OC CATHOLIC - JULY 23, 2023

JULY 23, 2023

AN OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT

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

WITH MARY, WE JOURNEY MARIAN DAYS 2023 PAGE 6

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ORANGE HOSTED ITS SECOND ANNUAL MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION ON JULY 14 AND 15 AT THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. PHOTO BY KAYLEE TOOLE/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

SC H OOL

A C A L IF O

R

ISTINGUIS AD H NI

ED

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JULY 23, 2023

CONTENTS

7 GOD’S INVITATION TO PRAYER

When our lives feel hectic, God will provide opportunities for prayer.

10 EUCHARISTIC PROCESSIONS

The processional traditions ingrained in Fr. Al Baca at a young age contributed to his faith formation.

11 AN OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT

The vandalized cross at the Santiago Retreat Center will rise again thanks to donations and community support.

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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GUEST COLUMN

REAL PRESENCE: AN INVITATION TO EUCHARISTIC SOLIDARITY

BY GREG WALGENBACH, DIRECTOR OF LIFE, JUSTICE, & PEACE; AND MISSION OFFICE, DIOCESE OF ORANGE

Christ.” Well, that particular phrasing is from the Council of N HIS DISCOURSE ON the judg- Trent, not the Pew poll - perhaps ment of the nations in Matthew 25, they should have asked it differJesus says, famously: “Just as you ently! did it to one of the least of these As someone received into the who are members of my family, you did Roman Catholic Church later in it to me” (v. 40). life, the poll response was surThe Catechism of the Catholic Church prising at first glance. After all, [no. 1397] reminds us that the “Eucharist recognizing the real presence of commits us to the poor. To receive in Christ in the Eucharist was one truth the Body and Blood of Christ given of the central factors that led me up for us, we must recognize Christ in eventually to become a Cathothe poorest, his brethren.” lic. Another was Catholic social The Eucharistic Revival began in part teaching. in response to a 2019 poll which showed That may seem like a leap from that only a third of Catholics surveyed one area to another. However, I’d believed that during Mass the bread and like to suggest they are intimately wine become “truly, really and substanrelated, and that connection might tially the body and blood together with help us to understand both why GREG WALGENBACH. PHOTO BY STEVE GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus there is a crisis of belief in the CONTINUES ON PAGE 13 Christ, and consequently the whole Eucharist and a way forward to

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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.

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.

DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

ART ON CAMPUS

“

Forced migration — to escape war, hunger, persecution or climate change — is one of the great evils of this age — Pope Francis

”

SAINT PROFILE

BRIDGET OF SWEDEN

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RIDGET, OR BIRGITTA, married a Swedish nobleman and they had eight children, including St. Katherine of Vadstena. About 1335 Bridget was appointed chief lady-in-waiting at the Swedish court. After she was widowed in 1344, she founded the Order of the Most Holy Savior, known as Brigittines. Bridget spent much time in Rome, living austerely and caring for the poor and sick. She died there after a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Bridget claimed to have visions and inspirations throughout her life, prompting both influence and controversy. She was canonized in 1391.

AMBO

Donorship available.

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HE AMBO, or place for the proclamation of the Word of God, is similar to a pulpit with steps. It is prominently placed within the cathedral for proclaiming the scriptures and preaching homilies.

The ambo was cut from the same Italian marble as the altar.

Photo by John Pascale/Diocese of Orange

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

EX 14:5-18; EX 15:1BC-2, 3-4, 5-6; MT 12:38-42

2 COR 4:7-15; PS 126:1BC-2AB, 2CD-3, 4-5, 6; MT 20:20-28

EX 16:1-5, 9-15; PS 78:18-19, 23-24, 25-26, 27-28; MT 13:1-9

EX 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20B; DANIEL 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56; MT 13:10-17

EX 20:1-17; 19:8, 9, 10, 11; MT 13:1823

EX 24:3-8; PS 50:1B-2, 5-6, 1415; JN 11:19-27 [JOHN 4:7-16; PSALM 34]

1 KGS 3:5, 7-12; PS 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130; ROM 8:28-30; MT 13:44-52

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FEATURE

“WITH MARY, WE JOURNEY” MARIAN DAYS 2023

BY BRADLEY ZINT

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HE ROMAN CATHOLIC Diocese of Orange hosted its second annual Marian Days celebration on July 14 and 15 at the Christ Cathedral campus.

The theme for Marian Days 2023 was “With Mary, We Journey,” which reflects the central role of the Virgin Mary in the Catholic faith.

Over two days, the 34-acre cathedral campus attracted an estimated 25,000 people — 10,000 more than last year — from around the region and the country for a festival-like environment of outdoor Masses, a procession onto the streets, workshops, dancing, live music and entertainment.

The celebration has quickly become the largest of its kind on the West Coast. It is centered around the cathedral’s Our Lady of La Vang Shrine, whose centerpiece is a 16-foot-tall Virgin Mary statue depicting how the Blessed Mother is believed to have appeared before a group of persecuted Vietnamese Catholics in 1798 in a rainforest of Vietnam.

Bishop Kevin Vann invited the whole People of God to “walk together to discern the Lord’s will for his Church, and we are called to journey together with Mary in this process. We go forth with her to live and share the Good News with others.”

Marian Days 2024 will be on July 12 and 13, with the theme is “Mary, Ark of the Covenant.”

Please enjoy photos from Marian Days 2023! C

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PHOTO BY JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

PHOTO BY SCOTT SMELTZER/DIOCESE OF ORANGE PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

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CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

FEATURE / CATHOLIC FAMILY LIVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

RECEPTIVE HOLINESS: RESPONDING TO GOD’S INVITATION TO PRAYER

BY REBEKAH VALDERRAMA

We love, because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) OU’VE PROBABLY HEARD before that grace starts with God: that we can only respond to His grace, and any progress we make in the spiritual life is because He took the first step and reached out to us.

I’ve preached this for years, but I don’t think I’ve ever really taken it in. In fact, I know I haven’t because of a recent confession experience I had. I confessed to neglecting my prayer life, and then after praying my penance, immediately started racking my brain for ways to reshuffle my lifestyle to fit more prayer time into my day. Now, of course, scheduling prayer time is a good thing to do.

This time though, the Holy Spirit made it clear to me that I was doing this because I felt I had to take matters into my own hands. It was a symptom of a lack of trust in God. I’m in a season of life right now where I don’t have a lot of control over my daily schedule. With three young kids and another on the way, I can’t predict how any given day will pan out. Maybe one of the toddlers will be especially needy. Maybe my own energy level will be especially low. Someone always needs to be taken care of, and I can’t always carve out a half hour of time for meditation or spiritual reading.

Not on my own, anyway.

That day after confession, God invited me to let go of the stress of micro-managing my prayer routines, and with it, the guilt of not living up to some unsustainable ideal. He told me He would prod me with an invitation to spend time with Him

Y PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

PHOTO BY JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE CONTINUES ON PAGE 14

PHOTO BY DAVIDE CANTELLI

when it became available and provide those hours in the day if I would trust Him to do so.

And this is how I know that I have a trusting God problem. I instinctively assumed that it could never work. That I’d never “get enough prayer time” if I didn’t schedule it myself. That letting the opportunities come on God’s schedule couldn’t possibly be sufficient.

But why? Through two inconvenient pregnancies, three jobs, two moves and a major lifestyle change, I felt like I had gotten pretty good at trusting God’s schedule for my life.

Why can it be so much harder to trust Him with the little things than with the big ones?

Have you heard the still small voice of God inviting you to intimacy with Him? It’s hard to pay attention to when you’re distracted by life, kids, jobs, rela-

tionships, chores and smartphones.

For me, it feels like a gentle tug in those moments when I’m between tasks and find a second of quiet. I wonder what I should do with that time, and then I hear His “voice” asking me to spend it with Him. Back in college, responding to that invitation meant a trip down the hall to the dorm chapel.

Nowadays, it’s usually a quick moment to meditate on the presence of God or share my pressing concerns in silent petitionary prayer.

I’m working on paying more attention for those moments. They’re a beautiful reminder throughout the day that God loves me and desires to be known. It’s slowly teaching me to trust that He will give me all the opportunities I need for the spiritual growth He’s calling me to.

And if I ever start to blame myself for not spending enough quality time in prayer, all I need to do is set down my phone and pay attention! C

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Q&A

DIOCESE TO WELCOME AUTHOR MICHAEL HEINLEIN

BY PATTY MAHONEY

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UR DIOCESE OF Orange is excited to welcome author, editor and theologian, Michael R. Heinlein, who will discuss his new book, “Glorifying Christ: The Life of Cardinal Francis E. George, O.M.I.” Heinlein, who is also the long-time editor of Our Sunday Visitor’s Simply Catholic, will share the fascinating life story of Cardinal George, a true disciple of Christ.

The event takes place on Tuesday, Aug. 1, at the Freed Theater on the Christ Cathedral campus. A reception starts at 6 p.m., followed by the book talk at 6:30 p.m. The event concludes with an audience Q&A and book signing.

Registration is $10. There will also be a raffle for two free books.

Register by visiting https://Cardinal_Francis.eventbrite.com In anticipation of this special event, Mr. Heinlein took the time to answer questions from OC Catholic, and share his thoughts on Cardinal George and his lasting legacy.

WHAT DREW YOU TO THIS STORY?

I remember George’s appointment to Chicago in the spring of 1997. I was 11, so while not very dialed-in to its meaning, I remember his charisma, humor — and what I came later to know as authenticity. Growing up in the shadow of Chicago, I would see Cardinal George regularly in the media, and later was more interested in his thought, his clarity in teaching, and his obvious discipleship. In college, I was drawn to his biweekly columns in the Chicago archdiocesan newspaper, which always had something original, something to deepen my own faith and give compelling reasons for what I believed.

DID ANYTHING SURPRISE YOU ABOUT CARDINAL GEORGE FRANCIS AS YOU WERE RESEARCHING/WRITING THE BOOK?

I’m not sure that anything surprised me so much. I guess it was quite enlightening, yet fitting, to see how much he suffered while serving as archbishop of Chicago. But that certainly illustrates and underscores a certain CONTINUES ON PAGE 9

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR BOOK AND SPEAK A BIT ON ITS TITLE – “GLORIFYING CHRIST.”

The title should describe each of our lives. One of the dismissals at Mass is “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” In all that we say, think and do we are called to give Christ glory.

This was definitely Cardinal George’s aim. He overcame many obstacles in order to give his life to Christ and the Church as a priest, then later as a bishop. But through it all was his desire to glorifying his Lord. His motto as a bishop sums this up: “To Christ be glory in the Church,” which is taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians (3:21).

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MICHAEL R. HEINLEIN, AUTHOR OF “GLORIFYING CHRIST: THE LIFE OF CARDINAL FRANCIS E. GEORGE, O.M.I.”

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Q&A CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

holiness that many have identified. I have to say that it was a gift to see what a man of integrity and authenticity he was, that he always put God and others first, that he prioritized Christ above all else. One simple thing is that I was continually surprised by grace in his life, how his fascinating and inspiring story can be a reminder that God’s ways are always better than our own.

Cardinal George was a man of perseverance. He kept moving forward, no matter the roadblock he happened upon, because he knew God was alive and active. He had great courage as a leader to speak the truth no matter the cost.

WHAT IS CARDINAL FRANCIS GEORGE’S LEGACY?

I believe with all my heart that Cardinal George was a good bishop and a WHAT CAN READERS HOPE good man. His own longtime confessor TO LEARN NOT ONLY ABOUT confided to me: “He was a saint.”

THE CARDINAL BUT ABOUT Aside from his personal witness of hoTHEMSELVES AND THEIR liness and virtue, Cardinal George is also FAITH? remembered widely as a prophetic voice Cardinal George was a disciple. He for the Church. Cardinal George had long taught who Christ is, patterned his life attracted me with his wisdom, clarity, on him, and brought him to others. He eloquence, orthodoxy, and objectivity. As desired that we give God glory through our a leader, when he spoke, others listened. discipleship, our worship, and our witness. He proclaimed the truth, unifying the His own life and his ministry have much Church in Christ. to teach anyone who wants to grow in Cardinal George proved to be a pivotal authentic discipleship. player in Church affairs nationally and Amid the many struggles he faced, internationally. He governed during

difficult and challenging times. A man of pastoral availability, Cardinal George poured out his life in service to Christ and the Church, always attentive to the poor and those on the margins. Universally admired for his pursuit and proclamation of the truth, and his personal witness to the Gospel, Cardinal George remains a model for discipleship and leadership. By the time of his death in 2015, Cardinal George was regarded as one of the most respected bishops in American Catholic history.

We live in a time in which the Church is divided, and our mission is stymied because we find ourselves paralyzed from that division. Even the writing of this book manifested various difficulties that prove the truth of that unfortunate reality.

George’s way of articulating how we needed to move past the divisions — how we needed to be shaped by “simply Catholicism” and not get caught up in these weaponizing realities — is needed now just as much as when he was with us. In

days when we look for authentic leadership in the Church, he gives an example of what it looks like: someone who can clearly articulate the Faith, who is committed to reform, who is honest and accountable, who is genuine and authentic, who is holy.

And an honest accounting of Cardinal George’s life shows that these were his aims.

Michael R. Heinlein is editor of OSV’s SimplyCatholic.com and a regular contributor to OSV’s periodicals. He earned a degree in theology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He is author of ‘The Handy Little Guide to Spiritual Com­munion (OSV),” “Black Catholics on the Road to Sainthood (OSV),” and the “Teeny Tiny Theology” children’s series (OSV).

He finds great inspiration in the lives of the saints and the spirituality of the Pauline Family, and often is found using whatever spare time he has for genealogical research.

His greatest treasures are his Catholic Faith and his family. He is married to Gretchen, with whom he has three children. C

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GUEST COLUMN

EUCHARISTIC PROCESSIONS

BY FR. AL BACA, SENIOR PRIEST, ST. ANNE CHURCH, SEAL BEACH; EPISCOPAL VICAR FOR ECUMENISM AND INTERRELIGIOUS AFFAIRS, PASTORAL CENTER, GARDEN GROVE

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GREW UP IN ORANGE County in a normal Catholic family. I went to Mass on Sundays and Holy Days, said the rosary at home, attended Mother of Perpetual Help devotions on Wednesdays and went to Confession once every three weeks whether I needed it or not.

I can recall making up sins for the priest because I didn’t want to disappoint him!

Looking back though, I can understand why my parents did what they did, and I came to love my Catholic faith.

One of the memories I have was of our parish processions. Usually, there were three: one in May for Mary, one in August for Mary and one on the Feast of Corpus Christi which was the most beautiful. The sisters made sure ahead of time that we were dressed well, arrived on time and then organized ourselves by ministry groups behind the priest who was dressed in gold vestments with the monstrance under the great canopy. As a young child I was in the school children section. We dressed in our First Communion clothes every year until we couldn’t fit in them.

Then sister with a handheld microphone and speaker would direct us forward, slow us down, move us faster, all while reciting the rosary. Slowly we wound around the school property until we arrived and finally entered the church for benediction. Masterfully, sister timed it perfectly so that the rosary ended as we made it to the church doors.

Everything culminated with the Sunday choir intoning the Tantum Ergo, bells ringing, incense billowing and then all of us bowing our heads as the Holy Eucharist was raised above us in blessing. I wondered silently at how all of this was centered, surrounded, and focused on that tiny Host.

Many years later, I was appointed pastor of that same parish. Now a parish of mostly Irish and German families was bustling with Vietnamese, Hispanic and Anglo

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families. Remembering my memory as a child of our parish processions, I revived the devotion for a new generation. I was anxious as to whether anyone would show.

We encouraged and organized for weeks before the event. On the day, little by little people arrived and groups found each other.

I carried the Blessed Sacrament under a great canopy, surrounded by incense and lit torches. A statue of Our Lady of Fatima was carried in procession, along with Our Lady of Guadalupe further back. The rosary was recited now in Vietnamese, English and Spanish. This time we walked through the streets, passing condos, homes, a theater and a large Protestant church. The police closed down streets as we processed and guided us back to the church. When we arrived back, the great bell of the church pealed to welcome Christ back to His home. We ended as before, with benediction. The first time we had our procession we had nearly 1,000 people! The second time, we numbered 1,200 plus. God is good!

FR. AL BACA. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE Many churches are once again enjoying the Catholic custom of processions. During this time of Eucharistic Revival, devotions like this re-energize us and bring us out of the comfort zone of the parish property. As Pope Francis reminds us, the Faith must be taken to the peripheries. Everywhere we walk with the Sacrament, Christ is blessing His people, all people. Darkness is scattered and the devil is weakened in his hold over souls.

I hope children will be able to make memories like mine. I hope parishes will take the Eucharistic Lord out in procession in a time when it seems counter cultural. Part of Eucharistic Revival is taking up the call to be missionary disciples, to be bold and obvious in the faith that we love. There is something beautiful about taking Christ into our neighborhoods and one can never underestimate the miracles of faith and love that happen as the Lord passes house by house, soul by soul.

One can never underestimate the miracles of faith that happen to us as we give witness to Holy Eucharist, to Jesus Christ our Lord and FR. AL BACA DISTRIBUTES HOLY COMMUNION DURING THE WHITE MASS CELEBRATED ON OCT. 18, 2022, AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL. PHOTO BY STEVE GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE God. C

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DIOCESAN NEWS

AN OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT SANTIAGO RETREAT CENTER LOOKS TO REBUILD VANDALIZED CROSS

The remaining funds will be used for camp scholarships, McElrath said.

“More than the amount of money, it’s the large number of people who took the

BY LOU PONSI time to make any kind of contribution,” the executive director said. “We got tons URING A MEN’S RETREAT of comments on GoFundMe, several held over Father’s Day week- emails from friends of the retreat center end, a 14-foot wooden cross and people who were sending checks was set into the ground and outside of GoFundMe. So regardless of dedicated at the Santiago Retreat Center. what the actual motivation of the person Situated in Silverado Canyon, the 500- who did it, or whatever it was, it’s been acre center serves Catholic communities the response from people who have been throughout the region. touched by this act of violence, and their The weekend proved to be a special response is one of self-giving love.” and blessed time for retreat guests. But Investigators with the Orange County not two weeks later, on June 29, the Sheriff ’s Department believe the vandalretreat center staff made a shocking ism likely occurred sometime between 6 discovery. p.m. on Wednesday, June 28 and 6 a.m.

The cross had been cut down and on Thursday, June 29. sawed into pieces.

“No update at this point,” McElrath Perhaps, it was a terrible prank? A said. “No new information. It’s still under senseless act of vandalism? investigation. The initial response from Whatever the intention, it was a desthe sheriffs was timely, professional and ecration of a sacred symbol for Roman very courteous.”

Catholics and the Christian faith as a During the schoolyear, the Santiago whole.

Retreat Center hosts weekend retreats for Shortly after the discovery, Mark parishes, which are primarily confirmaMcElrath, executive director of the tion retreats, he said. center, called Fr. Domenico Di RaimonThe center hosts several camps during do, former director of the nearby House the summer months, including Bible of Prayer, a retreat center for priests. Fr. camps, youth camps and family camps.

Domenico had celebrated Mass during Fr. Glenn Baaten, the chaplain of the that Father’s Day retreat.

Santiago Retreat Center, blessed the site The longtime priest offered a spiritual of the vandalism with holy water, and perspective of what had occurred. recited Latin prayers from the traditional “He called me back and left a really “Roman Ritual” and “Book of Blessings.” sweet message that just said, ‘You know Fr. Baaten, who has a background Mark, the cross is a symbol of violence in construction, said the cross could be in itself, and out of that violence, Jesus rebuilt, and doing so “might send a really brought all people to God. So, let’s expect beautiful signal about how the cross that there’s going to be some good fruit of our dear Lord is immortal on some from this terrible thing,’” McElrath said. level.”

“And that really helped get my head on He acknowledged the presence of right as far as how to contextualize what individuals and groups that are “vociferhad taken place.” ous” in their disapproval of not only the Fr. Domenico was correct.

Catholic faith, but of all faiths.

A GoFundMe page set up to cover the “Society-wise, we tend to be, and we costs to repair and reinstall the cross has try to be good citizens,” Fr. Baaten said. collected $8,770 as of Friday, July 14.

“We’re not silent about our faith, but

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A 14-FOOT WOODEN CROSS WAS SET INTO THE GROUND AND DEDICATED AT SANTIAGO RETREAT CENTER DURING A MEN’S RETREAT HELD OVER FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SANTIAGO RETREAT CENTER.

SANTIAGO RETREAT CENTER STAFF DISCOVERED THE VANDALIZED CROSS ON JUNE 29.

here’s an opportunity for an outpouring of support for faith communities in our area, and I think certainly in the state as well. And that’s very encouraging.”

To learn more about the Santiago Retreat Center and its programs, visit https:// www.santiagoretreatcenter.org/ C J U L Y 2 3 , 2 0 2 3 ■ O C C A T H O L I C

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DIOCESAN PAGE HEADING NEWS

AROUND OUR DIOCESE

BY STAFF

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (YOUTH)

Mental Health First Aid USA will take place on Aug. 14, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Diocese of Orange Pastoral Center, Conference Rooms A and B, 13280 Chapman Ave., in Garden Grove.

Mental Health First Aid USA is an evidence-based training that teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to someone who is experiencing a mental health or substance-abuse challenge.

For more information, contact Rebecca Freeman, Pastoral Care Ministry Coordinator, at rfreeman@rcbo.org or call 714-282-6059.

JOIN THE LADIES AUXILIARY

Calling all those interested in becoming a member of the Knights of Peter Claver, Ladies Auxiliary in the Orange County area!

If you are a practicing Catholic and interested in Catholic values of friendship, unity and Christian charity, please contact Lady Deputy Karen Pinson via email at kpinson670@gmail.com or call 213-3242101.

U.S. MARINE CORPS VETERAN JAMES HIATT RECENTLY RECEIVED A WHEELCHAIR DONATED BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL 8599 FROM ST. IRENAEUS CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CYPRESS. COURTESY PHOTO

COURTESY GRAPHIC

CYPRESS KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HELP VETERANS IN NEED

Entire rooms radiated with smiles as five military veterans at the Anaheim Terrace Care Center on Knott Avenue received wheelchairs this month donated by the Knights of Columbus Council 8599 from St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran James Hiatt of Pico Rivera expressed heartfelt appreciation on behalf of the other veterans who need the wheelchairs for better mobility due to various medical conditions.

Hiatt served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War-era as a Private First Class for six years in motor transportation duties at several military

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bases. Hiatt also proudly told of his football exploits as a defensive back whose gridiron skills at four different California colleges and universities got him tryouts with the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos and the California Sun of the old USFL. Council Grand Knight Chris Nsor discussed how rewarding it was to meet the veterans, along with Knights Rick Tkach and David Dunn, Grace and Ken Francis and Mary Tkach from the St. Irenaeus Health Ministry, to learn of their need, and that the Council is able to help. Nsor complimented the Care Center staff for the making the event

move along smoothly.

The St. Irenaeus K of C Council recently conducted its annual fund-raising drive, receiving donations from parishioners, friends and neighbors of more than $22,000 - enough to purchase 125 wheelchairs for military veterans in Orange County. Nsor said the intent is to have similar events such as this one at the Anaheim Terrace Care Center as opportunities present themselves.

The Knights’ wheelchair program began 10 years ago, and since then, donations have led to the purchase of more than 1,500 wheelchairs for veterans.

—By Irv Cuevas C

GUEST COLUMN

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recover our sacramental worldview.

In his encyclical on care for our common home, “Laudato Si’,” Pope Francis writes: “Encountering God does not mean fleeing from this world or turning our back on nature….God himself became man and gave himself as food for his creatures….He comes not from above, but from within, he comes that we might find him in this world of ours.”

During these years of Eucharistic Revival, Pope Francis (citing Benedict XVI) reminds us that “in the bread of the Eucharist, ‘creation is projected towards divinization, towards the holy wedding feast, towards unification with the Creator himself.’”

Elsewhere Benedict XVI, in his encyclical “Deus caritas est” wrote: “A Eucharist which does not pass over into the concrete practice of love is intrinsically fragmented. . . . love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind, is as essential to [the Church] as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel. The Church cannot neglect the service of charity any more than she can neglect the Sacraments and the Word.”

Servant of God Dorothy Day said: “The mystery of the poor is this: That they are Jesus, and what you do for them you do for Him. It is the only way we have of knowing and believing in our love. The mystery of poverty is that by sharing in it, making ourselves poor in giving to others, we increase our knowledge of and belief in love.”

Finally, St. Teresa of Calcutta, said: “In each of our lives Jesus comes as the Bread of Life - to be eaten, to be consumed by us. This is how He loves us.

Then Jesus comes in our human life as the hungry one, the other, hoping to be fed with the Bread of our life, our hearts by loving, and our hands by serving. In loving and serving, we prove that we have been created in the likeness of God, for God is Love and

when we love we are like God. This is what Jesus meant when He said, ‘Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.’”

All of this speaks to us, as Catholic Christians with our sacramental worldview, of the inseparability of the love of God and love of neighbor. The real presence of the whole Christ.

For as St. Augustine boldly reminds us: “If you, therefore, are Christ’s body and members, it is your own mystery that is placed on the Lord’s Table! It is your own mystery that you are receiving! You are saying ‘Amen’ to what you are: your response is a personal signature, affirming your faith. When you hear ‘The body of Christ’, you reply ‘Amen.’ Be a member of Christ’s body, then, so that your “Amen” may ring true!”

“For those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen” (1 John 4:20).

Commenting on 1 John, St. Augustine says: “He came to gather in one, you come to unmake. You would pull Christ’s members asunder. How can it be said that you deny not that Christ has come in the flesh, [you] who [tear] asunder the Church of God which He has gathered together?”

We do well to reflect on how the manner in which we treat the most vulnerable in our midst or those with whom we hold vigorous disagreements or those we view as our enemies affects our capacity to recognize the Real Presence.

How will we honor each other’s dignity and listen to and walk with one another such that we can proclaim more faithfully the Gospel entrusted to us?

As our bishops call us all to Eucharistic Revival, let us strive to recognize and grow in love and worship of the Body and Blood of Christ on the altar and to recognize and grow in love for Christ crucified in the bodies of those vulnerable and oppressed at the margins of society, sisters and brothers, all.

Let us walk together in Eucharistic solidarity. Lift up your hearts. The whole Christ awaits. C

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FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

PHOTO BY SCOTT SMELTZER/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

PHOTO BY JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

PHOTO BY JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

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

PHOTO BY COLIN HORAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

Moments in our Journey

St. Cecilia Catholic School earned an A+ at this year’s Tustin Chili Cook-off held on June 4 in Old Town Tustin. For the third consecutive year, the school won first place in the “Chairman’s Most Spirited Booth” category. The school also took home a third place finish in the overall judged chili competition. Pictured: Preschool dad Phi Nguyen has some fun stirring the pot!

—Submitted by Belinda Espinoza/Enrollment & Marketing Coordinator for Diocese of Orange – OC Catholic Schools

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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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.