OC CATHOLIC - APRIL 23, 2003

CONTENTS

6 7 12

CULTIVATING CARE FOR CREATION

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange have developed a new action plan inspired by Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’.

BRING YOUR KIDS INTO THE GARDEN

Giving children the opportunity to encounter nature, even in the smallest way, leads to a life-long appreciation for the earth.

FEAST OF ST. PEREGRINE MASS

Christ Cathedral will host a special Mass on May 4, honoring the patron saint of cancer patients and at-risk youth.

ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC MISSION STATEMENT

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

ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC

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

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

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Delivered weekly to parishes and homes throughout Orange County, Calif., Orange County Catholic is published by SCNG Custom Content, a division of Southern California News Group that offers content development and design expertise to businesses and nonprofit institutions. The Orange County Catholic editorial staff and editorial council are responsible for the content contained herein. Events and products advertised in Orange County Catholic do not carry the implicit endorsement of the Diocese of Orange or SCNG Custom Content.

HOW CAN WE PROTECT OUR WATERS FROM PLASTIC POLLUTION?

BY SARAH WHITE,

IN LAUDATO SI’ Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for our common home, we are invited “to see nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness” and urged to engage in “a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet.”

In response to Laudato Si’ the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange have developed a Laudato Si’ Action Plan focused on water. It seeks to respond to the cries of the Earth and poor through prayer, education, action, and advocacy.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange’s congregational commitment to water reflects Pope Francis’s emphasis on the issue of water. Essential to all life on Earth, water sustains creation. According to Laudato Si’, all humans have a right to safe drinking

water, yet many struggle to access clean water. This denial of human dignity is often rooted in humanity’s pollution of our shared waters.

According to EarthDay.org, Each year, we produce about 380 million metric tons of plastic. We rarely dispose properly of the plastic that we make into bags, bottles, straws and more. Instead, almost every piece of plastic ever produced still exists on our planet. While some plastic is recycled, most becomes pollution or arrives in landfills. Unfortunately, plastics do not simply remain in landfills. As plastics break down into smaller and smaller fragments, they slowly contaminate water and soil, spreading throughout creation.

From the Santa Ana River to the Great Lakes to the Pacific Ocean, water across our planet is polluted with plastic. Large plastic pollution, such as fishing nets, food wrappers, and beverage containers, endanger wildlife by entangling or choking

ST. JOHN’S SEMINARY CAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA

ST. JOHN’S SEMINARY NOW OFFERS AN ONLINE M.A. IN PASTORAL MINISTRY PROGRAM FOR THE LAITY

This program will help lay ministers increase their knowledge of the Catholic intellectual tradition and improve their ministerial skills for the life of the Church. Students will be prepared to work in different areas of ministry and make professional and personal connections with others of the same mind and spirit.

For more information

Email: mapm@stjohnsem.edu or visit www.stjohnsem.edu

animals, spreading invasive species, or harming animals that ingest them, as explained by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Other miniscule plastic pollution can be invisible

CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

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

a brief video about the program

A studio with professional video, audio, and lighting equipment has been built to produce visually stunning content by our world-class faculty. This studio allows our students to have an enjoyable technological experience.

ST. JOSEPH WORKER, ON BEHALF OF THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF ORANGE AND THE ST. JOSEPH JUSTICE CENTER

SARAH WHITE, ST. JOSEPH WORKER (L) AND SISTER MARY ELIZABETH NELSEN, CSJ (R) SHOW THEIR FILL IT FORWARD STICKERS AS THEY COMMIT TO REDUCING PLASTIC WASTE BY USING A REUSABLE WATER CONTAINER. COURTESY PHOTO

APRIL 23, 2023

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

EMMAUS AND THE MASS

EMMAUS MIGHT AS WELL be Brigadoon. We hear of it in this one story—and it’s only in Luke— and then it disappears. The journey to Emmaus is one of the most beloved stories about Jesus, and yet the town is probably “mythical” in the truest sense. Like so much of life, this story is about the journey, not the destination. Running away from Jerusalem and their fears, probably going home in disillusionment, two of Jesus’ disciples encounter a stranger on the road who, like a rabbi, is able to help them understand their experiences using his deep knowledge of scripture. Later, sharing a meal with him, they recognize the stranger as Jesus, and they return to Jerusalem to tell the others. How like our Mass—we hear the scriptures and an explanation of them, we share a meal, and then we go out to tell the good news.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. C

CHRISTENED WOJCIECH in Bohemia, in today's Czech Republic, he took the name of his teacher, St. Adalbert of Magdeburg. He became the bishop of Prague while still in his 20s, but because of pastoral and political difficulties there retired to a Benedictine abbey in Rome in 990. The pope sent him back to Prague, where he founded an abbey at Brzevnov, but local troubles again prompted his return to Rome. Eventually he was allowed to evangelize the Prussians of Pomerania, but he faced opposition there, too. He and his fellow missionaries persevered and were martyred. C

“May the Son of God, born in Bethlehem, fill each of you, your families and those you help with love

— Pope Francis

SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF ORANGE CULTIVATE CARE FOR CREATION THROUGH WATER

BY SARAH WHITE, ST. JOSEPH WORKER,

AMONG THE SISTERS of St. Joseph of Orange, creation holds a special place. Many sisters have had life-long commitments to care for creation, whether through their ministries, ecological justice or sustainable lifestyles. The Sisters’ current vision statement entrusted to their elected leadership calls for a commitment to be creative and innovative with integral ecology.

Recently, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange developed their own Laudato Si’ Action Plan, in response to Laudato Si’ and “Pope Francis’ call to take to heart the need for an ecological conversion and commit ourselves to be instruments of God for the care of the whole of creation — concern for nature, justice for the poor and commitment for a just society.” The Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange have chosen water as the primary focus of their Laudato Si’ efforts.

Journeying alongside the broader Catholic community in caring for our common home, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange have developed specific actions that respond to the seven goals of the Church’s shared Laudato Si’ Action Platform. Where the Church calls all to respond to the cry of the Earth, respond to the cry of the poor, engage in ecological economics, adopt sustainable lifestyles, develop ecological education, cultivate ecological spirituality and create community empowerment, the Sisters of St. Joseph have responded with enthusiasm and creativity.

In their homes, sisters make deliberate choices to conserve electricity, install solar panels, compost, use water-efficient appliances, recycle water for use in gardens or replace grass with native, drought-resistant plants. Individually, many sisters

share their journeys of ecological spirituality, celebrate the sacredness of creation, contemplate in nature or pray on the needs of our beautiful yet wounded world.

Some sisters have even taken up ecological justice as the focal point of their ministry work. Sister Sara Tarango, affectionately nicknamed “Sister Soil,” works with Bread for the World to advocate for regenerative agriculture in the 2023 Farm Bill.

When asked about her ministry, Sister Sara remarked, “It’s all God.”

Since watching “Kiss the Ground” in a Laudato Si’ class and participating in

regenerative agriculture education, Sister Sara has developed new perspectives on the integration of spirituality and science.

Sister Sara asked, “Do you eat? If yes, then the Farm Bill affects you. It affects everyone, but it especially impacts our brothers and sisters who live on the margins. It also impacts creation, which is also on the margins right now.”

With regenerative agriculture, we can grow the food that is essential to all our nourishment, while also protecting healthy soil that can store the water that is essential to all life.

As a congregation, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange support global efforts to address the water crisis through the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange Fund. The Fund invests in projects to build wells, filtration systems and water education programs in areas most impacted by the global water crisis. In 2023, the Fund will allocate 30% of its funding for Integral Ecology, which will include water, sanitation and hunger projects in India, Ethiopia, and Nigeria.

The Sisters of St. Joseph engage closely with their broader communities through

ON BEHALF OF THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF ORANGE AND THE ST. JOSEPH JUSTICE CENTER

THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF ORANGE’S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE ST. JOSEPH JUSTICE CENTER POSE FOR A PHOTO DURING A DAY OF SERVICE AT ORANGE HOME GROWN FARM. (L-R: MARIA ELENA PERALES; SR. SUE DUNNING, CSJ; SR. MARY ELIZABETH NELSEN, CSJ; SR. MARIAN SCHUBERT, CSJ; SR. CECILIA MAGALDRY, CSJ; TOP ROW: SR. MARY BETH INGHAM, CSJ). COURTESY PHOTO

their ministries. For example, the CSJ Education Network educates and motivates teachers, students and families in dealing with the water crisis. The education ministry also ended the use of plastics in all its sponsored events at St. Joseph Center and works with member schools to eliminate plastics from programs.

Similarly, the St. Joseph Justice Center engages in water-focused justice efforts, such as the weekly “Wednesday Splash,” education with the Orange County Water District, advocacy with the Citizen’s Climate Lobby, action with the Orange County Interfaith Collaborative for the Environment, prayer and the annual Earth Day Celebration with sisters and employees of the St. Joseph Center.

Over the last year, the Justice Center has hosted an on-going speaker series on water. Recently, Mary Vanderhoof, Associate in Mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, described the effects of the growing global water crisis on our most vulnerable brothers and sisters. The presenter shared the efforts of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia to fund global projects for clean water and sustainable change through their non-profit, Change for Global Change.

Sr. Ellen O’Leary best captured the individual and congregational commitments of the Sisters of St. Joseph to caring for our common home, especially our shared waters. She explained that many of the sisters are very connected with the Earth, and connection with creation has become an integral part of their spirituality. Caring for creation means caring for people.

“The call from the Earth is present,” said Sr. Ellen. “As a community, it is essential to be conscious of the message from Laudato Si’ to care for creation. It is a message for each and every one of us that comes from the Earth through Laudato Si’ C

BRING YOUR KIDS INTO THE GARDEN

BY REBEKAH VALDERRAMA

LAST SUMMER, I encountered a new kind of garden pest. It was ravaging my cherry tomato plants, picking and nibbling on the still-green fruit and leaving them strewn all over the ground before they had a chance to ripen and turn red. It was my toddler.

She was 18 months old, and she wanted to help, but every few minutes I would look up to see her yanking on another of my precious plants. I worried we’d never end up with a ripe tomato. I brought her outside with me anyway. I think it was worth it.

I’m no gardening expert. I was one of the 18.3 million newbies who started gardening during the pandemic. I soon found it to be an incredible way to spend my time, and I was surprised to discover how wonderful it is for my children too.

Here are some things I’ve learned from involving my young kids in the garden:

The moment my first garden bed was planted, I found myself drawn into the backyard at any opportunity. I soon realized that spending time outside around plants was giving me a chance to disconnect from stresses and recenter myself. I came away with internal peace.

It also became obvious just how important outdoor time is for children. I now make a point to get my kids outside whenever we can. They let their energy out in the sunshine and fresh air, and I get to enjoy calmer toddlers.

I focus on vegetable gardening because I love a practical hobby. Growing my own food has broadened my palate and taught me new techniques. I’ve discovered new vegetables I’d never heard

of and now consider favorites. The kids also love the fruits of our labors. They wouldn’t touch a salad in the dining room, but they’ll eat lettuce straight off the plant like a delicious snack. Parents can prioritize vegetables that can be easily eaten directly from the plant. Kids love eating something they harvested for themselves!

I’ve learned so much in only three years of gardening, and it’s given me such an appreciation for what I haven’t learned yet, along with a curiosity about God’s creation around me. I’ve been able to pass some of that spark to my kids. They’re full of questions about how the world works, and now I have a foundation to start from when helping them find answers.

We’re more in tune with the wildlife we see around us too. We’re friends with the lizards who live in the nasturtium

bushes and help us control the cabbage looper population. We get to learn about pill bugs while trying to get them to stop decimating our zucchini plants. We have a new appreciation for the order of the natural world.

Teaching my children how to grow food will never cease to be valuable, and I treasure the ability to pass this on to the next generation. Each year they “help” me in the garden, they’ll be more and more actual help. I look forward to giving them their own garden bed someday where they’ll raise their own plants, learn how to prepare them and be set up for a lifetime of healthful eating.

I’m not going to tell you that inviting your curious young children outside while you’re trying to get serious gardening or yardwork done is easy and painless. They have a lot of learning to do. But I do think that learning to garden is a valuable way to spend your time if you can, and that when you do, you should include your children. I promise it will pay off in the end. C

PHOTO BY FILIP URBAN

WELLS FOR LIFE

JSERRA STUDENT HELPS BRING FRESH WATER TO RURAL UGANDA

BY JENELYN RUSSO

FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD JSerra Catholic High School freshman

Gianna Carlile has always had a heart for serving others. Since the age of 8, she has been giving of her time and energy to support Wells of Life, an Orange County-based nonprofit that provides access to safe and clean water for the people of rural Uganda.

Carlile first discovered Wells of Life seven years ago as part of a Catholic girls’ group through Mission Basilica in San Juan Capistrano. After hearing Wells of Life Founder Nick Jordan speak, she was moved by the plight of Ugandans and their lack of access to the basic necessity of clean water.

“I did not know that water wasn't accessible to them, and I realized that that's just a basic human right that everyone deserves to have,” said Carlile. “So, I decided to help out in any way that I can.”

Ninety percent of the people of Uganda live in rural communities, with nearly two-thirds of them residing in areas that do not have access to safe and clean water. The Ugandans, mostly teenage girls, need to walk three to four miles a day to reach a water source. And that water is often contaminated, causing sickness and high infant mortality rates.

Additionally, these teenage girls who seek out water give up four to five hours of their time daily, which in turn causes them to miss school and lose their access to education.

Wells of Life has three programs that are used to address these crucial issues –drilling new wells, restoring existing wells and providing education on sanitation

and good hygiene practices through the Healthy Village Program.

“You can't live without water, and by the same token, you cannot live without

clean water,” said Wells of Life Operations Manager Jason Roenicke. “And that's what we see, the devastating effect of something that is very realistic and within our reach to be able to help. So, we say, let's go drill a well that gives clean water to a thousand people, will transform every single one of their lives and literally save hundreds of lives within each district and community.”

Through their efforts, Wells of Life has impacted more than 1000 communities and provided access to clean water for over one million Ugandans to date. And Carlile has been a significant contributor

to this effort, having individually raised more than $50,000, or enough to fund nine wells.

Not too long after hearing about Wells of Life’s vision, the Catholic girls’ group Carlile was a part of disbanded. But that did not stop her from pushing forward to help make a difference. By hosting fundraising sales, speaking at churches and participating in the nonprofit’s annual Run4Water event, Carlile has made it her personal mission to provide sustainable, life-changing assistance to those who

YOUTH IN RURAL UGANDA NOW HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN AND SAFE DRINKING WATER THANKS TO THE FUNDS RAISED BY GIANNA CARLILE. PHOTOS COURTESY OF WELLS OF LIFE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 need it the most.

“It's very inspiring to me that other people really care about this, and without them I would not be where I am,” said Carlile. “I really thank the people that have helped me get here. It's very important for these people to have the water.”

While in high school, Carlile has found classmates who share her passion for helping the people of Uganda through JSerra’s Wells of Life Club, where she serves as vice president. She and her peers’ commitment to serving others challenges the idea that teenagers are only focused on themselves.

“When young people like Gianna participate in efforts with Wells of Life, we often hear about how it influences the community,” said Wells of Life CEO/Executive Director Danny Sells. “It’s tempting to think that teens are self-focused and only interested in cell phones, the latest YouTube star or video games. Gianna, and others like her, remind us that younger generations have great potential to make a big difference in the world, and it inspires hope.”

Both Gianna and students from JSerra will be participating in Wells of Life’s flagship fundraiser, Run4Water, a 1K/5K event on May 20 to raise money for Wells of Life’s Operation Restoration, which is focused on restoring abandoned clean water wells in Africa. The nonprofit’s goal is to raise $240,000, enough to repair 60 broken wells.

The committed work of ambassadors like Carlile is not only inspiring but allows Wells of Life to plan for future growth and will provide the opportunity to provide clean water to thousands of additional people in Uganda. Carlile feels that anyone can step up and help, and that we are all responsible to create our own change.

“I'm inspired by St. Teresa of Calcutta because she helped so many people by starting with small act of kindness,” said Carlile. “I love her quote that, ‘not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.’”

To help support Gianna Carlile’s efforts in the Run4Water event, visit giannacarlile.com

For more information on Wells of Life, visit wellsoflife.org C WELLS

OF LIFE FOUNDER NICK JORDAN WITH GIANNA CARLILE AT A RECENT WELLS OF LIFE LEGACY GALA.

FUNDS RAISED BY GIANNA CARLILE PROVIDES CLEAN AND SAFE DRINKING WATER FOR YOUTH IN RURAL UGANDA.

STEWARDS OF THE EARTH

CARING FOR GOD’S CREATURES, GREAT AND SMALL

BY PATTY MAHONEY

IT STARTED IN 2018 with the arrival of Fr. Damien Giap – a chain link fence, a bare-bones, tin-roof shed and a few rabbits that were a real hit with the students at St. John the Baptist School in Costa Mesa.

Fr. Damien, the school’s new rector at the time, was an animal lover and had many pets. He felt they made him more relatable and more accessible to his students.

“Kids are always drawn to animals,” he said. “Otherwise, I’m just this old guy trying to teach them,” he added with a laugh.

The seed then sprouted wings, so to speak. In 2021, the graduating class held fundraisers throughout the year and raised enough money to pay for new, wellequipped sheds. Volunteers built them with donated wood. The cages on the inside were courtesy of an Eagle Scout project.

The following year, the Class of 2022 gifted the school with a large shed to house tortoises.

Additionally, there are hens, chinchillas, hamsters, tarantulas, snakes and a leopard gecko all living on the school campus. The reptiles’ habitat is outfitted with electricity to accommodate heat lamps.

The main caretakers are husband and wife, Tom Devlin and Anne Marie Lau, parents of former students who first became involved back in 2021 due to one of their daughter’s love of rabbits. Fr. Damien said they were the masterminds behind the project and even though their daughters have booth graduated, they continue to come to campus five times a week to feed and care for the animals.

“I come on Mondays, Wednesday and

Fridays so the kids can enjoy the animals during recess and lunch time,” said Lau. “And then Saturday and Sunday too. I really enjoy it.”

Devlin is consistently impressed by the way Fr. Damien incorporates the animals into his lesson plans.

“On those afternoon days after the

“And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” Genesis 1:28 CONTINUES ON

kids have been playing outside and have had lunch and may not be paying much attention, he comes in with the latest exotic animal and the whole class wakes up,” Devlin said.

About half the animals were donated by school families who could no longer take care of them.

“So now the animal is here, and the child can come see it,” added Devlin.

Fr. Damien also “loans out” the animals to students and their families during school vacations.

“The beautiful animals direct us to the Creator and in their beauty, I see the fin-

FR. DAMIEN GIAP, SCHOOL RECTOR, LAUGHS WITH ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST STUDENTS WHILE HOLDING MALLOW THE RABBIT. PHOTOS BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

gerprints of God the Father,” explained Fr. Damien. “Just like I need the Eucharist for nourishment because it’s the bread of life – I feed the animals pellets and hay to nourish them.”

By the looks of things, Fr. Damien’s “little zoo” as he likes to call it, is a magnet for students, just as much and if not more than the basketball hoops and climbing structure that are also on campus.

“All the kids love the animals here,” said

eighth-grader Kiera Spencer, during one of her recess visits to the animals.

She’s graduating soon and expressed how much she will miss them.

“But I live like 4 minutes from here, so I know I’m going to come back and visit them,” she said.

Fr. Damien gave a simple reason for this strong connection between his students and his animals.

“We are called to be the stewards of the earth,” he said. C

Church in Orange

A LEOPARD GECKO FINDS A PLACE TO SIT ON MARCH 31 AT ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST SCHOOL.

VOLUNTEER “ZOOKEEPER” ANNE MARIE LAU HOLDS UP A CHINCHILLA ON MARCH 31 AT ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST SCHOOL CAMPUS.

CHRIST CATHEDRAL TO HOST SPECIAL MASS IN HONOR OF ST. PEREGRINE

BY BRADLEY ZINT

CHRIST CATHEDRAL IS hosting a special Mass on May 4 for the Feast Day of St. Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer and at-risk youth.

The celebrant is a visiting Servite Order priest, Fr. Joseph Chamblain, pastor of Assumption Church in Chicago. A fellow Servite priest, Fr. Michael Pontarelli, pastor of St. Juliana Falconieri parish in Fullerton, is the organizer and a concelebrant.

The Mass begins at 6 p.m. A blessing with a St. Peregrine relic will be given for all who wish to come forward and receive one.

Frs. Joseph and Michael are hoping this special Mass will become an annual tradition in the Diocese of Orange.

“It will also provide an opportunity to be introduced to this saint for all those not familiar with him,” said Fr. Joseph.

Peregrine Laziosi was born in Italy in the late 13th century, a time of tremendous social change in the region.

“Because of that, lives were disturbed, said Fr. Joseph. “There was violence and as a young man, he got caught up in that. He would’ve been considered a street gang member today.”

Eventually, St. Peregrine was converted by a Servite friar and joined the order. He spent the rest of his life caring for the sick and the poor, “the marginalized people he would’ve bullied earlier in life,” Fr. Joseph said.

St. Peregrine was also said to need a leg amputation because of cancer, but the cancer miraculously disappeared the night before the amputation after following his praying.

St. Peregrine was canonized in 1726. There is a history of devotion to St. Peregrine in the Diocese of Orange,

including a special prayer room named after him at Mission San Juan Capistrano. Mission Basilica, as well as St. Juliana Falconieri and St. Philip Benizi parishes in Fullerton, also host a devotional prayer and blessing with a relic of St. Peregrine on the first Saturday of each month.

Fr. Michael said St. Peregrine is one of those saints who nearly everyone can relate to.

“If you were to ask the congregation who has cancer or knows someone with cancer, pretty soon you get everyone standing up,” he said. “To have someone to intercede for these people who suffer from cancer and gangs, he should be

well-known.”

Fr. Joseph, who has served as director of the National Shrine of St. Peregrine in Chicago, added: “We’re all dealing with these issues, this crime and violence and division. This was the world in which

Peregrine lived and was raised in. He found healing and a direction in life. Really, I think he’s coming into his own as an intercessor for our country and our world as we seek to find our way back to one another.” C

personnel please call: 1 (800) 364–3064

A ST. PEREGRINE PRAYER ROOM IS HOUSED WITHIN SERRA CHAPEL AT MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

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to the naked eye. According to the UN Environment Programme, microplastics, plastic fragments smaller than 5 millimeters, can be found everywhere, including freshwater resources. Nearly impossible to remove from the environment, microplastics in freshwater spread disease, are ingested by humans and animals, and release harmful toxins that can cause inflammation, hormonal disruption, shifts in gene expression, or behavior changes. Though these chemicals have been shown to have disruptive effects in many creatures, the long-term impacts of microplastics are unknown.

ensure that each of us, our families, and our future generations will have safe access to plastic-free water?

Great change begins with small steps. Let us each challenge ourselves to see how much plastic we can keep from landfills, oceans and waterways. For one week, we can stop buying drinks that come in single-use plastic bottles. This includes soda, juice, water, spirits, milk, smoothies and more. Challenge yourself to only consume drinks packaged in aluminum, glass or carton containers.

Dogs

Plastic pollution in our water presents a threat to creation that we, as Catholics, are called to protect. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) explained that “Care for God’s Creation,” one of the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching, calls each of us to be stewards of our common home. We have a responsibility to care for our Earth and all its inhabitants: the insects, plants, animals, and humans that are all part of God’s creation. Unfortunately, plastic pollution in our waters disrupts the relationships between all of us who live and thrive among God’s creation. We need to protect the many creatures with whom we share our common home.

How can we join together to protect our water from plastic pollution? How can we

How can we raise our voices for collaborative action? While each of us can help keep plastic out of our water, a comprehensive effort to protect our waterways from plastic pollution requires change from major corporations.

In a study called The 2021 Plastic Waste Makers Index sponsored by the Minderoo Foundation (https://www.minderoo. org), it showed that only 20 companies are responsible for more than half of all single-waste plastic production. Furthermore, just 100 companies produce 90% of all single-use plastics. These plastic manufacturers are largely petrochemical companies, but beverage, food and hygiene corporations also play a significant role in plastic pollution by choosing to use plastic products that contribute heavily to the plastic pollution crisis in our waters.

We can urge corporations to take responsibility for their role in polluting our waters with plastic. Let us raise our voices and tell companies to be transparent about plastic use, reduce plastic products, and invest in recycling.

Together, we can choose to value creation over profit and commit to protecting the waters that are essential to all life on Earth. To care for creation is to care for all people, nature, all life that depends on water to survive, our common home and all the future generations that will inherit our Earth. C

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AROUND OUR DIOCESE

BY STAFF

THE GENTLEMEN’S HABERDASHERY

The Gentlemen’s Haberdashery, one of Orange County’s longest and most celebrated charitable fundraisers and social events, will be held on Thursday, April 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 West Coast Highway in Newport Beach.

This year’s event, entitled “Generations of Generosity” will feature Orange County’s most prominent executives and community leaders modeling a full range of menswear.

The Gentlemen’s Haberdashery provides major funding for the Heart of Jesus Retreat Center in Santa Ana and shines a spotlight on the impact the Retreat Center makes in the local community at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach. Featuring Orange County’s most prominent executives and community leaders modeling a full range of menswear, the Gentlemen’s Haberdashery provides major funding for the Heart of Jesus Retreat Center in Santa Ana, CA and shines a spotlight on the incredible impact the Retreat Center makes in the local community. The Heart of Jesus Retreat Center is operated by the Sisters of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart to provide religious and integrity

To RSVP or learn more, visit gentlemenshaberdashery.com C

CATHOLIC AGING: A MINISTRY FOR AGING AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

Join us for a presentation titled, “Your Catholic Faith Has Prepared You for the Dementia Journey,” by author Matthew Estrade on Wednesday, May 3 at 7 p.m., Diocese of Orange Pastoral Center, Conference Room F.

Copies of his book, "The Peace with Dementia Rosary" will be available for purchase for $12. Or you can bring your pre-purchased book for signing. For more information, visit CatholicAging.com C

THE LIVING ROSARY

A Living Rosary will be held on Monday, May 15 at 7 p.m. at St. Nicolas Church in Laguna Woods.

Since May of 2010, St. Nicholas Church in Laguna Woods has presented The Living Rosary twice a year, sponsored by the Unity Group. It has grown and evolved into a beautiful service honoring our Blessed Mother. Each decade is said by one of our ethnic groups: Anglo, Spanish, Filipino and Vietnamese in their native tongue. We are happy to have our Confirmation class participate with the 5th decade. This year our Mother Mary statue is from the Spanish Group, Our Lady of Guadalupe. All are welcome to experience our rich diversity in this beautiful service to Mary. C

COURTESY GRAPHIC

CHRIS HARRINGTON OF JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL WALKS IN THE 2022 GENTLEMEN’S HABERDASHERY FASHION SHOW. PHOTO BY SCOTT AND DIANA SCHMITT OF SAN JUAN PHOTO & DIGITAL

A LIVING ROSARY WAS HELD IN 2022 AT ST. NICHOLAS CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LAGUNA WOODS. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. NICHOLAS CATHOLIC CHURCH

OC Catholic Abroad

Patty Mahoney, editor of OC Catholic, shares the latest issue with the Very Rev. Robert Casey, pastor of Gate of Heaven Catholic Church in Boston, Massachusetts. Gate of Heaven is Patty’s hometown parish and she is also a graduate of the parish school.

We want your photos! Send your pictures of “OC Catholic Abroad” — of you, family or friends visiting Catholic churches and other sacred places — to editor@occatholic.com. Please include a brief description of the photo, the name of the person(s) featured in the photo and their home parish.