OC CATHOLIC - DECEMBER 31, 2023

DECEMBER 31, 2023

YEAR IN REVIEW

PAGE 6

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

BREAD THAT FEEDS THE SOUL A FAMILY BAKERY IN STANTON OFFERS SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT FOR CUSTOMERS AND THOSE IN NEED PAGE 10 THE LOPEZ FAMILY OWNS PANAD­ERÍA EL CORTEZ IN STANTON. FROM LEFT: CELIA, RUBEN, CELIA’S MOTHER ALSO NAMED CELIA, IVAN, EVELYN AND XOCHILTH. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

DECEMBER 31, 2023

CONTENTS

7 8

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

With the turning of the calendar, we reflect on ways to improve ourselves.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: LEO CASTRO

The Holy Family parishioner has been a mainstay of the community for decades.

16 LEADERSHIP IN SCHOOL

St. Bonaventure Catholic School eighth grader Jane Wilton sets an example among her peers.

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

New Hope

COUNSELING SERVICES Individual & Family Therapy We provide affordable counseling services in English & Spanish, offering in-person and telehealth formats for children, adults, families, and couples.

We serve 9 Catholic Elementary schools.

In fiscal year 2022, we: Provided 1,275 sessions for minors and adults Offered high school transition groups Gave parish-based presentations to over 400 people Saw 63 clients for a total of 880 sessions We decrease the stigma of mental health through parish presentations on multiple psychological topics, integrating the Catholic faith with mental health.

Crisis Hotline Hours: Mon - Fri | 7:30 AM - 9:30 PM Sat - Sun | 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM All New Hope Crisis Counseling Hotline services are free of charge.

In fiscal year 2022, we served 5,050 callers.

During the January - June 2022 calendar year, we served 2,090 callers.

Our telephone hotline program provides an invaluable mental health resource available to anyone for no cost.

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.

OCCatholic.com

OCCatholicNews

@OCCCatholicNews

COUNSELING

NEW HOPE HOTLINE

GUEST COLUMN

MY CATHOLIC FAITH

BY ELLIOT HOOD, SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL

I

AM A JUNIOR AT Servite High School. My faith has always played an essential role in my life, whether it be in my personal, academic or private life.

I was raised Catholic; my family attends Mass every weekend, prays together and integrates the faith in everything we do. However, as a child, I never knew what it meant to be a “Catholic” because, in my mind, I was only following my parents’ example. That all changed when I decided to start my journey at Servite.

Choosing a high school is challenging, especially considering that many people choose what high school they want to attend in their early teenage years. That’s why I decided to visit Servite at their Open House. A senior at Servite spoke to the crowd, a collection of seventh- and

eighth-grade students and their families.

That senior was Matthew Greenlee.

Matthew sold me on Servite with his speech, and by the end of the day, I knew that Servite was the place for me.

You might ask what Matthew said to us that was so inspiring, and my answer would not necessarily be what he said, but how he showed it.

Matthew was a perfect example of how Servite makes faith-filled leaders. He showed me that faith is not something you think about just during the weekends or just during prayer. However, it’s a lifestyle, a culture that helps you grow in everything you do. I wanted to be like Matthew Greenlee; I wanted that for myself but also to show others the true meaning of faith as he continues to do.

At Servite, four formation themes embody our campus, two directly connected CONTINUES ON PAGE 17

The Diocese of Orange, through OC Catholic newspaper, presents local, national and world news about the Catholic Church. Our intention is to give our readers access to a variety of perspectives in order to help them to process the information within the framework of our Catholic faith, but also to better understand the perspectives of those with opposing viewpoints.

We hope that ultimately our readers will be better equipped to have constructive conversations that further the growth of the Catholic Church.

ELLIOT HOOD. PHOTO COURTESY OF SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL

ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC: FAMILY, FAITH AND COMMUNITY DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME Current Orange County Register subscribers can choose to add the weekly OC Catholic to their Sunday newspaper delivery as a FREE Sunday supplement.

Not a Register subscriber? Get Orange County Catholic plus the Sunday Orange County Register home delivered for just $1 a week.

Go to OCCatholic.com/subscribe to start your Sunday home delivery subscription or add your FREE OC Catholic supplement upgrade today.

DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

AROUND CAMPUS

“

Our God is inseparably good, true and beautiful — Pope Francis

SAINT PROFILE

SMALL GALLERY

” CATHERINE LABOURE

1806-1876

B

Donor: Available. Like the Arboretum and Tower of Hope, the Small Gallery was designed by Richard Neutra, and was completed in 1958. It originally served as a church lobby and had a pastor’s office. Photo by Costea Photography, Inc. C

ORN ZOE LABOURE, this visionary lived simply and anonymously for 45 years as a Sister of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris. But during her novitiate, Sister Catherine had visions of Our Lady, shared then only with her confessor and a tribunal that investigated and authenticated them. In the visions, Our Lady stood on a globe, with light shafts beaming from her hands and these words around the image: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” The Miraculous Medal devotion was born immediately, but credited to Catherine’s visions only eight months before her death.

Her incorrupt body lays in her convent chapel.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

NM 6:22-27; PS 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; GAL 4:4-7; LK 2:16-21

1 JN 2:22-28; 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD4; JN 1:19-28

1 JN 2:29–3:6; PS 98:1, 3CD-4, 5-6; JN 1:29-34

1 JN 3:7-10; PS 98:1, 7-8, 9; JN 1:35-42

1 JN 3:11-21; PS 100:1B-2, 3, 4, 5; JN 1:43-51

1 JN 5:5-13; PS147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20; MK 1:7-11

IS 60:1-6; PS 72:12, 7-8, 10-11, 1213.; EPH 3:2-3A, 5-6; MT 2:1-12

D E C E M B E R 31, 2 0 2 3 ■ O C C A T H O L I C

5

FEATURE

YEAR IN REVIEW

BY BRADLEY ZINT

For the Diocese of Orange Community, 2023 was another busy year marked by events large and small, milestones reached and, in one parish’s case, an achievement long overdue. It was a year of renewal and a sense of greater normalcy following the years-long disruptions of the pandemic.

It also marked the celebration of life for a bishop whose contributions to Orange were historic, courageous and invaluable.

Take some time to enjoy this recap of the past year, 2023, in the Diocese of Orange.

SWALLOWS DAY PARADE RETURNS

The Swallows Day Parade returned to the streets around Mission San Juan Capistrano on March 25. The 63rd parade was again in full form after pandemic delays. The event had several Catholic groups from Mission Basilica, Mission Basilica School and others participating. The Swallows Day Parade started as an outgrowth of a school carnival in the 1930s that was held to celebrate the return of the swallows to Mission San Juan Capistrano. It later evolved into an equestrian parade.

The legend of the swallows is also tied to the Catholic Church, when, in the early 20th century, Fr. John O’Sullivan invited the swallows to shelter in the Mission. Ever since, the historic church has been the subject of popular legend and even pop culture.

ST. JOSEPH SISTERS HELP O.C. WITH NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Construction began in earnest this year on Villa St. Joseph, a $37-million affordable-housing community being built in the former Motherhouse on the

6

Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange campus in Orange. The sisters gave a hard hat tour of the site on June 6, explaining how the project next year will transform their former Batavia Street home into 50 new apartment-style homes with on-site supportive services. Eighteen of the apartments will be reserved for seniors impacted by homelessness.

“It’s just a wonderful day,” said Sr. Mary Beth, who used to live in the Motherhouse. “We’ve turned a corner from planning to action and things are moving ahead. The sisters are very excited to share their home, a place they love, with those who are most in need, those people who have no home, have no place to lay their head.”

CULMINATION CONCERT FOR THE YEAR OF HAZEL

The Diocese hosted a year of concerts to celebrate Christ Cathedral’s restored Hazel Wright Organ that demonstrated the sheer breadth and power of the 17,000-pipe organ, but the final concert on June 20 topped them all. More than 1,500 came to enjoy the Pacific Symphony, Pacific Chorale and Grammy Award-winning organist Paul Jacobs for a spectacular night of music. The evening included a new work, “Fiat Lux”

by Scottish composer James MacMillan with text by California poet Dana Gioia, whose lyrics refer to Christ Cathedral.

THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF ORANGE GAVE A HARD HAT TOUR OF THE NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING SITE ON JUNE 6. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF ORANGE

ST. CALLISTUS CHAPEL AND CRYPTS BREAK GROUND

The OLLV Foundation and Christ Cathedral hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on July 5 for the St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts project. Bishop Kevin Vann presided over the blessing for the modern Byzantine-style chapel, which will contain about 12,500 square feet and is scheduled to be completed in summer 2024. The crypts will have burial spaces

O C C A T H O L I C ■ D E C E M B E R 31, 2 0 2 3

CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

THE SWALLOWS DAY PARADE RETURNED TO THE STREETS AROUND MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO ON MARCH 25. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

FEATURE/CATHOLIC FAMILY LIVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

for the Bishops of Orange and niches for all the faithful. The space in the cathedral undercroft is named after the St. Callistus parish in Garden Grove that closed in 2013 as part of the cathedral property sale to the Diocese of Orange the year prior.

MARIAN DAYS GROWS IN SECOND YEAR

The second annual Marian Days on July 14 and 15 grew this year, drawing an estimated 25,000 people to three outdoor Masses and a procession that went out onto the streets. The festival-like celebration brought together many Catholics from around the region, particularly from the Vietnamese community, for Adoration, prayer, guest speakers, processions, food, dancers and entertainment. This year’s theme was “With Mary, We Journey.”

“These past days have been a testament to the beauty and power of our shared faith,” said Bishop Kevin Vann. “Throughout Marian Days we have dealt deep into the core tenets of our beliefs, exploring the profound teachings that guide our lives and give us purpose ... we are reminded that with Mary, the mother of our God, Our Lady of La Vang, we journey together, believing that she will lead us to her Son.”

NEW CATHOLIC SCHOOL OPENS IN SANTA ANA

Cristo Rey Orange County High School opened its doors for the first time on Aug. 14. The new Catholic high school campus in Santa Ana is part of the Cristo Rey Network of nearly 40 campuses nationwide. Cristo Rey exclusively serves students who would otherwise be unable to afford a Catholic, college preparatory high school. The students’ work study earnings and family tuition payments cover about half the cost of their education, with generous donors bridging CONTINUES ON PAGE 12

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

BY DANIELLE TAYABAS

“B

EHOLD, I MAKE ALL things new.” (Rev 21:5) The year is coming to a close and the New Year is quickly approaching. There may be some things we are trying to finish, wish we would have done and never got around to, and things that will carry over into the new year.

However, we choose to go “out with the old, in with the new’’ let it always be for the love of God and love of neighbor.

(Mk 12:30-31) In speaking with my dear friend, Deacon Cruz, today, I heard three words that struck my heart when he spoke of how he became a deacon. He said he was “called, persuaded and convinced” by God. As we prepare our New Year’s Resolutions, let us reflect on these words and pray about how God is calling, persuading and convincing us to know, love and serve Him with the goal of our eternal salvation and that of the whole world.

Let us choose spiritually transformative resolutions that will help us to grow in virtue, holiness and a deeper relationship with each person of the Holy Trinity.

Let us prayerfully “listen” to hear that we are “called” by God the Father to a specific mission daily so that we may fulfill His holy will. Let us humbly “learn” so that we can be “persuaded” by Jesus’ words and put them into practice. Let us passionately “love” and be “convinced” by the Holy Spirit to live, move and have our being in Him. Let us be “called, persuaded and convinced” by God in light of the theological virtues of faith, hope and love this New Year!

PHOTO BY IAN SCHNEIDER

CALLED BY GOD THE FATHER OUR FAITH

Listen: “I am the Lord, there is no other, there is no God besides me.” (Is 45:5) Learn: “By faith, we believe in God and believe all that he has revealed to us and that Holy Church proposes for our belief.” (CCC 1842) Love: Spend time in Adoration, worship, and thanksgiving to God the Father by attending Holy Mass on Sundays (obligatory), Holy Days of obligation and frequently during the week. Invite others to the Catholic Church and share your faith.

PERSUADED BY JESUS OUR HOPE

Listen: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom 15:13) Learn: “By hope we desire, and with steadfast trust await from God, eternal life and the graces to merit it.” (CCC 1843) Love: Formation by learning more

about Catholic teachings and the Deposit of Faith. Read the Bible and pray through Scripture. Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Pray the rosary daily and meditate on the Life of Jesus.

CONVINCED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR LOVE

Listen: “Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 Jn 4:8) Learn: “By charity, we love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for love of God. Charity, the form of all the virtues, ‘binds everything together in perfect harmony.’” (Col 3:14) (CCC 1844) Love: Reciprocate the Holy Spirit’s love by “praying without ceasing.” (1 Thes 5:16-18) Use your gifts, talents and creativity for the building up of the mystical body of Christ by volunteering your time at church or a charitable organization.

Let us pray for the gift of certitude this new year and let God guide and lead us into the joy of His success!

“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you…plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.” (Jer 29:11)C

D E C E M B E R 31, 2 0 2 3 ■ O C C A T H O L I C

7

FEATURE

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: A LIFE OF FAITH, FAMILY AND TRADITION MEET HOLY FAMILY’S LEO CASTRO

BY LOU PONSI

F

OR MORE THAN SEVEN decades, the Catholic Church, especially Holy Family in Orange, has been a mainstay in Leo Castro’s life.

Castro, who will turn 96 in January, has lived in the same house in the city of Orange since 1952, the house he purchased with his wife Helen and where the couple raised their four daughters.

Helen, who died in 2021, and Leo had intended to get married at Holy Family but because their proposed wedding date was to take place during Lent, when Catholic parishes traditionally don’t perform wedding ceremonies, the couple was married in a civil ceremony in 1952.

“So, we went to a house across the street and the judge was there, and he married us right on the spot,” recalled Castro, a retired sheet metal worker.

Two years later, the couple married at Holy Family.

The Castros’ four children, all girls, went on to receive their sacraments at Holy Family and all four had their weddings at the church.

Marcia Fisher, Castro’s youngest daughter, recalled priests and sisters from Holy Family being regular guests at the family’s Sunday dinners.

Msgr. Donald Strange, who served as Holy Family pastor from 1963 to 1978 joined the family for meals, as did the Very Rev. Patrick Moses, Holy Family’s pastor from 2017-2022.

“We always had to be on our best

8

LEO CASTRO IS PICTURED IN HIS GARAGE, WHICH DOUBLES AS A WOODWORKING SPACE. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

behavior because we didn’t know who was going to be here,” Fisher said. “The Catholic Church was really part of our family all the time.”

The Castros’ two oldest children attended Holy Family Catholic School, partly because of their faith, but also to prevent any possibility of the children being forced to attend a segregated school.

“It was really important especially to my father, because he had gone to segregated school and so had my mom in the city of Orange,” said Pat Carlson, the oldest of the four children. “They really

O C C A T H O L I C ■ D E C E M B E R 31, 2 0 2 3

tried to allow me the opportunity to excel. They were really concerned about my welfare.”

Of Mexican decent, Leo and his twin brother, Edward, were born in Anaheim and his wife was born and raised in Orange.

Still, Leo said he was discriminated against, and he and his wife were repeatedly blocked from buying a house after he returned home from military service in the early 1950s.

“They wanted us to go way down along the tracks,” Castro said.

The couple persisted and were finally

able to purchase a home in a neighborhood with newly constructed homes.

Castro is the only original owner still living on the street in the central Orange neighborhood.

The Castros attended Mass every Sunday and Leo and Helen continued attending for years after their children had moved out and raised their own families.

Leo and Helen played major roles in organizing Holy Family’s annual Los Posadas festival, a celebration that originated in Mexico commemorating Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging ahead of CONTINUES ON PAGE 9

FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

the birth of Christ.

They also helped with the Holy Family Fiesta, an annual carnival featuring rides, games, food and live entertainment.

Carlson said her father was also called upon by Holy Family to serve as a sort of liaison between the church and the nearby Mexican families living in the Cypress Street Barrio, which was one of the first immigrant communities in Orange County.

“I believe that Fr. Strange saw an avenue through my father in order to reach out to the community, and therefore I think that he relied on my father a lot for that,” Carlson said.

Between 2010 and 2015, Leo Castro served as president of the Orange Barrio Historical Society, a group dedicated to preserving

LEO CASTRO IS PICTURED WITH HIS DAUGHTERS MARCIA FISHER AND ALBERTA SPIELMAN. CASTRO HAS TWO MORE DAUGHTERS NOT PICTURED: NORA PETERSON AND PAT CARLSON, FIVE GRANDCHILDREN AND 12 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.

VALENCIA HIGH SCHOOL (PLACENTIA) YEARBOOK PHOTO OF LEO CASTRO. PHOTOS BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

the history of the town’s Mexican American community.

When Chapman University purchased the Cypress Street Schoolhouse, the school Helen attended as a child, and believed to be the last Mexican American segregated schoolhouse in Southern California still standing, Castro met with then Chapman president Jim Doti to discuss the significance of the structure.

Now used by Chapman as a research center, the schoolhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

When Helen Castro was homebound, Fr. Moses visited the Castros to administer Communion to both her and Leo. Fr. Moses also gave the sacrament of anointing of the sick to Helen and presided over her funeral.

“He had been around our house so much and he just said, ‘you know, when you have a service, no matter where it is, I want to be the one to perform it,’” Fisher recalled.

After his wife’s death, Castro continued driving to 7 a.m. Sunday Mass at Holy Family, usually sitting by himself in a front pew.

He was beloved by fellow parishioners and had many friends there, one parishioner said.

After it became known that Castro was no longer driving, several parishioners offered rides.

“He was very grateful and gracious,” a parishioner said. “I would say the number one word I would use to describe him is ‘gentleman.’ I know a lot of wonderful men. But he is the epitome of a gentleman. He has been a devout Catholic his whole life.”

It’s been a period of setbacks for Castro.

Castro’s twin brother, Edward, died this past August.

And because of his own health issues, Castro hasn’t attended church in close to two months.

Instead, Richard Rozak, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, has been administering Communion to Castro in his home.

“He’s a great example of a Catholic life,” said Rozak. C D E C E M B E R 31, 2 0 2 3 ■ O C C A T H O L I C

9

FEATURE

BREAD THAT FEEDS THE SOUL A FAMILY BAKERY IN STANTON OFFERS SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT FOR CUSTOMERS AND THOSE IN NEED

BY PATTY MAHONEY

O

N JAN. 6, the line to Panadería El Cortez will be long – most likely spilling out into the parking lot of the small, family-owned Stanton bakery.

Customers will be waiting to buy the Rosca de Reyes, or Three Kings Bread, in celebration of the Feast of the Epiphany — when the Magi came to greet the baby Jesus and honor him with gifts.

In anticipation of the rush — and the projected sale of about 800 roscas — owners and St. Polycarp parishioners Ruben and Celia Lopez will start preparing for their busiest day of the year a couple of days beforehand.

“Two days before, they work day and night,” explained their son Ivan Lopez, who is a seminarian for the Diocese of Orange. “They go home and rest for just a couple of hours.”

WHAT IS ROSCA DE REYES?

This sweet bread is made in the shape of a circle, because as Celia explained, “there is no beginning and no end.”

Made to resemble the crowns of the Wise Men, the bread has varied colors of gold, green and red as well as candied “jewels” of cherries and figs.

The bread is flavored with cinnamon and topped with powdered sugar.

A tiny plastic baby Jesus is hidden inside because King Herod was out to find and kill the infant.

The Mexican tradition is to buy the

10

ROSCA DE REYES, OR THREE KINGS BREAD, IS MADE TO CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY ON JAN. 6. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

rosca because you’re looking to find baby Jesus. According to Ivan, the whole family will gather, and everybody will cut a slice of the bread. Whoever gets the plastic baby is in charge of hosting a party and serving tamales on Feb. 2, which is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, commemorating Jesus’s first appearance in Temple 40 days after His birth.

O C C A T H O L I C ■ D E C E M B E R 31, 2 0 2 3

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Along with Ivan, daughters Evelyn and Xochilth are also on hand to help during this busy time of year.

Celia’s 86 year-old mother is also a familiar face in the bakery – and the expert tamale maker.

“They also invite friends to come help,” added Xochilth, who just earned

her doctorate in higher education from UCLA. “Priests and seminarians come help too.”

Ivan added: “This is another story, but a bunch of seminarians have come here to learn Spanish while making tamales.”

Offering more than food is nothing new for the Lopez family. Since they CONTINUES ON PAGE 11

FEATURE change for work.”

Evelyn mentioned Alex, a gentleman who once was homeless.

“My parents helped him and now he has a house, he has a car.”

A homeless woman regularly spray washes the bakery carts out back in exchange for a bit of help. Another fellow cleans the oven trays in exchange for $5, bread, two tamales and a drink.

At Thanksgiving they have a feast for people who are living on the streets.

“It’s their ministry as well,” added Xochilth.

KEEPING THE FAITH

THE LOPEZ FAMILY HAS OWNED AND OPERATED PANAD­ERÍA EL CORTEZ IN STANTON SINCE 2004.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

opened the bakery in 2004, generations have been stopping by the bakery not just for their delicious menu, but for conversation — and even pearls of wisdom.

“They come in to get bread and they leave crying because my mom says something to inspire them,” said Evelyn,

Arriving in this country with nothing, Ruben and Celia worked hard to save

up and make their dreams reality, while relying on their Faith to see them through difficult times.

“My parents have always showed us the importance of hard work,” said Ivan, who as a kid would come to work with his dad early on the weekends and fall asleep on top of the bags of flour.

“But primarily the most important thing is the faith,” added Ivan who said if he wasn’t going to be a priest, he’d be a baker.

“I attribute my vocation to seeing my dad praying at night, with the Bible open.”

Panadería El Cortez is located at 7506 Cerritos Ave. in Stanton. (714) 229-9142.

Hours: Daily 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. https://www. instagram.com/panaderiaelcortez C

who like her sister is active in Christ Cathedral’s Hispanic young adult ministry.

Maybe they sign up for a faith retreat or decide to marry their partner. It seems Celia, with her warm and loving persona, just has a way with people.

“My parents work a lot with people on the streets,” explained Xochilth. “They provide a bit of money and food in ex-

CELIA LOPEZ HOLDS A MINIATURE PLASTIC BABY JESUS THAT IS HIDDEN IN THE ROSCA DE REYES, OR THREE KINGS BREAD.

THE TINY PLASTIC BABY JESUS IS SEEN IN A NEWLY SLICED PIECE OF THREE KINGS BREAD. PHOTOS BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE D E C E M B E R 31, 2 0 2 3 ■ O C C A T H O L I C

11

FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

the gap.

Cristo Rey Orange County is starting with a founding freshman class, adding one more class each year as it grows. Unique for the school is its Corporate Work Study Program. Cristo Rey Orange County is a Diocese of Orange-recognized Catholic school with approval from Bishop Kevin Vann and with separate governance.

ANNIVERSARIES THROUGHOUT THE DIOCESE

Several parishes and other institutions in our Diocese celebrated milestone anniversaries this year, CRISTO REY ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL OPENED ITS DOORS FOR THE FIRST TIME ON AUG. 14. PHOTO BY RENNE ENRIQUEZ/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE the greatest of which was the 100th anniversary of St. Anne Catholic Church, established in 1923 in Santa Ana. On Sept. 2 and 3, parishioners and clergy there celebrated with music from their school’s mariachi band, food, a solemn procession led by deacons and Mass with Bishop Kevin Vann and Bishop Timothy Freyer.

Other sites also celebrated milestones in 2023: St. Pius V in Buena Park (75 years), Holy Family in Seal Beach (60 years), the St. John Paul II Polish Center in Yorba Linda (40 years) and JSerra Catholic High School (20 years). Congratulations to all!

MOMENTOUS YEAR FOR ST. JOACHIM PARISH

ST. ANNE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SANTA ANA CELEBRATED ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY IN SEPTEMBER. PHOTO BY KAYLEE TOOLE/DIOCESE OF St. Joachim Catholic Church and its parish school ORANGE

12

O C C A T H O L I C ■ D E C E M B E R 31, 2 0 2 3

had a banner year in more ways than one. On Sept. 22, the community hosted a blessing ceremony for its new restrooms — a long-overdue facility for the Costa Mesa parish. The $1-million restroom project, which was years in the making and aided with funds from neighboring parishes, will help the busy church keep up with its parishioners’ needs. Before, its 1960s-era building only had two unisex, single-stall restrooms. The new facilities now have more than a dozen stalls.

In addition, on Oct. 20 Bishop Kevin Vann blessed and opened the Sister Kathleen Marie Learning Center. The center is named after Sr. Kathleen Marie Pughe, CSJ, a former principal who lived in a small house next to St. Joachim Catholic School until her tragic death in 2022. Her old house was repurposed into a library that will serve generations of students to come.

FORMER BISHOP OF ORANGE PASSES INTO ETERNAL LIFE

Bishop Emeritus Tod David Brown passed away on Oct. 15 at the age of 86. He led the Diocese of Orange from 1998 to 2012 — a momentous time in its history, namely for the purchase of the Crystal Cathedral campus in Garden Grove after its ministry fell into bankruptcy. The sprawling 34-acre property, home to the popular “Hour of Power” broadcast, later became Christ Cathedral following a years-long transformation that culminated with the cathedral’s solemn dedication on July 17, 2019.

Bishop Brown was regarded as a collaborative leader who hired women to key diocesan leadership positions. Orange County parishes also saw boosted Mass attendance and an increasingly diverse Catholic population.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

FEATURE

ST. JOACHIM CATHOLIC PARISH HOSTED A BLESSING CEREMONY FOR ITS NEW RESTROOMS ON SEPT. 22. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE HOSTED THE I AM DIOCESAN EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS ON OCT. 20 AND 21. PHOTO BY RENNE ENRIQUEZ/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

“Bishop Brown gave so much of himself to us,” Msgr. Wilbur Davis, a longtime friend of Bishop Brown, said during the Oct. 30 funeral. “He was an easy person to be with. He was gentle, kind, thoughtful. He was also clear-minded, objective and strategic.

He knew how to be a really good human being … he also knew the ways of prayer. He was a devout man.”

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS BRINGS ENTIRE DIOCESE TOGETHER

The Diocese of Orange hosted the I AM Diocesan Eucharistic Congress on Oct. 20 and 21, an event that brought 6,000 parishioners from throughout our Diocese to the Christ Cathedral campus for fellowship, worship, prayer speakers and more. The congress that was part of the National Eucharistic Revival, a three-year grassroots revival of devotion and belief in the Real Presence

BISHOP EMERITUS TOD DAVID BROWN PASSED AWAY ON OCT. 15 AT THE AGE OF 86. PHOTO BY RENNE ENRIQUEZ/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE

of Jesus in the Eucharist. I AM also included youth activities, live music, a procession from Holy Family parish in Orange and processions around the campus. Events were presented in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, reflecting the diverse Catholic cultural communities of Orange County.

“There’s no greater gift that we could ever have been given than the gift of salvation that comes from the Eucharist,” said Bishop Timothy Freyer during Saturday’s opening Mass.

Various events built anticipation before I AM, such as a youth campout in March and a series of street processions. One of them, on Sept.

23 and 24, had routes beginning at St. Thomas More, Our Lady of Peace Korean Center, St. John Neumann and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Participants from across Orange County came together to walk alongside Jesus and share God’s presence. C

D E C E M B E R 31, 2 0 2 3 ■ O C C A T H O L I C

13

Savoring our Faith Join OC Catholic’s Recipe Swap!

Sharing recipes highlights the importance of gathering with family, friends and our broader Diocese of Orange faith community.

Please share your favorite recipes, along with your name and parish. Send your favorite seasonal dish, or a recipe that has special meaning to you or your family.

Tell us why it’s important to you! Our editors will pick their favorites to be featured in OC Catholic throughout the year.

Submissions must include a photo of the completed recipe.

Categories are entrees, appetizers, side dishes, beverages and desserts.

Send your recipes and photos to: editor@occatholic.com Disclaimer:

Only high resolution photos will be considered for publication in the print edition of OC Catholic. Orange County Catholic, the Diocese of Orange and Southern California News Group reserve the right to publish all submitted materials, including recipes, photos and personal anecdotes. Photos become the property of the Diocese of Orange and may be used for publication in OC Catholic or by the Diocese of Orange for print or online publication or social media purposes. Only recipes submitted by parishioners living in the Diocese of Orange will be considered.

14

O C C A T H O L I C ■ D E C E M B E R 31, 2 0 2 3

SCHOOLS

LEADERSHIP IN ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS story writing contest at the Huntington Beach Public Library.

At St. Bonaventure, Wilton is involved as an altar server, both at church and school Masses. She has also been involved

BY MIKE ZINN in the Art and Drama Club. Outside of EADERSHIP COMES IN all forms, school, Wilton is involved in AYSO Soccer types, ages and sizes. Leadership and “Friday Night Lights” flag football. She has been defined as the ability is fully immersed in community volunto lead, influence or guide other teering through her involvement in the individuals, teams or entire organizaNational Charity League. She volunteers at tions. Some leaders influence and guide the Shipley Nature Center and the Orange by bigger-than-life, boisterous means.

County Down Syndrome Association.

Others quietly lead with confidence and an Although Wilton still has seven months inclusive manner. St. Bonaventure Catholic to go at St. Bonaventure, she has made School’s Jane Wilton follows the quietly some plans for high school. She will attend confident approach, looking to guide felFountain Valley High School, joining her low students on an inclusive journey. older sister, a sophomore, and her father, The eighth grader’s leadership style a teacher. Wilton would like to play soccer is evident to the staff members at St. and join the swim or flag football teams Bonaventure. during high school. Wilton would like to “She is not outwardly aware of her lead- keep her love of art active in high school ership skills,” said school principal Mary by maybe taking classes in pottery. In the Flock. “She’s a born leader.” future, she would like to further her love of Science teacher Alexandra Wysokinski animals with a profession as a veterinarian. added: “Wilton’s leadership style comes Many role models guide Wilton’s life. from very being organized. When doing She is grateful for her parents, “supportclass lab projects, she takes on a leadering me in the right direction.” She also ship role for her group. She takes a kind looks to her older sister, Rita, for positive position in organizing everyone so that the guidance and direction. For historical role group is successful.” models, Wilton calls on Mary, Mother of There are many key traits for being a Jesus, “who I pray to when I need help and leader. Flock references the school-wide answers.” Also, St. Rita of Corsica, patron program that St. Bonaventure implements saint of the impossible. to illustrate Wilton’s leadership style. The When asked what she likes best about HALO Program (from saints having halos) St. Bonaventure, Wilton first complimentemphasizes Humility, Accountability, ed all of the teachers she came into contact Leadership and Optimism. with.

“She embodies these traits of the HALO “I love our teachers,” she said. “They Program consistently every day,” said continually give me great support.”

Flock.

When Wilton reflected on her proudest Wilton started at St. Bonaventure as memory at St. Bonaventure, she specifia kindergartener. She enjoys all of her cally spoke of a story she wrote. This was a eighth-grade subjects but lists Spanish as Halloween story about four friends. If one her favorite. ELA (English, Language, Arts) friend got lost, the others would work tois also at the top of the list due to Wilton’s gether to find her. This “Teamwork Story” love of writing. In fifth grade she won a follows Wilton’s view that the most critical

SPOTLIGHT ON ST. BONAVENTURE’S JANE WILTON

L

16

O C C A T H O L I C ■ D E C E M B E R 31, 2 0 2 3

JANE WILTON. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

leadership trait one can have is to “bring everyone up and foster good spirit.”

In her remaining months at St. Bonaventure, Wilton wants to maintain

her straight-A grades. She would like to make her friendships even stronger and join her classmates in growing their faith and keeping that faith strong. C

GUEST COLUMN

CLASSIFIED ADS

To report sexual abuse by clergy or church personnel please call: 1 (800) 364-3064 Healing and Hope After Abortion: 1 (800) 722-4356 New Hope Peer-to-Peer Support Line | Mon - Fri 7:30 AM - 9:30 PM | Sat - Sun 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM: 1 (714) NEW-HOPE or 1 (714) 639-4673 BÁO CÁO LẠM DỤNG TÌNH DỤC Nếu bạn 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. 본당내의 성적학대 신고 성직자나 성당 사목을 대표하는 관리자에 의한 성적 학대의 피해자 인 경우, 교구청의 무료 신고 전화 번호, 1-800-364-3064 및 관할 지역 법 집행 기관에 전화하십시오.

PHOTO BY AARON BURDEN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

to faith. Each theme is designed to make the Servite Friar a faith-filled leader in their way. The themes are the centrality of Christ, the primacy of faith, the necessity of the other and mastery of self. The centrality of Christ outlines the idea that everything we do should be modeled after God and His teachings. The primacy of faith shows that life’s most essential truths or decisions cannot be found just by reason alone, but rather, they should be based on faith, big or small. Mastery of self is using our God-given gifts and talents to make the world unique in a way only you can accomplish. Finally, the necessity of the other is defined by the need of the other to grow to our fullest potential while helping others achieve that same goal. Each theme does not exist independently; instead, they coexist in every aspect of our lives. The themes

make Servite an ecosystem of spiritual connectedness that allows me and the entire student body to grow and excel.

Servite also offered me an opportunity to help in the discernment process of my vocation. Freshman year, I joined Club Vocati, which Mr. Eddie Murphy ran.

Mr. Murphy aided in my discernment of priesthood and significantly helped me grow closer in my relationship with God. Servite is not just a school to me; it is a thriving community of opportunities to grow my spiritual person. It allows me to excel in my academic rigor, but more importantly, shows the importance of having a firm faith-built foundation that is my leading driver for success. Servite showed me what it meant to be a Catholic and how to build my life as Jesus would, with grace and mercy.

Without Servite, I would not be the man I am today, faith-wise or otherwise. C

D E C E M B E R 31, 2 0 2 3 ■ O C C A T H O L I C

17

DIOCESAN NEWS

OC CATHOLIC RECIPE SWAP PRETZELS

“C

OOKING WITH MY son Geovanni is my favorite thing to do. This year, I wanted us to try a side dish instead of the usual main dish repetition of previous years. My son has been traveling between two homes since he was a toddler. I firmly believe that when we cook, we inadvertently utilize all of our senses. We have learned to laugh, discover and appreciate each other through the years by joining forces in our favorite place, the kitchen. Divorce forced us to separate but our love for cooking has reunited us in the elaboration of bold, tasty and many times undiscovered flavors of life.”

Directions: In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tsp. sugar in arm water. Let stand for about 10 min., until foamy.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, ½ cup sugar and salt.

Make a well in the center and add the oil and yeast mixture. Mix and form into a dough. If the mixture is dry, add a tablespoon or two of water.

Knead the dough until smooth, about 8 min.

Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough inside and turn to coat with oil.

Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size.

Approx. 1 hour.

Preheat over to 450 degrees and in a large bowl dissolve the baking soda in hot water. Turn the risen dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. When all the dough is shaped, dip each pretzel into the baking soda water and place on greased baking sheet.

Bake until browned, approx. 8 minutes.

Brush pretzels with melted butter and top with salt or cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Enjoy!

—Maguelina Mendoza San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church St. Justin Martyr Catholic School Parent Ingredients 4 tsp. active dry yeast 1 tsp granulated sugar 1 ¼ cups warm water 5 cups all-purpose flour ½ cup granulated sugar 1 ½ tsp. salt 1 tbsp. vegetable oil ½ cup baking soda 4 cups hot water ¼ cup kosher salt or cinnamon and sugar 2 tbsp. melted butter

If you have a favorite family recipe you would like to share, please send to editor@occatholic.com. Please tell us why the recipe is special to you; include your name, parish and a photo of the completed recipe. C PHOTO BY MAGUELINA MENDOZA

18

O C C A T H O L I C ■ D E C E M B E R 31, 2 0 2 3

OC Catholic Afar

Bradley Zint, the Diocese’s assistant director of communications and an OC Catholic contributing writer, visited Nashville, Tenn., in October with his wife Britney and their daughter Emilia (four months).

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.

D E C E M B E R 31, 2 0 2 3 ■ O C C A T H O L I C

19

Where

Tradition

Technology Come Together

MEMBER FDIC