OC Catholic Afar
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AUGUST
17, 2025
CONTENTS
MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO 2025 GALA
The annual fundraiser will honor local philanthropists Myron and Mozelle Sukut.
NEW FILIPINO CATHOLIC CENTER OPENS IN ANAHEIM
The new faith center provides a cultural hub for the community.
OCC RECIPE SWAP
Enjoy a simple and hearty chicken dinner with your family.
HOLY TRINITY HOSTS JIM WAHLBERG
The author and activist visited the Ladera Ranch parish to share his life story.
GOD IS THE QUESTION AND ANSWER
It may seem simple when the two are the same, but the truth is anything but.
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: Jarryd Gonzales
Managing Editor: Patricia Mahoney, editor@occatholic.com
News Ideas: editor@occatholic.com
Delivery Problems: occatholicsupport@occatholic.com
ADVERTISING
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.
ROSARY BEADS
READER CALL-OUT
This lovely Rosary belonged to my father, Dr. Edmund Francis Sullivan "Sully" who served in France during WWI. The beads are made of wood, and the beautiful cross has the Prayer of St. Francis on it.
—Ann Sullivan McGlone, St. Anne Parish, Seal Beach.
If you would like to share a photo of your Rosary Beads with our readers, please send a photo and brief description (include your name and parish) to: editor@occatholic.com C
“ The word of God, in fact, makes fruitful and provokes every reality.” — Pope Leo XIV
SAINT PROFILE
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
JUDGES 2:11-19; PSALM 106:34-35, 36-37, 39-40, 43AB AND 44; MATTHEW 19:16-22
TUESDAY
JUDGES 6:11-24A; PSALM 85:9, 11-12, 13-14; MATTHEW 19:23-30
WEDNESDAY
JUDGES 9:6-15; PSALM 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; MATTHEW 20:1-16
THURSDAY
JUDGES 11:2939A; PSALM 40:5, 7-8A, 8B-9, 10; MATTHEW 22:1-14
HELENA CIRCA 255-330
HELENA WAS THE MOTHER of Constantine, the Roman emperor who in 313 ended the persecution of Christians throughout the empire. She was born in Asia Minor, married a Roman general named Constantius Chlorus, and gave birth to Constantine in 274 in what is now Serbia. She became a Christian in 312, and thereafter was known for her devotion, prayerfulness and generosity to the poor. In about 326, she went to the Holy Land, where she spent her last years humbly doing the housework in her convent but also building churches on holy sites. She reportedly found the "true cross" of Calvary.C
FRIDAY
RUTH 1:1, 3-6, 14B16, 22; PSALM 146:56AB, 6C-7, 8-9A, 9BC-10; MATTHEW 22:34-40
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
SATURDAY
RUTH 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17; PSALM 128:1B-2, 3, 4, 5; MATTHEW 23:1-12
SUNDAY
ISAIAH 66:18-21; PSALM 117:1, 2; HEBREWS 12:5-7, 1113; LUKE 13:22-30
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANN SULLIVAN MCGLONE
BAKE A WISH
JSERRA STUDENT’S SWEET IDEA TO GIVE BACK
BY LOU PONSI
WHEN ALEX MARSH, A student at JSerra Catholic High School, turned her passion for baking into a profitable business venture by selling her personally crafted cakes around the neighborhood, her parents encouraged their daughter to donate some of her profits to charity.
That led to a partnership with Family Assistance Ministries in San Clemente, an interfaith nonprofit that provides food, clothing and a variety of services to needy families and individuals in the area.
Guided by a desire to provide a special birthday for kids, Marsh began creating do-it-yourself baking kits, with each box containing all the ingredients needed for youngsters to bake their own birthday cakes, plus baking tools and directions. Party favors are even included.
The cakes are made with shelf-stable ingredients included in the kit.
Marsh calls the service project “Bake A Wish.”
Before long, Marsh, with help from her family, was donating 30 Bake A Wish kits per month to Family Assistance Ministries.
Wanting to add a new layer to Bake A Wish, Marsh applied for and was awarded a fellowship from the Dragon Kim Foundation.
The Dragon Kim Foundation is a nonprofit established by Daniel and Grace Kim, as a way honor the legacy of their son, Dragon, who was tragically killed along with his friend in a camping accident at Yosemite National Park in August 2015. At the time of his death, Dragon had
finished his freshman year at the Orange County School of the Arts, where he and some friends were designing a program which would provide musical instrument instruction to underserved youngsters.
The Dragon Kim fellowship includes a $5,000 scholarship, which has enabled Marsh to not simply donate baking kits, but to hold mini cake-decorating parties, where kids can decorate their cakes and celebrate their birthdays in a festive setting.
“I've always wanted to kind of be able to engage with the kids and expand,” said Marsh, who is entering her senior year at JSerra. “You know, delivering boxes to (Family Assistance Ministries) is amazing, but I also realized that there was a connection missing. And so, it's really incredible that I get to see the kids face to face and be
able to connect with them.”
The foundation receives hundreds of submissions annually and the application process is rigorous and competitive.
Applicants must submit personal statements, transcripts, recommendation letters and present their project idea to a panel of judges.
Of the 600 applications submitted for the 2024-25 school year, 63 were selected for fellowships.
“Really at the end of the day it's about passion and commitment,” said Daniel Kim, Dragon’s father. “A great presentation is somebody that not only presents all the facts, does all the right mechanical things of a presentation, but the things that really move people are the emotions. Can they connect with people at an emotional level?
It’s really all about passion.”
Along with the $5,000 scholarships, students are paired with a mentor and pick up business and leadership skills through a series of training workshops.
“Marsh’s energy and passion for selfless service has made a lasting impression on the staff at Family Assistance Ministries,” said Brooke Utterback, marketing manager for the 25-year-old nonprofit.
“Alex has been such a go-getter,” shared Utterback. “Everyone talks about her as that one high schooler who's just like amazing, super ambitious, going above and beyond.”
Marsh said her source of inspiration is her father, who grew up in a poor mill town in Northern England, where basic
BAKE A WISH FOUNDER ALEX MARSH HELPS HUDSON GRAILOU, 3, OF MISSION VIEJO DECORATE A SMALL CAKE DURING A VOLUNTEER BAKE A WISH EVENT OUTSIDE FAMILY ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES IN SAN CLEMENTE ON JUNE 20. PHOTO BY JEFF ANTENORE/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
needs were scarce.
“My father grew up in poverty, making necessities difficult to obtain and luxuries impossible to afford,” Marsh said. “In fact, growing up, he never had a birthday party or even a birthday cake. As a result, when I became aware of the true scale of the poverty plaguing our American homes, I decided to take a stand and start Bake A Wish.”
The Marsh family also donates time and resources to other nonprofits and Heather Marsh, Alex’s mother, said the family’s proclivity for serving others is an inherent part of their faith as Christians.
FEATURE
“We grew up where family, work, giving back and community were central,” Heather Marsh said.
The family tries to live by the words of St. Luke, she said:
"From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, more will be asked." (Luke 12:48)
“I've made it a point, now that we're able to, in life to really get behind anything that helps kids,” said Chris Marsh, Alex’s father. “So, I'm very involved in other charities, and I like to think that Alex has picked up on some of that inspiration.” C
OF ORANGE
SISTERS ROSE VILLALOBOS, 4, ASHLEY VILLALOBOS, 12, AND MIA VILLALOBOS, 6, FROM LEFT, OF SAN CLEMENTE HELP DECORATE SMALL BIRTHDAY CAKES THAT WILL BE DONATED TO FAMILIES IN NEED WHILE PARTICIPATING IN A BAKE A WISH EVENT OUTSIDE FAMILY ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES IN SAN CLEMENTE.
JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AND BAKE A WISH FOUNDER ALEX MARSH STANDS OUTSIDE FAMILY ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES IN SAN CLEMENTE DURING A VOLUNTEER CAKE-DECORATING EVENT SHE HOSTED, CREATING CAKE BOXES THAT WILL BE DONATED TO CHILDREN ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY, ON JUNE 20. PHOTOS BY JEFF ANTENORE/DIOCESE
SISTERS SIERRA AHLMAN, 3, LEFT, AND LUCY AHLMAN, 5, OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO HELP DECORATE BIRTHDAY CAKES THAT WILL BE DONATED TO FAMILIES IN NEED WHILE PARTICIPATING IN A BAKE A WISH EVENT.
ALEX MARSH, CENTER LEFT, A JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AND BAKE A WISH FOUNDER, STANDS WITH HER FAMILY, HEATHER MARSH, GRACE MARSH AND CHRIS MARSH, FROM LEFT, OUTSIDE FAMILY ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES IN SAN CLEMENTE DURING A VOLUNTEER CAKE-DECORATING EVENT SHE HOSTED, CREATING CAKE BOXES THAT WILL BE DONATED TO CHILDREN ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY.
MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO’S 2025 ROMANCE OF THE MISSION GALA TO HONOR MYRON AND MOZELLE SUKUT
BY MISSION SAN JUAN
THE COVETED ROMANCE of the Mission benefit gala returns to historic Mission San Juan Capistrano on Friday, Sept. 12. Supporting the preservation and stewardship of the Mission, the board of the Mission Preservation Foundation recently announced event honorees Myron Sukut and Mozelle Sukut, Ph.D., for their many contributions to Mission San Juan Capistrano.
“We take exceptional pride in being longtime advocates for all things good in San Juan Capistrano,” said Myron and Mozelle Sukut. “It has been a special joy for us to see the Mission emerge from past challenges to becoming the centerpiece of a thriving, meaningful community. We were especially inspired to support the Mission’s impact on children’s learning about cultures and history. We both believe Mission San Juan Capistrano is worthy of support and are pleased that our efforts have helped it to grow and become a vibrant place serving the community.”
The couple moved to San Juan Capistrano in 1989 and have a strong history of supporting local causes. Mozelle Sukut was instrumental in creating the Artifacts Council and Gardening Angels at the Mission and organized several World Weaving Expos to celebrate the art form. She served on the city's Cultural Heritage Commission and is currently on the city's 250th Anniversary Celebration committee. Myron Sukut is the founder of Santa Ana-based Sukut Construction, well respected in the county’s construction industry. He previously served on the Mission Preservation Foundation Board and was instrumental in building the Boys & Girls Club of Capistrano Valley.
“I’ve known and worked with Myron for many years and he and Mozelle’s
commitment and generosity to San Juan Capistrano, specifically the Mission, is extensive,” said Mission Preservation Board Chair George O’Connell. “These special friends have done so much to help and make a difference here and while we know they typically don’t like publicity, it is our honor and duty to honor their many contributions. On behalf of the board of the Mission Preservation Foundation, we look forward to celebrating this very special couple on September 12.”
A magnificent live concert in the 19th century Ruins of the Great Stone Church will feature singer-songwriter Abi Carter. The Coachella Valley native singer-song writer was the season 22 winner of American Idol . In 2024, she released her album Ghosts in the Backyard , a nostalgic, story-driven collection of music that allows listeners to get to know the person behind the powerful voice. Gala attendees will experience an inspiring and dynamic concert by Carter that aims to encourage others in their own journeys.
Among the major supporters are Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, the gala’s hospitality and catering spon -
sor. Other returning partners include Eden and George O’Connell/O’Connell Family Foundation, Tony and Melinda Moiso/The Moiso Family, Kerry and Gavin S. Herbert Jr./Roger’s Gardens, Dame Connie and Dr. Peter Spenuzza, D Lighting, Brite Ideas, BBJ La Tavola Specialty Linen, Signature Elevated Rentals, Brand Enhance Parking & Hospitality and many others.
The Gala’s 2025 opportunity drawing tickets are $100 and include packages from Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, Hyatt Regency San Francisco, Four Seasons Napa Valley, exquisite cut diamond earrings
by Lugano, a Discovery Cube experience and an original painting Morning Light at the Mission by David Imlay. General gala details and underwriting opportunities are available online. For specific underwriting opportunities or to make a donation for the Mission’s preservation, contact Mechelle Lawrence Adams at (949) 234-1311 or email mlawrence-adams@missionsjc.com For opportunity drawing tickets or to be added to the Gala wait list, contact Mariela Martinez at (949) 234-1312 or email mmartinez@missionsjc.com.
For general details about Mission San Juan Capistrano, visit www.missionsjc. com C
CAPISTRANO STAFF
THE UPCOMING ROMANCE OF THE MISSION BENEFIT GALA WILL TAKE PLACE ON SEPT. 12. PHOTO BY LISA RENEE PHOTOGRAPHY
A NEW CENTER OF FAITH FOR FILIPINO CATHOLICS
BY MEG WATERS
WHEN BISHOP KEVIN
Vann blessed the new Poong Jesus Nazareno Filipino Catholic Center (PJNFCC) in Anaheim on July 21, more than 1,000 attendees were on hand to celebrate the fulfillment of a long-held dream and a miracle. They were, in fact, celebrating many miracles.
In September 2024, Ike Quiaoit, chair of the Diocese of Orange San Jose Filipino Ministry (DOSJFM) and its board thought they should start looking for a place to call home that was large enough to accommodate their growing community, events, liturgies and cultural programs. They had a few thousand dollars in the bank, and the thing Filipino Catholics are most famous for — great faith.
By Feb. 23, 2025, their realtor had found an ideal location: a small Vietnamese Christian church that was moving to a larger space. The church is in a good neighborhood, accessible to not only Orange County, but also LA County and the Inland Empire. The asking price was $4.9 million, but there were many potential buyers, including developers hoping to use the site to build luxury homes.
Quiaoit with wife, Tess, and their 2-year-old grandson, Ezra, went to look at the property on an afternoon on Feb. 24. Three people were there, standing in a prayer circle near the door of the Fellowship Hall. When they finished, they looked up and saw the couple and their grandson and graciously agreed to give them a tour.
The site was perfect.
Ironically, the sellers were praying that day that God would show them to whom they should sell their beloved church.
When they looked up, there was Quiaoit, and they knew, even though they would receive higher offers, that the Catholic Filipino community was the answer to their prayers.
However, to secure the property, they were required to make a $138,000 non-refundable down payment to open escrow in early March 2025. Upon closing, they needed a total of $2.1 million within approximately 12 weeks.
“We began selling raffle tickets at $5 each and prayed,” said Quiaoit. “The board members drew on their resources for larger pledges. Within the community, we found a few more major donors who shared our passion for a permanent home for Filipino culture, faith and education.”
By May 27, they experienced another miracle — they had raised $2.1 million in about 90 days, closed escrow and began to move into their new home on June 1.
Fr. Peter Lavin, A.M., is the Spiritual Director of DOSJFM, a native of the Philippines and high school classmate in Don Bosco of Ike Quiaoit. He heads the religious congregation of the Alagad Ni Maria, an order of priests founded in the Philippines. The Order has served in the diocese for the past 17 years, as parochial vicars in parishes and as chaplains in schools such as Mater Dei, Rosary, Santa Margarita High School and Cal State Fullerton (CSUF).
The center is blessed with replicas of two Catholic images, which are deeply rooted in Filipino Catholic culture. Poong Jesus Nazareno, sometimes called the Black Nazarene, is a life-size 17th-century Mexican carving made of very dark wood depicting Jesus carrying the cross. The other treasure is a replica of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, a 17th-century dark wood carving of the Virgin Mary imported from Mexico a few years after the Poong Jesus Nazareno.
“These images are like the Tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe, to Filipinos,” said Fr. Lavin. “Our spirituality is most similar to Mexico because both countries were under Spanish rule for more than 300
MORE THAN 1,000 ATTENDEES WERE ON HAND TO CELEBRATE THE FULFILLMENT OF A LONG-HELD DREAM OF OPENING A LOCAL FILIPINO CATHOLIC CENTER.
BISHOP KEVIN VANN BLESSES THE NEW POONG JESUS NAZARENO FILIPINO CATHOLIC CENTER (PJNFCC) IN ANAHEIM ON JULY 21. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
years. However, after the Philippines became an American protectorate, the United States encouraged education for the native people. Consequently, our faith deepened. For us, to touch the image is to encounter God.”
The long-term vision is to support the faith that the Filipinos brought to this country and teach their children about their heritage.
The task of implementing the vision is managed by Ike Quiaoit and Becky Tamondong, chair and vice chair, respectively, of DOSJFM and Belle Ibañez, director of Cultural Programs.
Tamondong worked for Catholic Charities for years before transitioning to the DOSJFM.
“There are at least 90,000 Filipino Catholics in Orange County — many more in the surrounding counties. Filipinos are adaptable and easily assimilate into American culture,
JESUS NAZARENO, SOMETIMES CALLED THE BLACK NAZARENE, IS A LIFE-SIZE 17TH-CENTURY MEXICAN CARVING MADE OF VERY DARK WOOD DEPICTING JESUS CARRYING THE CROSS. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
we speak English, so after a few years we feel Americanized,” said Tamondong. “The center is an opportunity to teach our children the Filipino culture, food, music, dance and most importantly, our faith.”
While the center is not intended to replace parishes, members are encouraged to bring what they learn and experience back to their local parish. The center, located at 3700 W. Orange Ave. in Anaheim, will also offer Mass in Tagalog, the native language of the Philippines. Mass is celebrated daily at 6 p.m. in English (closed on Mondays), Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m., both in Tagalog. Confessions are also offered at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday to Friday.
For more detailed information and programs, visit www.dosjfm. com, or call (657) 214-2507.C
POONG
IKE QUIAOIT, CHAIR OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE SAN JOSE FILIPINO MINISTRY POSES WITH ITS VICE CHAIR BECKY TAMONDONG. PHOTO BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
Cross Catholic Outreach Tends to Vulnerable Communities With Food and Emergency Aid
Cross Catholic Outreach, a Vaticanrecognized charity serving impoverished communities around the world, has been mobilizing donors throughout the U.S. to help deliver food and emergency aid where it is needed most. Communities in developing countries and those struck by famine, conflict and natural disasters have critical needs that Cross Catholic Outreach is able to meet through its broad network of in-country ministry partners.
“We act as a vital link between compassionate Catholic donors and the priests, sisters and lay organizations ministering to the urgent needs of the poor and vulnerable,” said Michele Sagarino, president of Cross Catholic Outreach. “So many Catholics in the U.S. want to help, and we ensure their support gets to faith-filled ministries that efficiently and effectively serve those in need.”
One important way the organization meets urgent needs is by producing and shipping a source of nutrition it calls “Vitafood.”
According to Sagarino, Vitafood provides an optimal balance of vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, fat and carbohydrates for a hungry child’s body. This scientifically designed, tried-andtested formula is suitable for adults as well. What’s more, it can be prepared with additional spices or ingredients to suit local tastes.
Cross Catholic Outreach organizes volunteer Catholic groups across the U.S. to package Vitafood, which is then loaded into large shipping containers and sent to developing countries around the globe.
“We love having volunteers help us pack these meals, but we are also looking for donors to help us ship that food to our ministry partners. We need cash donations to cover inland and overseas shipping expenses,” explained Sagarino.
Because the ingredients are often donated and the packaging is done by volunteers, the cost to send Vitafood is extremely low. In fact, every dollar donated sends 14 nutritious meals to families in need!
“Very few donations have such a bang for the buck!” asserted Sagarino.
Vitafood meals have a long shelf life and are easy for families to prepare, so they are used for ongoing feeding programs as well as disaster relief.
“For ministries with feeding programs for the chronically undernourished, regular shipments of Vitafood are an answer to prayer,” Sagarino said. “Other partners of ours use the meals to feed patients in their clinics or students in their schools.
“As Catholics, we recognize that we are all one body in Christ, so when our brothers and sisters go hungry, we feel that pain ourselves,” Sagarino said. “Their needs are urgent, so we should act quickly and make whatever sacrifices are necessary to end their hunger. We should be as motivated to help them as we would be if it were our children who were suffering.”
Cross Catholic Outreach sends several other types of aid to those in urgent need — from medicines to blankets and cleaning supplies. Their team is in close contact with ministry
Many countries are facing a hunger crisis, but Cross Catholic Outreach is working to end that suffering by sending aid to Catholic ministry partners operating in some of the world’s most impoverished communities, such as here in rural Zambia.
partners around the globe who express their needs and are ready to deploy effectively as soon as aid arrives.
U.S. donors who support Cross Catholic Outreach and its partner-run programs play a heroic role in this mission of mercy, with many contributing monthly gifts to ensure aid shipments continue to reach poor communities and areas overcoming natural disasters.
Sagarino made it clear that providing food relief to the poor in the developing world is especially important now.
“Families in developing nations like Haiti, Guatemala, Malawi and Mozambique were already living in extreme poverty and were struggling to pay for the cheapest foods,”
Sagarino said. “When natural disasters strike, they have no way to cut back further. Their only option has been to skip one or more daily meals. It’s heartbreaking to see their children going hungry. That’s why we want to do more to help them.”
Readers interested in supporting Cross Catholic Outreach’s food programs and other outreaches can contribute through the ministry brochure inserted in this issue or send tax-deductible gifts to Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC06014, PO Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090-7168. The ministry needs partners willing to make gifts on a monthly basis. You can use the inserted brochure to become a Cross Mission Partner.
Cross Catholic Outreach Endorsed by More Than 100 Bishops, Archbishops
More than 100 bishops and archbishops have endorsed the relief and development work of Cross Catholic Outreach, commending the crucial role it plays in empowering Catholic missions and ministries in the developing world.
Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, expressed his appreciation in his endorsement: “The work of Cross Catholic Outreach — which provides material poverty alleviation in the developing world — is an inspiration and an example of Catholic social
teaching actualized.”
“We’re proud that so many bishops and archbishops have endorsed our approach,” said Michele Sagarino, president of Cross Catholic Outreach. “They are particularly complimentary of our goal to empower local leaders rather than pursue our own agenda.”
Many of the bishops and archbishops are encouraged that Cross Catholic Outreach has been recognized as an official Catholic ministry with the blessing of the Holy Father since 2015. It is an achievement very few other relief and
development ministries in the world can claim. The organization collaborates closely with the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Service of Charity, also known as the Office of the Papal Almoner.
Cross Catholic Outreach has worked with the Dicastery for the Service of Charity to serve Ukraine war refugees and support other disaster relief efforts around the globe.
“The support from the Vatican as well as our U.S. bishops and archbishops is precious to us,” Sagarino said.
Recently, Sagarino traveled to the Diocese
of Santa Rosa de Lima in Guatemala with Archbishop Rozanski of St. Louis, Bishop Fernandes of Columbus and Bishop Golka of Colorado Springs. There, the group visited beneficiaries of the material aid efforts carried out by the ministry.
“To be here as Chairman of the Board for Cross Catholic Outreach is really a privilege and a great opportunity to witness such wonderful work,” said Archbishop Rozanski. “I thank everybody who has helped make the work of Cross Catholic Outreach possible.”
Catholic Ministry Proudly Serves Poor in Developing Countries, Proclaiming, ‘We Are One Body in Christ’
Through our baptism and ongoing participation in the Holy Eucharist, Catholics everywhere on Earth are brought together as one Body of Christ — it is this unity of souls that has inspired Cross Catholic Outreach’s relief and development work around the globe, according to the ministry’s president, Michele Sagarino.
“This is one of our greatest blessings — we are part of a universal body, united by Christ himself. So, when parts of the body are in pain, through the divine compassion of Christ, we all experience that hurt and are called to respond with relief, healing and hope,” she said. “When Cross Catholic Outreach was founded, we wanted to give people in our country an easy and effective way to help their brothers and sisters in places like Haiti, Guatemala, Malawi and the Philippines.”
The organization’s mission, “to motivate and mobilize the global Catholic Church to transform the poor and their communities materially and spiritually for the glory of Jesus Christ,” has proven incredibly successful. Since 2001, Cross Catholic Outreach has blessed children and families in over 90 countries with over $4.8 billion in aid, Sagarino said.
Last year alone, U.S. donors, inspired by a spirit of Catholic unity, helped provide millions of meals to fight malnutrition, install dozens of clean water systems to supply remote communities, ensure children and the vulnerable elderly receive proper care, replace hundreds of patchwork shacks with sturdy homes, establish new Catholic schools and medical clinics, provide microloans to fund small businesses, and much more.
“We have also been able to establish a special fund to help dioceses, parishes and Catholic communities deal with urgent needs or an unexpected crisis,” Sagarino said. “When a natural disaster strikes or a Catholic ministry faces some other serious challenge, we can respond quickly and effectively because our donors in the U.S. have made gifts specifically for that purpose. Their contributions to our Most Urgent Needs Fund can be the difference between life and death when a community has been hit by a hurricane or devastated by an earthquake or flood. We use it to deliver urgently needed food, lifesaving medicines and whatever else the local leaders need to serve the poor and restore critical services in the impacted communities.”
Father Glenn Meaux baptizes a baby at the Kobonal Haiti Mission, an oasis of peace in a country torn by violence. This beautifully demonstrates being one body in Christ and the critical role the Church plays in sharing hope with those most vulnerable.
According to Sagarino, that special fund has also been instrumental in Cross Catholic Outreach’s effort to help refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. Desperate women and children flooded into Poland, and the Catholic leaders there needed support to implement a very specific relief plan. The Most Urgent Needs Fund allowed them to offer those families food, shelter, counseling and more.
“In cases like that, some charities will ship in the resources they have on hand — maybe food or donated clothing — but we start by asking Church leaders in the area exactly what they need to achieve their goals. They know the best way to proceed. If they want food, we can use the Most Urgent Needs Fund to send those meals or provide a grant so food can be bought locally, which speeds up the process and can help ensure families don’t go hungry,” Sagarino said. “We respect the role of local Catholic leaders and want them to succeed, so we focus our efforts on providing supportive resources and helping fund
the ministries they create.”
Taking this supportive role is another way Cross Catholic Outreach honors its belief that we are all one body in Christ.
“We have a duty to care for others who are a part of this one body,” Sagarino said. “If part of our Catholic body is hurting or faces an unexpected crisis, we need to get involved.
How to Help
Often, the most effective thing we can do is empower the work those Church leaders have undertaken. I urge anyone who wants to alleviate the suffering of our brothers and sisters around the globe to do so by making a gift to our Most Urgent Needs Fund. It is a great way to respond to changing needs in a dynamic and impactful way.”
To fund Cross Catholic Outreach’s effort to help the poor worldwide, use the postage-paid brochure inserted in this newspaper or mail your gift to Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC06014, PO Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090-7168. The brochure also includes instructions for becoming a Mission Partner and making a regular monthly donation to this cause.
If you identify an aid project, 100% of the donation will be restricted to be used for that specific project. However, if more is raised for the project than needed, funds will be redirected to other urgent needs in the ministry.
BISHOP VANN MEETS WITH POPE LEO XIV
BY STAFF
BISHOP KEVIN VANN recently reunited with his former classmate and our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, during a papal audience in Rome!
On Aug. 1, Bishop Vann visited the Vatican with Most Reverend José H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles.
Bishop Vann, accompanied by Fr. David Moreno, the Bishop of Orange’s Priest Secretary and Master of Ceremonies, presented Pope Leo with a special gift box, prepared by Hispanic young people from Garden Grove.
The box contained:
■ An image of Christ Cathedral
■ A crystal figurine of the cathedral
■ A commemorative book about the cathedral campus
■ A document about the Diocese of Orange's efforts to support our migrant brothers and sisters
It also contained a class photo featuring Bishop Vann and Pope Leo (formerly known as Fr. Robert Prevost) when the two studied canon law together (1981-1985) at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, also known as the Angelicum. C
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Join OC Catholic’s Recipe Swap!
Sharing recipes highlights the importance of gathering with family, friends and our broader Diocese of Orange faith community.
Please share your favorite recipes, along with your name and parish. Send your favorite seasonal dish, or a recipe that has special meaning to you or your family. Tell us why it’s important to you! Our editors will pick their favorites to be featured in OC Catholic throughout the year.
Submissions must include a photo of the completed recipe. Categories are entrees, appetizers, side dishes, beverages and desserts. Send your recipes and photos to: editor@occatholic.com
OC CATHOLIC RECIPE SWAP ASIAGO MUSHROOM CHICKEN
INGREDIENTS
■ 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast, about 2 large chicken breasts
HERE IS A NICE AND easy chicken option for dinner.
—Submitted by Ron Kuzlik, contributing writer for OC Catholic.
■ 2 c mushrooms cut in half
■ 1 clove garlic minced
■ 3 sprigs thyme
■ 1 1/2 c dry white wine
■ 1/2 c seasoned flour
■ 2 tbs butter
■ 2 tbs olive oil
■ 1/2 c heavy cream
■ 1/3 c shredded asiago cheese
■ 1/2 tsp. salt or to taste
■ 1/4 tsp. pepper or to taste
DIRECTIONS
Pound chicken breast with a meat mallet between two sheets of waxed paper or plastic wrap until meat is uniform thickness: about 1/4-inch. Cut into serving-sized pieces (two or three pieces per breast).
Heat the butter with 1-tbsp. of olive oil in deep, heavy skillet or sauté pan over medium heat.
Dredge chicken in seasoned flour. Add to hot oil/butter in skillet. Sauté until golden on each side, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from pan.
Add remaining olive oil to hot skillet. Sauté mushrooms and garlic until mushrooms begin to brown.
Bruise the fresh thyme by twisting it between your fingers or hitting it with the dull side of a knife in a few places to release flavor and aroma. Add thyme to mushroom/ wine mixture in pan.
Add the chicken back to the pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
Remove chicken from pan. Add the cream and heat thoroughly.
Cook, stirring constantly over low heat until cheese melts. Continue cooking until sauce is reduced by about half.
Add chicken back to pan and heat thoroughly.
Garnish with sprigs of fresh thyme. May be served as is or over any pasta. Enjoy! C
PHOTO COURTESY OF RON KUZLIK
HOLY TRINITY PARISH HOSTS AUTHOR AND ACTIVIST JIM WAHLBERG
BY MEG WATERS
JIM WAHLBERG — noted author, producer and a Catholic activist — recently shared his life story with Holy Trinity parishioners. It’s a story of pain, addiction, faith and redemption that began far from the lights of Hollywood, in a rough neighborhood of Boston, where life was hard and lines were blurred.
Wahlberg, brother of famed actor Mark and boy bander Donnie, grew up in Dorchester, Massachusetts, a place where everyone knew his name. More specifically, law enforcement, social services and the juvenile justice system were on a first name basis with the neighborhood bad boy who began drinking at age 8, robbing homes at 12, living on the streets and perfecting what he calls “The Big Hustle.”
Born in the middle of a family of 9 children, he believed in nothing and valued nothing, especially himself. By age 17, Wahlberg began what would be 14 years in a maximum-security prison. Despite the darkness, God had a plan that began with the prison chaplain, Fr. Jim Fratus. The priest invited Wahlberg to help him with the chapel and serving
Mass.
“I’m looking at him, and the cigarette he was smoking, and I’m like thinking what can I get out of this situation? What I’m not thinking about is being brought to the foot of the cross, I’m not thinking about being introduced to Jesus, but I said OK,” said Wahlberg.
In June of 1988, Mother Teresa visited the prison. Fr. Fratus asked Wahlberg to be part of the procession along with the Boston archbishop and other dignitaries into the chapel to celebrate Mass with Mother Teresa. The archbishop asked Mother Teresa to sit beside him on the altar, but she said “no, backs away from the
altar and kneels down in the aisle,” recalled Wahlberg.
“I’d never seen anything like it,” he continued, “wasn’t she the star of the show? She needs to be up there shining, right? But Mother put all the focus on Jesus, never herself. I just remember looking over at her and feeling like I was looking at the face of God.”
That was the beginning of a long journey that continues to unfold in Wahlberg’s story. It was tough, and it’s not over yet. The story is detailed in Wahlberg’s book “The Big Hustle.”
The presentation was part of Holy Trinity parish’s 20th jubilee
speaker series. Wahlberg, now age 59, spoke to the power of redemption, hope and how God can work in even the most difficult cases.
“Although Dorchester in the 70s and 80s is a far cry from Ladera Ranch in the 2020s, I heard from many of the parents there that the presentation gave them hope for their loved ones who suffered from addiction, brushes with the law or had lost their faith,” said Holy Trinity’s pastor, Fr. Michael St. Paul. “We all pray for a conversion of one sort or another.”
To learn more about upcoming events at Holy Trinity parish, visit https://holytrinityladera.org/ C
HOLY TRINITY WELCOMED JIM WAHLBERG ON AUG. 1 AS PART OF THE PARISH’S 20TH JUBILEE SPEAKER SERIES. PHOTOS BY JEFF ANTENORE/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
FR. MICHAEL ST. PAUL BLESSES JIM WAHLBERG AHEAD OF HIS SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT AT HOLY TRINITY PARISH IN LADERA RANCH.
GOD IS THE ASK AND THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS
BY DEACON KEVIN DUTHOY
IN LUKE 11:1-13, the disciples ask Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Their request should make us wonder who or what teaches us to pray today — Jesus or the modern world?
For some, prayer resembles placing an order with Amazon. We go to the website, make our selections tailored to our desires, and expect to quickly receive exactly what we ordered. We pay the charges — almsgiving, good deeds, faithfulness — and expect the desired outcome. But prayer is not a transaction, and God is not an e-commerce vendor.
This approach might seem effective until we do not get what we ordered. When our prayers appear unanswered, we often feel frustrated, disappointed, even angry. We followed the process, prayed sincerely, yet we didn’t get what we wanted. We may wonder why our prayer went unanswered, or worse yet, was denied — was it my fault or was God even listening? Why didn’t we receive what we asked for, find what we searched for, or the door we knocked at open. The problem isn’t just disappointment; it’s that we reduce prayer to an almost instantaneous online transaction lacking encounter and relationship. When that happens, we misunderstand not only prayer, but also who God is and how He reveals Himself and relates to us.
If prayer is just about living faithfully and asking rightly, why wasn’t Jesus’ own prayer granted in the Garden of Gethsemane? He asked to be spared the Cross — yet was crucified. Clearly, prayer is more than just asking and getting what we want. When the disciples asked Jesus to
teach them to pray, He didn’t give them a method to get what they ordered. He gave them the Our Father. This prayer is not a list of demands; it is a revelation of who God is and who we are in relationship with Him, sons and daughters, an unchanging reality distinct from our petitions. It speaks of presence and dependence, not transaction. It informs us that God is already near, already knows and already at work while we acknowledge the glory of God “as it was …, is now, and ever shall be.”
When we pray, we are stepping into an eternal relationship. “Our Father” is a claim of belonging and trust. “Daily bread” acknowledges that everything we need — physical, emotional, spiritual — comes not from ourselves, but from God in daily doses so we remain connected. It reminds us that we, by ourselves, are not enough and were never meant to be. We are meant to live in dependent communion with the One who created us.
The petition for forgiveness — of
ourselves and others — reveals something essential: to remain in relationship with God, we must be in right relationship with one another. Forgiveness is the prerequisite for His healing, love and presence.
And then Jesus adds, “how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” That’s the answer to all prayer: God gives His very self — His Spirit, His love, His mercy, His strength. He is the ask and the answer. His gifts are not limited to solutions or interventions. Not always the “what” we desire, but the “who,” the nurturing presence we need. To paraphrase St. Paul: if God is in us, who can be against us?
Through this relationship, we are made capable of enduring and growing through whatever life brings — happiness, sorrow, success or failure. At times, we understand this and find peace. Other times, we struggle to accept it. During those struggles, like the disciples, we too can turn to Jesus and ask, “Lord, teach us to pray”… persistently. C
PHOTO BY HUGO FERGUSSON ON UNSPLASH
OC Catholic Afar
Astrid Carias Baloun is pictured in Antigua, Guatemala. The church is San José Cathedral Antigua.
“When I walked into the church, I was filled with emotion seeing so many people full of faith on their knees with their petitions in prayer. It was the week of April 5, 2025, just before Holy Week. Inside, the church was beautifully decorated.”
—Astrid attends St. Timothy Catholic Church in Laguna Woods.
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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