OC CATHOLIC - FEBRUARY 18, 2024

FEBRUARY 18, 2024

"TRANSFORMED"

PAGE 12

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

THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON ST. COLUMBAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL CELEBRATES LUNAR NEW YEAR PAGE 6

ST. COLUMBAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION ON FEB. 2. PHOTO BY LOU PONSI/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

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FEBRUARY 18, 2024

CONTENTS

7 LENT, A PREPARATION

The 40 days and nights of the penitential season prepare us for the coming of Christ.

8 14

OUR LADY OF PEÑAFRANCIA

The history of this apparition leads from France to Spain and the Philippines.

A MARIAN MISSION

The priests and brothers of the Heralds of the Gospel visited Christ Cathedral last month.

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.

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@OCCCatholicNews

GUEST COLUMN

WHY I TEACH AT CATHOLIC SCHOOL

BY MR. IVAN PARGA, ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

T

EACHING AT A Catholic school has been one of the greatest blessings I have received as an educator who is passionate about music and as a Catholic who strives to live a Christ-like life by helping others learn of music and gain essential skills that may benefit them in the future.

I grew up in a Catholic household and still hold strongly to the beliefs and values I have been accustomed to throughout my life. Specifically, being grateful for what we have, the desire to strive for success and the ability to humble ourselves to genuinely serve others. At St.

Bonaventure Catholic School, I witness the same values being upheld and being taught to the oncoming generations of students and future leaders. This is encouraging to my commitment to teaching in a Catholic setting, but what has been the ultimate determinant in my motivation to teach in this environment is the sense of community I get every day that I spend at my current school. I cannot help to compare my current experience as a Catholic school teacher to my previous experiences as a student in the public school system, and I can say with absolute certainty that I never had this sense of community until my time at St. Bonaventure.

One of the most unique parts of teaching at a Catholic school is the freedom and encouragement to create significant opportunities in music for our students which are not typically offered at other TK through eighth grade schools.

One thing that I have strived for is to

CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

Journey of the Heart: An Evening of Celtic Music, Song & Poetry March 15, 2024 ~ 6-8:30PM PST

IVAN PARGA. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts

Opening 2024

Celebrated vocalist Deirdre Ní Chinnéide will connect us to the power of Celtic spirituality with an evening of Irish music, song, and poetry, opening our hearts as we near Holy Week. www.thecsd.org | (714) 744-3172 | thecsd@csjorange.org

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.

dral at Christ Cathe

Secure your Legacy today Call today to learn how | admin@StCallistusChapel.org | (714) 282-4290 | www.StCallistusChapel.org |

DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

AROUND CAMPUS

“

It is the Lord of history who sustains us and invites us to faithfulness and fruitfulness.

— Pope Francis

SAINT PROFILE

”

BLESSED FRA ANGELICO

1464-1505

F

RA GIOVANNI DA FIESOLE, known as Blessed Fra Angelico, was an early Renaissance painter. After joining the Dominicans in 1420, he began illustrating manuscripts and choir books, beginning each new work with a prayer. His religious altarpieces, paintings and frescoes exploited color for spatial and emotional effect.

Fra Angelico, meaning “angelic brother,” decorated an entire Florentine monastery and two Roman chapels. Notable works include his “Annunciation” and “Descent from the Cross.” He declined an appointment as archbishop of Florence and was officially beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1982. Art students often leave written prayers near his tomb in the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome. He is patron of artists.

AMBRY Donors: Timothy and Jennifer Buckley. The ambry is inside the cathedral baptistry. It stores the three holy oils: the oil of the sick, the oil of the catechumens and the sacred chrism. These oils are blessed during the annual Chrism Mass and are then distributed to parishes for use in the coming year. Photo by Bradley Zint/Diocese of Orange C

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

LV 19:1-2, 11-18; 19:8, 9, 10, 15; MT 25:31-46

IS 55:10-11; PS 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19; MT 6:7-15

JON 3:1-10; PS 51:3-4, 12-13, 1819; LK 11:29-32

1 PT 5:1-4; PS 23:1-3A, 4, 5, 6; MT 16:13-19

EZ 18:21-28; PS 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7A, 7BC-8; MT 5:20-26

DT 26:16-19; PS 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8; MT 5:43-48

GN 22:1-2, 9A, 10-13, 15-18; PS 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19; ROM 8:31B34; MK 9:2-10

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5

FEATURE

THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON ST. COLUMBAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL CELEBRATES LUNAR NEW YEAR

BY LOU PONSI

T

HE STUDENTS AT St. Columban Catholic School in Garden Grove celebrated the Lunar New Year with all the colorful and traditional festivities associated with the annual holiday.

Donned in traditional red and gold costumes, upper and lower grade groups of students performed on stage, dancing and drumming to welcome in 2024, the Year of the Dragon, one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.

St. Columban hosted the celebration on Feb. 2 in advance of the Lunar New Year, which began on Feb. 10.

The highlight was, of course, the Lion Dance, where children cheered as cos-

ST. COLUMBAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL HOSTED A SPECIAL CELEBRATION ON FEB. 2 IN ADVANCE OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, WHICH BEGAN ON FEB. 10 AND MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON. PHOTOS BY LOU PONSI/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

“

I’m the dragon of red and green and gold. I can breathe out fire or smoke that is cold. If you’ve been good, then you have nothing to fear. From the dragon of red, green and gold – The King of Chinese New Year.

– Catherine Benson

6

”

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tumed “lions” and “dragons,” weaved through the auditorium as a symbolic gesture meant to bring luck and good fortune to the audience.

“I think the kids are marvelous,” said Fr. Joseph Luan Nguyen, pastor of St. Columban parish in Garden Grove. “They've done a wonderful job.”

The majority of the more than 300 St. Columban students are Vietnamese and Fr. Nguyen said the Lunar New Year celebration is a way for students to learn about and celebrate their culture, while also sharing their culture with other groups.

“This is Year of the Dragon,” said Fr. Nguyen, who has been at St. Columban for less than a year and was celebrating his first Lunar New

Year at the parish. “The dragon is very powerful and this is the best year and we wish for the students to try to have strength and love for the Lord and love for one another. My wish for the children is to continue to develop their individual talents to become more productive in society and in the Catholic Church.”

The Years of the Dragon include 1988, 2000, 2012 and 2024. Those born in those years are believed to be charismatic, ambitious, energetic and confident and are considered to be natural leaders.

Most of the St. Columban sixth graders were born in the Year of the Dragon, said Vivian Ngo, a member of the parent guild at school and lead organizer for the event.

Tradition calls for the students born in the year associated with their animal to give a gift back to their parents in return for all the gifts parents have given them, Ngo said.

“This year is a little bit more CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

FEATURE/CATHOLIC FAMILY LIVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

moments in time throughout a LENT, A PREPARATION ferent Christian's life, were previously always FOR THE EASTER VIGIL celebrated together as the Sacraments

BY SR. DIANE HEISS

W A LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION WAS HELD ON FEB. 2 AT ST. COLUMBAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN GARDEN GROVE. PHOTO BY LOU PONSI/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

special for me because my son is a dragon,” Ngo said. “He's in sixth grade.”

The St. Columban sixth graders chose to recite the poem, “The Chinese Dragon” by Catherine Benson.

Part of the poem reads: “I’m the dragon of red and green and gold. I can breathe out fire or smoke that is cold. If you’ve been good, then you have nothing to fear.

From the dragon of red, green and gold – The King of Chinese New Year.”

The students were also gifted with Vietnamese food to bring home, which was donated by a local restaurant, Ngo said.

Students spent time after school practicing for the event and parents spent months organizing and reaching out for sponsors.

“Putting on something like this obviously takes a lot of work,” St. Columban principal Melissa Geary said. “So, it's wonderful to have the involvement of parents who love to do this and want to help and want to do it for the kids in the community.” C

ITH A SENSE OF excitement, Catechumens have long been gathering since sunset on Holy Saturday, the evening before Easter, along with their families and friends.

They were accompanied by their Christian sponsors who had been regularly instructing them in the faith and mentoring them in living as disciples and friends of Jesus. They had also observed a period of some weeks before their baptism in more intense prayer and fasting.

The time had finally arrived for them to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist.

Soon the bishop arrived, and they were ready to commence. A third century text entitled the “Apostolic Tradition” (commonly attributed to Hippolytus of Rome) describes how the celebration took place, far longer than our current experience.

The entire night was spent listening to Scripture readings and instructions which served as a review of all they had been learning. When the time arrived for the Rite of Baptism, the Catechumens were anointed; turned to the West, representing darkness and renounced Satan and sin; turned to the East, symbolizing the light, while professing their faith in God; removed their clothing before baptism, illustrating their detachment from sin and turning away from their old way of life; and after baptism put on white clothing signifying their purity and new life in Christ. They were also confirmed, then joined the Christian community for the celebration of the Eucharist (Mass) and received their first Holy Communion.

What we experience today as three separate Sacraments, celebrated at dif-

of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation/ Chrismation and Holy Communion) and the bishop was the celebrant of all three. (We see these sacraments administered together now when anyone who is unbaptized and over the age of 7 is received into the Church - that is to say, the sacraments of initiation are conferred together during the Easter Vigil).

Eventually with the spread of the faith throughout the world and the resulting increase of converts, the Sacraments were separated, with priests celebrating Baptism and Mass/Eucharist, and the administration of Confirmation still reserved only to the bishop.

Roman law during the first three centuries of our Catholic Christian faith forbade Christianity, and those arrested were given the choice of denying their faith or losing their lives. Therefore, the time of baptismal preparation could last several years, to ascertain people were firm in their desire to say “Yes” to Christ and willing to give their lives, if the need should arise, for Jesus who out of His great personal love for each of us freely offered His life. With the rapid spread of Christianity after its legalization in 313 (C.E. – common era or A.D. – Anno Domini, year of Our Lord) by the Emperor Constantine, some practices were continued and others adapted or eliminated.

The process of preparing for Easter evolved over the centuries to its current form, including a period of six and a half weeks before Easter commencing on Ash Wednesday, known as Lent. This 40-day period of fasting and abstinence (excluding Sundays) was inspired by the 40 days that Jesus spent in prayer and fasting before beginning his public ministry and initially was for the catechumens (those preparing for baptism) and grave sinners doing public penance before being readmitted to the

Eucharist. Eventually, acknowledging the fact that we are all sinners in need of repentance and conversion, the observance of Lent spread until it became the norm for all.

PHOTO BY MARTIN JERNBERG ON UNSPLASH

WITH YOUR FAMILY: ■ Observe the Church laws of Fast and abstinence: Do not eat meat on Ash Wednesday or any of the Fridays of Lent.

On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, eat only one full meal and two small meals which together do not equal the one full meal.

■ Attend daily Mass, when possible, along with Mass on Sunday (or Saturday vigil at 4 p.m.)

■ Prayer, Penance and Almsgiving (acts

of charity) are traditional Lenten practices. Choose how you want to observe this as a family and what each family member will “give up” as a means of spiritual renewal and self-discipline.

■ Go to confession; make amends to those you have harmed; offer Works of Mercy.

■ Gather around a “Prayer Corner”

(place a Bible, candle and crucifix on a table covered in a nice tablecloth) to read the Sunday Gospel together. C

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FEATURE

OUR LADY OF PEÑAFRANCIA

BY DANIELLE TAYABAS

T

HE PHILIPPINES HAS a rich Catholic heritage and a variety of endearing devotions to the Blessed Mother. One of them is Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

The history of Our Lady of Peñafrancia begins in France.

In 1384, Simon Vela was born into a wealthy family in Paris. He relinquished his riches to the Church and to the service of the poor, choosing a life of prayer to God. One day, while in contemplative prayer, he was awakened to a voice that told him to travel to Peña de Francia (Rock of France) and there he would find an image of the Virgin Mary.

After searching for five years, on May 19, 1434, in the Peña de Francia mountains in Salamanca, Spain, Simon and his four friends came upon an illuminating light. He saw an apparition of Our Lady holding the Infant Jesus. She told him to dig up the earth. Upon removing a huge rock, he uncovered an image of the Blessed Mother holding the Child Jesus.

Simon and his companions immediately experienced miraculous physical healings.

Devotion to Our Lady rapidly spread.

In 1712, Miguel Robles de Covarrubias, the son of a Spanish government official in the Philippines, touched an image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia against the painful parts of his body which were healed. He later became a priest in Naga City and had a shrine built in her honor.

The Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is celebrated on the third Saturday of September. Millions of pilgrims travel to her shrine in Naga City in the Bicol region for a weeklong celebration, novena prayers and for the Translacion and Fluvial processions.

Fonz Fontanares, a parishioner of Christ Cathedral, has been on numer-

8

OUR LADY OF PEÑAFRANCIA. PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK

ous pilgrimages there. While smiling, he recalled friends inviting him to join their trip, which was a 12-hour drive from his residence in Manila.

“The farther the pilgrimage, the more

O C C A T H O L I C ■ F E B R U A R Y 18 , 2 0 2 4

graces,” he said. “I was challenged, and why shouldn’t I be? It is a journey of life because it’s not easy.”

As he reminisced, he shared, “I went for a personal petition, for spiritual growth

and conversion of my friends’ hearts.

That they would come closer to the Lord through Our Blessed Mother and hopefully they would be able to see their vocation.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 9

FEATURE

St. Edward the Confessor Presents:

Vocation Fair

Sunday Mar. 3rd 7am - 1pm

Presented By, Brother Philip Poutous, O.S.B.

A N D R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S F R O M

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FONZ FONTANARES, A PARISHIONER OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL, HAS BEEN ON NUMEROUS PILGRIMAGES TO OUR LADY OF PEÑAFRANCIA. PHOTO BY DANIELLE TAYABAS/DIOCESE OF ORANGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

That was the bottom-line goal.”

He added: “We would do this every year for our personal conversion and for the ultimate one of ‘how do I serve God more seriously through one's vocation?’”

Fontanares recounted a story of a friend of his who he watched grow closer to God. “During the pilgrimage he didn’t seem serious,” Fontanares said of his friend. “But after the fun, I realized months later that he was really serious…a fervent Catholic and he had a specific path to a vocation.”

Fontanares said his friend was called to Apostolic Celibacy.

“You only realize what a true blessing it is when it’s outside your comfort zone,” Fontanares said. “If there’s someone who

knows second to Jesus what suffering is, it's Our Blessed Mother. We identify the cross, the pain of suffering to Our Lady because she lived it!”

Fontanares believes that the Filipino people are very motherly.

“We turn to Our Mother,” he added.

“The more sacrifice one puts in then, the more merits and grace one receives.”

Having migrated in 2016 to Southern California, Fontanares is now on a mission of promoting Our Lady of Good Harvest, the pilgrim image for Filipino migrants, a title given by Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

With gratitude he said, “Our Lady will always be in my heart.”

Viva la Virgen!

Viva Nuestra de Senora de Peñafrancia! C

F E B R U A R Y 18 , 2 0 2 4 ■ O C C A T H O L I C

9

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A CATHOLIC EDUCATION IS A PRECIOUS GIFT A Catholic education teaches more than strong academics; it teaches lessons for life. The well-rounded curriculum leads children to become faith-filled, productive and generous adults.

PAGELOCAL HEADING

CONNECTING GIRL SCOUTS AND OUR CATHOLIC FAITH SPOTLIGHT ON ST. MARTIN DE PORRES’ GABRIELLE DECUIR

BY MEG WATERS

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for the 2024 -2025 School Year!

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W

HEN PONDERING THE game of basketball, one may not immediately draw a connection to coding. Girl Scout Gabrielle DeCuir had no problem seeing how the two connected — and because if this, earned a Gold Award — the highest award in Girl Scouts.

"I noticed that the boys had been doing coding since they were in grade school,” said Gabrielle, a senior at Valen-

cia High School in Placentia. “I thought young women needed help to catch up, especially women of color, and I wanted to break the stereotype of coders who people think are primarily men, aloof and working alone behind a computer screen."

Gabrielle, who enjoys both basketball and computer science, broke the mold to show girls that they could be coders and athletes and use common principles to succeed at both.

Her Gold Award program, called “Hoops & Coders,” encourages young women to pursue STEM subjects and athletics through the shared principles of teamwork, strategy, precision and creativ-

OCCatholicSchools

El Centro para la Religión y Espiritualidad de LMU te invita:

Espiritualidad de la Familia Curso para madres y padres que desean fundamentar sus hogares en el amor de Dios.

Espiritualidad Cristiana Curso para las personas que desean profundizar su relación con Dios y se sienten llamados a crecer en su vida espiritual.

Peregrinación a Roma y Asis Viva y sienta el testimonio de los Apóstoles y los santos en una peregrinación a Roma, Asís y varios otros sitios clave en Italia.

Retiro Contemplativo

Un tiempo de silencio y encuentro para estar mas atentos a Dios, nosotros mismos, y los demás.

GABRIELLE DECUIR. PHOTO COURTESY OF GIRL SCOUTS OF ORANGE COUNTY

Contactenos al 310.338.2799 o por correo electrónico crs@lmu.edu

10

O C C A T H O L I C ■ F E B R U A R Y 18 , 2 0 2 4

CONTINUES ON PAGE 11

LOCAL IN MEMORIAM: MARY ADELINE BAKKE:

BY BARB SLATER

GABRIELLE DECUIR’S GOLD AWARD PROGRAM, CALLED “HOOPS & CODERS” ENCOURAGES YOUNG WOMEN TO PURSUE STEM SUBJECTS AND ATHLETICS THROUGH THE SHARED PRINCIPLES OF TEAMWORK, STRATEGY, PRECISION AND CREATIVITY. PHOTO COURTESY OF GIRL SCOUTS OF ORANGE COUNTY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

ity. Gabrielle created a 57-page workbook titled “CompSci & Basketball Workbook: 5 Days of Fundamental Learning,” available at teacherspayteachers.com.

In developing “Hoops & Coders,” Gabrielle looked at research that showed the benefits of incorporating activities, especially sports, with learning. An active brain and body create more neuro-connections, improving performance in both activities.

According to the Girl Scouts, the Gold Award is the highest achievement a girl can earn. The girl must identify an issue within their community, innovate

a solution, create a detailed action plan and spend at least 80 hours bringing it to fruition.

In addition to her Gold Award, Gabrielle also participated in the "My Promise, My Faith" program, which offers girls a chance to explore with their family and faith leaders how the Girl Scout Law compliments their religious beliefs. In Gabrielle's case, she connected her Catholic Faith to scouting through the principles of honesty, fairness and helpfulness.

"I want to make the world a better place and be a sister to every Girl Scout,” said Gabrielle, who attends St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Yorba Linda.

Mary Adeline Bakke was born July 7, 1943, to Ivan and Mary Bakke in Duluth, Minnesota. She grew up in Los Angeles and earned a Bachelor's degree from Mount St. Mary’s University, Chalon Campus.

Hers was a life devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through service to others. She served in communities in both Nevada and California and, for the past 40 years, as director of Religious Education in the Orange County parishes of St. Polycarp (Stanton) and St. Justin Martyr (Anaheim) from which she retired.

From 1971 until 1981, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) coordinated the efforts of treasurers of religious institutes to meet together to discuss important financial concerns. During that time, the LCWR regions were used to divide the treasurers into Conferences of Regional Treasurers (CORTs). Mary was deeply involved with CORT during her years as a Religious and continued to be very involved once she had left Community Life.

Mary remained an active parishioner particularly with her beloved seniors of St. Justin Martyr. She kept track of her friends from all her communities. She kept in touch and was interested in your journey. If you were Mary’s friend, she made you feel like you were her best friend. We have all lost our best friend and she will be missed.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Jack.

A Celebration of Life Service is being held for Mary at St. Justin Martyr parish, Anaheim on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. C

Girl Scouts of Orange County CEO Vikki Shepp, Ed.D., said, "Girl Scout Gabrielle DeCuir demonstrated the connection between faith and Girl Scouts in a meaningful Gold Award project that truly helps students learn by combining her love of STEM with basketball."

To further connect scouting to our Catholic Faith, the Diocese of Orange and Girl Scouts of Orange County will celebrate Mass on Saturday, March 16 at 4 p.m. Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen will preside over the Mass. The Mass, which coincides with Girl Scout Week, will be followed by an awards ceremony until 7 p.m. at Christ Cathedral in Garden

Grove.

Girl Scouts of all ages and families are invited to register to attend. Girl Scouts are asked to wear their uniform. All participants will receive a special blessing.

Eligible Girl Scouts will receive earned faith awards and recognitions, including My Promise, My Faith Awards, OC Faith Award certificates, Catholic religious recognitions and Gold Award Girl Scout recognition at the awards reception.

Families are encouraged to enjoy this event together. Please register for the Diocesan Girl Scout Mass & Awards Reception at girlscoutsoc.org under Diocesan Girl Scout Mass. C

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SCHOOLS

“TRANSFORMED” CHRIST CATHEDRAL HOSTS SPECIAL I THIRST EVENT

BY LOU PONSI

O

VER 1,000 STUDENTS from six Orange County Catholic high schools attended the first ever “Transformed,” an I Thirst event, on Jan. 29 at the Christ Cathedral campus.

The day-long cel­ebration of the Eucharist featured speakers and music geared towards high school students, along with powerful testimonies from students who shared examples of the transformative power of the Eucharist in their lives.

“Transformed” was organized to complement the I Thirst Orange County celebration, which was held at Christ Cathedral in November as the official kickoff to the Jesus Thirsts for America tour.

The tour is a companion movement to the National Eucharistic Revival, which features events at the diocesan and parish levels and will culminate with the National Eucharistic Congress to be held from July 17 to 21 in Indianapolis.

High Schools represented were Mater Dei, Santa Margarita, Rosary Academy, Servite, Christo Rey and JSerra.

“I think the idea was these Catholic school students never really get together as a community and be motivated in faith,” said Armando Cervantes, Director of Youth & Young Adults for the Diocese of Orange and one of the main organizers for the conference. “They're obviously in their theology classes, some are involved in campus ministry, but I think that the goal was to bring together our Catholic school students, and sure enough, almost a thousand came in, representing all six schools.”

One of the most impactful student testimonies was delivered by Servite

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OVER 1,000 CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTEND THE FIRST EVER “TRANSFORMED,” AN I THIRST EVENT, ON JAN. 29 AT THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. PHOTOS

BY RENNE ENRIQUEZ/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

senior Luke Greenlee, who said he began feeling the presence of Christ in the Eucharist while praying during a confirmation class in his freshman year.

“Like never before, I felt this immense peace,” Greenlee said. “It was just in this moment I knew where Christ was present in the Eucharist, and I felt his presence in that room.”

In August of his senior year, Greenlee was driving from Servite to a friend’s house when he got a call from his mother who told him that his 21-year-old brother, Matthew, was involved in an accident in Arizona and sustained a life-threatening brain injury.

Greenlee rushed to Arizona with his family and recalled praying the Rosary in his brother’s hospital room when he was overcome with the same feeling of

O C C A T H O L I C ■ F E B R U A R Y 18 , 2 0 2 4

calmness he had experienced during confirmation class as a freshman.

“I knew that Christ was with me again,” Greenlee said. “I had that peace.”

Days later, Matthew died.

While saying his final goodbyes, Greenlee told Matthew how thankful he was for having his brother in his life.

“For a solid two minutes, maybe three, I was speaking to him, and I knew God was with me in that room just like in the Eucharist,” Greenlee said. “All my stress was gone. My brother was dying, and I felt immeasurable peace. I looked across the bed at my dad and said, ‘it’s going to be ok. Christ is with us.’”

Guest speakers for the event included David Calavitta, director of marketing for Life Teen, a Catholic youth ministry.

Calavitta is known for his ability to

connect with Catholic youth.

“Our goal is to really push Jesus from a subject into a relationship and in this setting, it can be very challenging, but I think the greater the challenge, the greater the fruit,” Calavitta said. “I think any effort that would begin to make the reality of the Eucharist more accessible to someone is going to bear a lot of fruit.”

The students also celebrated Mass in the cathedral. The celebrant was Bishop Timothy Freyer.

“The conference was meant to fire up the students into recognizing the Eucharist and the power that it has and is capable of having in their life,” said event organizer Nanci De La Rosa-Ricco, executive assistant to Erin Barisano, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Orange. C

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IVAN PARGA TEACHES MUSIC AT ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC SCHOOL. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

offer my students skills and opportunities from having concerts, working with music technology to compose and create original music, learning music theory and learning to play an instrument. My school’s values and mission have created an environment where my students truly engage with the content that I teach them, actively try to learn and master music to the best of their current ability and share their knowledge of music with others in humility. This has allowed me to push my students to advanced levels of music creation, understanding and performance.

Being a part of this community has not only impacted my musical growth, but also my spiritual growth. My experience at St. Bonaventure School has been one of the most surreal starting from my initial application to my time teaching at the school now. There has not been a moment during my time at this school where I don’t feel God’s grace and blessing, from the time that I initially applied for this job to my current position as a Catholic school teacher today.

My faith in God has only strengthened.

There hasn’t been a day where I don’t look forward to serving my students by teaching them music and I consider this the greatest blessing from teaching in this environment.

All in all, being a Catholic school teacher has proven to be one of the most significant experiences and blessings in my life as a Catholic and music educator, due to the Christ-centered environment and community found within my current school, the ability to provide my students with musical skills such as composition, performance, and collaboration as well as the freedom to practice and identify with my Catholic ideals and beliefs. I look forward to my future as a Catholic school teacher with great anticipation and hope and pray to God that he continues to allow me to serve my community as a music educator, and to give future generations of musicians the opportunities that will allow them to display their creative and musical abilities. C

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PAGE CATHEDRAL HEADING CHRIST

A MARIAN MISSION CHRIST CATHEDRAL WELCOMES HERALDS OF THE GOSPEL

BY RENE XAVIER AND GARCIA RUTZ

T

HE SIX DAYS BETWEEN Jan. 28 and Feb. 2 were quite unique at Christ Cathedral.

Several priests and brothers of the Heralds of the Gospel, an International Association of Pontifical Right approved by Pope John Paul II on Feb. 22, 2001, wearing their distinctive habit and taking with them the beautiful Pilgrim Statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as she appeared in Fatima, were on a Marian Mission.

These Marian Missions consist of a two-fold focus: one is in the church itself, where extra times of confession, adoration, talks and Masses are added with the help of extra priests and brothers of the Heralds that arrive. This mission, for example, had days with up to 9 hours of confessions! It continues until the last penitent is heard.

And a first for the history of the Heralds of the Gospel Marian Missions: in three languages at the same time!

The second aspect is unique: the Pilgrim Statue is present during the Masses but then goes out with some priests and brothers to bless homes while another priest stays back to hear confessions.

These visits are many times a sign from God for these families, who see in a loving Mother who not only waits with open arms but actually goes out to meet her children in answer to their prayers.

Though these visits are brief due to the great number of requests, it becomes evident that God doesn't need a lot of time to do great things in their lives. The goal is to bring these souls closer to the life of the Church.

During the visit, a prayer is said and after the blessing people are invited to go to the parish and participate in all the activities. It is not uncommon that some show up to the parish saying it's been some decades since their last confession

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FR. JUAN NAVARRO BLESSES STATUES OF THE INFANT JESUS DURING A SPECIAL MASS CELEBRATED ON FEB. 2 AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

THE BEAUTIFUL PILGRIM STATUE OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY IS PRESENT DURING A SPECIAL MASS CELEBRATED ON FEB. 2 AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

AS PART OF THE MARIAN MISSION, THE PIL­GRIM STATUE GOES OUT WITH SOME PRIESTS AND BROTHERS TO BLESS HOMES WHILE ANOTHER PRIEST STAYS BACK TO HEAR CONFESSIONS. PHOTO COURTESY OF HERALDS OF THE GOSPEL

O C C A T H O L I C ■ F E B R U A R Y 18 , 2 0 2 4

and would like to get in line to seek the forgiveness of their sins. Others seek the sacraments for the first time. Others are inspired to see how to participate more in parish life. Many who had an erroneous view of what is the life of the Church and perhaps felt alienated from it suddenly see how the Church is a mother too and desires to live in the hearts of the children of God. Not every family has the same level of faith within it. Maybe one member of the family is of great faith and brings the missionaries for the visit. Another, out of respect, is merely present but not so close to the Faith. But during the visit their hearts quickly warm up. Frequently in that moment perhaps, the one who is most benefited is the one in greater need of conversion. They did not go to the Church, but the Church came to them. Inspired by the visit they begin that sweet path, exclaiming with St. Augustine "Too late have I loved you, O Beauty so ancient, O Beauty so new...You have touched me, and I ardently desire your peace."

A path that leads to Jesus, but always through Mary Most Holy!

The closing of the mission unites the whole community in Holy Mass, where the Pilgrim Statue is solemnly crowned and the parish is consecrated to her Immaculate Heart, certain that this weeklong mission, where she visited literally hundreds of homes, is only the beginning of a new life for many in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

For more information on the Heralds of the Gospel and the Marian Missions visit www.heraldsusa.org/mission-2-2/ marian-missions C

THE GOAL OF THE MARIAN HOME VISITS IS TO BRING THE SOULS OF FAMILIES CLOSER TO THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH. PHOTO COURTESY OF HERALDS OF THE GOSPEL

OC Catholic Afar

Caroline Wong, who attends Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach, vacationed in Bogota, Colombia where she visited Monserrate to offer prayers at the shrine of El Señor Caido.

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.

F E B R U A R Y 18 , 2 0 2 4 ■ O C C A T H O L I C

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