CELEBRATING THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
JANUARY 18, 2026
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THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ORANGE ■ OCCATHOLIC.COM
HOW ST. TIMOTHY’S HAT & SCARF MINISTRY ENCOURAGES DIGITAL DETOX ONE STITCH AT A TIME PAGE 5 ST. TIMOTHY'S PARISH HAT & SCARF MINISTRY MEMBERS (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) EDITH MERIK, TRUDY EMMRICH, JESSIE BUNZALAN, KAY BOLAND, CARLOS FLORES, SONIA TUN, JUDY DALUISIKI, DEE WHITFIELD, MARGIE DEYOE AND SUSAN CHEN DISPLAY SOME OF THE GROUP’S RECENT WORK. PHOTO BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
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OPEN HOUSES for catholic Elementary Schools
JANUARY 18, 2026
CONTENTS OC CATHOLIC RECIPE SWAP
Try this hearty casserole to keep the family warm this winter.
JSERRA SENIOR CREATES HEALING HOMES
Eya Kane created a nonprofit for families transitioning out of homelessness.
A LIGHT IN THE DARK
The Diocese of Orange hosts the 10th annual homeless persons' memorial service.
AM I FREE?
What is freedom to you?
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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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 2026
9 10 11 12 14
AROUND OUR DIOCESE
Highlights of events and happenings at parishes throughout Orange County.
north orange county SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 Holy Family School, Orange - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. St. Angela Merici School, Brea - 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. St. Francis of Assisi School, Yorba Linda - 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. St. Hedwig School, Los Alamitos - 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. St. Irenaeus School, Cypress - 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. St. Joseph School, Placentia - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. St. Juliana Falconieri School, Fullerton - 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. St. Norbert School, Orange - 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. St. Pius V School, Buena Park - 10:15 a.m.
central orange county SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 Christ Cathedral Academy, Garden Grove - 11:30 a.m. St. Bonaventure School, Huntington Beach - 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. St. Cecilia School, Tustin - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. St. Columban School, Garden Grove - 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. St. Joachim School, Costa Mesa - 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Saints Simon and Jude School, Huntington Beach - 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 St. John the Baptist School, Costa Mesa - 1:00 p.m. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Blessed Sacrament School, Westminster - 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
south orange county THURSDAY, JANUARY 22 Mission Basilica School, San Juan Capistrano - 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 Our Lady Queen of Angels School, Newport Beach - 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. St. Edward the Confessor Parish School, Dana Point - 9:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. St. Junipero Serra Catholic School, Rancho Santa Margarita - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. THURSDAY, JANUARY 29 Our Lady of Fatima Academy, San Clemente - 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
prospective families: please rsvp to our office or to each school directly to attend an open house.
(714) 282-4254
Email: catholicschools@rcbo.org
DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS
ROSARY BEADS
“
Every authentic religious impulse fosters dialogue and cooperation…
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAMANTHA ESPARZA I bought my Rosary on the Catholic website Abundantly Yours. This is a customizable Rosary which includes my name and it is handmade in honor of St. Therese of Lisieux. Pink is my favorite color, and this Rosary is very special to me because it is one of a kind. —Samantha Esparza, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Santa Ana. 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
SAINT PROFILE ANTHONY OF EGYPT
A
C. 251-356
SSOCIATED WITH THE beginnings of monasticism, Anthony gave his inherited lands and wealth in Egypt to the poor. From the age of about 20 until his death at 105, he lived as a hermit in remote hilltop and desert locations. What is known about him comes from a life written by St. Athanasius of Alexandria. Around 306 he began to accept disciples, founding his first monastery as a collection of hermits’ cells. He cultivated a garden, wove rush mats, and fought many temptations and demons. Visitors sought his wise counsel, collected in the sayings of the “desert fathers,” and the bishops of Alexandria summoned him at age 87 to help refute Arianism. He is the patron of basket and brush makers, butchers and gravediggers.C
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
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”
— Pope Leo XIV
READER CALL-OUT
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
1 SAMUEL 15:1623; PSALM 50:8-9, 16BC-17, 21 AND 23; MARK 2:18-22
1 SAMUEL 16:1-13; PSALM 89:20, 21-22, 27-28; MARK 2:2328
1 SAMUEL 17:32-33, 37, 40-51; PSALM 144:1B, 2, 9-10; MARK 3:1-6
1 SAMUEL 18:6-9; 19:1-7; PSALM 56:2-3, 9-10A, 10B-11, 12-13; MARK 3:7-12
1 SAMUEL 24:3-21; PSALM 57:2, 3-4, 6 AND 11; MARK 3:13-19
2 SAMUEL 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27; PSALM 80:2-3, 5-7; MARK 3:20-21
ISAIAH 8:23—9:3; PSALM 27:1, 4, 13-14; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-13, 17; MATTHEW 4:12-23
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FEATURE
HOW ST. TIMOTHY’S HAT & SCARF MINISTRY ENCOURAGES DIGITAL DETOX ONE STITCH AT A TIME
ST. TIMOTHY'S PARISH HAT & SCARF MINISTRY MEMBERS CARLOS FLORES, JUDY DALUISIKI AND MARGIE DEYO WORK ON THEIR PROJECTS DURING A RECENT MINISTRY MEETING. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE BY MEG WATERS
part creative studio and part resistance to the endless pull of notifications. N FRIDAY MORNINGS, a Kay Boland was part of the group from small circle of men and women its beginnings in the early 2000s — back is doing something quietly when flip phones were just for talking and radical: they’re knitting. Phones websites were home to spiders. disappear into purses or pockets, the glow “We made scarves and hats for people of screens replaced by the soft clack of nee- experiencing homelessness and also took dles and the hum of conversation. Friendthem to veterans and the Navy hospital ships grow. What began as an old-fashin Long Beach,” she shared. “We bought ioned hobby and community service has gloves for veterans who used wheelchairs become, for the Hat & Scarf ministry, a because their hands had become callused kind of analog sanctuary—part charity, and sore.”
O
SUSAN CHEN KNITS DURING A JAN. 9 MEETING HELD AT ST. TIMOTHY PARISH IN LAGUNA NIGUEL.
More recently they have donated baby blankets, caps and booties to those in need as well. St. Timothy’s founding pastor, Fr. Bruce Lavery, originally asked the women to embrace the ministry, and about 20 women joined the group. For a while, the women not only donated their goods to worthy causes but also raised funds by selling knitted pieces and embroidered items after Mass. Edith Marik, who prefers
needlework to knitting, remembers an embroidered tablecloth she made that sold for $460. The money went to the same charities as the caps and scarves, or to help buy more yarn. Marik also sends the group a daily reflection and any prayer intentions for the day. The radical part of the ministry, which even the members may not be aware of, is that knitting, crocheting and needlework
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PASTOR FR. FRANCIS NG STOPS BY TO GREET MEMBERS OF ST. TIMOTHY'S HAT AND SCARF MINISTRY. PHOTO BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
To report sexual abuse by clergy or church personnel please call: 1 (800) 364-3064 Healing and Hope After Abortion: 1 (800) 722-4356 New Hope Peer-to-Peer Support Line | Mon - Fri 7:30 AM - 9:30 PM | Sat - Sun 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM: 1 (714) NEW-HOPE or 1 (714) 639-4673 BÁO CÁO LẠM DỤNG TÌNH DỤC Nếu bạn là nạn nhân bị lạm dụng tình dục bởi một linh mục/ tu sĩ hay một thành viên trong Giáo Hội gây ra, xin hãy gọi và báo cáo cho Giáo phận ở số điện thoại miễn phí sau đây: 1-800-364-3064, và đồng thời báo cáo cho nhà chức trách địa phương. 본당내의 성적학대 신고 성직자나 성당 사목을 대표하는 관리자에 의한 성적 학대의 피해자 인 경우, 교구청의 무료 신고 전화 번호, 1-800-364-3064 및 관할 지역 법 집행 기관에 전화하십시오.
help the individual with a “digital detox”: a conscious stepping away for a time where an individual voluntarily refrains from using digital devices—such as smartphones, computers and social media platforms—to reduce stress and improve mental well-being. Knitting and other crafts help settle the mind, focus our attention and think for ourselves. Unlike social media, groups like the Hat & Scarves involve real human interaction and conversation. “It’s like a social club,” said Marik. “We make long-term friends and there’s excellent camaraderie.” She continued: “We have all lost something: courage, health, spouses and children. We all ask each other to pray and rally around us when we are in need. We pray for each other and then have cookies and coffee. Knitting and crochet are suitable for your hands, make you think, keep you busy and off your phone.” Being off the phone is the unintended benefit. According to a 2022 article in Henry Ford Health, “Both knitting and
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crochet can challenge and strengthen our brains through the repetition of complex stitches and patterns. This helps build new neural pathways that support memory and can reduce the cognitive decline that comes with age. Knitting and crocheting can also reduce stress and blood pressure, decrease symptoms of depression, and reduce chronic pain. The meditative and repetitive action of both knitting and crocheting help to focus the mind on the activity, thereby slowing the nervous system and reducing anxiety and stress hormones (cortisol) in the body.” Knowing how to knit or crochet is not required. In fact, members say it’s the perfect place to learn the craft. Members don’t even need to be especially talented; they teach and encourage one another, celebrating each person’s progress. The circle has even grown to include two young men who joined the group to learn to knit. Carlos Flores, 21, and his brother Cristian Flores, 19, are the sole men in the group. Carlos is studying civil engineering at Cal State Fullerton and was looking to get involved at the parish. Unfortunately, his work and school schedule meant he could only participate on Friday mornings. “I like working with my hands and the idea of doing something for people in need really appealed to me," he shared. Carlos has gotten a lot of good feedback from his co-workers and at least one of them plans to join the group in a few weeks. The group meets on Friday mornings from 9 a.m. to 11a.m. in the Fireside room on the second floor of St. Timothy’s parish office in Laguna Niguel. Anyone is welcome; aspiring members don’t need to be parishioners or even Catholic. In a world that measures success in clicks and likes, the Hat & Scarf ministry offers another way: one stitch at a time, one conversation at a time, one quiet act of care at a time. In that gentle, steady rhythm, faith, friendship and healing are knit together, no screens required. C
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FEATURE
CELEBRATING THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD BY JORGE LUIS MACÍAS
“T
HE KINGS HAVE arrived. Please come in!” exclaimed Fr. Juan Navarro, parochial vicar of Christ Cathedral during the solemn Mass of the Epiphany of the Lord celebrated on Jan. 4. He continued, “What a joy that the kings have come to visit us! Your names, please?” “I am King Melchior,” “I am King Gaspar,” “I am King Balthazar,” replied the parishioners who played the roles of the Wise Men, who, according to the Gospel of Matthew 2:1-12, traveled from the East —guided by the Star of David— to adore the baby Jesus who had been born in Bethlehem (Judea). At that time, that region was under the rule of King Herod, who ordered the Massacre of the Innocents. “Dear kings, why have you come?” asked Fr. Juan. “We have come to adore the King of Kings,” the Wise Men replied in unison in front of the altar and before hundreds of parishioners. “I bring gold to the King of Kings to adore his kingship on earth,” said King Melchior (played by Alex Guevara), who is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. “I bring incense for the Son of God made man and to honor his divinity,” said King Gaspar, interpreted by Lorenzo Reyes García, an usher at Christ Cathedral. “I bring myrrh,” said Balthazar, which symbolizes Jesus' human condition and his future sacrifice. This wise man was played by Marcos Reyes, another usher. Each person approached the Nativity scene in front of the ambo to kneel in prayer. After the Holy Mass concluded,
they distributed gifts to all the children. The Epiphany of the Lord, known as the appearance or revelation in Greek, is a Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of Jesus to the world. It is symbolized by the visit of the Magi to Jesus, emphasizing that Christ is light and salvation for all humanity. It is also called “Little Christmas.” “…After hearing the king, the Magi went on their way, and suddenly the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary, His mother, and bowed down to worship Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their home country by another route…,” says Holy Scripture (Matthew 2:1-12) about the birth of Jesus in BethCHRIST CATHEDRAL PARISHIONERS PLAY THE ROLES OF THE THREE WISE MEN DURING THE MASS OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE lehem of Judea. LORD CELEBRATED ON JAN. 4. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE “We must be clear in our lives that our hearts have deep longings that need to be satisfied,” said Fr. Juan during the homily. “Our hearts are truly thirsty and will not rest until we have truly filled them with several elements: one of them is the longing for truth.” He said that the celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord invites us to discover the truth, not in a concept or a thing, but in someone: Jesus. “That is absolutely extraordinary because that someone is the greatest gift that God has given us: His most holy Son, the man par excellence, where the truth has become flesh in the person of Jesus, shown to the world as the light of the world,” said Fr. Juan. “The world must seek the one who is the light of the world in order to find Him.” On the morning of Epiphany, the reading of the Word of God was accompanied by something beautiful: Isaiah 60, which talks about Jerusalem finally emerging from darkness, a light rising at HUNDREDS OF THE FAITHFUL ATTENDED THE MASS OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD CELEBRATED ON JAN. 4 AT CHRIST dawn, dispelling shadows and bringing a CATHEDRAL.
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FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
light that will finally allow the people of Israel to see clearly. “The interesting thing is that this light is not the light of the sun,” Fr. Juan added. “It is the light of the glory of God. It is all of His truth that comes to us because Jesus is the light that illuminates our lives.”
This is why Jesus' truth reaches us. Because truth is light that shines on our lives, as the prophet Isaiah described. It’s like, in the presence of that light, other nations become aware of it, see it clearly and follow its glow. “That is why the Magi see that light and follow it. They go to meet the true God; the one and only God,” said Fr.
FR. JUAN NAVARRO GIVES HIS HOMILY DURING THE MASS OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD CELEBRATED AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
THE WISE MEN APPROACH THE NATIVITY SCENE BEFORE THE ALTAR OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL.
BISHOP KEVIN VANN ADDRESS THE FAITHFUL OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL ON JAN. 4.
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Juan. “It is crucial in our lives that this longing for truth is satisfied by finding Him, and those kings who read the stars (they were astrologers) leave everything behind to go in search of the truth.” “I have found Christ and, therefore,
the joy of living,” said Alex Guevara, a construction worker from El Salvador, who played the role of Melchior and brought gold to the infant Jesus. “He is the one who sustains me when I am downcast. He is always with me.” C
DIOCESAN NEWS
AROUND OUR DIOCESE BY STAFF
MISSION SJC’S ARTIFACT OF THE MONTH
Mission San Juan Capistrano will mark its 250th anniversary in 2026. To mark this historic milestone, the Mission is launching a new Artifact of the Month program. Throughout 2026, a different artifact from the Mission’s archives will go on display each month. Many of these artifacts are not normally on public view and have not been seen by the public for many years. This month’s artifact is Mary Pickford’s Wedding Painting (1924) by Charles Percy Austin, depicting silent film star Mary Pickford's vow renewal just outside the historic Sala. The painting can be found
PHOTO COURTESY OF MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
in the West Wing Museum building. The painting will be on display through Feb. 2. For more exhibition dates, visit missionsjc.com
OUR LADY AT THE CENTER PREMIERES IN OC
Assemblyman Tri Ta hosted the Orange County premiere of the Vietnamese-language version of the award-winning Our Lady at the Center documentary on Dec. 19. The special event at the Lavender center in Westminster featured a reception, photos and screening of the film, which tells the story of Our Lady of La Vang, the shrine made in her honor at Christ Cathedral and the cathedral’s Marian Gardens. Assemblyman Ta also presented the filmmakers with special
THE OUR LADY AT THE CENTER DOCUMENTARY FILM, WHICH TELLS THE STORY OF OUR LADY OF LA VANG. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
certificates of recognition. Our Lady at the Center is co-presented by the Diocese of Orange and OLLV Foundation, which fundraises for the La Vang shrine project and St. Callistus Chapel & Crypts. Assemblyman Ta’s sponsorship screening was a historic milestone for Our Lady at the Center, which has continued to gain traction and notoriety since its premiere in May 2025. It was also a sign of confidence and support from Orange County’s Vietnamese community. Parishes and others who are interested
JASON PEARSON GIVES RUDOLPH “RUDY” DICHTL A TOUR OF THE SHROUD OF TURIN: AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE ON DEC. 29. PHOTO BY THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
in screening the film, which is available in English and Vietnamese, can contact the OLLV Foundation at (714) 282-4290.
A SPECIAL VISIT TO SHROUD MUSEUM
One of the few living people who handled and inspected the actual Shroud of Turin visited the new Shroud museum at Christ Cathedral last month. Lt. Col. Rudolph “Rudy” Dichtl, a former staff scientist with the U.S. Air Force, was part of the historic Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP) in 1978 that underwent an intense 120-hour continuous examination of the Shroud in Italy. Dichtl, an electrical engineer and physicist by training, served as the team’s equipment manager overseeing the installation and maintenance of all scientific instruments during the prolonged testing period. During his visit to The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience on Dec. 29, Rudy had a chance to meet with the museum’s creative visionary and designer, Jason Pearson, and see the high-tech interactive kiosks that allow visits to examine the many layers of the Shroud of Turin. Museum staff and guests enjoyed hearing Rudy recount stories as he made his way through the museum. Want to experience the Shroud yourself? Visit TheShroudExperience.com today to purchase tickets. C
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DIOCESAN NEWS
OC CATHOLIC RECIPE SWAP MAC AND CHEESE CASSEROLE
W
E ALL HAVE MEMORIES of food that reminds us of home and family. It’s usually something that is simple and savored by both children and adults alike. We call it comfort food. This is one such dish that can be enjoyed any time but is especially good in its original recipe for a meatless Friday when the family gathers together after a long week of school and work. — Linda Serna, St. Vincent de Paul Parish Huntington Beach.
INGREDIENTS ■ 1 box/pkg Mac and Cheese (I use Kraft original, but any can be used) ■ 1 can cream of mushroom soup ■ 1 small can mushroom pieces, drained ■ 1 small can peas, drained ■ 1 small (7 oz) can tuna in water, drained ■ ½ cup milk
DIRECTIONS Make the Mac and Cheese according to the directions on the box/pkg. Then add, in any order, peas, mushrooms, tuna, cream of mushroom soup and ½ cup of milk. Mix well. Sprinkle black pepper on top. Bake covered at 350º for 20-30 minutes until heated through. Serves 4. This recipe can be easily doubled. Just bake for 30 minutes. I usually use peas and mushrooms without salt added and heart healthy cream of mushroom soup. Sometimes, when I only have a large can of peas, I use that—just more peas in recipe. If you have someone who won’t eat tuna, you can substitute a large (12 oz) can of chicken in water. Enjoy! C
PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDA SERNA
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DIOCESAN NEWS
JSERRA SENIOR TRANSFORMS EMPTY SPACES INTO HEALING HOMES THROUGH STUDENT-FOUNDED NONPROFIT BY JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL STAFF
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SERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL senior Eya Kane, a student in the school’s Law Magnet Program, is giving families in crisis more than a roof over their heads. She is giving them a home. At 16, Eya founded Make It Your Home (MakeItYourHome.org), a nonprofit that furnishes and designs fully livable spaces for families transitioning out of homelessness, domestic violence shelters and other emergency situations. Born from a single apartment walkthrough where she noticed the loneliness of bare walls, Eya realized she could transform empty spaces into places of comfort, dignity and healing. That realization sparked a mission that has since grown into a hands-on nonprofit serving some of the most vulnerable families in Orange County and beyond. In its first year alone, Make It Your Home has helped 14 families in need, partnering with organizations including Laura’s House, Radiant Futures, Human Options, Interval House and Families Forward, bringing furniture, décor and joy to families receiving a fresh start. The nonprofit has also extended its reach to young military families at Camp Pendleton, supporting those forced to relocate quickly due to unsafe housing conditions and financial strain. Eya’s team sources donated furniture, décor and household essentials to fully furnish homes for families starting over, many of whom arrive with little more than what fits in their car. Each space is thoughtfully designed to feel warm, functional and truly livable, restoring a sense of stability during times of major transition. Eya’s commitment to service is inspired by her parents’ example of generosity through community work in real estate and design. “My parents taught me that if you have the ability to help someone feel safe and at home, you do it,” she said. Her development as a leader has been shaped by the Law Magnet Program, where Mr. Ahle’s mentorship challenges students to think critically, advocate for the vulnerable and put justice into action. “The Law Magnet has helped Eya see that justice is not just a concept,” her mother shared. “It is something you live.” Through Make It Your Home, Eya continues to create meaningful impact while also reducing waste by repurposing quality furniture that may have otherwise been discarded. As she prepares to graduate, Eya plans to expand the mission, ensuring even more families have a true place to call home. “When a family walks in and realizes this is their space to begin again, you can feel the joy,” shared Eya. “It fills the room and JSERRA STUDENT EYA KANE IS THE FOUNDER OF MAKE IT YOUR HOME, A NONPROFIT THAT HELPS FAMILIES TRANSITIONING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS. your heart at the sametime.” C PHOTO COURTESY OF STACEY KANE J A N U A R Y 18 , 2 0 2 6 ■ O C C A T H O L I C
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DIOCESAN NEWS
A LIGHT IN THE DARK: 10TH ANNUAL HOMELESS PERSONS’ INTER-RELIGIOUS MEMORIAL SERVICE BY BRADLEY ZINT
T
HE DIOCESE HOSTED THE 10th annual Homeless Persons’ Inter-Religious Memorial Service at the Christ Cathedral campus to honor those who died on the streets of Orange County in the past year. The Dec. 21, 2025, service opened with a procession and included a candle of remembrance for each life lost. This service welcomed representatives from various faiths, including Islam, Judaism and Unitarian Universalism. It is CONTINUES ON PAGE 13
THE DIOCESE HOSTED THE 10TH ANNUAL HOMELESS PERSONS’ INTER-RELIGIOUS MEMORIAL SERVICE ON DEC. 21, 2025, AT THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
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ceremoniously held each year on the Dec. 21 winter solstice: the longest, darkest night of the year. “Let us become the voice for those who are not heard or seen by most,” said Fr. Al Baca, director of the Office of Ecumenism and Inter-religion, which helps organize the service. “Our brothers and sisters are experiencing homelessness, and with this memorial we say their lives do matter, and we mourn their deaths.” The Orange County Register published a story about the annual Homeless Persons’ Inter-Religious Memorial Service. It noted that around 300 died “with no fixed abode” in 2025, a large drop from previous years. C
PICTURED: BISHOP KEVIN VANN, FR. ALFRED BACA, FR. WILLIAM GOLDIN, FR. DENNIS KRIZ AND OTHERS POSE FOR A PHOTO FOLLOWING THE DEC. 21 SERVICE.
Rosary Beads If you would like to share a photo of your Rosary Beads with our readers, please send a photo and brief description. THE SERVICE IS CEREMONIOUSLY HELD EACH YEAR ON THE DEC. 21 WINTER SOLSTICE: THE LONGEST, DARKEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE J A N U A R Y 18 , 2 0 2 6 ■ O C C A T H O L I C
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Include your name and parish to: editor@occatholic.com
CATHOLIC FAMILY LIFE
AM I FREE?
external circumstances, while often our enslavement occurs through our own poor choices, bad habits and/or addictions. We might need medical help for addictions or legal help when our rights are violated, but the truest and greatest source of freedom is Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
BY SR. DIANE HEISS, SDSH
“F
IVE SCORE YEARS ago, a great American … signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity. … I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘… truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’” This quote, from Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 I Have a Dream speech refers to President Abraham Lincoln as the ‘great American’ and signer of the Proclamation of 1863. May the memory and example of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. endure wherever anyone is not treated with the inherent dignity due a child of God. While the famous I Have a Dream speech was proclaimed over 60 years ago, there was another dream well before the dawn of recorded history. The Holy Trinity, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, created our magnificent world and everything in it with the dream of providing a wondrous home for the pinnacle of creation, human beings created in the image and likeness of God. However, when Adam and Eve freely chose to commit Original Sin, that dream was shattered, although not negated. It continued in another form, with God the Father sending His beloved and only Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior. We recently celebrated Christmas, the birth of Jesus who is truly human and truly divine. He came into our world as one of us, willingly accepting our human condition, like us in everything but sin. In the eyes of the neighbors, Mary was single, unwed and pregnant, since the Annunciation occurred
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FOR YOUR FAMILY:
■ Have a conversation with the Holy
Trinity, asking light to see how and where you might be enslaved by sin in its many forms and help to be freed from those bonds. ■ Pray: Are there ways you might be enslaving others emotionally, materially, mentally, physically or spiritually? If so, what steps will you take to end this now? ■ Read the Scripture accounts of the birth, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus and share how He offers us freedom through these events. C
CLASSIFIED ADS
MARTIN LUTHER KING PRESS CONFERENCE. ORIGINAL BLACK AND WHITE NEGATIVE BY MARION S. TRIKOSKO. TAKEN AUGUST 26, 1964, WASHINGTON D.C, UNITED STATES (@LIBRARYOFCONGRESS). COLORIZED BY JORDAN J. LLOYD. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION WASHINGTON, D.C.
after Mary and Joseph were betrothed but before they could live together as husband and wife. Jesus experienced poverty, born in a stable; became a refugee when Joseph had to flee with him and Mary to Egypt to avoid his murder due to the jealousy of King Herod; and was a laborer, known as the ‘carpenter’s son.’ Why go through all of this? To continue fulfilling God’s dream, initially thwarted, of sharing eternal life, love and happiness with each of us.
O C C A T H O L I C ■ J A N U A R Y 18 , 2 0 2 6
At Easter we will see the fulfillment of this dream through Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. In appearing to the apostles on Easter Sunday, Jesus gave them authority to forgive sins in His name, and this gift of freedom is available to us in an outstanding way through the Sacrament of Penance. While governments, organizations or people can endeavor to destroy our liberty, Jesus offers us the greatest freedom, freedom from sin and eternal death. At times we may be enslaved by
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OC Catholic Afar
Kevin and Dr. Laura Haynes, along with their copy of the OC Catholic, made their way to Warsaw, Poland, where Laura was invited to speak at two separate mental health professional conferences. In the background is the Palace of Culture and Science, which serves as a reminder of Poland’s Soviet past. Today it houses theatres, museums, a swimming pool, cinemas, libraries, government offices and academic institutions, including the Polish Academy of Sciences. The couple attends St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Costa Mesa.
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. J A N U A R Y 18 , 2 0 2 6 ■ O C C A T H O L I C
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