OC CATHOLIC - JUNE 11, 2023

CONTENTS

I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU!

Love takes many forms and our faith has myriad unique expressions of love.

PARISH CELEBRATES NEW SHERIFF SUBSTATION

Our Lady of Fatima Academy in San Celemente recently held a grand opening for the new station located on the school’s campus.

CATHOLIC IDENTITY AND SPIRITUAL ROOM PARENTS

Students at St. Francis of Assisi Elementary in Yorba Linda are encouraged to embody the “Spirit of St. Francis”.

ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC MISSION STATEMENT

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

ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC

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

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

Executive Editor: Monsignor Stephen Doktorczyk

Editor: Patricia Mahoney, editor@occatholic.com

News Ideas: editor@occatholic.com

Delivery Problems: occatholicsupport@occatholic.com

ADVERTISING

Director of Custom Content: Caroline Wong, cawong@scng.com

SCNG CUSTOM CONTENT

Managing Editor: Caitlin Adams Art Director: Ryann Beveridge

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

Shepherding God’s Flock

ENJOY PHOTOS OF BISHOP KEVIN VANN LEADING WITH LOVE THROUGHOUT OUR DIOCESE.

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

CONTINUES ON PAGE 17

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.

Watch a

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.

On May 26, Bishop Vann visited St. Anne School in Santa Ana to celebrate the Month of our Blessed Mother.

ART ON CAMPUS

EAGLE,”

SAINT PROFILE

BARNABAS (FEAST DAY: JUNE 11)

THE STORY OF THIS early missionary, a Cypriot Jew called Joseph, is told in the Acts of the Apostles. He was named Barnabas (son of encouragement) by the Twelve Apostles when he sold property and gave them the money (4:36-37). He introduced the convert Paul to the apostles (9:27), was officially sent by the Jerusalem church to Antioch (11:22-26), was set apart with Paul by the Spirit for a mission to Cyprus (13:2), attended the Council of Jerusalem (15:12), and returned to Cyprus with Mark (15:36-41). By tradition, he was martyred there.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

“ We can improve our witness through charity toward our brothers and sisters.”

— Pope Francis

HE BRONZE

BY Michael Maiden, 1999. A gift of Judy Strecker. Located outside the Cathedral Memorial Gardens. C

SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND

ATTENDING A CATHOLIC CHURCH IN JAPAN TAKES A LITTLE SEARCHING, BUT WE FOUND OUR COMMUNITY

BY GREG HARDESTY

ON OUR RECENT honeymoon in Japan, my wife and I attended Mass in a country where Catholicism is very much a minority religion.

Most Japanese, traditionally, are of the Shinto or Buddhist faith.

As of 2021, there were only about 431,100 Catholics in Japan, or 0.34% of the total population, according to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan.

Compare this to Orange County, where there are 1.3 million Catholics – more than 40% of the population.

Not surprisingly, finding a Roman Catholic church to attend on a Sunday in Japan can pose some minor challenges – especially outside the megalopolis of Tokyo.

It can be a conveniently forgotten thing to do while traveling abroad, but it remained a must for us to experience in Japan.

CHERRY BLOSSOMS AND TRAINS

Midway through our trip at the height of cherry blossom season in late March and early April, we visited Nara, a popular tourist city known for its park of roaming deer. Nara is a 45-minute train ride from the ancient capital of Kyoto.

We found an 11 a.m. service at Catholic Nara Church. We got there early and

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YAMATOKORIYAMA CHURCH IS A 10-MINUTE WALK FROM THE TRAIN STATION IN YAMATOKORIYAMA, A CITY WITH FOUR SHINTO SHRINES, FIVE BUDDHIST TEMPLES AND ONE CATHOLIC CHURCH. PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREG HARDESTY

PALM SUNDAY MASS IS CELEBRATED AT YAMATOKORIYAMA CHURCH.

visited the grounds of the attached elementary school.

As Mass time approached and we didn’t see a lot of people arriving, we found some friendly locals exiting the church office and asked them, in broken Japanese, if Mass would be held as scheduled.

No, a kind gentleman told us. The priest was filling in at another parish today so there would be no 11 a.m. service.

A Filipino woman and her daughter, longtime residents of Nara, happened to be there and told us in English they would be attending a 1 p.m. service in a nearby town that was about 20 minutes away by train.

After killing some time at a restaurant, we saw the two on a train to Yamatokoriyama, a city with four Shinto shrines, five Buddhist temples, and one Catholic Church.

Yamatokoriyama Church is a 10-minute walk from the train station through a pleasant suburban area in a city known for its cultivation of goldfish, rice, strawberries and tomatoes.

The church has a monument that commemorates Nagasaki Christians who were caught as heretics in 1870 after the Meiji Restoration and were forcibly deported to the city. Among Japanese Catholics, especially revered are 26 martyrs who were crucified in 1597 in Nagasaki.

It was Palm Sunday.

HIDDEN CHRISTIANS

From 1989 to 1995, I lived in Japan in the Tokyo and Yokohama area. While an editor and a writer for The Japan Times newspaper, I visited the Goto Islands in the East China Sea.

Located off the western coast of Kyushu and part of Nagasaki Prefecture, the five-island archipelago has numerous Catholic churches. Portuguese missionaries introduced Catholicism to the port city of Nagasaki in the late

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I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU!

BY SISTER DIANE HEISS, SDSH

HOW MANY WAYS are there to say, “I love you?”

There are probably as many ways as there are unique persons, each trying to express our love as best as we can. We each have our own limitations and failures in love, and our attempts can fall short of the love we feel. However, God’s love is infinite, and capable of being expressed in countless ways.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, our annual feast in which we remember in a particular way Jesus’ love for us through the gift of his Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist. On Holy Thursday, at the Last Supper on the night before he died, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying “… This is My Body which will be given up for you” and then He took a cup of wine, blessed it, and said “This is … My Blood … which will be poured out for you … for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.”

With that gift of Our Lord, in a way we cannot fully comprehend, but still believe due to the virtue of faith, Jesus is truly present — Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity — under the appearances of “bread” and “wine.” This miracle is called Transubstantiation, meaning that although the appearances of “bread” and “wine” remain the same, the reality or substance is completely changed — that what was formerly bread and wine is now the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, true God and true man.

We might struggle with the doctrine of the Real Presence, wondering how Jesus can be present under the appearances of “bread” and “wine.” Nonetheless, we trust in Our Lord’s words, and we profess the constant faith of the Church, from antiquity to the present, that Jesus Christ gives

Himself to us as food in the Most Blessed Sacrament. May our celebration of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi increase our faith in this tremendous gift, and may we receive Our Lord regularly and with great devotion.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI:

■ Participate in a Corpus Christi procession.

■ Write a letter thanking Jesus for the tremendous gift of receiving Him in Holy Communion.

■ If you have not recently gone to Confession (received the Sacrament of Penance), do so soon and start receiving Jesus regularly in Holy Communion.

■ Read I Corinthians 11:23–26 and talk about your favorite parts of the Mass.

■ Using Biblical references on love, prepare a family prayer service.

■ Find Corpus Christi coloring/craft activities online for your children.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES FOR THE FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART:

■ Make a Holy Hour.

■ Pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart. (Find online)

■ Choose a different invocation from the Litany each day and pray with it, asking for the grace to realize what it cost Jesus to pour out His life and love to redeem each of us.

■ Make heart shaped cookies, decorate and enjoy them.

■ Watch the Sacred Heart Kids’ Club Video: https://sacredheartsisters.com/ C

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE LEBLANC

ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY HOSTS GALA TO SUPPORT EXCITING EXPANSION PLANS

BY ROSALIA RIPULLO

IT WAS A STARRY night above the canyons of St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado Canyon, but the real gems were among the 500 guests who raised $300,000 for the Abbey’s ambitious expansion goals this year.

The first is a digital relaunch of the Abbott’s Circle, a first-of-its-kind digital monastery.

The second is the continued expansion of the Evermode Institute, a new center for Catholic spiritual and intellectual formation in Springfield, Illinois that will involve several of the Norbertine Canons of St. Michael’s Abbey.

Fr. Ambrose Criste, O.Praem, who is overseeing the creation of the Evermode Institute, discussed the process.

“In March of 2022, we announced the plans to create the Evermode Institute,” he said.

Several Norbertine Canons from Orange County will be moving into the new Corpus Christi Priory in Springfield through the month of June and opening day for the new Norbertine community will be July 1.

“Corpus Christi Priory, where the Norbertine Canons will be living, working and praying, is an already existing property comprising residential buildings, retreat facilities, a conference center and a nearly-100-year-old church previously owned and operated by the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis,” added Fr. Ambrose.

The Evermode Institute - the primary apostolate of the Norbertine Canons of Corpus Christi Priory - was founded to serve Catholic teachers, administrators, and formators, and offers a complete curriculum in the fundamentals of our Holy Faith. Its online learning management system will launch in September 2023. Learn more about this exciting project here: https://evermode.org/

The special gala, which was held

earlier this spring, also paid homage to the anniversary of the newly constructed St. Michael’s Abbey, which was dedicated in 2021.

The Right Reverend Eugene Hayes thanked Bishop Kevin Vann, who was in attendance at the gala and hails from Springfield.

“It’s ironic as Springfield has given us our Bishop, said Abbot Hayes. “We will go back and try to pay back the favor that will be almost impossible, but we will be able to continue spreading the Gospel.”

Fueling the action to expand were written requests from several bishops belonging to the Norbertine community, asking for the start of a foundation in their dioceses.

These exciting goals detailing the Norbertine Canons’ monastic leadership, succeeded in giving the night a plethora of promise and generosity.

Abbot Hayes especially thanked the generous supporters in attendance.

“God’s grace, our efforts, our fidelity - but your generosity - gave us this ability,” he said.

Along with Fr. Ambrose and other Norbertine Canons, Fr. Augustine Puchner, O.Praem, will also be traveling to Springfield to launch the Evermode Institute.

“Springfield has a hero coming their way,” said parishioner and emcee, Todd Main of St. John the Baptist in Costa Mesa, where Fr. Augustine had served as pastor for many years.

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BISHOP KEVIN VANN ADDRESSES ATTENDEES DURING GALA 2023 HELD AT ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY IN APRIL. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY

BISHOP KEVIN VANN GREETS ATTENDEES OF GALA 2023 HELD AT ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY IN SILVERADO CANYON.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Pioneering a monastic movement into the digital world is also the relaunch of the Norbertines’ digital monastery, The Abbot’s Circle.

“The Abbot’s Circle offers a window into the rich beauty, history and prayer of an abbey like ours,” said Fr. Ambrose. “This relaunch has ushered in the beginning of a new and clearly needed digital ministry.”

Traditionally, monasteries like St. Michael’s Abbey have served as centers

for art, scholarship and prayer, while also laying the foundations of Catholic culture. St. Michael’s Abbey has a growing roster of applicants of young men seeking the monastic tradition and the opportunity to envelop themselves in rich truth and education.

“It’s important, I think, for us to note here that in addition to firing the hearts of faithful Catholics around the world, this content is reaching unbelievers too and bringing them the truth of the Gospel,” added Fr. Ambrose. “Countless

conversions begin with chance encounters with beauty and with truth.”

With a cross-country expansion, the re-launch of the Abbot’s Circle and the Evermode Institute, the Norbertine Canons continue to successfully expand their reach.

“We are creating thoughtful content with high production quality, carrying the work of abbeys into the digital age,” said Fr. Ambrose. “There is an audience from all over the world.”

To encourage patrons, Fr. Ambrose

used the comparison of the Middle Ages marked by exaggerated violence and faithlessness.

“Walk into any gothic cathedral, listen to any Gregorian chant or read any page from St. Thomas Aquinas, and it becomes obvious that the Middle Ages were a time of growth,” he argued. “I bring this up to show that we can fall into a similar lie today. We see decay and struggle and we miss the incredible momentum in the Church, in Monastic leadership through the Norbertines.” C

THE RIGHT REVEREND EUGENE J. HAYES OF ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY IS PICTURED WITH JIM AND HEATHER MADDEN DURING A RECENT GALA HELD IN APRIL.

Food Shipments Funded by US Catholics Are Bringing Relief to Families at Risk of Malnutrition

To combat hunger in developing countries, Cross Catholic Outreach has a simple but effective plan: Ship in Vitafood. Vitafood is a fortified rice product specifically designed to fight the effects of child malnutrition, and it can be packed in large shipping containers and cost-effectively sent to Catholic schools, orphanages and other local partners serving the poorest of the poor. A single container can keep crucial feeding programs running or provide

“Church leaders in Haiti, Guatemala and other developing countries are eager to help the hungry poor in their communities, but they need us to supply them with resources like this food. Getting a steady supply of Vitafood is critical to their programs. In some cases, where hunger is extreme, these meals can even save lives.”

According to Cavnar, Vitafood is also an extremely flexible resource. It comes in several different varieties and can be prepared with additional spices and ingredients to suit local tastes. Vitafood provides the optimal balance of vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, fat and carbohydrates that a child’s hungry body needs. These meals are also important to the health and physical well-being of children and adults who are healthy but at risk of becoming malnourished.

What’s more, because Vitafood meals are donated to us by respected faith-based organizations, Cross Catholic Outreach only needs to cover the cost to ship the meals to hungry families. This means that for every dollar donated, 14 nutritious meals can be sent to a community in need.

Vitafood is a fortied rice, potato or lentil-based meal loaded with protein, vitamins and minerals.

immediate relief when disasters strike. “Credit for the success of our Vitafood outreaches should really go to the compassionate Catholics in the U.S. who help us secure and ship these self-contained meal packets to Catholic missions around the globe,” said Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, a Vatican-recognized charity serving missionaries in the developing world.

“There are very few donations a person can make that achieve this much bang for the buck,” Cavnar pointed out. “Some of our donors are so impressed with the impact that they sponsor the shipment of an entire 40-foot container filled with food, effectively supplying the poor with tens of thousands of meals.”

Support for this outreach is particularly important now, according to Cavnar. The COVID-19 pandemic, the military conflict in Ukraine and widespread inflation have made obtaining food much harder for overseas missions.

“Our goal is to support those struggling Church leaders by bringing in the food they

A young girl waits for the meal to be served at her school in Nicaragua. Cross Catholic Outreach and its U.S. benefactors play a critical role in making this and other school lunch programs possible by sponsoring the food shipments these ministries need.

need. The health of poor families is at risk if we don’t,” Cavnar said. “As I see it, this is our opportunity to be a blessed instrument of mercy. It is our chance to further the work of the dedicated priests, sisters and Catholic lay missionaries who are doing everything they can to respond to this threat.”

Readers interested in supporting Cross Catholic Outreach food programs and other outreaches to the poor can contribute

through the ministry brochure inserted in this issue or send tax-deductible gifts to: Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC02495, PO Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090-7168. The ministry has a special need for partners willing to make gifts on a monthly basis. Use the inserted brochure to become a Mission Partner or write “Monthly Mission Partner” on mailed checks so we can contact you about setting up those arrangements.

Legacy Giving Provides Catholics With Unique Opportunity To Bless Others

If you are like many Catholics born in the 1950s or before, you have probably begun to think about the spiritual legacy your life and actions represent. What did we care about? What did we value? These are some of the things we hope will be remembered.

“For a growing number of Catholics, this introspection has led to the exploration of ‘legacy giving’ — the use of one’s will, trust, life insurance or retirement policies to leave behind an echo of one’s beliefs, deeds and values — a blessing of others that will

reverberate beyond our own lifetime, hopefully influencing our family and others we cherish,” explained Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, an official Catholic relief and development charity with a staff dedicated to such estate planning.

According to Cavnar, Cross Catholic Outreach has helped many Catholics establish these “legacy gifts” and expects them to play a significant role in future ministry missions.

“A will or trust can also reflect a person’s special heart for a country or for an area of

need. It can be used to build houses for poor families or to build classrooms to educate children, for example,” Cavnar said. “Others simply want to help the poorest of the poor and make their legacy gifts for that purpose. It’s their way of saying, ‘As a Catholic, I value life and support works of mercy. I want my family to understand that calling and believe in it too.’ And because legacy gifts can be quite large, they often achieve incredible things. A single one might build an entire school or fund the construction of hundreds of homes. It’s

producing an amazing impact and serves as an incredible testament to the faith of the giver.”

In addition to this service, Cross Catholic Outreach’s staff can also support donors seeking to establish a charitable gift annuity, charitable remainder trust or special endowment. And financial planners can obtain information to help those who seek professional counsel or establish donor-advised funds.

To learn more about these services, the charity recommends readers visit its special online portal at crosscatholiclegacy.org

Catholic Missions Use School Lunch Programs to Feed Hungry Children in Poor Communities

Extreme hunger has been on the rise in developing countries around the globe, but Catholic missions have developed an effective way to combat the problem — especially where children are at risk, They have instituted school lunch programs to ensure needy boys and girls in the poorest communities receive at least one nutritious meal.

Sadly, for some of the participating children, that school lunch is the only food they will eat all day.

“I once met a poor father who grieved every time the weekend approached because he had no money and no food to offer his children on those days. He knew his kids would eat when they went to the Catholic school on weekdays, but when his kids were home on the weekends, they often went hungry,” shared Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, a respected relief and development ministry working in these impoverished areas. “We eventually found a way to deliver general food supplies to his community, but his story indicates just how critical Catholic school lunch programs are to the children in developing countries like Haiti, Guatemala and Nicaragua.”

Once you have seen the extreme poverty families face in the developing countries Cavnar listed, it is easy to understand why hunger is such a frightening prospect to the parents in those places. Life is very hard for poor families in those nations, but it is particularly challenging to those living in rural areas where whims of weather can so easily disrupt their incomes and their lives.

“Most rural families are subsistence farmers,” Cavnar explained. “They work very hard, but it is still a struggle for them to feed their families. When the weather doesn’t cooperate or pests destroy their crops, their children go hungry — and some even fall prey to malnutrition. That’s a very dangerous condition because it puts their sons and daughters at risk of long-term mental and physical impairments. It also weakens immune systems, which produces additional problems when an illness such as COVID-19 strikes. In fact, almost any serious illness or disease can be deadly when your immune system is compromised.”

Solving this hunger problem required Cross Catholic Outreach to find a solution that would cost-effectively reach a significant number of children in one place and at one

time.

“Catholic schools were identified as the most logical place to host a feeding program, so we made it a priority to supply them with food for lunches,” Cavnar said. “We have other methods of getting food out to hungry families, but the school-based feeding programs are the most effective ways we can put healthy meals in the hands of needy boys and girls. We also supply Vitafood to those schools whenever possible because the meals are specifically formulated to be both highly nutritious and culturally appropriate to the countries we serve.” (See related story on the opposite page.)

Beyond satisfying the hunger of children, the program also has an important educational impact, according to Cavnar.

“Hungry children struggle to concentrate in school, and eventually they fall behind. When a family finds it hard to make ends meet and their children don’t seem to be progressing in their studies, those parents are tempted to

pull their sons and daughters out of school altogether. We can’t let that happen. We need to ensure these children are able to succeed in school so they can eventually break free from the poverty that has plagued their families for generations.”

While Cavnar believes the school-based feeding programs currently underway are successful, he believes even more can be

How to Help

done if Catholics in the United States remain committed to the cause and generously support the Church’s efforts.

“Now that they understand the hardships hunger creates, I’m optimistic my Catholic brothers and sisters in the U.S. will be eager to help,” he said. “That’s because every meal we are able to ship can have a lifetransforming impact on a child.”

To fund Cross Catholic Outreach’s effort to help the poor worldwide, use the postage-paid brochure inserted in this newspaper, or mail your gift to Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC02495, PO Box 97168, Washington, DC 200907168. The brochure also includes instructions on becoming a Mission Partner and making a regular monthly donation to this cause.

Catholic schools in countries such as Guatemala and Nicaragua rely on Cross Catholic Outreach’s shipments of Vitafood to provide daily lunches. These prepackaged meals can be supplemented with meats and vegetables from local sources.

If you identify an aid project, 100% of the donation will be restricted to be used for that specific project. However, if more is raised for the project than is needed, funds will be redirected to other urgent needs in the ministry.

CONTINUED

16th century.

FROM PAGE

Some inhabitants of the Goto Islands are descendants of Kakure Kirishitan (“Hidden Christians”), many of whom were persecuted and tortured by Japanese shogunates for their faith until Catholicism was legalized in the 19th century.

The oldest and most famous church in the Goto Islands is Dozaki, built in 1868. Today, Japan has more than 950 churches spread throughout 16 Catholic dioceses.

WARM GREETINGS, MEMORIES

PARISHIONERS ATTEND PALM SUNDAY MASS AT YAMATOKORIYAMA CHURCH. PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREG HARDESTY

The church appeared to be a converted meeting hall. With the weather still pleasant ahead of the heat of late spring and summer, a few small electric fans sat unused.

The Mass was in Japanese, and there was no music. At one point, the priest introduced a visitor, a young seminarian.

“Since there are so few of us in Japan,” the priestin-training told us after Mass, “we all study together in Tokyo.”

He is among the estimated 6,200 seminarians, clerics and religious in Japan.

Most of the congregants at Yamatokoriyama Church were seniors, although there were some children.

After Mass, the parishioners warmly greeted us. We told them how happy we were to have found a church

to attend – especially during Lent.

They said they hoped to see us again.

FOUND

We saw many beautiful sights during our 10-day visit. The humble Yamatokoriyama Church couldn’t visibly compete with the majestic shrines and temples we saw in Japan, or the stunning gardens that were in full bloom.

But it’s a memory that will linger.

Catholicism may be relatively hidden in Japan. We were so happy to have sought out Mass.

As tourists in Japan, we largely were hidden.

For an hour-plus this Easter season, we embraced a wonderful gathering of the faithful – strangers, but so comfortingly familiar.

For a blip on our trip, we found our community. C

FEATURE

OUR LADY OF FATIMA ACADEMY CELEBRATES NEW OC SHERIFF SUBSTATION

BY PATTY MAHONEY

OUR LADY OF FATIMA Academy recently hosted a grand opening celebration for a new OC Sheriff substation located on the school campus.

The opening, which was held last month, featured members of the OC Sheriff’s Department, Deacon Carl

Swanson, the Price family of Our Lady of Fatima Academy and Rebecca Corey.

Deacon Carl spearheaded the project.

“I wanted to take on this project because of my previous law enforcement experience,” he said. “I know how important it is for patrol officers to have a secure place to relax, write reports, make

telephone calls, have a snack and have a bathroom available.”

Deacon Carl said that in the case of San Clemente, the location of Our Lady of Fatima, provides the Sheriff’s Office and the CHP a location much closer to the center of town than their primary station locations.

“Additionally, the police presence affords us additional security for our school and church campus,” he added. “We want to support our local law enforcement and show them they are much appreciated.”

The substation has been set up, decorated and has a fridge stocked full of

THE GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION OF A NEW OC SHERIFF SUBSTATION ON THE CAMPUS OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA ACADEMY WAS HELD ON MAY 17. PHOTOS COURTESY OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA ACADEMY

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

drinks and goodies for the deputies. The Price Family has been major contributors in getting this set up for the deputies and the POF team will continue to monitor the needs for the substation. Deacon Carl is also working with the CHP Department to let them know this substation is available for them as well.

“This is exciting for our community as we are blessed to have this partnership which enhances the safety of our OLF community!” exclaimed OLF school principal Brett Minter.

Denise Valadez, Associate Superintendent of Curriculum, Spirituality and Accreditation for the Diocese of Orange Department Catholic Schools, echoed Minter’s excitement.

“The new Sheriff substation is a welcome addition to Our Lady of Fatima Academy’s campus and is a testament to their commitment to not only providing a secure environment for every student, but for showing gratitude for our friends in law enforcement,” she said. “We strive to maintain safe, secure campuses at all the schools in our Diocese, which begins with a close partnership with local law

enforcement agencies.”

Valadez went on to say that diocesan schools have built strong relationships with their local law enforcement agencies, and the addition of this substation is one way to give back to their partners.

“We thank the Orange County Sheriff Department for being one of our partners and for helping to keep our students safe,” said Valadez. C

THE LOCATION OF A SUBSTATION ON THE PROPERTY OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA PROVIDES THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND THE CHP A LOCATION MUCH CLOSER TO THE CENTER OF TOWN.

CATHOLIC IDENTITY AND SPIRITUAL ROOM PARENTS

BY DAWN HELWIG

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI Elementary School is known for providing an outstanding Catholic, wholechild education for preschool through eighth-grade students. The faculty, staff and administration are dedicated to shaping each student’s unique abilities by offering leadership opportunities both in and outside of the classroom. The school community talks about the “Spirit of St. Francis” and you feel it when you step foot on this campus.

The principal, Mrs. Jeannette Lambert noted, “We work on holy ground here. You feel the charism of our patron, St. Francis, in the work of the people in this community. It cannot be described but must be experienced.”

The Spiritual Room Parents was established in 2005 by a group of moms who desired to make a difference in the spiritual lives of the school community. They established key activities that have fed and nourished the spiritual growth of the community for the past 18 years. The Spiritual Room Parents were welcomed during the 2022-2023 school year at a special Commissioning Mass celebrated at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Yorba Linda, where they received a blessing from Msgr. Stephen Doktorczyk, along with blessed pins. The celebration included time together to pray and plan out the year ahead, with a focus on the ways God is calling them to provide the students with joy, the love of Christ, and a future full of hope.

This group of volunteers brings the “Spirit of St. Francis” to life with their work throughout the year. The Spiritual Room Parents are one of many active groups of believers within the St. Francis

of Assisi Catholic Identity Ministry, established many years ago to intentionally foster and support the work of faith formation both with the students at school and with the families at home.

Traditional Room Parents are still present on campus, assisting the teachers with parties, activities and fundrais-

ers, but the work of the Spiritual Room Parents calls for a deep commitment to pray for the families, faculty and students throughout the year.

Under the umbrella of our Catholic Identity Ministry, Spiritual Room Parents are actively engaged in everything from daily prayers to providing faith-based

student experiences on and off campus as they collaborate with the teachers and staff throughout the year. They attend monthly Eucharistic adoration on campus, host spirit-led activities, participate in Daily Class Mass at Santa Clara de Asís Church and most importantly they are praying the students to heaven. C

CATHOLIC IDENTITY SPIRITUAL ROOM PARENT THANK-YOU LUNCHEON. COURTESY PHOTO

May Crowning

In honor of May being the Month of Mary, Bishop Vann presided over St. Anne’s May Crowning Mass along with Fr. Mario.

The all-school Mass led by second grade through eighth-grade students, was attended by parents and special guests.

Donor Wall Unveiling

After Mass, the unveiling of St. Anne’s Donor Wall took place before all those in attendence. The wall recognizes those who have supported St. Anne over the years.

Photos courtesy of St. Anne School

AROUND OUR DIOCESE

BY STAFF

THE 2023 FIELD OF HONOR

In partnership with Homefront America, Mission San Juan Capistrano opened its 2023 Field of Honor last month in advance of Memorial Day weekend. The display featured hundreds of American flags, which were sponsored and honored a specific military member, veteran, first responder, K-9 or equestrian hero for their service. The flags were on display from May 23 through May 29.

PIZZA FUNDRAISER

Bishop William R. Johnson Knights of Columbus Council #9487, Santiago de Compostela Parish in Lake Forest, is having a pizza fundraiser with Brizio Pizza, 21771 Lake Forest Dr #104, in Lake Forest, on Tuesday, June 20, from

11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Brizio Pizza has pledged a portion of all purchases will benefit the local charitable and philanthropic programs of Council #9487.

PARISH TALK

St. Hedwig parish in Los Alamitos is excited to welcome back author Kathleen Beckman for its “Parish Talk” on June 23 at 7 p.m.

Join us for a beautiful talk on Blessed Conchita Cabrera as Kathleen discuss her new book “Beautiful Holiness.” C

THE 2023 FIELD OF HONOR AT MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO.

PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL #9487 OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA PARISH IN LAKE FOREST WILL HOLD A

PIZZA FUNDRAISER ON JUNE 20. PHOTO COURTESY OF COUNCIL #9487

Moments in our Journey

We are a group of parishioners from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Placentia, St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Huntington Beach, St. Boniface Catholic Church in Anaheim, St. Barbara Catholic Church in Santa Ana and Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Corona. Our pilgrimage to the Holy Land was May 1- May 11, 2023.

—Submitted by Diana Sullivan of St. Bonaventure Church

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