table and wall decorations, a DJ and a party photo booth. Revelers enjoyed a spaghetti dinner with salad and bread, plus dessert.
Best of all, the partyers danced like they were showing TikTok how it’s done.
The ladies of the Women’s Council also put together gift baskets, raffle prizes and parting gifts for each attendee. They raised about $6,000 for the event, including a generous $1,000 donation from the Knights of Columbus.
Alena Mendoza came with her boyfriend, Steven Espinoza, dressed up to dance.
ALENA MENDOZA AND STEVEN SOLANO STRIKE A POSE UNDER THE BALLOON ARCH. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
MARKUS MORALES (LEFT) POSES WITH SOME FRIENDS AT “SHAKE YOUR SHAMROCKS,” THE FOURTH ANNUAL DINNER DANCE FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES AT ST. COLUMBAN PARISH IN GARDEN GROVE.
“Steven goes to St. Columban and told me about this dance,” recalled Mendoza. “I love to dance, so this is great.”
The Women’s Council began in 1935 when Orange County was primarily agricultural and part of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Today, there are about 25 members who are as active as ever.
“I think we’re one of the oldest parish clubs in the Diocese,” said Mendez.
“When we began in the 1930s, the ladies held bake sales and other events to raise funds to contribute to the founding of St. Columban. A site was eventually purchased on the corner of Nelson and Stanford in Garden Grove.”
Things haven’t changed much as far as their fundraising. The club holds several events throughout the year,
including their Noel Festival, which is held on the first Sunday of December.
“We invite vendors who have been coming for years; sometimes, we have as many as 35,” shared Mendez.
They sell food items that reflect the diversity of the community, including Mexican, Filipino and Vietnamese. There also a waiting list of vendors who want to participate.
As successful as these annual dinner dances are, Mendez isn’t quite satisfied.
“I’m hoping other parishes join us in providing fun activities for this wonderful community,” she said.
The next dinner dance is already scheduled for April 17, 2026, and will have a spring theme. If anyone wants more information on putting together this type of event in their parish, please reach out to Hilda Mendez at hilda.a.mendez@gmail.com C
THE REAL DEAL
MATER DEI’S ADDISON DEAL SHINES ON THE COURT
BY LOU PONSI
ADDISON DEAL’S accomplishments on the basketball court speak volumes.
A senior point guard on the Mater Dei basketball team, Deal is one of the best players in the state, playing on one of the best teams in the state and a few months away from playing at the University of Iowa, the alma mater of super star Caitlin Clark, who now plays for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA.
The sixfoot point guard was recently selected as a McDonald’s All American, the highest honor bestowed on a high school senior.
Deal, who will play for the West squad, is among 12 players who will showcase their skills against the East team at the McDonald’s AllAmerican Games at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn New York on April 1.
“I'm just so blessed that I was selected and I'm just really just going to absorb it all and live in the moment,” Deal said.
There is an intangible that doesn’t
appear in any Deal’s statistics. Deal’s faith has been a guiding force through all of it, from the highs to the lows.
"I think it really keeps me focused,” Deal said. “Even basketballwise, to do everything to the best of my ability."
Being selected for the McDonald’s AllAmerican team is only the latest in a career marked by awards and recognition.
Deal received a No. 8 ranking for the Class of 2025 by Prospect Nation, a women’s basketball recruiting site and No. 18 in that category by ESPN.
She has been named a Top 10 Naismith Player of the Year, Orange County Player of the Year and Trinity League Player.
This season, Deal averaged 18.5 points and eight assists per game during CIFSS Open Division pool play and played a key role in Mater Dei’s 294 record and 15game winning streak.
“I’m just so grateful to be here,” Deal said of her experiences at Mater Dei. “This is such a great group of girls and a great coaching staff.”
Teammate Kaeli Wynn said Deal is the
HILDA MENDEZ, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ST. COLUMBAN WOMEN’S COUNCIL, DISTRIBUTES NECKLACES. PHOTO BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
A SENIOR POINT GUARD ON THE MATER DEI BASKETBALL TEAM, ADDISON DEAL IS ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE STATE. PHOTO COURTESY OF MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
“best point guard” she’s ever played with and the “best teammate I've ever had.”
"She works so hard and it's really inspiring, and it pushes you to be better," Wynn said. "There is always a great vibe in practice when she is there. She loves her teammates, and it shows every day.”
Her coach Jody Wynn said Deal is “gazelle” on the court, “One of the best rebounding guards in the country. At six feet tall, she is not a big body kid but possess a high basketball IQ who has a nose for the ball.”
Iowa coach Jan Jensen, who recruited Deal, said she is one of the nation’s premier guards who will likely have an immediate impact.
“Addie is one of the nation's premier point guards and off guards — she can play either,” Iowa head coach Jan Jensen said when Deal signed. “She has an extremely high IQ, and she is extremely talented.”
Deal said she is already feeling the love
Her passion grew as she trained alongside her brother, often being the only girl among boys.
Deal spent her freshman season at Pacifica Christian, then transferred to Mater Dei at the start of her sophomore season.
“They did 6 a.m. workouts,” she said. “They had their own weight block. It seemed a lot more serious and collegelike, so I wanted to make that change to be better prepared for college.”
Deal also speaks highly of her coaches, Wynn, who is coaching the senior this season, and Kevin Kiernan, who coached the Monarchs for 17 seasons and was Deal’s coach her sophomore and junior seasons
“I loved Coach Kiernan,” she said “Just his energy and his passion.”
Deal also said she wouldn’t have excelled to such an elevat
from Iowa fans.
“There's a lot of Iowa fans from all over,” she said. “I'm really grateful for all the people that have reached out. They're so super sweet.”
But there have been setbacks.
Deal sustained a seasonending ankle injury during the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona in December 2023.
The injury sidelined Deal for four months, ending her junior season, but she was back on the court for her senior season.
“I prayed a lot, I had a lot of time to think,” she said, “I stayed focused, I did a lot of physical therapy and just did everything I possibly could to get me ready to play again.”
Deal was drawn to basketball in first grade, inspired by her older brother Tanner, who currently plays Division III basketball at Grinnell College in Iowa.
“We were always super close,” she said. “So, when he was going to play basketball, I said, ‘Tanner, I want to come with you.’”
ed level in basketball without the support of her parents.
Her father, Danny, is from Oklahoma and played NAIA ball at Spring Hill College. Her mom, Ashley, played college volleyball at Louisiana.
“They believe in me, they trust me, they push me.”C
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
ADDISON DEAL, A SIX-FOOT POINT GUARD WAS RECENTLY SELECTED AS A MCDONALD’S ALL-AMERICAN. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL
ADDISON DEAL WITH HER PARENTS DANNY AND ASHLEY.
REAGAN KEMMERER LOVES JESUS AND HER COUNTRY
BY MEG WATERS
REAGAN KEMMERER, AN eighth grader at St. Junipero Serra Catholic School in Rancho Santa Margarita, continues to deepen her relationship with Christ and has made a commitment to learn as much as much as possible about the policies and laws that guide the U.S. government and its citizens.
Both passions shined brightly when Kemmerer, 14, won the regional competition of the National Civics Bee held March 12 at Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda.
Kemmerer was first among 20 students and was one of four St. Junipero Serra students to participate in the competition.
“I didn't know about the Civics Bee until my teacher and one of my principals at the school came and introduced it to our class,” said Kemmerer, who was awarded $500 for winning the competition. “And I was actually really intrigued by it. It was a way for me to participate in something that had to do with the United States.”
Kemmerer now advances to the firstever California state finals of the National Civics Bee, which take place in June at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Top finishers in the state competition will advance to the National Civics Bee Championships in Washington, D.C. this fall, with the winner receiving $100,000 towards college.
“It’s going to be a lot more difficult,” Kemmerer said of the state and national competitions.
Students in the Civics Bee were asked to name their favorite historical figure. Many selected political figures such as Andrew Jackson and Thomas Jefferson or icons of the civil rights movement such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Ruby Bridges.
Kemmerer selected Jesus Christ.
“I selected Jesus because He made the biggest impact in the world's history,” she said. “He changed our world, saved us from our sins and unified so many people.”
Kemmerer, who has attended Catholic school her entire life, said her teachers and family helped prepare her for the Civics Bee.
For the first round of competition, students took a 10question, multiple choice quiz onstage using iPads.
The questions were projected on a screen so the audience could also
CONTINUES ON PAGE 9
REAGAN KEMMERER (CENTER) ADVANCES TO THE FIRST-EVER CALIFORNIA STATE FINALS OF THE NATIONAL CIVICS BEE, WHICH TAKE PLACE IN JUNE AT THE RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY IN SIMI VALLEY.
REAGAN KEMMERER, AN EIGHTH GRADER AT ST. JUNIPERO SERRA CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, WON THE REGIONAL COMPETITION OF THE NATIONAL CIVICS BEE HELD MARCH 12 AT NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM IN YORBA LINDA. PHOTOS COURTESY OF KENNEDY KEMMERER
Answer: It granted citizenship to all born or naturalized in the United States.
The top 10 students from the first round advanced to a second round, where each presented a threesentence summary of their civics project and then answered questions from the judges.
Catholicism runs deep in Kemmerer’s family.
They are parishioners at San Francisco Solano Catholic Church in Rancho Santa Margarita.
Erica Kemmerer, Reagan’s mother, said her parents attended Catholic schools in New York before moving the family California.
Erica Kemmerer took Catechism classes while attending public schools in California.
"Having faith and education at the same time is something I didn't have, but I really wanted it for my kids," Erica Kemmerer said.
Reagan’s older sister, Kennedy Kemmerer, graduated from Santa Margar
ita Catholic High School and is now a drama teacher at the high school. Reagan will attend Santa Margarita in the fall as a freshman.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation launched the Civics Bee as a pilot program in 2022 in five cities, said Hilary Crow, vice president of civics for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in Washington, D.C.
The end goal is to encourage young people to take a more active role in civic engagement, organizers said. The Civics Bee at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda marked the first time the competition was held in California.
The competition is now in 40 states and will likely take place in all 50 states in 2026, Crow said.
“We were so impressed and inspired by the students,” said Chris Lowe, director of education for the Richard Nixon Foundation. “It’s all about the students, and they did an amazing job.” C
To report sexual abuse by clergy or church personnel please call: 1 (800) 364-3064
Healing and Hope After Abortion: 1 (800) 722-4356
New Hope Peer-to-Peer Support Line | Mon - Fri 7:30 AM - 9:30 PM | Sat - Sun 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM: 1 (714) NEW-HOPE or 1 (714) 639-4673
BÁO CÁO LẠM DỤNG TÌNH DỤC Nếu bạn là nạn nhân bị lạm dụng tình dục bởi một linh mục/ tu sĩ hay một thành viên trong Giáo Hội gây ra, xin hãy gọi và báo cáo cho Giáo phận ở số điện thoại miễn phí sau đây: 1-800-364-3064, và đồng thời báo cáo cho nhà chức trách địa phương.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
test their knowledge of civics.
Here’s a couple:
Question: What does “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity” mean?
Answer: The government should guarantee freedom for the current and future generations.
Question: What does the 14th Amendment state about U.S. citizenship?
성적학대 신고
CELEBRATING LOVE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
MEET FIVE COUPLES WHO BEGAN THEIR MARRIAGE JOURNEY AT AN ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC CHURCH
BY MIKE VULPO
LOVE IS ALL AROUND the Catholic Church — especially on a couple’s wedding day.
While church campuses across Orange County can serve as a meeting place for ministry events, a sanctuary for life’s storms or simply Mass on Sunday, it can be even more for some couples starting a brandnew chapter of their relationship.
Orange County Catholic chatted with five couples who chose to get married in an Orange County Catholic church.
Their wedding memories and faith journeys as couples are something to fall in love with all year long.
JESSICA AND MATTHEW VASQUEZ
Married by Fr. Joe Justice at St. Martin de Porres in June 2022.
Jessica and Matthew remember feeling an “indescribable comfort” with one another as they exchanged vows at their church’s altar. More than two years after their ceremony, the couple continues to bring Christ along for their love story.
“Our Catholic faith is the center priority that helps us better each other, sacrifice for one another and promotes respect and communication,” the couple said. “We met through the Catholic community in college, which set us up for a mutual understanding of our goals and values. The combination of tough conversations and life's greatest joys together make for a real and fun marriage that is full of laughs, tears and memories!”
MATT AND ALEXA DICKMAN
Married by Fr. Steve Sallot at St. Catherine of Siena in August 2023.
Before driving off into the sunset as
husband and wife, Matt and Alexa knew they wanted to begin their marriage at a special home in Laguna Beach.
“St. Catherine of Siena is a beautiful church and provided a perfect setting for our wedding,” the couple shared. “Being surrounded by friends and family as we celebrated our marriage together [was unforgettable].”
Ahead of their second wedding anniversary, Matt and Alexa continue to incorporate faith in this chapter of their lives.
“It continues to bring us closer together,” the bride and groom shared, “and forms a strong foundation upon which we hope to continue to grow our family in the future.”
LEAH AND GERARDO BUTALID
Married by Fr. Aristotle Quan at San Fran
in July 2021.
cisco Solano
LEAH AND GERARDO BUTALID BECOME HUSBAND AND WIFE AT SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CATHOLIC CHURCH. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIKA AT E. PHOTOGRAPHY
MATT AND ALEXA DICKMAN GET MARRIED AT ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA IN LAGUNA BEACH. PHOTO COURTESY OF @EMK.WED
JESSICA AND MATTHEW VASQUEZ EXCHANGE VOWS AT ST. MARTIN DE PORRES IN YORBA LINDA. PHOTO COURTESY OF SHAY RYAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Although many aspects of their wedding celebration remain unforgettable, Leah and Gerardo will never forget one part of their church ceremony.
“It was getting to spend our last moments as single people and our first moments as a married couple worshiping Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament,” the couple recalled. “We made the lastminute decision to do a first look in the Blessed Sacrament chapel and it was such a tender, special moment we got to share right before the Mass. We also spent time in extended worship following Communion during the Mass, and it was a profound gift to worship the Lord, surrounded by so many people we love so dearly as we stepped into our vocation as a married couple.”
As their love story takes on moves, job changes and babies, the couple is grateful for their Catholic faith.
“God has given us so much grace,” they shared, “and we trust He will continue to supply His grace as we press on in this
adventure
in pursuit of holiness!”
NICOLE AND DERRICK SUMAMPONG
Married by Fr. Riz Carranza at Holy Trinity in June 2022.
After standing before Holy Trinity’s painting of Christ on the cross, Nicole and Derrick officially became husband and wife and were reminded of “Christ’s infinite love for us.”
“Our Lord, through the Catholic faith, is constantly inviting us to draw closer to Him through so many facets of our life together,” the couple shared. “For us right now, that looks like serving in music ministry together, praying as a family daily with Mama Mary’s intercession, frequenting the sacraments, cultivating Christcentered friendships through things like church groups and book clubs and just learning and reflecting together on the daily moments that invite us to grow in virtue.”
OSANA AND TEAK LEE
Married by Fr. Aristotle Quan at St.
Edward the Confessor in October 2024.
Before exchanging vows in the Catholic Church, Osana and Teak participated in marriage preparation classes, which brought them even closer together.
“One thing our marriage counselor Mark said to us, which we took to heart, is, ‘No matter what happens in the noise of wedding planning, the most important thing that happens on our wedding day is that we get married with God.’ Luckily for us, the day went beautifully, and it all started when we said our vows at the church.”
As they continue their first year of marriage, Osana and Teak say the Catholic faith plays an important role in their love story.
“We were always very close in our relationship throughout our years of dating, however when bringing God into the center, it helped us become even closer in ways we didn't even know existed,” they explained. “Just as it is important to exercise your body and mind, it is just as important to exercise your spirit. As we wish to grow spiritually with God.” C
NICOLE AND DERRICK SUMAMPONG CELEBRATE THEIR WEDDING DAY AT HOLY TRINITY IN LADERA RANCH. PHOTO COURTESY OF SHAY RYAN PHOTOGRAPHY
HITTING THE LINKS
BY RON KUZLIK
FR. BRANDON DANG IS no stranger to the golf course.
“I usually play with three other priests,” said Fr. Brandon Dang, administrator of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Aliso Viejo. “But it’s on our day off – and we have a blast!”
That foursome also includes Fr. Duy Le, pastor of San Francisco Solano Church in Rancho Santa Margarita, Fr. Aristotle Quan, parochial vicar at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Dana Point and Fr. Michael Nguyen, parochial administrator at Santa Clara de Asís Catholic Church in Yorba Linda.
But golf wasn’t always in Fr. Brandon’s repertoire.
In fact, growing up, he had such a love for basketball and the Los Angeles Lakers, that he often dreamed about becoming a professional basketball player.
“As the years went by and I got older,” he recalled, “I understood that the chances of me getting drafted by the Lakers were rather slim.”
Actually, the first time Fr. Brandon even picked up a golf club was when he was a seminarian intern at St. Joachim Catholic Church in Costa Mesa in 2013.
“I had a few seminarian and priest friends who wanted to start playing, so I started ‘hacking’ at it for a few months.”
He added, “But I needed to go back to the seminary to finish my studies, plus my playing was plagued by an injury. And I ‘hung it up’, so to speak.”
After his priestly ordination in 2016 and his first parish assignment at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Newport Beach, he would go to the driving range and play in golf tournaments at the parish school.
“It wasn’t until the end of 2021 that I picked it up as a fulltime hobby when a very sweet couple, Bob and Anna Niki,
invited me to play at Ben Brown’s Golf Course in Laguna Beach.
“It just snowballed from there!”
One of the members of the golf foursome, Fr. Aristotle, chuckled when he recalled some moments while they were out hitting the links.
“There’s the time that Fr. Brandon sliced off a ball from the tee and hit a duck in the pond,” Fr. Aristotle shared. “We still tease him for that.”
He added: “Fr. Brandon is so addicted to golf that he will play two rounds of golf backto back! Or he will play with random people because he is so social.
“Fr. Duy Le and I tease him since neither one of us will play with random
people. Fr. Brandon calls people he just met ‘his buddy’ and we make fun of him for that.”
But Fr. Duy Le said that Fr. Brandon’s outgoing nature is also an excellent trait.
“I am very quiet,” shared Fr. Duy Le. “Sometimes I’m shy and not very social so Fr. Brandon’s outgoing nature makes me step outside and engage with others.”
Fr. Michael knows that Fr. Brandon is a good priest who sets his priorities.
“As a good priest, Fr. Brandon will never say no when someone asks him to hear their Confession or if someone is in need of Anointing of the Sick,” Fr. Michael said.
“Likewise, he also won't say no to
anyone that invites him out for a round of golf!”
There was a period of about three months when Fr Brandon took a different day off than the usual Thursdays. The rest of the group stopped playing golf for that time, but Fr. Brandon continued to play.
“For some reason, Fr. Brandon's lowest scores and best rounds of golf are when he doesn't play with us (his regular foursome),” Fr. Michael observed.
And about that elusive holeinone?
“My game has been up and down,” Fr. Brandon said. “But it has been a wonderful addition to my hobbies and a nice transition from basketball as my knees have started to get a little creaky.” C
FR. BRANDON DANG PREPARES TO ADDRESS THE BALL ON A TEE SHOT AT TIJERAS CREEK GOLF CLUB NEAR RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA. PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. BRANDON DANG
HITTING THE LINKS: FR. BRANDON DANG, FR. DUY LE, FR. ARISTOTLE QUAN AND FR. MICHAEL NGUYEN. PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. BRANDON DANG
FR. BRANDON DANG (WITH FR. DUY LE) CELEBRATES A GREAT SHOT ON THE GOLF COURSE. PHOTO BY THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
ST. CECILIA PARISH FRIDAY NIGHT LENTEN DINNER
BY MIKE ZINN
LENT IS A 40-DAY SEASON of prayer, fasting and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday. Many symbols and traditions surround the Lenten season. One tradition is the abstaining of meat on Fridays and Ash Wednesday during Lent. Abstinence from meat is a form of penance many Catholics practice to unite themselves with Christ’s suffering on the cross and grow in their spiritual discipline. At parishes across the Diocese of Orange, the Lenten dinner or Fish Fry is a popular tradition following attendance at their churches' Stations of the Cross devotion.
St. Cecilia parish has a long and proud history of providing Lenten dinners to its faithful after attending one of its three Friday evening Station of the Cross offerings. St. Cecilia offers Stations of the Cross devotions at 5 p.m. in English, 6 p.m. in Spanish and 7 p.m. in Vietnamese. The devotions are followed by a Lenten dinner starting at 5:30 p.m.
On Friday evening, March 14, St. Cecilia provided a sanctuary from the steady rain, allowing all parishioners to come together for a warm meal. Each Lenten dinner is sponsored by one of the various ministries or groups in the parish. Although fish is typically a staple of these meals, different cultures can add specific items to give the meal a traditional flair.
The sponsor group for the March 14 dinner was the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Ministry (VEYM). This group has 14 chapters across the Diocese. The St. Cecilia chapter has 160 members, ranging in age from 7 to 18. The group was established at St. Cecilia on Dec. 25, 1981, with an appropriate name of Emmanuel. The evening's menu consisted of shrimp with tofu and vegetables served over white rice accompanied by fruit, cookies and water.
Michelle Tran, St. Cecilia Chapter
President, fondly remembered her Lenten dinners growing up.
“I recall coming into the parish hall and smelling the wonderful aroma of steamed fish,” she said. “This motivated me to attend the Stations and the Cross and Lenten dinners.”
Other VEYM group leaders also shared their memories of past Lenten dinners.
John Nguyen, who started with VEYM in elementary school, recalled, “I enjoyed
building connections and relationships with other communities within the parish,” he shared.
Vivian Vu summed up her fondest Lenten memory, saying, “Today and tonight are very special. The entire group worked together, with some members starting at 9 a.m., to set up and prepare for the event. We are like one big family working together.”
Lenten dinners across the Diocese offer
various ministry groups the opportunity to take a leadership role in their parish. In the case of VEYM and St. Cecilia, the Stations of the Cross and Lenten dinner were combined with an additional event entitled “Sin No More.”
According to Tran, “This event was deliberately attached to the Lenten Dinner as an opportunity to give back to the community and unite all of the different St. Cecilia groups together.” C
THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS DEVOTIONS ARE FOLLOWED BY A LENTEN DINNER STARTING AT 5:30 P.M. AT ST. CECILIA CATHOLIC CHURCH IN TUSTIN.
A MEMBER OF ST. CECILIA’S VIETNAMESE EUCHARISTIC YOUTH MINISTRY SERVES FOOD DURING A LENTEN DINNER HELD ON MARCH 14.
THE SPONSOR GROUP FOR THE MARCH 14 DINNER WAS THE VIETNAMESE EUCHARISTIC YOUTH MINISTRY.
ST. CECILIA PARISH IN TUSTIN HOSTED A LENTEN DINNER ON MARCH 14. PHOTOS BY STEVEN GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
TELL JESUS EVERYTHING
BY JOAN PATTEN, AO
FRIENDSHIP IS A GREAT gift when we can be authentic, sharing our hearts without the need to perform or have all the answers. Jesus offers us this profound friendship, as He says in John 15:15, “I have called you friends because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.” Throughout Scripture, Jesus demonstrates His gentle invitation for people to trust Him with their fears, burdens and desires. Jesus gently presses in and encourages people to reveal themselves more deeply so that they may receive what we are all ultimately seeking: communion.
When we approach God in prayer, we do not always get the answers we seek or the goods we desire. However, this does not mean God does not listen or care about us. In The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis notes, “Friendship... is born when one man says to another ‘What! You too? I thought that no one but myself...’” The more we bring everything into our relationship with Jesus, the greater our thoughts, feelings and desires resonate in His heart, and we will receive the promised gift of communion with God. We then can learn how to define ourselves with Jesus in all things and not apart from Him.
This Lent, consider cultivating the daily habit of telling Jesus everything, as you are aware of what is going on in your heart. By seeking moments of silence, you can become aware of your present thoughts, feelings and desires, and invite Jesus into these moments of your life. Although God places no obstacles between us and Himself, there are certain lies from the Enemy and obstacles that we may need to overcome to share our hearts fully with God.
OBSTACLE #1: “GOD ALREADY KNOWS EVERYTHING; WHY SHOULD I TELL HIM?”
While it’s true God knows our hearts intimately, He also knows our inherent need to be known and loved. Created in His image, we are called to receive and give love freely. Jesus asked the disciples on the road to Emmaus,
“What are you discussing as you walk along?” (Lk. 24:17). This invitation to reveal ourselves before the One who loves us makes us receptive to His truth, healing and freedom.
OBSTACLE #2: “GOD IS TOO BUSY FOR MY PROBLEMS; THEY ARE
UNIMPORTANT.”
God delights in every honest act of selfrevelation and generosity, no matter how small. Jesus acknowledged the generosity of the woman in the temple who gave two coins (cf. Mk. 12:44). Likewise, all our experiences, great or small, matter in our relationship with Jesus because we matter to Him. When we share our hearts with Him, He will help us discern what to pay attention to and how He invites us to receive His love more fully.
OBSTACLE #3: “I DON’T KNOW HOW
TO EXPRESS
for prayer. The Psalms are prayers that encompass the full range of human emotions. Jesus turned to the Psalms during His ministry, especially during His final moments on the cross as He cried out to His Father (cf. Mt. 27:46).
OBSTACLE #4: “I’VE ALREADY TOLD GOD ABOUT THIS.”
Repeatedly sharing with Jesus deepens our relationship with Him. True surrender means entrusting our thoughts, feelings and desires fully to His care rather than holding onto them or taking them back. Sometimes, the same experiences may resurface, and Jesus invites us to share them with Him again so as to receive even greater grace and healing.
Ultimately, sharing our hearts with God fulfills our purpose: communion with Him and others. In this relationship, we are free to be vulnerable, be fully ourselves and trust in His unconditional love. By telling Jesus everything throughout the day, we are more receptive to His grace and can respond joyfully to His invitations.C
MYSELF.”
Our hearts are often filled with conflicting and varied thoughts, feelings and desires. When words fail us, Scripture, especially the Psalms, provides the words
PHOTO BY BEN WHITE ON UNSPLASH
OC Catholic Afar
In September of 2024, William Compton and his wife Mailoan Le travelled to Vilnius, Lithuania. Here we find them pictured in front of the Basilica Cathedral of Vilnius with a copy of OC Catholic.
—William and Mailoan attend St. Bonaventure parish in Huntington Beach.
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.
Join Holy Trinity In Their 20th Anniversary As A Parish On A...
PILGRIMAGE TO IRELAND
October 10-18, 2025
Scan here for more information.
With Father Michael St. Paul, Pastor at Holy Trinity Catholic Church
