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본당내의 성적학대 신고
성직자나 성당 사목을 대표하는 관리자에 의한 성적 학대의
인 경우, 교구청의 무료 신고 전화 번호, 1-800-364-3064 및 관할 지역 법 집행 기관에 전화하십시오.
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JUNE
8, 2025
CONTENTS
Students compete in the Battle of the Books at St. Joachim Catholic School.
JOURNEYING WITH HOPE
The Diocese’s Office of Restorative Justice hosts its first conference.
JSERRA STUDENTS RESPOND TO THE CALL OF CHRIST
A record number of students chose to receive the sacraments this year.
SPELLING BEE PROVES GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE
Pax Christi Academies hosts an inaugural annual event.
BASKETBALL FEVER HITS THE DIOCESE
Priests look to continue their winning streak over seminarians in annual matchup.
COME, HOLY SPIRIT!
The Holy Spirit can move within us in unexpected ways.
ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC MISSION STATEMENT
The Orange County Catholic Newspaper seeks to illuminate and animate the journey of faith for Catholics within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange – building solidarity among the faithful and inviting a deeper understanding and involvement in the mission of Christ – through the timely sharing of news, commentary and feature content in an engaging, accessible and compelling format.
ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC
The Official Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange Diocese of Orange Pastoral Center, 13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove 92840
Publisher: The Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of Orange
Director of Custom Content: Caroline Wong, cawong@scng.com
SCNG CUSTOM CONTENT
Managing Editor: Caitlin Adams Art Director: Ryann Beveridge
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ROSARY BEADS
READER CALL-OUT
This Rosary was a gift from an aunt and uncle nearly 60 years ago. I loved that it glowed in the dark so I could pray the Rosary at night.
—Judy Fletcher, St. Irenaeus parish in Cypress. 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
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
GENESIS 3:9-15, 20; PSALM 87:12, 3 AND 5, 6-7; JOHN 19:25-34
“ We are all in God's hands.” — Pope Leo XIV
SAINT PROFILE
WILLIAM OF YORK DIED 1154
ABITTER DISPUTE FOLLOWED the 1140 election of William Fitzherbert as archbishop of York, England. Local Cistercian monks and others challenged the election, accusing William of simony and incontinence. He was finally consecrated in 1143, but later suspended by the pope. After he was deposed in 1147, he led an exemplary life for six years in Winchester. Once his chief opponents died, another pope reinstated him in York in 1154, but he died within a few months, perhaps of poisoning. William was well liked by the people, and conciliatory toward his enemies. C
TUESDAY
2 CORINTHIANS
1:18-22; PSALM 119:129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135; MATTHEW 5:13-16
WEDNESDAY
ACTS 11:21B-26; 13:1-3; PSALM 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD4, 5-6; MATTHEW 5:17-19
THURSDAY
2 CORINTHIANS
3:15 - 4:1, 3-6; PSALM 85:9AB AND 10, 11-12, 13-14; MATTHEW 5:20-26
FRIDAY
2 CORINTHIANS
4:7-15; PSALM 116:10-11, 15-16, 17-18; MATTHEW 5:27-32
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
SATURDAY
2 COR 5:14-21; PSALM 103; MATTHEW 5:3337
SUNDAY
PROVERBS 8:2231; PSALM 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; ROMANS 5:1-5; JOHN 16:1215
PHOTO COURTESY OF JUDY FLETCHER
ART IN THE GARDEN
SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH HOST ANNUAL EVENT
BY BRITNEY ZINT
SIPPING WINE. THE FAINT aroma of la cuisine de France in the air. The rhythm of a live band. The feel of a cool breeze. The sights of a beautiful and tranquil garden.
The fourth annual Art in the Garden fundraiser on May 17 was a feast for the senses for community members who came out to support a good cause. Hosted by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange at their motherhouse on Batavia Street in Orange, this year’s event had a French theme that paid homage to the congregation’s beginnings 375 years ago in Le Puy, France.
“Once again we gather to celebrate our charisma and our mission along with all of you,” said Sr. Mary Beth Ingham, general superior. “Friends, families, partners and colleagues, this year we are delighted to integrate the theme of our 375th anniversary of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Le Puy, France. Yes, for us today, Art in the Garden meets la joie de vivre (the joy of living). So, on behalf of all the sisters, I’m here to express our deep gratitude to all of you for your continued support for our congregation and our shared mission.”
The open-air event featured an abundance of art to take in, enjoy, purchase or bid on. From watercolors, oil paintings and sculpture to lace, crochet stuffed animals and beaded jewelry, the majority of art was handmade by the sisters.
Sr. Mary Elizabeth Nelsen, who made a landscape watercolor of Vienna and several of the forest, was one of many sisters who donated their artwork.
“Art has always been something very important to us, and it’s not just art as
in watercolors,” Sr. Mary Elizabeth said.
“The art of music, the art of drama — these are wonderful ways to express yourself.”
The arts are a part of the Sisters of St. Joseph’s heritage, noted Sr. MaryAnne Huepper, sister co-chair of Art in the Garden. Four years ago, when the congregation decided it was time to start hosting events again, they wanted something that would bring people together but was also distinctive and special. Thus, Art in the Garden was born.
“The arts are very embedded in our educational system, who we are and in our training,” said Sr. MaryAnne. “We’ve been exposed to the arts. So, we thought this would be great, people would enjoy it, we would share our grounds and it would be a lovely event.”
SR. MARY BETH INGHAM WELCOMED GUESTS TO THE ANNUAL ART IN THE GARDEN EVENT. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF ORANGE
Several sisters pointed to the night’s ability to build new connections and revitalize old ones as their favorite aspect of the annual event. Art in the Garden co-chair Sr. Sara Tarango said it also served as a chance for the public to meet the sisters, see who they are and where they live.
“One of the things I like to relate to people is how we are just normal people,” Sr. Sara said. “So just come, enjoy a beautiful afternoon in our garden, see the artwork the sisters put together, enjoy the music and eat good food.”
The evening also offered the community a chance to get to know the five ministries the sisters are trying to raise funds for.
The CSJ Shelter for Refugee Families has sponsored eight families seeking asylum to come to the U.S. by helping to find them homes, navigate the legal process and fund basic needs.
The St. Joseph Worker Program is a year-long service program for young women. The volunteers have already given more than a thousand hours this year with local nonprofits, said CSJ Executive Director of Ministries Robert Choiniere.
The Center for Spiritual Development nurtures spiritual lives locally and abroad through programs and services, such as training for spiritual directors and helping others find spiritual directors. The St.
FEATURE
Joseph Justice Center advocates “for the poor, the unhoused, the abused, the marginalized in our society, including our own dear mother earth,” Choiniere said.
The CSJ Educational Network supports the faith formation and spiritual development of students, teachers and administrators across 24 schools. The network has also given more than $45,000 to arts programs.
“Together, the directors and staff members of the CSJ-sponsored ministries are embarking on a new journey together to deepen our collaboration among ourselves and within the community, hoping to build a strong foundation of community empowering one another,” Choiniere said. “I want to thank you for your continued friendship and support. Your generosity and your trust in us enable us to serve others in need, to support the enduring CSJ charisma that’s been around for 375 years: to bring others together and to bring them to God. With your help, we’ll continue to do that.”
The Sisters of St. Joseph was founded in 1650 by the Jesuit priest Jean-Pierre Medaille, who had the then-unconventional idea that women’s religious communities should go out among the people and help them. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange moved its motherhouse to Batavia Street in Orange in 1922 and has been serving the community ever since. C
THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH’S ANNUAL ART IN THE GARDEN FUNDRAISER HAD A FRENCH THEME THAT PAID HOMAGE TO THE CONGREGATION’S BEGINNINGS 375 YEARS AGO IN LE PUY, FRANCE. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF ORANGE
THE ST. JOSEPH WORKER PROGRAM IS A YEAR-LONG SERVICE PROGRAM FOR YOUNG WOMEN.
THE 2025 ART IN THE GARDEN HOSTED BY THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF ORANGE BOASTED A FRENCH THEME COMPLETE WITH A FRIENDLY MIME.
SCHOOLS
READ ON!
ST. JOACHIM CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S BATTLE OF THE BOOKS
BY BRITNEY ZINT
IT WAS THE LAST QUESTION of the competition. The score was tied 20-20.
The sport? Reading.
Then came the final question. Soon it was up to the team’s only sixth-grader and team captain, Coco Wise. If she got it wrong, the question would go to her best friend, Brooke Lujan, and Wise’s team would lose.
“I was really nervous, and it was a lot of pressure, but I was just like, ‘Well, if I didn’t get it, Brooke’s going to get it,’” Wise recalled. “But we would both have won, because we both did amazing.”
St. Joachim Catholic School in Costa Mesa hosted its first-ever Battle of the Books on May 16 in the school gym. Wise’s team ended up winning, 21-20, in the final round. On her team were third-grader Grayson King; fourth-graders Patrick Higgins and Buggy Chilleen; and fifth-graders Oliva Smith and Hadley Haile.
“It felt really good, because win or lose, you should just try to follow your dreams and just try to win,” said King, 9. “But even if you lose, you shouldn’t feel down.”
Battle of the Books is similar to an aca-
demic decathlon but is focused on literacy, explained St. Joachim literacy specialist Tamara Copeland. Students in third through sixth grade who were interested in joining were given a list of books to read. Then they had to pass a comprehension test on each one to compete.
Only 11 students at St. Joachim completed the reading list. On the opposing team was third-grader Jack Morrisey; fourth-graders Wyatt Hopkins and Ryan Small; fifth-grader Julia Susank; and Lujan, the sixth-grade team captain.
Copeland said it was impressive to watch the 11 students not only read the
assigned books, but continue reading for pleasure their own books, many of them challenging pieces of children’s literature.
“It’s truly a lot of work,” Copeland noted. “It’s a rigorous program, and all of these students that stayed are motivated and strong readers.”
Literacy has been the focus at St. Joachim this year. So, when Copeland brought up the idea for the Battle of the Books, Principal Kelly Botto said yes.
“We wanted to find a way to just foster that love for reading,” Botto said. “Let’s try it. Let’s do it. Anything to get the kids excited about reading.”
The competition gave some students who like to remain in the background a chance to shine while also building school community, collaboration across grade levels and practicing teamwork, Botto said.
“Kids do like to compete,” Botto said, “so let’s do that. Let’s use that, but in a healthy way that helps promote friendly competition — a community — but gives them a little something else to work towards: a goal.”
The competition even pushed the students to read outside of their comfort zone, said Copeland.
Lujan, 12, an avid action and science fiction reader, wasn’t initially excited to read “Everything on a Waffle,” a realistic fiction book. But she ended up liking it. Hopkins, 10, also found himself liking books he didn’t think he would.
“I’m really more into mystery and action, and that one [‘Rez Dogs’] seemed more outside of what I like to read,” Hopkins said. “But I picked it up, read a few pages and was like, ‘Hey, I kind of like this!’”
Due to the positive student response, the school wants to expand the program by joining a larger Battle of the Books network where St. Joachim students will compete against other schools. Hopkins had some advice for students who want to join next year.
“When you’re up on stage, don’t be nervous,” he said. “It’s a very competitive competition, but win or lose, what matters is that you had fun.” C
ST. JOACHIM CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WATCH THE BATTLE OF THE BOOKS COMPETITION FROM THE SCHOOL’S GYMNASIUM ON MAY 16. PHOTOS BY STEVEN GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
THE TEAM CONFERS WITH EACH OTHER ON THEIR ANSWER DURING THE ST. JOACHIM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S BATTLE OF THE BOOKS COMPETITION. THE TEAM, FROM LEFT, INCLUDES WYATT HOPKINS, JACK MORRISEY, RYAN SMALL, JULIA SUSANK AND BROOKE LUJAN.
MODERATOR AND LITERACY SPECIALIST MS. TAMARA COPELAND, LEFT, AND PRINCIPAL KELLY BOTTO TALK TO THE STUDENTS AT THE CONCLUSION OF ST. JOACHIM CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S BATTLE OF THE BOOKS COMPETITION.
JOURNEYING WITH HOPE
DIOCESE HOSTS FIRST RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CONFERENCE
BY MEG WATERS
BOTH ST. PETER AND JUDAS
Iscariot betrayed Jesus. It is clear in scripture that Jesus, aware of each of His friends’ betrayals, was deeply hurt. But the reason St. Peter went on to become the founder of Christ’s Church on earth, and Judas committed suicide, is a lesson in the power of Restorative Justice. St. Peter acknowledged his betrayal, and Jesus forgave him fully. On the other hand, Judas abandoned all hope and refused to seek forgiveness. Among the many scars from the crucifixion is undoubtedly a deep, irreparable wound from Judas.
Restorative Justice is the process of healing after the crime that includes the victim, the criminal, their families and the community. Even if the perpetrator is caught, convicted and sentenced, victims still struggle to heal and hope again, especially if they have lost a loved one. Likewise, individuals who commit crimes will never be rehabilitated or change their lives if they refuse to take responsibility for their actions and seek forgiveness from those they have hurt. Accountability heals everyone. This is Restorative Justice, a process whereby those involved in crime depend on each other to put the pieces together and move forward.
The Diocese’s Office of Restorative Justice collaborates closely with the county's criminal justice system and local nonprofits to promote Restorative Justice and reduce recidivism among individuals willing to participate.
Led by Fred LaPuzza, director of the Office of Restorative Justice, recently hosted a conference titled “Journeying with Hope, Restorative Justice: A day of Dia-
Dr. Bobby Ehnow, director of the Office of Restorative Justice for the Diocese of San Diego, began the day by moderating a panel on “Finding Hope with Restorative Justice Practices.”
“If you look at the theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Love, Hope is the foundation upon which Faith and Love are built,” he said.
Steve Kim is the CEO of Project Kinship, a nonprofit that provides services and training to individuals whose lives have been impacted by incarceration, gangs and community violence, walking with them in hope, healing and transformation. Kim noted that survivors aren’t healed by punishment; hatred wears a person down.
“We are fixated on what works and go from there,” Kim said.
The number one frustration for survivors and families is a lack of remorse on the part of the perpetrator. Through the Restorative Justice process, defendants take full responsibility for all the hurt they have caused and apologize to victims and families. Victims learn to heal through forgiveness and let go of the anger. It’s a circular process where everyone on both sides of the criminality needs each other to heal their lives.
logue” that brought together people from diverse backgrounds, including victims, defendants, law enforcement, prosecutors, public defenders, judiciary and social services, to discuss how to facilitate personal transformation and genuine healing for all involved.
“For example,” said LaPuzza, “an offender has probably never talked with someone who has been victimized; conversely, victims often have never had a dialogue with someone who was in prison or jail. This is a chance to hear
each other’s stories.”
This is the basic premise of Restorative Justice.
The Diocese Restorative Justice Ministry addresses the issues of people impacted by crime, including people from government agencies. Listening to the many stories, it is clear that for every life that was changed, there is also a spiritual conversion. This is where the Church, not just Catholics, but any religious practice, can help do the heavy lifting that secular agencies cannot do.
Judge Scott Cooper is the Supervising Judge of Orange County Superior Collaborative Courts. Known as “problem-solving” courts, they are designed to address the underlying issues that cause people to enter or stay in the justice system. If a defendant pleads guilty, the court, working through multiple agencies, can direct the individual to services that include counseling, treatment, housing, vocational skills training, education, assistance with accessing government benefits and referrals to other support services. There are also services available for victims of crime that help them heal through forgiveness and any other support they may require.
Stephanie Saucedo is one example of the many individuals Judge Cooper has shepherded through the Collaborative Court.
THE DIOCESE’S OFFICE OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE HOSTED A CONFERENCE TITLED “JOURNEYING WITH HOPE, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE A DAY OF DIALOGUE” ON MAY 9. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
THE MAY 9 CONFERENCE BROUGHT TOGETHER PEOPLE FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, INCLUDING VICTIMS, DEFENDANTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DISCUSS HOW TO FACILITATE HEALING FOR ALL INVOLVED.
“At one point in my addiction, I didn’t care if I lived or died,” she shared. “But then I chose to go through treatment again because I didn’t want my children to have to bury me in my addiction.”
She added: “It’s different being on the other side. Today, there are more opportunities for me to do better things with my life.”
Judge Thomas Donnelly, Circuit Judge of Cook County, Illinois, moderated the final discussion and reflected on the powerful testimony from the conference.
“Our God is a God of surprises, he said. “We need to be prepared for the surprises, and we need to surprise others. Unless we are all connected, there will continue to be violence, isolation and despair.”
Hope is a journey for everyone. C
BACK ROW: CRAIG ARTHUR (PRESIDING JUDGE, JUVENILE COURT ORANGE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT), JIMMY RUMSEY (PROJECT KINSHIP), FRANCISCO PALACIOS (PANELIST AND HUMAN WORKS AND TRUTH RECOVERY ADVOCATE PROGRAM), BOBBY EHNOW, PHD (MODERATOR/FACILITATOR, DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO), TRINO JIMENEZ (PANELIST/FACILITATOR, THE MEND COLLABORATIVE), THOMAS MORE DONNELLY (MODERATOR AND CIRCUIT JUDGE, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS), AND FRED LAPUZZA (DIRECTOR OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, DIOCESE OF ORANGE).
FRONT ROW: STEVE KIM (CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, PROJECT KINSHIP), JESSICA JOHNSON (PANELIST AND DEPUTY CHIEF, ORANGE COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT), MARTA BARRETO (PANELIST, HUB FOR INTEGRATION, REENTRY & EMPLOYMENT - H.I.R.E), REBECCA WEIKER (FACILITATOR AND PANELIST, CO-DIRECTOR, THE MEND COLLABORATIVE), SUZANNE NEUHAUS (MODERATOR AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE EDUCATOR, SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY), AND STEPHANIE SAUCEDO (PANELIST). PHOTO BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“FERTILE SOIL”: JSERRA STUDENTS RESPOND TO THE CALL OF CHRIST IN RECORD NUMBERS
BY STAFF
JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH School
celebrated something extraordinary on May 4. For the second consecutive year, 33 students entered the Catholic Church, receiving the sacraments of initiation through the school’s OCIA program (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults).
While JSerra has always been intentional in its faith formation, the recent surge in students responding to the Gospel has stirred both joy and awe—and points to something deeper taking root.
For Pat Reidy, vice president of Mission and Faith, the explanation isn’t formulaic.
“There’s no single reason this is happening,” he said. “It’s not a program you can replicate and get the same result. The way I describe it is that we’re just trying to create fertile soil. We till, we water, we plant—and when the Lord chooses to bring a harvest, we rejoice.”
That posture of humility frames the school’s approach to evangelization. Reidy frequently references 4:26-29, where Jesus says the farmer sows the seed and goes to sleep, and the crop grows—“and he knows not how.”
“That’s how it feels,” Reidy explained. “The Lord is doing something great here. Not because we’re JSerra, but because Christ always chooses to move. And right now, He is moving powerfully among our young people.”
Indeed, that movement is not unique to JSerra. Reidy points to rising vocations in the U.S., a growing Catholic resurgence in the UK, and moments of grace echoing around the world.
“It’s like when John Paul II came to Denver in 1993—the graces abounded for decades,” he said. “Now, especially now that we have an American pope, we should expect to see graces abounding again. There’s every reason to be encouraged. Jesus is still alive, still calling and people—especially young people—are
responding.”
At JSerra, the students themselves are at the heart of this renewal. Wyatt Boyd ’25, one of the 33 students baptized this year, speaks candidly about the moment. Raised in an atheist home, he was skeptical until something started stirring.
“There’s something to this Jesus Christ,” he remembered thinking. That question led him to OCIA and ultimately to Baptism.
“The president of our school, Mr.
Rich Meyer, often says that Baptism is the greatest thing we can offer our students, and I wholeheartedly agree,” Wyatt shared. “Out of all the academics, out of four years of water polo, out of everything they’ve given, Baptism is the hands-down greatest thing that JSerra has done for me. It is the most important moment of not only my school life, but of my whole life.”
That spirit of shared transformation is also evident in Rebel Smith ’25, a student
leader whose involvement in a variety of activities on campus made her a role model for her peers long before her journey to Catholicism began.
“OCIA has not only built the foundations of my faith,” Rebel said, “it has also opened my mind to a whole other life that I never thought was possible—and that is a life with Christ.”
She’s not alone. OCIA is offered for any student interested in exploring the Catho-
BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER IS AT JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL WHERE 33 STUDENTS ENTERED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, RECEIVING THE SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION THROUGH THE SCHOOL’S OCIA PROGRAM. PHOTO COURTESY OF JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
lic faith. Organized in small “pods” led by faculty mentors, the experience creates a space of honest dialogue, spiritual curiosity and personal growth.
History teacher Wade Holmes, who leads an OCIA pod, says it has transformed his relationships with students.
“The trust that builds in OCIA spills over into my classroom,” he said. “It allows for deeper conversations, more openness and real connections rooted in faith.”
The fruit being seen today is the result of many hands tending the soil: theology teachers who present the Church’s teachings with clarity and love, campus ministers who create powerful retreats and opportunities for adoration, NET missionaries who walk daily in discipleship with students and a myriad of other well-formed and faith-filled adults who model a vibrant Catholic life for students and mentor them spiritually.
But the single most important catalyst may be the Dominican sisters who serve on campus.
“The sisters bring a powerful and unmistakable witness,” said Reidy. “In a culture where total devotion to Christ is so rare, their joyful, consecrated presence stands out. They’re like the SWAT team of evangelization—showing our students, in a living and visible way, what
it means to belong entirely to God. That awakens a powerful hunger for more.”
Their charism and pastoral instinct have transformed the OCIA process.
Spearheaded by Sr. Miriam, JSerra’s OCIA Program has shifted in the past three years from a solid initiative drawing 5-10 students a year to a highly visible and dynamic aspect at the heart of the school culture attracting over 50 students per season. Sister’s vision was to create a dynamic program that didn’t only give lip service to the fact that this is the most important thing a young person can do with his or her life; but, rather, proclaimed at every turn that there is nothing more important to the school and nothing more important in life than advancing toward the sacraments.
“Sister is the one who said, ‘We can’t just tell them this is the most important thing—we have to show them,’” Reidy said. “So now we have public celebrations throughout the year, witness talks led by students at key events, and a huge party after the day of their baptisms so that they can understand that this is the most important moment of their entire lives.”
Sr. Miriam added: “What we’re seeing isn’t the result of one program or one person—it’s the Holy Spirit moving in hearts already hungry for truth. These students are responding because they’ve encountered the living God—often in the quiet of adoration or in a simple conversation. It’s a gift to walk with them as they respond to Christ’s invitation. And it’s a gift to serve in a place where leadership, faculty, missionaries and students are all united in one mission—to seek the face of Christ. The fruit we’re seeing is really a reflection of that unity and the grace God is pouring out through it.”
In a culture where faith can feel increasingly distant, JSerra has provided a different narrative: that Christ still calls, and young hearts still respond.
“We’re not doing something flashy or exclusive,” said Reidy. “We’re just watching the Lord do what He always does—bring people home.” C
SPELLING BEE PROVES GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE
BY MEG WATERS
THE SPELLING BEE IS back!
Students at Pax Christi Academies dusted off their diphthongs and digraphs on May 14 for the first of what will be an annual Spelling Bee competition between all five schools – St. Anne, St. Barbara, La Purísima, St. Joseph and St. Justin Martyr.
The Spelling Bee is not just a fearsome relic of the past; it’s an opportunity to master classic communication tools that allow expressive and individualized prose.
Christina Arellano, Ed.D, president of Pax Christi Academies, said, “The Spelling Bee helps children excel academically, and is another way to encourage students to get up on stage and be inspired to compete. We are bringing the Spelling Bee back to Catholic Schools, and next year we plan to participate in the state and national competitions.”
The event was held recently at the Freed Theater on the Christ Cathedral campus. Parents and teachers cheered the finalists who had won the opportunity to compete in the championship.
“To see these students excel outside the classroom walls builds confidence and friendships with their peers at other schools,” noted Arellano.
ICYMI, (in case you missed it) texting, tweeting and email have eroded the sentence to a clipped digital language that is devoid of the lyrical nuance of the written word. As Pax Christi Academies revives the classic model of Catholic education, the Spelling Bee is making a comeback as a counter to truncated words conducive to the limitations of thumb-based typing in the digital age.
For many years, schools have de-emphasized spelling, grammar, handwriting and sentence structure in favor of a more relaxed approach that values individual
BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER BAPTIZES A JSERRA STUDENT AS PART OF THE OCIA (ORDER OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS) PROGRAM. PHOTO COURTESY OF JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAX CHRISTI ACADEMIES
expression, regardless of its legibility to others.
For example, a single vowel can make all the difference—spelling, along with punctuation, legible cursive and printing, grammar and syntax create clarity and allow the reader to understand. To communicate, precision and accuracy matter. The Spelling Bee “exercise” is a great way to “exorcise” sloppy communication habits, but never the other way around.
Pax Christi Academies offers students a revolutionary new model that might look like the traditional Catholic school education of their grandparents. In addition to teaching the fundamentals of reading, writing and arithmetic, the school’s focus is on the whole student,
including life skills such as self-control, self-respect and respect for others, all within the atmosphere of Catholic teaching.
“We are starting etiquette classes next year, a skill that is nearly ignored in the education system today, but is essential to becoming a well-rounded and mature adult,” said Arellano. “We want our students to sit up straight, know how to graciously receive an award, shake a hand and be respectful.”
She added: “When visitors come into our classroom, everyone stands. It’s rare to see this now, but bringing this back is one of the things that has always stood out in Catholic education. Respect, a sense of presence and comportment will last a lifetime.” C
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PAX CHRISTI ACADEMIES
SCHOOLS
ST. HEDWIG YOUNGSTERS VISIT TANAKA FARMS
BY BRITNEY ZINT
THE BLUE AND RED tractors
trundled past rows of green — Brussel sprouts, kale, Swiss chard, green onions and the fluffy tops of carrots — before coming to a stop beside what seemed like endless rows of strawberries.
Then the transitional kindergarteners eagerly stood up, clearly wanting to get off the tractor wagon, when suddenly tour guide Dustin Uneda laid down the law with some surprising news.
“They either go in your basket or in your stomach,” he said with a smile. With excitement and hungry tummies, 39 littles from St. Hedwig Catho-
lic School climbed down and wandered among the rows of hydroponic strawberry plants. The Los Alamitos school’s two transitional kindergarten classes were on their third, and final, field trip of the year at Tanaka Farms in Irvine.
“Today is going really well,” said TK teacher Lauren Macias. “The students are having fun picking the strawberries and kale, and I think it’s a great experience for them to do hands-on. I feel like that really connects them to what they are learning in class.”
The students have been studying plants and their parts by growing their own flowers; learning about fruits, vegetables and harvesting; and the life cycle of a strawberry.
But the teachers kept the CONTINUES ON PAGE 14
A STUDENT OBSERVES A HORSE DURING A FIELD TRIP TO TANAKA FARMS. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
strawberry tasting part of the day a secret — which turned into the best moment for many. It became all about seeing “their eyes lighting up when they realized they got to eat the strawberries,” said TK teacher Nicole Vasquez.
“We are excited to be here, learning about farmers, learning about vegetables and fruit, and taking what we learned and seeing it first-hand,” Vasquez added. “I want them to realize how fruit and vegetables going from farm to table is important. But also, they’ll see it’s a job and this is what someone does for a living. It takes lots of people in our community to help us enjoy different things.”
Many students who visit Tanaka Farms have never been to an actual farm before, said Uneda. He sees the experience bringing children a lot of joy and he hopes they’ll learn where their food comes from.
“There’s a lot of times we ask kids on tours where their food comes from and the first answer is ‘the market,’” Uneda said. “So, this way we get to show them where our foods are grown, like at a farm like this and other farms. Then hopefully they will appreciate the hard work farmers do for all of us.”
Wandering among the strawberries with her mom, 5-year-old Nova Cerca peeked at her peers through the green leaves and vines. The children were instructed not to pick the unripe white strawberries that needed more time to grow, but the red ones that verged on crimson.
“Nova, here’s a good one!” her mother, Carla Cerca said, pointing out a particularly juicy fruit.
“I want to taste it,” Nova said, reaching out her small hand to bend and snap the strawberry off the vine. She took a bite, a bit of juice dripping down her chin.
Once back on the wagon, one little boy said he ate “like sixty hundred.”
With baskets and stomachs full of strawberries and bags of handpicked
SCHOOLS
kale, the students then headed off to meet the farm animals. Passing miniature horses Dolly Madison and Little Debbie, Vasquez and her students discovered four goats eating hay.
“Do you think it’s breakfast time? I think it’s breakfast time,” Vasquez said to student Hazel Neumann, who then got to pet a goat. “What does it feel like? Is it soft?”
Seeing the goats, horses, cows, chickens and one very irate pig named Al was the peak of the field trip for friends Mia Duan, 4, and Rowan Swanson, 5. Classmate Savannah O’Donnell, 5, said she had fun picking the strawberries and kale — clarifying that she won’t be eating the kale — yet found the farm animals to be the best part.
“It was fun,” O’Donnell said, “because we can see the horses.” C
A STUDENT SHOWS OFF A LARGE STRAWBERRY HE PICKED DURING A CLASS FIELD TRIP TO TANAKA FARMS IN IRVINE. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
STUDENTS FROM ST. HEDWIG CATHOLIC SCHOOL PICK KALE DURING THEIR TOUR.
STUDENTS GET TO MEET AND PET SOME FARM ANIMALS AT TANAKA FARMS.
BASKETBALL FEVER HITS THE DIOCESE
BY LOU PONSI
AS THE NBA Finals draw near, the Diocese has its own highly anticipated game coming up.
The annual basketball game pitting diocesan priests against seminarians has consistently drawn large crowds at the Mater Dei High School gymnasium, giving the public the opportunity to see current and future priests in a different light, without their vestments and outside of traditional religious settings.
While the game is about fun, the money from ticket sales goes toward supporting vocations in the Diocese.
Since the inaugural game in 2015, the priests have dominated their protégées and future religious leaders, winning every game.
But the outcome might be different this year, because when the competitors step onto the court on June 13, the seminarians will have an experienced coach with a record of success calling instructions from the bench.
Dr. Richard Yoon, who coached the Rosary Academy basketball team for more than 30 years before leaving to become principal at St. Bonaventure Catholic School, is returning courtside to coach the seminarians.
“I’ve never been part of it
before,” Dr. Yoon said. “I’m excited.”
Fr. Cheeyoon Chun, the director of Priestly Vocations for the Diocese of Orange and former colleague of Dr. Yoon at Rosary, asked Dr. Yoon if he’d be willing to coach the seminarians for this year’s game.
“I think he's a really good guy and I know him from the past,” Dr. Yoon said.
“So, I didn't want to say no to him.”
By gameday, he will have led three practices, during which time he plans to evaluate his team’s talent and draw up a basic game plan.
“I think in the beginning, I’ll see what the cards I'm dealt with are and then from there try to devise some kind of scheme that they can remember in the three practices,” Dr. Yoon said. “It would be nice if I saw some tape on the priests or something to have a clue of what we're dealing with, but I would probably just venture that it's a fun game. I’ll try to do the best I can. Although I am very ultra-competitive.”
While the priests’ squad doesn’t have a bonafide coach, Fr. Brandon Dang, the former director of Priestly Vocations for the
Diocese and one of the original organizers for the game is serving as a player-manager. By having a coach, the seminarians are obviously taking the game seriously, Fr. Dang said.
“We're hoping for the win ourselves,” said Fr. Dang, who currently serves as the parochial administrator of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Aliso Viejo. “But more so putting on a competitive and close game with the seminarians as we have done in the last few years when the format was North
ON JUNE 14, 2024, TEAMS OF PRIESTS AND SEMINARIANS FROM NORTH AND SOUTH COUNTIES FACED OFF ON THE BASKETBALL COURT AT THE MATER DEI GYM. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15
County vs. South County. We hope to put on a sacred and holy show for our fans and parishioners.”
The first game between the priests and seminarians took place back in 2015 inside the gym at St. Jeanne de Lestonnac School in Tustin.
There was no game in 2019 and then the coronavirus forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 games.
The money raised in the 2015 game was used to help pay for the priests’ trip to see Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.
This year’s game takes place on June 13 at Mater Dei High School.
Food and fellowship begin at 5:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
For information and to purchase tickets, go to www.rcbo.org/basketball C
DR. RICHARD YOON, PRINCIPAL OF ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN HUNTINGTON BEACH, WILL BE COACHING THE DIOCESAN SEMINARIANS IN THIS YEAR’S BASKETBALL GAME. PHOTO BY ALAN WENDELL/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE
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COME, HOLY SPIRIT!
BY REBEKAH VALDERRAMA
SOMETIMES IT'S HARD to tell the difference between divine inspiration and just a good idea. Did this movement come from God or from my own brain? But the things the Holy Spirit does, and the things we do, are not mutually exclusive. He assists in our works, and we assist in His.
Sometimes, it's very subtle. Sometimes, He makes it obvious.
I participated in a mission trip to Coahuila, Mexico when I was in college. As one of a few Spanish majors on the team, I was assigned to a lot of interpretation, which made me incredibly nervous.
One evening, during a praise and worship event, one of the other students began to speak in tongues (which I had seen before at similar events). Then another of the students began to interpret the tongues (which I had not witnessed before)! Now I'm suddenly part of a prayer team where the Spirit was moving very powerfully, and I realized that I needed to translate the interpretation of tongues from English into Spanish for the woman we were praying over.
The gravity of this situation was unbearable, but I began. And as I started to translate this prayer, I felt something gently disconnect between my brain and my mouth. I gave over my will and let the Holy Spirit give me the words. I felt like I was merely a channel for Him to move through, passing the message He had for this woman through my own meager abilities, put to His use.
I've felt the Holy Spirit work through me at other times since—never as dramatically. Whenever I have to speak to a group, or anticipate a difficult conversation, I try to ask the Holy Spirit to help me. I usually find that communication of all kinds is clearer where the Holy Spirit is
working.
Jesus told the disciples, "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always." (John 14:16)
This word, "advocate", sometimes translated as "counselor", brings up images of a lawyer in a courtroom. If you ever find yourself in front of a judge, you know that
three denials, is now emboldened by his confirmation in the Holy Spirit and given the words to convert three thousand new Christians in a single day.
The Holy Spirit is still alive and active in the Church today. He's alive and active in you as a baptized and confirmed Catholic. He wants to be your advocate and counselor, guiding your discernment and your actions.
Call out to Him each day, begging His intercession and direction in your work. Open yourself up to his movements and his calling. Invite Him to participate in your work and bring it to bear fruit. Respond to His invitation to participate in His work in you and in the world.
You may not always feel a dramatic presence of consolation when you call upon the Holy Spirit, but I promise that His fruits will make themselves apparent when you trust Him and open yourself to His work in and through you.
May the gifts of the Holy Spirit empower you to accomplish the plans God has set out for you.C
listening to your lawyer will get you the best results. His job is to advise you what to do, and to speak on your behalf. This is exactly what the Holy Spirit does for us as well.
Pentecost is the perfect example. In today's reading, we hear how St. Peter, who 50 days before was stammering his
PHOTO BY SUNGUK KIM ON UNSPLASH
OC Catholic Afar
Rey and Daisy Genaldo hold a copy of OC Catholic during a visit to Taal Lake in Tagaytay, Philippines. Taal Volcano, which is an active volcano, can be seen in the background.
—Rey and Daisy are parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in La Habra.
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.
