Rosary Beads
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Celebration
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FEBRUARY 8, 2026
CONTENTS
THE GIFT OF ALTAR SERVING
Participating in the Sunday Mass service is a beautiful thing.
PRAYERS, HEALING AND HELP
The diocese offered a Mass on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade on Jan. 21.
AUTHOR VISITS OC CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Rosalia Ripullo, author and former OC Catholic writer, shared her book with students at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School.
STUDENTS WALK THROUGH CALIFORNIA
Children experienced one thousand years of the state’s history at St. Juliana Falconieri.
LOVE AS HE LOVES
God loves us unconditionally. Have you accepted that love?
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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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
When I was visiting the Missions, I saw the article about Rosaries. My grandson, Gabe, and his wife, Victoria, made this beautiful Rosary for me for my birthday. — Carole Ginzl, Holy Family Parish in Jacksonville, FL.
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
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
1 KINGS 8:1-7, 9-13; PSALM 132:6-7, 8-10; MARK 6:53-56
“ All of you, all of us, are also called to be saints” — Pope Leo XIV
BLESSED PIUS IX DIED 1878
GIOVANNI MARIA MASTAI FERRETTI, an Italian noble, was ordained in 1819, despite poor health. Known for his pastoral commitment and eucharistic and Marian devotions, he rose from Vatican diplomat in Chile to archbishop of Spoleto and Imola, to cardinal. He was elected pope in 1846. His 31-plus-year papacy, the longest in recorded history, was marked by the loss of the Papal States during Italian unification, the convening of the First Vatican Council, and the declaration of the Immaculate Conception as a dogma of faith. He also restored Catholic hierarchy in England and Holland, sent missionaries to the North Pole and Asia, and condemned modern heresies. He was beatified in 2000.C
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
TUESDAY
1 KINGS 8:22-23, 2730; PSALM 84:3, 4, 5 AND 10, 11; MARK 7:1-13
WEDNESDAY
1 KINGS 10:1-10; PSALM 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40; MARK 7:14-23
THURSDAY
1 KINGS 11:4-13; PSALM 106:3-4, 35-36, 37 AND 40; MARK 7:24-30
FRIDAY
1 KINGS 11:29-32; 12:19; PSALM 81:1011AB, 12-13, 14-15; MARK 7:31-37
SATURDAY
1 KINGS 12:26-32; 13:33-34; PSALM 106:6-7AB, 19-20, 21-22; MARK 8:1-10
SUNDAY
SIRACH 15:15-20; PSALM 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34; 1 CORINTHIANS 2:6-10; MATTHEW 5:17-37
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROLE GINZL
ST. COLUMBAN’S MONTESSORI EXPERIENCE
BY BRITNEY ZINT
“MONTESSORI” might be the current buzz word in parenting, but it is more than just wooden, aesthetic toys. A true Montessori education offers students self-directed learning.
But at one Garden Grove Catholic school, a Montessori preschool is offering students all that — and a chance to find the passion God gave them.
St. Columban Catholic School is the only preschool in the Diocese of Orange to offer its students a Montessori preschool experience while also building their Catholic identity.
“God has already created the child for something, and it’s not for us to fill them with all this knowledge, but to light the candle inside them so they can find what God has created for them,” said preschool director Portia Joseph.
The Garden Grove school offers two full-day, multi-age preschool classes open to children ages 2 through 4 who are toilet trained.
“When I started working here, I was really impressed with how much the kids learn from the Montessori method and how advanced they can get,” said preschool teacher Cynthia Castillo. “I think it’s something they really enjoy and something they really learn from … it’s something I don’t see in other preschools.”
Principal Melissa Geary said students who come out of the program are well prepared for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten.
“I feel like it’s a good fit, because we can really individualize the learning so we can cater to the kid’s needs,” Geary said.
Montessori is a pedagogical approach developed by Italian physician and educator Dr. Maria Montessori in 1907. It mirrors how children naturally learn, according to the American Montessori
ORANGE
Society. Dr. Montessori, who was raised Catholic, designed her approach around four key principles: honoring the spirit and development of the whole child; children naturally want to learn; care of self, others and the environment; and equity, inclusion and social justice.
A veteran who ran her own school in Cerritos for 25 years, Joseph, who at 80 years old has no plans to retire, brought the Montessori approach to St. Columban in 2010. The preschool started with just 12 students, but within three months it had 45.
A typical day starts once students are signed into class. They give their parents a kiss or hug before heading in. Then they unpack their bags, independently put away their snacks and lunch, place their water bottle in a bin and pack away their bag before selecting an activity to work on. The classroom features the Montessori signature open shelves so students can choose their own work, set it up and clean it up independently.
“You are kind of letting them be,” Castillo said. “I think for a 2-and-a-half to 4-year-old, that’s rare to see.”
The classroom is set up by the five areas of study for early childhood: practical life, which focuses on daily activities that build fine motor skills; sensorial, which are activities that appeal to the five senses and encourage children to classify and create order; math with hands-on learning, such as using wooden sticks to practice counting; language; and cultural studies, which includes history, geography, science, art and music.
Later, students break into multi-age groups. One such group gathered around lead teacher Pamela Baca using colorful wooden shapes to explore how to build a triangle.
“OK, how do we check if we formed the triangle?” Baca quietly asked.
Next to them, 4-year-old Owen worked
MONIKA SCHANKKOVA-NGUYEN, LEFT, HELPS CHASE WORK WITH MAGNETIC BLOCKS DURING A PRESCHOOL CLASS AT ST. COLUMBAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN GARDEN GROVE ON JAN. 20. PHOTOS BY SCOTT SMELTZER/DIOCESE OF
PORTIA JOSEPH, RIGHT, ASSISTS DONOVAN DOAN IDENTIFY SHAPES AT ST. COLUMBAN SCHOOL’S FIRST MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL PROGRAM.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
independently to match pictures with the correct initial sound. Lining up “C” next to “corn,” “M” next to “moon” and “T” next to “top,” Owen flipped over the pictures to check his work before demonstrating his learning to Baca.
In the next room, Castillo led her students on geography.
“What’s next to Africa?” Castillo asked a student who was coloring her map of the seven continents before cutting and pasting photos of where different animals live.
“Yellow,” replied 4-year-old Thalia.
“But what’s it called?” prompted Castillo.
“Asia!” Thalia exclaimed.
Baca likes how the Montessori method allows children to work at their own pace. The multi-age classroom also allows the
students to support each other in their learning, whether academic, social or in classroom routines.
“I feel like it works really well,” said Baca. “It’s not rushing the children to catch up to where they should be. It’s at their own pace until they master what they are learning.”
Hanh Nguyen, who has one daughter in the program and a son who has graduated from preschool, said she started researching the Montessori method before even having kids. She likes that the children are pushed to learn more when they show an interest in something and when they are advanced, their needs are still met.
“I love that they get to learn things at their level, at their pace, on their lead versus the traditional way of teaching preschoolers,” Nguyen said. C
THERESA SOEWONO, RIGHT, HELPS KYLE TRAN, LEFT, AND ELYSIA NGUYEN DURING A PRESCHOOL CLASS AT ST. COLUMBAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN GARDEN GROVE. PHOTOS BY SCOTT SMELTZER/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
CYNTHIA CASTILLO, CENTER, ASSISTS TALIA MONROY WITH A PROJECT. ALSO PICTURED ARE CLARA HOANG, LEFT, AND LINCOLN HA.
THE GIFT OF ALTAR SERVING AT MASS
THREE YOUNG ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLICS SHARE THEIR REWARDING EXPERIENCES
BY MIKE VULPO
FOR MANY HIGH SCHOOL
students, Sunday mornings are reserved for sleeping in and preparing for a full day of football.
But for Servite High School senior Matthew Schirmer, the last day of the weekend likely means it’s time to serve at San Francisco Solano Catholic Church in Rancho Santa Margarita.
“I remember looking at all the people up at the altar and going, ‘I want to be a part of that, and this looks like just such a beautiful thing,’” shared Matthew. “I just thought that it was really cool to see people actually help out with what we were doing. I was like, ‘I want to do that.’”
Ever since the fourth grade, Matthew has been serving at church. Doing so has helped the high school student and many more young people expand their Catholic faith.
“Altar servers do a great job representing the youth of a parish,” St. Timothy Catholic Church Pastor Emeritus Monsignor John Urell shared. “As I talk to them, they represent the youth of the parish when they're serving Mass, and they give an example of service, of prayer and of hope for young people. It's a great honor for them to do that, and they take great pride in it.”
As parishes across Orange County welcome new altar servers to their Masses, Orange County Catholic is spotlighting three students who are making a difference at their local church.
MATTHEW SCHIRMER
If you ask Matthew — who is involved with football, rugby and theatre at Servite High School — being an altar server has made him a better person.
“I think altar serving really can have that impact on many people,” he shared.
church with her family. In 2025, the fifth grader decided to join San Francisco Solano’s altar server ministry.
“I wanted to feel closer to God, and I thought it would be fun,” she shared in between helping the clergy, which includes Fr. Duy Le and Deacon David Stromswold. “I like being a part of the Mass and having my family watch me from the pews.”
Gigi’s older sister Kellie Turcios is more than impressed that her family member chooses to serve on Sunday mornings.
“I feel proud of my sister Gigi,” the Santa Margarita Catholic High School alum shared. “I was supposed to be an altar server when I was younger, but I was so nervous before the Mass started. I’m so happy Gigi can serve in such a special way.”
going to get mad. You're up there serving Him. If you make a mistake, He knows you're trying.’”
JAYME LAWRENCE
St. Kilian parishioners may recognize Jayme as she helps Fr. Angelos Sebastian and other priests at the Mission Viejo Catholic church.
“I love being an altar server because it allows me to participate in the Mass,” Jayme shared. “I like to lead the processional as we begin because it builds the excitement to begin worship.”
While Jayme has learned much about her faith as a student at St. Serra Catholic School, being an altar server has made her relationship with God even stronger.
“I get to do it with my friends and make new ones,” she said. “I also get to learn the significance of why we do each item.”
“When I go to college, I'll find a church, and I hope to altar serve there too. I think that kids should always get involved.”
Matthew’s parents have seen the impact their son’s work has had on various attendees.
“I cannot tell you how many parishioners have stopped us and said he has changed their day,” Matthew’s mom, Rana Schirmer, said. “At Christmas Eve Mass, there was a mom who came with her three young kids. When she saw him singing up on the altar, she said it changed her entire perspective on Mass and made her whole Christmas.”
Matthew’s dad, Greg Schirmer, added, “It's great to see Matthew up there serving and helping the younger ones out. Matthew has brought me closer to God and made me a better Catholic.”
GIGI DOPUDJA
As a St. Serra Catholic School student, Gigi wanted to make a positive difference on Sunday mornings when she attended
According to Matthew, who often serves alongside Gigi at San Francisco Solano, young people shouldn’t be nervous about making mistakes during Mass.
“The point is not to be perfect,” he shared. “The point is to serve the Lord and give everything you've got on that altar to be the best person you can be. If they're nervous, I always say, ‘God's not
When Jayme serves during the weekend, her father, John Lawrence, can’t help but rejoice.
“I beam with pride getting to see my daughter assist with the Mass,” he said. “As a family, we become closer to God as we talk about what she did. Seeing her confidence in front of a large audience is such a wonderful gift.” C
SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT MATTHEW SCHIRMER SERVES AT SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CATHOLIC CHURCH IN RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA. PHOTO BY MIKE VULPO
JAYME LAWRENCE HELPS SERVE DURING SUNDAY MASS AT ST. KILIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN MISSION VIEJO.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LAWRENCE FAMILY
GIGI DOPUDJA PREPARES TO SERVE DURING SUNDAY MASS AT SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CATHOLIC CHURCH IN RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA. PHOTO BY MIKE VULPO
CALIFORNIA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE ON RECENT VIOLENCE, PUBLIC TRUST, AND THE CALL FOR PEACE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
The Catholic bishops of California are deeply saddened and alarmed by the recent loss of life connected to federal immigration enforcement activity. We mourn those who have died, pray for their families, and stand with communities now living in fear and uncertainty. At a moment when people are exercising their First Amendment rights to protest and seek accountability, violence only deepens wounds and erodes the foundations of peace and public trust.
We echo our brother bishops’ call for restraint, transparency, and respect for the dignity of every human life. In a constitutional republic grounded in checks and balances, accountability, due process, and truth are not optional.
Deportation alone is not an immigration strategy. Enforcement without proportionality and power without accountability cannot produce safety or stability. Instead, they exacerbate fear, separate
families, and place already-vulnerable lives at greater risk. Immigration policy must first recognize that migrants are human beings imbued with inherent dignity and then offer solutions grounded in justice rather than fear or force. Pope Paul VI taught, “If you want peace, work for justice.” Pope Francis reiterated this truth, reminding the world that “Without justice, there is no peace.” And Pope Leo XIV stressed, “I believe we must seek ways of treating people with humanity, with the dignity that is theirs.”
In this moment, it is right to question whether our leaders truly seek peace, intend justice, or are concerned with treating all people humanely. The actions of many who give orders and follow orders no longer reflect the values upon which our society is based, and certainly not the Christian command to love one’s neighbor as oneself. In this light, we renew our call for meaningful immigration reform—one that addresses the root causes of migration, provides lawful pathways, preserves family unity, and upholds the rule of law without resorting to excessive or indiscriminate force.
In this painful moment, we pray that our nation may embrace the demanding work of accountability and truth, without which peace cannot endure.
In this moment of sorrow and civic unease: We urge prayer for the victims, their families, and for peace in our communities. We stand in solidarity with migrants and refugees, demanding just treatment and prioritizing family unity and community stability. We call upon public officials, law enforcement, and immigration authorities to adopt de-escalation practices, conduct transparent investigations, and ensure accountability, mindful that peace and justice are inseparable. We assert that a society’s moral health depends on the restoration of trust through truth, dialogue, and mutual respect—principles rooted in our Catholic understanding of human dignity. May the Prince of Peace call our nation to account, turn us away from violence and fear, and lead us toward justice, reconciliation, and lasting peace. C
PRAYERS, HEALING AND HELP: DIOCESE RALLIES AROUND WOMEN IN CRISIS PREGNANCIES
BY MEG WATERS
UNITED BY HOPE, FAITH and a shared desire for healing, about 200 people gathered at Christ Cathedral on Jan. 21, the eve of the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. The Mass, offered in reparation for the unborn lost to this tragic ruling, was celebrated with profound reverence and became a joyful affirmation of life—a moment to entrust the souls of the unborn to God’s love and to celebrate the gift of forgiveness.
As the Diocesan Children’s Choir sang, the community found strength in solidarity, looked toward reconciliation and renewed its commitment to compassion and hope for a future in which all lives are valued from conception until natural death.
Fr. Angelos Sebastian, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia of the Diocese of Orange, celebrated the Mass and noted, “More killing in the United States is done in the womb than by any other cause of death. It is our duty as Catholics to fight against this for the mothers and babies.”
He reflected on the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta: “For if a mother can murder her own child in her own womb, what is left for you and for me to kill each other?”
Her prophetic insight may help explain the violence and polarization that have steadily increased in this country over the past 53 years.
A common claim by pro-abortion activists is that pro-lifers only care about the baby before it is born. Fr. Sebastian emphasized the Church’s broader mission of accompaniment: “It is our job, when a woman faces a crisis pregnancy, that she knows help is available for the short and long-term. The Church steps in and says abortion is not the answer. In addition
FR. ANGELOS SEBASTIAN CELEBRATED MASS ON JAN. 21, WHICH WAS OFFERED IN REPARATION FOR THE UNBORN.
A MASS WAS OFFERED IN REPARATION FOR THE UNBORN ON JAN. 21, THE EVE OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1973 ROE V. WADE DECISION. PHOTOS BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
to adoption, there are dozens of nonprofits standing by to help the mothers, the fathers and the families through the pregnancy and beyond.”
As evidence of the diocese’s commitment, many of these providers were available after Mass to showcase their services.
Shannen Trott from the La Habra Life Center described the range of support they offer, including Abortion Pill Reversal, which can be highly effective if begun within 24 hours of taking the abortion pill (RU-486).
Many women are unaware that the abortion pill carries serious and potentially life-threatening risks, including blood clots, hemorrhage, sterility and damage to the uterus, bladder and/or bowels.
DIOCESAN
These risks can extend for years and may include an increased risk of future miscarriage and breast cancer, as well as emotional and psychological effects such as anxiety, grief, guilt or low self-esteem, eating disorders, substance abuse, depression or suicidal thoughts, withdrawal from relationships and many other longterm problems.
Through prayer, education and compassionate outreach, Catholics continue to affirm the dignity of every human person and to accompany women, men and families facing painful and complex circumstances. Rooted in Christ’s love, the community renews its resolve to protect life at every stage, to offer healing to those wounded by abortion and to work tirelessly for a culture in which
every child is cherished and every mother is supported.
If you or someone you know is facing a crisis pregnancy or needs shelter, help with rent, food or counseling, please contact these organizations:
PREGNANCY CENTERS & CLINICS (MOST OFFER SERVICES IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH)
Abortion Pill Reversal. (877) 558-0333
Horizon Pregnancy Clinic, Huntington Beach. (714) 897-7500. Horizonpc.org
Lambertian Ministry Center, Garden Grove. (657) 231-0110.
La Habra Life Center Pregnancy Clinic. (562) 691-9395. lahabralifecenter.org
Life Center OF Santa Ana (Walking
with Moms). (714) 835-5433. lifecenterofsantaana.org
Obria Medical Clinics, Santa Ana. (714) 516-9045. obria.org
Vietnamese Pregnancy Hotlines. (714) 721-2111 ncp.life@gmail.com vietrespectlife.org
SHELTERS
Casa Teresa & Hannah’s House accepts moms 18 years and older, parenting education or adoption placement, Orange. (714) 538-4860. casateresa.org
Mary’s Path Accepts pregnant and parenting girls under age 18, Santa Ana. (714) 730-0930. maryspath.org
Precious Life shelter in Los Alamitos accepts pregnant moms, aged 18 and over, with parenting classes or adoption placement. (562) 431-5025. preciouslifeshelter. org
SERVICES THROUGH CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ORANGE COUNTY
Cantlay Food Distribution Center: Tues, Wed., Thurs. from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. 2020 West Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana. (714) 347-9695. ccoc.org
CalFresh Healthy Living. (714) 3473646. cfhl@ccoc.org
CalFresh Food Stamps, application and renewal. (714) 347-9623. calfreshfood@ ccoc.org
New Hope Counseling Center, therapy for a variety of issues. (714) 347-9625. for appointments.
New Hope Crisis Counseling Hotline 24/7 counseling and suicide prevention (714) New-Hope or (714) 639-4673. St. Vincent de Paul Society. (714) 5420448. requestinfo@svdpoc.org
DOMESTIC ABUSE & SHELTERS
Human Options. (877) 854-3594. humanoptions.org
Laura’s House. (866) 498-1511 (24 hours) or office hours at (949) 361-3775. Interval House. (562) 594-4555 or (714) 891-8121.
Women’s Transitional Living Center. (714) 992-1931. wtlc.org C
THE JAN. 21 MASS WAS CELEBRATED ON THE EVE OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1973 ROE V. WADE DECISION. PHOTOS BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
AUTHOR VISITS OC CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS
BY STAFF
FORMER
ORANGE County
Catholic writer and OC Catholic Schools alumna Rosalia Ripullo recently visited St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School to read from her recently published book, H Goes to Mexico.
The book tells the story of the cartoon letter H’s trip south to learn more about its use in the Spanish language.
The idea for the book first came to Ripullo when she was a student at JSerra Catholic High School.
“I was always surrounded by stories, so I think what I found there is a power in stories and writing,” Ripullo told OC Catholic in an interview last year.
Ripullo made the visit to St. Francis of Assisi on Jan. 16, during a trip home to Orange County from New York City, where she is currently a film student at New York University.
Visiting a local Catholic school meant a lot to Ripullo because she holds Catholic education in high esteem.
“The curiosity and youthful enthusiasm of the kids at St. Francis of Assisi brought me back to the joyous days of my Catholic education where learning Spanish sparked me to tell stories about the letters that caught my eye,” said Ripullo. “Being at St. Francis with all of the wonderful staff and teachers, who love what they do each and every day, is an honor for me.”
Having Ripullo on the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School campus was exciting for teachers and students alike.
“Not only did Ms. Ripullo warmly engage with our young readers, but her story H Goes to Mexico carries an important message about self-worth and the unique gifts that God has given to us all,” said the school’s principal, Jacqueline Quiñones Sienkowski. “I would recommend this experience for every elementary school.” C
ROSALIA RIPULLO POSES WITH STUDENTS AT ST. FRANCIS DE ASSISI CATHOLIC SCHOOL. FROM LEFT, ELIZABETH JURILLA, BRANDON MU, KADEN BUETTNER, MAX MARTIN, JULIAN SARMIENTO, NYLAH ALLEN AND KATELYN SARMIENTO.
STUDENTS LISTEN ATTENTIVELY AS CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR ROSALIA RIPULLO READS ALOUD FROM H GOES TO MEXICO AT ST. FRANCIS DE ASSISI CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN YORBA LINDA. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
KATELYN SARMIENTO RECEIVES HER COPY OF H GOES TO MEXICO SIGNED BY AUTHOR ROSALIA RIPULLO.
ST. JULIANA FALCONIERI CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS
WALK THROUGH CALIFORNIA
BY BRITNEY ZINT
ATIME MACHINE, A GIANT
3D map, children dressed as cowboys, prairie girls, a 49er and boys dressed as bodies of water were everything needed to cover more than one thousand years of California history in two and a half hours.
On Jan. 21 in front of their families, St. Juliana Falconieri Catholic School’s fourth-grade class participated in Walk Through California, an interactive presentation put on by California Weekly Explorers. The Tustin-based company hosts educational presentations based on fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade social studies standards.
“This presentation is important because it allows students to live the history they are learning,” said fourth-grade teacher Allison Saner. “It allows, especially for the students that love to be creative, the chance to get that energy out and be dramatic if they need to be. They can show what they are made of, which I love.”
The competitive event covered all social studies standards taught in fourth grade. It started with life 1,000 years ago with the Indigenous peoples of California before heading onward to 1542, the year of arrival for Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, the first European explorer and conquistador; St. Junípero Serra’s creation of the first nine Missions; 1822, around the time when Spain lost control of California to Mexico; and 1850, when California became the 31st state.
Saner, who has shepherded her students through the Walk Through California for the last three years, went through the experience herself as a student at St. Juliana. She still remembers dressing up as a prairie girl. Saner noted how the presentation covers all the history she teaches over the year. She hopes her students take
DRESSED IN PERIOD COSTUMES, ST. JULIANA FALCONIERI CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOURTH-GRADE STUDENTS PREPARE IN THEIR CLASSROOM PRIOR TO PARTICIPATING IN WALK THROUGH CALIFORNIA PRESENTATION HELD ON JAN. 21. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
MEANT TO BE
BY BECKY CHACON, ST. PIUS V CATHOLIC SCHOOL, BUENA PARK
IHAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE of being a Catholic educator for the past 18 years. Teaching in a Catholic school was not part of my original plan, but God had something greater in mind for me. When I moved to the Diocese of Orange and began teaching kindergarten at St. Pius V, I immediately knew this was home and Catholic education was where I was meant to be.
continue to share that with my students. If I can bring my students closer to Jesus, I know I am doing my part as a Catholic educator.
Catholic education has also blessed me with colleagues who have become family. I have formed lasting friendships with fellow teachers who share strong values, and together we support not only our students, but one another as we continue to grow in faith and in our professional development. United in our mission, we strive to provide our students with a strong foundation of faith, a love of Christ and a commitment to serving others as Jesus taught.
away not just California history, but the joy of diving into history.
“It’s amazing because I get to see the shyest of students come out of their shells,” Saner said. “They get to perform, they find joy and it allows them to learn in a way that doesn’t require them to sit down at a desk.”
The students started preparing for the presentation in mid-December and just completed their learning on the Missions.
“So, they get a sneak peek into the Gold Rush and the other countries that were governing California at one time,” Saner said.
Each student was given a key vocabulary word to become experts in. Students recited definitions from memory for words like “governor,” “plateau” and “farm produce,” and had to answer a question about their word.
For fourth-grader Jameson Pohlen, the history of the Gold Rush struck his interest. But the 10-year-old, who dressed as a lake to go with his expert word “reservoir,” found it all interesting.
“I liked learning everything,” Pohlen said. “It was a fun experience.”
Madelyn “Maddie” Garcia, whose
word was “earthquake fault,” said she has been studying a lot and reading her word every day to practice. New to St. Juliana, Garcia felt fortunate to have such a unique experience.
“At my old school, we never get to do this,” Garcia said, “so it’s fun that I experienced it.”
Both Garcia and Pohlen said they would recommend the experience to next year’s fourth graders. Pohlen shared some advice: “Don’t be scared,” he said. “It’s OK to be scared but try your best.” C
One of the greatest blessings of teaching in a Catholic school is the opportunity to share the Catholic faith with my students daily. I love praying together, attending Mass, celebrating the lives of saints and honoring Mary with our school community. Teaching at a Catholic school allows faith to become a natural part of daily instruction. Watching my students grow in their relationship with Jesus brings me peace and deep fulfillment.
Over the years, I have grown tremendously in my faith, and my passion for Catholic education has brought me joy, challenges and countless meaningful memories. From daily classroom moments with my students to service projects, where we actively help communities in need, Catholic education has shaped not only my career, but my spiritual life as well. I have grown in my faith and prayer life, and my goal is to
During Catholic Schools Week, I am especially grateful to be part of the SPV community where faith, learning and building God’s kingdom are at the heart of everything we do.C
CHARLIE GONZALEZ PORTRAYS SPANISH EXPLORER JUAN RODRÍGUEZ CABRILLO. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE
ST. JULIANA FALCONIERI CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOURTHGRADE STUDENTS POSE FOR A PHOTO DURING A WALK THROUGH CALIFORNIA PRESENTATION HELD ON JAN. 21.
BECKY CHACON TEACHES AT ST. PIUS V CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN BUENA PARK. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. PIUS V CATHOLIC SCHOOL
LOVE AS HE LOVES
BY REBEKAH VALDERRAMA
“IGIVE YOU A NEW commandment," says Jesus in John 13:34, "love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another."
If you're not paying attention, this new commandment might sound like, "I love you, so you should love one another." I heard it this way for years before I stopped to really meditate on Jesus' words. No, he's telling us to love as He loves. It's a much harder teaching, and one I frequently fail.
Part of the problem is we might not fully understand the kind of love that God has for us. Maybe you've never let yourself experience it. But how can we love as He loves if we don't understand how He loves?
What exactly is unconditional love anyway?
The world wants us to think that "unconditional love" means "radical acceptance." As in, "If you really loved me, you'd stop telling me I'm a sinner." Of course, that can't be true love, because we know how sin grieves our God, and His true love for us does not allow us to damage our souls by habitual sin. The love of God calls us to repentance and conversion.
On the other hand, it can be easy to slip into the trap of judgement and justify it as "tough love." Once you know someone's faults, it can be a temptation to see those things first, and let it damage our relationship. "Love the sinner, hate the sin" might turn into "Judge the sinner, nitpick the sin." Or the duty to train and correct your children can lead to a "Correct first, connect later" paradigm.
How does God love me? I experience His love frequently, in little moments
Him in prayer. It's the love of the father sprinting towards the prodigal son.
The love of Jesus waiting patiently for the Samaritan woman at the well.
The love of the merciful God who forgives wayward Israel over, and over, and over again.
We're commanded to love one another as He loves us. But I think it will be impossible until we fully understand the way that God sees us and loves us. Sees and loves you. He would have sent His son to suffer and die even if you were the only sinner in the world. Have you accepted that love?
He delights in you. He longs to hear you speak to Him. Whether you're struggling with heavy sin, or you just got out of confession, He loves you.
Whom are you struggling to love unconditionally right now? Maybe it's a spouse, a friend, or a child. Or maybe it's yourself. Can you come to accept the infinite, passionate love of your creator? Meditate on His love this week. Ask Him to show you the depth of His infinite love. Only once we've claimed God's love for ourselves can we turn and spread that love unconditionally to those around us. C
throughout my day, through His Word, but especially when I visit him in the Blessed Sacrament. I have become convinced that His love for me is quite simply: incalculable delight. No matter what I'm going through, the state of my mind, or the state of my soul, if I can feel the love of God at all, it's always
exactly the same. He is infinite love. He loves infinitely.
Imagine the way your mother lights up when she sees your face for the first time in months. No matter what you've been up to, she loves you. That's a little sample taste of the way God feels about you whenever you turn your heart to
DETAIL OF MOSES HOLDING THE TABLETS OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, FROM A DOOR AT FOREST LAWN MEMORIAL PARK IN GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA. PHOTO BY LEVI MEIR CLANCY ON UNSPLASH
OC Catholic Afar
When we visited Bora Bora, I took this picture of my husband, Jim Ellis, outside the beautiful Catholic church named St. Peter or Paroisse Saint Pierre Celestin Church. This picture was taken on Dec. 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
— Jim and Sylvia Ellis are parishioners of St. Timothy Catholic Church in Laguna Niguel.
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.
