MARCH 14, 2021
TAKING THE NEXT STEP
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THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ORANGE n OCCATHOLIC.COM
ANSWERING THE CALL THE PASTORAL SERVICES APPEAL CONTINUES TO HELP THE DIOCESE SERVE THE FAITHFUL DURING CHALLENGING TIMES. PAGE 8
THE CANTLAY FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN SANTA ANA IS SUPPORTED BY CATHOLIC CHARITIES, WHICH IS PARTIALLY FUNDED THROUGH THE PSA. PHOTO :CHALLENGE RODDIE
MARCH 14, 2021
CONTENTS
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THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL CHOICE
Local Catholic Schools have reported a boost to enrollment numbers in the past year.
LEND A HAND
With volunteer opportunities becoming limited, local organizations are calling on supporters to help in other ways.
‘WALKING WITH CHRIST’ VIDEO SERIES
Catholic Charities of Orange County adapts its annual fundraiser to a digital video series.
PLUS
Guest Column, Weekly Readings, Moments In Our Journey
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: Tracey Kincaid, tkincaid@rcbo.org Editor: Kimberly Porrazzo, webeditor@occatholic.com New Ideas: storyideas@rcbo.org Delivery Problems: occatholicsupport@occatholic.com
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SCNG CUSTOM CONTENT Managing Editor: Caitlin Adams
Art Director: Fernando M. Donado
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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GUEST COLUMN
BASEBALL IS (CATHOLIC) LIFE BY FATHER RICHARD MALLOY, SJ, CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
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EBRUARY, A COLD and snowy season. An old Jesuit once told me, “February is the longest month.” But good news! Pitchers and catchers are reporting to Florida. Once again, spring training begins! Prediction: Phillies win World Series 2021! OK, some ideas can sound crazy, but like the little kid in “Angels in the Outfield” kept saying, “It could happen.” Sidenote, that story was written by a Jesuit priest in Scranton in the 1940s. The 1951 black and white version got remade with Danny Glover in the 1994.
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As baseball begins, we celebrate Black History Month. Remember the greatness of Jackie Robinson. Ken Burns’ “Baseball” honors Robinson’s dignity, courage, fortitude and tenacity. A star athlete in four sports at UCLA, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army. At Fort Hood, Texas, he refused to sit in the back of a segregated bus and was court-martialed but eventually exonerated. He began playing for the Dodgers in 1947. He was 28. Maybe his maturity helped him endure horrible racist taunts (the Phillies’ racist insults were the worst). Imagine what records he would hold if he had begun in the majors when he was 21.
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PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS
GOD’S MERCY
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HE FIRST READING FROM the second book of Chronicles contains a sort of “mini-history” of Israel. It highlights God’s mercies in choosing Cyrus the Persian to be an instrument of deliverance when the people were in captivity in Babylon. Despite their sinfulness and the deserved punishment they were undergoing, God’s mercy was lavished on the people in the form of a miraculous act of liberation. The Letter to the Ephesians, in much more theological terms, gives a similar account of a God “who brought us to life with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” The author stresses that it was when we were “dead in our transgressions” that God saved us, an act of pure grace. He emphasizes that it is not our own efforts that freed us from sin (“this is not from you”); rather, “it is the gift of God.” This, of course, is the heart of the entire Pauline corpus, that salvation comes to us by faith in God’s mercy, revealed in the death of Jesus. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. C
When we “turn away, he comes looking for us … He waits for us with open arms.” - Pope Francis
MATILDA
SAINT PROFILE
892-968
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IFE OF GERMAN KING HENRY I, Matilda was the mother of Emperor Otto I and St. Bruno, archbishop of Cologne. During a 32-year widowhood, this devout queen endured ill-treatment by sons Otto and Henry, who vied for power and complained of her almsgiving to the poor and religious communities she founded. By the time of her death, Matilda had given away everything but her own burial sheet. She was venerated immediately and often is pictured holding a church or bag of money.C
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
IS 65:17-21; PS 30:2, 4-6, 11-13B; JN 4:43-54
EZ 47:1-9, 12; PS 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; JN 5:1-16
IS 49:8-15; PS 145:8-9, 13CD-14, 17-18; JN 5:17-30
EX 32:7-14; PS 106:19-23; JN 5:31-47
GN 37:3-4, 1213A, 17B-28A; PS 105:16-21; MT 21:33-43, 45-46
JER 11:18-20; PS 7:2-3, 9BC-12; JN 7:40-53
JER 31:31-34; PS 51:3-4, 12-15; HEB 5:7-9; JN 12:20-33
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FEATURE
THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL CHOICE
LOCAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT SEES A BUMP IN THE PAST YEAR BY JENELYN RUSSO
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HE COVID-19 PANDEMIC has challenged every aspect of how education is delivered, and for the Diocese of Orange Catholic schools, this season of change has produced a positive trend – an increase in students across nearly all school sites, slowing down a steady decline in enrollment seen system-wide in recent years. Even prior to the pandemic, diocesan schools saw an uptick in enrollment in the second half of the 2019-2020 school year, closing the gap on previous annual losses of approximately 500 students to only an estimated 200 students, as shared by Diocese of Orange Catholic Schools Associate Superintendent of Marketing and Enrollment, Mike Schabert. But then in March of 2020, COVID-19 forced school closures across the country. While Orange County Catholic schools quickly pivoted to a robust distance learning solution, the uncertainty of the new school year in California kept many families from committing for the fall. Enrollment numbers in August 2020 were more than 1,000 students less than the September 2019 census. Some good news emerged in that same month when a waiver process was offered by the Orange County Health Care Agency that allowed county elementary schools to offer in-person instruction with certain safety protocols in place. Every elementary school site within the Diocese of Orange received the waiver and began the school year by welcoming students back to campus. As a result, the September 2020 census recorded an increase of nearly 450 stu-
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CLASSROOM SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE AT MISSION BASILICA SCHOOL IN SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. PHOTO COURTESY OF MISSION BASILICA SCHOOL.
dents within a one-month span. A steady stream of new families has enrolled since September, with the system adding as many as 20-30 students each week. Between August 13, 2020 and March 1, 2021, enrollment was up a total of 864 students, and the numbers continue to rise. While waivers have played a large role in these increases, the Diocese of Orange has also provided significant support through financial resources, digital marketing campaigns and professional development classes that have helped the schools to navigate the quickly changing education landscape. Additionally, each school site is uniquely addressing the needs of their families and providing creative solutions that have produced positive results. Back in January of 2020, St. Joachim Catholic School in Costa Mesa hired a marketing director to help bolster the school’s presence in the community. The efforts led to increased enrollment over
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the summer, before it was even known if returning to in-person instruction was an option. Once St. Joachim received its waiver, and it was announced that surrounding area public schools would start the year in distance learning, the school saw a spike in enrollment and continues to add students, an additional 32 since August with more than 80 students on a waiting list for next year. “I think it’s a testament to what we offer in a Catholic school,” says St. Joachim Principal Lisa Gilbert, “and now they know because they are here.” At St. Hedwig Catholic School in Los Alamitos, there was some concern last August when neighboring Los Alamitos Unified received the county’s only public school district waiver. But effective word-of-mouth marketing by St. Hedwig families, combined with the continued closure of public schools in nearby Long Beach, have led to 52 new students since August,
prompting the school to open an additional first grade class and hire a parttime admissions manager. “Our families and our school community recognize how we are prioritizing their needs,” says St. Hedwig Principal Erin Rucker. “If parents feel safe and have that connection with teachers, then that’s what’s going to drive more people to come here.” A strong reputation in the community and a commitment to maintaining connections with families are what have helped St. Bonaventure Catholic School add 56 students since August. The school also offers a virtual synchronous learning track that features robot technology and allows for student body growth without impact to physical space. “It’s about education and the invitation,” says St. Bonaventure Principal Kim White. “You always have to have that invitation open in a welcoming way…and there’s nothing more sweet CONTINUES ON PAGE 7
FEATURE / CATHOLIC FAMILY LIVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
than seeing someone take you up on that invitation.” In San Clemente, Our Lady of Fatima Academy Principal Elizabeth Gosnell has made a concerted effort to reach out to parish families as a way of addressing declining enrollment. Visiting VBS and offering a financial incentive to current school families for referrals, alongside a successful distance-learning transition in the spring, resulted in significant student increases over the summer before the waiver option was announced. The school has added 31 students since August. “That summer enrollment (increase) was just on the fact that our online instruction was so much stronger than the local public schools,” says Gosnell. At the high school level, Rosary Academy has seen an increase of nearly 100 students since the September 2018 census, and while half came from the closing of Cornelia Connelly High School last June, Rosary hired an outreach coordinator who has expanded their Future Royal program, introducing more elementary-aged girls to the benefits of an all-girls high school education. “Once they come on to campus and meet one of our students, they tend to get more excited about the school,” says Rosary Head of School Shawna Pautsch. “Using our student ambassadors really helps in telling our story.” While each school’s approach to growth may be slightly different, the common thread is that Orange County Catholic schools are meeting the needs of their families, and as a result, expanding their school communities. “It is a beautiful thing to be a part of as our ministry…to spread Catholic education and bring people closer to God,” says St. Bonaventure Director of Marketing and Enrollment Vanessa Frei. “It’s just been a wonderful thing to see happen.” C
LEND A HAND
WE SURVIVED AND THRIVE, THANKS TO OUR INTERCONNECTEDNESS BY CATHI DOUGLAS
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S OUR CHURCHES carefully begin opening their doors once more with limited capacity, the post-pandemic landscape looks much different than it did a year ago when the coronavirus first hit. Still, many local parish churches, the Diocese of Orange, and various nonprofit Catholic and community organizations – all of which experienced crippling layoffs during the last year – have acute, persistent needs for in-person, virtual, and telephone volunteers. Orange County Catholics who want to volunteer are asked to call their pastors to determine local parish needs for donations and virtual or in-person assistance. Virtual and phone efforts may take the form of prayers, solicitations for monetary support, calls to parishioners, or other assistance. Catholic Workers’ Isaiah House welcomes donations of cash, gift cards for grocery stores, non-perishable food, hygiene items for both men and women, and medicine, cleaning products, and household supplies, says Director Dwight Smith. See details at occatholicworker.org. Many parishes, including Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, operate food banks and pantries and need in-person volunteers who can pack and load grocery bags. St. Vincent de Paul organizations based in local parishes need cash donations as well as volunteers who can deliver groceries to homebound and
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
underprivileged clients. At St. Joseph Church in Placentia and St. Norbert Church in Orange, telephone volunteers are calling parishioners both to check in and to provide referrals for services. Many Diocese of Orange ministries need volunteers who will commit to serving long-term, both virtually and in person. Dr. Louise Dunn, who directs the New Hope Crisis Counseling Line, always needs volunteers to answer telephone hotline calls and provides one-on-one training year-round. “This is a volunteer opportunity for adult individuals who want to make an ongoing commitment,” says Dr. Dunn. The hotline, a program of Catholic Charities of Orange County, has provided crisis intervention and suicide prevention since 1968 to people around the world. All of the crisis workers are volunteers who have completed an intensive training program of peer counseling. For more, visit rcbo.org/directory/new-hope-crisis-counseling-hotline/. Linda Ji, director of the Office for Family Life at the diocesan Pastoral Center, says the Hope & Healing After Abortion companion ministry, like other ministries, has broadened to include virtual or phone meetings during the pandemic, with plans to return to in-person ministry when the
pandemic recedes. Volunteers help with Sunday liturgy and Wednesday evening Bible study at juvenile detention facilities, says Fred LaPuzza, director of the diocese’s Office of Restorative Justice, as well as assisting with liturgy and Bible study at adult detention facilities. Volunteers also delivered goodies and provided caroling during the Christmas holidays. For details, visit rcbo.org/group/restore/. Volunteermatch.org offers a list of virtual volunteering opportunities in Southern California and beyond. OneOC.org is in urgent need of volunteers to support Orange County and local nonprofit organizations, including Operation Independence and the Emergency Volunteer Center. Catholic Charities of Orange County (ccoc.org) always needs volunteers, including in-person support, for the Cantlay Center food bank. Mary’s Kitchen in Orange – which offers clothing, food, and respite to the homeless – consistently needs in-person volunteers to serve, support, and assist clients. In addition, mental health organizations like NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, provide counseling, rehabilitation, and other support for those with mental illness and their families and friends. NAMI Orange County, at namioc.org, offers a crisis hotline and invites volunteers. C
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FEATURE
ANSWERING THE CALL THE PASTORAL SERVICES APPEAL CONTINUES TO HELP THE DIOCESE SERVE THE FAITHFUL DURING CHALLENGING TIMES BY LARRY URISH
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HE YEAR 2020 WAS LIKE no other. A pandemic stunned the world with a host of medical, social and economic challenges. The Diocese of Orange, not immune to COVID-19’s effects, had to pivot quickly, adjusting its many programs and services to face a new, uncertain reality. Despite these challenges, last year the Diocese and local parishes stepped up to provide support to the faithful and to the wider community, thanks in large part to those who gave generously to the Pastoral Services Appeal (PSA), the Diocese’s annual fundraising initiative that in 2020 raised over $10.2 million. “If we think back on how much the pandemic shut things down midway through 2020, it’s remarkable to see how much didn’t shut down throughout the Diocese,” says Ian Rangel, the Diocese’s PSA and Fund Development Director. “What we saw was a beautiful witness of our faith in action, only made possible by the generosity of so many.” The PSA is unique in that donations fund both Diocesan ministries and other programs, while helping every local parish. “It’s an opportunity for supporters to make a difference for someone living a community/city over, while also helping someone sitting [with them] in their parish,” Rangel says.
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PHOTO COURTESY DIOCESE OF ORANGE
Along with formation for clergy and seminarians alike, PSA funding supports the outreach arms of the Diocese, among other programs. One such organization, Catholic Charities, is more critical than ever in today’s uncertain times. “As we’ve worked through this pandemic this past year, we’ve had to adjust how we deliver our services,” says Ellen Roy, executive director of Catholic Charities of Orange County. “The dollars we get from the PSA … is the gas that keeps us going. Every day there are people at our doors who are in dire
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need of help. Because of the contributions, we’re able to help these people and make their lives a little brighter.” Beginning last year, and moving forward, all PSA efforts will remain aligned with Bishop Kevin Vann’s Diocesan Strategic Plan. “A significant focus within the Strategic Plan [involves] utilizing resources in a way that allowed for the greatest reinvestment of focus and funds to the ministry work of the Diocese,” Rangel says. “Our administration of the PSA this past year was a wonderful example of this coming into form. Not only were we able to
greatly reduce the expenses related to administering the appeal – over 40 percent, year-over-year – we were able to reallocate those savings directly to the ministries supported by the appeal.” New this year is a PSA fund set aside for retired priests. “Our donors get to say thank you to these men of God who have spent their lives dedicated to the faith,” Rangel says. Deacon Bill Weeks, who serves at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Tustin, concurs: “Our priests work around the clock,” he says. “It’s about time that we CONTINUES ON PAGE 9
SOCIAL MEDIA / FEATURE orangediocese • follow March 5, 2021 orangediocese Fr. Al Baca’s weekly reflection for the week of March 3, 2021. #OCCatholic
MONSIGNOR KERRY BEAULIEU, FORMER PASTOR OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS CHURCH IN NEWPORT BEACH, IS A RETIRED PRIEST IN THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE. PHOTO COURTESY THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
orangediocese • follow March 5, 2021 orangediocese Catholic Charities of Orange County will be hosting an 8-episode video series during Holy Week (March 27-April 3, 2021). Walk with us as we present the Stations of the Cross and the stories of struggle and joy that families and individuals have faced during this pandemic. For more info, visit https:// ccoc.org/events/walking-withchrist.
To report sexual abuse by clergy or church personnel please call: 1 (800) 364–3064 Healing and Hope After Abortion: 1 (800) 722–4356 New Hope Crisis Counseling Hot Line (24/7): 1 (714) NEW–HOPE or 1 (714) 639–4673
more directly support our priests in their retirement years.” St. Cecilia’s is one of the many local parishes that benefit year in and year out from the PSA. More than $3.7 million (roughly 37 percent) of the total funds raised in 2020, a huge assistance in the form of surplus funding, was given back to the parishes. In the spirit of Catholic giving, some parishes designate a percentage of their surplus money to parishes in economically disadvantaged communities, notes Rangel. Deacon Bill is grateful for what the Pastoral Services Appeal has meant to his parish. “We have a five-year plan to add a meeting and a spirituality center, as well as expanded offices, and remodel our parish hall,” he says. “The PSA has been fantastic. It’s instrumental because all of our [surplus] rebates have been used for this.” Deacon Bill adds that parishioners have been extremely generous through the years, particularly in 2020, knowing that their donations serve more than their parish. Formation is but one example. “It’s been phenomenal to see how our parish supports the PSA.
Parishioners have been pleased with how the dollars go to form clergy, to educate them and develop them for the ministries of the Diocese.” The first phase of St. Cecilia’s new meeting and spirituality center will begin in a few months. “We look forward to breaking ground in May,” Deacon Bill says. “It wouldn’t have been possible without the PSA. We’re all so thankful. Our dream is being realized because of this.” Along with funding to support 44 retired diocesan priests, this year’s PSA will provide formation for 24 seminarians, ongoing education for clergy and deacons, support services for more than 342,000 families through Catholic Charities, education and learning supporting to more than 17,000 families through the Diocese’s Catholic schools, and much more. Those who wish to give to the 2021 Pastoral Services Appeal can do so through their local parish or by visiting rcbo.org/psa. “Look at all the benefits and the thousands of people who are being helped by this appeal,” Deacon Bill says. “I’ve seen it here, in action, alive and well at our parish.” C
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DIOCESAN NEWS
LENTEN FISH FRY DINNERS EASILY AVAILABLE AT ST. IRENAEUS BY IRV CUEVAS
D DORIS AUSMAN, A ST. IRENAEUS PARISHIONER FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, IS SERVED TWO OF THE FIRST FRIDAY FISH FRY MEALS BY K OF C GRAND KNIGHT RICK TKACH ON FEBRUARY 19TH. PHOTO: IRV CUEVAS
UE TO POPULAR DEMAND, Friday Fish Fry dinners at St. Irenaeus parish in Cypress now include walkup service, along with drive-thru style sevice, thanks to the Cypress Knights of Columbus Council 8599. The expanded service, with COVID-19 health and safety protocols in place, continues on consecutive Fridays through March 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the St. Irenaeus Parish Hall. Reservations are encouraged, but not required, and prepaid tickets are not needed. However, tickets can be purchased outside the St. Irenaeus School
flagpole after Saturday and Sunday Masses through March 21. The cost of a full dinner of fish & chips, served with cole slaw, is just $8 for adults and $6 for children. Or, as an alternative to fish, two slices of cheese pizza are available for just $5. Everyone is invited to pick up a delicious dinner and let someone else do the cooking for you. St. Irenaeus Catholic Church is located at 5201 Evergreen Ave. between Lincoln and Orange, on Grindlay. For further details, contact K of C Grand Knight Rick Tkach at 714-829-7289. Proceeds benefit a number of local community and parish organizations helping those in need. C
ST. JOSEPH CANDLES HONOR ST. JOSEPH IN YOUR OWN HOME WITH A SPECIAL CANDLE BY STAFF
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O HELP CELEBRATE THE Year of St. Joseph, the Diocese of Orange Office for Evangelization and Faith Formation has partnered with Trinity West Liturgical Supply to create a special St. Joseph Candle. The back of the candle is printed with the prayer to St. Joseph, presented in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Korean. Fr. Al Baca, director of Evangelization and Faith Formation for the diocese, said, “Along with the many ways that St. Joseph is being celebrated in this year dedicated to him, we thought it would be beautiful to create a candle that would carry his picture and the prayer the Holy Father had chosen. We then translated that prayer into the four significant languages of our diocese. We hope these candles, purchased in our parishes, will become powerful instruments of prayer in our homes.” St. Joseph candles can be purchased from participating parishes. C
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ST. JOSEPH CANDLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THROUGH YOUR PARISH. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
DIOCESAN NEWS
‘WALKING WITH CHRIST’ VIDEO SERIES BY STAFF
F SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CHURCH IN RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA. PHOTO COURTESY OF SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CHURCH.
LENTEN HOPE SERIES BY STAFF
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AN FRANCISCO SOLANO Parish in Rancho Santa Margarita is concluding its Lenten Hope Series on March 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and invites all to attend, either in person or via livestream on YouTube.
Featured in the final session is guest speaker David Calavitta, on the topic “Become Hope.” The church’s website says this of the session: “Our world needs hope. We have the very hope that people are seeking - Jesus Christ. As the Church, we are called to be that hope for others outside the Church’s walls. To be and give hope to our families, friends,
coworkers, strangers, and all those we encounter.” Previous speakers spoke on “BELONG TO HOPE” and “BELIEVE IN HOPE.” San Francisco Solano is located at 22082 Antonio Parkway in Rancho Santa Margarita, 92688. Learn more at solanocatholic.org/Hope-Series C
OR YEARS CATHOLIC Charities of Orange County has produced the Mardi Gras Gala event, a fundraiser to support the nonprofit’s initiatives. This year, due to the pandemic, the organization is taking its fundraiser online with a Lenten video series titled “Walking with Christ.” The 8-episode series will be shown online during Holy Week (March 27 through April 3). Catholic Charities says: “Walk with us as we present the Stations of the Cross and the stories of struggle and joy that families and individuals have faced during this pandemic. We want to invite you to journey with us and experience Catholic Charities at work.” This video series will be released across all of Catholic Charities’ social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. Sponsorship opportunities are available and all are invited to attend and support the event financially by texting the key word “wwchrist” to 41444. For more information: https://ccoc. org/events/walking-with-christ C
THE SOLEMNITY OF ST. JOSEPH We honor St. Joseph, Spouse of the Virgin Mary, on March 19, which falls on a Friday this year. Canon 1251 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law foresees every Friday as a day of abstinence, with the exception of when a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Since St. Joseph’s Day is celebrated as a solemnity (and even if it is not a Holy Day of Obligation in the United States), by virtue of the law itself, the faithful are encouraged to, but are not required to abstain from meat on Friday, March 19, 2021. C
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CATHOLIC SCHOOL NEWS
LOVE ON DISPLAY BY STAFF
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HE STUDENTS AT St. Columban
Catholic School are finding creative ways to connect with their local community in Garden Grove. For Valentine’s Day the student council reached out to Mary McGary, activities director for Brookdale Senior Living in Garden Grove to ask if they could make Valentine cards for the seniors and staff. With the help of children in preschool through 8th grade, St. Columban students handmade over 130 cards to be given out on Valentine’s Day at the senior center. “It’s such a simple yet compassionate thing to send a card to a local senior who may be feeling especially lonely and isolated during the pandemic,” said the school’s representative, Nicole Ambata, “but to that senior, it may make his or her day!” C
ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR MARY MCGARY AND MISS MARY GIVING AN “AIR HUG” TO STUDENTS AT ST. COLUMBAN. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. COLUMBAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL
This Lent, Help Give Her Hope Middle East Christians Endowment q A donation to the: q A gift in my will
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Thousands of the poor in Armenia are struggling to survive a brutal winter and the COVID-19 pandemic. You can be their lifeline. 14769 __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________
Join Catholic Near East Welfare Association, CNEWA, and help us share the love of Jesus with so many in need. “May these, the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters living in the cities and peripheries of every part of the world, not be abandoned.” – Pope Francis, Easter Sunday (12 April 2020)
Charity Navigator, America’s foremost independent charity evaluator, has awarded CNEWA its highest rating. It’s a distinction given only to a charity that’s “exceptional,” “financially healthy, accountable and transparent,” and “exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause.”
Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) is a special papal agency created by Pope Pius XI in 1926 to support the Eastern churches in their service to people in need throughout the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe.
ABOUT CNEWA
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Save the Poor During the Pandemic 92-year old Seda has struggled with heartache and poverty all her life. Since her church’s Day Care Center for Seniors in Armenia closed down because of COVID-19, she lives in fear. More than ever, she needs access to food and comfort. She, and thousands like her, are struggling to secure food as it is not only difficult but also a dangerous task for the elderly and people with chronic diseases — who are the most susceptible to COVID-19. They need your help!
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a papal agency for humanitarian and pastoral support 1011 First Avenue, New York, NY 10022-4195 | 1-800-442-6392 | www.cnewa.org
CATHOLIC SCHOOL NEWS
TAKING THE NEXT STEP SMCHS AND SERVITE SEE A TOTAL OF 17 STUDENT-ATHLETES SIGN LETTERS OF INTENT BY JENELYN RUSSO
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VEN AS MOST HIGH SCHOOL sports are just now returning to play, Orange County Catholic high schools took time on February 3, 2021, to safely honor their senior athletes who have made commitments to continue their athletic pursuits at the collegiate level. Santa Margarita Catholic High School saw six of its athletes from two sports programs sign to continue their playing careers. From the gridiron, three-year varsity offensive tackle Zack Morris will be playing football at the Colorado School of Mines. Three-year varsity player and 2019 1st Team All-Trinity League linebacker Drew Sulick has committed to continuing his football career at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Keanu Rebuldela-Kama is headed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The Eagles’ soccer program saw three athletes make college commitments. Three-year varsity midfielder and 2020 All-Trinity League honoree Connor Mautino will be playing for Lake Erie College. Two-time Trinity League champion Lauren Epping is headed to Chapman University, and two-time captain and Eagle Award recipient Taylor McKindley has signed with Allegheny College. “We are so proud to share in the excitement of our student athletes’ great achievements,” says Santa Margarita Athletic Director Annie Garrett. “Maintaining academic and athletic excellence during a global pandemic is no small feat. We are truly grateful to have excep-
COURTESY OF SANTA MARGARITA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
COURTESY OF SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL
tional student athletes and families, and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors.” At Servite High School, 11 Friar seniors were honored across four sports, including six football players. Two-time 1st Team All-Trinity League cornerback Noah Avinger will be continuing his playing career at San Diego State University. Three-year varsity defensive back Nick Jako has signed with Davidson College. Friars’ safety Jack Kane is headed to Oregon State University. Three-year varsity letterman Bryce Leos has committed to Colby College. Offensive lineman Shancco Matautia will be playing for University of New Mexico, and Friars’ punter Kevin Ryan signed to play for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
“We are excited for our six senior student athletes who signed…with a big emphasis on the ‘student’ for all of them,” says Servite football Head Coach Troy Thomas. “They all carried a heavy academic load with success, as you can tell by the colleges and universities they will be attending. All six were multisport athletes contributing in basketball, rugby, wrestling, swimming, baseball, lacrosse or track in their off-seasons away from the gridiron.” From the baseball diamond, pitcher Ben Miltko will be joining Jako at Davidson College, and pitcher Brady Childs signed with Drury University. Lacrosse team captain and two-year varsity player Nick Sheremetta has committed to Bellarmine University. Teammate Evan
Watanabe will be playing lacrosse for North Central College in Illinois. And Christian Hodson, who helped lead the Friars’ soccer program to a CIF-SS championship in 2020, will be playing for Point Loma Nazarene University. “In a year like no other, these student athletes truly showed resilience and determination in accomplishing their goals,” says Servite Athletic Director Alan Clinton. “They overcame every obstacle in their path and turned their dreams into reality. We are extremely proud of how they’ve represented themselves, their families and the Servite community, and look forward to cheering them on as they continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level.” C
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Without Jackie Robinson, the civil rights movement might never have happened. He strongly supported the cause. We also mourn the death of Hank Aaron, the greatest home run hitter of all time. In 1974, he hit number 715, breaking Babe Ruth’s record of 714. At the time, many did not know of the horrific racial slurs and death threats directed at him as he approached Ruth’s mark. The pressure and pain of those death threats directed at him, his family and even sports writers who admired him, marked Aaron for life. Still, he bore it all with courage and grace. His 755 homers is the true home run record. He’s the all-time leader in RBIs (2,297) and total bases (6,856). Only two players have more hits than Aaron’s 3,371, and only 32 players overall have 3,000 hits. Only six players have 3,000 hits and over 500 home runs. For Catholics, it is interesting to note that in 1959, after a few years in the majors, Aaron and his family joined the Catholic Church. Father Michael Sablica’s witness as an early pioneer for racial justice in Milwaukee attracted Aaron. In his locker, Hammerin’ Hank kept a copy of “The Imitation of Christ,” the classic spiritual book by Thomas a Kempis. He also liked Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s “The Life of Christ.” As we move into Lent and prepare to relive the passion and resurrection of Our Lord, and as we continue to suffer through COVID-19, let’s learn lessons
from baseball. George Carlin famously compared baseball to football. Football is filled with military metaphors: throw the bomb; crush your opponent, get into the end zone. Baseball is played in a park, and the point of it all is to get home. Baseball is a game of numerous small tasks, all contributing to the game and all on display for all to see. Our service as disciples of Jesus is seen by God. The very Eucharist we celebrate is highly marked by various roles, and each much contribute to the act of worship. The Easter triduum is the Super Bowl and World Series all rolled into one. In some ways, it is the real March Madness, a three-day culmination of the 40 days of Lent. Like the long baseball season, Lent prepares us to encounter the Lord on Easter Sunday. The weeks afterward are like the parades and parties in Philly after the 2008 World Series. Founded in 1883, the Phillies have won it all twice. Only two times in 137 years. Lent is a time of repentance, a metanoia, a change of thinking. To be a Phillies fan is to incarnate the reality of hope triumphing over experience, to turn from sins, like the sin of racism, and be saved. The cross demonstrates that life will triumph over death, that our hopes for justice, for a new heaven and a new earth, will be fulfilled (2 Pt 3:13). As the little kid in “Angels in the Outfield” said, it not only “could happen.” It already has happened. C
Moments MomentsininourourJourney Journey
Father Christopher Smith, rector at Christ Cathedral, filming inside the cathedral for “American Built,” to be aired on Fox Business channel. The documentary will feature architectural icons, including our own Christ Cathedral. —Submitted by Bradley Zint
Send your photos that capture Catholic life in your parish community to: webeditor@occatholic.com
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