OC CATHOLIC - AUGUST 2, 2026

A PILMGRIMAGE CLOSE TO HOME

AUGUST 2, 2026

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

AN IRISH PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH PAGE 5 PARISHIONERS FROM ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH IN HUNTINGTON BEACH WENT ON A 10-DAY PILGRIMAGE TO IRELAND WITH FR. KEVIN SWEENEY, PASTOR, AS THEIR LEADER. A TOTAL OF 54 PILGRIMS SET OUT TO VISIT SOME OF THE MOST HOLY PLACES IN IRELAND. THE PILGRIMAGE INCLUDED MASS AT THREE SACRED CHURCHES: OUR LADY OF KNOCK, CROAGH PATRICK AND LOUGH DERG. THIS GROUP PHOTO WAS TAKEN AT ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CHURCH, UPPER GARDNER, DUBLIN. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDY SISON

Attention summer travelers!

Send us your ‘OC Catholic Afar’ photo!

You’ll be entered to win a $50, $25 or $15 gift card. All entries will be featured in an upcoming issue of Orange County Catholic!

OC Catholic Afar

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Claire Wilson traveled to Antarctica with a copy of OC Catholic in tow. Known as a “polar desert,” it is the highest, driest, coldest and windiest continent on Earth.

The pyramid

—Claire is a parishioner at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods. a.

Super Bowl! in Santa Clar made it to the Levi’s Stadium OC Catholic on Feb. 8 at i Stadium. er Bowl LX held played at SoF awks for Sup year when it’s the Seattle Seah next nst ia agai forn off faced trip to Cali land Patriots Ranch. make a return The New Eng rch in Ladera est game will Catholic Chu The NFL’s bigg , Holy Trinity — Bill Mahoney

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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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Send travel pictures of yourself, family or friends to editor@occatholic.com. Photos from any destination — like a church, a hiking trail or a cruise — are welcome! Please include a brief description of the photo, location, the name of the people featured in the photo and your home parish in Orange County. Your photo must include someone holding an issue of OC Catholic to be entered to win.

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Photos must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 7 (Labor Day) to be entered to win. Only high-resolution photos will be considered for publication in the print edition of OC Catholic.

Photos become the property of the Diocese of Orange and may be used for publication in OC Catholic or by the Diocese for print or online publication or social media purposes. Three gift card winners will be randomly selected by OCC staff. Only photos depicting locations outside of Orange County are eligible to win.

AUGUST 2, 2026

CONTENTS

7 8 10 14

BEACON OF LIGHT

San Francisco Solano parish’s annual fiesta brought music, food and games to the community.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL MENTALLY READY

The return to the classroom requires more than just new clothes and stationery.

THE MOST IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF THE YEAR?

The World Mission Sunday collection will take place this year on Oct. 18.

FROM MEMORY TO MISSION

Recalling God’s blessings calls us to action in His name.

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

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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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DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

SACRAMENTS

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Peace is built on respect for peoples!

— Pope Leo XIV

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID AND VALERIE MEYERS

READER CALL-OUT

This is a photo of our son, John Meyers, SJ, at his ordination ceremony as a transitional deacon. The ceremony took place at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, California. We enjoyed seeing his love and laughter on this special day.

Assisting him with his robes is Fr. Bob McCann, pastor of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Oakland, who has been a mentor.

—David and Valerie Meyers, St. Timothy Parish in Laguna Niguel.

SAINT PROFILE

PETER JULIAN EYMARD

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1811-1868

HE PATRON SAINT OF eucharistic devotion, Peter Julian began adult life, like his father, as a cutler. But he became a priest of the French Alpine Diocese of Grenoble in 1834. In 1839, he left diocesan service to become a Marist priest and eventually became provincial of his congregation at Lyons. But, after making a pilgrimage in 1851, he understood that Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, to whom he was utterly devoted, had no specific religious institute. Subsequently, he founded the Congregation of the Priests of the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, an order of sisters, both devoted to perpetual adoration. He was canonized in 1962. C

OC Catholic is looking for photos of our readers receiving their Holy Sacraments. Baptisms, First Communions, Weddings — we want to see your special day!

Please include a brief description of the photo and why it is special to you. Include your name and home parish, and send to: editor@occatholic.com

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

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PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

JEREMIAH 28:1-17; PSALM 119:29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102; MATTHEW 14:13-21

JEREMIAH 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22; PSALM 101:16-18, 19-21, 29 AND 22-23; MATTHEW 14:22-36

JEREMIAH 31:1-7; JEREMIAH 31:10, 1112AB, 13; MATTHEW 15:21-28

DANIEL 7:9-10, 13-14, PSALM 97:1-2, 5-6, 9, 2 PETER 1:16-19 (THERE IS A SECOND READING TODAY), MATTHEW 17:1-9

NAHUM 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7; DEUTERONOMY 32:35CD-36AB, 39ABCD, 41; MATTHEW 16:24-28

HABAKKUK 1:12–2:4; PSALM 9:8-9, 10-11, 12-13; MATTHEW 17:14-20

1 KINGS 19:9A, 11-13A; PSALM 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14; ROMANS 9:1-5; MATTHEW 14:22-33

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FEATURE

AN IRISH PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH

BY RON KUZLIK

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GROUP OF 54 PILGRIMS from St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Huntington Beach recently returned from a 10-day parish trip to Ireland.

The trip came to fruition after Fr. Sweeney was invited to a concert in Vista, Calif., to hear the Irish tenor Emmet Cahill and the Irish singing group Celtic Thunder.

“It was a great concert,” Fr. Kevin said.

“Afterward, I was able to meet and talk with Emmet. I asked if he would consider doing a concert in my parish when he was in the U.S. again before Christmas.”

At the time, Cahill’s accompanist Seamus Brett mentioned that he and Cahill also do some group tours of Ireland.

“From then we started talking about the possibility of putting a parish tour together. It gained traction and by the time Emmet and Seamus came for the Christmas concert, we had a good number of people already signed up.”

Led by Fr. Kevin, the pilgrimage also included Deacon Angelo Giambrone and Brother Thomas Weldon, F.S.P. “We visited many important holy sites, historical sites and fun sites, some of which I had never been to before, like Downpatrick where St. Patrick, St. Bridget and St. Colmcille are buried,” Fr. Kevin said.

Judy Wisenbaker reflected on her experience.

“We were a group of ‘pilgrims’ from diverse backgrounds,” she said. “Most of us didn’t know each other; however, by the end of the trip we all came together to support each other physically, emotionally and spiritually.”

After an overnight flight and arrival followed by a respite in Dublin, Mass was celebrated at St. Sylvester’s Catholic Church, Malahide, in County Dublin, and

APPARITION CHAPEL AT OUR LADY OF KNOCK SHRINE. FR. KEVIN SWEENEY CELEBRATES MASS WITH DEACON ANGELO GIAMBRONE ASSISTING. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDY SISON

a visit to the St. Brigid Shrine in Faughart, County Louth, the birthplace of St. Brigid.

Then the group headed along the northern coast toward Downpatrick, the burial site of St. Patrick at Down Cathedral and exploring the legacy and history of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

En route stops included the Round Tower at Monasterboice in County Louth, one of the tallest towers in Ireland, and the High Crosses, including the West Cross, the tallest cross in Ireland.

The day included a visit to Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, and part of the United Kingdom since the partition of Ireland in 1921. After a bus tour of

historic Belfast, other stops included the famous Giants Causeway and Lough Eske Castle in Donegal and a private concert with Emmet Cahill.

Also featured was a visit to Titanic Belfast, where the RMS Titanic was designed, built and launched before its fateful maiden voyage to New York when it famously struck an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic in 1912.

The itinerary for the next day began with Mass at St. Patrick’s Basilica in Lough Derg, the first pilgrimage site on the tour. It was here, at St. Patrick’s Purgatory, that legend has it that Christ revealed a cave as an entrance to Purgatory.

“It was a privilege to be able to celebrate Mass there and join with the communion of saints who have prayed there for many centuries,” Fr. Kevin reflected.

The next pilgrimage site was a visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock, known as the Knock Shrine. This site honors the apparition in 1879 of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist.

“Our group was able to have Mass in the apparition chapel attached to the back wall of the old church where the apparition took place,” Fr. Kevin reported.

“Emmet Cahill even sang ‘Our Lady of CONTINUES ON PAGE 6

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FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Knock.’”

The third and final pilgrimage site was Croagh Patrick, considered to be the holiest mountain in Ireland. It has been considered as such ever since St. Patrick is said to have spent 40 days fasting on the summit.

The day was finished at the National Famine Memorial. It is the largest bronze sculpture in Ireland in the form of an immigrant ship whose rigging is composed of skeletal figures, dedicated to the millions who died in the Irish Potato Famine in the mid-1800s. Millions of others fled the country, most notably emigrating to the United States and Canada.

Mass the following day was celebrated at Kylemore Abbey, concelebrated with the Benedictine Nuns’ chaplain and Fr. Kevin.

The Abbey was originally built as a private estate in 1868. It now serves as a monastery and retreat center.

Later was a visit to the Quiet Man Museum, on the site where the movie “The Quiet Man” was filmed, starring John Wayne.

The next stop was shopping and sightseeing in Galway, followed by Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Emmet Cahill’s family parish.

The last stop of the pilgrimage before returning to Dublin, was Glendalough, a monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century in County Wicklow.

Finally, back to Dublin where the group had a city tour of Dublin followed by a visit to Pope John Paul II Park with the Papal Cross and nearby Phoenix Park where Pope St. John Paul II celebrated Mass during his visit to Ireland in 1979.

The closing Mass of the Ireland 2026 tour and pilgrimage was concelebrated

by Fr. Kevin at St. Francis Xavier Church in Dublin, the parish of Seamus Brett, Emmet Cahill’s accompanist.

And what trip to Ireland would be complete without partaking in Taylor’s Irish Night and Cabaret at the renowned Taylor’s Three Rock, a historic, thatchedroof pub located in Dublin?

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Many of the pilgrims commented on their pilgrimage experience to the Emerald Isle.

Michelle Gregorian has a memory that she will always treasure.

“I’ll always remember watching Fr.

KYLEMORE ABBEY CHURCH IN CONNEMARA. FR. KEVIN SWEENEY HAD A VERY RARE OPPORTUNITY TO CONCELEBRATE MASS AT THE ABBEY WITH THE BENEDICTINE SISTERS. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDY SISON

THE NATIONAL FAMINE MEMORIAL IN DUBLIN, IRELAND. PHOTO BY D. KONISHI ON UNSPLASH

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Kevin celebrate Mass while we were in Ireland,” she said. “You could see how happy he was to be there with his flock, and that joy made the Mass feel even more special.”

Maureen Andrews, sister of Fr. Kevin, and her husband Monte were also on the trip.

“For me, Ireland has always been the dream trip for Monte and me,” said Maureen, who celebrated her birthday in Ireland.

She continued, “I think my favorite part of the trip was getting to go to Kevin's Masses and having Emmet singing at them. And having Emmet sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to me has spoiled me for life!”

Fr. Kevin said the trip was a wonderful combination of prayer mixed with history and fun.

“I am a great promoter of St. Patrick as an evangelist missionary. From the roots of the faith in Ireland, Irish missionaries have gone out to the far corners of the world.”

Emmet Cahill has been invited to give a Christmas Concert at St. Vincent de Paul in December. C

THE GIANTS CAUSEWAY IN NORTHERN IRELAND. PHOTO BY PHIL AICKEN ON UNSPLASH

DIOCESAN NEWS

BEACON OF LIGHT: PARISH FIESTA PROMOTES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

BY LOU PONSI

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AN FRANCISCO SOLANO Catholic Church expanded its annual Fiesta de Solano this year, offering more rides, games, food options, vendors and activities — all intended to re-energize community engagement.

The goal was to make the entire Rancho Santa Margarita community feel welcome at the three-day festival, and not just promote the event within the parish, said Fr. Duy Le, parochial administrator of Solano.

“We wanted to make sure that this church is a beacon of light for all of Rancho Santa Margarita, all of Orange County,” Fr. Duy said. “We wanted to make sure that Rancho Santa Margarita knows that they are invited, that they belong here. It doesn't belong to the people who sit in those pews. It belongs to them.”

The festival was staged in the Solano parking lot and in the adjacent Santa Margarita Catholic High School parking lot.

For many parishioners, the annual festival has become both a multigenerational family outing and an opportunity to serve.

That was the case for longtime parishioner Dennis Shoji, who attended the festival with his wife, two adult sons and daughter, their spouses and all six grandchildren.

“Just about everybody volunteers,” said Shoji, a parishioner for about 30 years. “My wife and I volunteered at the hamburger stand. She also did the information booth. And the grandkids were helping at the basketball booth. So, it's very nice to have them do this. We enjoy doing this together.”

Santa Margarita Catholic High School

THE ANNUAL FIESTA DE SOLANO HOSTED BY SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CATHOLIC CHURCH IN RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA FEATURED CARNIVAL RIDES, LIVE MUSIC, FOOD VENDORS AND A FAMILY-FRIENDLY KID ZONE. PHOTOS BY LOU PONSI

FIESTA ATTENDEES ENJOY THE RIDES AT SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CATHOLIC CHURCH IN RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA.

(SMCH) senior Jaylin Nigro, 17, has been attending the Fiesta de Solano for as long as she can remember.

An endearing memory from her childhood was buying toy swords at the festival with her brother and spending

the weekend “fighting each other” while hanging out with her friends from St. Serra Catholic School.

“We love Fiesta,” she said. “Especially being here with my family, it’s great. It’s bonded us together and helped us grow in our faith together. I’ve been walking around, seeing people who don’t even go to Solano but come to this event. It’s a great way to bring the whole community together, even if they aren’t Catholic.”

Nigro still loves the festival, but her relationship with the event has shifted from participant to volunteer, helping at her family’s booth selling cupcakes.

“I love giving back to my community,” she said. “I feel like they’ve done so much for me, and this is just a way where I can give back to them.”

Luc Chantarapan, 18, has been coming to the festival since 2012 and said he has watched the event evolve from a small parish gathering into a large community celebration that now attracts people from multiple churches and schools.

“I just think it's cool how much it's grown,” said Chantarapan, who just graduated from SMCHS and plans to play junior hockey in Wyoming in the fall.

“Now I have so many people from other churches really far away … some of my friends who I haven't seen even anywhere near the church.”

Fr. Duy said the festival provides an ideal setting for drawing more community members to the church and the Catholic faith, and encouraged Solano parishioners to serve as evangelists.

“Be Jesus' hands and feet and His smile and His words for everyone,” he said. “We have a lot of things to celebrate, but the greatest thing that we celebrate is the gift that God allows us to call others to Him. We wanted to make sure that this church is a beacon of light for all of Rancho Santa Margarita, all of Orange County.” C

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DIOCESAN NEWS

BACK-TO-SCHOOL MENTALLY READY

BY SHARON ST. PIERRE, LCSW, CLINICAL DIRECTOR, NEW HOPE COUNSELING, CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ORANGE COUNTY

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EADY OR NOT, the new school year is just around the corner. As parents prepare for the first day back, many are busy checking off lists that include uniforms, school supplies, lunch boxes, classroom donations and all the essentials needed for a successful year. But one important item is often overlooked: preparing both children and parents emotionally and mentally for the transition back to school.

For some children, returning to school can bring excitement and anticipation. For others, it may bring stress, uncertainty or anxiety. Children who have strong attachments to their parents may struggle with separation. Those with ADHD or challenges related to attention, concentration, impulsivity or executive functioning may find the return to structured routines especially difficult.

Children who have experienced bullying, social difficulties or academic struggles may also feel hesitant about going back.

Even children who simply enjoyed the freedom and fun of summer may resist the transition.

Parents often have mixed emotions as well. While many look forward to the return of routine and structure, concerns about their child's adjustment can quickly surface. Questions such as, Will my child make friends? Will they be able to speak up for themselves? How will I know if they are struggling emotionally? are common. Changes within the school environment, such as a new principal, new teachers or unfamiliar classmates, can create additional worry for both parents and children.

It is also important to recognize that parents sometimes have expectations that do not align with their child's developmental stage. We may assume that

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PHOTO BY SLAV ZATOKA, CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ORANGE COUNTY

children can simply "tough it out" when faced with challenges, but emotional distress is often more complex.

Today, anxiety, depression, self-harm behaviors and suicidal thoughts among youth are increasing concerns. With busy schedules, extracurricular activities and academic demands, mental and emotional well-being can easily be overlooked.

Helping children prepare emotionally and spiritually for the return to school is just as important as purchasing school supplies. Open conversations about feelings, fears and expectations can help children feel supported and understood.

Encouraging healthy coping skills, establishing routines before school begins and fostering resilience can make the transition smoother and more successful.

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To support families during this important season, New Hope Counseling will be offering a series of parent webinars on topics including separation anxiety, ADHD, bullying and how to talk with children about mental health. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of these valuable resources by scanning the QR code and registering for the sessions that best meet their needs. All webinars will be recorded and available for viewing at your convenience.

This school year, don't just get your child ready academically. Help them become emotionally prepared as well.

Get Back-to-School Mentally Ready! C

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I N Q U I R E

V I S I T

A P P L Y

GUEST COLUMN

THE MOST IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF THE YEAR?

BY MICHAEL MITCHELL, TPMS-USA WORLD MISSION SUNDAY DIRECTOR

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MERICAN CATHOLICS are accustomed to second collections at Mass on Sunday mornings. Many of us often do not really know precisely what the money we contribute to these collections is going to be used for. If the Church endorses it, and the basket is passed, we try to give something.

But if we knew more about the collection, its connection to our faith and its impact, we might want to give more generously.

I think that’s definitely the case with regard to the World Mission Sunday collection that will take place this year on Oct. 18.

The World Mission Sunday collection helps the Church spread the Gospel in missionary lands. These are places (1,130 of them to be exact) where the Church basically barely exists, or where she is so young, poor, or persecuted that she cannot support herself in terms of personnel and resources.

World Mission Sunday is first and foremost a day of prayerful solidarity for missionaries and mission Churches. But

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it’s also a day on which we try to help them succeed. World Mission Sunday features the only collection mandated in the Church’s canon law, because it’s essential to the Church’s carrying out the mission Jesus entrusted to us to proclaim the Gospel to all people and nations.

What’s raised on World Mission Sunday is used to make possible the heroic work of missionary bishops, priests, religious sisters and lay catechists who labor, sometimes under threat of death, to share our faith. It helps build churches, seminaries, convents and catechetical centers. It provides basic needs like transport, food and shelter. It helps pass on the faith to children and to their parents.

Nowhere is this reality more vivid than in a place like Mongolia. This is one of the youngest Catholic communities on earth. If you don’t count the occasional forays by missionaries in times long past, Mongolia has only had a stable Catholic community for just over 30 years.

It was in 1992, following the fall of communism, that three Catholic missionary priests arrived from Italy.

At the time, there were zero Catholics

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except them. But today, thanks to the hard work of these missionaries, supported in large part by World Mission Sunday, about fifty Mongolians a year have become Catholic. As of Easter Sunday, there are exactly 1,575 baptized Catholics in a nation of over 3.5 million people.

The Church in Mongolia is the missionary frontier in the fullest sense, and most of this work has been made possible by the support the missionaries receive from abroad, especially World Mission Sunday. The first three missionaries, and the two dozen or so missionaries who have followed them, are literally building the Church from scratch. Even today, the first seminary is still in its planning stages, and the first native priest was ordained only in 2016. These Catholics are in the exhilarating but fragile phase of first-generation faith.

Monsignor Roger Landry, National Director of The Pontifical Mission Societies-USA, helps oversee the distribution of the World Mission Sunday collection to these remote places that need prayerful solidarity and financial support, making sure every U.S. Dollar is stretched as far as possible. He has

highlighted Mongolia as a powerful example of why World Mission Sunday matters: “Mongolia is at the frontier of the Church’s mission. Two thousand years after Christ’s death and resurrection, most Mongolians have never heard of Jesus’ saving name, not to mention been exposed to his teaching and had the chance to enter his life through the Sacraments. In 2024, there were 1,516 Catholics; in 2025, 1,549. Today, 1,575.

That’s less than converted on Pentecost in Jerusalem and less than most U.S. parishes! It's an honor to witness and help the courageous Catholics in Mongolia to live out Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed, starting small but eventually growing into a large tree where all the birds of the air will find refuge!”

Last year, support from U.S. Catholics helped the Church in Mongolia expand a formation center to train catechists and Church workers to bring the faith more effectively throughout their vast country, as well as a study center where the Christian classics can be translated into Mongolian. Right now, only the Bible exists in Mongolian; at the new study center, the translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is underway, together with writings of the popes and classics from the saints.

Pope Leo XIV recently said, speaking about World Mission Sunday, that it helps “remind people in the older churches, if you will, in the established churches, how important it is that they too join in the missionary spirit of the whole Church (June 1, 2026)."

This Oct. 18, when your parish takes up the World Mission Sunday collection, I hope you will join this “missionary spirit” of the Church, considering the people in Mongolia. Their names and faces, and their dreams, are the names, faces and dreams of World Mission Sunday. C

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Attention summer travelers! Send us your ‘OC Catholic Afar’ photo!

You’ll be entered to win a $50, $25 or $15 gift card. All entries will be featured in an upcoming issue of Orange County Catholic!

Send travel pictures of yourself, family or friends to editor@occatholic.com. Photos from any destination — like a church, a hiking trail or a cruise — are welcome! Please include a brief description of the photo, location, the name of the people featured in the photo and your home parish in Orange County. Your photo must include someone holding an issue of OC Catholic to be entered to win.

O C Catholic Afar

OC Catholic Afar

Claire Wilson traveled to Antarctica with a copy of OC Catholic in tow. Known as a “polar desert,” it is the highest, driest, coldest and windiest continent on Earth.

Bowl!

Clara. it to the Super Stadium in Santa Feb. 8 at Levi’s Bowl LX held on at SoFi Stadium.

Seahawks for Super year when it’s played against the Seattle California next Patriots faced off a return trip to The New England Ranch. game will make Church in Ladera The NFL’s biggest Holy Trinity Catholic — Bill Mahoney, OC Catholic made

—Claire is a parishioner at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods.

O C Catholic Afar

Todd Anh Ha sits atop a camel in front of the Great The pyramid houses Giza Pyramid in the tomb of King Cairo, Egypt.

Khufu and was the tallest structure in the world for —Todd attends 3,800 years.

St. Polycarp Catholic Church in Stanton.

Photos must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 7 (Labor Day) to be entered to win. Only high-resolution photos will be considered for publication in the print edition of OC Catholic. Photos become the property of the Diocese of Orange and may be used for publication in OC Catholic or by the Diocese for print or online publication or social media purposes. Three gift card winners will be randomly selected by OCC staff. Only photos depicting locations outside of Orange County are eligible to win.

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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. interesting places We want your photos! churches and other visiting Catholic home parish.

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FEATURE

A PILGRIMAGE CLOSE TO HOME

BY BRITNEY ZINT

T

HERE ARE MANY wellknown Catholic pilgrimages worldwide, but Orange County’s faithful do not need to travel far to experience their own local pilgrimage.

Within Orange County or a fourhour drive are religious sites that can be visited without a passport or even a large budget. From Orange County’s own Christ Cathedral to the missions in San Diego, San Juan Capistrano and up the Central Coast, locals can visit such spiritual locations or create their own pilgrimages from San Diego up to Santa Barbara within 310 miles.

However, there is a difference between a vacation and a pilgrimage, noted Fr. Christopher Heath, who as director of the diocesan archives and Mission Office has conducted several pilgrimage groups. While nonCatholics do travel to sacred sites, the mindset for those on a pilgrimage is different, he said.

“On a tour, one is more of a consumer looking for something new or exciting, and perhaps trying to get as much experience as possible out of the time spent,” Fr. Christopher said. “A pilgrim is traveling with a spiritual goal in mind, a quest, a prayer intention, perhaps as a penance or to gain some insight or inspiration. We take with us the prayers of others as well as our own intentions, with the idea that the sacrifice of travel is part of a sacred journey.”

Fr. Christopher recently returned from a pilgrimage to Greece where he followed in the footsteps of St. Paul.

He said Catholics call themselves a “pilgrim people” because they know that they are on a journey from this world to Heaven.

“A pilgrim is conscious of the

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MISSION BASILICA SAN DIEGO DE ALCALÁ LOCATED IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. PHOTO BY LOWE LLAGUNO

passage, not seeing locations as a destination but as a point along the journey where something holy can be encountered,” he added. “We try to remain conscious to the moment of encounter with God — perhaps in a given location we will receive a message, an image, an insight that the Lord has been waiting to share with us!”

CENTRAL COAST

STARTING POINT: SOUTH O.C.

For local religious sites, starting in the south, the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá in San Diego was the first California mission founded in 1769 by St. Junípero Serra. In addition to weekday and Sunday Masses, the property features a museum, indigenous plant gardens and the Mission Church, named a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI. The mission is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Admission is $3 for children under 12, $5 for seniors and military, and $8 for adults.

Right here in Orange County are

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Alcalá and features the oldest building in California still in use: Serra Chapel.

The Serra Chapel was built by baptized Indigenous Acjachemen people and St. Serra celebrated Mass there in 1783.

Mission San Juan Capistrano is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is free for children under 4, $11 for youths and students, $16 for seniors, and $19 for adults.

Christ Cathedral is the home of the bishop of the Diocese of Orange. It began as the Protestant denomination Crystal Cathedral under Dr. Robert Schuller, and while the unique allglass facade remains, the interior was redesigned for Catholic worship after the Diocese of Orange purchased the 34-acre campus. Free tours are offered at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Fridays.

SERRA CHAPEL WAS BUILT BY BAPTIZED INDIGENOUS ACJACHEMEN PEOPLE AND ST. SERRA CELEBRATED MASS THERE IN 1783. PHOTO BY PATTY MAHONEY

Mission San Juan Capistrano and Christ Cathedral. Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in 1776, just seven years after Mission San Diego de

For those willing to drive a little further, the Central Coast has three missions that come with the added bonus of beautiful scenery and historic towns.

At about a three-hour drive are Old Mission Santa Inés and Old Mission Santa Barbara. The former is located in the scenic Danish-inspired village of Solvang, known for its picturesque village and bakeries. Founded in 1804 by the Franciscans, it is the 19th mission to be established. Old Mission Santa Inés’ museum features “The Archangel Raphael,” one of the few Mission-period paintings done on canvas by an indigenous convert. It also has the Juan Baptista Bell from the mission’s founding, “The Good Shepherd” painting on the tabernacle door, and music manuscripts dating back to the mission period.

Self-guided tours run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Admission is free for CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

About four hours away is Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, which was founded in 1772 by St. Serra. Driving to the mission along the Highway

101 offers scenic views of the Pacific Ocean before arriving in the “lovely little town,” said Maureen O’Hare, the president of the Mission San Luis Obispo docents. The chapel has a unique L-shaped layout — the only mission chapel like it, said O’Hare.

Pastor Fr. Martin Cain added that visitors can enjoy the hand-rung bells every morning, noon and evening.

"It's the warm, welcoming people who make Mission San Luis Obispo a special place of pilgrimage," Fr. Martin said.

Mass is held daily. Fr. Martin recommended the 9 a.m. Sunday Mass to hear the children’s choir. The grounds of the mission are free to enter daily, but the museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Interested in more? There is a total of 21 California missions, with the system extending as far north as Sonoma with Mission San Francisco Solano. Also in Northern California is the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in OLD MISSION SANTA INES, LOCATED IN SOLVANG, CALIFORNIA WAS THE 19TH OF 21 MISSIONS BUILT ALONG WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS THE HISTORIC MISSION TRAIL. PHOTO BY DANAE ABREU Sacramento. C

THE SCENIC DANISH-INSPIRED VILLAGE OF SOLVANG, KNOWN FOR ITS DANISH-INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE AND BAKERIES. PHOTO BY PATTY MAHONEY

CHRIST CATHEDRAL IS THE HUB OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE AND HOME TO ITS BISHOP. PHOTO BY THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

children under 5, veterans, and active military; $5 for youth; $7 for seniors; and $8 for adults.

Old Mission Santa Barbara is considered the “Queen of the Missions.”

Founded in 1786 by the Spanish Franciscans, it is the only mission that has been continuously overseen by the Franciscan friars since its founding. The site is still the home of a community of Franciscan friars. Overlooking the ocean, it has twin bell towers, a historic cemetery and mausoleum, and several gardens.

Self-guided tours run from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Admission is free for children under 4; $15 for active military and seniors; $12 for youths; and $17 for adults.

GOING NORTH

OLD MISSION SANTA BARBARA IS CONSIDERED THE “QUEEN OF THE MISSIONS.” PHOTO BY EARL WILCOX ON UNSPLASH A U G U S T 2 , 2 0 2 6 ■ O C C A T H O L I C

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CATHOLIC FAMILY LIFE

FROM MEMORY TO MISSION

BY JOAN PATTEN, AO

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S WE CELEBRATE THE 50TH anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Orange, we are invited to imitate Mary, who teaches us how to remember the history of God’s love in our lives. Just as she marveled at God’s action in her life, we are given the opportunity to wonder at what God has done in our local Church.

For over 50 years, the Lord has gathered His people, sanctified us through the sacraments, raised up priests, deacons and consecrated men and women as His witnesses and instruments of grace, and commissioned the laity to be His light in the world.

Recalling these blessings is not meant to end with nostalgia. God’s grace is part of our living history, and as we pause to give thanks, we can be confident that there’s more as God continues to lead us today.

Yet often our minds and hearts are dulled by sin, the distractions of the world, technology and the hectic pace of life. We can become preoccupied with immediate problems and daily burdens, losing sight of God’s faithful presence.

However, the act of remembering without God’s grace will not bring us closer to Him. Rather, it can lead us into self-centeredness, regret and discouragement. When we are led by God’s grace, memories can become a privileged place to encounter the Lord. Contemplative memory is not merely recalling past events but going deeper into the gift of God’s grace that has already been received in prayer.

Scripture repeatedly shows that when people forget how God has revealed His love and mercy in their lives, they also forget who

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they are as God’s beloved children. As a result, they turn inward upon themselves or pursue false idols, grasping for security, meaning and consolation instead of trusting in the Father’s loving care.

We too are susceptible to this spiritual forgetfulness. Therefore, St. John Paul II invites us to look to Our Lady as our teacher and guide. “All the words of the Gospel find an extraordinary echo in her soul,” he proclaimed in 2003 on World Mission Sunday. Throughout the Gospels, Mary never ceases to reflect upon God’s loving action in her life.

At the Annunciation, she ponders the angel’s greeting (cf. Lk. 1:29). After the birth of Jesus, “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart” (Lk. 2:19).

Years later, after finding the child Jesus

in the Temple, she again “kept all these things in her heart” (Lk. 2:51). Mary is not a casual bystander in God’s plan or a consumer of God’s grace, but what St. John Paul II called the “contemplative memory of the Church.”

Mary’s Magnificat beautifully reveals this reality. Remembering God’s mercy and faithfulness throughout salvation history and her own life, she exalts, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord” (Lk. 1:46). Through Mary’s example and active intercession, she guides the Church on the path of discipleship. Authentic discipleship begins by being with her Son, by taking intentional time to pray and be still with Jesus. It is in this relationship of prayer that we receive the Father’s love and know ourselves to be sent in the name

of Christ to proclaim the Good News throughout the world.

Mary’s remembrance of God’s grace in her life is not meant for her own private devotion. Her reflective heart glorifies God and becomes a school of discipleship by which we are formed into credible witnesses who reveal Christ’s love to the world. St. John Paul II teaches that Mary's contemplation enables the Church to have "an ever greater impact on our society."

As we celebrate the Jubilee of the Diocese of Orange, this same remembrance invites us not only to look back with gratitude, but also to receive anew the graces He continues to offer for the salvation and sanctification of souls.

Contemplative memory leads to mission. Having encountered Christ and received the Father's love, we are sent to bring His light, hope and truth into the world. Like Mary, what we receive in prayer becomes the gift we share with others. C

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OC Catholic Afar

Beginning their Camino pilgrimage in Tui, Spain, Tish and Lupe Martinez arrived at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela carrying a copy of OC Catholic.

Continuing a meaningful Camino tradition, they also stopped at the St. James Rock in Padrón, Spain.

—Tish and Lupe attend St. Pius V Catholic Church in Buena Park.

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.

A U G U S T 2 , 2 0 2 6 ■ O C C A T H O L I C

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