OC Catholic 7.20.21

JULY 18, 2021

ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE

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

THE ARRIVAL OF OUR LADY

THE NEW SHRINE TO OUR LADY OF LA VANG IS DEDICATED TO THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE’S VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY. PAGE 6 THE NEWLY INSTALLED SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF LA VANG IS THE FIRST IN THE DIOCESE’S PLANNED MARIAN COURT. COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

JULY 18, 2021

CONTENTS

10

WELCOMING DEACON MODESTO CORDERO

11 12

DEVOTION TO MARY

The Diocese’s new director of the Office of Worship previously held the same role in the Diocese of Honolulu.

SUMMER PRINT SCHEDULE

OC Catholic will be on a summer hiatus. We will be printing the July 18 issue and returning to our weekly schedule on August 29.

Growing closer to Mary serves to strengthen our faith.

DIVE INTO LEARNING THIS SUMMER

The 2021 Summer Institute, presented by the Office of Evangelization and Faith Formation, offers courses for anyone interested in theology and catechism.

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: Tracey Kincaid, tkincaid@rcbo.org News Ideas: storyideas@rcbo.org Delivery Problems: occatholicsupport@occatholic.com

ADVERTISING Director of Custom Content: 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

GUEST COLUMN

RETURN TO NORMAL! WHAT NORMAL?

BY HOSFFMAN OSPINO CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

E

XCITEMENT ABOUT RETURNING to some form of normalcy has invaded our society and our faith communities. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has truly tested our lives.

It is amazing how much we take for granted: health, others, the structures that regulate our coexistence, the small things of life, etc. Doing so gives us a sense of normalcy.

We have done well as a society controlling the virus in recent months. Nonetheless, a large portion of the U.S. population remains unvaccinated. Most people worldwide still lack access to the vaccine and to adequate medical treatment in case of contracting the virus.

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Any return to normal must go hand in hand with a sober acknowledgment that for millions in our society, life will not be as it was prior to the pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of people are gone forever.

Millions will not recover their jobs. We lost Catholic churches, hundreds of Catholic schools and many Catholics may simply not return to religious practice.

We have learned a lot since the pandemic began. I strongly disagree with the suggestion that 2020 was a “lost year” or “the year that was not.” No, we cannot forget or ignore 2020. We are different as individuals, as a society and as a church because of it.

We have an obligation to affirm the lessons learned. The generosity that many shared with those in need, the profound sense of solidarity that many exhibited CONTINUES ON PAGE 14

HOSFFMAN OSPINO, A PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT BOSTON COLLEGE, WRITES THE “JOURNEYING TOGETHER/CAMINANDO JUNTOS” COLUMN FOR CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE. PHOTO: LEE PELLEGRINI, BOSTON COLLEGE / CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

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.

DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

“ There is no THE DAYS ARE COMING

S

EPARATION, ISOLATION, AND HOSTILITY are terrible things. We are, sadly, too familiar with all of them in our modern life, whether we look at world events or events in our own neighborhoods and families. All three readings today refer to these same sad human conditions.

The prophet Jeremiah describes world conditions as if the people of his time were sheep who had been scattered by poor leadership and corrupt shepherds. But “the days are coming,” he assures us (Jeremiah 23:5), when a new shepherd, a just king, will come. We meet that king in the second reading and the Gospel. Paul reminds us in the Letter to the Ephesians that all divisions can now cease in Christ Jesus, who has brought us together through his blood. In Mark’s Gospel we see Jesus himself, looking with pity on those searching for him as if they were sheep without a shepherd.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. C

retirement age from the work of proclaiming the Gospel…

- Pope Francis SAINT PROFILE

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JOAN OF THE CROSS

1666-1736

J

EANNE DELANOUE RAN A RELIGIOUS ARTICLES SHOP near a shrine in Anjou, France. She kept the store open on Sundays, but felt guilty about her greedy approach to business. In 1693 an eccentric woman spoke a prophetic word to Jeanne, which launched her on a season of repentance. After a significant conversion, she began to care for poor families, bringing them food and clothing.

Then Jeanne soon welcomed the destitute into buildings and caves that came to be known as Providence House. Several women who joined her formed the Congregation of St. Anne in 1704. And Jeanne took the name Joan of the Cross. Before her death in August 1736, she had founded 12 communities, hospices and schools for the poor.C

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

EX 14:5-18; EX 15:1BC-6; MT 12:3842

EX 14:21 — 15:1; EX 15:8-10, 12, 17; MT 12:46-50

EX 16:1-5, 9-15; PS 78:18-19, 23-28; MT 13:1-9

SG 3:1-4B OR 2 COR 5:14-17; PS 63:2-6, 8-9; JN 20:1-2, 11-18

EX 20:1-17; PS 19:811; MT 13:18-23

EX 24:3-8; PS 50:1B-2, 5-6, 14-15; MT 13:24-30

2 KGS 4:42-44; PS 145:10-11, 15-18; EPH 4:1-6; JN 6:1-15

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FEATURE

THE ARRIVAL OF OUR LADY THE NEW SHRINE TO OUR LADY OF LA VANG IS DEDICATED TO THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE’S VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY

BY BRADLEY ZINT

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HE MOST REV. Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of Orange, and other Diocese of Orange leaders unveiled the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine at the Christ Cathedral campus on July 17 to thousands of onlookers in an elaborate Solemn Blessing day that included a processional, Mass and live entertainment.

The celebratory day coincides with the second anniversary of Christ Cathedral’s 2019 dedication as a Catholic cathedral.

The $12.6-million shrine, first announced in December 2016, serves as a testament to the remarkable journey of the Vietnamese-American people — from war and persecution to a new reality where faith and community are vibrant and ascendant.

The Our Lady of La Vang Shrine depicts the Virgin Mary as she is believed to have appeared before a group of persecuted Vietnamese Catholics in 1798.

During that Marian apparition, which took place in a remote rainforest region in Vietnam, the Blessed Mother offered the desperate parishioners hope and guidance.

In the centuries since, Our Lady of La Vang, as the apparition has since been named, has represented hope, faith and promise to Vietnamese Catholics around the world.

“This shrine to Our Lady of La Vang is not only another example of how beauty draws to God, but it is a testimony to the faith of our Vietnamese brothers and

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THE SHRINE, SEEN HERE DURING ITS CONSTRUCTION IN JUNE, INCLUDES A CANOPY IN THE SHAPE OF AN ALPHA AND COLUMNS REMINISCENT OF THE RAINFOREST. COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

sisters who have contributed so much to the life of our parishes here in Orange County, and which then points us all to the Mother of God and her protection,” Bishop Kevin W. Vann said in a statement.

The shrine represents both that historic apparition and honors the important contributions of the Vietnamese-Catholic diaspora in Orange County, which is home to the world’s largest population of Vietnamese outside of Vietnam. An estimated 100,000 Vietnamese Catholics live in the county.

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“The Vietnamese community in Orange County and I are very excited to have this shrine of Our Lady of La Vang to be solemnly blessed,” Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen said in a statement. “Remembering the blessings received from her intercessions, we desire to honor her with a special place to express our deep appreciation to her past accompaniment and to petition her to continue journeying with us in our pilgrimage of life. Our hearts are filled with joy and gratitude as we look forward to seeing Our Lady of La Vang here on our beautiful Christ

Cathedral campus.”

Weighing an estimated 16,000 pounds, the 12-foot-tall statue was carved from white marble extracted from a quarry in Carrara, Italy. It took one and a half years to sculpt.

The statue depicts the Virgin Mary standing on a cloud and holding the Baby Jesus. She has a Eurasian face and wears a traditional Vietnamese áo dài dress and khăn đống hat.

The shrine was purposefully designed in a modern style to complement the CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

iconic glass of the Christ Cathedral and Crean Tower. In addition, like the campus’ Cultural Center, the shrine contains stainless steel panels.

The panels form an alpha-shaped ribbon that circles a glass-paned roof.

Three poles hold up the roof and cover the otherwise open-air statue.

The entire setting, with a canopy-like design, is meant to evoke the rainforest of the 1798 Marian apparition. The three poles are of a dark brown color, resembling the three banyan trees behind the Virgin Mary during the apparition.

More than 5,000 donors — many giving small amounts — have contributed to the shrine, which is located in the northeast corner of the Christ Cathedral campus. The display is expected to be the primary draw of Christ Cathedral’s planned Marian Court, where the Diocese intends to install other shrines honoring the Virgin Mary.

The shrine also contains the names of 117 Catholics who were martyred for their religious beliefs in Vietnam.

Additional touches are coming following the July 17 Solemn Blessing day.

Rosary gardens, a waterfall feature and a basalt medallion around the base of the statue will be installed in the coming weeks.

Aaron Torrence of Culver Citybased Torrence Architects served as the project’s architect of record. Trần Quốc Trung of GlobalSolutions Development is the design architect.

“The project touches many people in different ways — the volunteers, the donors, the faithful, the local media, the builders,” said Elysabeth Nguyen, project manager for the Our Lady of La Vang Diocesan committee, in a prepared statement. “This shrine is the result of the faithful and the community coming together. I was fortunate to witness it and grow with it. I am eternally thankful to be part of the journey for the last five years and I look forward to seeing many others visit and make it part of their journey of faith.” C

FAST FACTS FOR THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG SHRINE n The carved Italian white marble stat-

ue of Our Lady of Vang stands 12 feet tall and weighs an estimated 16,000 pounds. Below her is an altar and cloud that together are 6 feet tall. n The shrine cost $12.6 million. Unused construction funds will go toward ongoing maintenance needs. n The statue was co-designed by a priest board headed by Msgr. Tuan Pham of Saint Columban Catholic Church and Nghi Dinh Pham, with approval of the Diocese Sacred Arts Committee and Bishop Kevin Vann. It was sculpted by Andrea Ceccarelli of

the Italian Marble Company, which is based in Carrara, Italy. The company is a fifth-generation artisan marble business founded in 1897. n About 400 steel panels are incorporated into the shrine structure. n There are 80 skylight glass panels in the shrine. n The footprint of the shrine site, which includes the rosary gardens, is 21,200 square feet, or just under a half acre. n Approximately 300 volunteers helped make the shrine a reality. n Gray, the construction firm, was the general contractor.

IMPORTANT MILESTONE DATES n Our Lady of La Vang project first

announced by the Diocese of Orange on Dec. 7, 2016. n Project approved for fundraising

by Bishop Kevin W. Vann and Orange Catholic Foundation on July 27, 2017, and an official Diocese Our Lady of La Vang committee is formed. n Future shrine site blessed by Bishop Vann on Oct. 21, 2017. The blessing attracted more than 3,000 of the faithful. n Groundbreaking occurred on Oct. 27, 2018. More than 200 congregants attended the ceremony. n On Dec. 18, 2018, Bishop Vann and Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen visited the Our Lady of La Vang pilgrimage site in

central Vietnam’s Quảng Trị Province. n Construction site at Christ Cathedral blessed by Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen in a private ceremony on Nov. 21, 2019. n Our Lady of La Vang carved Italian marble statue, the centerpiece of the shrine, arrived from Italy to the Christ Cathedral campus on Jan. 28, 2020. n After three days of painstaking work, the Our Lady of La Vang statue is put in place within the shrine on June 3, 2021.

Bishop Kevin W. Vann, Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen and Fr. Christopher Smith (rector and episcopal vicar to Christ Cathedral) blessed the work of installing the statue before a small crowd of onlookers and supporters.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG APPARITION The Our Lady of La Vang Shrine is dedicated to the 1798 Marian apparition within the rainforest of La Vang, Quảng Trị Province, in the North Central Coast region of Vietnam. At the time, the Catholic people of Vietnam were suffering persecution, with many being martyred for their faith.

Many fled to La Vang, where one night the apparition of a lady in a traditional Vietnamese áo dài dress appeared alongside two angels. She was holding a child in her arms. The apparition was interpreted to be the Virgin Mary holding the Baby Jesus.

The Blessed Mother spoke words of love and comfort to the persecuted Catholics and showed them how to make medicines from trees growing in the forest. A shrine to Our Lady of La Vang was eventually built of rice straw and leaves at the site but was burned in 1805 during an insurgency in which many Catholics were martyred. The shrine was rebuilt in 1900 and enlarged in 1928. Pilgrims from around the world journey to the site annually and many have reported miraculous cures.

ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS OF THE SHRINE THAT WILL BE FINISHED AFTER SOLEMN BLESSING DAY n Rosary gardens n A waterfall feature by the martyr wall n A medallion of basalt stone, which

was sourced from Vietnam and will be

on the ground around the Our Lady of La Vang statue n Future in-ground lighting

THE JUNE 3, 2021, PLACEMENT OF THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG STATUE IN A SHRINE DEDICATED TO HER ON THE CAMPUS OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL IN GARDEN GROVE. PHOTO: SPENCER GRANT

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FEATURE

WELCOMING DEACON MODESTO CORDERO THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE’S NEW DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF WORSHIP TALKS ABOUT STEPPING INTO HIS NEW ROLE

BY NICOLE GREGORY

I

“

SEE MYSELF AS a servant of the people of God,” says Deacon Modesto Cordero, the incoming director of the Office for Worship in the Diocese of Orange, replacing Lesa Truxaw who has retired from the role. The 58-year-old deacon and his wife, Nydia Aileen, a Catholic school teacher, have come from Honolulu where they lived for more than 29 years and raised three daughters.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Deacon Modesto lived there until he joined the U.S. Army in his 20s.

The move to Orange County has brought Deacon Modesto and his wife closer to their grown daughters who have settled in California. “Two daughters live in Ventura and one daughter is in San Francisco,” says Deacon Modesto, adding that he now has one grandson.

After the Army, Deacon Modesto worked for the federal government in Honolulu for another 19 years and was able to take early retirement. He then went into formation to become a deacon and was ordained on February 9, 2007, in the Diocese of Honolulu.

He worked as director of the Office of Worship there for nine years.

“I see my role here is to serve in any way I can,” says Deacon Modesto.

“The main job is to promote efforts to increase vigor, appreciation and participation in the liturgical life in the Diocese of Orange, and to assist the Bishop in his role as its principal liturgist. Part

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DEACON CORDERO WILL SERVE THE DIOCESE AS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR WORSHIP, FOLLOWING LESA TRUXAW’S RETIREMENT. PHOTO: DREW KELLEY

of the job calls to coordinate and assist in the planning and preparation of all major diocesan celebrations where the four bishops are involved or preside, such as the Chrism Mass, clergy funerals, Rite of Election, ordinations or the dedication of a new church. I assist the bishops in any matters of liturgies and I serve as a resource person on liturgy for parishes and institutions, clergy, lay liturgical ministers and the faithful in the diocese.”

In the role as a deacon at the parish level, he will assist couples in their

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preparation for marriage, assist in faith formation, baptisms, funerals—and he will preach. “I feel privileged to proclaim the Word of God,” he says.

His primary focus is liturgy. “One thing is certain, the diocese here is very strong in liturgy,” Deacon Modesto says.

“I see my role as supporting that. I am very strong in training. I have a degree in communications and I like to teach and train. As part of my job in Hawaii, I was on the road visiting parishes and coordinating training for lay liturgical ministers and creating good practices

for being a spiritual servant leader. I hope I will continue to do that here and that I will become a resource for pastors and parishes.”

Of course, the diocese here is much bigger than the one in Honolulu. The Diocese of Orange is the eleventh-largest Diocese in the United States. With 57 parishes, 5 faith centers, and 36 schools, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange is one of the largest, most diverse faith communities in the country.

“In Honolulu, I only had one bishop,” CONTINUES ON PAGE 11

FEATURE / CATHOLIC FAMILY LIVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

says Deacon Modesto. “Here there are four bishops. There are about 200,000-plus Catholics in Hawaii, and here there are 1.3 million Catholics in Orange County.”

But both places have diverse populations. “In Hawaii there is a strong multicultural community, being situated in the middle of the Pacific.

There are big numbers of Pacific islanders, Filipinos, Samoans, Tonga, native Hawaiians, and a small Hispanic community. Here, Hispanics are one of the majorities, along with the Vietnamese community.” Deacon Modesto is fully fluent in Spanish, an important asset in his work here.

The kinds of events he will help coordinate are the same as those he worked on in Hawaii, but they will be much bigger. “If we had 600 to 800 people come to a celebration, that was big,” says the deacon, adding that in Orange County events can draw as many as 6,000 to 8,000 people.

Deacon Modesto has provided training workshops on all aspects of liturgy, which includes the role of liturgical minister at sacramental celebrations. “We also bring new people into the Catholic faith—I oversee the ongoing RCIA [Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults] process for the diocese too,” he adds.

The biggest source of Deacon Modesto’s inspiration were his parents, both educators in Puerto Rico. “My mother was an elementary school teacher and my father was an elementary school principal and also taught college.” His uncles and aunts were teachers, principals or otherwise involved in the education system and the drive to serve the community was instilled in him from an early age. “In many ways my father was my role model. He taught me the importance of being loyal and the importance of being a servant.” C

DEVOTION TO MARY THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GROW CLOSER TO OUR LADY

BY CATHI DOUGLAS

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EV. QUAN TRAN believes the Blessed Mother brought him back to God. Fr. Tran, administrator at St. Hedwig Church in Los Alamitos, had fallen away from the Catholic faith and experienced a conversion when he was well into his professional life as an attorney. Returning to Catholicism, he felt the strong presence of Mary in his life, which became a vital part of his discernment process in studying for the priesthood.

“Mary took the initiative,” he recalls with a chuckle. “She became a strong part of my faith life without me knowing how it happened.”

“The Imitation of Mary: Keys to Growth in Virtue and Grace,” Fr. Tran’s 2020 book [$16.70, amazon.com] shows readers how to imitate the 12 essential qualities of Mary to invite grace into their lives. The book builds upon his Fullness of Grace ministry, created to “help Christians grow in their faith by forming a deep spiritual life in which they live out their vocations to holiness, intimacy with God, and bearing witness to Christ.” [fullnessofgrace.org] “I’m drawn to want to grow in holiness and spiritual life,” he explains. “I’ve learned that with grace, you have to respond to it. It’s a gift that must be received, opened, and

PHOTO: BOB ROLLER / CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

used for it to bear fruit.

“I wrote the book because I didn’t want people to miss out on grace,” he adds.

“So many people turn from grace because they aren’t sure how to respond.”

He declares that Mary is “the most perfect of all disciples, a mother and model, God’s perfect work, who has the perfect response to God’s call.” Beginning or cultivating

a devotion to Mary brings us closer to Him and offers the best example in worshiping and loving Christ.

Fr. Quan frequently looks up from his desk to see many of his favorite images of Mary, which remind him of his devotion.

Another way he recommends fostering closeness to Mary is doing a consecration, such as the one from Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort; a guide is at http://www.quies.org/True-Consecration-33-Day.pdf.

Various books on devotion to Mary – including his own – bring the faithful closer to the Blessed Mother. He recommends 2011’s “Thirty-three Days to Morning Glory: Do-it-Yourself Retreat,”

by Michael E. Gaitley [$6.89, amazon. com]. “Read books on Mary to discover more about her, her life, and what the saints say about her,” he notes. In addition, a score of films about Our Lady can provide enlightenment.

And the rosary offers a special devotion to Mary that many Catholics ignore. “The rosary allows us to pray with and to her and to reflect on her life and the life of Christ,” says Fr. Tran, who recommends a daily rosary to contemplate the mysteries and bring us closer.

Pilgrimages to shrines like Fatima and Lourdes inspire visitors, and the recently blessed Our Lady of La Vang shrine at Christ Cathedral provides not only a look at the ongoing devotion of the Vietnamese people, but a local shrine recognizing a little-known apparition.

“Mary is Jesus’s gift to us,” he observes, underscoring the blessings of devotion to her. “His last words before dying on the cross were ‘Behold your mother,’ and ‘behold your son,’ so she is His last gift to us and one of His most precious.” C 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.

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DIOCESAN NEWS

DIVE INTO LEARNING THIS SUMMER NEW IN-PERSON CLASSES TO ENRICH YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE FAITH

BY STAFF

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HE OFFICE OF Evangelization and Faith Formation is happy to announce the 2021 Summer Institute.

Live in-person courses will be taught at the Pastoral Center on the campus of Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove during the first two weeks of August, on Aug. 2, 4, 6, 9 and 11. While these courses are for teachers and catechists, they are also for anyone who wants to begin basic certification (a future parish catechist) or just learn more about their Catholic faith.

Theological Formation II (R2I0B) will be taught from 4 to 6:40 p.m. by Fr. John Monastero. The course will examine the Catholic teaching on Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Mary, the place of the Holy Spirit in the work of salvation, and the Church as one, holy, and apostolic, founded by Christ on the confession of St. Peter.

Catechetical Methods ( M100 ) will be taught from 7 to 9:30 p.m. by Anne Herrick. The course will look at Divine Pedagogy, Kerygma, the vocation of the catechist, CCC, Catechesi Tradendae, GCD, NDC, curriculum, text books, methodology, lesson planning, classroom management, prayer, activities and family catechesis.

Introduction to the Old Testament (R100) will be taught from 4 to 6:30 p.m. by Fr. Tim Peters. This course will look at the Old Testament as the first division of the Christian biblical canon held to be the Sacred Word of God. Special consideration will be given to the different literary devices and genres found in the Old Testament. This course will also explore how the Old Testament foreshadows the New Testament and the person and work of Jesus Christ. C Note: You must currently be registered with the Emmaus Institute to enroll in the Summer Institute.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: RCBO.ORG/EMMAUSINSTITUTE 714.282.3078 EMMAUSINFO@RCBO.ORG

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THIS IS AN AMERICAN 18TH-CENTURY PAINTING ENTITLED “CHRIST ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS.” ON THE FIRST EASTER SUNDAY TWO OF JESUS’S DISCIPLES, DISILLUSIONED BY THE EVENTS OF THE PAST THREE DAYS, SET OUT FROM JERUSALEM FOR EMMAUS, SEVERAL MILES AWAY. JUST LIKE THE TWO DISCIPLES ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS, WE MAY HAVE FOUND OURSELVES TEARFUL AND SHOCKED AT MANY POINTS IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART / CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

CATHOLIC SCHOOL NEWS

ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE

THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR WAS UNLIKE ANY OTHER

BY JENELYN RUSSO

A

S THE 2020-21 academic school year comes to a close, Diocese of Orange Catholic Schools Superintendent Dr. Erin Barisano reflects back on a unique year filled with equal parts of challenge and grace – the grace to not only get through the day-to-day, but the grace that has accompanied the many unexpected blessings that have emerged as a result of educating through a pandemic.

“We saw a level of collaboration and commitment to the community diocesan-wide,” says Barisano. “We saw schools supporting other schools and teachers supporting one another. The parent community has been fantastic.

As we settled in (to our plan), parents became our biggest advocates. We found strength in one another, and it made us strong as a Catholic school community.”

Being unexpectedly forced to think outside the box due to Covid-19 has opened up new ways of delivering Catholic education to families, and as a result, several new concepts and protocols will remain in place, even as restrictions are lifted in Orange County.

At the school-site level, simplicity in areas such as morning drop-off routines and meeting efficiencies are seeing positive results and will continue to be used.

Additionally, the reception from families desiring an alternate option for distance learning has prompted the launch of the newly created All Saints Online Academy in the fall, a fully online K-8

named valedictorians, and Owen Logan (Boston University) and Kalia Utley (Vanderbilt University) were named salutatorians. Additionally, Emilie Kalkus was awarded a four-year Army ROTC scholarship to attend Harvard University, and Aaron Mendoza from Saint Anne School received the Luevano Scholarship to attend Mater Dei. Servite High School honored valedictorian Andrew Calle (Johns Hopkins University), salutatorian Youngseok Oh (University of Notre Dame), and Andrew Rosario who received a full scholarship to Washington & Jefferson College.

Scholarships awarded to Diocese of Orange Catholic elementary school students include the Presidential Scholarship ($5,000) to Gabriel Chou (Holy Family), and the Principal Scholarship ($2,000) to Austin Bui (Blessed Sacrament), Nathan Lam (St. Barbara), Aidan Dauger (St. Bonaventure), Liam Harte SMCHS PRESIDENT ANDY SULICK (’91) EMBRACING HIS SON DREW SULICK (’21) AT THE MAY 28 GRADUATION CEREMONY AT HONDA CENTER IN ANAHEIM. PHOTO COURTESY OF SANTA MARGARITA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL (St. Cecilia), Dominic Sanchez (St. CecilCatholic school. challenge and much opportunity, but I ia) and John Paul Dinglasan (St. Jeanne “We recognized that this was meeting really think it was the vision and leader- de Lestonnac). a need at the time,” says Associate Suship of the diocese as a whole, starting Caroline Linton received the two perintendent of Catholic Schools Marwith the bishops, and all those involved highest honors conferred by Rosary keting and Enrollment Mike Schabert. in the Strategic Plan,” says Schabert.

Academy at graduation, the General “But what we discovered was that even “Had it not been for them and their viExcellence Award and the Royalette as we’ve moved back into a sense of nor- sion, we may not have been in a position Award, which includes the Liz Riffel malcy, there is a desire for online school. to not only weather the storm, but come Memorial Scholarship. Isabella Capps So why not Catholic and why not us?” out of it stronger and better than ever.”

(Johns Hopkins University) was named Enrollment remains strong, with And for Barisano, the biggest blessing valedictorian, and incoming freshmen many families continuing to seek out this year may be the special connection Jeslynn Abobo and Marissa Valencia and commit to Catholic education she has felt with the Catholic school both received scholarships to attend through the spring months and into community.

Rosary for their performance on the summer. The retention rate of new fam“As superintendent, it’s been a real school’s placement test. ilies from this year is above 95 percent, joy for me to connect not only with the At JSerra Catholic High School, valeand overall numbers for the fall are like- principals, teachers and staff, but with dictorian Nicholas Kiani (UC Berkeley) ly to reflect the first system-wide growth parents and students,” says Barisano. and salutatorian Ryan Horio (UCLA) in approximately a decade.

“That’s something I really look forward were honored, along with four military “This experience has opened up to continuing.” honorees that included Tre Dessalines Catholic education to families who never (United States Military Academy at would have considered it in the past,” Catholic high schools in Orange West Point), Jaden Genova (United says Barisano. “These families have fall- County closed out the school year by States Military Academy at West Point), en in love with our schools.” handing out a number of awards and Connor Walcott (United States Naval Both Barisano and Schabert referscholarships to current and incoming Academy) and Jordan Velligin (enlisted, ence the support of the diocese and the students.

United States Marine Corp). JSerra also bishops in paving the way, even prior to From Mater Dei High School, Tiffany awarded scholarships to 26 incoming 2020.

Le (Chapman University) and Isabelle students from seven Diocese of Orange “The pandemic brought us much Tran (Cal State Long Beach) were Catholic elementary schools. C J U LY 1 8 , 2 0 2 1 n O C C AT H O L I C

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GUEST COLUMN Many Catholics allowed themselves to be swept up by discourses during difficult times, the courage of that treated immigrant, refugees and essential workers, the inspiring work the poor as threats. Others seemed of scientists and medical personnel, too much at peace with discourses the resilience of families and the cre- that disregard life and the dignity of ativity of believers to practice their every human person, from womb to faith, among many others. tomb.

A return to normal also needs to For decades, our church has seen account for our shortcomings. The how millions of young Catholics and pandemic revealed how fractured their families walk away from our our society and even our church communities. We seem unable to enare, largely a result of the poisonous gage them and fall short in addressideological polarization that appears ing their questions and concerns. too willing to sacrifice the common Catholics seem to desire much more good to advance particular interests. than Masses inside a building.

Many dysfunctional realities in If returning to normal means a our society and our church preceded return to the pre-pandemic status this global health crisis, of course. quo, I sense little appetite for that, The pandemic, however, revealed especially among the young. If it that much of what we considered implies ignoring the lessons learned normal should not be or should not during this crisis, the suffering and have been, and we must reckon with the losses of those for whom life will the implications of such renewed not be “normal” again, then I do not awareness. want to be part of that normalcy.

A return to normal demands that I encourage pastoral leaders, we ask: To what normal do we exact- educators, parents and others in ly want to return? the following months to engage in Prior to the pandemic, many of thoughtful conversations about what our Catholic communities strugit means to return to normal and gled to be truly welcoming to the create the spaces to do so. Let us not fast-growing Hispanic population. miss this opportunity to accompany Many of our pastoral leaders found one another. C it difficult in their homilies and Hosffman Ospino is professor of activities to address and denounce theology and religious education at unambiguously the sin of racism.

Boston College.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

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Moments in our Journey St. Norbert Christian Services, in partnership with the Vietnamese American Cancer Foundation, conducted a COVID-19 clinic for our parish and local community. In three hours, 148 people received their first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Pictured are Rev. John Moneypenny (center), Rev. Nam Doan (center right), Social Services Intern Karen Alegría (far left), Social Services Coordinator Donna Garza (second from left) and a representative of the foundation (far right).

—Submitted by Donna Garza

Send your photos that capture Catholic life in your parish community to: webeditor@occatholic.com

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