OC CATHOLIC - JULY 16, 2023

JULY 16, 2023

AN INSPIRED WOMAN

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THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ORANGE ■ OCCATHOLIC.COM

‘THE SURPRISING LITTLE SAINT’ FR. PEREGRINE FLETCHER, O.PRAEM., OF ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY, WROTE AND ILLUSTRATED A NEW BOOK TITLED “MY NAME IS PHILOMENA,” A STORY ABOUT THE REVERED SAINT. ILLUSTRATION BY FR. PEREGRINE FLETCHER, O.PRAEM.

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JULY 16, 2023

CONTENTS

7 OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

The mountain range in Palestine is a site important to faith, culture and history.

11 KNIGHTS HONOR TWO FROM OC

The California State Council of the Knights of Columbus recognized Fr. Michael St. Paul and Sir Knight Tom Collins.

12 AROUND OUR DIOCESE

A groundbreaking, record fundraising and the annual Camino de Santiago.

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.

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@OCCCatholicNews

GUEST COLUMN

BRING GENERATIONS TOGETHER THIS SUMMER become the mother of the Savior, and the birth of her Savior-Son in HIS SUMMER CATHOLICS Bethlehem. around the world are invited But echoes of the Visitation are to participate in two exciting, quietly woven into our daily prayer inter-related events in the life of life as Catholics. Part of the tradithe church. The World Day for Grandpar- tional Hail Mary prayer – Blessed ents and the Elderly will take place Sunday, are you among women, and blessed July 23, and World Youth Day is being is the fruit of your womb – is celebrated in Lisbon, Portugal during the drawn from Elizabeth’s greeting to first week of August. her young cousin when the Virgin To highlight his desire for the young arrived to visit her. and the old to deepen their bonds with The Magnificat – the exuberant one another, Pope Francis chose to draw hymn of praise to God sung by the themes of these two celebrations from Mary during the Visitation – is rea single biblical passage – that of the peated every evening, year-round, Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, by all those who pray the liturgy of found in the first chapter of Saint Luke’s the hours.

Gospel.

As we sing this canticle day This biblical passage is often associated after day, it imprints itself on our with the Advent season, since the Visitamemories and on our souls. tion occurs between the angel Gabriel’s But I think that even as we announcement to Mary that she would repeat the Hail Mary and the MagBY SR. CONSTANCE VEIT, LSP

T

PHOTO BY NIKOLINE ARNS

nificat each day, we tend to take for granted the encounter from which these texts were born.

By focusing our attention on the Visitation this summer, Pope Francis is inviting us to find new meaning in this scene.

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.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

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.

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For more information Email: mapm@stjohnsem.edu or visit www.stjohnsem.edu

O C C A T H O L I C ■ J U L Y 16 , 2 0 2 3

Watch 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.

DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

ART ON CAMPUS

“

Communion is never uniformity, but the ability to hold very different realities together.

— Pope Francis

”

SAINT PROFILE

JULIE MARY-MAGDALEN POSTEL

BAPTISMAL FONT

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Donors: Barbara and Douglas Stephen.

N 1774 THIS Frenchwoman opened a school for girls in her hometown, Barfleur. During the Revolution, Barfleur was a center of underground religious activities, and Julie was given charge of the reserved Eucharist and allowed to bring Communion to the sick. She continued her teaching and good works.

At age 51 she founded the Sisters of the Christian Schools of Mercy.

Despite many obstacles, as Sister Mary-Magdalen she shepherded the congregation until her death, finding a headquarters and achieving formal recognition.

OCATED WITHIN the eight-sided baptistry, symbolizing the seven days of creation and the eighth day for “new creation,” the baptismal font is in the shape of a cross and is made of the same Italian marble as the altar. On the floor if its pool is a mosaic by Mia Tavonatti of the Chi Rho, a Christogram representing the name of Jesus Christ in Greek. The mosaic contains the Alpha and Omega symbolizing Jesus as the beginning and the end. Photo by Joshua Sudock/Diocese of Orange

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

EX 1:8-14, 22; PS 124:1B-3, 4-6, 7-8; MT 10:34—11:1

EX 2:1-15A; PS 69:3, 14, 30-31, 33-34; MT 11:2024

EX 3:1-6, 9-12; PS 103:1B-2, 3-4, 6-7; MT 11:25-27

EX 3:13-20; PS 105:1 AND 5, 8-9, 24-25, 26-27; MT 11:28-30

EX 11:10—12:14; PS 116:12-13, 15 AND 16BC, 17-18; MT 12:1-8

SGS 3:1-4B OR 2 COR 5:14-17; PS 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; JN 20:1-2, 11-18

WIS 12:13, 16-19; PS 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16; ROM 8:2627; MT 13:24-43

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FEATURE

AN INSPIRED WOMAN

ALL ROADS HAVE LED ELYSABETH NGUYEN TO CHRIST CATHEDRAL AND OUR LADY OF LA VANG

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BY BRADLEY ZINT

N 2016, ELYSABETH NGUYEN traveled alone to central Vietnam to the shrine of Our Lady of La Vang, where the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared centuries ago. The sacred site in the Quảng Trị province is rural and remote, but Nguyen wanted to learn more about what she was getting into back home in California.

At Christ Cathedral, Nguyen’s home parish, church leadership wanted to build their own La Vang shrine. Relying on her years of professional experience, Nguyen was tapped to help oversee the project.

Five years later, the monumental effort was done: a striking display of the contemporary and traditional, highlighted by a 16-foot-tall Our Lady statue carved from Italian marble. The blessing day attracted more than 8,000 of the faithful. Nguyen, seated in the front row and wearing an orange dress symbolic of the Diocese of Orange, was understandably emotional.

She thought to herself, “Who would’ve thought that a little seed, with a little watering, would grow to become this today?”

Two years later, she’s still emotional thinking back on that hot July afternoon in 2021, wondering why she hadn’t gotten more involved in her faith earlier.

“I should’ve known God sooner,” Nguyen said. “I should’ve done things sooner, because He gave me a lot of skills and I didn’t even know.”

FROM THE MIDWEST TO OC

ther, she developed a balance of business and science.

Living in Omaha connected her with locals like Warren Buffett and visitors like Nancy Reagan. She remembers the First Lady reading at her elementary school.

She met Buffett many times — “Before he became a big shot,” she says — and was a recipient of his scholarship fund.

“I met many famous people when I was younger, not understanding how significant they would be to my life later,” Nguyen said.

Her parents valued education, sending her to the White House to study constitutional law, Catalina Island for biology camps and Houston for NASA lessons in astronomy.

Nguyen spent her formative years in Nebraska before her family moved to Orange County, then the San Francisco Bay Area. She received a bachelor’s in biochemistry at UCLA. She later attained an MBA from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School and a Ph.D. with additional

post-doc work in medical engineering at Northwestern University.

Throughout her life, she has displayed the same entrepreneurial spirit as her mother, and the traveler’s itch to visit new places and cultures. With keen abilities in speech and debate, backed by a values-based, no-nonsense way of interacting with others, Nguyen started her career in the biotech industry. She developed a reputation for being a deal maker. She ran laboratories, manufacturing, marketing, sales, research and development teams in the U.S. and abroad.

“I was very fortunate,” Nguyen said, “to have had very good mentors who put me in places where I could grow.”

‘TO THE SAME ROAD’

In her 30s, Nguyen, now married and with a daughter, revived her Catholic faith.

Church leaders leaned on her to create business plans, organizational charts, act as a liaison and do whatever was needed to get projects done.

“I’m involved in a lot of different things in different capacities,” she said, “but it all leads to the same road.”

In 2016, she joined Christ Cathedral’s Our Lady of La Vang Shrine community group and was later appointed by the

Nguyen’s Francophile parents were inspired to spell their daughter Elysabeth’s name like the Champs-Élysées — the iconic thoroughfare in Paris.

A first-generation Vietnamese American from Omaha, Nebraska, with an entrepreneur mother who did trading and ELYSABETH NGUYEN ADDRESSES ATTENDEES DURING THE CALLISTUS CHAPEL MEDIA DAY HELD ON FEB. 1. manufacturing and an optical engineer fa- PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

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Diocese as its official project manager for fundraising, architecture and construction.

The more involved she became, the more she found herself on the Cathedral campus.

“I went from a person who went to church several times a year to church every day,” she said. “Twice a day, sometimes.”

Nguyen compares her Catholic involvement to personal nourishment.

“Like a granola bar, but much bigger,” she said with a laugh. “A source of protein!”

‘A PASTOR’S DREAM’

Nguyen is having a banner year. Three separate organizations have given her awards in 2023: Catholic Charities Auxiliary (as a recipient on its Inspirational Catholic Women list), the Orange Catholic Foundation (with the Bishop’s Award for Exemplary Business Integrity) and a Vietnamese community group.

In April, Bishop Kevin Vann praised her when presenting the Bishop’s Award.

“We recognize her for business skills and her amazing ability to engage people in various parts of Orange County, especially our Christ Cathedral,” Bishop Vann said. “I’m grateful that she’s a friend of mine.”

She’s also in her first year as the new chief executive officer of the OLLV Foundation, an independent nonprofit charged with fundraising and managing the St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts and finishing phase two of the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine’s Marian gardens.

The St. Callistus project, located in the Christ Cathedral undercroft, will add a new worship space for the campus and contain burial spaces for bishops and parishioners. Groundbreaking began in July and is estimated to take about a year.

Importantly, with her small but dedicated team, they’ve raised some $8 million in less than a year, with a continued trajectory to complete fundraising by the end of 2024. Her team goes from person to person, parish to parish — a true grassroots effort throughout the Diocese.

Fr. Christopher Smith, rector emeritus of Christ Cathedral who has worked for CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

FEATURE / CATHOLIC FAMILY LIVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

BY DANIELLE TAYABAS

T ELYSABETH NGUYEN IS PICTURED BY THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG STATUE ON CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. PHOTO BY BRADLEY ZINT

years alongside Nguyen, called her “a pastor’s joy.”

“She exemplifies what we would like all of our people to be,” Fr. Christopher said.

Fr. Bill Cao, pastor of St. Anthony Mary Claret parish in Anaheim, added that Nguyen is “truly a woman of faith and service, a mover and shaker, a person who bridges cultures. She is truly a doer of the Word through her action. She serves Christ because she desires to be a true disciple of the lord in all ways.”

Of all the things Nguyen has accomplished, perhaps the impact of the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine resonates the strongest.

“We’re using the shrine for so many things,” she said. It’s not just for Vietnamese Catholics or the Marian Days celebration. There’s the Eucharistic Congress, the various Legions of Mary.

Different communities come to pray and book it for their own events. The true success of the project is seeing how many different people stop by and pray to Her.” C

HE BOOK OF ISAIAH mentions “the splendor of Carmel,” (Isaiah 35:2) when speaking about Israel’s deliverance on Mount Carmel. “Carmel” is a Hebrew word that means “garden of God.” It was on this mountain range of Palestine, currently known for its beautiful, lush forests, fertile grasslands and majestically painted skies that the prophet Elijah placed his trust in the Lord.

During a three-year drought inflicted by God, Elijah summoned to Mount Carmel all the Israelites, including hundreds of prophets that worshiped false gods. With a zealous and obedient heart, he challenged them in a contest involving a sacrifice to prove that His God was the One True God (1 Kings 18:20-40).

“The prayer of the prophet Elijah, who “arose like fire” and whose “word burned like a torch,” brought down fire from heaven on the sacrifice on Mount Carmel. This event was a “figure” of the fire of the Holy Spirit, who transforms what he touches,” (CCC 696).

When the Israelites witnessed this, they prostrated themselves and exclaimed, “The Lord is God!” After Elijah defeated and killed the false prophets the Lord sent a heavy rain that ended the drought.

Since then, Mount Carmel has become an anointed place of prayer. Over the centuries, Christian hermits gathered and resided there.

They lived an austere and ascetic life of prayer and penance with burning love for God and in veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In the 12th century, the Carmelite Order was founded from this humble band of hermits. Sometime between 1206-1214, the Carmelites were

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK

given the Rule of Saint Albert to live their religious consecration. Over time, they transformed from an eremitical to mendicant way of life and spread out to other countries.

In the 13th century, during a period of persecution, Our Lady of Mount Carmel appeared on July 16, 1251, in Aylesford, England to a Carmelite priest named Saint Simon Stock. She handed him the brown scapular and said, “Receive my beloved son, this scapular of thy order: this shall be to thee and to all Carmelites a privilege, that whosoever dies clothed in this shall never suffer eternal fire. It shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger and a pledge of peace.”

The brown scapular, placed around the neck and over the shoulders like an apron, became a part of the distinctive garment and religious habit worn by the Carmelites. It symbolizes their devotion, consecration and dedication to Our Lady and her powerful protection.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, also known as the Virgin Carmel, became the

Patroness of the Carmelite Order.

A smaller version of the brown scapular has been used over the years by the Christian faithful. It consists of two small pieces of brown wool on a cord. It has become a Marian sacramental and devotional that we can participate in and gain indulgences from.

One must be invested and enrolled in the Brown Scapular Confraternity by a priest and pray to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The Confraternity members will share in the spiritual benefits of the Carmelite Order as they strive to live a life of virtue.

The Sabbatine Privilege, a papal bull (a type of public decree, letters patent or charter issued by a pope of the Catholic Church) by Pope John XXII issued on March 3, 1322, is also attached to wearing the brown scapular. The Blessed Mother appeared to him in a vision and said, “I, the Mother of graces, shall descend on the Saturday after their death, and whomever I shall find in purgatory I shall free so that I may lead them to the holy mountain of life everlasting.”

Our Lady of Mount Carmel pray for us, protect us and lead us to eternal life! C J U L Y 16 , 2 0 2 3 ■ O C C A T H O L I C

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FEATURE

‘THE SURPRISING LITTLE SAINT’ NORBERTINE FATHER WRITES, ILLUSTRATES AND PUBLISHES STORY OF ST. PHILOMENA

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BY CATHI DOUGLAS

INCE FR. PEREGRINE Fletcher O.Praem, entered the Norbertine order in 2013, his life has been beyond busy, with free time precious and fleeting.

At first, his responsibilities as a novitiate, then his later theology studies in Toronto and Rome and now his current duties as an ordained priest and Master of Novitiates have meant that he is on the clock most all the time.

A visual artist who has supervised art installations for the Norbertine Fathers at their home at St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado Canyon, Fr. Fletcher finds it difficult to find a few pockets of free time to nurture his creativity — much less enough to write and illustrate an entire book.

Yet, that’s just what Fr. Fletcher has done: “My Name is Philomena: A Saint’s Story,” an illustrated children’s book, is available by preorder from publisher TAN Books and Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other booksellers before its formal release on Aug. 8 – in time for St. Philomena’s Aug. 11 feast day.

“I put my heart and soul into this project,” said Fr. Fletcher, whose first sketches were done quickly in pencil on random pieces of paper. “I wanted attractive images to inspire people to be like the saints, to love God, even to lay down their lives for Him.” His project is newsworthy, as Pope Francis blessed a statue of St. Philomena on May 17, saying: “Santa Filomena was CONTINUES ON PAGE 9

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ILLUSTRATION OF ST. PHILOMENA BY FR. PEREGRINE FLETCHER,O.PRAEM.

FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

the protector of St. John Maria Vianney, the Holy Curé of Ars; the Holy Curé of Ars is the protector of all priests. Let us priests also entrust ourselves to her in order to achieve holiness.”

Inspired by the abbey’s confreres, who loved St. Philomena and often asked for her intercession, Fr. Fletcher first began his book in 2014, snatching small amounts of time in between his novitiate assignments. Without consistent access to the internet or other research tools, he said, “I used my imagination to see what she might have looked like. I used the Silverado countryside to base many of my illustrations on.”

“The little saint” as he calls her, has particular meaning in his life. In praying for St. Philomena’s intercession, he said, she often presented solutions for his family members.

“Their lives were made better, their sufferings removed,” he explained.

He finds the saint’s story fascinating in part because her bones weren’t discovered

by Roman archaeologists until the early 1800s.

“They found a vial of her blood and her bones, and the name on the tomb said Pax Tecum Philomena, or essentially, rest in peace Philomena,” he noted.

On the tombstone were images of an anchor, lily and arrows, among others – all signs of Christian martyrdom.

After the bones and relics were brought to Rome, “there are a few things we’ve gleaned about her from revelations received by three different people at the same time,” Fr. Fletcher said. “She was a young girl, about 13, and has been called a ‘surprise saint’ as she was buried with the martyrs. Many miracles have happened surrounding her relics.”

Once he determined to write and illustrate the book, he created illustrations with colored pencils on 11-by-14-inch pastel paper. He wrote St. Philomena’s story as a poem, which he believed to be the most captivating way to describe her life.

He found the process of writing and illustrating enjoyable.

“I wanted to use my skills in a desire to serve this new heavenly friend,” he recalled.

The poem is more complex and the images more symbolic than the typical children’s book, so he hopes that adults as well will find it compelling.

He’d approached several Catholic publishers with the book, only to be rejected.

At about the same time he was accepting that the book might never be published, TAN Books contacted the abbey seeking an author for a book on a different subject.

When the email request eventually found its way to Fr. Fletcher, he demurred, but then added, “I have another book you could consider.”

ST. PHILOMENA IS DEPICTED WITH OUR LADY AND THE INFANT JESUS. ILLUSTRATION BY FR. PEREGRINE FLETCHER, O.PRAEM. His book was accepted about a week later.

“One thing that may surprise people is that this is a very homespun project,” he warned. “Many of the images might surprise people.”

Readers might identify local landscapes and, in one part of the story, Our Lady is pictured wearing a wreath of butterflies – because when Fr. Fletcher happened to gaze out his window during a migration, he spotted many butterflies fluttering around and the image came to him.

He’s found that trying new things is intimidating but ultimately fulfilling.

“I’m an amateur,” he said.

“I was building the plane while I was flying it, so to speak. I’m happy with the book, but I’d be interested in hearing constructive criticism and learning what other FR. PEREGRINE FLETCHER,O.PRAEM, ATTENTIVELY AT WORK. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE people think of it.” C J U L Y 16 , 2 0 2 3 ■ O C C A T H O L I C

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Attention summer travelers! Send us your “OC Catholic Abroad” photo!

You’ll be entered to win a $50, $25 or $15 gift card and you may be featured in an upcoming issue of Orange County Catholic!

Send travel pictures of yourself, family or friends to editor@occatholic.com. Photos from any destination — like a church, a hiking trail or a cruise — are welcome! Please include a brief description of the photo, location, the name of the people featured in the photo and your home parish in Orange County. Your photo must include someone holding an issue of OC Catholic to be entered to win.

Photos must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 1, 2023 to be entered to win. Only high resolution photos will be considered for publication in the print edition of OC Catholic.

Photos become the property of the Diocese of Orange and may be used for publication in OC Catholic or by the Diocese for print or online publication or social media purposes.

Three gift card winners will be randomly selected by OCC staff. Only photos depicting locations outside of Orange County are eligible to win.

DIOCESAN NEWS

TWO FROM DIOCESE OF ORANGE HONORED BY KNIGHTS

BY RON KUZLIK

the State Deputy, who serves as the chief executive of the state Knights of ColumWO MEN FROM THE Diocese bus council. of Orange were recently honored This year’s Southern Region awardee, at the annual meeting of the Fr. Michael St. Paul, is one of six children California State Council of the and attended St. Justin Martyr Catholic Knights of Columbus.

Church in Anaheim.

Fr. Michael St. Paul, a Fourth DePrior to entering seminary, Fr. St. Paul TOM COLLINS AND HIS WIFE SUZANNE COLLINS ARE PICTURED DURING A SPECIAL CEREMONY HELD TO RECOGNIZE gree Knight and pastor of Holy Trinity received a Master of Science in OrganiHIS RECENT CALIFORNIA KNIGHT OF THE YEAR AWARD. PHOTOS BY STEVE GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE Catholic Church in Ladera Ranch, was zational Development and Bachelor of honored with the Fr. Juan Perez Priest of Science in Human Relations and Organithe pastor and the parish as a whole.” the Year Award for the Southern Region zational Behavior from the University of The Knight of the Year honoree is also of California.

San Francisco. selected by the State Deputy.

Sir Knight Tom Collins, also a Fourth He worked for the Walt Disney ComAccording to California Knights of CoDegree Knight of Fr. Peter J.J. Juba Coun- pany in a variety of administrative and lumbus State Deputy Rene Trevino, “The cil #4922, which serves both La Purísima management positions for a period of over Knight of the Year has exhibited actions and Holy Family Catholic Churches in 20 years. throughout the year which has benefited Orange, and Christ Cathedral Assembly “I worked the better part of half my life their councils and exemplifies the values of #3479 in Garden Grove, was honored as for the ‘Magic Kingdom’ and now I work (Knights of Columbus founder) Blessed Fr. the California State Knight of the Year for for the Eternal Kingdom for the rest of my Michael McGivney.”

2022-23. life!” he likes to quip.

Tom Collins is an Honorary Life MemThe two originally received their Upon graduation from St. John’s Sember of the Knights of Columbus and has BISHOP KEVIN VANN AND FR. MICHAEL ST. PAUL ARE awards in May in Ontario, California, inary in Camarillo, he earned a master’s been a Knight since 1986. He served in the PICTURED DURING A CEREMONY TO RECOGNIZE FR. MICHAEL BEING HONORED WITH THE KNIGHTS OF and were later celebrated in June closer to degree in Divinity and a Master of Arts U.S. Air Force and earned a Bachelor of home, with a special ceremony in Orange Degree in theology as well as a Bachelor of Business Administration from Long Beach COLUMBUS’ FR. JUAN PEREZ PRIEST OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR THE SOUTHERN REGION OF CALI­FORNIA. attended by Bishop Kevin Vann.

Arts in philosophy.

State University.

The Fr. Juan Perez Award was estabHe was ordained in 2005.

Tom and his wife Suzanne have been the Color Corps (honor guard). lished in 1986 in honor of the ConventionHis first parish assignment was at St. married for over 49 years, have three chilCollins currently serves on the State al Franciscan friar who blessed ChristoJoseph Church in Santa Ana. He was then dren and are parishioners at La Purísima Administrative and Finance Committee. pher Columbus and his fleet of the Niña, assigned to St. Anthony Claret Church in Catholic Church in Orange, where he is a At St. Cecilia Church in Tustin, he prePinta and Santa Maria on the explorer’s Anaheim in 2009 before being appointlector and a member of the La Purísima viously served as president of the parish first expedition to the New World in 1492. ed administrator and then pastor of St. Finance Committee. council, sacristan, lector and ExtraordiFr. Perez exhibited great courage and Polycarp Catholic Church in Stanton in “Brother Tom Collins was selected for nary Minister of Holy Communion. He sacrifice when he later accompanied 2011. He was appointed to his most recent his dedication and professional actions as was also a Cub Scout leader, Little League Columbus on his second journey in 1493 pastoral assignment at Holy Trinity in a member of the State Council Adminmanager and American Youth Soccer and is credited with celebrating the first Ladera Ranch in 2020. istration and Finance Committee,” State Organization (AYSO) coach and Orange Mass in the New World upon their arrival It was at St John’s Seminary in CaDeputy Trevino said.

YMCA Man of the Year in 1992. in Port Concepcion, Hispaniola (modern marillo that Fr. St. Paul got to know and “All funds managed by the state council “When I separated from the Air Force, day Dominican Republic). understand the Knights of Columbus. come exclusively from our local councils. finished my education and got married, The honor is presented to a priest from “The Knights of Columbus and Catho- Through Brother Tom’s professional efforts, I knew I wanted to serve the Church and the northern, central and southern Califor- lic Church go hand in hand,” he said. we were true stewards of the council funds.” community,” said Collins, “so the KofC nia regions for outstanding contributions to “The message of the Knights is to do During his 37 years as a Knight, he has was an easy choice. The joy we share workfaith formation, brotherhood, Church and the service of the Lord, to live the Gospel served in a variety of capacities in service, ing together makes me realize we receive the Knights of Columbus Order. and share that with others.” leadership and ceremonial work. more than we give.”

Candidates are nominated by the local “It’s been my experience over the years He has been a council financial secFor more information on the Knights Knights of Columbus Council, Chapter or at all of the parishes that I have been that retary, Grand Knight on three separate of Columbus California State Council visit Fourth Degree Assembly and approved by the Knights are waiting to help and assist occasions, District Deputy and member of www.californiaknights.org C

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DIOCESAN PAGE HEADING NEWS

AROUND OUR DIOCESE

BY STAFF

7TH ANNUAL CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

On Saturday, July 22, the 7th Annual Camino de Santiago will once again take place at Santiago de Compostela Catholic Church in Lake Forest. This Camino is a re-creation of the pilgrimage celebrated throughout the year by thousands from around the world to the Shrine of Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

In addition to the usual three routes — 7 miles, 4 miles, and a mini-Camino — this year a Camino for families with young children has been added. It is a shorter version of the 7- and 4- mile routes with activities and reflections for the youngest in the community.

This year’s theme is “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10) and the walk will focus on the pilgrims’ reflections, prayers and activities in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

The walk will be followed by a Holy Mass, food, music, games, movies and fellowship.

SCAN QR CODE BELOW TO REGISTER FOR CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE ST. CALLISTUS CHAPEL AND CRYPTS PROJECT ON THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS WAS HELD ON JULY 5. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE

CATHOLIC CHARITIES AUXILIARY NEWS

Catholic Charities Auxiliary, the original founders of Catholic Charities of Orange County, recently raised a record $129,000. The group of Catholic women raises money annually from a variety of ways, including the annual Inspirational Catholic Women event.

Most of the funds will support Catholic Charities’ New Hope Counseling team to provide assistance with mental health services in the Diocese’s Catholic schools.

The Cantlay Food Distribution Center in Santa Ana and its Garden of Hope will also benefit.

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CATHOLIC CHARITIES AUXILIARY RECENTLY RAISED A RECORD $129,000 TO SUPPORT SEVERAL PROGRAMS. COURTESY PHOTO

GUEST COLUMN

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In his messages for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly and World Youth Day, the pope presents the Visitation as a significant intergenerational encounter.

“In the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth, between young and old, God points us towards the future that he is opening up before us,” he wrote. “Indeed, Mary’s visit and Elizabeth’s greeting open our eyes to the dawn of salvation: in their embrace, God’s mercy quietly breaks into human history amid abundant joy.”

Pope Francis continued, “I encourage everyone to reflect on that meeting, to picture, like a snapshot, that embrace between the young Mother of God and the elderly mother of Saint John the Baptist, and to frame it in their minds and hearts as a radiant icon.”

Following the pope’s advice, we could add the first chapter of Saint Luke’s Gospel to our summer reading list, especially verses 39-56!

The pope is asking us to do more than just frame an image of the Visitation in our minds, however. He is also inviting us “to make a concrete gesture that would include grandparents and the elderly.”

He challenges us, “Let us not abandon them. Their presence in families and communities is a precious one, for it reminds us that we share the same heritage and are part of a people committed to preserving its roots … Let us honor them, neither depriving ourselves of their company nor depriving them of ours.

May we never allow the elderly to be cast aside!”

To the pope’s suggestions that we reflect on the biblical text of the Visitation

and make a concrete gesture to include the elderly in our lives, I would like to add a third suggestion for this summer.

Just as it is important for the young to reach out to the old, the opposite is also true.

If you are an older adult with young people among your relatives or neighbors, why not honor the spirit of World Youth Day by reaching out to them with a gesture of welcome or support?

Pope Francis really believes that the young won’t make it without their elders.

He has said that if older people do not reach out to the young, the latter “will no longer see the things that must be done to open up the future …

If grandparents fall back on their melancholies, young people will look even more to their smartphones. The screen may stay on, but life will die out before its time.”

Let’s do all we can to make sure that life does not die out before its time!

Whether you are young, like Mary, or older, like her cousin Elizabeth, this summer set aside some time to reach out to someone who is not from your own age cohort. If you do, your life, and the lives of others, will be richly blessed.

Sister Constance Veit is the communications director for the Little Sisters of the Poor in the United States and an occupational therapist.

Pope Francis’ message for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2023: vatican.va/content/ francesco/en/messages/nonni/documents/20230531-messaggio-nonni-anziani.html Pope Francis’ message for World Youth Day 2023: vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/youth/documents/ papa-francesco_20220815_messaggio-giovani_2022.html C

‘Just as it is important for the young to reach out to the old, the opposite is also true.’

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DIOCESAN NEWS

SUMMER BREAK FOR ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC Please note that OC Catholic will not be printing a paper edition on the following Sundays:

July 30, August 6 and August 13

The print edition will return weekly starting August 20. In the meantime, go to occatholic.com for important news and updates from the Diocese of Orange and stories of faith and community.

The Sunday OC Catholic newspaper is a FREE addition available to all Sunday Orange County Register print subscribers and is also available at parishes across Orange County, thanks to the Diocese of Orange and valued OC Catholic advertisers.

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ST. CALLISTAS CHAPEL GROUNDBREAKING

The OLLV Foundation and Christ Cathedral hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on July 5 for the St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts project.

Bishop Kevin Vann presided over the blessing for the chapel, which is scheduled to be completed in summer 2024.

The space, located in the cathedral undercroft, is named after the St. Callistus parish in Garden Grove that closed in 2013 as part of the cathedral property sale to the Diocese of Orange the year prior.

The blessing was livestreamed and can be watched on YouTube.

“Welcome to everybody here in this momentous step, and last step, in the construction of Christ Cathedral,” Bishop Vann said. “The work we are beginning today should enliven our faith and make us grateful.”

Bishop added, “Let us pray for His

help through this celebration, my brothers and sisters and friends all, that God will bring the construction of the St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts to successful completion and His protection will keep those who work on it safe from injury.”

The $14.5-million modern Byzantine style chapel will contain about 12,500 square feet. It is being designed to accommodate approximately 250 people, making it smaller and more intimate than the cathedral above.

The crypts will have 40 burial spaces for the Bishops of Orange and another 700 niches for all the faithful. The general contractor is Driver SPG. The architectural firm is Johnson Fain of Los Angeles, with sacred art consultancy from Granda of Madrid, Spain.

Construction and fundraising for the St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts is by the OLLV Foundation, which has already raised more than $8 million toward the effort. For more information, visit www.stcallistuschapel. org or call (714) 282-4290. C

THE 7TH ANNUAL CAMINO DE SANTIAGO WILL TAKE PLACE ON JULY 22 AT SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LAKE FOREST. COURTESY PHOTO

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Moments in our Journey

Bishop Kevin Vann awaits the 2023 Fourth of July fireworks display from the roof of the Tower of Hope on the Christ Cathedral campus.

—Photo courtesy of Bishop Vann

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.

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