Attention summer travelers! Send us your “OC Catholic Afar” photo!
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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.
Catholic singles, You are invited to a Brunch Mixer!
When: August 17, 2024 10:30 am
Where: C oyote Hills Golf C ourse in Fullerton Mingling will be maximized at the brunch by having attendees rotate to different tables to meet other people.
For more info, call C eleste Sibolboro at (661) 916-2727
7
AUGUST
4, 2024
CONTENTS
JSERRA
STUDENTS CREATE NONPROFIT FOR GIRLS’ EMPOWERMENT
Sydney and Madison Huynh developed StrengthInHer to promote self-esteem and creativity in young girls.
13
DIOCESE HOSTS ANNUAL MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION
The third annual event drew 20,000 attendees from across the country.
17
CULTIVATING THE EUCHARISTIC HEART
The goal of the recent Eucharistic Congress is to bring Catholics back to the love of the Eucharist.
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
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.
AROUND CAMPUS
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Christ Cathedral’s 14 bronze bas relief Stations of the Cross were sculpted by Pablo Eduardo, who also created the manifestation bas reliefs and the bas reliefs on the narthex and on the festal doors. Eduardo is a Bolivian-born sculptor known for his extensive training and intimate knowledge of his crafts. Notably, most of the Stations of the Cross feature the stylistic decision to depict Jesus from the waist up so that each station may look less busy and, consequently, more visually impactful.
If you are interested in learning about additional naming opportunities for yourself, a loved one or a special occasion on Christ Cathedral's campus, contact the Orange Catholic Foundation at (714) 282- 3021 or info@OrangeCatholicFoundation. org C
“ One who listens can then speak well. One who is not used to listening does not speak, but barks.” — Pope Francis
JER 31:31-34; PS 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19; MT 16:13-23
BLESSED FREDERIC JANSSOONE 1838-1916
BORN IN FRANCE, FREDERIC supported his Flemish family after his father’s death, then entered the Franciscans in 1864. Following ordination, he served as a chaplain in the Franco-Prussian War, established a friary in Bordeaux, served at a school in Egypt, and in 1876 began working in the Holy Land to preserve Christian holy sites and assist Palestinian Christians. To raise funds for this work, he went on a mission to Canada in 188182. He left the Holy Land permanently in 1888, moving to Quebec, where he re-established the Franciscan movement and ideals, promoted three local shrines, and drew many to the practice of contemplative prayer. He died of stomach cancer and was beatified in 1988.C
FRIDAY
NA 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7; DEU32:35CD36AB, 39ABCD, 41; MT 16:24-28
candles have been put away and the cake is long gone, but Ernie Hess is back in his usual place in the pew beside his wife, Trudy, at the only church they have known since they wed in 1968: St. Philip Benizi. They sit near the back of the Fullerton church beneath a speaker, the better to hear the word of God that remains at the center of their relationship — one that continues to strengthen even as their hearing and vision have weakened.
Scores of loved ones, parishioners and priests came to the Hess home on July 22 to celebrate Ernie’s 100th birthday and to honor the couple that has given back so much through various ministries, and particularly the enrichment program Worldwide Marriage Encounter.
“I’m still a little baffled about why there is so much merit in being 100 years old,” Ernie said a couple of weeks before his birthday, ignoring the plate of pastries on his living room coffee table.
“Oh, your ego is eating it up,” said Trudy, who at 93 isn’t too far behind her husband.
“I appreciate the honor,” Ernie added, “but the thing about it that needs to be understood is I wouldn’t be where I am without her.”
A LIFE-CHANGING WEEKEND
Ernie was a former Protestant minister who had drifted away from Christian fundamentalism when he met Trudy when both were single parents.
“I can’t say I lost my faith,” Ernie said. “I just backed away from it.”
Ernie, who as a toddler came to Southern California with his family from Newton, a small town in Kansas, bonded with L.A.-native Trudy, who was raised a Catholic, after meeting her through mutual friends.
They shared a love of camping, among other things.
“I thought he was really cute,” Trudy recalled.
Quipped Ernie: “She chased me until I caught her.”
The couple had been married for nine years when, in 1977, they attended a Marriage Encounter weekend that Ernie called “cataclysmic,” adding: “I felt like I was almost floating.”
Two years later, he became a Catholic.
ACTIVE IN CHURCH
From initially running a goldfish
ERNIE AND TRUDY HESS ARE LONGTIME PARISHIONERS OF ST. PHILIP BENIZI CATHOLIC CHURCH IN FULLERTON. PHOTOS BY STEVE GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
ERNIE AND TRUDY HESS EMBRACE FR. SEBASTIAN MULU DURING MASS AT ST. PHILIP BENIZI CATHOLIC CHURCH IN FULLERTON.
FEATURE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
booth at a church fiesta together, Ernie and Trudy evolved into one of the most active couples at St. Philip Benizi. They eventually served as Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, lectors, parish council members, small group leaders in Bible Study and as members on the parish Baptism team.
They also became a Marriage Encounter presenting team for engaged couples in the Marriage in the Lord program for the Diocese of Orange.
“Marriage Encounter gives you tools to communicate and how to accept the feelings of the other person,” Ernie explained.
The Hesses also got involved with a club at Cal State Fullerton that held several mountain weekend retreats for college students. They became a team couple for Retrouvaille, which provides weekend retreats for couples with troubled marriages, as well as for To Trust Again, a program for couples in second marriages.
Ernie, who was a mechanical engineering most of his career, even became a secular Servite at St. Philip Benizi, which is staffed by the Servants of Mary.
IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY
Trudy and Ernie agree that remaining so active at St. Philip Benizi for several decades has been critical to keeping their union solid.
“There’s just something about sharing your faith that challenges us, and we wouldn’t be as good of Catholics as we are today,” Trudy said.
Added Ernie: “The people in our church have been our nucleus.”
Shirl Giacomi, who served as chancellor of the Diocese of Orange for 15 years, met Ernie and Trudy through their Marriage Encounter leadership.
“Ernie and Trudy are nourished at the table at St. Philip Benizi and have shared themselves throughout the years as true disciples,” said Giacomi, director of faith formation at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in Long Beach. “They were willing to extend themselves and minister wherever they were needed.”
Fr. Dennis Kriz, pastor of St. Philip Benizi, first met Ernie and Trudy when he was in the novitiate for the Servants of Mary.
“I knew then that they were a special couple,” Fr. Dennis said. “They are highly respected and pillars of the community.”
Of course, Ernie’s and Trudy’s life together has not been without struggles and heartache. They lost one of their three sons at age 42.
Faith, the couple say, got them through the tragedy.
‘GET A GOOD WIFE’
As for living to 100, Ernie said he’s never had an exercise regimen. He tried smoking once but hated the taste and tossed away the cigarette after a couple of puffs.
He said he ate organic food growing up but said he’s never been on a diet.
“Get a good wife,” Ernie replied when asked about tips to living to 100. He added: “This woman is a motivator.”
Usually after Sunday Mass, Ernie and Trudy will sit in their favorite living room chairs to watch Catholic programs on TV and discuss their faith.
“Our shared faith is what is so special for us now,” Trudy said.
So is their family, which includes three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
St. Philip Benizi parishioner Teresa Cota, who met Ernie and Trudy in 2005, baked the cake for Ernie’s 100th birthday party.
The nearly 100 guests also enjoyed drinks, fried chicken, potato salad and fruit.
The theme of the party?
Trudy smiled and said:
“Come and listen to Ernie.” C
JSERRA STUDENTS TEACH STRENGTH TO EMPOWER YOUNG GIRLS
BY LOU PONSI
TWIN SISTERS SYDNEY and Madison Huynh have been practitioners of martial arts for most of their lives.
The sisters, who are entering their senior year at JSerra Catholic High School, realized early on that the benefits of martial arts transcend physical aspects.
Martial arts also develop confidence, mental fortitude and self-control, Madison said.
“We really liked the multidisciplinary aspect of it in that self-defense doesn’t just teach you one thing,” Madison said. “It teaches you a multitude of things.”
The Huynh sisters started with Taekwondo and then transitioned to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a more intense form of martial arts based on ground fighting, grappling and submission holds.
They taught martial arts classes to girls in the community and then started a self-defense club as sophomores at JSerra.
Then, the twins seized on an opportunity to earn a fellowship through the Dragon Kim Foundation, an Irvine nonprofit which supports youth who are pursuing their passions while simultaneously serving the community.
The foundation was established in 2015 by Daniel and Grace Kim to honor the legacy of their son, Dragon, who was killed in a camping accident at age of 14.
At the time of his death, Dragon had finished his freshman year at Orange County School of the Arts, where he and some friends were designing a program which would provide musical instrument instruction to underserved members of the community.
So, the first project of the Dragon Kim Foundation was to finish what Dragon and his friends started by helping kids learn to create music. TWIN
“ You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. ”
—Maya Angelou
lessons to youngsters at the Boys & Girls Club of San Juan Capistrano. They also published an interactive workbook containing more lessons and activities designed to strengthen the mind and body and foster creativity.
“So, we took four strengths, creative strength, academic strength, mental strength and physical strength, and each day we focused on one, and then we did fun activities that related to that strength so that the girls can really learn from a multitude of activities,” Madison said. “For example, on the creative day, we do self-portraits and creative writing. Those are creative outlets so the girls can express themselves and we also do a nutrition lesson just to cover our bases.”
Along with lessons, the workbook featured a series of inspirational quotes from notable women.
One was a quote on page-7 from poet, author and civil rights activist Maya Angelou: “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the
more you have.”
A quote from actress Emma Watson on page 9 reads: “Girls should never be afraid to be smart.”
To be selected for the fellowship, applicants must go through a rigorous application process.
Applicants must submit a description of their project, a story about themselves, references from teachers and transcripts of their grades.
Their personal stories and grades carry the most weight, said Bonnie Carlson, a member of the foundation’s Board of Directors, who served as mentor to the sisters.
Of the roughly 500 projects submitted, only about 50 are chosen for the fellowship, Carlson said.
“What I loved about their story and their project is that they were trying to teach young girls how to have more confidence,” said Carlson, retired president and CEO of
The foundation’s mission is to give children, regardless of socio-economic background, opportunities to pursue their passions, and in the process, make positive changes in their communities.
The foundation provides six months of training and mentorship with help from its corporate partners and up to $5,000 to help the selected students turn their business plan into a reality.
Those chosen for the fellowship also receive mentorship from professionals to put their plan into action.
The sisters developed a nonprofit called “StrengthInHer,” a program designed to empower underserved middle school girls in their community through martial arts training and other self-esteem building lessons.
Madison and Sydney taught their
the Brand Activation Association. “I loved the concept and I loved the target audience, but when reading what they wanted to do by creating individual strengths and supporting each of those. I thought it was creative, strategic and timely.”
Sydney hopes to make a career out of working with children.
After developing and teaching the StrenghInHer program with her sister, that desire intensified.
“The pride that I felt in seeing these young girls’ faces light up when they shared their projects and what they’ve learned was immeasurable,” Sydney said. “We couldn’t have been able to achieve this kind of success without the help of the Dragon Kim Foundation Fellowship. This experience taught me true perseverance and reaffirmed my love of teaching. I can’t wait to see what our future holds and just how far we can extend our project to reach more girls.” C
MADISON AND SYDNEY HUYNH TAUGHT THEIR “STRENGTHINHER” PROGRAM TO YOUNGSTERS AT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. PHOTOS BY YUAN WANG/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
MADISON AND SYDNEY HUYNH ARE PICTURED WITH THEIR MENTOR BONNIE CARLSON.
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DIOCESAN BISHOPS AND DELEGATES ATTEND NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS
BY BRADLEY ZINT
INDIANAPOLIS — A delegation from the Diocese of Orange recently attended the tenth National Eucharistic Congress in Indiana’s capital city, bringing with them the faith of a Catholic people renewed by their love for the Eucharist.
The event on July 17 to 21, the first national congress in the United States in 83 years, brought an estimated 60,000 people from throughout the country, including more than 1,100 priests, 1,200 religious, 600 deacons, 600 seminarians, and 200 bishops and cardinals. Events and Masses were spoken and celebrated in more than a dozen languages. Exhibits included ones on the Shroud of Turin and Eucharistic miracles.
About 40 from Orange County were part of the official delegation, but it is estimated that numerous others from the area made their way to Indianapolis for the event, including religious. They celebrated Masses, participated in Adoration, took to the streets in a massive procession and explored various topics during discussions and panels. The delegation members are going on to serve on a special Diocese committed tasked with guiding the bishops on matters related to Eucharistic devotion. Across all parishes, they will be creating programs aimed at rekindling the importance for the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
The National Eucharistic Congress served as the culminating event of the National Eucharistic Revival, an effort sponsored by the U.S. bishops that began in 2022 to inspire and renew encounters with Jesus in the Eucharist. In the Diocese of Orange, the revival took the form of street processions, special parish events and the I AM Eucharistic Congress at Christ Cathedral in October 2023.
Several events from the National Eucharistic Congress were recorded and are available on YouTube and through the congress website, EucharisticCongress. org.
“What a gift this is that we can be united as a church through our Holy Father,” said Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, during the July 17 congress’ opening session at Lucas Oil Stadium. “At the same time, what brings us together at this congress, the Holy Eucharist is also an immense gift for unity.”
Cardinal Pierre added: “What is Eucharistic revival? We know that such
CONTINUES ON PAGE 11
DEACON DAVID STROMSWOLD (LEFT), DEACON MODESTO CORDERO (RIGHT) AND DEACON PETE MORALES (SECOND ROW) PARTICIPATE IN AN EVENT AT LUCAS OIL STADIUM DURING THE 2024 NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS IN INDIANAPOLIS.
PICTURED AT THIS YEAR’S NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS ARE: FR. ANGELOS SEBASTIAN, BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER, BISHOP KEVIN VANN AND BISHOP THANH THAI NGUYEN. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
revival, while always accompanied by sacrament and devotion, must extend beyond devotional practices as well. When we are truly revived by the Eucharist, then our encounter with Christ’s Real Presence in the sacrament opens us to an encounter within the rest of our life. This means seeing him everywhere we go.”
Bishop Kevin Vann called the National Eucharistic Congress “a chance to renew our faith, to deepen our love of Christ and the Eucharist, and to really make connections or remake connections with everybody that’s here. It’s just a wonderful experience. I’m glad we have a wonderful delegation here and I’m part of that.”
Rene Del Cid, a delegate from St. Vincent de Paul in Huntington Beach, admitted he was definitely feeling the Presence during one of the large Adorations.
“It’s more and more about learning,” he said. “Once you get into it, and you get more and more into it, it’s feeling the real thing, the real Eucharist.”
More than a dozen sisters from Lovers of the Holy Cross, who are based in Orange County and Los Angeles, also came to the conference.
Sr. Kimberly Nguyen, who serves as vocation director, compared the congress to “a piece of Heaven of Earth, where the Eucharist just calls everybody from all four corners of our country to
CONTINUES ON PAGE 12
A DELEGATION FROM THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE ATTENDED THE NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS HELD JULY 17 TO 21 IN INDIANAPOLIS. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
FEATURE
come and meet in Indiana. We love Jesus so much more!”
Fr. Angelos Sebastian, the Diocese’s vicar general and moderator of the curia, called one of the Masses among the most amazing things he has ever experienced in his life. He recalled being surrounded by some 1,500 priests, many bishops and tens of thousands of the Catholic faithful.
“This has been a time for personal renewal,” Fr. Angelos said, “and I can see the whole church being revived with this Eucharistic congress. This gives us so much hope. And the people are filled with so much love and such deep faith
The Diocese of Orange, Christ Cathedral and the “Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist” film shared a booth in the congress’ bustling exhibit hall. The representation helped put both the cathedral and newly released documentary film, which the Diocese sponsored, on the national stage.
Standing outside the Diocese’s booth, which had a steady stream of interest throughout the week, Bishop Timothy
Freyer noted that when the National Eucharistic Revival started, “it seemed like a dream that would never really take place.”
But seeing 60,000 people in Indianapolis surely put an end to such sentiment.
“This is not the end of it. This is just the beginning,” said Bishop Freyer. “This is to energize us to go back into our Diocese and even promote devotion to our Lord in a much greater, robust fashion than we’ve done already.” C
for the Eucharist. I pray that we can take this to our parishes and to our dioceses and continue this revival all across the country.”
Deacon Peter Morales echoed the sentiment. He and several other Orange County deacons were routinely part of a large congregation filling Lucas Oil Stadium — normally the home of the Indianapolis Colts — with Catholic worshippers.
“The Eucharist, it’s something that’s so fundamental in the dogma of our faith,” Deacon Peter said, “and to get to celebrate it as deacons, it’s probably one of the best experiences that I’ve ever had.”
PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
DIOCESE HOSTS ANNUAL MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION
BY BRADLEY ZINT
THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
hosted its third annual Marian Days celebration on July 12 and 13, a celebration on the Christ Cathedral campus that has quickly become the largest of its kind on the West Coast.
As many as 20,000 of the faithful from around the region and the country attended the festival-like environment of outdoor Masses, a procession onto the streets, workshops, dancing, live music and more.
The Diocese’s celebration was modeled after the annual Marian Days of Carthage, Missouri. That pilgrimage-style festival has been in place since 1978, drawing tens
of thousands of attendees, particularly Vietnamese Catholics, to the Midwest to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The event is centered around the cathedral’s Our Lady of La Vang Shrine. The shrine’s centerpiece is a 12-foottall 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.
Since its blessing in 2021, the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine has been a major source of reverence, joy and inspiration to Christ Cathedral campus visitors. The shrine hosts monthly Masses and other observances, particularly for Orange County’s large Vietnamese Catholic community. C
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: RENNE ENRIQUEZ, EVERETT JOHNSON, JOSHUA SUDOCK, KAYLEE TOOLE, IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
THE DIOCESE BIDS FAREWELL TO SISTERS BRID AND JOHNELLEN
BY JOAN PATTEN, AO, AND JULIA JIMENEZ
THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
wishes a fond farewell and our deep gratitude to God for the ministry of Sr. Brid O’Shea, R.S.C. and Sr. Johnellen Turner, O.P., as they move out of the Diocese.
After 54 years devoted to Catholic education at schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Diocese of Orange, Sr. Johnellen, (until July 2024) president of St. Catherine’s Academy in Anaheim, is taking a new assignment in July for her community at the Motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose. Sr. Johnellen served for 17 years at St. Catherine’s Academy. She will be greatly missed!
Sr. Kit Gray, C.S.J., offered this tribute to Sr. Johnellen:
Through her presence and ministry as
principal and then president of St. Catherine’s Academy, Sister Johnellen embodied the mission of her Dominican Community: to live and proclaim Jesus Christ through evangelizing, preaching, educating, and promoting justice and peace. Through relationships that supported individuals and fostered communities, she strengthened St. Catherine’s service and outreach, and she supported the growth of the Church of Orange by sharing her experience and wisdom on a variety of diocesan committees. Thank you, Sister Johnellen, for being a gracious and compassionate presence among us. Blessings for all that the future holds for you.
After 40 years of dedicated love and service to St. Columban Church and School in Garden Grove, Sr. Brid is retiring to London. Bishop Kevin Vann and Fr. Joseph Luan Nguyen, pastor at St. Columban recognized the gift of Sr. SR.
Brid’s presence and service during the Sunday liturgy on June 30. Other priests who worked with Sr. Brid throughout the years were also in attendance.
Fr. Joseph gave the first speech, thanking Sr. Brid for her years of service to the parish and the school, calling her a beacon of hope and inspiration to all at St. Columban. Bishop Kevin Vann followed, expressing his admiration and gratitude for Sr. Brid and her years of service as well.
Sr. Brid then spoke, expressing gratitude to everyone at St. Columban, stating that the parish community had become a family to her. She addressed the two most common questions she’d received as of late. The first being, “What do you plan to do upon retirement?” She answered that she would remain in contemplative prayer, keeping the entire St. Columban community in her heart. The second question was, “How do you remain so joyful in the midst of everything?” She answered, “The Eucharist.”
She stated that the Eucharist has been the source of sustenance and spiritual nourishment that she needed to carry on her mission. She implored everyone listening to spend time with Our Lord in the Eucharist.
The Mass was followed with a group photo of Sr. Brid, her sister, Bishop Kevin Vann and all the concelebrants. Sr. Brid then processed out of the parish building to the courtyard, where many gathered around her to say their goodbyes, give gifts and take photos with her. She was eventually led over to a table with a cake for the cake-cutting ceremony. The cake featured a farewell message in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, representing the three primary communities at St. Columban. Food and cake were then served to those present. Afterward, Sr. Brid was led to a photo booth, where many lined up for the opportunity for a one-on-one photo with her as well as the opportunity to give her a personal farewell. C
BRID O’SHEA , R.S.C. AND SR. JOHNELLEN TURNER, O.P. ARE PICTURED WITH BISHOP KEVIN VANN.
SR. BRID O’SHEA, R.S.C. AND SR. JOHNELLEN TURNER, O.P. ARE MOVING FROM THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE TO TAKE ON NEW VENTURES. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOAN PATTEN
CULTIVATING THE EUCHARISTIC HEART
BY JOAN PATTEN, AO
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL years, our bishops have led the Church in deepening our belief and love for the Eucharist. The recent National Eucharistic Congress drew thousands of Catholics to Indianapolis, and after worshiping and gathering together, they were invited to return to their respective diocese as Eucharistic missionaries. All of us are called to personal conversion and holiness, and it must begin within our sown hearts. Only then can we be credible witnesses in a world that measures one’s message by its authenticity. However, if we want to go broad with the good news of Jesus, then we must go deep by allowing the Lord to make our bodies and souls His permanent dwelling place.
Giuliana Spigone, a former general moderator of the Apostolic Oblates, offered this simple meditation years ago, and it is fitting to revisit it during this time of Eucharistic Revival.
MAKE YOUR HEART AN ALTAR
“I urge you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a loving sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.” (Rom. 12:1)
“Let us make of our heart a table on which our offerings are placed; the same altar where every day Jesus offers Himself to the Father for us. We must be an altar on which our poverty is offered. Let us place all we are and have on the altar of God; let us sacrifice ourselves, our selfishness, our pride, and all that belongs to us. The blessing of our heavenly Father will come upon our offerings, and the Spirit will transform them into an oblation pleasing to God.” - Giuliana Spigone
We can make our hearts an altar by consciously participating during Mass,
especially at the moment of the Offertory.
MAKE YOUR HEART A TABERNACLE
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit with you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.” (I Cor. 6:19-20)
“Our heart must be like a tabernacle, a sacred place where the Lord lives, watches in silence, and murmurs words of goodness and love to the heart. We must experience the presence of the Lord within us and generously share it with others. Let us listen to what the Lord says to our heart about ourselves and our
brothers and sisters whom we are to love as He loves them.” — Giuliana Spigone
Daily prayer allows us to deepen our relationship with God, who dwells within us and waits for us to be still with Him.
MAKE YOUR HEART A MONSTRANCE
“Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God who has loved me and given Himself up for me.” (Gal. 2:20)
“We want to make our heart like a monstrance, exposing Jesus to all we meet. Mary, the first monstrance, showed her Son to the Shepherds, the Magi, to all. Before Jesus was born, Mary brought Him to Elizabeth, who
rejoiced in Whom she saw. Elizabeth, in turn, became a monstrance herself and sang the first beatitude, and Mary responded with the Magnificat. Together, the two women, each bearing Jesus in her heart, sang a beautiful canticle of praise to the Lord. May our encounters with others reflect the mystery of the Visitation as we bring our Lord to a waiting world.” –Giuliana Spigone
When we stop worrying about ourselves and what people think about us, we are free to let Jesus act through us. Pause and notice what Jesus is doing in your heart and how He is inviting you to respond.
Giuliana closes her mediation with this prayer: “Jesus, let my heart be the altar where You sacrifice Yourself, the tabernacle where You watch over us, and the monstrance where You manifest Yourself to the world. Amen.” C
PHOTO BY OLIVIA SNOW ON UNSPLASH
ARTS UNDER THE STARS AT MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
BY PATTY MAHONEY
MISSION SAN JUAN
Capistrano welcomes you to its historic courtyard for an evening of theatre under the stars as Outside South Coast Repertory (SCR) presents its production of “The Old Man and The Old Moon” (book, music and lyrics by PigPen Theatre Co.).
This season marks the fourth and final year of a partnership between the Mission and SCR that began during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to gather and enjoy the arts in an outdoor setting.
The Mission’s executive director Mechelle Lawrence Adams had this to say:
“The Mission Preservation Foundation is proud of the partnership that was born during difficult times for both of Orange County’s premiere theatrical and historical entities. As hard-working nonprofits, we came together to deliver something special to our respective audiences. We are forever grateful for
the tremendous leadership at SCR in delivering something that was completely compatible and respectful to the site. We were enthralled with the way that SCR designed the outdoor stage and the determined dedication of their team to do something special here. It was a very positive experience for our members and team and overall, I believe we all succeeded during a time when we needed to be innovative and brave. Mutually, we all delivered on that promise.”
The lively story — told by an indie-folk band — of an old man’s epic love-driven search around the world makes for a fantastical journey for spectators.
The Outside SCR production of “The Old Man and The Old Moon” runs on select evenings through August 11. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
Ticket prices range from $35-$60, with special pricing for those age 25 and under. Single tickets are on sale now, either online at www.scr.org or by phone at (714) 708-5555.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is located at 26801 Old Mission Road in San Juan Capistrano. C
GUESTS PREPARE FOR A PERFORMANCE OF OUTSIDE SCR’S PRODUCTION OF “THE OLD MAN AND THE OLD MOON” ON JULY 26 AT THE HISTORIC MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. PHOTO BY PATTY MAHONEY/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE
THE CAST OF THE 2024 OUTSIDE SCR PRODUCTION OF “THE OLD MAN AND THE OLD MOON,” BOOK, MUSIC AND LYRICS BY PIGPEN THEATRE CO. PHOTO BY ROBERT HUSKEY/SCR
OC Catholic Afar
Joseph and Erma Gallegos from Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Fountain Valley read a recent issue of OC Catholic in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve during a trip to Alaska in June.
We want your photos! Send your pictures of “OC Catholic Afar” — of you, family or friends visiting Catholic churches and other interesting 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.
