MARCH 20, 2022 A VOLUNTEER PUTS FOOD ITEMS IN THE TRUNK OF A HELPING HOUSE CLIENT AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS IN GARDEN GROVE. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE FEEDING OUR COMMUNITY OC CATHOLIC HIGHLIGHTS THREE DIOCESAN FOOD PANTRIES PAGE 8 THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ORANGE n OCCATHOLIC.COM OURAROUNDDIOCESE PAGE 11
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Despite having been the world’s most powerful nation for decades, we still see ourselves as Gary Cooper, as defenders of the underdog. And because we see ourselves this way, we feel a tremendous sympathy for the Ukrainian people enduring this violent and unprovoked aggression.
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UTIN’S WAR IS TEACHING us something about ourselves, if we are paying attention.
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.
ERLANDSON, DIRECTOR AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, CAN BE REACHED AT GERLANDSON@CATHOLICNEWS.COM. PHOTO: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
4 OC CATHOLIC n MARCH 20, 2022
But it isn’t just the Ukrainian courage in the face of an overwhelming foe. It is
BY GREG CATHOLICERLANDSONNEWSSERVICE
endless supply of storm troopers.
Think of “High Noon” with Gary Cooper taking on a band of killers. Think of “Red Dawn,” a Cold War fantasy of high school stu dents resisting Soviet invaders. Think of any “Star Wars” film with the Resistance always on the verge of extinction from the Emperor’s
The Ukrainians’ willingness to risk their lives for their homeland, their passionate defense of their country even at great cost, is a powerful display of patriotism. Ukrainian civilians blocking the road to the country’s nuclear power plant with their bodies is breathtakingly heroic.
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM UKRAINE’S WITNESS
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The scenes of brave Ukrainians standing in front of tanks, making Molotov cocktails, picking up arms to fight an over whelming aggressor, taps into some powerful American myths about righteous struggles and David vs. Goliath contests.
GUEST COLUMN
MONDAY
MARCH 20, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 5 DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS 634-687CUTHBERT
JOS 5:9A, 10-12; PS 34:2-7; 2 COR 5:17-21; LK 15:1-3, 11-32
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
M
OSES MET GOD IN A most astounding way in the bush that was burning but not con sumed by fire. Moses clearly had a powerful encounter with the Lord. He even felt bold enough to ask God’s name, something unheard of among his people at the time—God’s name was unspeakable. Moses stood on holy ground. Do we not also stand on holy ground? As people who are created in God’s image and drawn to Christ through the waters of Baptism, we have been filled with God’s grace and goodness. The ground of our lives is holy. Lent is a time when we are called to open our minds and hearts to Christ, rely on God’s patient mer cy, and to grow as God’s holy people.
“ Now is not a time indifference…for”
2 KGS 5:1-15AB; PS 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4; LK 4:24-30
TUESDAY
JER 7:23-28; PS 95:1-2, 6-9; LK 11:14-23
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. C
FRIDAY
HOLY GROUND
C
SAINT PROFILE
IS 7:10-14, 8:10; PS 40:7-11; HEB 10:4-10; LK 1:26-38
HOS 6:1-6; PS 51:3-4, 18-21AB; LK 18:9-14
DT 4:1, 5-9; PS 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20; MT 5:17-19
SUNDAY
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
UTHBERT LIKELY WAS A NORTHUMBRIAN Englishman, or phaned as a child. He tended sheep and fought the Mercians, then became a monk at Melrose Abbey, and later its abbot. In 664 he accompanied St. Eata to Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, off the northeastern coast of England, and later undertook long jour neys on horseback or foot, ministering to Christians scattered around northern England and helping his monks accept Roman liturgical customs. After living as a contemplative for nine years on a remote islet, he was elected bishop of Hexham in 684. But he exchanged sees with Eata, becoming bishop of Lindisfarne. According to Bede’s history, Cuthbert was a holy, patient, practical leader, a miracle-worker beloved by all. He is a patron of sailors and of Northumbria. C
— Pope Francis
SATURDAY
THURSDAY
WEDNESDAY
DN 3:25, 34-43; PS 25:4-5AB, 6, 7BC, 8-9; MT 18:21-35
LUCY DUNN
BY CATHI DOUGLAS
FEMALESPROMINENTGUIDE OC’S CATHOLIC CHURCH AND COMMUNITY
“My faith has taught me to act in honorable ways with integrity – I lead by example.”Anactive
She sees the Church as a community of people who don’t necessarily think in the same ways or share the same views but are united in faith.
Susan Strader leads the community and the Church through stewardship and philanthropy.Alongtime member of Our Lady
Queen of Angels parish in Newport Beach, mother of four and grandmother of 11, Strader believes the Church needs strong women.
6 OC CATHOLIC n MARCH 20, 2022 FEATURE
“My faith is the underpinning of my career,” said Dr. de Solenni, who was the Diocese of Orange’s former chancellor. “It gives me the confidence to try new things, get involved in new projects and serve in capacities where women haven’t served often or been known to serve.”
Whether in Catholic theology, the business world, health care or philan thropy, these women strive to live their faith dynamically, providing inspiration to other women throughout the Diocese of Orange and the Orange County com munity.
DR. PIA DE SOLENNI
When advising young women, Dr. de Solenni said she urges them “to run toward something rather than run away,” by taking calculated risks and allowing themselves to experience what God has
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SUSAN STRADER
I
Moral theologian Dr. Pia de Solenni believes that women have a distinct role in the Catholic Church. As president of the Global Institute for Church Man agement, she strives to live boldly and influence young women to do likewise.
“We are 50 percent of the population, and we see things differently, our experi ences are different,” she observed.
in mind.“Wemust check our expectations to allow ourselves to experience what God is preparing us for.”
member of Irvine’s St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish, Dunn has traveled the world as a singer, serving as the church’s cantor and performing with community choirs.
“We as Catholic men and women live our faith in different places, and the Church can be served everywhere.”
She believes her position as a woman leader is important, both in the Church and the community.
“It’s great for women to have a voice and to be taken seriously as leaders, re sponsible for sharing their unique vision andShetalents.”andher husband, Tim, chair of Starpointe Ventures, led the campaign committee to raise funds for the transfor mation of Christ Cathedral, founded San ta Margarita High School and brought the prestigious Legatus Foundation to OrangeTheyCounty.areoriginal sponsors of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and offer ongoing and significant philanthropic support for the arts, health care and education.“Wewant to make it evident that being Catholic is a pearl of great price that mo tivates us,” she said. “We find ways to best
N OBSERVANCE OF International Women’s Day (March 8), several prominent Catholic women leaders discuss their faith and how it in spires their lives, careers and families.
LEFT TO RIGHT: MORAL THEOLOGIAN DR. PIA DE SOLENNI; BUSINESS LEADER LUCY DUNN; PHILANTHROPIST SUSAN STRADER; AND HEALTH CARE LEADER ANNETTE WALKER. LUCY DUNN PHOTO COURTESY OF LUCY DUNN. ALL OTHERS COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE.
“I love being a Catholic woman on the altar,” Dunn noted. “When you sing in front of a congregation, you have no idea who you are impacting. I’m still surprised when someone stops me in the grocery store and tells me how much my singing means to them.”
A legend in the business community, Lucy Dunn recently retired as CEO of the Orange County Business Council and is now a consultant, Orange Catholic Foundation board member and chair of the Orange County Housing Trust.
WOMENLEADING
Dunn assisted in the Christ Cathe dral fundraising campaign, emceed the foundation’s Conference on Business and Ethics and serves on a number of adviso ry boards.“Ithink one of my gifts is connecting dots within the region,” she explained. “Economic success is important, and we have amazingly good ideas here.”
pub, where the bartenders and regulars knew him well. He loved to travel, espe cially to the United Kingdom, could spin a yarn as well as any native Irishman and had a sweet tenor that he lent to the Pacific Chorale.
EVERED AS ONE OF Ireland’s most beloved saints, St. Pat rick provides Catholic families with a beautiful example of faith in the face of uncertainty and turmoil.St.Patrick, whose feast day is cele brated on March 17, was a missionary who maintained a life of sacrifice, prayer and fasting as he strove to convert island natives in what the Irish Bishops’ con ference called an ‘inhospitable climate.’
R
of Orange County Catholic and a legendary feature writer and col umnist for the Orange County Register
Legend has it that a Celtic chieftain tried to kill him, but God intervened so that Patrick could preach the Gospel throughout Ireland. Converting thou sands, he began building churches. It is said that entire kingdoms were convert ed to Christianity upon hearing Patrick’s message. He often used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity.
Likechef.many an Irishman, Pat was a fine storyteller. He loved to laugh, and to make others laugh, and he enjoyed a stiff drink.
share the truths that we believe in.”
ANNETTE WALKER
Annette Walker, president of Or ange County’s City of Hope and one of the country’s most influential health care leaders, says her Catholic faith guides her professional and personal life. It guided her to choose a career in the healing profession and has steered her to leadership positions in healthcare.“Myfaithhas always been there, impacting the way I think, my per spective and respect for others.”
It has been a few years since his passing, and I still miss him. Even now, I’m hard pressed to name a single person who, to me, better exemplifies St. Patrick’s faith, zeal and purpose. Pat Mott was the truest friend you could ask for – a friend in good and bad times, one who would listen, buy you a drink, cheer you up – and pray for you.
BY CATHI DOUGLAS
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.
Even after his cancer diagno sis, Pat could be found at the Olde Ship
“I feel that we all are called to be God’s presence in the world and to do good,” Walker said. “I think we have a great opportunity as Catholics to positively influence and impact the world – if not in our career, then in our parish, the people we work with –we always have the opportunity to be a witness.”Acradle Catholic who attended Catholic schools through college, Walker and her husband have seven children and 13 grandchildren. When she speaks with young women about their career trajectories, she often is questioned about her ability to blend a high-powered career with mother hood.”“Idon’t think we have to choose between those things,” she stated. “I emphasize that while they’re building their careers, they must not forget to build their lives.”
In her opinion, the Church can benefit from more involvement from a diverse population, including women.
“I think women have a valuable perspective to contribute to the dis cussion and that more of us need to speak
“Myup.Catholic faith teaches that all individuals are created in the image and likeness of God, so everyone is welcome and worth listening to,” she added. “We bear witness to what we believe.” C
Here in the U.S., St. Pat rick’s Day offers a fine excuse for a Mott,laterememberingSt.duringfeastthoughgreenmealbeef-and-cabbagecornedandsomebeer–eventhesaint’sdayfallsLent.Ican’tthinkofPatrickwithoutmyfriendPatrickformereditor
On his feast day, I remember Pat as I say St. Patrick’s poem of faith and trust in God: Christ be within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ inquired, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all who love me, Christ in mouth of friend and savior. Then, knowing he joins me in spirit, I raise my cup of Irish coffee in a silent toast to my friend. C
He never married, but Pat never lacked for companionship. While he was an indulgent uncle, I think it’s a shame he never became a father – he would have made a wonderful dad.
Those who knew him best also knew that Pat was passionate about his Cath olic faith. On weekends, he was cantor at St. Joseph Church in Santa Ana. He even studied at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, but eventually discerned that the priesthood wasn’t for him.
IRELANDBEYONDST.PATRICK’SEXAMPLEOFSTEADFASTFAITHINSPIRESCATHOLICSWORLDWIDE
MARCH 20, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 7 FEATURE / CATHOLIC FAMILY LIVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
Pat was one of the first friends I made when I began working Register reporter. We lived in apartments on the same street and shared many meals together, some of which he cooked himself since he was a practiced home
ST. PATRICK, BISHOP AND MISSIONARY TO IRELAND, IS DEPICTED IN THIS STAINED-GLASS WINDOW AT THE CROSIER COMMUNITY IN ANOKA, MINN. LEGEND SAYS THAT HE USED THE SHAMROCK TO DESCRIBE THE TRINITY TO THOSE HE SOUGHT TO CONVERT. HIS FEAST DAY IS MARCH 17. PHOTO: CROSIERS PHOTOGRAPHY VIA CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
San Francisco Solano Distribution Director Chris O’Connor described the need for his food pantry with a classic adage: “Give a man a fish, and it feeds him for a day. Teach a man to fish and it feeds him for life. But you can’t teach a man to fish without fishing poles.”
They serve about 120 families which adds up to 400 to 500 individuals when counting family size. The pre-bagged
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Like San Francisco Solano, at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Laguna Niguel the 40 volunteers “follow the Gospel to feed the hungry,” according to co-manager Tina Haeussler.
items include fresh produce and dia pers.Co-manager Nancy Doyle noted that lines have increased as food prices have risen.Pre-pandemic, the pantry offered blood pressure checks done by nurses. Health is a problem for many of the clients, a large number of whom come
volunteers were recently on the job at San Francisco Solano. They join in prayer before serving clients.
“People will be able to drive by and if they have a need, we can pray for them
After COVID hit, attendance explod ed, and the number of families served ran close to 300. That figure is now around 170, but it is still almost a three fold increase from the original number of 60-70 families pre-pandemic.
NYONE WHO THINKS afflu ent Orange County doesn’t have food insecurity should check out the long lines for the food pantries at these three sites: Helping House in Garden Grove, St. Timothy in Laguna Niguel and San Francisco Solano in Rancho Santa Margarita. They collectively serve hundreds of families every week.
ST. LAGUNATIMOTHY,NIGUEL
OC CATHOLIC HIGHLIGHTS THREE DIOCESAN FOOD PANTRIES
SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO, RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA
8 OC CATHOLIC n MARCH 20, 2022 FEATURE
VOLUNTEERS AT ST. TIMOTHY’S IN LAGUNA NIGEL ORGANIZE FOOD PANTRY ITEMS. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
-But how far will her Solano’s pantry food take “Maybeher?it’ll take me for a week...just maybe, she said.”
rightThirty-fivethere.”
A
BY SPENCER GRANT
The pantry has been helping those in need for over 30 years, and O’Connor sees it as more than a distributor of sustenance.“Iwantclients to come empty and be filled,” he said. “It’s not just to fill their bellies. I want them to be filled with the HolyO’ConnorSpirit.” said they hope to re-open the pre-COVID prayer tent set up on distribution days.
“The cost of living here is so high that we’ll keep on giving out food until there are enough fishing poles,” he added.“My family is struggling so the food bank seemed like a great opportunity,” said first-time client Sara Sanchez.
n Helping House, on Christ Cathedral campus: 13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove.
Hours: Thursday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and first Saturday of each month, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. For volunteering, call Mary Lou Walters: 714-287-4124 or 714-282-3097.
HELPING HOUSE, GARDEN GROVE
A VOLUNTEER GREETS A CLIENT AT SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CHURCH’S FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITE IN RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA.
At Helping House on the campus of Christ Cathedral, Mary Lou Walters, chair of the ministry that runs the food pantry, explained that she was a special education teacher preparing to retire before becoming involved.
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Food pantry: 714-971-2141.
n St. Timothy’s Catholic Church: 29102 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel.
Co-managers: Tina Haeussler: 949-433-9059 and Nancy Doyle: 949-697-0717.
n San Francisco Solano Church: 22082 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Mar garita. 949-589-7767. Hours: Saturday 9-11 a.m.
“Hopefully [client choice] will come back soon,” said Walters. “We like the interaction.”HelpingHouse
“If it’s a small amount we pay it all; if
MARCH 20, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 9 FEATURE
FOOD PANTRY CONTACTS AND HOURS:
Distribution Director: Chris O’Connor, 714-348-3292. To volunteer: Fill out form at solanocatholic.org/foodbank. C
Dawn, also from Laguna Niguel, has three in her family and is looking for a second job. She esteems the food, observing that some other pantries are known to give out substandard groceries.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE.
also offers toys for children, diapers, sleeping bags, jack ets, hats and scarves for the homeless, including help with utility bills.
Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 9-11 a.m., 949-249-4091, extension 104.
She’s now the go-to person for new volunteers. She currently has 30 volun teers and counting.
“I love my volunteers, Walters said. Tasks include food pickup, stocking shelves, filling grocery bags, setup, cleanup and staffing grocery distri bution. Some volunteers were once clients, others have been UC Irvine students.“Wedon’t have many homeless right now – maybe 10 or 12,” said Walters. “Clients are mostly low income or have lost their jobs. Some have been coming forBeforeyears.” the pandemic there was “client choice” where people chose in person from the pantry’s inventory. Now all items are pre-bagged, and the clients don’t leave their cars.
from Laguna Niguel where the me dian home price is just over a million dollars.Local client Roberto has four in his family, not to mention grandchildren with whom he also shares the food. He works as a server at hotel banquets, but the work is erratic.
Three-year volunteer Ken Hickman explained where the food pantry gets its “Seconditems. Harvest, Grocery Rescue, private donations and then we buy when we need to,” he said. “I do some purchasing myself.”
it’s large we pay a part,” she said.
As with Solano and St. Timothy, there are no questions asked of new cli ents except their name and family size.
“Thursday is my favorite day of the week because we are actually helping people and not asking anything in re turn,” said volunteer Peggy Bergin. C
At St. John’s, we are always working to nurture and guide the beliefs, moti
OD THE FATHER creates such wondrous things! “...for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed.” And we were wonderfully created “after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” So, grounded in that image and likeness, should it surprise us that we are called to create as our Father does?At
G
STUDENTS VISIT A TABLE AT ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST SCHOOL’S S.T.E.A.M. EVENT HELD ON FEB. 16. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST SCHOOL
St. John the Baptist Catholic School, our S.T.E.A.M. program is an integral part of our commitment to developing the whole student, so they are prepared to love and serve their God in all that they do. Our God needs problem solvers here on earth who are willing to serve their fellow man by discovering and developing solutions to the challeng es of the world around us that God has created and that we are called to steward and
OUR CREATOR GOD NEEDS CREATIVE THINKERS
Onprotect.theevening
10 OC CATHOLIC n MARCH 20, 2022 DIOCESAN NEWS
of Feb. 16, the St. John’s campus was transformed into a wonderland of God’s creations, mixed with unique challenges designed to inspire creative thinking and innovative solutions. Grounded in a Christ-centered environment, students and their fami lies were invited to celebrate the beauty of the gift of God’s image and likeness through the demonstration of their unique ability to innovate and create. The result was an energized and dy namic evening of over 400 students and family members learning and playing in communion.Excellence in Catholic education comes from our commitment to the knowledge that God is, and always will be, the creator and sustainer of every thing that makes up our world and all that can be discovered and learned. With this in mind, we are charged with help
IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS
ing our young people to develop the tools they will need to live a life of service and stewardship that glorifies God.
vations, and callings of our students. We strive to develop student discipleship and faithfulness that prepares each child to meet the world challenges that await them. “Everything created by God is good” and we are “the image of the invisi ble God” so we must inspire our children to celebrate their incredible nature and to create as their Father does, in service to His creations and His people.C
BY FATHER DAMIEN GIAP
St. Anne Parish School, Santa Ana
2nd Place: St. Edward Parish School (Varsity Team)
Logic Quiz:
3rd Place: Blessed Sacrament School & St. Norbert School (Tie)
3rd Place: Mission Basilica School (B Team)
Mater Dei High School’s Model United Nations (MUN) Club recently traveled to the United Kingdom for a MUN conference and to learn more about English culture. Their trip in cluded visiting London, York and Bath.
Of those, the following took home awards. Congratulations to all the win ners!
2nd Place: St. Edward Parish School (Varsity team)
“What I loved about our MUN experience in the U.K. was the fact that we had the opportunity to challenge our intellects in a new environment, an environment that allowed us to develop an understanding of British culture and society and the ability to see the world from the British perspective,” said Na thaniel Calilung, a senior and co-presi
St. Edward the Confessor Parish School - Junior Varsity and Varsity Teams, Dana Point
1st Place: St. Francis of Assisi School
BY STAFF
FRIENDS AND FAMILY CHEER ON STUDENTS COMPETING IN THE CATHOLIC ACADEMIC JUNIOR HIGH DECATHLON ON MARCH 5. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
MARCH 20, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 11 DIOCESAN NEWS
1stOverall:Place: St. Francis of Assisi School
1st Place: St. Edward Parish School (Varsity Team)
Several teams from the Diocese of Or ange’s Catholic schools competed in the annual Catholic Academic Junior High Decathlon on March 5 at Santa Mar garita High School. The event featured students from grades 6 to 8 competing in logic quizzes, a broad multiple-choice quiz, and individual knowledge tests on Roman Catholic doctrine, English, literature, science, mathematics, current events, social students, art and music.
MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL’S MODEL UNITED NATIONS CLUB
CATHOLIC ACADEMIC JUNIOR HIGH DECATHLON
2nd Place: St. Francis of Assisi School
3rd Place: St. Norbert School
St. Cecilia School, Tustin
CONTINUES ON PAGE 12
Blessed Sacrament School, Westmin sterMission Basilica School - A and B Team, San Juan Capistrano
St. Francis of Assisi School, Yorba LindaSt.
St. Bonaventure Catholic School, Huntington Beach
Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic School, Newport Beach
STUDENTS COMPETE IN THE ANNUAL CATHOLIC ACADEMIC JUNIOR HIGH DECATHLON ON MARCH 5. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
OURAROUNDDIOCESE
The following parish schools participated:
Super Quiz:
Hedwig School, Los Alamitos St. Juliana Falconieri School, Fuller tonSt. Norbert School, Orange
12 OC CATHOLIC n MARCH 20, 2022 DIOCESAN NEWS
Delegate award.
In his presentation “What Does the Bible Say About Immigration?” Fr. văn Thanh Nguyễn, SVD — who is professor of New Testament Studies and Francis X. Ford, M.M., chair of Catholic Mis siology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago — will take us on a journey of Christian response to migration that speaks to our history and current events.Hosted at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, this event is co-sponsored by
FROM PAGE 11
‘WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT IMMIGRATION?’
MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL’S MODEL UNITED NATIONS (MUN) CLUB RECENTLY TRAVELED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM. PHOTO COURTESY OF MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL
The special presentation will be held on Monday, March 21 at 7 p.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 51 Mar ketplace, Irvine.
dent of the MUN Club. “My most mem orable moment of the trip was being able to see London from the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral. For so long, I have only ever been able to imagine what the skyline of London would look like. Now, I was able to witness the city’s beauty in person.”Calilung added that in his four years on the MUN Club, he’s learned “though our world may struggle with challenges never before seen and obstacles never before conquered, it is up to us — the young people of today — to engage with these issues with the vigor, virtue, and vision of Honor, Glory and Love.”
The heartbreaking crisis due to the war in Ukraine is once again adding massively to the displacement, globally and internally, of persons as refugees. From Afghanistan, within and around United States borders and beyond, pub lic debates and divides have often affect ed our responses to people in need.
In addition to the U.K. trip, the club competed at Laguna Hills High School. Juniors Pavlos Arvanitidis and Brandon Miller won the Best Delegate award in the Advanced United Nations Committee on Narcotic Drugs, and won the Research Award as well. Freshman Lily McClellan, supported by her team mate, junior Leilany Flores, represent ing Israel in the Advanced UNICEF committee, earned the Commended
CONTINUED
the Diocese of Orange, Catholic Char ities of Orange County and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen will give the opening
ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC CHURCH, IRVINE. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
prayer and Ellen Roy, executive director of Catholic Charities of Orange County, will give some current updates on local work and impacts.C
FTER HAVING TO ENDURE a number of challenges during 2020, including season stop pages and training limitations due to Covid-19 quarantine restric tions, girls athletic programs at Orange County Catholic high schools came back strong in 2021, bringing home a number of championship titles.
At Santa Margarita Catholic High School, the girls swim team didn’t miss a beat and tallied their seventh consecu tive title by winning the CIF-SS Division 1 team championship last May. The Eagles won all three of the meet’s relay races, as well as six of the eight individ ual races, for a resounding 265.5-point margin over runner-up Valencia. Standouts from the day included sisters Justina and Asia Kozan, Teia Salvino, Macky Hodges and Maggie McGuire.
JSerra Catholic High School scored two CIF-SS championships last fall, in cluding the school’s first girls tennis title. The Lions played a marathon match of more than 3 hours last November to fi nally defeat top-ranked Foothill 10-8 for the CIF-SS Division 2 crown. Doubles pair Jazmine Aftabi and Gabrielle Basa secured the final point for the win.
MARCH 20, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 13 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS NEWS
The JSerra girls cross country team dominated the fall competition slate from beginning to end by winning both the CIF-SS and State Division 4 cham pionships. The Lions finished 17 points ahead of La Canada for the CIF-SS title held at Mt. SAC last November. Two weeks later, the girls headed to Wood
A
Rosary Academy got it done on the diamond as the Royals earned their first softball championship since 1984. Com ing into the final game as the No. 2 seed last June, the Royals scored early and often defeating Hemet 11-1 to take home the CIF-SS Division 4 title. Hannah Hernandez, Melissa Hanson and Anahi Pintado all contributed to a seven-run first inning that led the way for the dominantRosary’swin.dance team also brought home two first place titles last spring in both the Varsity Song/Pom Advanced division and the Varsity Jazz (Song/ Pom) division at the 2021 United Spirit Association (USA) 2021 National Cham pionships.Rosary’s spirit leaders’ most recent championship came from the school’s cheer team last month as the Roy als captured the 2022 CIF Southern Regional Championship for their Game Day Non-Tumbling routine.
GIRLS ATHLETIC PROGRAMS AT OC CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS SHINE IN 2021
ward Park in Fresno and again beat La Canada, edging them out 120-128 for the school’s fourth girls cross country state championship. Top five finishers for the Lions included Brynn Garcia, Anastasia Snodgrass, Cameron Murphy, Ellie Johnson and Ashley Gallegos, all of whom finished within a minute of each other.There might not be a more exciting way to win a championship than with a buzzer-beater shot in overtime. That’s exactly what Mater Dei’s girls basketball team did last June when they won the CIF-SS Open Division title. Coming into the championship game as the No. 2 seed against top-ranked Corona Cen
tennial, the Monarchs needed the extra minutes to seal the victory.
Down by as many as 10 points in the third quarter and six points with less than two minutes in regulation, Mater Dei tied it up to force overtime. After receiving a pass from teammate Brooke Demetre, Lani White made a perfect 3-pointer just as the clock ran out in the extra period to lift the Monarchs over Centennial
MATER DEI TEAM CELEBRATES AFTER DEFEATING CENTENNIAL 83-80 DURING THE CIF SOUTHERN SECTION OPEN DIVISION GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ON THURSDAY JUNE 10, 2021. NALANI WHITE (LEFT) SHOT A 3 POINTER WITH UNDER A SECOND REMAINING. PHOTO: MILKA SOKO, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
BY JENELYN RUSSO
Whether83-80.itisthe court, the pool, the diamond, the track or the mat, these fe male students athletes at Orange County Catholic high schools are accomplishing their academic goals, all while excelling in the sports they love. C
the spirit of the people. Our greatest strength is our unity, one Ukrainian told a reporter. What American cannot feel a catch in his throat when he hears those
The willingness to bear up under tre mendous suffering is evident also in the exhausted refugees fleeing to Ukraine’s neighbors -- Poland, Hungary, Moldova. Almost exclusively women and children seek shelter while their husbands and fathers and sons are conscripted to fight the invaders. Our concerns about gas prices, supply chains and masks seem trivial in comparison.
We need to recover a culture of the common good, a concern for the least among us, the voiceless and the suffer ing. We need to think about the “we” a lot more than the “I.”
Every citizen is responsible for the common good,” said Pope Francis. “And for Christians, it is also a mission.” It is the foundation of Catholic social teach ing, but it really is more basic than that. It is loving our neighbor as our self. C
and corruption, but many of us do not look on them with the same sympathy.
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We can identify with the Ukrainians, but it is harder for us to admit that there are many war victims and many refugees just in this century that we have not felt the same kinship with.
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XABIEL, 9, A MIGRANT FROM VENEZUELA, WALKS WITH HIS BROTHER, YILBER GABRIEL, AS THEY JOIN A CARAVAN NEAR VILLA COMALTITLÁN, MEXICO, HEADING TO THE U.S. BORDER NOV. 20, 2021. PHOTO: JOSE LUIS GONZALEZ, REUTERS/CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
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People are streaming to our border, fleeing Putin-friendly dictatorships like Nicaragua and Venezuela, failed states like Haiti or countries broken by gangs
words.These days, that is a strength we lack. We are a house not just divided, but torn asunder. And when we see the Ukrai nians united even in the bomb shelters and the hospitals, on the front lines and on social media, I think we envy them.
Pets
The lesson of Ukraine, of COVID-19, of the huddled masses at our border, the victims of opioids filling our rural health clinics and the gunshot victims in our cities is that emotion is not enough. It is not a substitute for true solidarity.
And while we applaud the Poles and Hungarians for receiving the Ukrainian refugees so generously, there are states in our country that would like to punish organizations helping the refugees at our doors.Ukraine has for a moment united us. Its ordeal has united the world. But if there is a lesson to be learned here, it is that our empathy must be more than a momentary emotion sparked by the graphic images on the evening news.
Moments in our JourneyMoments in our Journey
MARCH 20, 2022 n OC CATHOLIC 15
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Weekly Stations of the Cross during Lent at St. Boniface, Anaheim.
—Photo submitted by Shaun Nguyen
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