OC CATHOLIC - NOVEMBER 12, 2023

NOVEMBER 12, 2023

ESCAPE FROM THE HOLY LAND

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

HONORING VETERANS ST. THOMAS MORE’S “SGT. BOB” LEADS VETERANS MINISTRY TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED PAGE 14 BOB KOHLER, A 92-YEAR-OLD KOREAN WAR VETERAN, FOUNDED A VETERANS MINISTRY AT ST. THOMAS MORE PARISH TO HONOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF PARISHIONERS WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY. PHOTO BY YUAN WANG DIOCESE OF ORANGE

DIOCESAN NEWS

OC CATHOLIC’S SUMMER PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS Thanks to all who submitted their summer vacation photos with OC Catholic! The paper traveled to interesting places far and wide – from the rock cliffs of Greece to volcanoes in Hawaii and cathedrals in Europe.

Please keep your travel photos coming! Send to editor@occatholic.com and please include your name, parish and a brief description.

SECOND PLACE

The Bergenholtz family traveled to Barcelona, Spain this summer where they visited the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia.

Pictured: Ed, Jennifer, Jensen (13), Brandon (10).

Parish: St. Cecilia, Tustin

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FIRST PLACE

Olivia Gonzalez and her family traveled to Europe this summer. She attended Mass at Sacré-Coeur Basilica, (The Basilica of the Sacred Heart) in Paris, France.

She is currently a kindergarten student at St. Joseph School in Santa Ana.

THIRD PLACE

Jan Ostowari visited the beautiful St. Joseph Oratory of Mont Royal in Montreal, Canada for her birthday treat this July.

Parish: St. Thomas More, Irvine.

NOVEMBER 12, 2023

CONTENTS

6 CELEBRATING OUR VETERANS

Many of our religious have also served in uniform.

7 THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMERICANS Our children will become the country’s next generation of citizens, voters and leaders.

8 EL SEÑOR DE LOS MILAGROS

Christ Cathedral’s Oct. 28 celebration drew over 1,000 faithful to the campus.

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

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Delivered weekly to parishes and homes throughout Orange County, Calif., Orange County Catholic is published by SCNG Custom Content, a division of Southern California News Group that offers content development and design expertise to businesses and nonprofit institutions. The Orange County Catholic editorial staff and editorial council are responsible for the content contained herein. Events and products advertised in Orange County Catholic do not carry the implicit endorsement of the Diocese of Orange or SCNG Custom Content.

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GUEST COLUMN

VETERANS DAY

the Navy when I became Catholic, my first Diocese was the Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS). In 1985 the

BY FR. JOHN SHIMOTSU great number of Catholic priests serving as Navy chaplains meant that I was able N NOV. 11, OUR NATION to participate in daily Mass on the bases honors the service and sacwhere I was assigned and frequently even rifice of veterans throughout on my ship when it was at sea. Daily Mass the history of the nation. and having a priest present as we dealt For many Americans, Veterans Day with challenges like recovering refugees has a personal connection to our lives, on a boat from Vietnam, seeing religious including our lives of faith. Across our persecution during a port visit in ComDiocese, including at St. Anne’s in Seal munist China and standing up to the Beach where I am assigned, among our Soviet Pacific Fleet were parts of my life parishioners there are many veterans and as I discerned a priestly vocation. military family members.

When I left the Navy for the semiAs for my family, in addition to my nary, I had to find a diocese. Thankfully, late father, a Marine who served in the through the initiative of a prospective early 1960s, I had three great uncles who seminarian named Kevin Sweeney, Bishserved in the Army’s 442nd Regimental op McFarland of the Diocese of Orange Combat Team during World War II. agreed to participate in the Co-Sponsored JOHN SHIMOTSU, U.S. 7TH FLEET CHAPLAIN, SPEAKS WITH GEORGE Their commitment to our country, deSeminarian Program of the Military WILLIAM “PETER” DIXON, AN AUSTRALIAN WORLD WAR II VETERAN votion to duty and the sacrifices made in Archdiocese. The program specified that AND FORMER PRISONER OF WAR, BEFORE A CEREMONY AT THE COMMONWEALTH WAR CEMETERY IN HODOGAYA, JAPAN. U.S. NAVY defending her have always inspired me. upon ordination a priest would serve for PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS KELBY CONTINUES ON PAGE 13 SANDERS Since I was on active-duty service in

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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

AROUND CAMPUS

“

Young people should love, believe, and follow their dreams, never despairing, because Jesus is always with them.

”

— Pope Francis

SAINT PROFILE

CUNIBERT DIED C. 663

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BISHOP’S CHALICE

EVERAL MEDIEVAL ACCOUNTS CLAIMED that Cunibert grew up at the court of Frankish King Clotaire II. He was ordained a priest, then was made archdeacon of Trier and in about 625 bishop of Cologne; both cities are in Germany. He also was a royal counselor and a guardian to one of Clotaire’s grandsons. In a letter, St. Boniface said that Cunibert had hoped to evangelize among the Frisians but remained devoted to his own diocese and its people, among whom he was respected as both bishop and man. His relics were enshrined in Cologne. C

Donor: St. Michael’s Abbey Photo by Joshua Sudock/Diocese of OrangeC

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

WIS 1:1-7; PS 139:1B-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-10; LK 17:1-6

WIS 2:23–3:9; PS 34:2-3, 16-17, 1819; LK 17:7-10

WIS 6:1-11; PS 82:3-4, 6-7; LK 17:11-19

WIS 7:22B–8:1; PS 119:89, 90, 91, 130, 135, 175; LK 17:20-25

WIS 13:1-9; PS 19:2-3, 4-5AB; LK 17:26-37

WIS 18:14-16; 19:6-9; 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43; LK 18:1-8

PRV 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; PS 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; 1 THES 5:1-6; MT 25:14-30

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FEATURE

CELEBRATING THE SERVICE OF OUR DIOCESE OF ORANGE VETERANS

BY RON KUZLIK

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and eventual ordination.

“After serving in the military is when I felt a calling to serve the Lord,” Fr. Márquez said.

EVERAL MEMBERS OF our diocesan religious have previously served our nation as members of the Armed Forces and are privileged to be called Veterans.

They have served as enlisted men and officers, at home and abroad, in peacetime and during times of war.

We are proud to recognize these individuals, first for their service to our Country, and now their service to Christ’s Church.

They are (in alphabetical order):

DEACON RANDY MCMAHON was ordained in

DEACON MODESTO CORDERO

serves as Director of the Office for Worship for the Diocese of Orange.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Deacon Cordero enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 22 and served as a Supply Specialist.

While stationed at Camp Casey, South Korea, he had the opportunity to attend a Cursillo Weekend.

“This experience helped get me back to the Church and to start working at different ministries in the Church,” Deacon Cordero said. “Through the years, I received multiple invitations from various priests to consider the vocation of the diaconate.

“At the beginning, I declined the invitations with the excuse that I was not worthy and didn’t have the time to do that,” he

FR. GREG MÁRQUEZ

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DEACON MODESTO CORDERO

continued. “After the third invitation from different priests, I decided to give it a chance.”

Having served as Director of Worship in Honolulu for several years, since 2021, he serves in that same position in the Diocese of Orange.

FR. GREG MÁRQUEZ is the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Santa Ana. He grew up in Santa Ana before moving to Anaheim.

He later enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was a military cook, stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, working in Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) silos and later at Neubrucke Kaserne in Germany during the Cold War. After obtaining his degree at California State University, Fullerton, he was working as an English teacher in Mexico City.

It was after several years of discernment that he decided to enter formation

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2007.

After graduating from the University of California, Irvine, he entered the U.S. Marine Corps.

His career led to ever-increasing leadership and command responsibilities and the desire to serve his community which he did through the Knights of Columbus.

He spent 26 years in the Marine Corps before retiring in 1999 and returning home to Orange County.

It was during his time as a parish business manager that a Jesuit priest challenged him to consider becoming a permanent deacon in the Catholic Church.

Deacon Randy is currently assigned to Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ladera Ranch.

DEACON HUY NGUYEN was recently ordained on Oct. 14. He is assigned to Christ Cathedral Parish in Garden Grove.

Deacon Nguyen grew up in Vietnam.

He and his aunt were among the scores of ‘Boat People’ who escaped after the fall of Saigon and collapse of the South Vietnamese government in 1975.

“After high school, I had so much appreciation for the country that welcomed me wholeheartedly,” he said.

“I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Bulk Fuel Specialist — providing fuel for jet fighters in the mobile airfields, serving at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro in Irvine, Calif., and later MCAS Miramar in San Diego.’’

He served in the Marine Corps for six years, 1993-1999.

It was his pastor, Fr. Tuyen Nguyen who

DEACON RANDY MCMAHON

introduced him to the diaconate.

“At first, I tried to disregard it,” he added. “Fortunately, the Merciful God sent graces and encouragements to me through my pastor and others.”

DEACON DAVID STROMSWOLD was ordained on Oct.

14 and is assigned to San Francisco Solano parish in RSM. When he was six years old, his parents sent him and his sister out to California to visit their uncle for the summer.

It was on this trip, on board a Western

DEACON HUY NGUYEN CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

FEATURE/CATHOLIC FAMILY LIVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

Airlines Boeing 727, that he had an epiphany.

“I thought it was so cool to fly,” he said. “I was hooked and had to figure out a way to fly.”

He graduated from the University of Minnesota under a Navy ROTC scholarship, and it was off to The Basic School (TBS), the professional school required of all Marine Corps officers and then flight school at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Fla., and to jet training in Kingsville, Tex. He flew the F-4 Phantom fighter-interceptor aircraft before transitioning to the F/A-18 Hornet fighter/attack aircraft. He spent nine years on active duty and 15 years in the Marine Corps Reserve before retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

A captain, he flies for American Airlines where he has worked for the past 33 years.

“I think that the military builds individuals to make decisions and to be able to act independently and decisively for the greater good of the organization.”

He looks back on his deaconate formation with great admiration.

“It was only through daily prayer and discernment, and the ability to say yes, each day, that would allow me to know that it was truly God’s will for my life to accept, humbly, this position in the Church.” C

DEACON DAVID STROMSWOLD

HOW DO WE RAISE THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMERICANS?

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BY REBEKAH VALDERRAMA

OOKING AROUND, IT FEELS like American patriotism is an attitude that’s becoming more and more rare in this 21st century political climate. Our nation feels more polarized than ever before, and as a result of current events and reactions to them, people express feeling less and less proud of our country than ever before.

I was always told growing up how lucky I was to be an American, and how proud I should be to live in the “greatest nation in the world.” I can see how some might bristle at that superlative, but I think the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction, with some individuals proclaiming feeling ashamed to be American, to display the flag or to say the Pledge of Allegiance.

As I raise my children to be proud of their country, I’m aware of the climate I’m doing it in. Patriotism is becoming less of a mainstream stance to take, and more of a deliberate choice to impart as a value to the next generation.

My kids are all young, so we’re still teaching the fundamentals right now. Of course, our approach will get more nuanced as they get older and learn more about both history and current events.

Here are some of the ways our family is trying to instill patriotism in our kids: ■ We include the Pledge of Allegiance as part of our homeschool routine every day. While reciting the pledge, we also include lessons in respect for the flag itself and follow the Flag Code.

■ We discuss and celebrate our citizenship. Our kids know that their dad was born in another country and how

PHOTO BY AARON BURDEN

proud he is to belong to the USA now.

We talk about how lucky they are to be born here. They know it’s something to be proud of, and as they get older, those conversations will include more about the duties and responsibilities of a citizen.

■ I take my kids with me to vote in person when I can so I can show them democracy in action.

■We take opportunities to teach our kids about respect for the military.

We live in an area that has lots of servicemembers around, and we have some veterans in our extended family, so we get opportunities to tell our kids about these heroes and how their sacrifices keep us safe here at home.

■We discuss American history, in an age-appropriate way, in our homeschool curriculum, including both its brighter and darker moments. In these early years we’ll

be telling shiny happy stories about the first Thanksgiving, but also not shying away from realities like slavery. This conversation will get far deeper as they get older and learn more about the complexities of our past and our present as a nation, but it will always include frank discussions of how these periods of history did or didn’t reflect the true values America was built on, and how we can emphasize those values better in our own lives.

■ We visit museums, memorials and patriotic and educational events that celebrate the history of our country and the sacrifice of our service members.

As we celebrate our veterans this weekend, I’m renewing my dedication to instilling patriotic values in my children.

We want to raise the next generation of Americans who will face the struggles of our modern society with the goal of building up our nation, rather than tearing it down. I hope some of these ideas will inspire your family to do the same.C

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FEATURE

EL SEÑOR DE LOS MILAGROS

helping each other.”

Peruvian around the world to profess the The brotherhood also does charity love of Christ, to El Señor de los Milawork locally and in Peru, Torres added. gros,” Paseta said. “And whenever you go, CHRIST CATHEDRAL cession that followed.

“This is the day we thank God for all actually, whenever you have a group of Donned in purple robes, hundreds of we receive throughout the year,” he said.

Peruvians, you always have the brotherHOSTS THE LORD OF members of the Orange County Chapter of “We’re active every single day of the year.” hood.”

MIRACLES CELEBRATION The Lord of Miracles Brotherhood led the Baldo Paseta, who served as the first The altar used in the Christ Cathedral procession and carried the altar. president of the brotherhood, said the procession weighed approximately 1.3

BY LOU PONSI “We follow a tradition of faith that we organization has been celebrating El tons and was carried around Christ Cacarry from our parents and grandparents Señor de los Milagos at Christ Cathedral thedral campus, accompanied by a brass HE PROCESSION OF El Señor that started in the 17th century,” Torres since 2000, after the Diocese of Orange band. de los Milagros, or The Lord of said. “And it’s a tradition that broke borders purchased the property.

The brotherhood constructed a Miracles, is one of the most sa- and throughout the years keeps growing Paseta has attended El Señor de los Mi- miniature version which was carried by cred Catholic traditions in Peru and growing and our mission is to work lagros in Lima on several occasions and children wearing purple robes. and one of the largest religious procesfor the Word of God. We teach our kids said his father had the honor of helping to Unlike the procession in Lima, worsions in the world. and our grandkids what faith is all about, carry the altar in 2002. shipers can get an up-close look at the CONTINUES ON PAGE 9 The annual celebration has its roots being good people and helping others like “It was the duty and obligation of every in 1651, when an Angolan slave is said to have painted a mural of Jesus Christ on an adobe wall of a monastery in Lima.

Four years later, an earthquake demolished the city, leveling most of the monastery, but the wall with the mural of Jesus remained intact.

When subsequent earthquakes failed to destroy the wall, Peruvians venerated the miraculous image.

Today, the Lord of Miracles is celebrated over three days with a procession through the streets of the Lima, where hundreds of thousands of worshipers make the pilgrimage, hoping to get even a glimpse of the image as it makes its way through the city on an altar weighing close to two tons.

It takes 32 men to carry the altar.

“You can’t even get close,” said Renan Torres, president of the Lord of Miracles Brotherhood in Orange County. “It’s a procession that goes on for three days.

And thousands of people follow it.”

A replica of the mural has taken the place of the original, which is housed in the Sanctuary and Monastery of Las Nazarenas in Lima.

Every October, Christ Cathedral hosts its own El Señor de los Milagros celebration, and while the Mass and the procession that follows doesn’t draw millions, well over 1,000 worshipers were at the Christ Cathedral campus on Oct. 28 to THIS YEAR’S CELEBRATION OF EL SEÑOR DE LOS MILAGROS, A PERUVIAN CATHOLIC TRADITION, AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL DREW WELL OVER 1,000 WORSHIPERS TO THE CHRIST celebrate Mass and participate in the pro- CATHEDRAL CAMPUS ON OCT. 28. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

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FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS HOSTED EL SEÑOR DE LOS MILAGROS, OR THE LORD OF MIRACLES, ON OCT. 28. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

altar and image of Christ on the cross.

When singer Suzanne Gutierrez was asked to sing in the choir during the Mass at Christ Cathedral, she had no idea it was for El Señor de los Milagros Mass and celebration.

Gutierrez had heard about the religious celebration but hadn’t seen it before.

“Oh, I think it’s beautiful,” said Gutierrez, a former choir teacher at Holy Name of Mary Catholic School, in San Dimas.

“I think it’s a beautiful expression of the culture, beliefs and faith.”

Alexandra Lee, the choir director at Holy Name of Mary School came to support Gutierrez and was also attending El Señor de los Milagros for the first time.

“It was an honor to attend it,” Lee said.

“I thought that the music was beautiful and the procession was authentic to the tradition of the real Peruvian procession.” C

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FEATURE

ESCAPE FROM THE HOLY LAND

John of San Antonio de Padua in Anaheim Hills, recently recounted their at-times harrowing experience during an hourlong episode on Orange County Catholic Radio that now is available online at occatholic.com/radio/ Host Rick Howick, assisted by ProA GROUP OF 34 MOSTLY gram Manager Jim Governale, elicited emotional stories from the four guests, O.C. PARISHIONERS WERE ON A PILGRIMAGE IN ISRAEL whose trip with the other 30 pilgrims was WHEN SURPRISE HAMAS-LED scheduled for Sept. 30 through Oct. 10.

“It was real,” Deacon Ocampo said of ATTACKS BEGAN OCT. 7 the fear the group felt when the missiles started flying. “There’s nothing like an

BY GREG HARDESTY equalizer than facing death.”

There’s also nothing better than HEY WENT TO THE Holy Land weathering such an experience, the four on a pilgrimage to get closer to radio guests told Howick, than their God. faith.

They say it’s a miracle they “If we hadn’t had our faith,” Deacon got back home safely.

Ocampo said, “I don’t know how we The 34 pilgrims assembled by Deacon Bernie Ocampo of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Irvine arrived in Israel on Sunday, Oct. 1, and began their journey in the northern city of Nazareth, making their way south to Jerusalem as they followed in the footsteps of Jesus.

Little did they know that early on Saturday, Oct. 7, when pretty much most of their scheduled itinerary had been completed, they would find themselves amid the fiercest bloodshed in Israel in 50 years, when Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups carried out a surprise attack from the Gaza Strip.

The barrage of at least 5,000 rockets, in addition to some 2,500 Palestinian militants breaching the Gaza–Israel barrier, has so far left over 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, dead, with thousands more Palestinians killed when Israel formally declared war on Hamas on Oct. 8.

Suddenly, a peaceful sojourn to the holiest sites for Christians in the world became a fear-choked ordeal to flee the country as chaos and bloodshed erupted.

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would have gotten through it.”

Added his wife, Pam: “I still don’t want what we experienced to dampen the beauty of what we saw there.”

Sepulcher. They heard the blasts and felt the ground shake. The Johns were scared but as a group with faith they decided to move forward as planned, praying the Stations of the Cross.

PRAYERS ANSWERED It wasn’t until they returned to their For the Johns, visiting Israel for the hotel room shortly thereafter when they first time was especially poignant. realized the enormity of what was hapIn February, out of the blue, Elaine pening after turning on the news. was diagnosed with stage 3 thyroid The rest of the day and into early evecancer that spread to her neck. There ning was consumed with their desire to also were two suspicious nodules in her get to Ben Gurion International Airport lungs. in Tel Aviv, where most of the missiles Because ensuing biopsies showed that rained down. Their scheduled flight all her nodules were benign, Elaine’s doc- home was 5 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8. tors cleared her for the trip.

That didn’t happen.

“I would have rather it been me,” Bill In the radio broadcast, Elaine resaid with watery eyes. counts a moment in the chaotic airport, The Johns recounted how their morn- which was jammed with frantic Israelis ing on the day of the bombings began trying to flee the bombings, when she CONTINUES ON PAGE 11 with Mass at the Church of the Holy

STORY ON OC CATHOLIC RADIO

Deacon Ocampo and his wife, Pam, and two other pilgrims, Bill and Elaine

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PILGRIMS FROM ORANGE COUNTY PARISHES WERE IN ISRAEL WHEN THE HAMAS-LED ATTACKS TOOK PLACE. COURTESY PHOTO

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realized something.

She had yet to pray.

Fear had consumed her.

“I then prayed for my and Bill’s protection,” Elaine said, “and for some clarity and God’s wisdom.”

Several hours later, in what the Johns say was their prayers being answered, the couple – who renewed their wedding vows at the wedding church in Cana during the pilgrimage – were on their way home via Portugal.

“That’s when we finally felt safe — when we landed in Lisbon,” Bill said.

‘A MIRACLE’

It took a few more days for the Ocampos to successfully board a flight out of Tel Aviv.

One of Deacon Ocampo’s goals of the pilgrimage was to spend time with the “living stones” – fellow Christians in Israel, in addition to the physical landmarks and historical spots the group visited, including the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Capernaum, Jericho, Gethsemane and the Church of the Transfiguration.

“I was praying for transformation the whole time, and I think God answered our prayers,” Deacon Ocampo said. “We didn’t have to fill (the rest of) our schedule. And we learned to suffer with (the living stones).”

He added: “It was a miracle we made it back home safely, given the bombardment of missiles and resulting cancellation of commercial flights out from the only way to leave Israel by plane. We returned with a heightened sense of the fragility of life and a deeper appreciation of our ability to practice our faith freely.”

Deacon Ocampo credits the many people who were praying and fasting for the pilgrims’ safe trip home.

“That buoyed us and made a difference,” he said.

GETTING PERSONAL

In the Holy Land, the four radio guests said, you experience Jesus in a

PILGRIMS FROM DIOCESE OF ORANGE PARISHES TRAVELED TO ISRAEL IN OCTOBER TO SPEND TIME WITH FELLOW CHRISTIANS THERE. COURTESY PHOTO

very personal way.

Experiencing the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War also was personal.

Pam recalled asking her Israel tour guide why he wasn’t trying to flee.

“This is where I am from,” he told her. “My family has been here for more than 800 years.”

Pam said she felt guilty when she and her husband were leaving.

“I felt we were abandoning people around us, regardless of their faith,” she said. “I felt a little torn.”

Elaine said she witnessed so much peace in the Holy Land, despite the terrible events that unfolded Oct. 7.

“I went with an open mind and an open heart,” she said.

Now, she and the other pilgrims continue to pray in gratitude for their safe return home – and for eventual peace in the Holy Land, and for those who lost their lives there and continue to do so.

“Our God is so gracious,” Elaine said. “Ask, pray, and He will listen.”C

“OC CATHOLIC RADIO” HOST RICK HOWICK IS PICTURED WITH DEACON BERNIE OCAMPO AND HIS WIFE, PAM, AND BILL AND ELAINE JOHN, WHO WERE AMONG THE 34 MISSIONARIES WHO WENT TO ISRAEL IN OCTOBER. PHOTO BY GREG HARDESTY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE N O V E M B E R 12 , 2 0 2 3 ■ O C C A T H O L I C

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DIOCESAN NEWS

AROUND OUR DIOCESE

BY STAFF

ROMANCE OF THE MISSION GALA

This year’s Romance of the Mission benefit gala was held on Sept. 22 on the grounds of Mission San Juan Capistrano, with approximately 400 guests in attendance. Farmers & Merchants Bank and the

Next year’s gala will take place on Sept. 13, 2024. To learn how to pledge for the event, contact the Mission’s executive director, Mechelle Lawrence Adams, at 949-234-1311.

SR. JACKIE SARDINA TAKES FIRST VOWS

Sr. Jackie Sardina, FMA, took her first SR. JACKIE SARDINA IS PICTURED WITH HER FAMILY. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SARDINA FAMILY

concelebrated the Mass.

These temporary vows are renewed over the next six years, she will take her perpetual vows in August of 2029.

Sr. Jackie is currently assigned to the Diocese of Colorado Springs, CO, living at Our Lady of the Snow Convent and working at St. Peter Catholic Church in Monument, CO, teaching Religion and running the Confirmation Preparation program for middle schoolers.

Members of the OLLV Foundation, including CEO Elysabeth Nguyen, met with Knapper, who was taking an extensive tour of Orange County’s Vietnamese-American community.

The tour in Orange County comes after the U.S. and Vietnam announced they would strengthen their partnership with closer relations and new investment. Orange County is home to America’s largest Vietnamese community, many of whom are Catholic.

CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS The cathedral’s Our Lady of La Vang WELCOMES AMBASSADOR TO Shrine, which was dedicated in 2021, has VIETNAM quickly become an important site for both Marc E. Knapper, the U.S. ambassador the local Vietnamese Catholic community to Vietnam, and Congressman Lou Correa and all Catholics from the region at large, visited the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine at hosting Masses and other events large and the Christ Cathedral campus on Oct. 30. small. C ROMANCE OF THE MISSION BENEFIT GALA HONOREES WITH FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK; HENRY WALKER, CASSIE WALKER, CHRISTINE WALKER BOWMAN AND DAN WALKER. PHOTO BY LISA RENEE PHOTOGRAPHY

Walker Family were honored during the event for their long-time support of the Mission. Proceeds of close to $280,000 will benefit the Mission’s education and preservation programs.

The evening included a live concert performed in the Ruins of The Great Stone Church (Circa 1812) featuring the female trio Lyric and a plated four-course dinner held in the exquisite courtyard.

For more information and a list of donors and supporters, go to www.missionsjc.com

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vows with the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, also known as The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, on Aug. 5. Her vocation was fostered here in Orange County, where Sr. Jackie received her First Eucharist at St. Martin de Porres Church then continued her faith formation at Santa Clara de Asis where she was confirmed.

Many relatives and friends traveled to attend the event. Fr. Aristotle Quan of St. Edward the Confessor parish in Dana Point was among her priest friends who

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MARC E. KNAPPER, THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO VIETNAM, AND CONGRESSMAN LOU CORREA VISITED THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG SHRINE AT THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS ON OCT. 30. PHOTO BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

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MINISTRY AT SEA: JOHN SHIMOTSU, U.S. 7TH FLEET CHAPLAIN, AND REPUBLIC OF KOREA NAVY CHAPLAINS LEADS CATHOLIC MASS ABOARD THE FLAGSHIP USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC 19). THE CHAPLAINS CAME ABOARD USS BLUE RIDGE TO EXCHANGE IDEAS ABOUT MINISTRY AT SEA. U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS CODY R. BABIN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

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 Peer-to-Peer Support Line | Mon - Fri 7:30 AM - 9:30 PM | Sat - Sun 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM: 1 (714) NEW-HOPE or 1 (714) 639-4673 BÁO CÁO LẠM DỤNG TÌNH DỤC Nếu bạn là nạn nhân bị lạm dụng tình dục bởi một linh mục/ tu sĩ hay một thành viên trong Giáo Hội gây ra, xin hãy gọi và báo cáo cho Giáo phận ở số điện thoại miễn phí sau đây: 1-800-364-3064, và đồng thời báo cáo cho nhà chức trách địa phương. 본당내의 성적학대 신고 성직자나 성당 사목을 대표하는 관리자에 의한 성적 학대의 피해자 인 경우, 교구청의 무료 신고 전화 번호, 1-800-364-3064 및 관할 지역 법 집행 기관에 전화하십시오.

three years in his home diocese and then be released to the AMS. Whether the priest spent a few years or a few decades as a chaplain, upon separation from the military, the priest would return to his home diocese.

Fr. Kevin and I went to Mount Angel Seminary, were ordained priests for the Diocese of Orange, served in parishes for three years and then for over 20 years in the military. In the military, unlike a civilian parish, most of the people under our care were not Catholic. We provided Catholic Sacraments and instruction to Catholics, facilitated access to chaplains or resources for servicemembers of other beliefs, cared for all servicemembers and their families by helping them deal with the challenges of military life, and advised commanders. Upon retiring from the Navy, both Fr. Kevin and I returned to the Diocese of Orange. At one time we both served in the NIMITZ

Aircraft Carrier Battle Group. Now we both happily serve in Deanery V. There is a great need for priests to serve in our Armed Forces as chaplains.

Today there are fewer than 200 priests serving as active-duty chaplains for all branches of the US military. No longer do servicemembers have access to priest-chaplains when deployed or in garrison like I did while discerning a vocation.

The shortage of priests in the military chaplaincy has an impact beyond the military. Seventeen years ago, Veterans were 10% of newly ordained priests in the US. While Veterans are still over-represented in the percentage, in 2022 it dropped to 3% (CARA, Report on Newly Ordained Priests, 2006 and 2022).

Please pray for our Veterans and their families, especially those who bear the wounds of war. Pray also for vocations so that those serving in our Armed Forces and their families may be able to encounter Christ in Word and Sacrament. C

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DIOCESAN NEWS

HONORING VETERANS ST. THOMAS MORE’S “SGT. BOB” LEADS VETERANS MINISTRY TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED

BY LOU PONSI

T

HEY CALL HIM “Sgt. Bob.” That’s the moniker bestowed on Bob Kohler by his fellow parishioners at St. Thomas More Parish in Irvine, ever since the 92-yearold Korean War veteran started a veterans ministry to honor the service and sacrifice of parishioners who served in the military.

A website created by Kohler’s son Ryan, stmveterans.us, lists the names of the roughly 70 parish military veterans categorized by each veteran’s branch of service.

The site also features an honor roll with the photos and names of deceased parishioners who were veterans.

Every Veterans Day, Kohler puts up a temporary display in the church plaza made up of poster boards with the names and photos of veterans who are St. Thomas More parishioners.

The tribute will be displayed on Saturday and Sunday, during which time eight Masses will be celebrated.

Kohler, a husband and father of four, also sets up separate display on Memorial Day weekend, displaying poster boards with the names and images of deceased

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captors fled the advancing Russians.

A charter member of the veterans ministry, Chiarelli died on June 7, 2017, and is now memorialized on the ministry’s wall of honor.

Kohler started the ministry with the full support of then St. Thomas More’s pastor, Fr. John Janze, who served as pastor from 1996 to 2021. Fr. Janze died on April 19, 2022.

“I think it is important to honor those who have made sacrifices for us,” Fr. Janze said in a 2013 interview with OC Catholic.

When a parish veteran dies, Kohler and members of the ministry also perform a flag ceremony at the grave site during the PHOTOS BY YUAN WANG/DIOCESE OF ORANGE funeral.

“I call it a flag tribute for veterans,” parishioners who served in the military neighbor’s car inscribed with the acronym, he said. “I contact the family and if they and another display for the church’s fall “POW.” approve, we come.” festival in October which chronicles the “So, I went to meet the guy (Tony Kohler is also an avid runner and has ministry itself.

Chiarilli) and he was a paratrooper,” completed 43 marathons.

St. Thomas More is believed to be the Kohler recalled. “He landed on Utah Beach But Kohler hasn’t simply run the 26.2 only parish in the Diocese of Orange with on D-Day, and he was a POW.” miles. He completed nine marathons holda veterans ministry.

Chiarilli landed at Utah Beach and ing a U.S. flag to honor the victims of the “I always say I’m just the messenger, not helped capture Carentan, France. Eventual- Sept. 11 attacks and then added a second the message,” said Kohler, a lifelong devout ly, he was shot down behind German lines flag in 2003 to honor the military, shortly Catholic and a parishioner at St. Thomas in Holland. after the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

More since the parish formed in 2008.

“We landed on top of 10,000 Panzer Kohler ran with a flag for the first time Kohler was inspired to form a partroops,” Chiarilli said in a 2013 interview on a jog through his neighborhood on Sept. ish ministry, in part, after watching the with the Orange County Register. “We had 14, 2001. documentary “The Greatest Generation,” no chance.”

“My flag was hanging outside, so I just a three-part video series by award-winWhile a POW, Chiarilli was forced to took it on the spur of the moment,” he said. ning television journalist and author Tom march for four months as his German “And away I went.” C Brokaw, who wrote book series of the same name.

About the same time, Kohler became even more motivated to launch the ministry after noticing a license plate on his

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OC Catholic Abroad

Erlinda Salazar from San Antonio De Padua parish in Anaheim Hills and Maria Moorhead of St. Columban parish in Garden Grove visit the largest Roman Catholic Church in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 11.

This church is alternatively known as Sant’Antonio di Padova, located in Istiklal Avenue in the Beyoglu District.

—Submitted by Erlinda Salazar

We want your photos! Send your pictures of “OC Catholic Afar” — of you, family or friends visiting Catholic churches and other interesting places — to editor@occatholic.com. Please include a brief description of the photo, the name of the person(s) featured in the photo and their home parish.

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