Retirement Fund
for Religious
Please give to those who have given a lifetime.
Our aging religious need your help. Like those pictured, more than 24,000 senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests have dedicated their lives to serving others through prayer and ministry. Today, their religious communities do not have enough retirement savings to care for them. Your support of the Retirement Fund for Religious helps provide care, medicine, and other necessities. Please give back to those who have given a lifetime.
Please donate at your local parish, November 30–December 1, or by mail at: National Religious Retirement Office/ORAS 3211 Fourth Street NE Washington DC 20017-1194
Make check payable to Retirement Fund for Religious.
5 12
NOVEMBER
24, 2024
CONTENTS
'JUST LIKE ANY OTHER FAMILY'
National Adoption Month and the Radiate Love Initiative come together in November.
ST. BONAVENTURE SCHOOL HONORS VETS
The school welcomed 27 active duty and retired veterans for a special day.
16
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY
The Ladera Ranch parish has come a long way since its first 'Mass on the grass'.
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: Jarryd Gonzales
Managing 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.
HOME ALTARS
READER CALL-OUT
This is a different type of altar. The beads hanging on the crucifix are a representation of DNA that I made when my granddaughter attended Cornelia Connelly High School in Anaheim. They remind me that I belong to Jesus down to my innermost being. The picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is from the early 1900s. My grandmother brought it to California when she and her family moved here in the 1930s from Detroit, Michigan. It has hung continuously on her walls, my mom’s walls and now mine. Both of these objects are within my direct line of sight when I say morning and evening prayers. They help me focus on Jesus and Mary.
—Linda Serna, St. Vincent de Paul parish in Huntington Beach
Send your home altar photos to: editor@occatholic.com C
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
RV 14:1-3, 4B-5; PS 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6; LK 21:1-4
“ In families, fathers and mothers should have time to share with their children…” — Pope Francis
SAINT PROFILE
ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY 1829-1891
THE FIFTH OF EIGHT children in an Italian family, Mary Anna went in 1842 to a boarding school operated by the Sisters of St. Marcellina. She earned a teaching diploma in four years and wanted to join the order, but had to wait because of her mother's illness and father's financial reverses. After assisting her family, she entered the congregation in 1848 and professed her vows in 1852. Over a 40-year teaching career in the order's schools, she was both popular and successful; one of her students was the mother of Pope Paul VI. She died of throat cancer and was beatified in 1980. C
TUESDAY
RV 14:14-19; PS 96:10, 11-12, 13; LK 21:5-11
WEDNESDAY
RV 15:1-4; PS 98:1, 2-3AB, 7-8, 9; LK 21:12-19
THURSDAY
SIR 50:22-24; PS 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11; 1 COR 1:3-9; LK 17:11-19
FRIDAY
RV 20:1-4, 11— 21:2; PS 84:3, 4, 5-6A AND 8A; LK 21:29-33
SATURDAY
ROM 10:9-18; PS 19:8, 9, 10, 11; MT 4:18-22
SUNDAY
JER 33:14-16; PS 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14; 1 THES 3:12—4:2; LK 21:25-28, 34-36
PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDA SERNA
‘JUST LIKE ANY OTHER FAMILY’
ST. JOHN NEUMANN PARISHIONERS REFLECT ON NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH AND STATE BISHOPS’ ‘RADIATE LOVE’ INITIATIVE
BY GREG HARDESTY
MARGERY ARNOLD AND her husband, Matt Clark, were saving for a house in San Antonio, Texas, when they noticed an event at a church across the street.
An adoption agency was holding a workshop.
After years of experiencing infertility, Margery and Matt stopped by to learn about the process.
They discovered that their nest egg for a down payment on their planned new home matched, almost to the dollar, what it would cost to adopt a baby from China.
It was an easy decision:
Forget the new home for now, let’s start a family.
“We felt led by God to do this,” Margery recalled.
With National Adoption Month being celebrated in November and the yearlong California Catholic Bishops’ “Radiate Love Initiative” honoring marriage and family life in full swing, Margery and Matt said their 32-year marriage has been immeasurably blessed with two daughters.
Sisters but not biologically related, Mariel, 24, and Julianne, 21, were put up for adoption by their parents in rural China.
Margery and Matt became their grateful parents.
“We’re just like any other family,” said Mariel.
Her father agreed.
“We support each other, often annoy each other, help each other, embarrass each other and most importantly, love each other,” Matt said. “Living together as a family is something we get to work at every day, just like all the other families I know.”
GIFTS FROM GOD
This year’s National Adoption Month theme is “Honoring Youth: Strengthening Pathways for Lasting Bonds.”
Launched this summer, the California Catholic Bishops cited attacks on marriage and the decline of faith in the Eucharist as the reasons behind the “Radiative Love Initiative.” The program takes inspiration from the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana, because Jesus “believes marriage is beau-
tiful and worth celebrating,” according to organizers.
Linda Ji, director of the Office for Family Life for the Diocese of Orange, said National Adoption Month ties in nicely with the goals of the initiative.
“It’s important to note that the Church values and cares about children and wants to support families, whether families are biologically connected or not,” she said. “Overall, part of ‘Radiate Love’ is about supporting and encouraging parents to receive children as gifts from God, and that could be children you bear yourself or who you received from adoption.
“As a Church, we’re always outspoken about being pro-life, and advocating for adoption is part of that pro-life witness to the dignity of life. Every child deserves a safe and loving home.”
A DEEPENED FAITH
Margery and her family have been parishioners at St. John Neumann in Irvine for more than two decades.
A child psychologist, Margery runs the parish’s mental health ministry.
Both she and her husband took Asian studies course while undergraduates, and Matt, an Army veteran, studied abroad in China.
Speaking about what it means to be adoptive parents, she said: “In our world, we talk about the adoption triad — the birth family, the child and the adoptive parents — and if you’re not part of that triad, it’s hard to understand adoption, because you just see it through a lens of loss.
“There is a lens of loss in every adoption, but there’s so much more, too.”
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: JULIANNE CLARK, MARIEL CLARK, MATT CLARK AND MARGERY ARNOLD. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARGERY ARNOLD
Adopting children has deepened her family’s faith, Margery said.
“We understand God’s love better because we live life more fully,” she shared, adding that one of her favorite passages from the Bible is John 15:10-12 that reads, in part: If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
Explained Margery: “By loving my husband and my children, my joy is becoming complete. Being a parent teaches us to love like Jesus loved us. Being an adoptive parent puts an extra layer on that.
“If you want to grow in your capacity to love and God is leading you to adoption, then jump in. Being an adoptive parent requires an intentional type of love that gives the child a sense of being rooted not only in the family but also in the traditions of their faith and culture and in the communities of their birth family’s race, culture and ethnicity.”
A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE
Mariel called adoption is a “beautiful and positive experience.”
She added: “It shouldn’t be seen as something to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. Adoption creates opportunities for love, connection and family. Whether you’re an adoptee or adopting, it’s a powerful reminder that family isn’t just about biology.”
Once again, her father agreed.
“Not a day goes by that I’m not thankful for the gift of our girls,” Matt said. “Of course there are challenges to being a parent, but the big ups and downs are, in my view, the same, regardless of how we form our families.
“I also think that many young couples spend far too much time trying to achieve some ever-moving threshold for parental ‘qualification,’” he added. “The best things in life often require us to hold hands and jump in together. I’m so glad we made the adoption plunge many years ago and I would do it all again in a New York minute.” C
ST. THOMAS MORE IS THE PATRON SAINT OF ADOPTION. PHOTO COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK
CHRIST CATHEDRAL MUSIC MINISTRY RELEASES ALBUM RECORDED IN CATHEDRAL SANCTUARY
BY BRADLEY ZINT
THE MUSIC MINISTRY OF Christ Cathedral has released a new album, “Spem in Alium: A Choral Adoration,” a first-ever choral recording in the cathedral sanctuary that showcases various singers from 30 parishes throughout the Diocese of Orange.
Highlighting the album is a new recording of “Spem in alium” (Latin for “Hope in God alone”), a motet by Thomas Tallis written around 1570. While most choral music is for four parts, Tallis’ complex Renaissance-era work is comprised of 40 parts, divided into eight groups of singers. The ambitious work is sometimes dubbed the “Mt. Everest of choral music.” The new recording utilizes the Diocese’s Spanish choir, English choir, diocesan choir and even the children’s choir.
For the recording, which took place in March, the singers were strategically placed throughout Christ Cathedral, taking advantage of its acoustics, balconies and varying levels — distinctions that give the recording distinct qualities compared to others done in studio settings. “Spem in alium” was recorded in anticipation of the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope.
Utilizing the tonal breadth of the cathedral’s 17,000-pipe Hazel Wright Organ, another highlight is a new two-organ arrangement by Peter Beardsley (organist and choirmaster of Christ Church Cathedral in Houston) of “Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis.” The work, based on a Renaissance-era Psalm tune by Tallis, was originally written in 1910 for two orchestras by Ralph Vaughan Williams. “Fantasia” utilizes Hazel’s two consoles played by David L. Ball (who also heads the music ministry) and Dr. Emma Whitten.
Another new arrangement is of Eugene Lindusky’s “I am the Bread of Life” by Ryan Dodge, music director of St. Matthew Parish in Brooklyn, N.Y. “I am the Bread of Life” was chosen because it is a seminary days favorite of the Most Rev. Kevin Vann, Bishop of Orange. In addition, “Spem in Alium: A Choral Adoration” presents another first: recording inside the Cultural Center on the Christ Cathedral campus. The Richard Meier-designed building, while normally used for functions like receptions and conferences, boasts world-class acoustics. The Cultural Center’s unique properties
are apparent on the album’s “Miserere” by Gregorio Allegri — recorded in the center’s Strader Atrium and featuring soprano soloist Alyce Reynaud and the Cathedral Schola. “Miserere” is one of the only works in sacred choral repertoire that calls for the highest note in the soprano range. The recording engineer of “Spem in Alium: A Choral Adoration” was Christian Amonson of Seeing Sound. His professional work includes projects with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and John Williams, the Kansas City Symphony and Yo-Yo Ma, and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields at Abbey Road Studios.
Amonson also serves as an assistant professor of practice at the USC Thornton School of Music.
“Spem in Alium: A Choral Adoration” is the second album released this year by Christ Cathedral’s music ministry. The first, “Reger: Music of Max Reger,” was a live recording that celebrated the 150th anniversary of the birth of composer Max Reger.
“Spem in Alium: A Choral Adoration” is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and other digital platforms. For more information, visit ChristCathedralMusic.org C
CHOIRS FROM THROUGHOUT THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE RECORD IN MARCH AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL’S CULTURAL CENTER FOR A NEW ALBUM, “SPEM IN ALIUM: A CHORAL ADORATION,” WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE ON SPOTIFY, YOUTUBE AND APPLE MUSIC. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL MUSIC MINISTRY
GRATEFUL STUDENTS GIVE THANKS TO TEACHERS
IN CELEBRATION OF THANKSGIVING, ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC SCHOOL
STUDENTS SHARE THE TEACHERS WHO HAVE MADE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES
BY MIKE VULPO
THIS THANKSGIVING, Orange County Catholic School students are thankful for teachers who go above the call of duty in and out of the classroom.
Just ask Cristo Rey High School freshman Jacob D., who wanted to celebrate his English teacher for the holiday.
“The confidence and smiles Mrs. Machado-Browne brings to every student she teaches is the real reason we are so grateful,” shared. “Even a little, ‘You can do it’ lightens up people’s days and she gives us words of encouragement every class. It’s an honor to be one of her students.”
As Catholics give thanks this Thanksgiving, meet seven teachers who students can’t help but be thankful for.
SERVITE SCIENCE TEACHER, LAURA DICRISI
“I’m very thankful for Mrs. DiCrisi. Ever since my sophomore year, she has been such a great role model and person to match my values with. She is one of the most caring people I have met and genuinely seems happy to teach and spend time with us. Mrs. DiCrisi has been a second mother to me and my friends, and whenever we have an issue we need help with, we always know who to go to.” — student Luke Sorensen
CRISTO REY ORANGE COUNTY ENGLISH TEACHER, LAURA MACHADO-BROWNE
“We are grateful for Mrs. Machado-Browne because she is an amazing
ROSARY ACADEMY FRENCH TEACHER KIRSTEN NEUMANN ADDRESSES STUDENTS IN HER CLASSROOM. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSARY ACADEMY
CRISTO REY ENGLISH TEACHER LAURA MACHADO-BROWNE WITH HER STUDENT JACOB. D. PHOTO BY MIKE VULPO
SERVITE SCIENCE TEACHER LAURA DICRISI WITH STUDENTS BENNETT WILL, CAMDEN BOHN, SHANE UKISHIMA AND PATRICK HASSETT. PHOTO BY VALERIE CASTILLO
teacher. She wants to see us succeed just as all the Cristo Rey Orange County staff do. She helps us when we don’t understand questions and goes through it with us so we can better understand it. Her style of teaching is super helpful. It really helps us understand what we’re learning, and she can make it fun as well. That’s why Mrs. Machado-Browne is an amazing teacher; she incorporates fun into her lessons while making them educational so more students can understand what we are learning about.” — Student Jacob D.
SANTA MARGARITA
PERCUSSION ADVISOR AND AP MUSIC THEORY TEACHER, AMANDA DUNCAN
“I love all kinds of music and I'm very interested in it, both as a school subject and a hobby. I am grateful for Ms. Duncan who has taught me a lot about drums and other percussion instruments. Our school band went to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings this past summer, and Ms. Duncan was helpful to all of us on the trip. She is also patient and a great resource to me with my academics and my study habits. Ms. Duncan is a positive influence in my life.” — student Cielle Peloquin
TEACHER JODI HOWARD OF ST. SERRA CATHOLIC SCHOOL. PHOTO COURTESY OF OC CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
my ELA and math classes. She is super nice and helps you get better without pushing too much. She really helped me know that I could do the hard things without stressing me out. We even had some extra time in class and she let us make friendship bracelets to trade with each other. Class was always fun and I felt like I was getting better in the places where I had a hard time. Her kindness made a huge difference in helping me understand the work. I couldn’t be happier to have had Miss Howard as a teacher and still am so excited to see her at school every day!
— student Gwendolyn Treadway
MATER DEI ENGLISH TEACHER, DENISE JOHNSON
“I love having Mrs. Johnson as my English teacher because she has a creative way of teaching. For example, when reading Shakespeare, she has us take turns playing characters. Shakespeare can be pretty hard to get through, and she makes it feel so modern. She’s also
very generous with her time.” — student Mia Rodrigues C
ROSARY ACADEMY FRENCH TEACHER, KIRSTEN NEUMANN
“I am very grateful for Madame Neumann because she has always been such a dedicated teacher, not only teaching us a new language but making sure we appreciate the culture and history that comes with it. Her teaching is always very involved with the students and a class never goes by where she doesn’t make us smile and laugh. I am on the course to take AP French and have never felt more prepared than with Madame. Being in Honors French III and having her the last two years, she has grown my love for language tremendously!” — student Gianna Sorensen
SERRA FIRST AND THIRD GRADE TEACHER, JODI HOWARD
“Last year, Miss Howard helped me in
To report sexual abuse by clergy or church personnel please call: 1 (800) 364-3064 Healing and Hope
639-4673
là nạn nhân bị lạm dụng tình dục bởi một linh mục/ tu sĩ hay một thành viên trong Giáo Hội gây ra, xin hãy gọi và báo cáo cho Giáo phận ở số điện thoại miễn phí sau đây: 1-800-364-3064, và đồng thời báo cáo cho nhà chức trách địa phương.
TEACHER DENISE JOHNSON OF MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL. PHOTO COURTESY OF OC CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
TEACHER AMANDA DUNCAN OF SANTA MARGARITA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL. PHOTO COURTESY OF SANTA MARGARITA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN: NAVIGATING THE HOLIDAYS WITH A GRIEVING HEART
BY REBECCA FREEMAN PASTORAL CARE MINISTRY COORDINATOR FOR THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
ONE OF MY FAVORITE traditions each year is trimming the Christmas tree with the same decorations our family has used since long before I was born. Every ornament uniquely captures a moment of time in our collective history – a porcelain baby bootie denoting a baby’s first Christmas, a popsicle stick decorated with a paste and glitter conglomeration which is evidence of a wee one’s early ingenuity and those retro bread dough concoctions made by my parents when they were dating back in the 1970s. These simple treasures are always a reminder to me of the gift of presence each person and moment they represent has been in my life. And something particularly dear to me now as a ritual of remembrance, since so many of those I shared these memories with are no longer with us.
Navigating the holidays with heartache, loss and grief can be a particularly challenging and difficult time of year. Some say the first year without someone you love is the hardest while others claim the second year is when the death really sinks in during what is typically joyful and celebratory times for the rest of world around us. It can be disorienting to even see things continuing as “normal” while our hearts are shattered, and we are left picking up the pieces in those initial days and weeks. Perhaps in future years, there’s even a false expectation to “have gotten over it by now” and wondering why we still feel so heavy and emotional at certain times. As a nurse colleague once remarked, “never apologize for crying… tears are liquid love.”
In my own life, even 15 years later, I still tear up at my niece and nephew’s Advent Programs when I look down our
many young children in the family present. This is ok. And quite often, loved ones are far more understanding than we realize. Taking care of you is what is most important, not holding the burden of expectations.
family in the row, deeply feeling the loss of the physical presence of my beloved dad whose prime delight in life was events and milestones like this. That love is eternal, and the liquid love streams forth with each passing year since his death. This time of year, is often the most common time of year for seeing loved ones, near and far and festivities in the workplace, social circles and thus, being reminded that things are possibly not so light and jovial in our own lives. While the world is jingling all the way, this is often the very last disposition a grieving heart finds oneself. But you are not alone no matter whether you have lost someone you loved yesterday, 30 years ago or are presently holding vigil with anticipatory grief of the loss to come.
As we make our way preparing our hearts for this season, there are many ways we can make space for tears, memories, grief, time away, time together and nourishing ourselves by leaning into God’s solace and peace and preparation for what we need to endure this time.
Grief expert Dr. Alan Wolfelt describes a few practical ways to do this in the milieu of the holidays including planning ahead for family gatherings and being aware of our emotional and mental limits this season. Wolfelt also states this may mean managing expectations about whether you will participate in the same way or same capacity as you usually do. It may also mean saying no altogether or leaving early. There may be triggers such as if you recently experienced a miscarriage and a particular party will have
In addition to grieving the loss of a loved one, this season may be overwhelming as you are holding another particular struggle whether from mental illness, a recent diagnosis, a breakup, loneliness, divorce, addiction, fears of deportation, incarceration, family estrangement and more. Or perhaps a compounding of these that makes you feel particularly vulnerable and on the margins. Whatever the reason your heart is heavy, know that tending to yourself is healthy and restorative. Give yourself time to reflect on how grief is coming up in your body and attend to those needs, including but not limited to, making appointments with your own doctors and providers and practically attending to your physical and mental health amid all you are carrying. And sometimes we need a little help in these burdens so reaching out to counselors, clergy, friends, neighbors or a grief support group can guide us in this journey too. It is also up to all of us to extend our support to those around us, offering help with even simple household tasks or making the time to pay a visit to someone in our lives this season who
REBECCA FREEMAN IS PICTURED AS A CHILD WITH HER FATHER DAVID AS THEY DECORATE THEIR FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE. PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA FREEMAN
OC CATHOLIC RECIPE SWAP PECAN NUT CUP COOKIES
INGREDIENTS
FILLING
1 beaten egg
½ cup brown sugar
¾ cup chopped pecans
COOKIE DOUGH
½ cup butter, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp of almond extract
1 ¾ cups of all-purpose flour
1 3oz cream cheese
Editor’s note: The recipe for Pecan Nut Cup Cookies originally published in the Nov. 10 issue was incomplete; here is the recipe in its entirety.
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees; You will need an ungreased mini-muffin pan. Mix cookie dough by hand until smooth.
Press one teaspoon of the dough into each mini-muffin cup then add one teaspoon of the filling into each mini-muffin cup.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top of crust is slightly brown.
Remove from oven, completely cool, sprinkle a little confectioner’s sugar on top of each cookie and serve. The cookies can be stored in a cool area for up to two weeks. Makes 3 dozen cookies. This recipe can also be doubled. Enjoy! C
—Submitted by Josephine Bivona, St. Kilian parish in Mission Viejo
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSEPHINE BIVONA
ST. BONAVENTURE SCHOOL HONORS VETERANS
BY MEG WATERS
EIGHTH-GRADER CLAIRE
Kurkjian may have started a tradition at St. Bonaventure School in Huntington Beach. Her father, Captain Bob Kurkjian, USN, served tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain and is currently stationed in Ventura County. Last year Claire organized a special Veterans Day tribute to honor her dad and all people who have served in the armed forces.
Now in its second year, the Veterans Day tribute honored 27 veterans who served from the Korean War to three currently in active duty. All the veterans are related to either students, faculty or parishioners at St. Bonaventure.
“I think it is important to honor our veterans and thank the people who have protected our freedom,” said Claire, who brought the idea to the school administration last year.
This year, in addition to honoring the veterans, the students gave each service member handmade certificates thanking them for their service.
Former PFC Benjamin Vargas served in the Army for three years, including one year in Vietnam in 1968.
“I was newly married when the Army sent me to Vietnam for a year,” recalled the former Army Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Soldier. “I didn’t see my newborn son until he was six months old.”
Terrance Strouse was stationed in the city of Hue, the site of some of the fiercest fighting during the Vietnamese Tet Offensive and the Battle of Hue from 1968–1969.
“I served in the 101st Army Airborne Division,” he shared. “I was in Vietnam exactly three years, one month and seven days.”
The oldest veteran was William Egelin, who served in the Marine Corps during the early stages of the Korean
War beginning in 1947. He was stationed aboard the USS Toledo and operated a 20mm cannon.
Captain Kurkjian served as master of ceremonies and highlighted the benefits students might consider when contemplating a military career.
“No matter what you want to do in life, I guarantee it happens in the military,” said the 21-year Navy veteran. “I have great memories of my time in the service, great friends and I highly recommend each of you consider what the military can offer as a career.”
St. Bonaventure’s pastor, Fr. Vincent Pham, gave a blessing and special prayers for the military assembled on campus. Principal Dr. Richard Yoon greeted the assembly and family members gathered to celebrate the military heroes. The school’s Scout Troop 227, led by Jordan Nguyen, led the flag salute and served as color guard for the flag ceremony. The school choir sang “America the Beautiful” and Charlie Sabovich, a trumpeter, concluded the ceremony with the traditional end-of-day Taps. Principal Yoon is optimistic the Veterans Day tribute will become an annual event.
“As a school community, it’s an honor to recognize and celebrate our veterans in front of our students. Teaching our young people about the sacrifices made by those who have served in our military is not only an opportunity to express our gratitude, but also an important lesson in respect, service and patriotism. This tradition is one we will proudly continue, ensuring that the stories and contributions of our veterans are never forgotten.”C
TRUMPETER CHARLIE SABOVICH PLAYS “TAPS.”
CAPTAIN ROBERT KURKJIAN, CLAIRE KURKJIAN (EIGHTH GRADER) AND DR. RICHARD YOON, PRINCIPAL OF ST. BONAVENTURE SCHOOL IN HUNTINGTON BEACH. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL
SCHOOLS/GUEST COLUMN
may be struggling and in need because we may not know the crosses others may carry.
Nurturing your spiritual life is a deep source of comfort in sustaining you through difficult times which is why turning to Christ on the Crucifix is such a powerful solidarity with all suffering. We have countless examples of grief in our faith from Jesus weeping over a dear friend in the Gospel of John to Mary holding the broken body of her Son our Brother Christ, at the foot of the cross in “La Pieta” to innumerable saints who have endured deep pain and heartache in their lives which later on, actually allowed them to be uniquely present in empathy to others in need. Perhaps your spiritual life looks a bit different than before your loss, maybe it’s too much to attend your usual Mass time and seeing familiar faces so opting for an earlier quieter liturgy may be what you need in that moment. You may consider using time with the Blessed Sacrament to share with the true Presence of Christ all you are feeling, the sadness, even anger, remorse and longing. Exploring forms of prayer that perhaps you haven’t in the past, such as Lectio Divinia- “Divine Reading” of scripture and prayers specifically around themes of bereavement. And pray for the dead as well as the living and ask them to pray for you- you may consider having a Mass offered particularly for this loved one this time of year or attend a healing Mass at your parish. Making time to walk in God’s Creation or check in 1:1 with a close friend, spiritual director, and/or deacon/priest can also help guide you as you process and mourn allows us to lean into the fellowship of the Mystical Body of Christ as well.
As a chaplain colleague once remarked to me, “grief demands to be felt. You may feel it coming up in the workplace or as you try to go about your daily life and may need
to hold back to get through the day, but it’s important to follow up and make an appointment with that grief.” Setting some specific time aside to allow yourself to mourn and feel the love and loss can be the best gift we give ourselves. I often think of those lyrics from the famous Amy Grant song, “breath of heaven, hold me together, pour over me your holiness.” What could be a more fitting prayer as we navigate this season, drawing close to the humility, humanity and hope of the Incarnation, finding our refuge in that manger.
We recognize that there may be things you are holding that are particularly difficult as we head into this season. And it is in these times that the Church draws especially near to those who mourn, as the Psalm 147 tell us, “He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” So, my dear sisters and brothers, let’s lean into grace, keep the faith and know we are not alone, help is available this season and all times. As you hear that famous Advent hymn proclaim, “O Come O Come Emmanuel” which indeed means, God with us, know that He is speaking to you and me. He does not leave our side now and forever. Please take good care of yourself and one another this season and always. Virtual/ newsprint hugs and blessings to you.
RESOURCES
rcbo.org/bereavement-grief rcbo.org/mental-health rcbo.org/hope-healing-after-abortion
wholeperson.care
https://www.usccb.org/prayers/ prayers-death-and- dying
The New Hope Peer-to-Peer Support Line’s mission is to provide a free of charge telephone support line that offers nonjudgmental peer listening and Christian love to anyone seeking help during the following hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. To speak with someone during operating hours, call 714-NEWHOPE (714) 639-4673. C
THE CASTILLO FAMILY: SERGEANT FRANCIS CASTILLO, SENIOR AIRMAN ARIANA CASTILLO MELCHI, SENIOR AIRMAN MARCO CASTILLO MELCHI AND ST. BONAVENTURE STUDENT OLIVIA CASTILLO.
WILLIAM EGELIN, A KOREAN WAR VETERAN, IS WITH HIS GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER AVERY HOOVER, A STUDENT AT ST. BONAVENTURE SCHOOL. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL
SERRA’S PANTRY DELIVERS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
VOLUNTEERS
ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES TO ENSURE NEIGHBORS HAVE FOOD FOR THANKSGIVING AND BEYOND
BY MIKE VULPO
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, volunteers at Mission Basilica parish’s food pantry are finding plenty of joy in giving back. While the volunteer-run ministry
in San Juan Capistrano is dedicated to serving the physical and social needs of individuals and working families all year round, the men and women leading the pantry give extra thanks and blessings during Thanksgiving and the Christmas season.
“The holiday season is a joyous time for a lot of different reasons,” Serra’s Pantry director David Bordages told Orange County Catholic. “Our pantry is very joyous because of so many people and organizations that want to give, and we're blessed to have them want to give to us. Why do they want to give to us? Because they see what we do, and they see the people we serve and it's really hands-on service.”
Available three days a week, Serra’s Pantry opens its doors on the campus of Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano to provide food to the needy. Donations come from area merchants through the “grocery rescue” service.
The pantry also receives generous food donations from area churches, businesses, schools, social clubs, youth groups and caring individuals who contribute nonperishable food and cash gifts.
“We're serving on average about 75 different families each day,” Bordages shared. “A family can come to the pantry once a week. In the summer, it falls off a bit. The average might be 60. In the holiday period, we’ve had some days where we've had more than 90 families come through.”
When Thanksgiving approaches, Serra’s Pantry tries to donate nearly 200 turkeys to families in need thanks to the generosity of local organizations.
In December, the ministry also hosts an Advent Christmas party where nearly 150 families can celebrate the holidays with toys, food meal boxes and a visit from Santa.
“The Christmas parties are amazing because many of these families aren't able to give gifts to their kids,” Becky Metzner, who serves as the food pantry’s coordinator and leader for Saturday’s distribution days, explained to Orange County Catholic. “I've had multiple moms say, ‘These are the only gifts my kids are going to get.’ That in itself is what we do and what we should do.”
While Bordages has been working
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CHLOE, EMMA, BELLA AND NATALIE SPENT THEIR SATURDAY MORNING VOLUNTEERING AT SERRA’S PANTRY, A MINISTRY OF MISSION BASILICA IN SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. PHOTOS BY MIKE VULPO
at the food pantry for many years, he is quick to give credit to Metzner and other managers including Steve Rosen and Victor Quagliero for making the pantry a helpful ministry for so many families in need.
Although the coronavirus pandemic caused an increase in visitors utilizing the pantry, Bordages said the need for assistance hasn’t slowed down.
“There is no question that we're serving more families than we have in the past,” he explained. “We're actually helping people in need and doing something to help improve their lives. It'll help you with your food budget, particularly given the cost of food these days. If you can
get extra assistance every week, it really makes a difference in a family's budget.”
No matter how busy food distribution days get, both Bordages and Metzner are grateful for all of the volunteers who generously step up to help.
From drivers picking up food donations at eight neighboring stores every week to high school students distributing food on their days off from class, the team effort does not go unnoticed by both guests and leaders.
“We are the hands and feet of Christ,” Bordages shared. “If something is going to get done, it’s going to be done by people who are able and willing to devote the time and energy to it and knowing what the result is. We have tremendous volunteers who have been with us for a while. I've been doing it for almost 14 years. It speaks very well of the Church’s mission.”
Metzner added, “We’re feeding our brothers and sisters. By the grace of God, I'm lucky enough not to need help. I feel everybody has an obligation to serve those less fortunate than themselves in some fashion. We should always give back to the world. It would be a kinder place if we did.”
As the holidays inch closer and closer, the leaders of Serra’s Pantry invite people to volunteer and meet community members who may need some assistance. Financial donations are also welcome and guaranteed to go directly
to critically needed items that don’t always get donated.
When asked to share her favorite part about volunteering, Metzner didn’t hesitate to praise the families she serves.
“I have thought about cutting back often because I'm here every Saturday, but it's the people and serving the people and the families of our community,” she said. “I'm a comforting face to them. I really think the continuity of being here and our volunteers being very welcoming to everybody here is helpful. We’re all a family.”
If you would like your parish food pantry featured in OC Catholic , email editor@occatholic. com C
BECKY METZNER AND HER GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS HELP
SERRA’S PANTRY.
SOPHIA STAFF, EDEN MEISSNER, PAIGE MILLER AND MEREDITH MILLER HELP PROVIDE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO GUESTS AT SERRA’S PANTRY. PHOTOS BY MIKE VULPO
HOLY TRINITY PARISH MARKS TWENTY YEARS
BY MEG WATERS
IN JULY OF 2005, Annette Blais was a young mom. She had heard that a new Catholic Church was coming to Ladera Ranch, so she and her husband were excited to join the other young families at the first Mass at Holy Trinity. Twenty years later, Annette is a grandmother of nine, and still a part of Holy Trinity parish.
“I love it because this parish is where our family grew up, we have so many memories here,” said Blais.
Candace and Gregory Metcalfe are relatively new parishioners but share the same enthusiasm for Holy Trinity.
“We came here because of the vibrance of the parish and the many friendships we have made,” recalled Candace Metcalfe. “People here introduce themselves. We felt like we belonged from the very beginning.”
The pastor of Holy Trinity, Fr. Michael St. Paul, came to the parish in July 2020, just as churches everywhere were shutting down live services due to COVID-19 quarantines. Coming to a new parish, as everyone was told to stay home, was exceptionally challenging for the priest as well as the parish family who had a new spiritual father.
“Despite the challenges, our parish is phenomenal at service, we have incredible volunteers, and I have great trust in the staff,” he said. “We are a hospitable parish, and we work together as a family. With all the parish has been through in the last few years, I thought the 20th anniversary was a good opportunity to celebrate and initiate a year of spiritual renewal while recognizing that without God, we are nothing. All He has given us needs to be embraced.”
In true Holy Trinity style, the parish threw a 20th anniversary jubilee party on Nov. 9 to kick off a year of celebration. Festivities began with a special Mass celebrated by Fr. Michael and concelebrated by Parochial Vicar Fr. Bala Udumala with Deacon Anthony Palazzollo.
The offertory gifts included special objects representing the milestones from the past two decades. The first gift was a block of turf symbolizing the early “Mass on the grass” in the Ladera Ranch Town Green. The second gift was a bit of soil
THE FIRST GIFT PRESENTED DURING MASS WAS A BLOCK OF TURF SYMBOLIZING THE EARLY “MASS ON THE GRASS” IN THE LADERA RANCH TOWN GREEN. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC PARISH IN LADERA RANCH WILL CELEBRATE ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2025.
from the groundbreaking of the church in 2007. Next was a rendering of the Holy Trinity overlay that will accompany the memory tiles to be placed in front of the church. Finally, two candles were placed on the altar representing all the sacraments — from baptisms to the anointing of the sick that have taken place at the church.
After Mass, more than 220 parishioners gathered in the parish hall for a buffet dinner and a chance to celebrate 20 years of community fellowship. The parish gifted a very surprised Fr. Michael with his daily Mass chalice replated in sterling silver and gold.
“Although I won’t be here to see it, my vision for the next 20 years is a lot of Baptisms, as well as moms and dads raising children here at Holy Trinity,” shared Fr. Michael. “This church will be thriving with all the facilities the community has built. More importantly, this church will continue to be a blessing to the larger community through our incredible outreach and support of many charitable causes.” C
PARISHIONERS OF HOLY TRINITY PARISH GATHER FOR FELLOWSHIP AND TO KICK OFF THE PARISH’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR ON NOV. 9.
THE PARISH GIFTED FR. MICHAEL ST. PAUL, PASTOR OF HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LADERA RANCH, WITH HIS DAILY MASS CHALICE REPLATED IN STERLING SILVER AND GOLD. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE
A SPECIAL MASS WAS CELEBRATED ON NOV. 9 TO KICK OFF A YEAR OF CELEBRATION FOR HOLY TRINITY PARISH IN LADERA RANCH. MASS WAS CELEBRATED BY FR. MICHAEL ST. PAUL AND CONCELEBRATED BY PAROCHIAL VICAR FR. BALA UDUMALA.
TRAINING AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
BY REBEKAH VALDERRAMA
THE THANKSGIVING holiday is this week, which you're probably acutely aware of. Have you done your grocery shopping yet? There's so much to plan! It's a busy time. But I'm not here today to offer entertaining tips or tasty recipes. Today I'm meditating on something so much simpler, it feels silly to even say it out loud: we would all benefit from more gratitude in our lives.
My husband and I were recently confronted uncomfortably with some bad ingratitude in our children. It came up in one particularly trying evening, involving back-talk, rudeness and demanding attitudes. We're blessed with a generous family, and you might say, burdened with a few "gift giving" love languages in our house. It's a dangerous combo, and we had dropped the ball in teaching them to be thankful for what they have. Something had to be done.
Besides lamenting the appalling entitlement on display in our young children (they're ages 6 and under) and all I could do was over-correct, so we started deliberately saying thank you too much.
Thank you for handing me that fork. Thank you for sitting down so I can put on your socks. Thank you for getting into your car seat.
I think that only lasted a few days, but it made a point. It got the ball rolling.
The other thing we started, and have continued, was to include prayers of thanks at bedtime. Previously, bedtime was for prayers of petition and intercession, and thanksgiving was relegated mostly to the few minutes after Communion on Sunday. Now, each night, after each member of the family lists their
intentions, they're asked to say "thank you Jesus" for two things. Parents are not exempt! We're modeling how to reflect on our day and single out moments to appreciate. And we're also insisting on new things every night, to make sure they're really thinking about it. It's so simple, but surprisingly, it's been working! As with anything, progress has been slow, but over the last couple of months, I've seen an attitude shift. They're acting less entitled, less demanding. They spontaneously say
"thank you" more often. It's subtle, and there's still progress to be made, but I've been really delighted to see that the lesson seems to be resonating already. What this process has taught me is that gratitude isn't natural; it doesn't happen on its own. It's taught and it's trained and it's practiced. It's not natural for a six-year-old to value someone else's time and efforts without instruction. Their world doesn't extend that far outside themselves. They have to be shown and modeled, and an atmosphere
of gratitude will foster that mindset shift.
But we, as adults, need this reminder too. The lesson of "be grateful for what you have" sounds unbearably trite, but perhaps it's so basic that we forget to exercise that gratitude muscle and slip into entitled attitudes ourselves.
Even around the Thanksgiving holiday, we might be too busy with preparations for a big meal to stop and reflect on the gifts God has given us. I know that I need the reminder to stop and be grateful for the blessings in my life. I'm always so busy and stressed, but when I do pause to reflect with gratitude, my day instantly improves.
Gratitude is so important for our relationships. It starts with a recognition of the things other people do and give to us, then it develops into a deeper awareness of the intrinsic human value of the other child of God in front of us. And that's something we all need a little more of right now.
Happy Thanksgiving. C
PHOTO BY DEBBY HUDSON ON UNSPLASH
OC Catholic Afar
Fr. Christopher Heath and Willie Centeno on a pilgrimage to Italy. Taken at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome on October 15, 2024.
—Submitted by Fr. Christopher Heath, Director of Diocesan Archives
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.
