OC CATHOLIC - FEBRUARY 26, 2023

CONTENTS

"THE FRUITS OF YOUR MERCY"

FEBRUARY 26, 2023 7 8 10

The Lenten season brings us closer to God through our walk with Jesus.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HONOR CLERGY

The annual dinner brought together parishioners, community leaders and nearly 60 clergy and religious.

ST. COLUMBAN HOSTS VALENTINE FORMAL

The Garden Grove parish made it a night to remember with dinner, music and dancing.

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: Monsignor Stephen Doktorczyk

Editor: Patricia Mahoney, editor@occatholic.com

News Ideas: editor@occatholic.com

Delivery Problems: occatholicsupport@occatholic.com

ADVERTISING

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.

THE EUCHARIST: GIFT OF THE BRIDEGROOM

BY LINDA JI, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR FAMILY LIFE AT THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

DO YOU BELIEVE in the real presence of Christ in marriage?

To remind us of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the US Bishops launched a multi-year Eucharistic Revival effort. I propose that such a movement needs alongside it a revival also for the Sacrament of Marriage.

St. John Paul II called marriage the “primordial sacrament” in his Theology of the Body Wednesday audiences. Marriage is the original, “most ancient” sacrament belonging to creation itself, designed by God for all humanity from the beginning. As written in Genesis, humans are created in God’s image as male and female, with masculinity and femininity in our very bodies. Marriage of a man and woman is

a fundamental human relationship that reflects our Creator: God who is a relationship of three loving persons in one God. In this male-female complementarity and union as a family, we reveal God who is love.

Sin and error have marred our behaving so, even our believing that this is who we are. Jesus Christ, the Son of God through whom all things are created, elevates marriage to a sacrament, redeems it and gifts it back to us with grace. Thus, through sacramental marriage, couples are called to be visible signs of that invisible grace of Christ’s love in the world through the whole of their union — their lives, minds, souls and bodies.

It feels challenging to live up to this call. I imagine that a sacrament of Christ’s love should look beautiful and elegant. My husband and my married life looks messy and fraught, and our parenting probably

CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

The Diocese of Orange, through OC Catholic newspaper, presents local, national and world news about the Catholic Church. Our intention is to give our readers access to a variety of perspectives in order to help them to process the information within the framework of our Catholic faith, but also to better understand the perspectives of those with opposing viewpoints. We hope that ultimately our readers will be better equipped to have constructive conversations that further the growth of the Catholic Church.

LINDA JI

FEBRUARY 26, 2023

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

WHO WE ARE AND WHOSE WE ARE

THE LENTEN SEASON IS a fresh invitation to explore again who God is, who we are, and what it means to be human. We begin by hearing the tragic story of the first humans in the book of Genesis. As Paul describes in Romans, our struggles started when our ancestors broke the bond of unity with God, sought self-sufficiency, and grew apart from their true purpose and identity. In Matthew’s Gospel, we see how Jesus resists the lure of living outside of unity with God. Jesus rejects false promises of possessions, power, and status. Instead, he puts his life in his Father’s hands. As our model for living as a fully human person, Jesus demonstrates that we are created to live in relationship with and trust in God, and in harmony with and for all of creation.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. C

SAINT PROFILE

SAINT PORPHYRIUS

347-420

PORPHYRIUS WAS APPOINTED Bishop of the city of Gaza during a time when the region was hostile to Christianity and churches were only allowed to be built outside the city’s walls. The city had been the site of a number of martyrings in previous decades. Following several appeals to the emperor in Constantinople, soldiers were sent to enact the destruction of the pagan temples. On the site of the largest of these was constructed the Eudoxiana, a large church funded by the empress.

NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

“Dream freely and make good decisions”

— Pope Francis

ROLLIN’ ALONG

LA PURÍSIMA CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S HENELI RAMIREZ SKATES TOWARD HIS DREAMS

BY ROSALIA RIPULLO

FROM HITTING THE RINK on disco nights to coasting along beach boulevards — roller-skating has traversed the American landscape — gliding into a hip vision associated with the American youth.

Some roller-skating enthusiasts, like La Purísima Catholic School (Orange) student, Heneli Ramirez, have taken this fun form of exercise to its highest formartistic competition.

In fact, this 14-year-old boy’s achievements are quite astounding.

Last summer, Ramirez nabbed firstplace medals for Team USA National Championships Roller Sports Boys Division in Free Skating, Pairs and Elementary B Figures.

His supportive family, including his parents, Pepe and Olimpia Ramirez, and his two older brothers, are very proud of his ambition.

“He is a smart kid and when he wants to do something,” said Olimpia Ramirez, “he works for it.”

Although this retro pastime has made a bit of a comeback since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and forced people to re-think fun ways to exercise outdoors, roller-skating is most often remembered as a favored childhood pastime of yesteryear or a fun birthday party activity. It’s not at the top of the list when it comes to competitive sports.

“I didn’t really care that it wasn’t popular,” Ramirez said. “I really enjoyed it.”

Ramirez’s story begins when he was enrolled at the local skate club and from there, he quickly progressed to the point

where his parents realized this could be his future.

Since then, he’s trained hard with his coaches who have helped to perfect his various maneuvers. His favorite so far is his high jumps.

Preparing for competitions every day, and sometimes with a partner, Ramirez strives to maintain a balance between his studies and his passion for roller-skating.

At middle school, he has found favor with his school principal, Rosa Ramirez (no relation to Heneli).

“He’s very true to himself,” Principal Ramirez said. “Heneli has passion, and it is not something we can teach. Passion is passion.”

Adding a fun spin to his championship wins, Heneli recently shared his roller-skating skills on campus after a recent tournament. His peers at school witnessed Heneli’s excitement as he skated around campus and took pictures in his full competitive dress.

Attending La Purísima Catholic School CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

LA PURÍSIMA CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENT HENELI RAMIREZ SHOWS OFF HIS ROLLER-SKATING MOVES FOR SCHOOL PRINCIPAL ROSA RAMIREZ ON FEB. 8. PHOTOS BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

ROLLER-SKATING CHAMPION HENELI RAMIREZ, 14, IS A STUDENT AT LA PURÍSIMA CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN ORANGE

is essential to the faithful Ramirez family, and Heneli shared that he prays before every competition.

“Mostly, I pray that I don’t fall,” he joked.

Skating on his own and perfecting his jumps has been one of many tasks, but training with a partner has been quite different.

In many of his competitions, Ramirez glides along with his partner, a girl he trains with, and performs tricks like holding her high in the air.

It requires lots of strength and skill, but he enjoys it.

“We’re both so in sync so it makes it much easier,” he said.

He also admires local world-class players at his rink and is always attempting their moves. He challenges himself so that he too can someday compete in the world-class division.

Last year, after he won the National Title in his division, he advanced to cadet, which is the division just below world-class — making that dream of competing in the world-class division more of a reality.

A very impressive young and gifted young man, Ramirez has also expressed interest in expanding his talents into other artistic ventures.

“He loves playing his piano and now he is talking about basketball,” his mom said.

He also likes to crack jokes, especially at school where his quick wit has left an impression.

“He’s a good kid and he’s got a great sense of humor,” Principal Ramirez said.

Ramirez is proud of his many accomplishments in the world of roller-skating.

When asked what he wants others to know about his sport, he said, “I just want people to know I’m good.”

Up next for Ramirez? State Games followed by this year’s National Title competition.

And as for his future? By the looks of things — very bright. C

“THE FRUITS OF YOUR MERCY”

BY DANIELLE TAYABAS

LENT IS A SACRED season of 40 days when Our Heavenly Father invites us into the desert and draws us more deeply into an intimate relationship with Him by calling to mind and heart the Mission, Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior.

Our Heavenly Father is the Ultimate Almsgiver.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16).

With faithfulness and fidelity, He has freely given all of humanity the Gift of Himself through Jesus, Our Merciful Redeemer, to bring us back into friendship with Him.

For He is “our first love” and “we lovebecause He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

It is within our nature to love and to give of ourselves completely because we are created in the “image” and “likeness” of God (Genesis 1:26-27). For “God is love” (1 John 4:8) and He created us with love so that we can receive His love and share His love with others.

“God proves His love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

So too we are called to reciprocate our love for God in return by living out this redemptive mission; by taking up our cross daily through prayer, fasting and almsgiving in union with Jesus Crucified. As Jesus gives the alms of His life in Imitation of the Father (John 5:19), we too must lay down our lives in Imitation of Christ and follow His example by performing acts of compassion, mercy and love through deeds, word and prayer.

Lent is the perfect opportunity to “put on the new self” (Ephesians 4:24) through almsgiving and Corporal Works of Mercy.

■ Feed the hungry

■ Give drink to the thirsty

■ Shelter the homeless

■ Visit the sick

■ Visit the prisoners

■ Bury the dead

■ Give alms to the poor

Jesus teaches us the reality of what this means, “‘For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me’” (Matthew 25:35-36).

St. Faustina shares a beautiful example of almsgiving, servanthood and merciful love in her encounter with “a poor young man” who came to the main entrance of her convent. He was “emaci-

ated, barefoot and bareheaded, and with his clothes in tatters.”

He was “frozen because the day was cold and rainy.” So, she went to the kitchen and found some soup, reheated it, then crumbled some bread on it and gave it to the poor man. After he was done eating, she took the bowl from him and he let her know that He was “the Lord of heaven and earth.” She suddenly saw Jesus as He was and then…He vanished! “When I went back in and reflected on what had happened at the gate, I heard these words in my soul:

My daughter; the blessings of the poor who bless Me as they leave this gate have reached My ears. And your compassion, within the bounds of obedience, has pleased Me, and this is why I came down from My throne — to taste the fruits of your mercy” (Diary of Saint Faustina, entry 1312).

May the fruit of our love and almsgiving this Lent comfort those in need and touch the Heart of Our Heavenly Father through, with and in the Divine Mercy of Jesus. C

ASH WEDNESDAY MARKS THE FIRST DAY OF LENT IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH. PHOTO BY BILL ALKOFER/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

CLERGY HONORED AT ANNUAL KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS DINNER

BY RON KUZLIK

THE ORANGE COUNTY Chapter of the Knights of Columbus hosted its annual Clergy Appreciation Dinner on Jan. 28. This year’s event was held at San Francisco Solano parish hall in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Apart from a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the dinner

has been held annually for the past 36 years, according to chapter president Tom Dodge.

“The intent of the program is to say thank you and to honor and show appreciation to our clergy and religious who give up so much to look after our Christian faith and religious growth,” he said.

The honored guests included Most Rev. Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of Orange, and a collection of pastors and diocesan priests

and deacons as well as religious order priests, brothers and sisters from the area.

In total, nearly 60 clergy and religious attended this year’s dinner.

Bishop Vann has been a regular attendee since being installed as the diocesan bishop in 2012.

“We really give thanks for our priests, deacons and clergy who, for many of us have become the light and hope of showing us the way of Christ to walk in our lives,”

Bishop Vann said. “That’s why this event is so important.”

Augustinian priest Fr. John Grace, OSA, is originally from Ireland. The 85-year-old priest now resides at the St. Augustine Monastery in San Diego.

“I have been involved with the Knights of Columbus from about a month after my arrival in the USA in 2000, when I was invited by a Knight to be the chaplain,” Fr.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 9

FR. DUY LE, PASTOR OF SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CHURCH, AND FR. BRANDON DANG, DIRECTOR OF PRIESTLY VOCATIONS FOR THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE, GREET GUESTS OF THE ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ANNUAL CLERGY APPRECIATION DINNER ON JAN. 28. PHOTOS COURTEST OF JACK HANEY

FR.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Grace said.

“I began to observe their activities in the Church,” he continued. “It was impressive, and it was encouraging to see their wives also involved in many Church activities. All of that attracted me to the Knights and soon the whole set became my family.”

As years went by, Fr. Grace became more involved with the Knights at different levels — local, chapter, state and in the

supreme office in New Haven, Connecticut as assistant to the Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori. Now back in San Diego, he is involved as State Chaplain once again.

Sr. Angela Callanan, PBVM, is on the Vocations Team of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary at St. Norbert’s Catholic School.

“I enjoyed the evening, it was very beautiful, meeting friends and making new ones,” she said.

Attendees were hosted by over 300 hundred Brother Knights accompanied by spouses and friends and families of the Knights.

The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by Blessed Michael McGivney, a young parish priest in New Haven, Connecticut. Based on the founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity, the Knights of Columbus originally began as a small fraternal benefit society and has since grown into one of the world’s leading inter-

national charitable organizations. They remain committed to strengthening Catholic families and parishes and to practicing faith in action through service to all in need.

The Orange County Chapter of the Knights of Columbus is a union of over 6,600 Knights representing 51 different Southern California councils.

For more information about the Orange County Chapter of the Knights of Columbus, visit https://ockc.net/ C

THOMAS TRAN, SVD, PAROCHIAL VICAR, OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS; MARK DOYLE, GRAND KNIGHT, QUEEN OF ANGELS KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL #15719; DEACON CARL SWANSON, SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO; FR. STEVE SALLOT, PASTOR OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS.

BISHOP KEVIN VANN ADDRESSES ATTENDEES DURING THE ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ANNUAL CLERGY APPRECIATION DINNER ON JAN. 28.

VALENTINE FUN AT ST. COLUMBAN'S WINTER FORMAL

BY SPENCER GRANT AND MARA CASEY

“OH MY GOSH, they're going to have an amazing time tonight,” predicted volunteer Maritza Bravo as she registered arriving guests at the second annual Winter Formal held on Feb. 10 at St. Columban Catholic Church parish in Garden Grove.

She was right.

Over 85 people had an amazing time at a Valentine-themed dinner dance for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities from the parish and the community.

Guests danced, posed for photos and enjoyed a meal that included a spaghetti dinner donated by Carolina's Italian Restaurant in Garden Grove, plus chicken alfredo and desserts made by special education students at Bell Intermediate School. Volunteers served the guests at their tables. It was a team effort that included music by DJ George Hoang.

St. Columban Parochial Vicar Father

Paul Hoa Duy Vu offered a blessing before the dinner began.

The church's Murphy Hall was decorated with a balloon and Valentine arch. Red and white balloons flew over each table. There was a formal photo background with red tinsel streamers and balloons for photographing groups and selfies.

The dinner dance was the dream of event organizer Hilda Mendez, a grandmother to a young person with disabilities and a member of the St. Columban's Women's Council which worked in collaboration with the Knights of Columbus, Council 4581 Garden Grove.

The invitation flyer encouraged guests to “Dress to Impress and Have Fun,” the night’s attire ranged from a formal gown and tiara to suits and ties to T-shirts and jeans.

Dancing styles varied widely. Some leaped alone, others joined groups, some danced as couples while others just moved to the music by themselves. Nisha Phan provided a fun treat with her parrotlets named Blue and Yellow, who obligingly posed with guests at the photo booth.

“I wish everyone could see the fun and excitement in the eyes of each and every guest that attended our first event last April,” said Mendez. “Everyone was waiting for the next time to have fun and socialize with peers.”

“Our community needs this dinner dance,” added Women's Council President Kathy Collens. “It gives the guests a fun and a safe environment to be themselves.”

Last year’s dinner dance was a hit, bringing joy and gratitude from parents of the guests, so the Council decided to make it an annual event.

“This is just the beginning,” explained Mendez. “There is so much more that can be done, and I look forward to seeing these functions throughout our Diocese. If each parish held an event once a year, our parishioners would have something to look forward to, each and every month!”C

A PARROTLET NAMED BLUE PERCHES ON THE FOREFINGER OF ALENA MENDOZA DURING ST. COLUMBAN’S ANNUAL WINTER FORMAL HELD ON FEB. 10. PHOTOS BY SPENCER GRANT/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

ALIYA PASHD DANCES DURING ST. COLUMBAN’S ANNUAL WINTER FORMAL HELD ON FEB. 10.

AVA AND THANASI CHRISTOPHER DANCE DURING ST. COLUMBAN’S ANNUAL WINTER FORMAL HELD ON FEB. 10.

AROUND OUR DIOCESE

BY STAFF

WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE

A huge storage room filled with warm clothing for the needy has been filled by St. Irenaeus parish in Cypress and its Knights of Columbus Council as Southern California deals with wintry temps.

St. Irenaeus parishioners and students generously contributed an estimated 400 large bags of coats, jackets, shoes, gloves, scarves, sleeping bags and blankets to help those in desperate need to stay warm.

Deacon Jerry Pyne said the two-week

and Jan. 22.

-Submitted by Irv

Cuevas

WORLD DAY OF THE SICK MASS

Christ Cathedral celebrated the World Day of the Sick Mass on Feb. 11, presided by Bishop Timothy Freyer.

World Day of the Sick, now in its 31st year, was first started in 1992 by St. Pope John Paul II. It is now celebrated annually on Feb. 11.

Pope Francis, in a post on Feb. 11, wrote: "The World Day of the Sick calls for prayer and closeness towards those who suffer. Yet it also aims to raise the awareness of God’s people, healthcare institutions and civil society with regard to a new way of moving forward together."

es in order to guarantee each person’s fundamental right to basic and decent healthcare."

drive brought in an estimated six thousand pounds of warm clothing which will be distributed to local charity agencies and given to the homeless and others who depend on this drive during the cold winter months.

Both Deacon Pyne and Knights of Columbus Council 8599 Grand Knight

Rick Tkach agreed that it was a team effort and just one way St. Irenaeus and the Knights serve the community. The winter clothing drive has been conducted for 12 years.

About 20 Knights and parishioners volunteered by collecting clothing at all Masses during the weekends of Jan. 14

CELEBRATING WORLD MARRIAGE DAY

The Office for Family Life hosted a special Mass and double date night on Feb. 10 to celebrate World Marriage Day. It began with a Mass, presided by Bishop Timothy Freyer, in the Christ Cathedral campus' Chapel in the Sky. A dinner followed in the Cultural Center.

"I am grateful for the joyful witness to married love shown by these couples as we celebrated Mass for World Marriage Day," said Bishop Freyer.

The Holy Father added, "These past years of the pandemic have increased our sense of gratitude for those who work each day in the fields of healthcare and research. Yet it is not enough to emerge from such an immense collective tragedy simply by honoring heroes. COVID-19 has strained the great networks of expertise and solidarity and has exposed the structural limits of existing public welfare systems. Gratitude, then, needs to be matched by actively seeking, in every country, strategies and resourcpraise and worship, hikes, hands-on experiences, and hearing from world-class speakers!

EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL CAMPOUT

Eucharistic Revival Campout for Young Adults will be held March 10 to 12. The unprecedented three-day gathering for Catholic young adults will be the premier event for men and women in their 20s and 30s looking to rekindle their faith and devotion, as well as meet other like-minded young adults from around Southern California and the country. Set in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains, just 17 miles from the heart of Orange County, the Eucharistic Revival Campout will take place on 500 acres of wilderness where groups can pitch a tent, rent a cabin, or bunk in the bunkhouse, enjoying the breathtaking and peaceful natural surroundings.

Grow in faith and community through

The speaker lineup for this dynamic young adult weekend includes Fr. Stan Fortuna, C.F.R; Dan DeMatte; James Wahlberg; Francis Cabildo; Fr. Erialdo Ramirez; Sr. Jessica Corral; and Dr. Elysabeth Nguyen. Saturday’s morning Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Timothy Freyer.

“I look forward to being with our Catholic young men and women for this historic gathering,” said Bishop Freyer. “The young Church is vibrant today and integral for the life of the Church in the future. Come and join us for an unforgettable time away with Christ and each other.”

Register today at SantiagoRetreatCenter.org C

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF SANTIAGO RETREAT CENTER

BISHOP THANH THAI NGUYEN IS PICTURED DURING THE WORLD DAY OF THE SICK MASS CELEBRATED AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL ON FEB. 11. PHOTO BY KAYLEE O’TOOLE/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE

A MASS TO CELEBRATE WORLD MARRIAGE DAY WAS CELEBRATED BY BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER, IN THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS' CHAPEL IN THE SKY. PHOTO BY KIERNAN COLIFLORES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

ST. IRENAEUS PARISH RECENTLY HELD ITS ANNUAL WARM CLOTHING DRIVE. COURTESY PHOTO.

LIVING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST

SPOTLIGHT ON JOE BALDO

BY MIKE ZINN

WHEN ONE FINDS THEIR passion in life, it is quite a gift. For St. Martin de Porres parishioner Joe Baldo, he uses these passions to live life to its fullest, helping others along the way.

Baldo was born into a devout Catholic family in the western San Gabriel Valley city of Monterey Park. His family attended St. Stephen Martyr Church and he graduated from the parish school and then went onto Loyola High School, in Los Angeles.

While growing up, Baldo’s future was planned. His family owned a meat packing business which was founded in Italy, moved to New York and then to East LA in the early 1940s. Baldo started working there during sixth grade and eventually learned all phases of the business. His father and grandfather were preparing him for that day when he would take over.

After high school, Baldo enrolled at Loyola Marymount University. There he discovered his passion for television and film production. At the time of graduation, he informed his father and grandfather that he wanted to pursue a career in this field and not be a part of the family business.

“My dad was a great man, always loving and understanding,” Baldo said. “He told me to follow my passion.”

A year later, in 1979, Baldo founded Baldo Productions Inc. From its home office in the Los Angeles area, the company quickly became a success. So successful that he and his wife Barbara expanded to a second location in Newport Beach in 1986. This prompted Joe and Barbara and

their two children to also move south to Yorba Linda.

The Baldos quickly became involved in various ministries when they joined St. Martin de Porres parish in Yorba Linda.

Years later, after their children had both graduated from LMU, Joe and Barbara felt some of the financial burden come off their shoulders and devoted even more time to serve others. In 2008, after 30 years in business, Baldo sold his production company and devoted his life to full-time volunteering and mentoring.

At a soup kitchen one afternoon, Bal-

do had a conversation with a homeless man. The gentleman told him he should go to a prison and talk with inmates. Shortly thereafter, Baldo signed-up for what was then called Catholic Detention Ministry, now known as Restorative Justice Ministry.

That ministry placed Baldo in the Orange County Juvenile Hall, where he assisted incarcerated youth. Within a few months, he was there up to seven days a week and for almost three years, experienced the comings and goings of the teen inmates, serving their time, being released, only to be arrested again.

In 2010, Baldo transitioned from engaging the youth in juvenile hall to welcoming them upon their release, continuing to support them as they reintegrated back into society.

“Sometimes I have experienced God open a door and gently guide me through, but other times it seems He’s blown doors down and the backdraft propelled me through with major force,” he said.

Within a few months, he had hundreds of youths reaching to ask for assistance navigating away from the pitfalls

JOE BALDO, FOUNDER OF HIGH GROUND, IS PICTURED WITH CHILDREN WHO ATTEND THE PROGRAM DEDICATED TO YOUTH IN NEED. COURTESY PHOTO

CLASSIFIED ADS

Merchandise

Fitness-WeightLoss

LOSE 15-30 LBS IN 30 DAYS! I work with Clergy and Parishioners successfully! Easy & Safe. Gil Yurly

714-206-0443

MiscforSale

MOVING SALE

1880TableLamp, BrassEthnicLamp, FloorLamp,RosewoodHeadboard 1970,BabyCrib/ NewMat,Reclinerredleather,4TraditionalWalnut Chairs,Handmade OakBDRSet/6500 new,Ant.Baby RockingChair(80 yrs),Util.Table,Util. Desk,2LRmChairs, 2REIBackpacks (new),4FramedM. Delacroix,3Framed AsianPics,Bookcases, 714-423-1420

RealEstate

Commercial RealEstate OfficeSpaceforRent

PRIVATE WORK ROOMS: Inside Fitness Center, Costa Mesa, Health Pro or Offices. $700/mo.

714-206-0443

looks worse. The challenge is to look at us with the eyes of faith. Just as faith is requisite to discern the Real Presence of Christ — His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity — under the appearances of bread and wine Christ’s love in a married couple can also be hidden without faith. But the sacrament is efficacious, no matter the holiness of the minister. (Remember, the minister of the sacrament of marriage is the couple!) At any moment, with conversion and opening our eyes of faith, we can see the sign — married couples can be the sign — of Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church.

Within the messy sandbox of our lives—corporate workplace, public school, financial debt, leaky roof, illness, our past wounds, our present selfishness—my husband and I have our Passion moments and days, weeks and years. Last year, my husband carried me and our children through my cancer treatment journey: moments of immense pain, days in and out of the hospital, weeks of slow recovery. In marriage, we take up our cross and sacrifice for each other and our family and community. Often imperfectly executed but always leaning on God’s strength and grace, our spousal relationship reveals the nuptial mystery of salvation in Christ.

Blindness to the Eucharist is tied to blindness to sacramental marriage or any of the sacraments. It is a loss of our sacramental imagination, our eyes of faith. The

Eucharist is the source and summit of our Catholic faith, the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom who suffered and died for his Bride. A revival of sacramental marriage will help us open our eyes to the Eucharist by reflecting Christ’s Passion, death, and resurrection lived out in the everyday lives of married couples. This is all very lofty sounding, but how are married couples to do this in the messy sandbox of earthly life? Like any other disciple, married couples must discern, submit, and be nourished. Remembering that marriage is a vocation, a sacrament in the service of communion, married couples continuously discern in prayer how God is calling us specifically to be signs of Christ’s love. As the Spirit moves, the couple also moves, submitting our will to that of the Father who with the Son created us to be images of God. We eat Jesus’ Body and Blood for the strength and courage to carry our own cross. We receive the gift of the Bridegroom in the Eucharist to be gifts ourselves to our spouse and in the service of the Bride of Christ.

If none of this sounds new, it is because a revival is really a call for us to recall what has been there all along and enliven it once more. Let us open our eyes of faith and see Christ’s real presence in the sacraments. For those of us who are married, let us be what we are: a living reflection of God who is love in the world. C

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

LINDA JI ADDRESSES ATTENDEES DURING A SPECIAL WORLD MARRIAGE DAY EVENT AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS HELD ON FEB. 10. PHOTO BY KIERNAN COLIFLORES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

that led to their multiple incarcerations. Baldo recruited help in fellow church members, baseball buddies and work associates to engage large groups of teens and adolescents in public parks in five orange county cities.

In late 2012, the city of Anaheim requested that Baldo concentrate solely on engaging the youth of Anaheim full time. Initially Baldo declined, but when a second offer included selecting a park in Anaheim to permanently house his vision, he accepted the generous offer.

In 2012, Lincoln Park was selected to become the home for Baldo’s nonprofit called Higher Ground Youth & Family Services (HG).

“Higher Ground is a mentoring machine,” he said.

The facility is made up of 12 modular buildings including a creative learning

center, kitchen, mental wellness center, music studio, video production and postproduction studio, as well as a STEM lab (for science, technology, engineering and math) and office space for staff, interns, field study students and volunteers. There is even a clubhouse and locker room to facilitate uniform and equipment storage for HG run athletic teams and leagues, furnished by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

Today, HG in Anaheim has over 200 registered youth with approximately 150 being engaged on any given day. A similar program is functioning at HG’s recently opened second location within Fullerton elementary schools.

The major goal for HG is to help children with negative role models and help them create positive roles for themselves. The children who attend HG receive

free snacks every afternoon and twice a week, hot dinners are served for the children and their families. Homework assistance, new skill development, the opportunity to have sports programs that could not under normal circumstances be afforded by the families are just a few more of the offerings from HG.

Services provided include multiple afterschool programs in Anaheim and Fullerton, a full-scale summer camp, a Teens2Work program that hires teens from underserved communities, a mental health and wellness program with counseling available and a human trafficking prevention program.

Baldo has never taken a salary and has a large yearly budget that is only partially offset with grants.

“The money to fund HG comes from God,” said Baldo, sometimes “begging for

assistance” wherever he can.

He receives key support from Chapman University, CSUF, UCI, CSULB, BIOLA and Concordia University. Volunteering and mentoring support also comes from St. Martin de Porres parishioners, who help with a multitude of tasks. Barbara Baldo helps with the day-to-day programming, including all special events and fundraisers.

Joe Baldo has had that rare experience of finding his passion twice in his lifetime. From starting and operating his successful Baldo Productions to founding Higher Ground.

“Life has been a spectacular gift, and HG is the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae,” he said.

Higher Ground is having its first ever Open House on Saturday, March 25. All are welcome. To learn more, donate or volunteer, email info@highergroundoc.org. C

JOE BALDO, FOUNDER OF HIGH GROUND, IS PICTURED WITH CHILDREN WHO ATTEND THE PROGRAM DEDICATED TO YOUTH IN NEED. COURTESY PHOTO

—Photo by Steven Georges/Diocese of Orange

Where Tradition Technology ComeTogether

*Subjecttocreditapproval.ThecreditorandissuerofthesecardsisElanFinancialServices,pursuanttoseparatelicensesfromVisa U.S.A.Inc.,andMastercardInternationalIncorporated.Mastercardisaregisteredtrademark,andthecirclesdesignisatrademarkof MastercardInternationalIncorporated.TermsandConditionsapply.AllLoanssubjecttocreditapproval.NMLS#537388.MemberFDIC.

FutureRoyals!

Monday,February27,2023

Meetandengagewithcoachesandplayers,hear fromourAthleticDirector,Administration,a RosaryAlumna,andenjoyafreedinnerwiththe family!

Registeronourwebsitetojointhefun!