AN EYE FOR HISTORY THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ORANGE • OCCATHOLIC.COM MARCH 13, 2022 FR. BILL KREKELBERG IN HIS OFFICE AT THE MISSION BASILICA, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. PHOTO: DREW KELLEY LIFETIME LEGACY Special Issue No. 5 The Lifetime Legacy series is sponsored by Gabriel Ferrucci, the first individual honored in this series. DIOCESE OF ORANGE HAS ITS OWN “CATHOLIC PICKER,” IN ARCHIVIST EMERITUS WILLIAM KREKELBERG PAGE 6
MARCH 13, 2022 1011 PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE Senior family members who can share their memories bring history to life for younger generations. MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO TRADITION RETURNS The historic mission will mark St. Jospeh Day and the return of the swallows on March 19. PLUS Guest Column, Weekly Readings, Moments In Our Journey 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 DirectorADVERTISINGofCustomContent: Caroline Wong, cawong@scng.com SCNG CUSTOM CONTENT Managing Editor: Caitlin Adams Art Director: Fernando M. Donado 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 CONTENTS 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
In the February days leading up to Lent, many of the daily readings were from the Letter of James. Many of the readings struck me as important and bold, and I decided to read more of James.The letter, only five chapters, is full of practical advice: We should be quick
PHOTO: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
BY EFFIE CATHOLICCALDAROLANEWSSERVICE
you read this, he will still be the presi dent. But we know the Russians have him and his democratic government in theirHowsites.does this affect our Lenten jour ney, and how, perhaps, can our Lenten journey affect the world’s brokenness?
HE SEASON OF LENT begins just as we have watched in horror the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As the world watches evil unleashed upon the forces of de mocracy in a European country, it seems somehow fitting that Christians move into a penitential season.
To a Christian, these questions can never be separated. We’ve been called to bring the kingdom of God, never to hide away solely in our own world of religiosity and private devotion.
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.
THE WORLD’S BROKENNESS
Unlikely heroes are emerging. News reports show a white-haired woman in her 60s, nails well-manicured and lacquered, practicing firing a large rifle to help defend her country. The president of Ukraine, a former comedian, told the U.S. when they offered to evacuate him, “I need ammunition, not a ride.”
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As I write this, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is still alive and fighting. Pray God, when
SAINT PROFILE
- Pope Francis
IS 1:10, 16-20; PS 50:8-9, 16BC-17, 21, 23; MT 23:1-12
A OFGLIMPSEGOD
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
HE FOUNDER OF The Little Work of Divine Providence, which encompasses two active and two contemplative re ligious orders for men and women as well as a lay move ment, was born in Italy’s Piedmont. After early sojourns with Franciscans and Salesians, he entered the seminary of the Diocese of Tortona and was ordained in 1895. Always devoted to the care of others, especially the poor and sick, Don Orione estab lished schools and learning centers, worker hostels, hospitals, and homes for the elderly, disabled, sick and blind. The members of his apostolate serve today in 300 foundations in Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America. The dying words of this priest, who was canonized in 2004, were “Jesus ... Jesus... Jesus.” C
JER 17:5-10; PS 1:1-4, 6; LK 16:19-31
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DN 9:4B-10; PS 79:8, 9, 11, 13; LK 6:36-38
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EX 3:1-8A, 13-15; PS 103:1-4, 6-8, 11;1 COR 10:1-6, 10-12; LK 13:1-9
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
MARCH 13, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 5 DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS
AVE YOU EVER HAD A GLIMPSE of God? Perhaps you perceived God’s presence in a quiet moment of prayer, a tender conversa tion with a loved one, or a difficult situation that was resolved unexpectedly. Peter, James, and John in today’s Gospel were given a glimpse of Christ’s glory on the mountain, as Jesus was transfigured before them. Abram put his faith in God and saw God’s power in a wondrous sign of covenant love. We have the promise of eternal life with God in heaven. This promise brings with it responsibility, as people who are called to live as Christ’s very own in the world. Lent is the perfect time to resolve to listen more attentively to the Lord and follow God’s ways, assured that in doing so, we put our faith in the one, true, and faithful
MONDAY
LUIGI 1872-1940ORIONE
“ He is the God tenderness…compassion,closeness,of”
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Fr. Bill’s younger brother, retired Los Angeles Monsignor Richard Krekelberg, who well knew his brother’s love of histo ry, said the choice was inspired.
AN EYE FOR HISTORY OF ORANGE ITS PHOTO: DREW KELLEY
HAS
Fr. Bill remained in the position until his retirement in 2015. To this day, he maintains the title of Archivist Emeritus.
BY GREG MELLEN
He was a pastor, who had recently been appointed to Holy Family parish in Orange, when the Diocese of Orange was established by Pope Paul VI in 1976.
PHOTO: DREW KELLEY
“That it suits my brother is a great un derstatement,” he said. “He was formed in the womb to love history.”
FR. KREKELBERG PRESERVES AND DOCUMENTS THE HISTORY OF NOT ONLY THE DIOCESE, BUT THE FAITH FOUNDATION OF THE GREATER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION.
Whetherthat.”
WILLIAMIN“CATHOLICOWNPICKER,”ARCHIVISTEMERITUSKREKELBERG CONTINUES ON PAGE 7 THE DIOCESE ARCHIVE INCLUDES BOOKS, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS, MAPS AND MORE.
Another is to collect all manner of documents and articles that help tell the story of the Church through the years and put it in Fathercontext.ChrisHeath, who succeeded Fr. Bill as the full-time Archivist, puts it this“Iway.collect and maintain the story of the Church of Orange,” he said. “It’s
6 OC CATHOLIC n MARCH 13, 2022
“The Bishop (William Johnson) had just moved into our house,” Fr. Bill recalled.Asthe rendition goes, some members of the clergy were dining with the bishop when Johnson said off-handedly that the archivist at the Archdiocese of L.A. had mentioned the young pastor might be a good person for the job at the new Diocese.”Fr.Bill said the bishop asked him. “‘Would you like to do that?’ I said, ‘Well, yeah, that would be great.’ It was as infor mal as
FEATURE
ATHER WILLIAM KREKELBERG might like to say there was some great planning and consider ation that led to him becoming the first archivist for the Diocese of Orange, but the truth is far more ran dom. Or serendipitous. Or, as Fr. Bill says jokingly, “God’s sense of humor.”
it was pure luck, or part of God’s plan, the choice of Fr. Krekelberg to be Director of Archives and de facto his torian of the Diocese of Orange, couldn’t have been a better or more natural fit.
The archivist has several missions. As a matter of Catholic canon law, a diocese is required to archive its history and culture, as well as records of its priests, deacons and other personnel.
DIOCESE
Since then, the archives have out grown the space and many of the records that would be there are scattered throughout the Diocese.
Despite the Diocese’s relatively callow youth, the archives are a trove of unique documents and historical items and artifacts. Much of this is thanks to Fr. Bill’s nose for historical objects. He is like the Church’s version of one of television’s “American Pickers” -- a Catholic Picker, if you“Mywill.idea of a fun off-day is to go to a rare books convention or store,” he said. “Especially those with early history collections.”Maybethe most interesting and surely most valuable document retrieved by Fr. Bill for the Diocese Archives is a decree signed by Pres. Abraham Lincoln in 1865 shortly before his death, declaring land around the Mission at San Juan Capistra no as property of the Catholic church.
something we need to keep. Every family should have its history and the Diocese is a very big family. Despite that the Diocese isn’t that old we have to hold onto that story.”The major documents and items of the archives are currently stored in the bell tower of the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano, which was ample in the early years of the Diocese.
“It was like a major thing at the time,” he said.Italso required Mechelle Lawrence Adams, Executive Director at Mission San Juan Capistrano, to invest in a new safe for the archives.
Plans are in the works to move the archives to the top floor of the Christ Cathedral Cultural Center in the space formerly used by Rev. Robert Schuller for his offices, library, museum and boardroom.“It’svery nice,” Fr. Chris said of the proposed site. “I would say it’s prime real estate.”However, Fr. Chris said there is no timetable for the move and the upgrades and costs to convert the space have yet to be completed.
Through the year’s Fr. Bill says, “I have put together a complete history of Orange County, including rare books that
Fr. Bill said he learned the document was in a safe in the offices of Cardinal
MARCH 13, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 7 FEATURE
THE MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO WAS THE FOCAL LANDMARK FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S FOUNDING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
Simple as that.
THE EXTENSIVE ARCHIVE HOUSED AT THE MISSION WILL BE MOVED TO THE TOP FLOOR OF THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CULTURAL CENTER. PHOTO: DREW KELLEY
So, one day at a dinner, Fr. Bill said, “I asked Cardinal Manning if we could have that for our Diocese. He took it out of his safe and handed it to me and I brought it back to the Mission.”
PHOTO: DREW KELLEY
AT PLAY IN THE FIELD OF THE WORD
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Timothy Manning when he was Arch bishop of Los Angeles.
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Fr. Bill has made other stunning finds, such as early recordings of early confir mations at the Mission personally written by Saint Junipero Serra, Mission annual reports from that period signed by the early presidents of the Mission, as well as books from the era owned by the Friars.
Fr. Bill traces his love of history to his early youth growing up in rural Minne sota. Young Bill would watch a neighbor searching for native American artifacts, from arrow heads to tomahawk heads which he kept stored in a shed.
A TREATISE ON NATIVE AMERICANS FROM 1754, WITH THE SIGNATURE OF SAINT JUNIPERO SERRA, BELONGING TO THE DIOCESE ARCHIVE. PHOTO: DREW KELLEY
And it remains equally important in real“Thistime.is our time. We are part of a larger history,” he said.
The Fort was also controversial as it is on land that was claimed as the sacred point of origin of the Dakota people and played a pivotal role in the conquest and resettlement of the area. Context, as Fr. Bill would say.
The man was gracious and allowed the boy to examine his artifacts.
The archives also contain: n a first-class relic of Saint Serra n a letter from Saint John Paul II to Bishop Norman MacFarland
Fr. Bill said he “chased history,” often as it was unfolding. He went to see Presi dent Lyndon B. Johnson dedicate UC Ir vine, and saw Bobby Kennedy campaign
8 OC CATHOLIC n MARCH 13, 2022 FEATURE
A WHITE ZUCCHETTO BELONGING TO THE DIOCESE ARCHIVE. PHOTO: DREW KELLEY
Fr. Bill later befriended Walter Knott, who oversaw the creation of the amuse ment park.
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To Fr. Bill, the items and documents are all important parts of the unfolding story of the church.
are not in libraries.”
After that, the hook was set. The boy read books about frontiersmen like Davy Crocket and said he would often pester his parents to take him to Fort Snelling, a historical monument, park and cemetery.
In 1955, the family moved to Southern California and settled in Buena Park. It was there that Fr. Krekelberg discov ered Knott’s Berry Farm, which at the time was an Old West themed tourist destination with all manner of historical representations, real or imagined. And it wasFr.free.Krekelberg said he visited the park twice a week and sometimes daily to feed his historical fantasies.
n framed original documents in ornate calligraphy from the Vatican n gifts from the Vietnamese communi ty and other cultural items
“It’s important to have contexts for all things,” Fr. Bill said. “If you don’t know the context, you don’t fully know the rea sons for the decisions being made.”
“One day I went up and knocked on his door and said I wanted to see them,” Fr. Bill Apparentlysaid. even his introverted personality couldn’t get in the way of his search for history.
LIFELONG LOVE OF HISTORY
Fr. Bill says the collection is at least a couple hundred volumes and includes what he believes is the first book ever the history of Orange County, written shortly after it was established in 1889.
n a Bishop’s cane or crosier presented to Bishop Johnson and traced back to Archbishop Joseph Cantwell n keys to cities presented to Diocesan Bishops
Fr. Bill has written two books about Orange County’s landmark 1776 mission: Mission San Juan Capistrano: The Fall and Rise of a California Mission, the definitive volume on the historic land mark and its place in local history, and The Grand Retablo. Mission Basilica San
A SET OF ROSARIES BELONGING TO THE DIOCESE ARCHIVE. PHOTO: DREW KELLEY
Despite the early exposure to ar chiving, Fr. Chris had no idea he was seeing the future.
“He told me he didn’t know anything about Orange County except that Disney land was there,” Fr. Bill recalled. “He said ‘That helped me a lot.’ That made me feel really good that all this stuff I had found wasHeuseful.”hasalso helped a number of local parishLookinghistories.back on his career, Fr. Bill says he’s incredibly grateful “to assist the Church by using my personal interests and talents to help in the overall mission of the Church. I will continue to do that as long as I’m able to.” C
After Msgr. Richard was ordained, the two brothers spent their first vacation as priests visiting all 21 Spanish missions in California from San Diego to San Fran cisco
Sure enough, both held.
He’s met or been in rooms with both Presidents Bush, President Gerald Ford and ex-president Jimmy Carter at a Hab itat for Humanity event. Ronald Regan when he was Governor.
He also collaborated with former Chancellor for the Diocese, Shirl Gia comi, on two histories of the Diocese to celebrate the 30th and 40th anniversa ries.“They weren’t New York Times best sellers, but they were important to local history buffs,” Fr. Bill said.
“I’ve gawked at historic figures,” he joked. “That was my witnessing.”
After the eighth grade, Fr. Krekelberg entered the seminary, becoming what was known at the time as a “lifer” in the Church. He was ordained in 1970.
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MARCH 13, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 9 FEATURE
AccordingSolano. to Msgr. Richard, “Bill says when he was four years old he knew two things that would never change: he want ed to be a priest and he liked beer.”
A CHRONICLER OF HISTORY
In addition to his reading and collect ing, Fr. Bill has also written extensively about the Diocese and local history. He began by creating a directory of the new Diocese after taking over the office of Archivist.Coincidentally, Fr. Bill’s photographer for the project was Bonnie Heath, the mother of Christopher Heath, an altar boy at Holy Trinity.
Juan Capistrano.
Maybe the only thing that equaled or surpassed his love of history was his love of theLikeChurch.allfive Krekelberg boys, Fr. Bill was an altar boy and attended Catholic schools through his educational career.
One of the most important and atten tive readers was Bishop Kevin W. Vann.
in California. He would see Richard Nixon at an event hosted by Knott.
MAPS AND HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS COMPRISE A LARGE PORTION OF THE ARCHIVE. PHOTO: DREW KELLEY
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10 OC CATHOLIC n MARCH 13, 2022 CATHOLIC FAMILY LIFE
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
ing horses until we went through his many silver trophies, including platters, plates and serving dishes, some even with horse heads as handles.
Mom remembers her own father raising rabbits for food during the De pression. She recalls her grandmother chasing down chickens and plucking them for Sunday dinner. Her memo ries of nurses’ training at Huntington Hospital offer 1950s perspectives of pediatric, surgical and mental health medicine.Ihavea new appreciation for Nana’s carved end table, Grandma’s ceramic pieces and Mom’s silver flatware. Just the other day I wound my father’s grandfather’s beautiful mantle clock; we’re enjoying the chimes every quarter hour.Contributing to family memories, I may revive our Sunday tradition of serving formal dining-room meals on our wedding china; I’m compiling family recipes and sharing them with our kids; at family holiday parties, we
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
years of closeness thanks to my on ly-child status, I learned many things about Mom and Dad and their family histories.I’dalways known that Dad came from a horsey, Maryland family, but I didn’t know how good he was at jump
With these challenges, my quiet prayer is one of thankfulness for Mom’s yesterdays, patience in my todays and new promise for my kids’ tomorrows. C
There are many lessons to be learned
BY CATHI DOUGLAS
At the same time, I’m rededicat ed to learning my family history and traditions, thanks to my dear mother’s blessed and ongoing presence. I trea sure the opportunity even as I struggle forMombalance.has weathered severe health setbacks in the past couple of years, including several tainzlesacuityretainstodaysandtiveCOVID,talizations,hospilongcongesheartfailure,more.Theseshestruggleswalk.Still,shehermentalandworkspuzandgamestomainalertness.Herfriends in the retirement community love her.
from someone who’s lived nine decades. Being my own boss offers me more time to learn more about Mom, our family, and her cherished memories, whether it’s on our way to dental and medi cal abouttimeMomdown,enjoyingappointments,Sundaydinnerstogether,orgoingoutfortheoccasionallunch.DuringtheearlydaysofthepandemiclockIwouldcallandspendsomeinterviewingherherlife.Evenafter
encourage Mom and her brother to reminisce.Still,my challenge – and I’m sure I’m not alone – is to minimize material objects throughout our home as I main tain family traditions and history. I’m a devotee of books, podcasts and blogs about decluttering, minimalism, and so I struggle for balance.
AMILY HISTORY, OFTEN em bodied in heirlooms and keep sakes from our forbearers, can be a casualty of our fascination with decluttering and minimalism and the drive to streamline our lives.
This is where prayer comes in. Mindful of the present moment and focused on God’s presence, I’m learning to find joy in Mom and the memories she shares, even as I relinquish material things that really don’t matter. I pray for balance in my life; I long to let go.
OURHEIRLOOMSANDHONORSROOTS
Mom’s pioneer spirit keeps her going. Raised during the Depression by stoic parents, she has a Puritan philos ophy: Be resolute, don’t complain, rely on God for sustenance.
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.
TREASURING FAMILY MEMORIES
Indeed, while a terrible packrat when it comes to sentimental items such as gifts, cards and letters, and homemade crafts, I’ve lately had an almost overwhelming compulsion to declutter our home.
ST. JOSEPH’S DAY AND RETURN OF THE BECELEBRATIONSWALLOWSTOHELDMARCH19
For ticket reservations and pricing, vis it www.missionsjc.com/swallows Mission San Juan Capistrano is located at 26801 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano. C PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
M
BY STAFF
ISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO announces the return of its community celebration marking the annual return of the swallows and St. Joseph’s Day on Satur day, March 19. The world-famous return of the swallows was started by Father O’Sulli van in the 1930’s at Mission San Juan and is celebrated each year on March 19 St. Joseph Day, a liturgical feast day recognized in the Catholic Church.
at 9 a.m. and the last event will be held at 2 p.m.
MARCH 13, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 11 DIOCESAN NEWS
St. Joseph Day includes live entertain ment, ringing of the historic bells, local food and craft vendors, virtual presentation by world famous swallows expert Dr. Charles Brown.Visitors will experience the Mission’s his tory with station tours, Legacy of Saint Serra exhibit in the historic Sala building, Native American basket weaving demonstrations and a St. Joseph’s Table display honoring St. Joseph in an effort to feed those less fortu nate. A special exhibit, “Journey to Renewal” will debut featuring conserved artwork, made possible by Jan and the Honorable WarrenGatesSiegel.open
MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO BRINGS BACK TRADITION
ST. JOACHIM CATHOLIC CHURCH, COSTA MESA. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
OURAROUNDDIOCESECONTINUESONPAGE13
BY STAFF
12 OC CATHOLIC n MARCH 13, 2022 DIOCESAN NEWS
PRAYERWEDNESDAYSERVICE
The Most Rev. Kevin W. Vann presided at an Ash Wednesday prayer service with a special intention for peace in Ukraine on March 2 at Christ Cathedral.Orthodox and Eastern Catholic cler gy and leaders were invited to join in prayer demonstrating solidarity in the Body of Christ. Pastoral Center, Diocese staff and parishes were also invited to attend, along with others in the broad er community, to lift up the people of Ukraine and surrounding nations during this time of conflict. Bishop Vann echoes Pope Francis’ ongoing call for an end to war and the restoration and nurturing of peace: “May the Queen of Peace protect the world from the folly of war.”
SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM HELD AT ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY IN SILVERADO CANYON
MITERED ARCHPRIEST STEPHEN G. WASHKO, PASTOR OF ANNUNCIATION BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ANAHEIM, RECEIVES HIS ASHES FROM BISHOP KEVIN W. VANN ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
ASH
THE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS IN THE LIBRARY OF ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY REPRESENT LIGHT GOING THROUGH TRANSPARENT GLASS. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado Canyon hosted a special symposium on Feb. 19, which included celebrating the completion of its new library.
In addition to its extensive collec tion of books, the library is home to 10 stained glass windows and eight bronze reliefs by Danish artist Maja Lisa Engelhardt that celebrate the beauty of God’sAccordingcreation.to promotional materials provided by St. Michael’s, the windows use three primary and three comple mentary colors. They “represent light going through colored transparent glass and create a space with light which is notIntouchable.”addition, the reliefs, which were made in Italy, are “non-transparent items that possess the heaviness of
Weekly sessions involve dinner, watching a video, sharing experiences, asking questions and meeting new friends. Virtual attendance via Zoom is alsoThereavailable.isno
You’re invited to explore life’s big questions! St. Joachim Catholic Church in Costa Mesa will be hosting an Alpha program.Alpha is a series of free sessions exploring the Christian faith. The series runs approximately 11 weeks starting Wednesday, March 16 from 6-8 p.m. Each talk looks at questions around faith and is designed to spark conversation in an open and safe envi ronment.
cost. Please visit https:// stjccm.org/alpha or contact Carol Nasr at (949) 439-0226 to register.
OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS TO HOST MARRIAGE PREPARATION EVENT
Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in Newport Beach is offering the “Better Together” in-person weekend marriage preparation experience. Engaged couples can register for either May 14 and 15 or May 21 and 22. The cost is $95 per couple. For more information and registra tion online, visit olqa.org/betterto gether. C
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OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS, NEWPORT BEACH. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
earth and evoke themes from the Seven Days of Creation and the Eighth Day. Iconic signs from the creation story emerge from the dark patinated bronze with gold, as witness of God’s creation.”
MARCH 13, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 13 DIOCESAN NEWS
Meanwhile, Jesus invites us to draw nearer. By deepening our prayer, ex tending our charity, perhaps to Catholic Relief Services’ humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, and strengthening ourselves with penance, perhaps we can better answer the question Jesus asks: Why did you come? C
we? We ask Jesus to help us answer this question during Lent. Why did we come?
Lent offers us the opportunity to contem plate what we are doing with this brief but precious time we have been given.
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SITS FOLLOWING AN INTERVIEW WITH REUTERS IN KYIV, UKRAINE, MARCH 1, 2022. PHOTO: UMIT BEKTAS, REUTERS / CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
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We make plans for our lives, James says, but much like the Ukrainians who went on about their lives calmly in the days before the invasion, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. “You,” James writes, “are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears.”
Our actions prove who we are, more than any fine statements or boasts, more than our degrees, our accomplishments, ourWhoriches.are
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to listen and slow to speak, James says. That in itself would be a worthwhile Lenten endeavor.
In his famous poem, “As Kingfishers Catch Fire,” the Jesuit priest Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote, “What I do is me: for that I came.”
I think of President Zelenskyy, a young man in his 40s, a performer in his early life. Now, he has become the focal point of resistance to an evil assault af fecting millions of people in his country, and perhaps beyond. This, perhaps, is the moment for which he came.
He impresses on us that a faith not expressed in good works is no faith at all. And he challenges us to think about class distinctions: James asks us to imagine “if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes comes in.” We might envision our own Sunday Mass congre gation.How are the two treated, James asks. Such a simple question, and yet one that we all should ask ourselves. Who is given the best seat at table, in our society, in our own lives? James’ letter is very hard on the rich.
This may be a somber thought, but each of us goes the way of all flesh, and
to: editor@occatholic.com
On Feb. 25, hundreds of parishioners, including Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen, gathered outside Our Lady of La Vang Shrine on the Christ Cathedral campus for a candlelight vigil in honor of Fr. Giuse Tran Ngoc Thanh, a Vietnamese priest who was murdered in a church in Vietnam on Jan. 29 while hearing confessions.
MARCH 13, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 15
—Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Orange
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BECOME A ROYAL TODAY NMLS #537388 | Member FDIC Online & Mobile Banking | Checking & Savings Accounts Bank on a first name basis. At Farmers & Merchants Bank , we offer ever y client a rare combination of white-glove ser vice and ironclad securit y in offices from San Clemente to Santa Barbara. CDs & IR As | Home Loans | Credit Cards
