The Placentia school celebrated St. Nicholas Day with a special guest.
MAGICAL CHRISTMAS MEMORIES
Fr. Duy Le and Sr. Karin Neurenberg share their fondest holiday memories.
16
LA PURÍSIMA CELEBRATES 100 YEARS
The Orange parish is one of the oldest continually operating Catholic parishes in the state.
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
Director of Custom Content: Caroline Wong, cawong@scng.com
SCNG
CUSTOM CONTENT
Managing Editor: Caitlin Adams Art Director: Ryann Beveridge
Delivered weekly to parishes and homes throughout Orange County, Calif., Orange County Catholic is published by SCNG Custom Content, a division of Southern California News Group that offers content development and design expertise to businesses and nonprofit institutions. The Orange County Catholic editorial staff and editorial council are responsible for the content contained herein. Events and products advertised in Orange County Catholic do not carry the implicit endorsement of the Diocese of Orange or SCNG Custom Content.
“It’s Your Turn,
NATIVITY SCENE
READER CALL-OUT
This certainly will not be among the most beautiful and ornate Nativity Scenes that you have received, but it may bring back memories to your readers who attended Catholic schools and sold Christmas seals. “Fabulous prizes” such as this plastic Nativity were awarded for selling the Christmas seals. I have included the original box in the photo. I have saved, cherished and displayed my prize every Christmas since my days at St. Joseph School in Santa Ana and Holy Family School in Orange (late 1950s through the mid-1960s; I am not sure of the exact year when I obtained this manger scene).
—Sue Hannes, Pope John Paul II Polish Center in Yorba Linda
Do you have a special Nativity Scene you’d like to share with OC Catholic? Please send a photo and include your name, parish and a brief description to: editor@occatholic. com C
“ The grace of Christ can bring you everything!” — Pope Francis
SAINT PROFILE
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
MAL 3:1-4, 2324; PS 25:4-5AB, 8-9, 10 AND 14; LK 1:57-66
TUESDAY
2 SM 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16; PS 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 AND 29; LK 1:67-79
ACTS 6:8-10; 7:5459; PS 31:3CD-4, 6 AND 8AB, 16BC AND 17; MT 10:1722
PETER CANISIUS 1521-1597
THIS DOCTOR OF THE church was born in Holland and studied canon law in Belgium before turning to the study of theology in Germany. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1543 and soon was a well- known preacher. He attended two sessions of the Council of Trent and was an important figure in the post-conciliar Catholic revival in Europe. As the Jesuit provincial in southern Germany, Austria and Bohemia, he started schools, colleges and seminaries, and is credited with keeping the southern German peoples Catholic.C
SIR 3:2-7, 12-14; PS 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; COL 3:12-21 OR 3:12-17; LK 2:41-52
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUE HANNES
IT’S A WRAP
CATHOLICS AND CHRISTMAS GIFTS: WHAT RULES SHOULD YOU FOLLOW?
BY GREG HARDESTY
FR. MARTIN VU, PAROCHIAL
administrator of St. Joseph’s in Placentia, delivered a Christmas homily a couple of years ago that touched on the familiar theme of celebration.
“And what are we celebrating?” Fr. Martin asked. “Or, as the famous phrase says, what is the ‘reason for the season?’”
He continued: “Some people are celebrating that there is no school. Others are celebrating time at home with family members and friends. And still others are celebrating the wonderful deals on Amazon Prime.
“These are all great things. But today we are celebrating something even greater.”
OUR GIFT TO JESUS
Fr. Martin went on to describe how Christmas is the birthday of Jesus, and how usually when it’s a person’s birthday we give that person gifts. The gift Jesus wants from us, Fr. Martin said, is “your heart, your mind, your family. He wants you. That’s what He wants the most.”
As for giving gifts to family and friends – well, why give presents to one another on Christmas if it is supposed to celebrate the birth of Christ?
That’s the question posed by Fr. Charles Grondin in a column he wrote for Catholic Answers, a media ministry that explains the Catholic faith.
He wrote that exchanging gifts at Christmas (besides being a fun thing to do) reminds us of three important theological truths:
■ Our gifts remind us of the gifts the Magi brought to the infant Jesus, and they remind us that as we present gifts to each other our lives are to be our gift to Jesus.
■ Receiving gifts reminds us in some
A VOLUNTEER PREPARES TO GIFT A BIKE TO A CHILD IN NEED DURING CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ORANGE COUNTY’S 2023 CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS EVENT AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. PHOTO BY RENNE ENRIQUEZ/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
small way of the ultimate gift we receive in salvation through Jesus.
■ Exchanging gifts reminds us that each person in our life is a gift from God.
TRUE CHARITY
Dr. Therese Mueller, a mid-century author on Catholic culture in the home, had this to say about the giving of gifts:
“As far as Christmas gifts are concerned, let us emphasize their true meaning, now so generally forgotten: overpowered by God’s generosity in giving His only begotten Son as the Redeemer of mankind, Christians feel urged to imitate in a limited manner God’s great love and liberality by spreading happiness among relatives and friends through gifts.
“Only if our gifts — small though they be — are borne along on a wave of true charity will they be worthy to lie beside the crib, which represents the real Gift, the Gift of all gifts, without which we should still be sitting in darkness and in the slavery of Sin.”
GENEROSITY AND CAUTION
The article “A Catholic Approach to
Gift Giving,” published by the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, mentions the temptation of consumerism that plagues many Catholics during the holidays.
The author quotes St. Nicholas’ words about the source of our desire to be generous:
“[Christ,] the giver of every good and perfect gift, has called upon us to mimic His giving, by grace, through faith and this is not of ourselves.”
The articles also note Pope Francis’ words of caution: “Since the market tends to promote extreme consumerism in an effort to sell its products, people can easily get caught up in a whirlwind of needless buying and spending.” (Laudato Si, §203)
“A Catholic Approach to Gift Giving” offers four suggestions when it comes to Christmas gift-giving.
First, how many gifts should you give? The article mentions giving three gifts like the Magi gave Jesus; some families choose to do this by giving one large gift and two smaller gifts.
Second, what can we give other than more stuff?
Think of how you can help the recipient create fun memories with family and friends. Gifts like memberships to the zoo,
aquarium or museum are fun for families, and adults might enjoy concert tickets or gift cards for a nice meal out.
Third, consider supplementing Christmas gifts with charitable giving.
And fourth, look for “fair trade” or “ethical trade” gifts. If you can buy Christmas gifts for loved ones, shouldn’t you do your best to be thoughtful and responsible about the gifts you give?
THE ‘GREATEST GIFT’
Fr. Christopher Smith, rector emeritus of Christ Cathedral, offered the following thoughts on gift-giving for Christmas:
“Jesus Christ is often referred to as the greatest gift given to us by God the Father,” he said.
“In turn, Jesus gave us the gift of His life through His death on the cross. He then gave us the gift of eternal life through His resurrection from the dead.
“In celebration of these great gifts, Christmas has become a time for people to give gifts to each other. As Jesus gave us the gift of his life, Christmas gifts are given to bring life to the recipients as well to the givers.
“As Jesus’ life is a gift of love, our Christmas gift giving is an expression of our love and care for others.” C
CHRISTMAS GIFTS UNDER THE TREE. PHOTO BY EUGENIA PANKIV ON UNSPLASH
ST. JOSEPH’S TREE LIGHTING
BY BRITNEY ZINT
IN A COURTYARD FESTIVELY
hung with garland and lights, St. Nicholas Day was celebrated with songs, stories and a surprise visit by a famous man of the same name: Santa Claus.
St. Joseph Catholic School in Placentia celebrated its sixth annual Christmas Tree Lighting event on Dec. 6 with student performances, a story reading by Santa Claus, hot cocoa and candy canes.
“I’m super excited about tonight,” said Principal Amanda Hawley. “I think it’s the perfect way to start the Advent season and bring Christmas spirit to our school. We are always looking for ways to bring the community together that isn’t necessarily a fundraiser or where people have to spend money. We want them to come together and enjoy the time.”
The momentous visit from the North Pole’s most famous resident was met with a mob of the littlest children trying to hug him. Karissa Vazquez’ son was one of them, excited by the jolly man in the red suit.
“He was jumping up and down and just that little twinkle; that’s exactly why we’re here and that’s why we love this time of year,” Vazquez said. “He was so excited. I don’t think he knew Santa was going to be here.”
Once the Santa fan mob dispersed, Mr. Claus gave a blessing before lighting the Christmas tree.
“Lord Jesus, circle this tree with your blessings,” he said, “may its twinkling lights remind us of the hope and promise of Your Coming. May we find joy in the memories we share in its tinsel and trimmings. May the presents that we place beneath it give rise to the appreciation of
the gift of Your presence.”
The event began with a reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by St. Joseph’s Drama Club, followed by a troupe of fourth and fifth graders in festive sweaters, clutching cream-colored recorders to play “Jingle Bells.” The
school choir also performed a mash-up of holiday favorites and a crowd-accompanied rendition of “Feliz Navidad.”
“I was really nervous, but I felt like I had a lot of fun,” said fourth-grade chorister Arden Walswich, 9.
Fifth-grader Madeline Romero, 11, a
fellow chorister, was having a good time. She said it made her happy to see the tree light up and glow.
“I like seeing them put up all the Christmas lights, I like being with my friends and taking a picture with Santa,”
SANTA CLAUS READS TO CHILDREN DURING ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING EVENT HELD ON DEC. 6. PHOTO BY BRITNEY ZINT
St. Joseph Catholic School is known for its performing arts program, which features the first through eighth grade putting on a spring musical at Servite High School’s theater, said Assistant Principal Laurie Cantrell, who also directs the program.
The students most recently performed “Godspell Jr.” and “Peter Pan Jr.” The junior refers to a condensed version of the original plays with changes for younger voices. After Christmas break, the school will gear up for its newest production, “Into the Woods Jr.”
Arden’s big sister, eighth-grader Juliana Walswich, 14, said she enjoys performing. She was in the last two plays and is going to audition for “Into the Woods Jr.” It’s not just the performing arts program that she enjoys about St. Joseph, though.
“I feel the teachers do a really good job pushing us to a higher level and since it’s such a small school, there’s a really unified spirit,” Juliana said. “We all know each other. Pretty much anyone in this courtyard I could name, even the parents. The teachers really connect with the students since it’s a small school and give you individualized learning.” C
From the JSerra family to yours, may God bless you abundantly during these most holy of days, and may His peace fill your heart and home.
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.” Isaiah 7:14
ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN PLACENTIA HELD ITS ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING EVENT ON
ALONG WITH SPECIAL GUEST SANTA CLAUS. PHOTO BY BELINDA ESPINOZA
Romero said.
Artwork by Emma Doss Class of 2026
MAGICAL CHRISTMAS MEMORIES WORTH CELEBRATING
IN
CELEBRATION OF THE ADVENT SEASON, PRIESTS AND SISTERS REMINISCE ABOUT HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
BY MIKE VULPO
THE MOST WONDERFUL time of the year is here.
With the Advent and Christmas season here, priests and religious sisters are hoping to create special memories with parishioners all across Orange County.
Discussing the month of December instantly brought happiness to Fr. Duy and Sr. Karin Nuernberg. The pair didn’t hesitate to reminisce about their favorite holiday memories with family and friends over the years.
Keep reading to see what made the season bright, loving and hopeful for these two religious leaders:
FR. DUY LE, PASTOR AT SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CATHOLIC CHURCH
On Christmas Day, I'll go around the church looking for a baby, and a parent will go, ‘Yeah, I'll let you take my baby.’ We carry the baby up during the procession and almost present the baby to the church. Every time, you can see the joy in the people seeing this child. There’s a reason why Jesus chose to come down as a baby. Babies automatically make you happy.
Growing up extremely poor, I was thinking back about the memories that my parents tried to create. I would have never known we came from nothing. I would have never known that it was a tough time. We would get a small toy every year and wouldn't know the difference. It was the best toy ever, every single time because it was all that we would have.
Being with family was so important. My
Christmas is all about.
Jesus could have come down from heaven as an adult. He could have come down by himself. He could have come down any way possible, but He chose to come down into a family that was simple, that was unassuming, didn't have everything. It wasn't extravagant. They were poor, but they were together, and that was the most important thing for us back then, too.
SR. KARIN NUERNBERG, CSJ, VOCATION DIRECTOR, SISTERS
OF ST. JOSEPH OF ORANGE
Some of my favorite Christmas memories stem from my childhood in Munich, Germany. Not only Christmas but also the anticipation of the upcoming feast etched itself into my memory.
earliest memories were always to have my sisters around my parents and me. It was always fun. We always had a good time with a simple meal and simple gifts, but it was with the family.
I also remember my dad loved taking pictures. We took pictures everywhere — at church and in front of the manger and all these different places. It was the worst thing possible for me back then, but now looking back, I'm so glad that my dad did that.
Today, family remains the most important thing for us, and us being together is such a beautiful part of that. It also looks totally different from the way it was. Now we have not just a simple meal, but we have probably at least 15 different dishes and it has to look a certain way before we get to eat it. We have to take a picture of it before we get to eat, and we're laughing. My dad says we always have to take a family picture. We always have to stand around the table and really capture the moment of us being together and family. It's what
FR. DUY LE CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS WITH HIS PARENTS AND HIS EXTENDED FAMILY IN ORANGE COUNTY. PHOTOS COURTESY OF FR. DUY LE
FR. DUY LE CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS MASS WITH HIS EXTENDED FAMILY AT SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CATHOLIC CHURCH.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
As a child, time passed slowly — unlike today when Advent is over in the blink of an eye. On Sunday afternoons, my parents and I would gather around our Advent wreath enjoying Christmas cookies and music together. We were not a religious family and none of us were Catholic at the time. What I knew about God and faith I had assimilated through the dominant Catholic culture in Bavaria or learned in religion class in public school. It was school that brought my parents and me to church on Christmas Eve since I participated in the Nativity play put on by my religion class.
Back at home, the celebration continued — a true feast for the senses. We al-
ways had a real tree with burning beeswax candles and a bucket of water beside the tree. Fortunately, we never needed it!
My father was a devotee of classical music, so Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio” was playing in the background. Early on, I fell in love with this piece of music and started memorizing notes and lyrics. Back then, I did not comprehend the depth and meaning of the words, the story of God’s great love and Incarnation; rather, the music took me to a different place.
It is only in hindsight that I can see how God used Nativity plays and music to both draw me closer to Him and to convey God’s grandeur to me. I am deeply grateful for God’s great love! C
SR. KARIN NUERNBERG CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS AS A CHILD WITH HER FATHER. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SR. KARIN NUERNBERG
SR. KARIN NUERNBERG SHARES A THROWBACK PHOTO OF HER CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION WITH HER MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER.
JUBILEE YEAR PREVIEW
BY BRADLEY ZINT
THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE is celebrating the Catholic Church’s worldwide 2025 Jubilee Year beginning on Dec. 29 with a special Mass at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove and blessing of the Year of Hope Cross.
The Mass, which begins at 9 a.m., will be celebrated by Bishop Kevin Vann.
The Year of Hope Cross will serve as a local pilgrimage site and the center of the Orange County’s celebration of the 2025 Jubilee Year, which the Catholic Church celebrates every 25 years. The Jubilee Year is an invitation for all to rediscover God’s presence in their lives and renew their trust in His promises.
The Year of Hope Cross will have a specially designed logo featuring various symbolic touches specific to Orange County, such as an orange tree, Our Lady of Guadalupe (patroness of the Diocese of Orange) and St. Junípero Serra (patron of the Diocese of Orange and founder of Mission San Juan Capistrano).
The Church will also be offering plenary indulgences — special graces that remove the temporal effects of sin and deepen experiences of God’s love and mercy — to those who visit the Year of Hope Cross or another designated site. They must also go to confession, receive the Eucharist, pray for intentions of the Pope and perform an act of mercy or charity.
As part of the 2025 Jubilee Year, the Holy See encourages all who are able to make pilgrimages to Holy Doors in Rome. The Pope will open
THE YEAR OF HOPE CROSS
For the Year of Hope Cross that is part of the Diocese of Orange’s celebration of the 2025 Jubilee Year, a special image has been created. Inspired by icons of the Ascension of Christ and Christ Pantocrator, the image depicts Christ in His glory as the central figure of the Church's Body.
At the center of the image, Christ, as head of the Church, holds the crest of the Diocese of Orange in His left hand, signifying His authority and protection over the Diocese’s mission of spreading the Gospel. Around Him is the cross, originating from Christ and extending to all within the circle surrounding the image. This cross represents the Tree of Life, depicted as an orange tree, with branches bearing fruit that symbolize the true vine. The branches embody shelter, refuge, home
and life in the Diocese of Orange. The circle surrounding the entire icon symbolizes the consecrated bread of Christ’s Body.
Below the cross are the patrons of the Diocese: Our Lady of Guadalupe on the left and St. Junípero Serra on the right. They stand on either side of Christ, serving as mediators of grace and symbolizing hope for the 2025 Jubilee Year. Our Lady of Guadalupe is portrayed pregnant with Christ, clothed in stars, with the moon under her feet and arrayed with the sun around her. St. Junípero Serra is depicted wearing his Franciscan cloaked habit, holding up a mission to Christ as an offering. There is a crossed staff leaning on his chest.
These two figures represent the guardians who have nurtured and shaped the Diocese’s community. Positioned on the outer ring, both patrons serve as mediators of Christ’s grace for the Church's body.
several Holy Doors, including the one at St. Peter’s Basilica that is only opened at the beginning of a Jubilee Year. That will occur on Dec. 24, signaling the start of the worldwide jubilee.
Pope Francis’ chosen motto for the 2025 celebration is “Pilgrims of Hope.”
The Holy Year of 2025 will be the 27th ordinary jubilee year of the Catholic Church, with an exception being “extraordinary” jubilees that first came in
16th century and fall outside the 25-year rotation. The last extraordinary jubilee was the 2015-16 Jubilee of Mercy.
The worldwide Jubilee Year formally concludes in Rome on the Solemnity of Epiphany on Jan. 6, 2026. In the Diocese of Orange, it will conclude on Dec. 28, 2025.
For more information on the 2025 Jubilee Year, Year of Hope Cross, pilgrimages, indulgences and more, visit www.rcbo.org/ hope C
EMMANUEL—GOD WITH US—IS THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS!
BY DEACON MODESTO CORDERO, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR WORSHIP IN THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
CHRISTMAS HOLDS A profound place in my heart as a Christian, embodying the joyful celebration of God’s love through the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ, over 2,025 years ago. It is a time for us to reflect deeply on the journey of faith, the essence of hope and the boundless gift of divine love. The season of Advent, spanning four weeks leading to Christmas, provides a meaningful framework for this reflection, grounding us and our families in the spiritual significance of Christ’s arrival in a world yearning for peace and love. “Emmanuel”—God with us—reminds us of the transformative power of His presence among us. The season of Advent serves as a spiritual prelude to the celebration of Christmas, inviting us to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Each of the four weeks is marked by themes of hope, peace, joy and love, symbolized by the lighting of candles on the Advent wreath. This tradition reminds us to pause amidst the busyness of life and reflect on the promises of God. Advent is also a call to repentance and renewal. As John the Baptist proclaimed in preparation for Christ, so too do we need to prepare our hearts by seeking forgiveness, engaging in acts of charity and fostering a spirit of humility. Through prayer, Scripture reading and the singing of hymns like "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," we can cultivate a deeper connection to the mystery of Christ’s birth and His mission to bring salvation to all.
Christmas Day marks the culmination of Advent and the joyful celebration of Jesus’ birth in a humble manger in Bethlehem. This event signifies God’s profound love for humanity, as He sent
His only Son into the world to bridge the chasm between heaven and earth. For us, the Nativity is a powerful reminder of the humility and simplicity with which God chose to manifest His glory. The manger itself holds deep spiritual significance. Surrounded by shepherds, animals and later visited by the Magi, it underscores the inclusivity of God’s love. Jesus came not for the wealthy or powerful alone but for all—from the lowliest shepherd to the wisest king. The Nativity scene, often displayed in our homes, serves as a visual catechesis, teaching us and our children the story of Christ’s birth and its implications for a life of faith.
While Christmas is deeply rooted in its spiritual meaning, many cultural traditions have emerged that can either enhance or detract from its true purpose. For instance, the story of St. Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop known for his generosity and care for the poor, has evolved into the modern-day Santa Claus. While the commercialized version of Santa often overshadows his Christian origins, we can reclaim the tradition by emphasizing St. Nicholas’ virtues of charity and selflessness. Similarly, the Christmas tree, with its evergreen branches symbolizing eternal life, offers an opportunity to reflect on the life-giving presence of Christ. Adorning the tree with Christian symbols, such as stars, angels and crosses, can help maintain its sacred significance. Gathering around the tree for prayer or Scripture reading can transform this tradition into a moment of family worship. The exchange of gifts, inspired by the Magi’s offerings of gold, frankincense and myrrh, to the Christ child, can also be imbued with Christian values. Rather than focusing on materialism, we can emphasize the joy of giving as an expression of love and gratitude. Thoughtful, meaningful gifts
can serve as tangible reminders of God’s greatest gift to humanity—His Son.
In a world often plagued by division, violence and despair, the message of Christmas remains as relevant as ever. The arrival of Emmanuel, God with us, is a beacon of hope and a call to action for us to be instruments of His peace and love. By embodying the virtues of Christ in our daily lives, we become living witnesses to the transformative power of the Gospel. Acts of kindness, reconciliation and service during the Christmas season are profound ways to honor Christ’s birth. Visiting the lonely, feeding the hungry or extending forgiveness to those who have wronged us are tangible expressions of the love that Christmas represents. These actions not only bring joy to others but also deepen the spiritual experience of the season for us and our families.
The challenge for us as Christians is to navigate the secularization of Christmas while keeping Christ at the center. By grounding traditions in their spiritual
roots, we can ensure that the celebration remains a true reflection of our faith.
Attending Mass, participating in community service and dedicating time to prayer and Scripture are essential practices that anchor the holiday in its sacred purpose. As we gather around the manger, we are reminded that the miracle of Christmas is not found in ornate decorations or lavish gifts but in the simple, yet profound truth of God’s love made flesh. Emmanuel—God with us—is the heart of Christmas, calling us to live lives of faith, hope and love not just during the holiday season but every day. In embracing the true meaning of Christmas, we find a source of unity, joy and purpose. The birth of Christ is more than a historical event; it is a living reality that continues to inspire and transform lives. By celebrating with intentionality and faith, we can make Christmas a time of spiritual renewal and a powerful testament to the enduring light of Christ in the world. I wish you abundant peace and happiness in your homes! C
PEACE ON EARTH & MERCY MILD
AS
CHRISTMAS
APPROACHES,
MISSION SJC VISITORS REJOICE AND REFLECT
BY PATTY MAHONEY
EACH DECEMBER VISITORS
flock to Mission San Juan Capistrano for the festive Capistrano Lights: Mission in Lights. The much-anticipated holiday event attracts families and guests both young and old to the Mission’s historic grounds for an evening of holiday fun.
Guests are treated to impressive light displays throughout the courtyards, community-donated Christmas trees, visits with Santa (candy canes included) and carolers dressed in Dickens-era cos-
tumes singing old-time favorites. Attendees are also invited to visit Serra Chapel after hours and to light candles for peace in front of the fullscale Nativity located in the Ruins of the Great Stone Church.
The official opening night of Capitano Lights took place on Dec. 7. In her welcome address, executive director Mechelle Lawrence Adams invited everyone to enjoy the evening. She also encouraged guests to make a return visit and continue to learn and explore what makes San Juan Capistrano the jewel of the Missions.
“This is probably the site of the very first Christmas in Orange County,” she told guests.
Capistrano Lights runs through Dec. 29. Tickets include same day admission to the Mission. An audio tour featuring Gospel readings and “The CONTINUES ON PAGE 15
COLORFUL LIGHTS ILLUMINATE A NATIVITY SCENE IN THE RUINS OF THE GREAT STONE CHURCH DURING CAPISTRANO LIGHTS AT MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO ON SATURDAY, DEC. 7.
CAPISTRANO LIGHTS RUNS THROUGH DEC. 29 AT MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. PHOTOS BY JEFF ANTENORE/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE
CAMILA DEBRINCAT, 2, OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO ISN’T QUITE SURE WHAT TO THINK OF HER FIRST TIME MEETING SANTA DURING THE OPENING NIGHT OF CAPISTRANO LIGHTS.
Night Before Christmas” is also available as you make your way around the grounds. For ticket information visit https://www.missionsjc.com/capistrano-lights/ C
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DR. MARSHA LONG PLAYS THE HARP AND SINGS CLASSIC HOLIDAY SONGS FOR GUESTS IN THE SERRA CHAPEL DURING OPENING NIGHT OF CAPISTRANO LIGHTS AT MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. PHOTOS BY JEFF ANTENORE/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
LAGUNA NIGUEL RESIDENTS VALERIE MCDOWELL, CADEN MCDOWELL, 2, AND BEATRICE DEBERRY, FROM LEFT, ARRIVE THROUGH A TUNNEL OF LIGHTS FOR THE OPENING NIGHT OF CAPISTRANO LIGHTS ON DEC. 7.
LA PURÍSIMA CELEBRATES 100 YEARS AS A BEACON TO DIVERSE COMMUNITIES
BY GREG MELLEN
IT BEGAN WITH A procession around the church: hundreds of parishioners following the Knights of Columbus, the three bishops of the Diocese of Orange and other clergy, Vietnamese mothers, altar servers and a statue of the Virgin Mary.
It continued with a tri-lingual Mass in Spanish, English and Vietnamese. About 1,500 congregants filled the chapel and another 400 listened in from outdoor seating.
The event concluded with a feast and entertainment: Vietnamese lion dancers, mariachi music and folkloric dancers provided entertainment, while attendees enjoyed a variety of Latin, Vietnamese, Filipino and American food.
The Centennial celebration for La Purísima Catholic Church in Orange on Saturday, Dec. 7, was a fitting encapsulation of the parish’s 100-year history: a joyous melding of peoples and cultures welcomed in the union of Catholicism.
Although Catholic Missions in California date back to the 1700s, La Purísima is one of the older continuously operating parishes and faith communities in Orange County. Its origins date back to the early 1900s, when Franciscan priests who fled the Mexican Revolution preached to farmers under a pepper tree on Pearl Street.
Through its founding as a mission parish in 1924, and several expansions to its current campus with a 1,250-seat chapel and school, La Purísima has been at the heart of spiritual life in the El Modena area and a center for multicultural faith.
Throughout it all, the church has been a beacon for often displaced people seeking a spiritual home, from refugees of the Mexican revolution and Cristeros Wars early in the 20th century, to the
Vietnamese diaspora following the fall of South Vietnam in the 1970s.
Bishop Kevin Vann remembered the parish having a special place in his heart since early in his tenure in Orange County because of its welcoming reputation and diversity.
He recalled one evening while having dinner at the Orange Hill Restaurant perched over the city, he spotted the parish’s lights, unique amid the vast twinkling scape of lights.
“I told my friends, ‘Oh, look at that light there. That’s La Purísima,’ Bishop Vann recalled. “It showed out. I believe in this anniversary all of you do that and are called upon to stand out and show the light of Christ.”
Jeff Rice, a church lay leader at La Purísima, added: “The history of the church has been waves of migrants,” he said. “It’s a very diverse and prayerful community.”
BIRTH OF A CHURCH
In 1924, Remedios Mares and his wife donated a half lot of land on Center St. in the El Modena barrio east of downtown Orange to Fr. Teadro Sanchez. With the help of the Knights of Columbus of Long Beach, a frame building seating 80 was erected and given Parochial Status as La Purísima Mission.
That year, five Franciscan Missionaries of the Immaculate Conception Sisters, who had also fled religious persecution in Mexico, taught Catholic religion classes, beginning a tradition of education that continues today.
By 1927, the congregation outgrew the space, and property was purchased on Center St. The chapel was moved and expanded to seat 200. In 1957, the church was on the move again to its current home, then a four-acre orange grove. A new chapel, today referred to
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION FOR LA PURÍSIMA CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ORANGE TOOK PLACE ON SATURDAY, DEC. 7. PHOTOS BY THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
BISHOP KEVIN VANN WAS THE
as the “old church,” was constructed in 1964 with the school being added a year later.
Rice, who joined the parish in 1987, remembers the chapel, which seated 450, being overwhelmed.
When he first saw La Purísima, Rice recalled saying. “‘This can’t be it; this is too small.’ They said, ‘No, that’s it.’”
Rice said Sunday Masses began at 6:30 in the morning and spilled out the doors all day long.
In 2003, under the direction of the then-pastor, Fr. Christopher Heath, ground broke for the current chapel and construction was finished in 2005. However, throughout the growth, Rice said, “the charism (or spiritual gift) of the church has been mission.”
Alondra Larios Jimenez, a staffer who has been with the church since childhood, said throughout the changes, the congregation has remained solid and devoted.
“People have a strong identity with the parish,” she said, even those who have moved away return to their home church on Sundays. “People feel
they’re La Purísima.”
LOOKING AHEAD
Fr. Martin Nguyen said the entire congregation worked hard on the Centennial.
“We planned and planned with representatives from all our communities,” he said.
The pastor said the 100th anniversary wasn’t just about the past, “it’s a time of renewal.”
Today, the chapel fills up with eight Sunday services, four in English, three in Spanish and one in Vietnamese.
Throughout the week there are school and countless after-hour community and parish events and clubs.
“We are busy all week,” said Deacon Ricardo Barraza, a congregant since 1998. “We have a lot of work.”
Fr. Nguyen continued: “God has blessed us for the last 100 years and that we’ll have 100 more years of hope, faith, love and service as we continue to grow and thrive.”
Or as Bishop Vann said: “Show that light, so that all who pass by can say, ‘That’s La Purísima.’” C
BISHOP
HUNDREDS PARTICIPATED IN A PROCESSION PRIOR TO THE START OF MASS ON DEC. 7.
THE MESSINESS AND MYSTERY OF CHRISTMAS
BY JOAN PATTEN, AO
OUR EXPERIENCES OF Christmas are as varied as the gifts under the Christmas tree. Relationships are deepened or strained as we encounter one another for dinners, parties, performances and liturgies. The messiness of humanity is often on full display in ourselves, our homes and yes, even in our local parishes. In our haste to create the “perfect” Christmas environment, we can miss the needs of our family, friends and the strangers whom God entrusts to us. We may be noticing with sadness the absence of a loved one. Perhaps there is a spirit of anxiety in our hearts as we anticipate being with relatives who speak critically and are difficult to please. Whether we are joyfully looking forward to Christmas gatherings or anticipating them with dread, the good news is that God has come to be with us, and He dwells in our midst. He is Emmanuel, God with us. Each Christmas, we commemorate the incarnation of God, that is, the particular moment in time when God became human in every way like us. Jesus experienced the limitations, the poverty, the joys and the sorrows of our human condition. He experienced temptations but refused to sin, showing us that we can rely on God, our Heavenly Father, for all our needs. In this way, He makes it possible for us to live like Him with His grace. Jesus assumed all things so as to redeem all things (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church #2633). The story of Christmas reminds us that the messiness of our humanity has encountered the mystery of God’s love.
Although the messiness of our lives remains a reality in this world, we are assured of His presence and saving love actively at work within us. While our suffering and aptness to sin do not simply disappear, they do not have the final word. The more we surrender the
messiness of our lives to God and allow ourselves to be seen and known in the intimacy that happens in prayer, the more we can receive the mystery of our redeemed humanity and proclaim with the psalmist, “I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works!” (Ps. 139:14). When we offer the
among us, and we want to pray for the grace to recognize Him in the ordinary and extraordinary circumstances of our daily lives. We are capable of bearing many trials and burdens, but ultimately, we do not want to be alone. He may not give us what we are asking for or take away our suffering, but we can confidently rest knowing He is laboring to love us.
Let the Lord console you with the gift of His abiding presence and the sweetest words we will hear this Christmas, “I’ll go with you.” Jesus is not offended by our messiness but will go with us into our own sorrow, confusion and family tensions and bring His light, peace and freedom. If we allow the Lord to draw near, we will be a light of Christ for others searching for meaning in the messiness of their lives. Let us reveal the mystery of God’s love by remaining united with Him. Merry Christmas! C
messiness of humanity to the mystery of God’s infinite love, we are brought into the mission of Christ, whose purpose was to restore the dignity of humanity in communion with God.
This Christmas, let us ask God to see the messiness of our lives under the gaze of His love. God has come to dwell
PHOTO BY DAWN MCDONALD ON UNSPLASH
OC Catholic Afar
Ralph Webb and Fr. William Reynolds on Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas somewhere on the Pacific Ocean in Japan. Fr. Reynolds celebrated daily Mass on the ship with over 100 attendees each day.
Ralph Webb and his wife Christy Webb in front of the entrance to the cathedral.
Ralph Webb in front of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Kyoto, Japan.
—Ralph and Christy are parishioners of St. Juliana Falconieri Catholic Church, Fullerton
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.
