St. Timothy parishioner Tina Haeussler has made volunteering a lifelong practice.
GO FORTH FOR CATHOLIC STUDENTS
The Diocese hosted more than 1,200 high school students at this year’s Go Forth retreat.
14 HOW TO CHOOSE A LENTEN SACRIFICE
Starting small is a good way to foster better habits in life.
“I learned that everyone has human dignity. It is our God-given gift that no one can take away from us.”
- Eva, 5th grade
Catholic Charities serves in various Catholic schools in our diocese. Our Counseling program implements the Human Dignity Curriculum from the World Youth Alliance to empower the next generation! Your donations help young students understand their worth, respect others, and thrive in a life full of compassion and integrity.
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
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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.
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ROSARY BEADS
READER CALL-OUT
These vintage Rosary beads are my favorite and are made of Baltic amber. My grandparents were from Lithuania and many of the amber Rosaries made there now have a plain amber cross instead of a crucifix. So, I was very happy to find these Rosary beads with the metal crucifix at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture gift shop in Chicago. —Julie McCarthy, St. Hedwig parish in Los Alamitos.
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
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
LEVITICUS 19:1-2, 11-18; PSALM 19:8, 9, 10, 15; MATTHEW 25:3146
TUESDAY
ISAIAH 55:10-11; PSALM 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19; MATTHEW 6:7-15
“ Ours is not an unknown God…but rather a God who is close.”
— Pope Francis
SAINT PROFILE
FRANCES OF ROME 1384-1440
THIS LAYWOMAN AND FOUNDRESS, born a Roman aristocrat, married Lorenzo Ponziano when she was 13; they had several children. In 1409, their palazzo was pillaged by Neapolitan soldiers and Lorenzo was exiled for five years, returning home a broken man. He died in 1436. Frances, known for her great charity during epidemics and civil war, organized a ladies society dedicated to self-denial and good works. It became the Oblates of Tor de Specchi, which she directed for her last four years. She is the patron saint of motorists, perhaps because she was guarded for 23 years by an archangel visible only to her. Her last words were: “The angel has finished his work. He is beckoning me to follow.” C
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
WEDNESDAY
JONAH 3:1-10; PSALM 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19; LUKE 11:29-32
THURSDAY
ESTHER C:12, 1416, 23-25; PSALM 138:1-2AB, 2CDE-3, 7C-8; MATTHEW 7:7-12
FRIDAY
EZEKIEL 18:21-28; PSALM 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7A, 7BC-8; MATTHEW 5:2026
SATURDAY
DEUTERONOMY
26:16-19; PSALM 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8; MATTHEW 5:43-48
LIFE AFTER COVID BROUGHT many changes, but there was something Jeff Acton wasn’t going to easily accept — the loss of community at his local parish. So, when he found Trevor Rothaus had a similar idea, the two decided to do something to bring back that lively sense of parish community.
Enter Blessed Knight Café, a pop-up coffee cart that brings the coffee shop experience — settling in and chatting for a while — to St. Norbert Catholic Church in Orange.
“It’s giving them a place to be social and have a community outside of just praying and going to Mass or being a part of a ministry,” Acton, 38, said. “They
are staying after Mass because they want to genuinely talk to people and they are more comfortable doing that over a cup of coffee or tea.”
Blessed Knight Café has been bringing high-quality coffee and tea to St. Norbert on select Sundays for more than a year. The pop-up has also served at the Mercado del Niño Jesus Christmas market at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in La Habra and Servite High School events. It now serves St. Joseph Catholic Church in Placentia on the last Sunday of the month.
Blessed Knight Café serves organic coffee with beans that are ethically sourced from Mexico and locally roasted. The hot beverages are given out for a donation. No one is ever turned away.
“I’ve seen more connections being made,” Rothaus said. “So, instead of people just grabbing a coffee and going, people put in their order, wait around and in that process of waiting, meet other people at the parish. Different connections have been made by people who have never talked before.”
The idea started in fall 2023 when Acton and Rothaus discovered their mutual
love of coffee. While Acton was thinking of ways to rebuild community in the parish, Rothaus had recently returned from a trip to Montreal where he was inspired by a priest who served coffee and provided community to the homeless.
Separately, they both wanted to start a coffee ministry.
“When we found each other, we were like, ‘This is amazing. We both have the same or similar idea,’” Rothaus said.
BLESSED KNIGHT CAFÉ HAS BECOME A NONPROFIT MINISTRY BUILDING CATHOLIC FAITH THROUGH COFFEE AND ART. PICTURED: JEFF ACTON AND TREVOR ROTHAUS SERVE COFFEE TO PARISHIONERS FOLLOWING SUNDAY MASS. PHOTOS BY SCOTT SMELTER/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
JEFF ACTION OF BLESSED KNIGHT CAFÉ SAYS THE POP-UP CAFÉ IS DESIGNED TO BUILD A COMMUNITY FOR THE FAITHFUL.
A YOUNG GIRL ENJOYS HER HOT CHOCOLATE FROM THE POP-UP BLESSED KNIGHT CAFÉ FOLLOWING MASS AT ST. NORBERT CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ORANGE.
Through a refining of the vision, they presented their concept to St. Nobert’s pastor, Fr. John Moneypenny, and some of the staff. Since then, Blessed Knight Café has become a nonprofit, with a mission of building Catholic faith through coffee and art.
“I am happy that they got their start at St. Norbert,” said Fr. John. “When we began to reopen after COVID, volunteers were scarce. But along came these men from the parish who had this great idea, and I welcomed it. Blessed Knight Café has aided me as a pastor to build community.”
Tim Green of St. Norbert’s Knights of Columbus applauded Acton and Rothaus.
“When people have a passion or even just a good idea, I think it should be supported and encouraged,” he added. “This is what happened with my friends Jeff and Trevor. They have a passion for service and community.”
Acton sees a real need for Catholic art. An artist himself who focuses on drawing, Acton didn’t see many others creating Catholic art. The visual storytelling medium is a “huge part of faith, but we don’t give it credit,” he noted.
Acton’s love of art started as a child when he would draw superheroes. Although he admitted he wasn’t very good at first, he took classes in high school to get better. He persisted through college, earning his bachelor’s degree in art.
The long-term goal is to turn the pop-up into a brick-and-mortar store — a dedicated Catholic space.
“Giving a space in general where people can feel welcome and at home in their faith — not just in a church but also be openly practicing their faith outside the church — is something I think that is really needed,” Acton said.
Being outwardly Catholic in all spaces wasn’t always a move Acton wanted to take. When he went to college to study art, Acton said he discovered how some celebrated Mass daily and participated in Adoration. He realized he too could pray before Jesus whenever he wanted in a way that felt more intimate and truly meaningful. He also met many exemplary priests and religious sisters who modeled for him living a life that was openly Catholic — an idea that changed his life for the better.
“You didn’t have to hide it,” Acton said. “You didn’t have to pretend like you were completely in the world one minute, but when you went to church, you could be Catholic.
“It’s OK to be Catholic no matter what you are doing, as long as you are doing it in a holy and respectful way.” C
FEATURE/DIOCESAN
LIVING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST
SPOTLIGHT ON: TINA HAEUSSLER, ST. TIMOTHY PARISH
BY MIKE ZINN
FOR LONG-TIME ST. Timothy parishioner Tina Haeussler, a lifetime of service and volunteering began with lessons from her parents, who taught her about hospitality.
She recalled, “Growing up, my home was often filled with family and friends, dropping by for food and fellowship.”
Openness and hospitality became the simple life principles that built the foundation of Haeussler’s 38 years of service at St. Timothy.
Haeussler was born in Calexico, California, and grew up in and around the Los Angeles area. While living in the Chavez Ravine neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles, she attended Our Lady Queen of Angels School. Haeussler made her First Communion in the Historic Plaza Mission Church. The building of Dodger Stadium necessitated that the family move, and they settled in nearby Highland Park. St. Ignatius became the family parish, where Haeussler’s father became active in the Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society and as an usher. Haeussler and her brother Marty attended school at St. Ignatius, and it was during this time that the family became immersed in church service. They attended various parish events, and Haeussler recalls always helping to set up for these events and clean up afterward with her father.
Haeussler then started attending St. Andrew’s High School in Pasadena and experienced the life of a happy teenager. She was a good student who also “loved Rock & Roll music.”
As a junior at St. Andrew’s, she met Bob Haeussler, a student at a nearby school, and soon, the two started dating. But the couple experienced some family challenges with their newfound romance. Haeussler recalled that “my family was unhappy that Bob was from a different faith, and his parents were unhappy that I was Catholic.”
Ultimately, love won out, and the two were married in October 1959, after Tina graduated from high school. They went on to raise four children.
Bob converted to Catholicism in 1963, feeling that, as Tina said, “he wanted our family to be of one faith.” While the couple lived in Glendora, they attended a Marriage Encounter Weekend that “changed our lives as
we grew closer to God.” This event was pivotal in the couple's decision to join ministries together. They joined their pastor and a small group of parishioners to bring Communion to residents in a local convalescent home.
Bob’s career working for the State of California took the family from Glendora to Sacramento and ultimately to Laguna Niguel in 1987. From 1984 to 2004, when she retired, Tina worked for the State of California.
The move to Laguna Niguel included joining a new parish at St. Timothy. In 2003, after his retirement, Bob became involved in the Outreach Program, assisting needy families. This later evolved to become the St. Vincent de Paul Society, of which Bob was elected the first president in 2010. This became a dual involvement, with Tina working along with Bob on projects such as the Backpack Project, Thanksgiving Dinners and the Giving Tree.
After retirement, Tina volunteered to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) to adult men and women with the Orange County Literacy Guild. Meanwhile, she was drawn to the food pantry at St. Timothy, often dropping by to help. In 2009, the couple running the ministry took a leave of absence, and Tina volunteered to take over. She has continued running the ministry to the present day, supported by what she calls “a wonderful assistant and an amazing group of 40-plus volunteers.” This ministry currently provides food to 120-140 needy families per week.
Bob sadly passed away in 2014. Tina called him “my rock” and often quotes him, “When working with people, err on the side of compassion.” Although Bob has passed, Tina has the support of her large family.
“I cherish the time I spend with my family,” she said. “Those times are filled with joy, happiness and laughter.” Some 16 years later, Haeussler still manages the food pantry, bringing joy and sustenance to people weekly. She continues to focus her ministries on “living life to the fullest and with a purpose; to love sincerely and give to others.” C
TINA HAEUSSLER IS A PARISHIONER AT ST. TIMOTHY PARISH IN LAGUNA NIGUEL. PHOTO COURTESY OF TINA HAEUSSLER
HAT-TRICK
SERVITE’S HOCKEY
COACH DEMONSTRATES FAITH, LEADERSHIP AND EXCELLENCE
BY LOU PONSI
AS THE SERVITE HIGH School’s ice hockey coach, Mike Marshall has guided the Friars to championships in three of the past four seasons, while ensuring that the school’s Christ-centered principles of formation remain at the core of the team’s motivation.
In the classroom, Marshall has taught AP Psychology, AP World History and other courses, helping to prepare students to achieve their educational and personal goals in and out of the classroom.
Such dedication to his calling is also obvious to his peers, who voted Marshall as Servite High School’s Teacher of the Year.
Along with the Teacher of the Year honors, Marshall becomes a finalist for 2025 Parenting OC School Hero Award.
“It is humbling,” Marshall said of the recognition. “It’s validation that I am right where I am supposed to be and doing what I am supposed to be doing. It's a pretty awesome experience.”
Servite’s principal, Nancy Windisch said Marshall embodies the true spirit of teaching through his dedication, passion and commitment to his students.
“His tireless efforts to form our young men into faith-filled leaders are a testament to his devotion to their success—both in the classroom and in life,” Windisch said. “We are truly blessed to have Mr. Marshall as a part of our Servite community.”
Marshall, whose father was a hockey coach at the Naval Academy in Maryland, started playing hockey as a youngster.
He grew up on the east coast in a
devout Catholic family, attended Catholic grammar school, an all-boys Catholic high school and a Jesuit college.
Marshall ultimately landed a teaching job at St. Cecilia Catholic School in Tustin, while coaching club hockey.
“My parents modeled the Catholic faith probably the best for us,” Marshall said. “We were at Mass, we were altar servers, we were in choir. We prayed before every dinner. Family meals were important. I understand the importance of that. Reflecting back on it now, I know that they were trying to teach those values to us, the importance of family and friends and everything else with it.”
Today, Marshall, his wife and the couple’s three children are parishioners at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Yorba Linda.
Marshall came on as an assistant at Servite in 2014, but when the head coach left suddenly for another job, Marshall was asked to take over the program.
In an effort to create a winning, Christ-centered culture, there were growing pains and challenges, Marshall said.
“Then we kind of made the program be more aligned with Servite and what Servite stands for,” he said.
Team prayers before and after games, team Masses, singing Salve Regina after games, embracing Servite’s principle of “we before me” and “blessing of the sticks,” a ritual on many Catholic school hockey teams, have become customary.
“It is important that we keep these traditions,” Marshall said. “It’s this building of brotherhood. That's when the success started happening. We won our first championship that year (2020).”
Servite junior Ryan Kovats plays on the Friars hockey team and had Marshall as a teacher for AP World History as a sophomore.
Kovats said having the opportunity to play for Marshall is one of the main reasons he chose to attend Servite.
“Although I've played for many coaches in my hockey career, Mr. Marshall continues to be my favorite coach because of his care for each of his players and the respect he has for us,” Kovats said. “Mr. Marshall continues to support me in my hockey career and wants the
best for me while always pushing me to be my best.
“I also had Mr. Marshall my sophomore year for AP World History. He not only helped me get a 4 on my AP exam but gave me an amazing experience in the classroom and prepared me very well for APUSH at Servite."
Sean Oliu, Servite’s assistant hockey coach, is also a Servite graduate who played for Marshall for all four years of high school and was team captain on Servite’s first-ever Anaheim Ducks High School Championship team.
“I wish every hockey player could be coached by Mike Marshall,” said Oliu, who was team captain of the Friars’ first championship team. “If they could, there would be a lot of great hockey players, but more importantly there’d be a lot of good people. Mike is an expert on the game and always finds a way to tailor the game plan to the group of guys in the locker room. Playing hockey at Servite made me a better person, it helped shape who I am today.” C
HOCKEY COACH MIKE MARSHALL HAS ALSO TAUGHT AP PSYCHOLOGY AND AP WORLD HISTORY AT SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL
COACH MIKE MARSHALL HAS LED THE SERVITE FRIARS TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THREE OF THE PAST FOUR SEASONS.
GO FORTH FOR CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
BY MEG WATERS
TO KICK OFF THIS YEAR’S Catholic Schools week (Jan. 26-Feb. 1), more than 1,200 Catholic high school students assembled at Christ Cathedral for the second annual Go Forth retreat.
Dr. Erin Barisano, superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Orange, said, “This year’s Go Forth event is part of a larger ‘I Thirst’ movement in the Diocese of Orange. Our goal is to create an opportunity for high school students to encounter Christ in a very real way through Mass, peer testimonies, inspiring speakers, praise, worship and Adoration.”
All six Orange County Catholic high schools were represented, with about 200
students from each school. The decision as to which students attended was left up to the school. For example, Servite sent everyone from their freshman class who wished to participate and about 97% of freshmen opted in. Rosary included juniors and seniors, while Mater Dei primarily included students in Campus Ministry. Cristo Rey, Santa Margarita and JSerra also sent students.
“The Go Forth retreat is a space for students to encounter Christ in a way to know that He loves them,” said Dr. Barisano.
The day of celebration began with Mass offered by Bishop Vann, who welcomed the students, and a sermon by Fr.
CONTINUES ON PAGE 9
ROSARY ACADEMY STUDENTS ARE PICTURED ON CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS DURING THE SECOND ANNUAL GO FORTH RETREAT. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSARY ACADEMY
JSERRA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GATHER FOR A GROUP PHOTO DURING THE GO FORTH RETREAT HELD INSIDE THE ARBORETUM ON THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. PHOTO COURTESY OF JSERRA HIGH SCHOOL
SANTA MARGARITA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTEND THE GO FORTH RETREAT, WHICH IS PART OF A LARGER ‘I THIRST’ MOVEMENT IN THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE. PHOTO COURTESY OF SANTA MARGARITA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
as Catholics that our most important mission is to evangelize and to help each other get to a closer relationship with God.”
He added, “Mother Teresa is my inspiration — through her writings she described Jesus’ ‘call within a call’ and His ‘thirst for souls’. This is all part of the Eucharistic Revival the Diocese of Orange and is spearheading in a way that can be taken to other dioceses.”
The Go Forth retreat is part of the ‘I Thirst’ movement, which Deacon Steve began in 2022. It was inspired by a recent poll indicating that a majority of Catholics do not believe in Christ's real presence in the Eucharist. The retreat's theme is to help Catholics become Eucharistic evangelists through the sacraments, leading participants to say ‘yes’ to Jesus through Mass, Adoration and Reconciliation.
school, shared their faith journeys in their own words.
Tyler Dunning, a student at JSerra, a star athlete and utility player on its baseball team, spoke to his colleagues on his faith journey and ultimate conversion to Catholicism in April 2024.
“I started to realize that my achievements on the sports field didn’t last. I saw that there was something different about the way Catholics live. Truth and Goodness attracted me. I had to figure out if God existed and how we are supposed to live.”
Dunning explained that he attended a retreat in the fall of 2023 and was moved by the song “You Are Yeshua” during Adoration.
“I knew then that the purpose of my life was to live for God,” he said.
Dunning was baptized the following spring.
In addition to the student testimonies, the keynote speaker was internationally acclaimed multimedia evangelist and
president of Real Time Catholic, Chris Stefanick. His presentation focused on joy, showing the students that Christ and the world need them more than ever.
Stefanick explained that the joy of the Lord brings you strength through metanoia — which means a profound change in one’s thinking.
“First, and most importantly, give thanks for God’s will for you,” said Stefanick. “Have a grateful mind because ingratitude will destroy your life.”
Deacon Steve said the annual Go Forth retreat will continue.
“Parents love to see their kids get excited about their faith,” he shared. “It’s like watching them catch something positive in their lives.”
The response has been so positive that Deacon Steve is working on creating a similar program for middle schoolers with the ultimate vision for Orange County Catholic schools to continue to give students a classic education and send Eucharistic Evangelists into our world. C
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Mark Cruz, chaplain of Campus Ministry at Mater Dei.
The event was conceived and designed by Deacon Steve Greco, director of Evangelization and Formation in the Diocese of Orange and founder of Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry, and Fr. Jacob Hsieh, a Norbertine priest from St. Michael’s Abby.
“As in the Gospel of John, God is calling us,” said Deacon Steve. “We believe
Other conferences are adult oriented but Go Forth is tailored to young people. The impact of social media, addiction and isolation has led to all-time high rates of suicide and depression among teens — at a time when they should be enthusiastically looking toward their future. Go Forth brings a message of hope and Jesus’ compassionate love for them. The retreat is centered on student testimonies, as the message is best delivered through the voices and personal experiences of their peers. Consequently, six student speakers, one from each high
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성적학대 신고
THE CHURCH TAKING THE LONG VIEW ON MARRIAGE
DIOCESE’S OFFICE OF FAMILY
BY MEG WATERS
IN 2022, THE VATICAN published Catechumenal Pathways for Married Life, a framework that outlines the Church’s desire to more intentionally accompany and evangelize couples seeking the sacrament of marriage. The 100-page document is meant to draw couples into a profound conversion through the phases of formation that begin long before a couple considers marriage. Pope Francis writes that, in the same way that the catechumenate “is part of the sacramental process for the baptism of adults, so too may the marriage preparation form an integral part of the whole sacramental procedure
of marriage.”
The document offers a goal but leaves the details up to individual dioceses to implement the process that best suits their community.
To that end and inspired by the California Bishops’ Radiate Love Initiative this year, Linda Ji, director of the Office of Family Life at the Diocese of Orange, held a Marriage Catechumenate Summit on Feb. 15 at Christ Cathedral.
“We are just beginning a process that could take a generation to fully implement. Right now, we are in the beginning stages,” said Ji. “We are talking to the parish marriage preparation ministry leaders, deacons, priests and couples to brainstorm.”
Jody Millspaugh and her husband, Deacon Russ Millspaugh, have been very involved in the marriage preparation
CONTINUES ON PAGE 11
DR. ELIZABETH REICHERT AND LINDA JI ADDRESS ATTENDEES OF THE OFFICE OF FAMILY LIFE’S MARRIAGE CATECHUMENATE SUMMIT HELD ON FEB. 15 AT THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. PHOTOS BY KAYLEE TOOLE/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE
THE VATICAN’S CATECHUMENAL PATHWAYS FOR MARRIED LIFE IS A FRAMEWORK THAT OUTLINES THE CHURCH’S DESIRE TO MORE INTENTIONALLY ACCOMPANY AND EVANGELIZE COUPLES SEEKING THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE.
FR. IAN GASTON OVERSEES THE MARRIAGE PREPARATION PROGRAM AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL PARISH.
program at San Antonio de Padua in Anaheim Hills.
“The idea comes from Rome, then through the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops and finally to the Diocese tasked with designing their individual programs. Marriage is a vocation, and we are looking at a process to form Catholics and set them up for success.”
From a sacramental perspective, the Church starts with Baptism, then nothing else for about seven years until First Communion and Reconciliation. Then, a few years later, we have confirmation, and, much later, marriage and finally, the anointing of the sick.
The idea is to begin with childhood preparation, focusing on self-esteem, respect for others and awareness of one’s dignity. This formation based on human and spiritual growth helps young people
mature into generous and self-giving adults, those best suited to a strong marriage.
The formation continues as the person comes into adulthood.
“We are considering a Rite of Betrothal, before the final marriage prep course and into the first years of married life,” said Jody.
At St. Mary’s parish in Fullerton, Mayra Encinas works with young adults and couples preparing for marriage.
“We need to collaborate with the whole parish,” she said. “We are in the business of helping form people from birth to death.”
Fr. Ian Gaston, who oversees the marriage preparation program at Christ Cathedral parish, put it most succinctly:
“In 25 years, we want to see people come to us who are well prepared for marriage emotionally and spiritually.” C
Savoring
Sharing recipes highlights the importance of gathering with family, friends and our broader Diocese of Orange faith community.
Please share your favorite recipes, along with your name and parish. Send your favorite seasonal dish, or a recipe that has special meaning to you or your family. Tell us why it’s important to you! Our editors will pick their favorites to be featured in OC Catholic throughout the year.
Submissions must include a photo of the completed recipe.
Categories are entrees, appetizers, side dishes, beverages and desserts.
Send your recipes and photos to: editor@occatholic.com
LENT: A TIME FOR RENEWING FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE
BY RON KUZLIK
LENT IS THE 40-DAY season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving beginning on Ash Wednesday in preparation for the Resurrection of the Lord on Easter Sunday.
According to Fr. Trinh Duc Pham, S.L.L., assistant professor of Liturgy at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, there are several Biblical bases for the 40 days.
“The Great Flood lasted 40 days and 40 nights,” Fr. Pham said. “And of course, in Exodus 34:28, we are told Moses prepared to receive the Ten Commandments, ‘And he was there with the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights.’”
He added, “Finally, Jesus fasted and prayed for ‘40 days and 40 nights’ in the desert before beginning His public ministry.”
Even the date for Easter Sunday is not specified in the Bible because Easter is a moveable feast, that is, it does not fall on the same day every year, such as Christmas is always on Dec. 25.
The date of Easter is the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox, when day and night are roughly the same length.
Catholics are asked to make the entire Lenten Season a period of special penitential observance.
Fasting is the act of doing with less. That is, Catholics aged 18-59 must fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On these days, the faithful may eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals. But the smaller meals should not equal a full meal.
Between meal eating is discouraged, but liquids are allowed.
Further, those over the age of 14 are asked to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent. Those who are frail, pregnant or manual laborers are excused from these obligations.
Through fasting and abstinence, the
faithful are reminded of what it means to suffer. This symbolic suffering should be met with joy and not misery as we are called to better understand the sacrifice that Jesus made on Calvary for the benefit of humanity.
In addition, there any many practices and norms that are observed during Lent in various cultures.
In his book, “Why Do Catholics Eat Fish on Friday? The Catholic Origin to Just about Everything,” author Michael Foley explained that some Mexicans use piñatas during Lenten celebrations.
“What we currently associate as birthday-party fun from Mexico began as good old-fashioned Italian sin-bashing during the holy season of Lent,” Foley wrote.
The author explained that “the idea of a piñata may have come from China via Marco Polo, but Italians in the fourteenth century applied the pignatta, or ‘fragile pot’, to their observance of the first Sunday of Lent.”
Vietnamese communities recite the Ngam (pron. “nam”) meditations, which are a meditation focusing on the mysteries of the Passion of Christ. The Ngam meditations are designed to help people more deeply experience the emotions of Jesus that he experienced during the Passion.
There are about 15 Ngam meditations that recall the excruciating pain and suffering that Jesus endured during His arrest, trial and eventual crucifixion.
These meditations differ from the traditional Stations of the Cross because they focus mainly on what happened during the trial before Pontius Pilate and on the Cross at Calvary whereas the stations focus on what happened between the trial and Jesus’s eventual crucifixion.
Many Vietnamese parishes even organize competitions of the Ngam meditations.
During this Lent, we are encouraged to pray, fast and give up something such as candy, alcohol or something else, volunteer our time with our parish or a local service organization and spend time attending daily Mass and studying the Scripture readings for the day.
Have a Blessed Lent. C
THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 14 ARE ASKED TO ABSTAIN FROM MEAT ON ASH WEDNESDAY AND ALL FRIDAYS DURING LENT. PHOTO BY HENRY PERKS ON UNSPLASH
OC CATHOLIC RECIPE SWAP EASY BAKED SALMON
THIS IS A QUICK AND no fuss meatless meal to serve during Lent. The foil lined pan also makes for easy cleanup.
—Submitted by Patty Mahoney
INGREDIENTS
1 lb. salmon filet (serves 2-3)
2-3 tbsps. unsalted butter, melted
5 tsps. minced garlic or 5 cloves
2-3 tbsp. honey
½ tsp. salt
¼ ground pepper
3 tbsps. freshly squeezed lemon juice
Lemon slices for garnish
Fresh herbs (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Line a baking sheet with tin foil
Whisk the ingredients together in a bowl and pour mixture over salmon
Bake for 15-20 minutes or to desired crispiness; the thicker the fillet, the longer the cook.
Garnish with lemon slices and/or fresh herbs and serve with rice pilaf/vegetables of your choice. Enjoy! C
PHOTO BY PATTY MAHONEY
HOW TO CHOOSE A LENTEN SACRIFICE
YOU'LL ACTUALLY KEEP
BY REBEKAH VALDERRAMA
DID YOU MAKE ANY New Year's Resolutions this year?
I ask, because studies have shown that only 1 out of 4 people keep theirs up for even a month. Chances are, you've already forgotten what you promised you'd do with your 2025.
Now it's Lent, and you might have set some goals for yourself. Or maybe Ash Wednesday snuck up on you and you still haven't decided what you want to do with your next 40 days. Maybe you've despaired that you've missed the boat; there's no point in starting a Lenten sacrifice now. Or maybe you picked something big to do, but you've already slipped once or twice and given up. It's not too late! I'm here to give you some words of encouragement, and maybe an idea or two to help make this year's Lent fruitful, even if you got started on the wrong foot.
HOW TO CHOOSE A LENTEN SACRIFICE
My biggest advice is this: small steps are crucial to forming new habits. Don't overreach; you'll only set yourself up for eventual "failure". I use quotation marks because, remember, any progress at all is success.
The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Let's start by choosing one small item from each category to incorporate as a daily or weekly practice as we prepare for Easter:
spiritual journey, and where you want to be. But then look down at your feet, metaphorically, and aim for one single step. If a daily Rosary feels overwhelming, try just one decade. If you'd eventually like to get to Mass every day, try picking just one extra Mass per week to start. Or here's a surprising challenge: how about confidently making the sign of the cross in the lunchroom at work?
PRAYER
Evaluate where you are now in your
FASTING
My rule of thumb for Lent: add one thing, offer one thing up.
Can you ditch sugar? Maybe just chocolate? Or maybe only on Fridays? Can you quit coffee? Or just the second or third cup? One year, I ate
to someone who needs it?
HAVE YOU ALREADY FAILED?
No, you haven't.
Maybe you ditched your New Year's resolution on Jan. 2, and maybe you've already forgotten the Lenten resolutions you set for yourself on Wednesday.
But please abandon the all-or-nothing mentality that's telling you to give up. We have an enemy who wants Lent to be just like any other season on the calendar, but a savior who fell three times but still picked up His cross four times.
It's not too late to choose or modify your Lenten sacrifices, and it's never too late to wake up the next morning and start again. Jesus isn't asking perfection from you. That's not what Lent is about.
Lent is about preparation: bringing yourself into Holy Week just a little bit holier than you were before. Just a little bit humbled, strengthened, emptied and ready to be filled with the Graces of Christ's passion and resurrection. C
nothing but peanut butter sandwiches for lunch.
Fasting doesn't have to be from food either. You can also fast from things like bad language, video games or gossip.
ALMSGIVING
God asks us to give until it hurts. Can you increase your giving during the Lenten season? Perhaps start with the money you saved by giving up that second coffee.
Or maybe money's too easy, and you're being asked to give of your time, talent, or comfort? Alms can be a check in the collection basket, or they can be volunteer hours, or charity to the homeless man on the offramp or kindness to that annoying person you usually avoid. Can you be generous with your attention
PHOTO BY GREG ROSENKE ON UNSPLASH
OC Catholic Afar
Alan and Desiree Wendell brought along the OC Catholic on their cruise vacation to Australia and New Zealand where they visited several beautiful landmarks:
St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, Australia. Constructed on the site of the first Catholic Chapel in Australia, this magnificent Gothic Revival cathedral was built between 1866 and 2000 using local honey-colored sandstone.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Auckland, New Zealand. Built in 1848, it serves as the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Auckland.
The Sydney Harbor Bridge and the iconic Opera House, viewed from across Sydney Harbor—thanks to Desiree for braving the rain!
— Alan is contributing photographer for OC Catholic, and he and Desiree are parishioners at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church 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.
