OC CATHOLIC - MARCH 10, 2024

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MARCH 10, 2024

LENT FOR LITTLES

Communicating the importance of the Lenten season to small children can be challenging.

PRACTICING CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES

Cornelia Connelly High School Alumnae Association brings together graduates to continue the school’s legacy of service.

GIRL SCOUTS AND THE CATHOLIC FAITH

Kathleen Hue’s Gold Award Project focused on the importance of recycling.

ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC MISSION STATEMENT

The Orange County Catholic Newspaper seeks to illuminate and animate the journey of faith for Catholics within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange – building solidarity among the faithful and inviting a deeper understanding and involvement in the mission of Christ – through the timely sharing of news, commentary and feature content in an engaging, accessible and compelling format.

ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC

The Official Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange Diocese of Orange Pastoral Center, 13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove 92840

Publisher: The Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of Orange

Executive Editor: Jarryd Gonzales

Managing Editor: Patricia Mahoney, editor@occatholic.com

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.

YOUNG ADULTS IN THE SYNOD ON SYNODALITY:

A JOYFUL EVENING IN IRVINE

BY FR. WILLIAM GOLDIN AND KATIE DAWSON

SINCE POPE FRANCIS’ announcement of the Synod on Synodality four years ago in March 2020, the entire Catholic Church worldwide has been “journeying together” in listening and discernment on how we can thrive in our common life together as the Body of Christ. Strictly speaking, a “Synod” is a gathering of bishops under the presidency of the pope at which the bishops discuss doctrinal

and practical questions of great note. In this Synod on Synodality that is also the case. However, during this particular Synodal process the Holy Father has mandated that each local church throughout the world engage in a broad experience of listening and discernment on the meaning of “Synodality” itself.

During this listening and discernment process, each local (arch)bishop throughout the world was asked to determine the best way to hear from his people in his (arch)diocese, in order to offer contributions for the reflection of the Synod Fathers (and other representatives appointed by the pope). Then, subsequently, these contributions from the local churches throughout the world were processed through additional

listening and discernment stages at the regional, national, continental and global levels, thus leading to working documents for the Synod itself. The Synod Fathers and

CONTINUES ON PAGE 8

Retreats are AMAZING (more please!) … also pilgrimages J.

We are all welcome at Mass.

We need the courage to say what we believe with our whole hearts. This can only be done when there are leaders/priests who are convicted and teach the truth, and live it themselves.

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.

Done Right

Center-cut Atlantic Salmon topped with a Lobster-crab cake, cheese potatoes, grilled asparagus, Lobster cream sauce, charred lemon

Crab, avocado, pickled red onion, frisée, pineapple relish, cherry tomato puree

SALMON OSCAR

CRAB AVOCADO STACK

AROUND CAMPUS

TWELVE DEDICATION CANDLES

Donors: Roger, Tracy, Nicole and Sean Kirwan (The remaining 11 candles are available). These candles symbolize the 12 Apostles. They hang on the walls of the ground floor and were lit for the first time at Christ Cathedral’s July 17, 2019 dedication. The tradition is to light them every year on the feast of the dedication. Photo by Steve Georges/Diocese of Orange C

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY

IS 65:17-21; PS 30:2 AND 4, 5-6, 11-12A AND 13B; JN 4:43-54

TUESDAY

EZ 47:1-9, 12; PS 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; JN 5:1-16

“ Money has to serve, not to rule.

— 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.”

WEDNESDAY

IS 49:8-15; PS 145:8-9, 13CD-14, 17-18; JN 5:17-30

THURSDAY

EX 32:7-14; PS 106:19-20, 21-22, 23; JN 5:31-47

FRIDAY

WIS 2:1A, 12-22; PS 34:17-18, 1920, 21 AND 23; JN 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

SATURDAY

JER 11:18-20; PS 7:2-3, 9BC-10, 1112; JN 7:40-53

SUNDAY

EZ 37:12-14; 130:12, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8; ROM 8:8-11; JN 11:1-45

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

PHOTO BY THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

“THE SNAIL AND THE KING” ILLUSTRATES GOD’S LOVE IN OUR TRIALS

FR. PEREGRINE FLETCHER’S PARABLE IS AN 11-YEAR EFFORT

BY CATHI DOUGLAS

IT’S TAKEN 11 YEARS for the little snail’s triumphant story to come to life. Now his improbable journey to meet the king is ready for Catholic families to enjoy.

The idea for the parable lingered in Fr. Peregrine Fletcher’s imagination ever since he was a novice discerning his vocation.

Today, artist and author Fr. Fletcher, O.Praem, is Master of Novices at St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado Canyon. And his illustrated story, “The Snail and the King,” will officially be released on March 19. Readers can find it by navigating to joannespress.com, Amazon.com, or visiting local Catholic bookstores, including the Christ Cathedral Store.

“It’s a parable that I pray will help readers of all ages reflect on God’s ever-present love for us in all the trials we

FR. FLETCHER’S UPCOMING BOOK SIGNING EVENTS FOR “THE SNAIL AND THE KING” INCLUDE:

■ Saturday, March 16 from 1:303:30 p.m. at JMJ Catholic Store (310 E Orangethorpe Ave. Suite A, Placentia)

■ Saturday, April 13 from 1:303:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Catholic Books & Gifts (1131 W Lincoln Ave, #120, Anaheim)

religious vocations.

face on our way to heaven,” Fr. Fletcher explained. “The snail is invited to God’s kingdom and, against all odds, makes it to the king.”

The book, written in verse, is the story of a little snail who is called, with all God’s creatures, to meet the king. Other, larger and more powerful animals deride the snail’s abilities. Still, with the help of a dove, he can withstand desert heat and cross mighty rivers on his ultimately victorious trek, where the king’s son welcomes him.

The main message of “The Snail and the King” is to keep moving forward on one’s faith journey, according to Fr. Fletcher.

“No matter what trials and temptations come along,” he added, “we must keep persevering and trusting that our God, who’s invited us to heaven, has also given us the means to get there.”

He notes that the story is important for readers today because life is hard, and we are often tempted to give up.

“God doesn’t say that life is trial-free or as easy as possible, but no matter how difficult life is, He is always there to help us.

“He wants to remind both adults and children to remember that we are called to live forever,” continued Fr. Fletcher, “to be happy forever in a place that’s everlastingly good.”

While the book’s main audience is children, its message is important for readers of all ages.

“Life is hard, and oftentimes we encounter obstacles, trials, difficulties and temptations,” he explained. “It can be tempting to stop and give up. As adults, we must remind ourselves that God is good, leading us along the way.”

Fr. Fletcher entered the Norbertine Order in 2013, professed his solemn vows in 2019 and was ordained to the priesthood the following year. As Novice Master, he is responsible for forming the many young men who come to St. Michael’s Abbey each year to pursue their

For “The Snail and the King,” Fr. Fletcher drew inspiration from his observations of Christian art and from one of his favorite artists, Eyvind Earle. Earle was an American artist noted for his contribution to the background illustration and styling of Disney’s animated films in the 1950s.

“He’s one of my favorite artists/ illustrators whose work I admire and have emulated over the years,” said Fr. Fletcher.

The book’s illustrations are in gouache paint, which he calls an amazing and versatile medium he’s come to enjoy. Gouache is a water-medium paint consisting of natural pigment, water, a binding agent and sometimes additional inert material. It’s designed to be opaque and has a long history, having been used for at least 12 centuries. Today, it’s used most consistently by commercial artists for posters, illustrations, comics and other design work.

Currently, Fr. Fletcher is working on a book about St. Michael the Archangel, to be published in fall 2025 by TAN Books.

FR. PEREGRINE FLETCHER’S BOOK, “THE SNAIL AND THE KING” WILL OFFICIALLY BE RELEASED ON MARCH 19. ILLUSTRATIONS BY FR. PEREGRINE FLETCHER

“THE SNAIL AND THE KING” IS THE STO RY OF A LITTLE SNAIL WHO IS CALLED, WITH ALL GOD’S CREATURES, TO MEET THE KING.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

He also hopes to find time to tell other stories through art.

“I’d like to get back to making icons in tempera,” he said. “It’s a joy to work on books, but I also love the idea of refining my skills, especially with the gold gilding of the icons. It’s a very complex process, but I love seeing the gold – so I want to keep moving down the road, fine-tuning my skills.”

His previous work, “My Name is Philomena: A Saint’s Story,” also an illustrated picture book, is available from TAN Books; it was published in August 2023. The website Blessed Catholic Mom reviewed the book, saying, “Fr. Fletcher’s wonderful book shows the great love and devotion St. Philomena had for Christ Jesus.” C

LENT FOR LITTLES

BY REBEKAH VALDERRAMA

LAST YEAR IN THIS space, I wrote about how I’ve struggled with finding balance in Lent when I’m not fasting because of pregnancy or breastfeeding. This year, I’m feeling a similar struggle for balance with my kids.

Young children are, of course, not required to fast, but as I raise them in the Catholic faith, I’m striving to teach them about sacrifice and prepare them for when they are old enough to join fully in the Lenten spirit.

According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), children are not required to abstain from meat on Fridays until they are 14 years old and are exempt from fasting until the age of 18. The rules regarding what constitutes a fast are also very reasonable. However, I believe Lenten observance should be about more than the letter of the law. I’m aiming for a gradual transition into Lenten observances for my children, converting their hearts one step at a time.

The three pillars of Lenten practice are prayer, fasting and almsgiving, and all three can be adapted to children according to their age and maturity. It’s not too late to add a few of these ideas to the remainder of this year’s Lent.

PRAYER

If your family doesn’t pray together as much as you’d like, then Lent is the perfect time to form a new habit.

■ Say a family rosary

■ Read Bible stories together

■ Take your children with you to adoration

■ Consider adding one more daily Mass per week to your schedule

In our family, we’ve added a family decade of the rosary to our evening routine, and we’ve seen beautiful fruits so far.

FASTING

Growing young children should probably not be skipping meals, but there are still plenty of things they can fast from, and practice offering up their sufferings to Jesus on the cross.

■ Give up a particular toy for the season of Lent

■ Fast from screen time

■ Give up snacks or sweets

Our family fasts from desserts on Fridays together. Focusing on that one day of the week is helping to ease our young children into the idea of giving things up, and also highlights the importance of Fridays and observing the passion of Christ.

ALMSGIVING

Those children who are old enough to understand the value of money and how to earn and spend it can be encouraged to make a donation of their allowance to the church or a charity. For the rest:

■ Lent is a good time to declutter toys and clothes that are no longer used and donate them to those in need.

Jesus taught us.

The important thing (for us adults as well) is to add these Lenten practices as small, attainable additions to a robust life of family prayer and faith. We need to establish a foundation of faithfulness in our homes, where the extra practices of Lent are not some arbitrary rules imposed out of the blue, but are building blocks that fit into an already established domestic church edifice.

■ We could give our kids opportunities to earn money by doing extra chores, then donate it to a charity of their choice.

I know that my children have some toys they could bear to give away, which I will explain to them is a way to help those less fortunate, as

If we encourage our children to give a little more of themselves to God each Lent, as we strive and model to give of ourselves, then by the time they’re old enough to be bound by the Church’s laws of fasting, that gift of self will be a joyful one, and Lent and Easter all the more fruitful. C

PHOTO BY MARCO CESCHI ON UNSPLASH

THE MAIN MESSAGE OF “THE SNAIL AND THE KING” IS TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD ON ONE’S FAITH JOURNEY.

Holding on to tradition is a success. It seems that some Masses, if you took out the consecration, would resemble a Protestant/evangelical service. Furthermore, [we need to work on] keeping the Mass reverent, encouraging proper attire for attending the Mass.

We need more awareness of reverence rules and laws. Some people aren’t aware of how to properly act in Church.

We need freedom of expression in liturgical preferences (stop suppressing the TLM [Traditional Latin Mass]; both NO [Novus Ordo Mass] and TLM can coexist).

other official Synod representatives met in Rome for the first session of the actual Synod in October 2023, and will meet again for their final session in October 2024. Finally, after the Synod on Synodality officially closes after its October 2024 session, the Synod Fathers and official representatives will then offer their findings and suggestions to the Holy Father, and ultimately the Holy Father will issue his “Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation”, which will be the official and binding decree from the Synod on Synodality. We should not expect that Exhortation until at least the late autumn of 2024, and more likely not until the winter or spring of 2025.

Under the direction of Bishop Kevin

Vann, the Diocese of Orange has been participating in this exciting global process of listening, discernment and “journeying together” since the beginning of the Synodal process. With other local churches throughout the world, we engaged in a thorough listening and discernment process from 2021-22, leading to a final report that we submitted to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in June 2022. Now, in advance of the October 2024 Synod session, the Holy See has asked that each local church conduct two to three additional “listening sessions” (at the discretion of the local Ordinary). Bishop Vann has mandated two additional listening

YOUNG ADULTS GATHERED FOR A SYNOD LISTENING SESSION ON FEB. 27 AT THE CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE LOCATED AT ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON CHURCH IN TURTLE ROCK. PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. WILLIAM GOLDIN

XOCHILTH AND EVELYN LOPEZ PARTICIPATE IN A SYNOD LISTENING SESSION WITH YOUNG ADULTS ON FEB. 27. PHOTO COURTESY OF UCI STUDENTS

FEATURE

sessions, and we are delighted by how those sessions have already begun.

On Tuesday evening, Feb. 27, at the Catholic Chaplaincy for the University of California, Irvine, located at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Turtle Rock, we held the first of these listening sessions with students from UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, and other young adult groups throughout the Diocese of Orange (such as Corazón Puro). With the assistance of Fr. Ben Tran and Fr. Abel Abuan, chaplains to UCI and CSUF, respectively, Katie Dawson, our diocesan coordinator of Parish Evangelization and

Faith Formation and co-coordinator of the Synod on Synodality in Orange, and Fr. William Goldin, parochial administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in La Habra and also co-coordinator of the Synod in Orange, were blessed to listen to the hopes and dreams, joys and triumphs, as well as the challenges and difficulties of these students and young adults. Suffice it to say, it was both an edifying and joyful experience for everyone involved, and we left with great hope knowing that the future of the Church is bright indeed.

In this article, we are pleased to share

CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

populations to preclinical Alzheimer’s disease trials

It is a success when priests are more available and accessible to the community.

We need more accessible confession times, more adoration, more Young Adult adoration and to build community from adoration.

Priests need to enforce the Liturgy better (they are educated but need to educate the laity better); for instance, [we need] to acknowledge that the Eucharist IS Jesus and you can’t receive if you’re not Catholic or if you’re in mortal sin.

We need more Eucharistic processions.

Procedures:

Eligible participants will take part in an interview that includes answering questions about their life and sharing opinions about enrolling in Alzheimer’s disease prevention trials.

Anticipated Benefits:

This study will help researchers improve the way that AD clinical trials are designed and performed.

Compensation:

$100 Amazon or Target gift card

Purpose of study:

This study aims to better understand how people make decisions about enrolling in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD) trials.

Eligibility:

You are eligible if you are between 55-85 years of age, willing to participate in a 90-minute interview, and can speak English, Spanish, Mandarin, or Korean.

Location:

Interviews can be completed in-person at UC Irvine, in-person in your home, or virtually using video conferencing.

Institution:

University of California Irvine, Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders

Lead Researcher: Joshua Grill, PhD

Other Researchers: Christian Salazar, PhD, MPH; Hye-Won Shin, PhD; Ruobing Li, MA; Marina Ritchie, MA; Megan Witbracht, PhD; Daniel Gillen, PhD

CARRYING OUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES TAUGHT AT CORNELIA CONNELLY

BY LOU PONSI

FOR ALMOST 60 YEARS, Cornelia Connelly High School (CCHS) in Anaheim educated and inspired young women to learn, grow spiritually and serve others.

So, when it was announced in October 2019 that declining enrollment, diminishing funds and mounting debt were forcing the all-girls Catholic school to close its doors after the 2019-20 school year, a group of alumnae wanted to ensure the Connelly spirit endures.

The Cornelia Connelly High School Alumnae Association was formed to provide a means for CCHS graduates, former students, teachers and administrators to organize reunions and serve the community.

“We found that there was a real desire to want to have that connection,” said Bev Locy Taylor, a 1977 CCHS graduate and co-president of the alumnae association. “There was such joy at that school and the sisters were amazing. They were great mentors and leaders for us. As women, they empowered us. They gave us good guidance to be able to go out to the world and become strong, empowered women. And I think most of the people will agree that what we want is to continue that spirit.”

Now almost a year old, the goal of the alumnae association is to be guided by Christian principles in all its activities.

“The kind of Catholic principles, Christian principles, that you were taught at Connelly,” Taylor said.

The alumnae association’s first event was an all-class reunion held in April 2023 at Mayfield High School in Pasadena. About 100 former Connelly students

attended.

Alumnae association members suggested that being a service should be driving factor in planning future events, Taylor said.

So, for the second event in January, the group met at Santa Margarita Catholic High School to craft no-sew blankets which were then donated to Foster Love, a Brea nonprofit that provides services and resource to youth in the foster care system.

The school was established in 1961 by the Sisters of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus and named after Cornelia Connelly, who founded the congregation in 1846.

Connelly, incidentally, has been proposed for sainthood in the Catholic Church. She was proclaimed as venerable by Pope John Paul II in 1992.

A formal alumnae association hadn’t existed prior to the school’s closure and there was little communication among former Connelly students, said 1994 graduate Lisa Pereda Butcher, who serves as co-president of the group, along with Taylor.

They reached out to the Society of

Holy Child Jesus, which provided contact information for Connelly graduates and organizers began reaching out.

“We’re civic-minded and very dutiful to our alma mater,” Butcher said. “We decided that we wanted to connect.”

Butcher and Taylor had already been friends from their involvement in the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus, Connelly’s governing agency body.

As the group grows and organizes,

MEMBERS OF THE CORNELIA CONNELLY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION MET AT SANTA MARGARITA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN JANUARY TO CRAFT NO-SEW BLANKETS WHICH WERE THEN DONATED TO FOSTER LOVE, A BREA NONPROFIT. PHOTOS BY LOU PONSI/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

THE CORNELIA CONNELLY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR GRADUATES, FORMER STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO REUNITE AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

A MEMBER OF THE CORNELIA CONNELLY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION CRAFTS A NO-SEW BLANKET FOR FOSTER LOVE, A BREA NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO YOUTH IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. PHOTO BY LOU PONSI/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

they plan to organize more service-oriented projects and be a resource for Connelly graduates to organize class reunions.

Alumnae association member Kathy Sprinkles attended Connolly in 1961, the year the school opened with only a freshman class.

Sprinkles attended for four years and became a member of the school’s first ever graduating class in 1965.

Join Franciscan Fr. Mario DiCicco for his 2024 Tours

Japan and Korea

A Far East Adventure • April 5-23

Exploring the Eastern Balkans: Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Prague, Budapest • May 15-31

Holy Land Pilgrimage • September 7-18 (My 48th year of leading pilgrims there)

The Silk Road

Exploring Central Asia • October 10-28

For a brochure, write or call:

Fr Mario DiCicco, O F.M.

110 West Madison St., Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 888-1331 • mmdicicco@gmail.com

website for brochure: FrMarioTours.weebly.com

& Awards

Monday, April 22, 2024

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CONNECTING GIRL SCOUTS WITH OUR CATHOLIC FAITH

SPOTLIGHT ON KATHLEEN HUE

BY MEG WATERS

GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD

winner Kathleen Hue literally learned the value of recycling at her mother’s knee. When she was a little girl, she and her mom, Sang Bui, would collect plastic water bottles and turn them in for cash at the recycling center. Then, they would enjoy ice cream with the proceeds, proving that good things come from recycling.

When it came time to pick a project for her Gold Award, Kathleen chose one aimed at children at the age she was when she first began to recycle.

“I wanted to teach young kids about recycling and the Three R’s – reduce, reuse and recycle,” said Hue. She worked out the program with her teachers at Irvine High School: Recycling from the Beginning.

Hue developed a variety of age-appropriate activities designed to reinforce the 3Rs concept. For example, for Reuse she taught the children how to repurpose newspapers by making Origami shapes. For Recycling, the students played a Bingo game where each square represented a different type of recyclable item. Finally, to illustrate how to Reduce waste, she gave the children a stack of photos to sort into piles for recycling, reusing or trash.

She offered the program at several local kindergarten through third grade schools in Irvine, including Village Montessori, Westpark Montessori and the IUSD Early Childhood Learning Center. The participants also decorated recycling bins at their school with stickers showing what should go into each container.

Hue is a junior at Irvine High School and attends St. John Neumann parish with her family. As part of her scouting experience, she also participates in a

Vikki Shepp, Ed.D., CEO of Girl Scouts of Orange County, is very familiar with the Catholic faith and its intersection with Girl Scout values; she formerly worked for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

County will participate in Mass on Saturday, March 16. The Mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. and presided over by Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen. An awards ceremony will follow until 7 p.m. at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove.

program called My Promise, My Faith. To earn a badge, the Girl Scout must find a story, song, poem or other teaching from their faith reflected in a Girl Scout law. Then, she interviews a woman who shares the faith and asks how the Girl Scouts law is also a part of her religious practice. Scouting encourages the girls to reinforce what they have learned through drawing, painting or posters.

Hue reinforces her Catholic faith and Girl Scout commitment by volunteering in the newborn unit at the Orange County Global Medical Center. She helps the nurses and the new mothers.

“There is a beautiful synergy between Catholic teaching and the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Girl Scouts are spiritual at our roots.”

She noted how well Hue’s project dovetails with the Girl Scout promise and Catholic social teaching.

“Caring for the environment is a tenant of Catholic Social Teaching, and Kathleen Hue’s Gold Award project connected that with Girl Scouts environmental and sustainability priorities. Girl Scouts strive to make the world a better place, and that includes protecting our natural resources.”

During Girl Scout Week, the Diocese of Orange and Girl Scouts of Orange

Girl Scouts of all ages and their families are invited to register to attend. The girls are asked to wear their Girl Scout uniform. All participants will receive a special blessing. Eligible Girl Scouts will receive earned faith awards and recognitions, including My Promise, My Faith Awards, OC Faith Award certificates, Catholic religious recognitions, and Gold Award Girl Scout recognition at the awards reception.

Families are encouraged to enjoy this event together.

To register to attend the Diocesan Girl Scout Mass & Awards Reception, visit girlscoutsoc.org under Diocesan Girl Scout Mass.C

KATHLEEN HUE. PHOTOS COURTESY OF GIRL SCOUTS OF ORANGE COUNTY

FOR HER GOLD AWARD PROJECT, GIRL SCOUT KATHLEEN HUE TAUGHT YOUNG STUDENTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RECYCLING.

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some of the quotes from that evening, to let these students and young adults speak for themselves.

Our next Synodal listening session will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Fullerton on March 11 at 7 p.m. To register for that session, please scan the QR code at the right. C

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LENTEN FISH FRIES BRING PARISH FAMILIES TOGETHER

BY RON KUZLIK

FRIDAY EVENING FISH fries during Lent have become a staple for many Catholic parishes.

It all started prior to the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), convened by Pope John XXIII, when the Church had in place various and rather rigorous fasting and abstinence requirements, including the refraining from eating meat on all Fridays, based upon Scripture.

There were a large number of immigrants from Poland, Germany and other Central European counties that migrated to the Midwest of the United States in the 19th Century. Because of the proximity to the Great Lakes and a number of other freshwater lakes, eating fish became an alternative to meatless Fridays.

With that, the Lenten Fish Fry was born.

Over time, these Midwesterners began to disperse and settle in other parts of the county, notably in the south and southwestern regions of the United States. And with them, they brought along the tradition of Lenten Fish Fries.

After the completion of the Second Vatican Council, some of the former fasting and abstinence restrictions were loosened. But both were still mandated

for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and abstinence still required on all Fridays of Lent.

On the menu is usually a selection of fried fish, shrimp, or even salmon accompanied by sides such as French fries, coleslaw, salads or macaroni and cheese. And, influenced by the Hispanic community in Southern California, some local fish fries even feature fish tacos on the menu.

Some Lenten fish fries are held at Knights of Columbus clubs, but mostly at local church parish halls either alone or with other service organizations. Depending on the venue, there might be several dozen people to as many as 200 or 300 attendees.

The fish fries serve to bring the parish family together and build community.

Furthermore, the monies raised at the Knights of Columbus sponsored fish fries benefit community initiatives and other local service projects.

During a recent Lenten Fish Fry at San

Antonio de Padua Catholic Church in Anaheim Hills, Knights of Columbus Council #9195 Past Grand Knight Mark Thornburg explained, “The proceeds go to the Council donations account and are further distributed to organizations that assist the homeless, right to life homes, mothers and young babies as well as parishioners that may have fallen on hard times.”

The success of the fish fries is dependent upon a team of volunteers who purchase the food, set up the parish hall, cook and serve guests and do the after-event cleanup.

Alexis Gabbour, 16, a parishioner at San Antonio de Padua, was one of those 35 volunteers at the first fish fry of this Lenten season.

“I’ve been going here since I was a little kid,” Gabbour said. “It’s a good way to get close to other people and it helps other people who need help. I’ll keep doing this for years to come!”

On a side note, it has been reported

that Catholics are responsible, at least in part, for McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwich — a very unusually popular menu item at a fast-food restaurant known for its burgers.

When franchise owner Lou Groen opened the first McDonald’s in the Cincinnati area in 1959, a majority of the people in the area were Catholic.

Although his new restaurant was an immediate success, he noticed that on Fridays his sales dropped significantly.

Why? Perhaps it was because of the Catholic Church’s restriction about eating meat on Fridays.

Groen introduced the Filet-O-Fish sandwich in 1962.

Fast forward to the present day, over 300 million Filet-O-Fish sandwiches are reportedly sold each year and nearly a quarter of all of McDonald’s sales of FiletO-Fish sandwiches are during Lent.

Check with your local parish or Knights of Columbus council for the schedule of local Lenten Fish Fries. C

VOLUNTEERS PREPARE FRIED SHRIMP FOR SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH’S LENTEN FISH FRY. PHOTOS BY STEVE GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

A VOLUNTEER READIES DINNER FOR GUESTS OF SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH’S LENTEN FISH FRY.

A VOLUNTEER SERVES DINNER TO GUESTS OF SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH’S RECENT LENTEN FISH FRY.

OC Catholic Afar

Araceli Arenas-Rosas and Monica Ruiz caught up on their OC Catholic reading during Los Angeles Religious Education Congress held Feb. 15-19 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Araceli is with the Office of Evangelization and Faith Formation for the Diocese of Orange and Monica is with the Diocese’s Office of Family Life.

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