OC CATHOLIC - AUGUST 27, 2023

Through groundbreaking academic programs, engaging virtue development, and transformational

CONTENTS

7 8 12

ON A MISSION

Santa Clara Day Nursery School is a much-beloved local program that has struggled following the pandemic.

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER

Raina Pires and mom Nancy Hernandez both work as teachers at St. Joseph Catholic School in Placentia.

HIDDEN GEM

La Purísima Catholic School in Orange provides preK-8th grade education, serving a bilingual community.

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.

FRESHMAN FORMATION WEEKEND: DISCOVERING GREATNESS

BY JOHN CARLSON, SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL

“WHO ARE YOU?”

It’s the first question that incoming freshmen at Servite High School are asked. On a Saturday morning at the crack of dawn, they stand at attention in the gym, perfectly spaced apart. Current students, faculty and alumni gather to support them as their journey begins.

These are the first hours of Freshman Formation Weekend at Servite. Over the next two days, the two hundred young men standing in the gym will undergo a one-of-a-kind experience that will challenge them both physically and mentally. They will participate in activities, lessons and tests that will build their character and strengthen their resolve.

These freshmen won’t just learn about Servite. They’ll learn about each

other. They’ll learn about themselves. And, most importantly, they will learn what it truly means to be a Servite Friar.

At the very start of the Formation process, the freshmen are told a simple poem: “In the beginning, God, out of nothing, created. Odd! From nothingness, called me to be me, to be great, like He.”

These words are burned into the minds of each and every Friar, summarizing the purpose for their being at Servite. These men are not

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

"93% of girls' school grads say they were offered greater leadership opportunities and 80% have held leadership positions since graduating from high school."

- GOODMAN RESEARCH GROUP

ART ON CAMPUS

God came to save us by being like us

SAINT PROFILE

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE MOSAIC

Donors: Bill and Helen Close, in honor of the Cathedral of Our Lady Queen of Angels in Los Angeles.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE is the patroness of the Diocese of Orange as well as the patroness of the Americas. Traditionally, churches have an image of their patron/patroness in a prominent place in the main body of the church. Christ Cathedral’s mosaic is by Valerio Lenarduzzi Studio of Fontanafredda, Italy. It stands 10 feet by 7 feet and is made up of more than 55,000 tiles of gold and opaque glass. Photo by the Diocese of Orange

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY

1 THES 1:1-5, 8B-10; PS 149:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6A AND 9B; MT 23:13-22

TUESDAY 1 THES 2:1-8; PS 139:1-3, 4-6; MK 6:17-29

WEDNESDAY 1 THES 2:9-13; PS 139:7-8, 9-10, 1112AB; MT 23:27-32

MONICA

THIS NORTH AFRICAN laywoman married Patricius; St. Augustine of Hippo was their eldest child. She tried to bring him up a Christian but also was ambitious for his worldly success. He scorned Christianity and had a son with his mistress. In 383 Monica followed Augustine to Italy, where she was a follower of St. Ambrose. Three years later, Augustine was baptized. But Monica fell ill and died before their return to Africa. Years before, a bishop had famously counseled her: “It is not possible that the son of so many tears should be lost.”

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

THURSDAY 1 THES 3:7-13; PS 90:3-5A, 12-13, 14 AND 17; MT 24:42-51

FRIDAY 1 THES 4:1-8; PS 97:1 AND 2B, 5-6, 10, 11-12; MT 25:1-13

SATURDAY 1 THES 4:9-11; PS 98:1, 7-8, 9; MT 25:14-30

SUNDAY JER 20:7-9; PS 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; ROM 12:12; MT 16:21-27

“

”

— Pope Francis

VIVA CRISTO REY!

A NEW CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL WITH REVOLUTIONARY PLANS OPENS IN SANTA ANA

BY MEG WATERS

IT WAS NOT YOUR typical first day of freshman year. Gone were the bewildered 14-and 15-year-olds hunting for lockers, trying to locate classrooms and hoping to find at least one friendly face in the crowd.

At the new Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Santa Ana, cheering fans with pom-poms and clackers lined the hallways to greet the inaugural freshman class of 67 students. The campus is starting with only freshmen, adding one more class each year. It has 14 faculty and staff and is growing quickly.

The principal and all the teachers personally shook hands with each arriving student. Among the crowd were corporate executives - unusual visitors for any campus - but they turned out to welcome not only the new students but also their future employees.

Known for their academic excellence and college-preparatory curriculum, Catholic high schools have long been the gold standard in secondary education worldwide. Many of Orange County’s most successful business and civic leaders hail from one of the county’s award-winning schools, including JSerra, Santa Margarita, Mater Dei, Servite and Rosary. Competition for admission is high, yet tuition can be one of the biggest hurdles, especially for low-income families.

Back in the day, parishes often subsi-

dized Catholic schools so more children could attend and get a quality education rooted in Catholic teaching. But a variety of social and economic changes have ended that model. Today, it is all too easy to see the economic divide that limits Catholic education to those who can afford it.

Cristo Rey, in the heart of Santa Ana, is a new Catholic education model formed in Catholic tradition and in partnership with the community, in this case, the business community.

According to principal Karelyn Roberts, “Our goal is to get these kids into college, then into a career and finally into Heaven.”

The school also has an active fundraising program to raise money for scholarships and support that extend beyond graduation to support them through their higher education.

What initially began as a great idea in 1996 grew into a movement. In 26 CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

AT THE NEW CRISTO REY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN SANTA ANA, CHEERING FANS WITH POM-POMS AND CLACKERS LINED THE HALLWAYS TO CHEER THE INAUGURAL FRESHMAN CLASS ON AUG. 14. PHOTOS BY RENNE ENRIQUEZ/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

CRISTO REY ORANGE COUNTY IS A NEW CATHOLIC EDUCATION MODEL FORMED IN CATHOLIC TRADITION AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

years, the Cristo Rey network of high schools includes 39 schools in 23 states and the District of Columbia.

The mission, as stated, is to: “Deliver a career-focused, college preparatory education in the Catholic tradition for students with limited economic resources, uniquely integrating rigorous academic curricula with four years of professional work experience and support to and through college. We partner with educators, businesses and communities to enable students to fulfill their aspirations for a lifetime of success.”

Orange County is school number 39 in the network, and the third school to open in California. The model works through corporate partners, who commit to hosting four students per academic year at a total cost of $36,500 or about $9,000 per year per student. Most companies take a team of four students per year. Each student on the team shares an entry-level position with three other students and each works one day per week at the corporation.

System-wide, 58% of the students are Catholic, but all faiths are welcome. The average household income is $41,000 annually, and 98% are people of color.

Early in the academic year, students will participate in “Draft Day,” where corporations meet with the students at something akin to a career fair to explain their company and the work expected of the four-member team. Students are able to evaluate where their interests are and where they would like to work. The companies do the same and at the end, they are matched up.

Understanding that many students do not have transportation, the school provides vans to usher students from the campus to their workplace. The school also provides breakfast and lunch every day.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 10

ON A MISSION

SANTA CLARA DAY NURSERY SCHOOL SEEKS NEW STUDENTS

GREG HARDESTY

GISELLE GARCIA

STARTED school this year at Holy Family Catholic School in Orange.

When her mother, Veva Gomez, picked her up after school, the 6-yearold couldn’t stop talking about the nursery school she attended from age 2 ½ through kindergarten this spring.

“I think she just fell in love with how the sisters are so caring with the kids,” Gomez said of Santa Clara Day Nursery School in Santa Ana – a beloved but under-the-radar private Catholic school that finds itself in an unusual position as the new academic year begins Sept. 5.

Run by the Poor Clare Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, an order founded in Mexico more than a century ago during widespread persecution of Christians, Santa Clara Day Nursery School has enjoyed a lengthy waiting list during its nearly 60 years of operation.

But COVID-19, as it has with so many things, changed that.

Although the nursery school was able to re-open six months after the pandem-

ic began in March 2020, enrollment this fall is at around 60 students – far below its 100-child capacity.

For the first time, the sisters who run Santa Clara Day Nursery School have visited area churches with fliers and have put up a banner outside the school — at Hazard Avenue and Newhope Street — to promote the

enrollment openings and a curriculum of English, math, science, social skills, introduction to Spanish and Catholicism. Pre-COVID, a waiting list of 30 to 40 students was typical, said Sr. Hena Andrade, the school’s program director. She and Sr. Yenory Zuniga, regional superior at the school’s adjacent

CONTINUES ON PAGE 18

REGIONAL SUPERIOR SISTER YENORY ZUNIGA AND SCHOOL PROGRAM DIRECTOR SISTER HENA ANDRADE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING NEW STUDENTS TO SANTA CLARA DAY NURSERY SCHOOL IN SANTA ANA. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER

RAINA PIRES AND HER MOM NANCY HEAD BACK TO CLASS

BY NICOLE GREGORY

THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS

on Aug. 28 at St. Joseph Catholic School in Placentia where two teachers share a special bond—not only do they love teaching the very youngest students, but they are also mother and daughter.

Raina Pires teaches transitional kindergarten—children who’ve graduated from preschool but are not yet ready for kindergarten. Her mother, Nancy Hernandez, is a longtime kindergarten teacher—she was pregnant with Raina when she first began her teaching career 26 years ago. Today their classrooms are located across the hall from each other, a situation which they both enjoy.

“My mom is the greatest teacher there is,” said Pires, who is working toward her degree at Cal State Fullerton. Pires attended St. Joseph when she was a preschooler, then continued her elementary education in Ontario where her family lived. But while growing up she accompanied her mother to work whenever possible and observed her teach little children.

“She always knows how to make lessons engaging,” said Pires. “In class she is super caring and patient—she just loves kids. I think it’s her nature. She was born to be a teacher—she’s living out God’s calling.”

Her mother, Nancy Hernandez, who got her degree in child development at Cal State Fullerton, explained the deep connection she has with her young students.

“I absolutely love building relation-

ships with them, sharing my faith with them, building an academic foundation, a spiritual foundation and a social-emotional foundation for them,” she said.

“It’s important to me that the children feel special and loved just as God created them.”

Before coming to St. Joseph, Hernandez worked at Beatitudes of Our Lord Catholic School in La Mirada where she directed the preschool.

“I have been teaching over 30 years total and I still love coming to work,” she said. “I look forward to class every year.”

St. Joseph Catholic School opened in 1959 and provides a faith-filled education to children from preschool to eighth grade.

Having worked at the school for so many years, Hernandez has taught generations of families.

“I just really feel a part of that community,” she said. “The families and community are very down to earth. It’s this close-knit community that I really love.”

The principal of St. Joseph, Amanda Hawley, M.Ed., appreciates having Hernandez and her daughter among the

school’s faculty.

“They are both beautiful God-loving people who have a gift for working with children,” said Hawley. “At the same time, they are very different from each other and bring different strengths to the classroom and their collaboration together. Teaching in two consecutive grades, they work closely with their curriculum to align and ensure that our TK [transitional kindergarten] students are really ready for the next grade.”

Pires and Hernandez complement

RAINA PIRES AND HER MOTHER NANCY HERNANDEZ BOTH TEACH AT ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN PLACENTIA. PHOTOS COURTESY OF RAINA PIRES

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 each other as teachers.

“Raina is a young and energetic teacher who brings fresh ideas and enthusiasm for working with young children,” said Hawley. “Nancy also has a passion for working with the younger students but brings a wealth of knowledge based on her many years as a teacher. She not only provides leadership and insight to our staff but brings a knowledge of school history and tradition based on her years as both a SJS alumna and longtime teacher.”

As an experienced Catholic school teacher, Hernandez knows how to instill faith in her students in a way that is meaningful for their age and development, even if they have not been raised Catholic.

“Most come with a knowledge that there is a God,” she said. “I really talk about it throughout the entire day and try to make it come alive for them.”

In addition to acting out Bible scenes

associated with holidays, and teaching crafts such as making Advent wreaths, Hernandez shows her students how to invite God into everyday dilemmas and conflicts.

“If a child has an issue with another student, I’ll say something like, ‘Let’s pray about that, let’s ask God to help us with sharing on the play aground.’ I tell them we can talk to God at any time, not just before we eat or before bed. He’s our friend.’”

This brand of teaching is at the heart of St. Joseph Catholic School’s mission.

“Having three St. Joseph alumni children myself I am extremely passionate about Catholic education and especially our little school,” said Hawley.

“I love that in all we do, it is done in the name of our Lord. My biggest hope for our students and teachers is for them to really understand who our Lord made them to be, and to use their God-given gifts to bless not only our school, but the community and world.” C

NANCY HERNANDEZ HOLDS HER DAUGHTER RAINA PIRES AS A YOUNG CHILD.

Susan McKeever, vice president of the Corporate Work Study Program, has built an inaugural team of 38 local businesses to partner with the students. Industries range from insurance and financial services to development, hospitality, engineering, and government agencies.

“We are especially proud that graduates from the Cristo Rey network are two and a half times more likely than their college-bound economic peers to graduate from college with at least a four-year degree,” she said. “We believe our Orange County students will meet or exceed this graduation rate.”

Currently, the campus is in a rented space at the former Immaculate Heart of Mary school site off McFadden; however, within three years, the school plans

to move to a larger facility in order to expand the campus to accommodate up to 480 students.

Stephen Holte, president of Cristo Rey OC, hails from Christ the King School in Chicago and has an extensive background in Catholic education.

“Students qualify through financial statements that indicate the family falls within the income guidelines,” he said.

“All students are low-income, and families pay between $25 to $250 per month depending on income. All of our students have the opportunity to succeed in places that no one in their family has ever been before. They have no limits from economic resources.”

Cristo Rey is located at 2204 West McFadden Avenue in Santa Ana. To learn more, visit www.cristoreyorangecounty.orgC

CRISTO REY OC PRINCIPAL KARELYN ROBERTS WELCOMES A NEW STUDENT ON AUG. 14, THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. PHOTOS BY RENNE ENRIQUEZ/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

THEOLOGY TEACHER VINCE PRIETTO TALKS WITH A STUDENT ON CRISTO REY’S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY SUMMER CAMP OFFERS FUN, SUN AND FAITH-BASED ENRICHMENT

BY ROSALIA RIPULLO

AS THE NEW SCHOOL year begins, summer will soon become a faint memory of good times shared with friends – of endless days of fun and leisure.

For participants of St. Michael’s Abbey summer camp however, fun in the sun was also balanced with prayer, brotherhood and team activities that instill long lasting virtues of a fatherly heart.

Since 1962, the popular all-boys sleepaway camp is a place where children ages 7 to 14 enjoy traditional camp activities like hiking and sports – also find spiritual fulfillment through activities such as prayer and catechism.

The Abbey’s priests and seminarians take on the roles of camp directors, counselors and staff. Four, one-week sessions are offered for up to 100 campers during July and August.

The sessions fill up fast and are consistently at full capacity.

FINDING A BALANCE

The camp’s daily schedule is testament to balancing childhood fun with deeper, spiritual meaning.

The morning schedule parallels the priestly life, beginning with a 45-minute Mass, a nod to the camps’ value of forming a priestly heart.

There’s also morning exercise, breakfast and bunk inspection. Activities include basketball, soccer and even more “vintage” fun like kick the can.

Campers are taught the value of good

sportsmanship and the value of winning in a charitable way.

Fr. Louis Hager, O. Praem, the camp chaplain, speaks highly of teaching campers to have a balance and not let activities take away from living.

“I love to see them be enthralled in simple gestures in the sun and dirt,” he said. “They get to remove themselves from the tech world and also take their spiritual life seriously. Adoration becomes fun.”

To settle the soul, evening prayer by the campfire caps off a long day.

FULL CIRCLE

“It’s a full circle for me,” said Fr. Louis, who has been involved with the camp in some capacity for the last 24 years.

“I grew up going to the summer camp from the time I was 7 and then came back as a high schooler to volunteer.”

Fr. Louis then helped as a counselor and seminarian commander until he

was able to lead the camp and pass on his knowledge during this formational time in campers’ lives.

Fr. Louis explained that the camp only goes up to the age of 14 because of its strong emphasis on service after formation.

“Our volunteers are high school boys ages 15-17,” he said. “This way, as volunteers, they provide more service than reception. It leads them to ask, ‘what good do you put into things?’”

As a former seminarian leading the camp, Fr. Louis recognizes that there is still a great amount of learning with the seminarians as they aim to be prudent about giving to the boys while also maintaining their own spiritual life. Leading by example, they share the fruits of their their own learning.

With all these aspects in balance, it is no surprise that St. John Bosco is the patron saint of the camp.

They often refer to this saying:

“Run, jump, have all the fun you want at the right time, but for Heaven’s sake, do not commit sin!”

The day ends honoring God with these lyrics from “Taps”:

“Day is done. Gone the Sun, from the lakes, from the hills, from the sky. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.”

Leading by example is a central theme at camp. Attendees not only learn from their camp leaders, but also from each other. Some boys have even been inspired to go to confession for the first time in a long time. Others who were not raised in the faith have been inspired to receive the sacraments.

The boys camp has been so successful that a newer girls camp modelled after it is offered at the neighboring Santiago Retreat Center.

For more information on St. Michael’s Abbey Summer Camp, visit https://stmichaelsabbey.com/summer-camp/ C

ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY HOSTS A WIDELY POPULAR ALL-BOYS SUMMER CAMP WHICH FEATURES BOTH RECREATIONAL AND SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY SUMMER CAMP’S DAILY SCHEDULE IS A TESTAMENT TO BALANCING CHILDHOOD FUN WITH DEEPER, SPIRITUAL MEANING.

HIDDEN GEM

SPOTLIGHT ON LA PURÍSIMA CATHOLIC SCHOOL

BY LOU PONSI

to be informed about it as well.”

About a half-dozen moms and their kids showed up and while the children were working on crafts under the guidance of La Purísima teachers, school principal Rosa Ramirez took the moms on a tour of the campus.

Ramirez began as a teacher at the school several years ago and has served as principal for seven years.

But her roots in the La Purísima community go much deeper than that.

Ramirez’s family has been a part of La Purísima parish since the 1950s.

THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

Catholic Schools is on a mission to showcase its schools that are hidden gems within their own communities.

La Purísima Catholic School in Orange falls into that category.

Founded nearly 50 years ago by the Sisters of the Company of Mary, La Purísima serves to fill the spiritual, academic and social needs of students from preschool to eighth grade.

“We just want to make sure that they are aware that we’re here and that we’re open to share our faith with the community,” said Belinda Espinoza, the enrollment and marketing coordinator for the Diocese of Orange Catholic Schools. “Just what our values are and how we welcome others. To learn about all the wonderful things we’re doing and the difference that the kids are making in the community.”

To help spread the word, Espinoza reached out to friend and networking partner Flor Campos, founder of Mommies Unidas, a bilingual community support group for mothers.

With more than 6,000 followers on its Instagram page, MommiesUnidas organizes play dates at locations throughout Orange County.

La Purísima hosted the group’s playdate on Aug. 4.

“I actually wanted to make sure that the moms in the group knew about the Catholic schools in the community,” Campos said. “I know La Purísima offers an awesome program, so I wanted the moms

Ramirez attended the school as a child and sent her two children there as well.

“We do more than just teach the kids the academics,” the principal said. “It’s care for development as well as moral development. Our kids are not only college bound, but they’re Heaven bound. Our theme this year is ‘Journey to Sainthood’ and how kids and the adults are practicing being saints every day.”

Ramirez pointed out that La Purísima teachers recently completed three years of training at Loyola Marymount University to become certified in using the Blended Learning instructional strategy.

Through the integration of technology, Blended Learning is designed to meet the individual needs of students and enable students to take ownership over their own learning, the principal said.

“Basically, it’s very much individualized attention,” Ramirez said. “We get to know our kids on a one-to-one level. They’re working within their ability groups. So, the teacher works with the kids for about 10 minutes in a small group of three, four or five students. The teacher is able to support the kids that need that extra support and push the kids who are ready for the next level.”

The school also integrates STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects in its curriculum.

GARNERING SUPPORT

Ramirez is also trying to garner community support for the installation

CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

LA PURÍSIMA CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN ORANGE RECENTLY HOSTED A PLAY DATE FOR A MOMS GROUP TO SHOWCASE THE SCHOOL TO PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES.

FIVE-YEAR-OLD KARINA WORKS INTENTLY ON HER COLORING PROJECT DURING A PLAYDATE FOR A MOMS GROUP AT LA PURÍSIMA CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN ORANGE HELD ON AUG. 4. PHOTOS BY LOU PONSI/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

of a new rubberized playground surface. The current “well-loved” surface is frayed after many years of use and is very much due for a refresh.

Rubberized playground surfaces are safer, durable and easy to maintain.

A new surface will likely cost close to $50,000, the principal said.

24TH BISHOPS' CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT

Dinner included!

UNDERWRITING & SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

Proceeds from this event benefit our Counseling program in the Catholic Schools in our diocese!

To learn how you might donate towards a new playground surface, contact Mrs. Ramirez at rramirez@lpcs.net C Email:

For more information, please contact philanthropy@ccoc.org or scan the QR

Tuesday, Hosted by Bishop Kevin Vann, Bishop Timothy Freyer, Bishop Thanh Nguyen & Bishop Tod Brown.

October 24, 2023

to

Items

LA PURÍSIMA TEACHER SAYDI DRUSYS HELPS A CHILD WITH A CRAFT DURING THE SCHOOL’S PLAYDATE FOR A GROUP OF MOMS AND THEIR KIDS HELD ON AUG. 4. PHOTO BY LOU PONSI/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

LA PURÍSIMA PRINCIPAL ROSA RAMIREZ IS PICTURED ON THE SCHOOL’S PLAYGROUND. THE RUBBERIZED PLAYGROUND SURFACE IS WORN DOWN AFTER YEARS OF USE. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

RAISE THE FLAG

THERE’S A NEW OFFICIAL SCHOOL SPORT IN TOWN!

BY LOU PONSI

GIRLS’ FLAG FOOTBALL IS now an official high school sport in Orange County and all three Diocese of Orange Catholic high schools — Mater Dei, Rosary Academy and Santa Magarita — are fielding teams and ready to compete.

The California Interscholastic Federation, Southern Section (CIF-SS), the governing body for high school sports in Orange County and surrounding areas, approved a proposal in September 2022 to institute flag football for the 2023-24 season.

As soon as it became official, high school athletic departments reached out to the students to gauge the level of the students and the response was positive.

“I went over to the school and had lunch meetings and people showed up and filled out their names and we ended up with a list of about 40 girls,” said Rosary flag football coach Matt Gogan, a Servite alum who will lead the Royals in their inaugural season. “We’ve had about 29 or 30 or so that have come out. Then it grew into the seventh- and eighth-graders who now are also showing interest and we’ve received some of those freshmen that have come in that are excellent athletes as well.”

A few members of Rosary’s team have experience playing flag football in private leagues such as Matt Leinart Flag Football and other organizations.

But those who’ve never played organized football play other sports and their skills and athleticism make for an easy transition to the gridiron.

That is the case with Rosary’s Bella Contreras, who plays softball for the Royals and is trying her hand at football

CONTINUES ON PAGE 15

ROSARY ACADEMY’S FLAG FOOTBALL COACH MATT GOGAN ADDRESS HIS PLAYERS DURING A PRE-SEASON PRACTICE HELD ON AUG. 8 AT HYDRAFLOW FIELD IN FULLERTON.

PHOTOS BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

ROSARY ACADEMY JUNIOR MARISOL REZA LAUNCHES THE BALL DURING HER TEAM’S FLAG FOOTBALL PRACTICE HELD ON AUG. 8.

for the first time.

“I’ve never played anything else my entire life except softball,” said Contreras, one of two team captains. “So, when it was brought up at school, it was something new and just a breath of fresh air.”

Marisol Reza is a member of the Royals’ wrestling team (also a relatively new sport at Rosary) and learned about flag football from her coach Nadia Escamilla, who is also defensive coordinator for the Royals’ flag football team.

“Coach Nadia said it’s a good sport to play for conditioning,” said Reza, whose whole family plays football. “So, I decided to try a new sport again. I love it. I love the team. I love our coaches.”

Katie Meneses, the starting quarterback and co-captain is one of the few players on the Royals who have several years of experience in flag football.

Signing up for her was a no-brainer.

“I already kind of knew of Coach Gogan, so I thought that it was going to be an overall good program,” she said.

Girls flag football will be played in the fall, same as boys tackle football and while the object of flag football is essentially the same as traditional football, there are some major differences between the two sports.

Flag football games will be seven on seven, compared to 11 on 11 in traditional football.

The width of the fields are 30 yards minimum to 40 yards maximum, the length is 50 yards minimum to 80 yards maximum plus two end zones (10 yards each).

Games consist of two, 20-minute halves with a running clock until the last two minutes of each half.

There are no kick-offs. Teams take possession of the football on their 20-yard line or on the 10-yard line for 50-yard fields.

Touchdowns are six points and there are no point-after kicks. Successful conversions from five yards are one point.

Blocking and tackling are not allowed, nor are moving screens or setting picks.

The Royals, Monarchs and Eagles will

play in the Trinity League along with JSerra, Orange Lutheran and St. Joseph High School of Lakewood.

CIF-SS playoffs will not take place in the inaugural season since less than 20% of the Southern Section’s member schools are fielding teams.

However, teams will be permitted to organize their own playoff tournaments at the end of the regular season.

Teams are permitted to play up to 28 games during the season.

Mater Dei’s flag football team is being

led by Coach Josh Goedl, who formerly served as strength and conditioning coach and linebacker coach for the Orange Lutheran football team.

After he was officially announced as the Monarchs’ flag football coach in June, Goedl said he was proud to be representing a school with a such a deep athletic history.

“I will bring my level of expertise, drive and skills to these young ladies and I look forward to setting the bar high during this inaugural season,” Goedl said following the

announcement.

Santa Margarita’s first ever flag football coach is Brad Finneran, a 2004 Santa Margarita graduate who played football and basketball for the Eagles and went on to play Division 1 college football at Villanova.

“I am looking forward to returning to Santa Margarita in this role and am excited about the inaugural girls flag football season,” said Finneran, when asked what he was most looking forward to in his new role. C

SOPHOMORE MELINA GONZALEZ RUNS WITH THE BALL AS SENIOR KATIE MENESES ATTEMPTS TO PULL HER FLAG. ALSO PICTURED: (IN THE BACKGROUND) SENIOR ISABELLA MONTANO; (LEFT) JUNIOR SAMANTHA WOSK. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

ST.

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

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

For more information

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

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.

JOHN’S SEMINARY CAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

The freshmen meet in small groups, or Priories, which are named after the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order. In these Priories, they learn their brothers’ names for the first time. These are the men who will be by their side throughout their entire Servite journey. A sense of fraternity develops rapidly. Within hours, these Friars will act not as two hundred individuals, but as one brotherhood.

As the blazing Saturday sun rises over the Servite campus, the freshmen are taught three songs, all of which mean a great deal to every Friar. The Alma Mater informs them of their ability to rise beyond greatness. The Fight Song instructs them to “love the fight” and embrace struggle as an opportunity to grow. And finally, the Salve Regina reminds them of their primary goal as Servites: to love and serve the Blessed Mother.

On the second day, the Friars undergo a series of three challenges. They require a variety of skills and talents to complete. Artistic skills, intellectual acumen and physicality are all needed. During these tests, the freshmen have a chance to demonstrate their individual

strengths to their brothers. Each member contributes his individual gifts and talent for the success of the team.

The goal of the challenges—and of Formation Weekend as a whole—is for these Friars to discover who they are meant to be at Servite. And, of course, they must never forget what unites them all: they are brothers, created by God to be great.

As the sun dips below the horizon on Sunday, the freshmen gather in the theater to celebrate. They give each other high-fives, pats on the back, and hugs. They laugh, cry and cheer together as brothers.

They aren’t celebrating the end of their struggles—after all, their high school journeys are just beginning. They’re celebrating the change that they’ve experienced. They are different people than they were two days ago.

So, when freshmen are asked yet again, “Who are you?” They have an answer, because they know the truth.

“We are the freshmen from Servite! We are good! We will be great!”

John Carlson is a senior at Servite High School and was elected to serve as the Prior General, the highest student leadership position at the school.C

THE GOAL OF FORMATION WEEKEND IS FOR INCOMING FRESHMEN TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE MEANT TO BE AT SERVITE. COURTESY PHOTO

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

convent, have gotten a big boost in their efforts thanks to a chance encounter with retired Orange County Third District Supervisor Bill Campbell.

DINNER IS ON HIM

Campbell, who also served as a state assemblymen and Republican leader of the state assembly, is a lifelong Catholic and graduate of Loyola Marymount University. He and his wife, Mary, are parishioners at St. Norbert Catholic Church in Orange.

In late May, after a 5 p.m. Saturday Mass, Campbell and his wife went to grab a bite at Tutto Fresco in Orange.

As they were leaving, they noticed a dozen or so sisters dressed in grey and white habits standing in line scouring the menu boards at the Italian restaurant.

The sisters were enjoying a rare night out courtesy of some nursery

school parents who were thanking them for another successful May Day festival, a two-day event that is the school’s major annual fundraiser.

Campbell turned to Mary and said, “Maybe we ought to buy them dinner.”

“That’s a great idea!” she replied. He did, and he learned about the Poor Claire Missionary Sisters, who opened Santa Clara Day Nursery School in 1965 for children ages 2 ½ to 6.

Campbell told the sisters he would do what he could to spread the word about the school, which has five main classrooms, playground equipment and a large, park-like yard filled with fruit trees. The sisters invited him and his wife back for a tour in July and a meal.

“I said to myself, ‘Lord, this is something I can do,’” said Campbell, 81.

“It’s not too big of a project for me, it’s not too small — it’s just right. The Lord has drawn me to do something that

allows me to use my business experience and contacts to help the sisters be missionaries for Christ.”

Added Campbell: “The sisters have done a marvelous job and the school is spotless. You’d think it was brand new.”

VALUES AND RESPECT

Gomez’ son, Aiden, who just turned 5, begins kindergarten this September at Santa Clara Day Nursery School — as does her niece, Penelope. Veva grew up near the school and in September will become a member of a recently formed group of students’ mothers, Marian Daughters, whose members meet twice a month.

“I wouldn’t feel safe leaving my kids anywhere else except with my mom,” Gomez said.

The Poor Clare Missionary Sisters, who now total some 700 members in 14 countries, officially were established in 1951. Their founder is Blessed Mother Maria Ines Teresa,

who entered the Monastery of Poor Clare nuns in Los Angeles in 1929 after traveling by train from her hometown of Ixtlán del Río in the state of Nayarit, Mexico.

The 16 sisters currently living in the Santa Ana convent take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and their community is characterized by joyfulness — which is the attitude they maintain with students of their preschool, which is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Tuition is $145 per week.

“In this place,” Sr. Yenory said, “we don’t just teach — we see it as a mission. We see Christ in each child, and we don’t see them as a group, but as individuals. And we teach them to have values and respect each other.”

For more information about Santa Clara Day Nursery School, call (714) 554-8850 or email santaclaradaynursery@gmail.com. The website is under construction. C

OC Catholic Afar

JSerra Catholic High School student Gina Carlile and her parents David and Etelvina recently attended World Youth Day in Libson, Portugal.

Gianna was featured in the OC Catholic edition she is holding, for her work with the Wells of Life organization.

They are parishioners of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ladera Ranch.

“We are offering prayers for all in the Diocese of Orange, specifically for all the clergy, staff, parishes and schools, to continue to guide and inspire the youth of our Diocese.”

—Etelvina Martins Carlile

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.