JANUARY 16, 2022 BISHOP KEVIN W. VANN LEADS THE MASS AT HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ORANGE. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE A HISTORIC MILESTONE PAGE 8 THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ORANGE n OCCATHOLIC.COM RISING ABOVE PAGE 12
Editor: Patricia Mahoney, editor@occatholic.com
ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC
POPE: PRESERVE CHRISTIAN IDENTITY RECEIVED AT BAPTISM
INSPIRED TO IMPROVE New Years Resolutions, compounded by faith, inspire personal improvement.
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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.
Delivered weekly to parishes and homes throughout Orange County, Calif., Orange County Catholic is published by SCNG Custom Content, a division of Southern California News Group that offers content development and design expertise to businesses and nonprofit institutions. The Orange County Catholic editorial staff and editorial council are responsible for the content contained herein. Events and products advertised in Orange County Catholic do not carry the implicit endorsement of the Diocese of Orange or SCNG Custom Content.
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ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC MISSION STATEMENT
Pope Francis baptized 16 babies on Jan. 9, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
CONTENTS
The Official Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange Diocese of Orange Pastoral Center, 13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove 92840
Executive Editor: Tracey Kincaid, tkincaid@rcbo.org
PLUS Guest Column, Weekly Readings, Moments In Our Journey
FAITHFUL LEADER
JANUARY 16, 2022 1467
Publisher: The Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of Orange
Fullerton-based attorney Gardenia Cordero credits her faith for her professional success.
HONORING THE LIFE OF A BELOVED BLACK NUN, LEADER
4 OC CATHOLIC n JANUARY 16, 2022 CONTINUES ON PAGE 13 GUEST COLUMN
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 con structive conversations that further the growth of the Catholic Church.
BY SHANNEN DEE WILLIAMS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
RFA’s Catholic Portfolio can bring your investments into agreement with your faith and morals. Our thorough stock selection process includes an in-depth review by Deacon Frank Reilly, MIBA, (left) and Theologian Dr. Terence McGoldrick (right). Reilly Financial Advisors has more than $2.2 billion in assets under management (AUM). Is your investment portfolio profiting from abortion, pornography, or anti-personnel landmines? It’s time to invest in companies working toward human dignity and the common good—not against them. Contact us today for a no-cost evaluation of your current portfolio; what you discover may surprise you! rfacatholic.com (800) 682-3237 Past performance is not indicative of future results. To view disclosure information,
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DISCLOSURES. her
The fourth of eight children born to Ul ysses Pere Jupiter, a Pullman porter turned gas station owner, and Imelda Oubre Jupiter, a homemaker and part-time rectory cook, Sister Greta was educated by her order at St. Mary’s Academy. After her high school grad uation in 1965, she entered the Sisters of the Holy Family, professing her first vows in 1968 and final vows in 1973.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in chem istry education from Xavier University of Louisiana in 1972 and a master’s degree in education from the University of New Orle
N 2021 WE SAW THE PASSING of some of the nation’s most important leaders, thinkers, writers and freedom fighters of the modern era.
SHANNEN DEE WILLIAMS IS A CRADLE CATHOLIC AND AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON. SHE IS THE AUTHOR OF “SUBVERSIVE HABITS: BLACK CATHOLIC NUNS IN THE LONG AFRICAN AMERICAN FREEDOM STRUGGLE,” WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED BY DUKE UNIVERSITY PRESS ON MAY 27, 2022. FOLLOW HER ON TWITTER AT @ BLKNUNHISTORIAN. PHOTO: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE visit rfacatholic.com and IMPORTANT Borndeath.Gwendolyn Mary Jupiter at Char ity Hospital in New Orleans on Sept. 20, 1947, Sister Greta was a cradle Catholic and a proud daughter of the city’s Lower Ninth Ward, where she was raised in the historically Black St. David Catholic Church.
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Among the Catholic Church’s moral and educational giants who died was 73-yearold Sister Mary Greta Jupiter. Devastation caused by Hurricane Ida delayed her funeral Mass and burial. But on Sept. 15, the Sisters of the Holy Family in New Orleans laid their former congrega tional leader to rest in historic St. Louis No. 2 Cemetery.SisterJupiter’s passing on Aug. 28 marked another irreplaceable loss in the church’s dwindling community of African American nuns. Like all who knew Sister Greta and experienced her quiet brilliance and gentle kindness, I was devastated by
“
— Pope Francis
FRIDAY
1 SM 24:3-21; PS 57:2-4, 6, 11; MK 3:13-19
SATURDAY
OMETIMES CALLED PAUL OF THEBES, he is known as the first Christian hermit. St. Jerome’s Latin biography of Paul may be the translation of a Greek legend featuring cen taurs and satyrs. Tradition has the young Paul going into the Egyptian desert to escape the persecution of Emperor Decius, who ruled 249-51. But he lived there in a cave for the rest of his long life. Nearing death, he was visited by the hermit St. Antony, who buried him in a cloak from St. Athanasius. Two lions were said to have helped dig Paul’s grave, and they stand with him in church art. C
Indifferenceisanaccompliceofwar”
SUNDAY
JANUARY 16, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 5 DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS
MONDAY
TUESDAY
THURSDAY
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
SAINT PROFILE
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1 SM 18:6-9; 19:1-7; PS 56:2-3, 9-13; MK 3:7-12
SM 15:16-23; PS 50:8-9, 16BC-17, 21, 23; MK 2:18-22
ODAY’S FIRST READING from Isaiah arises out of the ordeal of the people of Jerusalem and Judea as they anticipate the end of seventy years of exile in Babylon. Their sufferings and their oppression will end, and they are promised joy like that of a great wedding upon returning to their homeland. Although this passage is probably set in the early sixth century B.C., it is free of historical particulars. Accordingly, the Church has understood its imagery universally, as it proclaims God’s promise of healing, hope, and happiness for all peoples, in this world and in the next. When read against this background, the story of Jesus’ turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana becomes a revelation of God’s presence in the person of Jesus, making these prom ises real for us in the here and now, in the transformation of our own Copyrightlives.©J. S. Paluch Co. C
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1 SM 16:1-13; PS 89:20-22, 2728; MK 2:23-28
WEDNESDAY
2 SM 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27; PS 80:2-3, 5-7; MK 3:20-21
NEH 8:2-4A, 5-6, 8-10; PS 19:8-10, 15; 1 COR 12:12-30 [12-14, 27]; LK 1:1-4; 4:14-21
1 SM 17:32-33, 37, 40-51; PS 144:1B, 2, 9-10; MK 3:1-6
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
REVELATION OF GOD’S PRESENCE
PAUL THE HERMIT 227-341
After all, her parents Irma and Isidro integrated their faith into everything the family did, from saying the Rosary together every week to helping with the parish fiesta, attending Sunday Mass, and everything in between. Didn’t other parochial school kids enjoy that same commitment to Catholicism at home?
BY CATHI DOUGLAS
GARDENIA
Schell Nuelle, a firm that specializes in business law. She assists companies in becoming labor compliant and relish es her work assisting employees in the workplace.Monteria recently received the Rising Star Award from the Woman’s Club of Fullerton. The award notes that “Garde nia aspires to impact other young Latinas from Fullerton to pursue higher educa tion and become involved in their local community.”MaryShaw, St. Mary’s youth coordi nator, has known Montero for eight years since the young woman began volun teering to teach confirmation classes to young parishioners. “Gardenia is a regular go-getter,” Shaw noted. “She is a self-starter who has a stop-whining-youcan-do-it attitude.”
“I don’t think about the recognition,” she noted. “I do what I do, and I’m involved in what I’m involved in because I’m truly interested in helping the com munity. As a bilingual woman I’m part of both the English- and Spanish-speaking communities, and I know that I can help others succeed as well.”
As a Fullerton High School graduate and an alumnus of both UCLA, where she double majored in anthropology and international development studies, and Western State College of Law in Irvine, Montero remains committed to commu nity service. She is motivated specially to provide guidance to other first-genera tion college students.
“I was very blessed to have parents who were very nurturing about the faith and were good about exposing us to our religion,” Montero says of her and her twin brother, Max. “We got to know our faith and really grow in it be cause faith was a priority in our family.
Today, Montero, 29, is an attorney specializing in employment law at
FAITHFUL LEADER MONTERO CREDITS HER CATHOLIC FAITH WITH HER EARLY SUCCESS IN LAW AND
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6 OC CATHOLIC n JANUARY 16, 2022 FEATURE
“I want to be part of that process for youth, to talk to them and teach them about their faith and formation, and make sure they receive the guidance and have the role model they need,” she continued. “Church isn’t just for older adults. Being involved and present helps me inspire the new generation to ensure new blood for the Church.”
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S A YOUNG GIRL, Gardenia Montero took for granted that her Catholic school friends knew how to pray.
It was a realization that has guided her life, both personally and profes sionally; she wants to ensure that the Catholic faith is instilled strongly in the youth she now teaches at Fullerton’s St. Mary’s Church as a volunteer catechist.
“Being nominated for the award caught me off guard,” she admitted, adding that it has particular meaning be cause the Woman’s Club was founded by her former kindergarten teachers, Sharon Quirk Silva and Pam Keller.
GARDENIA MONTERO WAS RECENTLY HONORED WITH THE RISING STAR AWARD FROM THE WOMAN’S CLUB OF FULLERTON. PHOTO COURTESY OF GARDENIA CORDERO.
It wasn’t until Montero began vol unteering as an altar server when she was 9 years-old that she began to notice that her classmates didn’t understand the Mass, pray daily or know much about the sacraments.
LEARNING TO OBEY
PRACTICALLY SPEAKING
is straightforward: When it comes to making lasting and positive spiritual change, a resolution many Cath olics and their families make each year, God wants to help us. He’s on our side.
“It all comes down to love.” C
JANUARY 16, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 7 FEATURE / CATHOLIC FAMILY LIVING
EW YEARS INSPIRE us to change. Whether it’s a new fitness regimen or a health ier diet, we are motivated to improve.Still,many of us fail after our first few highly motivated days, weeks or months. How can we sustain positive change in ourThelives?answer
It’s tough to stick to any res olution, whether it’s a new way of approaching food or consistently doing penance in the Sacra ment of Reconciliation. Even if we follow the most prac tical advice, we stumble because we’re human, and humans aren’t perfect.
Quite simply, Dr. Mello says, taking our issues (and faults and failures) before
Love, in fact, is Montero’s guiding light.“Do everything with love,” from the first book of Paul to the Corin thians, is her favorite Bible passage, she said. “That’s a big motivator for me. I try to do everything with love –community work, any project – I do it with love.
BY CATHI DOUGLAS
“It made me reflect that leaders come in different shapes and sizes,” she explained, adding that her parents were the first leaders who influenced her. “My Dad can enter tain a big crowd and my Mom is a soft-spoken organizer. I now realize that anyone can be a leader – and the award was a personal affirmation that I’m doing the right thing in the world.”Her future plans include continu ing to help low-income individuals and families with their legal needs. She aims to one day create a pro gram to mentor Latinas.
“I was part of a group like that and in Fullerton it’s crucial to see successful Latinas that can support others in higher education and beyond,” she said. “It makes them realize they can do it, too.”
first month, according to a Medifast sur vey quoted in howlifeunfolds.com, a web site sponsored by the Paper & Packaging Board.Ahelpful guide, “10 Great Tips for Keeping Your Resolutions,” can be found at verywellmind.com. It recommends choosing specific goals, limiting your res olutions rather than spreading yourself too thin, making detailed plans for suc cess, and avoiding repeating past failures.
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“Letting go and letting God” seems a trite an swer to problems,complicatedbutI’vefoundthatIneed to repeat this phrase as I hit my head on a metaphorical wall of frustration. For me, the vow to obey God without question is one of the most diffi cult lessons. I struggle with my sense of personal responsibility verses gracefully letting Him take the wheel.
Of those who made resolutions in 2021, only 10 percent of U.S. adults stuck with their resolutions and nearly half of all resolutions were broken within the
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While God calls us to lead spotless lives in which we worship Him without sin – as exemplified by Jesus in His short time on Earth – He urges us to lean on Him for help in doing so.
the Lord in prayer allows us to contem plate the reasons we wish to improve. He sees our mistakes and blesses us as we strive toward our goals. In contempla tion, we commune with Him to seek holi ness and peace He brings into our lives.
Many of us, myself included, try to maintain strict control of our lives, in cluding addressing our resolutions. Self-reliance and responsibility are great, but in the end, it is all in God’s hands.
Kendra Cherry notes that by March, many of us have given up. Cherry recommends reevaluating our goals and being flexible enough to revise our plans. One helpful hint she mentions is to keep a resolution journal, another idea I plan to use.Perhaps most important is to accept that change is a process, and you (and the Lord) can correct course when you misstep. C
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
TOINSPIREDIMPROVEWITHGOD’SHELP,WECANKEEPOURRESOLUTIONSALLYEARLONG
The Maria Ferrucci Catholic Family Living feature is intended to inspire families to live their faith in the way Maria Ferrucci did throughout her earthly life.
“My faith has provided guidance and structure throughout my life and career,” she said. “Whenever traveling the world for school, work or pleasure, I always know that wherever I travel, I’m part of the Catholic“Anywherecommunity.”intheworld, if I stepped into a Catholic church, I was part of one body,” she added. “I have that same feeling of belonging, being one body with Christ. It’s a beautiful feeling knowing that we believe in one God and are united in His love.”
Being Catholic is important to Montero, who declares that she would be lost without her faith.
Writing in acatholic.org, Dr. Analise D. Mello observes that the solution to keeping resolutions of any kind is to pray.
JUST PRAY
The honor shocked Montero into recognizing that she is a leader.
The article continues with valuable advice to create a solid support system to help you carry out your resolutions. That support, in my opinion, begins with the Creator – although the buddy system is a lot of fun and provides vital accountabili ty. In fact, I’ve asked my daughter to keep me on track with some top business goals in 2022.Writer
In 1976, when the County of Orange separated from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Holy Family was the designated Cathedral Church for the newly created Diocese of Orange and was originally led by Bishop, the Most Reverend William R. Johnson. Holy Family kept that desig nation until the consecration of Christ
ebration is not just marking the passing of time but giving thanks for the so many people who came to know and love the Lord through the vibrant ministry of this parish,” said Bishop Freyer. “The parish has had a large number of men go to the seminary and be ordained for our diocese, has brought people to the faith through their outreach and faith forma tion ministries, and continues to care for
Cathedral in 2019.
HOLY
One hundred years ago, in 1921, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles acknowl edged the significant increase in the number of Catholics in the city of Orange. To address the spiritual needs of this part of the Orange County community, the Holy Family parish was established, and Fr. Francis Burelbach was appointed the first
While in the role of Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Orange, Holy Family was the site many ordinations, large events and celebrations, including the Red Mass and Chrism Mass. Additional ly, Auxiliary Bishop of Orange, Most Rev erend Timothy E. Freyer was ordained at Holy“HolyFamily.Family has been a vibrant parish for many years, and I think that this cel
LASTITSORANGECHURCHCATHOLICFAMILYINMARKEDCENTENNIALMONTH
EC. 18, 2021, marked a special milestone for Holy Family Catholic Church as the parish in Orange celebrated its cen tennial anniversary.
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8 OC CATHOLIC n JANUARY 16, 2022 FEATURE
CONTINUES ON PAGE 9
home for Holy Family Cath olic Church was built on a site located at the corner of East Chapman and Shaffer Street in Orange, with property acquisi tion overseen by Fr. Burelbach. Mass was celebrated at the new parish in 1922.
As Holy Family outgrew their loca tion, land was acquired at the corner of LaVeta and South Glassell in 1949, and it remains their current home. The church was dedicated on that site on January 8, 1961.When Holy Family made the move to the LaVeta property, one of the priorities was to build a new parochial school. The official groundbreaking ceremony for the school on March 13, 1949, included Bish op Timothy Manning. In August of 1949, Holy Family Catholic School opened, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, including Principal Sr. Mary Barbara, oversaw the teaching of approximately
BY JENELYN RUSSO
A HISTORIC MILESTONE
200 students. Today, the K-8 campus serves nearly 440 students and also offers a preschool program.
Thepastor.first
BISHOP KEVIN W. VANN, CENTER, PRESIDES OVER THE CENTENNIAL MASS AT HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“All of these things that have hap pened here have created this commu nity here,” said Holy Family Catholic Church Rector, Fr. Patrick Moses. “Some of those people are with us today, some people have passed on and some people have moved on to other areas. FROM PAGE 8
orangediocese
On December 18, 2021, in honor of the century that Holy Family has served the local community, the parish hosted a 100 Year Anniversary Mass and Reception both in-person and live streamed. The event served as the kickoff for a number of celebrations that will take place in 2022 to recognize the milestone.Thethousands of baptisms, first communions, reconciliations, weddings, funerals and confirmations that have taken place at Holy Family over the last 100 years reflect the parish’s commit ment to their vision and mission of evangelism and service.
JANUARY 16, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 9 FEATURE
• follow January 6, 2022 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 Crisis Counseling Hot Line (24/7): 1 (714) NEW–HOPE or 1 (714) 639–4673
the less fortunate.”
orangediocese
• follow January 9, 2022
“If we want riches in Heaven, we must be poor in spirit” Fr. Scott reflects on the Gos pel reading (Lk 4:14-22) and speaks on the call of gener osity that we hear from God throughout time. Listen to his full reflection through the link in our bio!
CONTINUED
In a video produced for the 100-year anniversary, Fr. Patrick Moses, along with several parishioners, shared what the Holy Family parish has meant to them. Words such as “family” and “com munity of doers” were common threads as they described how Holy Family has touched and transformed the lives of so many.“Christ, before he ascended into heaven, told his disciples to go out and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,” said Fr. Patrick Moses. “So our mission has been given to us, and I think we just build on what’s already been given to us in our legacy of our past parishioners, our current parish ioners and those we will baptize in the next coming weeks, months and years… This parish has affected generations behind us, and I know it’s going to affect generations ahead of us.” C
“John said: One mightier than I is coming; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Luke Happy3:16Feast of the Baptism of the Lord!
orangediocese
But this core community has shown me a community that perseveres and stays.”
ASSEMBLED PRIESTS ATTEND THE HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH CENTENNIAL MASS. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
orangediocese
BY STAFF
10 OC CATHOLIC n JANUARY 16, 2022
The Mass for the Protection of Unborn Children is will be celebrated on Friday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. at Christ Cathedral.Commemorating the 49th anniver sary of Roe v. Wade, Bishop Kevin W. Vann invites our Catholic community as well as all people of goodwill to join together in prayer for an end to abortion, healing for those involved in abortion and an increased respect for all
“CATHOLICS INVADE THE BAR” SPEAKER SERIES, ORGANIZED BY OUR LADY OF FATIMA CATHOLIC CHURCH, TOOK PLACE DEC. 29 AT H.H. COTTON’S IN SAN CLEMENTE.
“CATHOLICS INVADE THE BAR” SPEAKER SERIES
Enjoy a bite to eat while attending this special theology series at H.H. Cotton’s American Bar & Grill, 201 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. For more information, visit catholicsinvadethebar.com/http://www.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHURCH
The first of the “Catholics Invade the Bar” speaker series, organized by Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, took place Dec. 29 at H.H. Cotton’s in San Clemente. The program was entitled, “How St. Clement of Rome Ruined My Life,” and featured speaker was Matthew J. Thomas, DPhil, assistant professor of Biblical studies at Domini can School of Philosophy and Theology, Berkeley.Thenine-week series runs through Feb. 23 and is a “Theology-on-Tap” style event in three sections: (1) “Patris tics in the Pub” (three speakers on the Fathers of the Church); (2) “Medievals and Mixology” (three speakers on the medieval period of the Church); and (3) “The Magisterial Vineyard” (three speakers on the modern Magisterium). $10 suggested donation. Free childcare available at Our Lady of Fatima.
OURAROUNDDIOCESECONTINUESONPAGE11
AN EVENT HELD AFTER THE 2020 MASS FOR THE PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN. PHOTO: PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
DIOCESAN NEWS
THE MASS FOR THE PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN
On Saturday, Feb. 5 St. Polycarp Catholic Church will host a practical dating and marriage workshop for young adults ages 18 to 35. The intention of this event is to prepare young adults to become holy spouses through dating and marriage relationships. Single, engaged and married young adults are welcome!
BY STAFF
Early bird pricing is $27, or $35 at the door.Coffee, water and lunch will be pro
JANUARY 16, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 11
MICHAEL P. BRENNAN, AN EXPERIENCED CATHOLIC SCHOOL EDUCATOR AND ADMINISTRATOR, WILL TAKE OVER THE HELM AT MATER DEI. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
vided. All remaining proceeds will be donated to pro-life centers in California. For tickets, visit shop-tickets-231888634147eventbrite.com/e/dating-marriage-workhttps://www.
DIOCESAN NEWS
ST. POLYCARP CATHOLIC CHURCH IN TUSTIN IS HOSTING A DATING WORKSHOP FOR YOUNG ADULTS ON FEB. 5. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. POLYCARP CATHOLIC CHURCH
The next World Youth Day will take place in Lisbon, Portugal in August 2023.
The information sessions will take place on Monday, Jan. 24 and Thursday Jan. 27 in person at the Pastoral Center, at Christ Cathedral campus and Monday, Jan. 31 via Zoom.
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Spots are limited!
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The Solidarity Walk and Prayer Vigil will begin with Taize prayer in the church. Then everyone will walk in a candlelit procession to several stations, where we will turn on the light to rec ognize victims hidden in plain sight. We will shine our light to reveal the causes of human trafficking; how our purchases affect the lives of others; the ways men, women and children are victimized in sex and labor trafficking; and how laborers are exploited and trapped in farms, factories and ships. We will then conclude our vigil walk to the Education Building, where a short presentation will takeNoteplace.that this annual walk and vigil also honors St. Josephine Bakhita, pa tron saint of human trafficking victims, whose Feast Day is the next day (Feb. 8) as well as the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking.Pleasejoin us in prayerful solidarity to shine light on the darkness of human trafficking and learn how to fight this heinous crime. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Monica Kovach, chair of Bridge of Light Ministry, at (310) 490-6113. C
2022 SOLIDARITY WALK AND PRAYER VIGIL
INFO SESSIONS ON WORLD YOUTH DAY
MATER DEI NAMES NEW PRESIDENT
The Diocese of Orange Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry will host three information sessions for young adults to introduce them to World Youth Day and to present potential itineraries for this pilgrimage. Young adults are invited to learn more about the possibility of attending this experience and give their feedback regarding itinerary options.
BECOMING HOLY SPOUSES DATING & MARRIAGE WORKSHOP AT ST. POLYCARP
humanTherelife.will be a special blessing and prayer for those attending OneLife LA the following day and for those who are supporting and participating in the Walking with Moms in Need initiative at parishes.OneLife LA 2022 is back in-person on Saturday, Jan. 22, beginning at 12 noon in downtown LA. Register at one lifela.org.
The St. Irenaeus Health Ministry’s Bridge of Light: Human Trafficking to Human Triumph Ministry invites you to join their 2022 Solidarity Walk and Prayer Vigil from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 7 to honor human traffick ing victims. The event will be held at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church, 5201 Ever
HE ROMAN CATHOLIC Diocese of Orange and Department of Orange County Catholic Schools are pleased to announce the appointment of Michael P. Brennan, an experienced Catholic school educator and administrator, as the next president of Mater Dei High School. Brennan succeeds Fr. Walter Jenkins, who is returning to South Bend, Indiana, to take on a new assignment with his religious order, the Congregation of Holy Cross. An independent review of Mater Dei’s athletic program and overall safety protocols will continue under Brennan’s leadership. C
green Ave. in Cypress.
The Eagles girls lacrosse program saw Brooke Cressy sign with Campbell University and Molly Jacobson commit to Towson SprinterUniversity.AshleyRodgers will run for Biola University’s track and field pro gram, and Dillyn Griffin committed to play women’s volleyball for University of Pittsburgh.JSerraCatholic High School recog nized six of their athletes on November 10 in the JSerra Pavilion.
CA, ON REGISTER/SCNGORANGEPHOTO:NOVEMBERWEDNESDAY,11,2020.JEFFGRITCHEN,COUNTY
From the baseball diamond, three Lions made commitments to play at the next level. David Horn committed to Vanderbilt University, Tyler Gough signed with Oregon State University and Tristan LaMaison is headed to Pace University.JSerraswimmer
Liwen Cao commit ted to University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Softball players Hollie Farmer and
Rounding out Rosary’s fall signing class was Kaylee Byon who will play bas ketball for Utah Valley University.
SANTA MARGARITA,
12 OC CATHOLIC n JANUARY 16, 2022 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS NEWS
Santa Margarita Catholic High School celebrated 23 of their senior athletes as they made commitments to play their respective sports at the next level.
BY JENELYN RUSSO
OV. 10, 2021, marked the first National Signing Day of the 2021-22 academic year when high school seniors signed letters of intent to compete in collegiate level athletics.
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The Eagles saw five members of their girls swim team commit to college swim programs. Isabella Abrajan is headed to Duke University. Lindsay Ervin signed with Northwestern University. Abigail Isaly committed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Justina Kozan will swim for USC, and Julia Stafford is headed to the
Willa Poplawski signed with Boise State University and University of San Diego, respectively.RosaryAcademy celebrated five of their senior student athletes as they each made the commitment to play their respective sports at the next level. This included four members of the Royals softball program. Hannah Hernandez signed with University of Rhode Island. Isabella Fuentes committed to UC Santa Barbara. Martina Gutierrez is headed to Fairfield University, and Samantha Pa gan will play for Azusa Pacific University.
From the soccer pitch, Luke Burritt will play for SMU. And from the girls’ side of the program, Ella Giannola committed to the Ohio State University, Alexa Morris signed with Point Loma Nazarene University, and Teagan Wy is headed to UC Berkeley.
University. And on the girls’ side, Jade Zamora is headed to University of Mis souri.Baseball player Matthew Porchas signed with University of Texas, and his teammate Tanner Warady will play for Loyola Marymount University.
Moving back to the pool, boys water polo player Zachary Cwiertnia com mitted to Pepperdine University. The girls program saw four athletes make commitments including Carly McMur ray and Isabella Rosensitto, who both signed with UCLA. Ruby Hodge and Ella Schneider will both play for Harvard University.Fromthe Eagles’ boys golf program, Andy Zou signed with UC Irvine, and Jack Yurosek will play for Denison
“Our fall signees were a very unique group, representing historic champion ships for Rosary,” said Rosary Academy Athletic Director, Tom Tice. “The four softball players were on the field when we won a [CIF-SS] championship this past spring, and our basketball player, Kaylee Byon, is one of the most deco rated athletes in Rosary history, having brought two CIF State titles back to our gym. It was quite an accomplished group of student athletes.” C JSERRA AND ROSARY SCHOOLS HAD A TOTAL OF 34 ATHLETES SIGN LETTERS OF INTENT
HIGH
NINETEEN JSERRA PICTURE DURING A LETTER OF SIGNING DAY CEREMONY IN SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO,
University of Notre Dame.
RISING ABOVE
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ans in in 1976. She completed additional graduate work in educational administra tion at Loyola University New Orleans, Tulane University and California State University at Long Beach.
Sister Greta in 2015 at the funeral Mass for Father Cyprian Davis at St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana. I introduced myself as the historian writ ing the book on Black nuns in the United States who had visited her order’s archive in 2009.Oneyear
En route to the restaurant, Sister Gre ta and I saw a man attempting to force a screaming and resisting adolescent girl into his Withoutcar. hesitation, Sister Greta, who was wearing her veil, stopped her vehicle and prepared to take action. I quickly searched the car for something with which to fight the girl’s perceived attacker and protect Sister Greta, if necessary.
Greta never used the word fem inist or womanist to describe herself in our conversations. Yet, when confronted with a potential attack on a native daugh ter of New Orleans, Sister Greta did not hesitate to intervene and protect her, and I have never forgotten it.
We met again in 2016 in New Orleans before Sister Greta’s cancer diagnosis. During my stay at the Holy Family moth erhouse, I finally interviewed her. After ward, she took me out to dinner and on a tour of her beloved Lower Ninth Ward. On our way, I witnessed what I consider to be the most important dimension of Sister Greta’s moral leadership.
When I last saw Sister Greta in 2018, shortly after her illness forced her to step down from congregational leadership, she was all smiles and encouragement.C
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As the 21st century progresses, it pains me that the church will lose the last gen eration of African American sisters who grew up during Jim Crow and fought to dismantle some of the nation’s most difficult racial and gender barriers.
These women carry the stories and faithfulness of generations of Black Cath olics who made a way out of absolutely no way in their racially segregated and white-dominated church.
In 2014, Sister Greta assumed the leadership of the nation’s second oldest African American sisterhood and helped to guide the community in their contin ued efforts to rebuild following Hurri caneThoseKatrina.who knew Sister Greta would tell you she never sought the spotlight or ambitiously pursued leadership roles. Yet, she shined in those positions, leaving an indelible mark on the church and epitomizing the meaning of servant leadership.Ifirstmet
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Sister Greta’s instinct to defend Black girlhood and innocence was rooted firmly in the intellectual, educational and spiri tual traditions of her historically African American sisterhood and their ministry to society’s most vulnerable.
later, Sister Greta, as a mem ber of the planning committee of annual meeting of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious invited me to speak at the Atlanta gathering. Without her help, I am not sure I would have been able to make the connections and secure the archival access needed to finish my book.
While the situation was resolved with out any violence, I still recall how Sister Greta’s bravery and unflinching readiness to help this child emboldened me to act as well.Sister
Over the course of her distinguished career as a science educator and school principal, Sister Greta taught at and led her order’s Regina Caeli High School in Compton, California, and her alma mater, St. Mary’s Academy. From 1998 to 2002, she served as the associate superin tendent of schools for the Archdiocese of NewBeforeOrleans.being elected to serve as her order’s assistant congregational leader in 2010, Sister Greta played a leading role in preserving Black-administered Catholic education following Hurricane Katrina’s destruction by founding the MAX School, which temporarily com bined the city’s three historically Black Catholic high schools.
brief, off-the-cuff homily, Pope Francis recalled a hymn for the feast day that said the people of Israel went to the Jordan River to be baptized “with bare feet and bare souls.”
POPE FRANCIS BAPTIZES A BABY DURING MASS MARKING THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL AT THE VATICAN JAN. 9, 2022. THE POPE BAPTIZED 16 INFANTS. PHOTO: VATICAN MEDIA / CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
“These children today also come here with ‘bare souls’ to receive God’s justi fication, Jesus’ strength, the strength to move forward in life,” he said. “Your chil dren will receive their Christian identity today. And you, parents and godparents, must guard this identity.”
spirit, let’s say a ‘band spirit,’ a spirit of ensemble, and all it takes is for one to start -- because everyone is musical -and immediately the orchestra comes! Let them cry, let them feel free.”. C
14 OC CATHOLIC n JANUARY 16, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
“This is your task throughout your lives: to guard the Christian identity of your children,” the pope said. “It is a daily commitment: help them grow with the light they receive today.”
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Before bap tizing 16 babies in the Sistine Chapel, Pope Francis reminded parents and godparents of their responsibility to care for and preserve the Christian identity the infants were about to receive.
“This ceremony is a bit long, the chil dren then feel uncomfortable here in an environment they do not know. Please, they are the protagonists: make sure that they are not too hot, that they feel
The annual tradition of baptizing infants on the feast day, which began in 1981 by St. John Paul II, was canceled last year due to the pandemic.
BY JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
“If they are hungry, breast feed them here, in front of the Lord, no problem,” he added. “And if they cry out, let them cry out, because they have a community
PRESERVE CHRISTIAN IDENTITY RECEIVED AT BAPTISM, POPE SAYS
Although the baptisms resumed this year, the number of infants was signifi cantly reduced. In January 2020, the pope had baptized 32 infants in the SistineDeliveringChapel.a
The pope baptized the seven boys and nine girls -- the children of Vatican em ployees -- in the Sistine Chapel during the celebration of Mass Jan. 9, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
comfortable,” Pope Francis said.
With the sounds of fussy children filling the frescoed chapel, the pope repeated his usual advice to mothers of infants, encouraging them to make their children comfortable, and to not worry if they start to cry in the chapel.
JANUARY 16, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 15 Send your photos that capture Catholic life in your parish community to: webeditor@occatholic.com
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