OC CATHOLIC - APRIL 14, 2024

FEED ON THE WORD

APRIL 14, 2024 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.

RELIGIOUS ART

“THE PAINTING: A PAPER MOSAIC”

“This year I set out to create a visual expression of the Gift of the Eucharist. Small even tiny pieces of paper of all shapes represent us as The Body of Christ. A deep rich purple watercolor reminds us of the Blood of Christ. Four simple lines represent the beams of the Cross. Transparent pieces of golden paper surround the host indicating Christ as center of our life. The Presence of Christ, our King, translates into an array of gold with the use of lines extending beyond the host. Finally, Words represent the gentle command of Christ with our humbling response.”

—Francisca (artist), Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in La Habra C

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY

ACTS 6:8-15; 119:23-24, 2627, 29-30; JN 6:22-29

“

A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.”

— Pope Francis

SAINT PROFILE

BLESSED PETER GONZALEZ

1190-1246

HIS UNCLE, THE BISHOP of Astorga in Castile, Spain, appointed Blessed Peter as a cathedral canon, even though he was under age. Swollen with pride, Peter rode jauntily through the city until his horse dumped him. The crowd's jeers prompted him to reconsider his situation. And later he joined the Dominicans. Impressed by Peter's strong preaching gift, Ferdinand III of Castile retained him as chaplain. When the king warred against the Moors, Peter accompanied the army and worked to restrain their pillaging and violence. Then he retired from the court to spend the rest of his life preaching the good news in the rural areas of northwest Spain. When our pride dumps us down, we will do well to imitate Blessed Peter's humility.

TUESDAY

ACTS 7:51—8:1A; PS 31:3CD-4, 6 AND 7B AND 8A, 17 AND 21AB; JN 6:30-35

WEDNESDAY

ACTS 8:1B-8; PS 66:1-3A, 4-5, 6-7A; JN 6:35-40

THURSDAY

ACTS 8:26-40; PS 66:8-9, 16-17, 20; JN 6:44-51

FRIDAY

ACTS 9:1-20; PS 117:1BC, 2; JN 6:52-59

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

SATURDAY SUNDAY

ACTS 9:31-42; PS 116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17; JN 6:60-69

ACTS 4:8-12; PS 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29; 1 JN 3:1-2; JN 10:11-18

PHOTO BY JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

FEED ON THE WORD

CATHOLIC COUPLE’S LOCAL BUSINESS IS A FULFILLING ENDEAVOR

BY LOU PONSI

AS A RECENTLY MARRIED Catholic couple, Bailey and Jacob (Jake) Sparks were committed to starting a family.

Both enjoyed fulfilling careers, Jake as a commercial real estate advisor and analyst and Bailey as a conference manager for the Napa Institute, a Catholic nonprofit that unites and empowers business leaders through the pillars of formation, community and liturgy.

The couple was praying for an opportunity that would allow Bailey to transition to motherhood while still working in a career centered on faith.

“We were praying about it, and we were

talking back and forth about what would that look like,” Jake said.

Their prayers were answered in what they describe as a “Holy Spirit moment.”

The Sparkses, who are parishioners at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in San Clemente, were presented with the opportunity to purchase Feed on the Word, an online enterprise that sells porcelain dinnerware inscribed with Bible passages.

Each plate, platter and mug are imprinted with a Scripture verse, along with its citation (book chapter: verse) in the Bible.

A verse around the circumference of one plate reads: “Husbands and wives yield in love, one to another, in reverence to Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)

A serving platter reads: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

The couple was already familiar with

CONTINUES ON PAGE 6

PORCELAIN DINNERWARE INSCRIBED WITH BIBLE VERSES ARE DISPLAYED AS PART OF THE FEED ON THE WORD COLLECTION, A COMPANY OWNED BY JAKE AND BAILEY SPARKS. PHOTO BY LOU PONSI/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

Feed on the Word, having purchased dinnerware they used for special occasions.

Bailey also recalled her own childhood when mealtime was a sacred family gathering.

“My family always went around the table and we said what we were thankful for that day,” she said.

Feed on the Word’s founder and then owner, Patti Robertson, had sent a group email to inform customers that she was selling the business and prospective buyers should contact her.

Jake and Bailey were both raised in families rooted in faith.

Bailey grew up in San Clemente, attended Mass at Mission Basilica in San Juan Capistrano and graduated from JSerra Catholic High School.

She attended the University of Louisville in Jake’s home state of Kentucky.

The couple met during Bailey’s freshman year and got engaged after graduation.

In what Bailey describes as a leap of faith, they decided to relocate to back to Orange County and were married at Mission Basilica in December 2018.

The couple negotiated a price to buy Feed on the Word, and on Jan.1, 2022, the Sparkses became the official owners.

“As devout Christians, they are honored by the opportunity to bring families and friends closer

to Christ through the management of Feed on the Word,” said Robertson, when announcing the sale on the company’s Facebook page.

Within a week after acquiring the company, the Sparkses discovered Bailey was pregnant.

The couple welcomed their son Blaise into the world in September 2022.

“Through Feed on the Word, we felt that the Holy Spirit was giving me a new opportunity to continue the work of the Kingdom, all while having the ability to be present with our future children,” Bailey said. “Our mission is to bring the Word of the Lord to tables and gatherings with your families and loved ones.”

While Feed on the Word dinnerware is sold almost exclusively online, the Sparkses have grown the company’s online presence and are working to expand their product line with new Bible verses.

“We have the original scripture verses as of now, but we're working specifically on more Catholic pieces,” Bailey said.

Those include a Marian line of dinnerware inscribed with Scripture related to the Rosary and dinnerware inscribed with verses related to Christmas and Easter.

The Sparkses also sell the dinnerware at conferences and conventions with a strong Christian presence.

Most recently, Feed on the Word dinnerware was displayed at the 2024 Legatus Summit at the Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point. The summit draws noted Catholic business leaders from around the country.

As with any new endeavor, the couple has encountered obstacles and there’s definitely been a learning curve, Bailey said.

But they always fall back on faith, she said.

“We feel like we were really called to this mission and called to take over this business and evangelize in this way,” she said. “That has been very comforting and very helpful when we hit those rough patches to just go back to prayer and ask the Lord how we should move forward.”

For more information on Feed on the Word, go to feedontheword.com C

BAILEY AND JAKE SPARKS, SEEN WITH THEIR SON BLAISE, ARE THE OWNERS OF FEED ON THE WORD, PROVIDERS OF PORCELAIN DINNERWARE INSCRIBED WITH SCRIPTURE VERSES. PHOTO COURTESY OF FEED ON THE WORD

PORCELAIN DINNERWARE INSCRIBED WITH BIBLE VERSES ARE DISPLAYED AS PART OF THE FEED ON THE WORD COLLECTION, A COMPANY OWNED BY JAKE AND BAILEY SPARKS. PHOTO BY LOU PONSI/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

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“GOD MOMENTS” IN THE PHILIPPINES

BY MEG WATERS

WHEN RECENTLY married, Beverly and Mark Johnson planned a trip to the Philippines to meet Beverly’s family; neither realized that their vacation would also be a journey that revealed their shared religious, family and historical connections.

One might call them “God Moments.”

Beverly grew up in Ormoc City, on the island of Leyte. Like most Filipinos, her family is deeply rooted in Catholicism.

“My Catholic faith has always been very important to me and my family,” said Beverly. “My family was very poor; my mom ran a store that sold baskets, and everyone in the family worked from 5:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., seven days a week.”

On the other side of the world, Mark grew up in a Lutheran family in Colorado.

The couple met in Dallas. As the relationship became more serious, Mark went through RCIA to be received into the Catholic Church. The process took about three years, partially due to some confusing jurisdictional issues between the Diocese of Dallas and Ft. Worth. Still, eventually, the couple were married in the Church.

From Dallas, the couple moved to Orange County and are now parishioners at San Francisco Solano Catholic Church in Rancho Santa Margarita.

The first order of business for the new couple was to introduce Mark to Beverly’s Filipino family, who lived on Leyte Island. That is also where their family histories began to align.

In 1521, near the end of Magellan’s historic circumnavigation of the world, he had just landed on Philippine soil, sealed a blood compact with the local leader and ordered the ship’s only priest to celebrate Easter Mass and plant the first cross on the island.

Interestingly, this Easter Sunday,

March 31, is the same date as that first Mass 503 years ago. It was celebrated on Limasawa Island, a small narrow strip just south of Leyte. In fewer than 100 years, the Philippines were predominately Catholic.

At the time, the religious practice on the archipelago was a combination of Hindu-Buddhist, Muslim and indigenous practices. With the arrival of the Spaniards, Catholicism quickly spread, and for centuries, it has been the most predominant Christian country in Southeast Asia.

Although the site of the first Mass is fewer than 100 miles from Beverly’s childhood home, she had never visited it before her trip with Mark.

“Until the Spanish came,” Beverly said, “we were boat people; we didn’t have a

MARK AND BEVERLY JOHNSON ARE PICTURED AT THEIR HOME PARISH, SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CATHOLIC CHURCH IN RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA. PHOTO BY STEVE GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

THE FIRST MASS WAS CELEBRATED IN THE PHILIPPINES ON MARCH 31, 503 YEARS AGO ON LIMASAWA ISLAND, A SMALL NARROW STRIP JUST SOUTH OF LEYTE. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK JOHNSON

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

system of roads to get around.”

Beverly said the Spanish developed roads and infrastructure.

“Seeing the cross marking the site of the first Mass, I thought about what it must have been like for the participants,” said Beverly. “If Magellan hadn’t landed on the islands, we would likely be Muslim or Hindu. I rediscovered how important my Catholic faith was to me at that moment.”

The first God Moment.

Mark’s story begins 425 years later, just offshore Leyte. The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the largest sea battle of World War II and possibly the largest naval

battle of all time. His father, Dean Johnson, USN, was aboard one of the nearly 400 Allied and Japanese ships and 200,000 soldiers and sailors locked in a fierce three-day battle. It was the turning point in General MacArthur’s campaign to retake the Philippines from Japanese control.

“I discovered my father’s diary from the war just before leaving on the trip,” recalled Mark. “I brought it with us, but the surprising part was realizing that he was so close to where Beverly’s family lived.”

Mark’s father’s diary entry during the battle: “We were patrolling off the coast of Leyte when the lookout spotted what

was believed to be mines. We were called to general quarters and dispatched to destroy the mines.”

Mark read his father’s words as he looked at the sea and imagined the battle raging. “I tried to see and imagine what it was like. I was there on December 26, 2023, and 79 years before, Dad was on that same shore on December 26, 1944.”

That was God Moment number two.

The God Moments continued as they visited the islands by boat and car – a “baptism by fire” driving in the Philippines, recalled Mark. Retracing the steps of Magellan and MacArthur, absorbing the deep Catholic faith on the island, including daily Mass the beautiful choirs,

Beverly and Mark reflected on the importance of family rooted in faith. Their last Mass on the trip was New Year’s Eve. “The sermon today was all about family…The Bible says that God has named every family in heaven and on earth (Eph 3:14-15), giving us the freedom to love the people he has assigned to us. The priest said that our families can be a great blessing through which we experience love, provision and community.”

The most significant God Moment came with the revelation that two families from vastly different backgrounds could discover shared ties. These are the signs that God linked their lives long before they were born. C

THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE FIRST MASS IN THE PHILIPPINES COMMEMORATES THE ARRIVAL OF CATHOLICISM. BEVERLY JOHNSON IS PICTURED WITH HER MOTHER INSIDE HER MOM’S HAT STORE ON THE ISLAND OF LEYTE.

THE FIRST MASS CELEBRATED IN THE PHILIPPINES IS DEPICTED INSIDE THE NATIONAL SHRINE. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARK JOHNSON

LEADERSHIP IN ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

SPOTLIGHT ON MYA DAVID FU, ST. IRENAEUS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

BY RON KUZLIK

WHY IS A CATHOLIC education important?

According to eighth grade student Mya David Fu, the answer is simple.

“Not only do you learn about God, but you receive a quality education,” she said.

Fu added: “We have a very tight-knit community, and I see God in every person. He draws us all closer together.”

Fu is considered a student leader at St. Irenaeus and she has impacted the school in many ways.

“Through our conversations, I have learned that Mya is beyond her years in understanding the importance of building a just society and upholding the dignity of the human person,” said the school’s principal, Stella Costello. “She exemplifies a servant’s heart that truly cares for others.”

Over her years at St. Irenaeus, Fu has interacted with many teachers and staff members. The message is overwhelmingly positive and consistent.

Sarah Lambert, current librarian and former Student Government coordinator, said, “Mya likes to read and enjoys helping younger students who may be overwhelmed by the library and the number of book choices. She goes out of her way to help them find the right book.”

Fu was the unanimous choice of all three eighth grade teachers to be featured in this article.

Homeroom teacher Angela Burke has known Fu for three years. She lists her best qualities as “dependable, consistent and reliable.”

“She always performs to the best of her ability,” added Burke, who called Fu “the type of leader who analyzes issues and works with the group on solutions. She involves everyone and brings out the best

in other people.”

Fu has an impressive resume of involvement with school activities. She has been in Student Government for three years. Being involved in this group has allowed Fu to mentor others within the school framework. During Catholic Schools Week, students in Student Government help their teachers by teaching a class for one hour. Fu has had varying roles in Student Government including serving as the commissioner of Religious Events as well as secretary and commissioner of Student Affairs.

Through Student Government, she does community outreach like helping out at the parish food pantry and working with her first grade “buddy.”

“On Fridays, we sit with our 'buddy' at Mass and help them with various school projects,” she added.

Fu has exhibited academic excellence throughout her St. Irenaeus career. She has won such awards as the Eagle Award (twice), the Sister Anne Broderick Award (twice), and the Reading Award (twice). Her broad list of academic awards comes with an equally broad list of favorite subjects.

“My favorite subjects can change every day,” she said. “Right now, it is English and the reading of 'The Book Thief'.”

Many role models have influenced Fu’s life.

“My grandmother is adventurous,” she said. “My parents are smart and kind and all of the teachers at St. Irenaeus. I love them so much and learn many things from each of them.”

Fu feels proud of the many academic opportunities she’s been offered at school as well as the many good people she’s been able to grow relationships with there.

Of her classmates, whom she refers to as a second family, she said: “We are close-knit, and everyone is easy to interact with when we work together.”

St. Irenaeus Catholic School uses the “Learning, Believing and Serving Together” motto to guide students’ educational paths. This motto shapes each of their student’s spiritual and academic journey. During her time at this school, Mya David Fu has fully embraced this motto in her journey and has connected to all members of the St. Irenaeus family along the way. C

MYA DAVID FU. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. IRENAEUS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

WE ARE AN EASTER PEOPLE: “HALLELUJAH”

BY DEACON MODESTO CORDERO, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR WORSHIP IN THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

HAPPY EASTER OF THE Resurrection! At the heart of the Christian faith lies an event that transforms lives: the Easter of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus. It is more than an annual celebration; it is a reminder of the divine promise of salvation and redemption through Jesus Christ. As Christians, we are called to be Easter people, living our lives in gratitude for the greatest gift we have been given: the salvation of our souls.

Easter is not simply a historical event that we remember once a year, it is a reality that permeates every aspect of our existence. We, as Christians, live our lives filled with the hope and joy that come from the resurrection of Christ. This reality fills us with a deep sense of purpose and compels us to live according to the values of the Gospel.

As Easter people, our lives are marked by joy. We know that death does not have the final word, but that eternal life awaits us in God’s love. This certainly fills our hearts with joy even in the midst of trials and tribulations. Our joy is contagious, radiating hope around us and drawing others to the light of Christ.

In addition to joy, Easter fills us with peace. In a world marked by violence, hatred and division, we as Christians bring the peace of Christ wherever we go. We know that in Christ we find the true peace that the world cannot offer. This peace enables us to be instruments of reconciliation and unity in a divided world.

Easter also fills us with compassion. As we contemplate Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we are comforted by God’s immense love for humanity. This love

compels us to love our neighbor as ourselves, especially the most in need and marginalized in society. As Easter people, we are called to show compassion and mercy to all whom we encounter.

But perhaps most importantly, as Easter people, we are called to love. Jesus gave us a new commandment: “love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another (Jn 13: 34).” This commandment summarizes the entire law and the teachings of the prophets and is the foundation of our faith. As Christians, we are called to live in love, showing everyone that we encounter the unconditional love of God.

A fundamental part of living as Easter people is proclaiming

the Good News to all whom we encounter. As baptized Christians, we have the privilege and responsibility to share the transformative message of the Gospel with the world around us. Our very lives must be a living testimony to the love and grace of God, drawing others to the light of Christ.

Being Easter people is more than simply celebrating a religious event; it is living a life transformed by the power of Christ’s resurrection. As Christians and Catholics, we are called to live our lives in gratitude for the salvation that has been given to us and to reflect the joy, peace, compassion, and love that come from the salvation. May each of us truly be an Easter person, radiating the light of Christ in a world that so desperately needs it. C

DEACON MODESTO CORDERO. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER CELEBRATES EASTER SUNDAY MASS ON MARCH 31 AT ST. EDWARD THE CONFESSOR CATHOLIC CHURCH IN DANA POINT. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE

DIOCESE TO HOST RELIC OF ST. JUDE

BY BRADLEY ZINT

THE DIOCESE OF Orange will be hosting a relic of St. Jude the Apostle, cousin of Jesus, from April 29 through May 2 at four Orange County parishes.

The relic is a piece of bone from St. Jude’s arm that was separated from his remains centuries ago. The bone is inside a wooden reliquary carved in the shape of an upright arm that gives the gesture of imparting a blessing. It is the first time the relic has left Italy. Many blessings have been reported by those who have venerated it, including healings and people returning to the Catholic Church.

Admission is free and open to people of all faiths.

“When I first envisioned having the relic of St. Jude visit us here in Orange County, it was to strengthen the bonds of unity with our Orthodox brothers and sisters,” said Fr. Al Baca, director of the Diocese’s Office of Ecumenism and Inter-religion, which is sponsoring the event. “Like us, they venerate the saints, and they believe that relics are a tangible channel of God’s grace and healing. In time, though, it became clear that this would be a blessing for all of us. It is an honor for the Catholic Church of Orange County to welcome St. Jude and to hear his message of hope and faith in Jesus Christ.”

The following four Orange County parishes will be hosting the relic during the following veneration hours, as well as celebrating a special Mass to St. Jude at 7 p.m.:

■ April 29, Santiago de Compostela Catholic Church, Lake Forest - 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

■ April 30, Christ Cathedral, Garden Grove - 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

■ May 1, Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic Church, Huntington Beach - 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

■ May 2, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, La Habra - 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Holy See considers the relic of St.

Jude — known as the “Apostle of the Impossible” — a first-class relic, which is the highest designation and generally a piece of the body of a saint, like bone or hair. After St. Jude’s martyrdom in Beirut around 65 AD, his remains were reportedly interred in a crypt beneath St. Peter’s Basilica around 333 AD.

The relic of St. Jude coming to Orange County is normally based at a Roman parish near Vatican City.

St. Jude was the son of Mary of Clopas (Cleophas), the sister of the Blessed Virgin Mary and one of the “three Marys” who stood by Jesus during his crucifixion. Jude is Jesus’ first cousin and has long been one of the most venerated figures in Christianity. He is a saint people turn to when desperate, having tried everything else, feeling lost or hopeless.

The relic is making its way through Orange County as part of a national tour through more than 100 cities. The tour is organized by Fr. Carlos Martins, a custos reliquiarum (an ecclesiastically appointed curate of relics), member of Companions of the Cross and director of Treasures of the Church (a Michigan-based exposition company and Catholic Church ministry of evangelization).

“This pilgrimage comes to a nation still reeling from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Fr. Carlos said in a statement.

“Many still grieve a loved one claimed by the virus, numerous folks suffer the effects of long COVID and other pandemic-related medical conditions. Long-term isolation has led to depression for many and deterioration in mental health … the Apostle’s visit is an effort by the Catholic Church to give comfort and hope to all who need it.” C

LIVING LITURGICALLY

BY REBEKAH VALDERRAMA

HAPPY EASTER SEASON!

I hope you haven’t forgotten that Easter lasts 50 days. I recently heard someone say they make a point of eating dessert every single day during the Easter season, which is the kind of spiritual advice I can get behind!

Mother Church has blessed us with this season of celebration and joy to follow the long season of penitence during Lent.

The Church’s liturgical year flows beautifully through the seasons, as it loops from Christmas in the darkest nights of the year, through the hope of the resurrection in spring, towards death and judgment in the fall, and back around again. The bespoke celebrations of the Church's calendar tie the mystical sacrifice of Jesus' earthly life and ministry to the tangible realities of our day to day.

As Catholic families, we’re called to live our whole lives faithfully, not just on Sunday mornings. Shouldn’t our homes look different throughout the year, depending on the liturgical season?

You don’t have to use green tablecloths during Ordinary Time (although actually, that sounds awesome. I might need to go get some.) but there are so many ways to bring the Church home for ourselves and for our children, to steep our homes in the ebbs and flows of the Church calendar.

We just finished Lent, which has a natural way of incorporating itself into our day to day, but now that it’s Easter, we shouldn’t let things go back to the status quo just yet. This is a season of rejoicing! Alleluia!

Here are a few ideas your family can incorporate to observe the whole Easter season in your own home:

■ Teach your family to pray the Regina Ceili. During the Easter season, this prayer replaces the Angelus at 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m.(And it’s stuffed with Alleluias)

■ Speaking of, shout it at every opportunity! Alleluia! The traditional Eastertide

greeting is, “Alleluia, He is risen!” and the response is, “He is risen indeed, Alleluia!” Teach your children and use it at any opportunity.

■ I was serious about the dessert thing. Why not? (Especially if you gave up sweets for Lent)

■ It’s not too late to decorate your home for Easter. Bring in flowers, pastels, drape white around your crucifix. Display all the Easter and springtime crafts the kids bring home from school.

■ Our family is raising butterflies right now. The kids love watching the caterpillars grow and transform, and they’ll get the reminder of the Resurrection symbolism when they emerge from their chrysalises.

■ Search the internet for “Easter Story Cookies” or “Resurrection Cookies” which are a neat way to tell the story of Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection in the form of a cookie recipe. They’re basically hollow meringues, so while most people recommend making them during Holy Week, I think I’m saving this sugary recipe for when the kids are done with most of their candy stash.

■ And of course, continue your Lenten add-ons! Easter is a time to indulge in all the sacrifices you offered up during Lent (like chocolate or TV) but there’s no reason you should stop doing the extra prayers you’ve made a habit of. Especially if you managed to get your family used to daily Bible reading or nightly rosaries, keep it up! Our cultural default these days is to leave your religion in the church parking lot every Sunday, but we’re called to more than that. We’re called to be Catholic every day of the week, and that means something slightly different throughout the year. Just like we tell our family stories on birthdays and anniversaries, we should tell the stories we hear at Mass around the dinner table too.

Happy Eastertide to you and your family. He is risen! Alleluia! C

PHOTO BY BEN WHITE ON UNSPLASH

A LETTER FROM BISHOP VANN

DEAR FRIENDS AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

In this joyful season of Easter time, the time of the Paschal Mystery, I would like to share with you just a few words from St. Luke’s Gospel.

“So, they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained Him by saying, ‘Stay with us for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.’ So, He went in and stayed with them. When He was at the table with them, He broke the bread and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were open, and they recognized Him, and He vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened it to us, the Scriptures?’ And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them. Who said, ‘The Lord has risen indeed and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they told what had happened to them and how He was known to them with the breaking of the bread.” (Luke: 28)

The Gospel of the Lord.

My friends, Easter is not just one day, it’s a whole season.

In this reading from St. Luke’s Gospel, which is really the gospel that has a lot of appeal to folks, we hear of the Lord appearing to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and them coming to know Him in the breaking of the bread, which is really saying the Eucharist. The Resurrection accounts in the Gospels all show that Jesus truly rose from the dead, He appeared to His friends, and He was there with them in His glorified body.

Let us take Easter time, the Paschal Season, and celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection every day — but not just Easter Sunday — but every day. And know that just as He came to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, so too He walks the road of life with us.

I pray this is a very blessed Easter season for all of you, and you celebrate it the whole time, and walk with the Lord in His life and ministry.

Amen. C

BISHOP KEVIN VANN CELEBRATES THE CHRISM MASS ON MARCH 25 AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL. PHOTO BY KAYLEE TOOLE/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

OC Catholic Afar

Aurora Romero Ruiz displays both the English and Spanish language versions of Orange County Catholic at the Viaduct Harbor Marina in Auckland, New Zealand. The iconic Sky Tower is in the background. It rises 328 meters (1,076 feet) over New Zealand’s most populous city.

—Submitted by Ron Kuzlik, contributing writer for OC Catholic

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