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3, 2026
CONTENTS
7
8
10
11
FRED LA PUZZA RETIRES LEAVING A LEGACY OF HOPE
La Puzza led the diocese's restorative justice ministry for 30 years.
JSERRA STUDENT AND FAMILY STRIVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Sophie Tonks and her family have set a sky-high goal for charity.
UNLEAVENED BREAD
One second-grade classroom got to experience a hands-on lesson about why this food is a cornerstone of the faith.
OLFA STARTS A NEW TRADITION
Our Lady of Fatima Academy hosted its first Falcon Fest, inducting a new end-ofthe-school-year tradition.
14 DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?
In all things, Jesus invites us to say yes, to open ourselves to His 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
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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.
Vocation Fair Sunday
May 17th 8 am - 2 pm
Congregation of the Norbertine Sisters Congregation of Jesus and Mary Benedictine Monks of Prince of Peace Abbey Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Missionaries of Mercy Lovers of the Brothers of St. Patrick Holy Cross Sisters of St. Joseph Sister Servants of the Blessed Sacrament and more! Presented by Fr. Cheeyoon Chun JoanPatten,AO
St. Edward the Confessor Presents: Eudist Fathers Missionaries of Mercy
Diocese Vocations Director Delegate for Consecrated Life AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM IN DISCUSSION AROUND YOUR VOCATION! For more info contact: Laszlo Hegedus 949.510.8795 Sponsored by the 33926 Calle La Primavera. Dana Point, CA 92629 Knights of Columbus
ROSARY BEADS
READER CALL-OUT
In April 2016, 22 parishioners from Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Habra, went to Ireland with our pastor Rev. Justin H. MacCarthy. What a delightful time we had. We saw the whole isle, celebrated Mass at Our Lady of Knock and saw the tombs of St. Bridget and St. Patrick. We also stopped at the Connemara and Waterford factories. My rosary brings fond memories of our trip. One of our travelers, Dale Hardin, put out a 3-volume book on our travels so we can reminisce whenever we’d like.
— Yolanda Carrillo, OLG, La Habra. 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
“ There is no energy better spent than that dedicated to freeing our heart”
— Pope Leo XIV
SAINT PROFILE
APOSTLES PHILIP & JAMES THE LESS FIRST CENTURY
PHILIP AND JAMES THE LESS, son of Alphaeus, are listed among the Twelve Apostles commissioned by Jesus. Philip brought Nathaniel to Christ, had a part in feeding the 5,000, and at the Last Supper, when asked to be shown the Father, was told by Christ: “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?” He may have evangelized in Turkey. Not much is known about James, but “the less” may refer to his height. One tradition puts him in Syria, while another has him martyred in the same Jerusalem persecution as James the Righteous.C
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
ACTS 14:5-18; PSALM 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16; JOHN 14:21-26
TUESDAY
ACTS 14:19-28; PSALM 145:10-11, 12-13AB, 21; JOHN 14:27-31A
WEDNESDAY
ACTS 15:1-6; PSALM 122:1-2, 3-4AB, 4CD5; JOHN 15:1-8
THURSDAY
ACTS 15:7-21; PSALM 96:1-2A, 2B-3, 10; JOHN 15:9-11
FRIDAY
ACTS 15:22-31; PSALM 57:8-9, 10 AND 12; JOHN 15:12-17
SATURDAY
ACTS 16:1-10; PSALM 100:1B-2, 3, 5; JOHN 15:18-21
SUNDAY
ACTS 8:5-8, 14-17; PSALM 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20; 1 PETER 3:15-18; JOHN 14:15-21
PHOTO COURTESY OF YOLANDA CARRILLO
DIOCESAN DELEGATION MEETS POPE, VISITS BORGO LAUDATO SI’ — CENTRO DI
ALTA FORMAZIONE LAUDATO SI’
BY GREG HARDESTY
CASTEL GANDOLFO, located 15 miles outside of Rome, has for centuries served as a summer residence and vacation retreat for the pope.
A serene path in the gardens ends at a shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary overlooking a koi pond.
There, for the last 400 years, popes have prayed for God’s guidance and Mary’s intercession when facing serious issues of global importance.
This March 24, on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Orange, Bishop Kevin Vann led a delegation of diocesan leaders and lay supporters to that very spot as part of a tour of Borgo Laudato Si’ — Centro di Alta Formazione Laudato Si’, which Pope Francis established in 2023 on the 135-acre papal summer property that the Vatican purchased in 1596.
Recently opened to the public and
inaugurated by Pope Leo XIV, Borgo Laudato Si' is named after Pope Francis’ 10-year-old encyclical that urges concrete action to be taken to save our common home, and it provides opportunities for society’s most vulnerable through events, conference, job training, education and other initiatives.
Coming soon are a hotel and restaurant that will employ many of these pilgrims from around the world.
“It was one of the highlights of the week,” Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Freyer said of the stroll down the path. “We spent time in prayer before the statue of our Blessed Mother, and some of the members of our group were moved to tears.
“What struck me was how peaceful it was. It wasn’t just an absence of noise, but a true sense of peace.”
‘MY CLASSMATE!’
Another highlight for the group was having a private audience, the following
day, with Pope Leo, who studied canon law with Bishop Vann in the early 1980s. That monumental moment wasn’t on the agenda, and the delegation only learned the pope could meet them the day before.
“My classmate!” the Holy Father said to Bishop Vann when they saw each other.
Pope Leo thanked the group for their support of Borgo Laudato Si' – the Diocese of Orange has committed to funding two classrooms. Pope Leo shared that Borgo Laudato Si' was a big commitment from Pope Francis and has been one of the areas he has wanted to continue and support.
"And we are [also] committed to continuing it," said Bishop Vann.
During the visit, Pope Leo also gave a special blessing to mark the diocese’s anniversary.
“Our private audience with Pope Leo XIV was the honor of a lifetime and moving beyond words,” said Kevin Tiber, president of Farmers & Merchants Trust Co. He and his wife, Elaine, were part of the delegation. “Meeting the pope is difficult to put into words. It is a rare occasion when you can derive a clear sense of grace and gentleness purely from
a handshake. The visit lent a sense of significance and importance to the Borgo Laudato Si’ project.”
St. Kilian parishioners Coral and Matthew Heslin (founder and chief executive officer of Heslin Holdings, Inc.) were also part of the local delegation that traveled to Rome.
“It was beyond a bucket list of a pilgrimage,” shared Coral Heslin. “We celebrated Mass each day at a different basilica. Each experience was monumentally intimate.”
Added Bishop Freyer: “Seeing Pope Leo in that small setting, what really struck me is he’s such a joyful, thoughtful and prayerful person. It just radiated from him.”
MASS IN A BAROQUE CHURCH
Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Thanh Thai Nguyen agreed that the path to the shrine was a moving experience. It was his third time to meet Pope Leo but his first visit to the papal summer house.
Leading the tour of the grounds via
BISHOP KEVIN VANN GREETS POPE LEO XIV ON MARCH 25 IN ROME. PHOTOS BY VATICAN MEDIA
golf carts was Borgo Laudato Si' manager Fr. Manuel Dorantes, joined by Cardinal Fabio Baggio and Sr. Alessandra Smerilli.
Other members of the O.C. delegation included Fr. Angelos Sebastian, Fr. Bao
Thai and Fr. David Moreno.
“Fr. Manuel has done a wonderful job,” Bishop Nguyen said. “He took good care of us.”
The visit included Mass in a beautiful and quaint Baroque church, the Chiesa
Pontificia di San Tommaso da Villanova in Castel Gandolfo.
“The church’s namesake, St. Tomas of Villanova, was an Augustinian, as is Pope Leo,” noted Tiber. “It was a providential confluence of meaningful history for the Diocese of Orange. The experiences of the week certainly provided a renewed sense of living the Gospel in my daily life and vocation.”
BEYOND ECOLOGY
The core message of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si' encyclical is caring for our common home — Earth. And Borgo Laudato Si' was designed with sustainability in mind, with smart technology, organic farming, regenerative cultivation, and a structure for the restaurant, a bookstore, and offices that is carbon neutral and is a Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB).
“This land is home for everybody and every creature,” Bishop Nguyen said. “Not only do we need to take care of nature but to please and honor God for all the goodness we’ve received in creation.
Touring the grounds was a wonderful way to learn about and experience Laudato Si' in a very concrete way.”
The spirit of Laudato Si' goes beyond the ecological, Bishops Freyer and Nguyen noted.
It’s also about human development.
Bishop Freyer said he was impressed by a community of sisters who work with women who decide to give birth rather than abort their babies.
“Many of these women are undergoing job training and the sisters care for them,” Bishop Freyer said. “Their lives will be completely transformed. There will be a school for their children, too, on the property.”
There’s also a specially designed section in the garden for people with autism spectrum disorder.
“It’s not just about the ecology,” Bishop Freyer said of Borgo Laudato Si'. “It’s about seeing each human being as a beloved of God and allowing that person through the beauty of nature, through their work, and through their relationships to grow in their faith.” C
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BISHOP THANH THAI NGUYEN GREETS POPE LEO XIV IN ROME ON MARCH 25. PHOTOS BY VATICAN MEDIA
HIS HOLINESS OFFERED HIS CONGRATULATIONS ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR DIOCESE AND EXPRESSED GRATITUDE FOR OUR SUPPORT OF BORGO LAUDATO SI, A PROJECT CLOSE TO HIS HEART. THIS INITIATIVE OPENS THE GARDENS
AFTER 30 YEARS LEADING THE DIOCESE’S RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MINISTRY, FRED LA PUZZA RETIRES, LEAVING A LEGACY OF HOPE
BY MEG WATERS
FRED LA PUZZA COULD have had a lucrative career in insurance, but in the 1990s, he turned down a six-figure promotion to go to prison and never looked back.
For the past 30 years, La Puzza has led the diocese’s prison and restorative justice ministry. He is retiring now but plans to continue his work as a volunteer.
“When I first began the ministry,” said La Puzza, “I thought I was going to bring God into our correctional facilities and transform the hearts of our incarcerated populations.”
He added: “In my ignorance, I quickly discovered God had beaten me to it. He was already in there, in the hearts of each man, woman and youth I met. Each encounter caused me to recognize my own brokenness and see our God most profoundly present in the wounded and suffering humanity. Through this incarnational experience, it was I who was transformed.”
His transformation wasn’t limited to his own experiences. Orange County’s many agencies and nonprofits that serve the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated, La Puzza has been a force for good and positive change, facilitating interagency cooperation and innovation.
Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen has worked closely with La Puzza over the years and presented him with a papal apostolic blessing upon his retirement.
“Fred has been a faithful steward of his gifts and talents, helping the diocese fulfill its mission to reach the poor and those in prison,” said Bishop Nguyen. “His quiet leadership, deep faith and perseverance—especially through
the challenges of COVID—have been a profound witness to all of us. Today, we honor him with gratitude for his ministry and example.”
One of the hallmarks of La Puzza’s tenure was his outreach to the many agencies and nonprofits that work with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. Under the aegis of restorative justice principles, the restorative justice ministry strives to accompany, transform and heal both the incarcerated and their victims. To accomplish this, however, the diocese must work collaboratively not only with those involved in or harmed by crime, but also with the many agencies and nonprofits that serve this same population. La Puzza’s efforts to build strong relationships and foster innovation were reflected in the many organizations that honored his work, including the OC Sheriff’s Department, Probation, H.I.R.E., Social Services, OC Cares, Project Kinship and Returning Home Foundation.
La Puzza shared, “I feel most honored to have been involved in the unprecedented reform of our state and county criminal justice system from one of punitive retribution to one of restoration and redemption. As a result of a number of collaborative efforts, many lives have been transformed, recidivism rates have dropped and crime has been reduced. As a result, our diocese and the California Catholic Church have become recognized as a beacon of hope, reconciliation and a leader of our Lord’s call to restorative justice.”
In a way, La Puzza did stay in the insurance business, but instead of paying a premium against the chance of a bad event, he has tackled bad events head-on—and the premium is a better, holier and healthier community. C
FRED LA PUZZA IS PICTURED WITH HIS FAMILY (WIFE, ROXANNE; SON, ANDY; DAUGHTER, MARINA) AND BISHOP THANH
THAI NGUYEN DURING A RECENT RETIREMENT GATHERING IN HIS HONOR. PHOTO COURTESY OF GABRIELA VAZQUEZ
JSERRA STUDENT, FAMILY, STRIVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
BY GREG MELLEN
JSERRA JUNIOR SOPHIE TONKS, her dad, Ian, and mom, Januaria, or “JJ,” have spent many hours together talking about life, faith and issues of the day.
It was during several of these chats, around Christmastime in 2024, that they hit upon an idea. Maybe it was because “'twas the season,” but they discussed the importance of giving and doing meaningful things in life. Soon they were exchanging ideas and strategies.
“Sophie has always been a faith-filled person,” Ian Tonks said. “She’s always been philanthropically inclined, and we’ve always talked about making a difference.”
What began as a casual conversation developed into something bigger — much bigger.
In January, the family launched Charipillar.org, a charity with the immodest goal to raise $1 billion for worthy causes by the year 2036.
“We just wanted to have a really big goal to leave a legacy,” said Sophie Tonks.
Although no 17-year-old can reasonably imagine themselves at 27, Sophie has her dad to provide some longitudinal perspective.
Ian slightly tempers the 10-year, billion-dollar number, but still sees the effort as something with real legs and potential. Sophie, who also runs cross country and is part of JSerra’s acclaimed DuPont Business Magnet Program, said she is in for the long haul despite a stacked school schedule. “I’m used to the hustle, and I believe you make time for what’s important,” she said. “I’m willing to put in the work. I am not doing this for show or to gain attention, that is not my priority.”
BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH WELLNESS
The idea is straightforward.
Charipillar exists for its members “to
combine personal growth and wellness with charity and giving.”
The goal is to create an interconnected collection of members, either as individuals or groups, who will challenge themselves to complete tasks in eight dimensions, or pillars, ranging from physical to spiritual wellness, with attainable goals and positive habits. Participants are encouraged to raise funds from friends, colleagues and community partners to support their efforts through donations. Charipillar has a list of worthy local nonprofits it promotes or actively contributes to, although participants can also go off menu.
There are also plenty of guides, resources and sources to inspire and help newcomers get started, fired up and
CHARIPILLAR
SOPHIE TONKS AND HER FATHER IAN TONKS PAUSE FOR A PORTRAIT IN THE COURTYARD OF JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, WHERE SHE IS A STUDENT. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
stay engaged.
“Anyone can come in and find something that fits them,” Ian said.
Ian, who works as an entrepreneurial coach with myriad companies, has already talked with Stanford Children’s Hospital and Hoag about potential partnerships.
JJ is the family driver for Sophie’s visits to non-profits and potential partners among several unsung duties, and said she is happy to be involved.
“I feel very valuable putting in time helping people and helping build the foundation of this project” she said.
Because Charipillar is only in its nascent stages, Ian said he is awaiting his first batch of data on engagement, registration, donations and other online metrics. The Charipillar site is operated by Charity Footprints, which primarily supports non-profit fitness events and races.
identity, Ian said the goal is to help it grow organically as the membership increases and groups and charities interact.
JOURNEY OF FAITH
Building Charipillar has brought father and daughter closer together on parallel faith journeys.
While Catholicism is central to the lives and identity of Sophie and her mother, both born and raised Catholic, for Ian, who was born into a secular family in London, the journey and path have been a little different. His search led him to the nondenominational Harbor Point Church in San Juan Capistrano; however, he credits Sophie as “a beacon in my faith journey.”
JJ, a native of Brazil, was born and raised Catholic, and it was important to the couple to raise Sophie in the faith.
It was Ian’s observations of Sophie that led him to Christianity.
“I would pass by her room and each
on a whiteboard in her room,” Ian said.
He was also inspired by sunrise services and other activities Sophie and her friends would attend.
“I decided I needed something,” he said about his search for something akin to what his daughter and wife had.
year self-published a book and website entitled “Becoming a Christ.ian” about his journey.
For Sophie, the journey of charity and faith has only deepened her beliefs.
“It has amplified my desire to continue to give back as much as possible,” she
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DURING A PRESENTATION AT JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, SOPHIE TONKS DRAWS THE CATERPILLAR LOGO FOR CHARIPILLAR, THE NONPROFIT SHE AND HER FATHER CO-FOUNDED. PHOTO BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
UNLEAVENED BREAD
BY BRITNEY ZINT
AS SECOND-GRADE students around the diocese prepare for their First Communion, one classroom decided to look closer at the history and making of unleavened bread, as well as explore the different parts of their parish sanctuary.
St. Juliana Falconieri Catholic School’s second-grade class got a little messy making unleavened bread on April 14 at the Fullerton parish campus. The activity served as preparation for their First Reconciliation that weekend and First Communion on April 25.
“It’s connecting the Eucharist with the old Bible stories: learning about why we have unleavened bread, why it is special to Catholics, and how that connects the Passover with the Last Supper,” said second-grade teacher Christie Reichman. “That brings us to the miracle that happens on the altar at every Mass.”
Students worked with their parents to measure out and mix flour, water, olive oil and salt into a bowl. Second-grader Sofia
Neal happily shared all the different kinds of bread she loved as she worked: banana bread, pretzels, rolls, cinnamon bread.
“I love every and all kinds of bread,” Neal declared.
Then it was time to knead the gloopy mixture. Although hesitant at first, Neal stuck her hands in with a big smile and had many little giggles as she kneaded her dough.
At another table, Olivia Netoyer and her mom were the first to make some perfectly round dough ready to be pinched into smaller wafers.
“It’s fun,” Netoyer said of her first time making bread.
Before the students and their parents got to baking, though, they had a chance to look up close at the sanctuary. In a scavenger hunt of sorts, students read about important items like the paschal candle, tabernacle, altar and missal.
“I want the kids to learn about the Church,” said assistant principal Heather Molina.
“I want them to take away what their faith means and the meaning behind it, so when they see the altar, they know what the altar stands for, why we say the words, what the words mean,” she added. “I want them to take that away before going on to their First Reconciliation and First Communion.”
Fr. Michael Pontarelli, O.S.M., pastor of St. Juliana, spoke with the children about the important features of the Church and answered their questions.
“I think it’s important when we come into a Catholic church, or any church, just to notice where we are,” Fr. Michael said. “That’s an important thing, and when you notice it, you get an orientation of what’s important.”
He noted how in the Catholic tradition, the central focus is the cross.
Learning how to make bread and the important features of her parish church was fun for Juliana “Juju” Mota, 7, because they were helping her prepare for her First Communion. Taking the Eucharist is important to her to “have a good heart.”
“Because I am getting blessed from God,” she added. C
JUJU MOTA GETS SOME HELP WITH THE FINAL TOUCHES ON HER BREAD BEFORE PUTTING IT IN THE OVEN.
STUDENTS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS PREPARE UNLEAVENED BREAD IN A HANDS-ON LESSON.
FR. MICHAEL PONTARELLI ANSWERS SECOND GRADERS’ QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW EACH ITEM IN THE CHURCH IS USED DURING MASS AND PRAYER.
SECOND FROM LEFT, SECOND-GRADE TEACHER CHRISTIE REICHMAN POSES WITH HER STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS AFTER MAKING BREAD. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
OLFA STARTS A NEW TRADITION
BY BRITNEY ZINT
AS THE END OF THE school year approaches, one local campus decided it was time to start a new tradition: a carnival of fun, games, food and families.
Our Lady of Fatima Academy hosted its first Falcon Fest on April 18 on the field of its San Clemente campus. The event was a chance to focus on community, said principal Jennifer Jukic, who is in her second year as head of the school. Jukic said Falcon Fest is part of an opportunity to refresh, ensure the community is strong and that the school is one of the best in Orange County.
“It’s about family and community,” Jukic added. “My main goal is for the kids to feel loved and supported and to have happy memories of being in their school from TK to eighth grade.”
Falcon Fest offered families the chance to jump in a bounce house, go through two different obstacle courses, capture memories in a photo booth and try their hand at several carnival booths. Hanging over the event was a 45-ton, all-terrain crane with its 150-foot boom cantilevered over the scene. It was dangling a net full of balloons — some with prizes in them — that were dropped on the waiting children. The students were also excited to try to dunk their teachers in a dunk tank, said Erin Raith, a mother of three who serves as president of the Parents of Fatima.
“It’s pretty awesome to see the community come together to make memories for the kids,” Raith said. “We are all here because we want our families to have these great memories of getting together, our friends on the field, bouncing around — just really enjoying everyone’s presence. The community at Our Lady of Fatima Academy is different than at any other
school because we are so close.”
There were burgers, açaí bowls, popcorn, candied apples and snow cones to enjoy. Many students won an entire cake at the cake walk booth. Second-grader Gwen Corning, 7, helped her 2-year-old sister Maggie walk around the numbered circles until the music stopped. Then she helped Maggic pick out a pink “Wicked”-themed cake when she won.
“I love it!” exclaimed Corning.
First-grader Charlee Pattison, 7, said the carnival was “really fun.” She was mostly looking forward to dunking her teacher, Erin O’Shea, despite liking her.
Pattison and her siblings were trying to win a goldfish by throwing a ball into a glass fishbowl. While admiring her newly won goldfish in its clear plastic bag, Pattison wasn’t ready to name it quite yet.
“I don’t know,” Pattison said of the name. “That depends on the whole family.”
Winning a fish was on eighth-grader Celia Brutocao’s wish list for the day, but first she wanted to “bring a little joy to the
kids” at the face painting booth. Brutocao and her fellow eighth-graders came up with the idea for the booth and oversaw painting whatever the students wanted: mustaches, unicorns, mermaids, trucks, fairies and more.
Brutocao was excited at the new school tradition and was already planning to come back for Falcon Fest next year. She said she loves Our Lady of Fatima
Academy, especially getting one-on-one time with teachers, which she credits with helping her advance to sophomore-level math. She hopes more students will enroll.
“I just really love this school so much and I’d love to see a bunch more kids come here,” Brutocao said. “All the kids are so nice, and I just think it’s a really great environment to grow up in.” C
FIFTH-GRADERS SHAYNA MOEDER, LEFT, AND RACHEL DAVIES, RIGHT, STAND WITH STACI DAVIES, CENTER, UNDER THE BALLOON DROP AT OUR LADY OF FATIMA ACADEMY
ADRIANA GARCIA RIDES THE INFLATABLE SLIDE AT THE FALCON FESTIVAL. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
LET'S DANCE!
BY GREG MELLEN
WITHIN 30 MINUTES
of the doors opening for the fifth annual dinner dance for adults with disabilities at St. Columban parish in Garden Grove, the dance floor was full and excitement filled the air.
And the energy never wavered until the last song played three hours later.
Elizabeth Etebar and her friend Eva were among the early arrivals, dancing to Donna Summer’s disco standard “Hot Stuff.”
When asked if they planned to dance all night, Etebar yelled, “Yeah!”
“Yeah,” echoed Eva, strutting off into the center of the dance floor.
Hilda Mendez, vice president of the St. Columban Women’s Council, helped organize the event five years ago.
“I have a disabled grandson,” she said. “I thought the dance would be nice. This community doesn’t have much, and this is a safe place for them to let their hair down.”
And did they ever.
“The kids will sleep tomorrow,” Kathy Collens, president of the Women’s Council, said with a laugh as she watched the full-tilt action.
The theme for the dance, which changes annually, was “April Fools’ Day,” according to organizers, and next year it will feature a prom motif. In addition to the DJ, the guests were treated to a photo booth, goody bags at the event’s close and a sit-down taco dinner.
About 200 guests and volunteers were on hand at Murphy Hall for the event.
Soon after the music started, informal dance circles were forming around featured dancers. At one of the impromptu ciphers, Andrew Essien, his shirt dripping with sweat, exhorted fellow dancers to join in.
Later in the evening, Markus Morales, who spent much of the evening doing
his version of “popping and locking” in front of the stage, finally succeeded in heading up a conga line that wove through the dancers.
Morales is Mendez’s grandson and part of the inspiration for the event. He has been a regular every year and looks forward to it.
Mendez says throughout the year it is not uncommon for parishioners and eventgoers to tap her on the shoulder either to ask when the dance will be or remind her not to forget.
Jonas Coggins, 54, attends the dance every year. He said cards with the date of the next event are handed out at the end of the evening and immediately go up on his refrigerator.
He also said he makes sure his mother adds it to his computer calendar.
FROM LEFT, NHA TRAN, THU NGUYEN, THAO NGUYEN AND VINCENT HUYNH POSE FOR A PHOTO AS THEY ENTER THE DANCE HELD AT ST. COLUMBAN PARISH. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
GUESTS OF THE APRIL 17 DANCE TO “YMCA” TOGETHER.
DIOCESAN NEWS
Although Coggins was using a combination wheelchair and walker due to a recent surgery, he planned to hit the floor.
“I’m just waiting for the songs I like,” he said, citing favorites such as “The Hustle,” “Electric Slide” and “Macarena.”
Liam Ferris manned the “Foto Fun Fest” booth where a consistent flow of guests posed for the camera.
Kathy Lincoln stepped in front of the camera while her attendant Yesenia Menjivar draped her in a pink feather boa and oversized sunglasses.
When the prints came out, Lincoln broke out into a huge smile.
Sr. Pauline Nguyen, who leads the parish’s youth Confirmation program, which provided volunteers, attended the event for the first time.
A member of the Lovers of the Holy Cross, Sr. Pauline said it was a great chance for the youth to interact with the
community.
“I think it’s a lovely community,” she said. “We can meet these brothers and sisters who we don’t usually get to meet.”
Many of the volunteers, she said, “feel a whole new world open up. They see that God can be with everyone and everyone can have that joy.”C
“Thanks to New Hope Counseling, I have learned that everyone has dignity, no matter what they did or have done.” - Thomas, 5th grade
Our 50 Anniversary Legacy of Love Celebration on May 30, 2026, honors a half-century of service while making a meaningful impact today. Proceeds directly support New Hope Counseling Services, bringing vital mental health care to children across the Diocese.
and
GUESTS STOP BY THE PHOTO BOOTH FOR PICTURES DURING THE DINNER DANCE HELD AT ST. COLUMBAN PARISH. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
NEW HOPE COUNSELING SERVICES
DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?
BY JOAN PATTEN, AO
“
DO YOU LOVE ME more than these?” (Jn. 21:15)
This question, posed by the Risen Lord to Peter on the shore of Galilee, is one that every disciple must allow to penetrate the depths of his or her heart. When Jesus asks a question in the Gospel, He is not simply seeking information. He knows our hearts better than we know ourselves. His questions are at the service of communion as He seeks to draw us into an intimate relationship with Him. Jesus reveals the vulnerability of His own Heart as He awaits our response.
The “Catechism of the Catholic
Church” teaches that “prayer is the encounter of God's thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him” (CCC #2560). Jesus thirsts for our love, and He asks for our response throughout each moment of our lives. Every day, in the concrete and ordinary circumstances of our lives, we are invited to listen to His invitation: “Do you love me? Will you choose Me here?”
And yet, we don’t always choose Jesus and His way. We are enticed by lesser loves, fickle in our relationship with Him and tempted to choose things that are contrary to the life of a disciple. Temptations arise from our human weakness and the fallen state of our world around us. Being tempted is not a sin; even Jesus was tempted in the desert before He began His public ministry, and He continued to choose His Father’s will over the enticements of the Enemy.
The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” assures us that “the Holy Spirit makes us discern between trials, which
are necessary for the growth of the inner man and temptation, which leads to sin and death” (CCC #2847). There is a distinction between experiencing temptation and consenting to it. Temptations often may look attractive and seemingly good, but they ultimately lead to the destruction of being separated from God.
Temptations reveal what we will settle for, what we are like when no one is around and what we avoid facing within ourselves. God desires to receive the gift of our love and waits for us to freely choose Him. Each moment of our day, grace is available to strengthen our ability to choose God over everything else.
The next time you are faced with a temptation, realize that you are still free to choose the good that Jesus is offering in that moment of trial. Moreover, we are invited into the mystery of God’s love in a new way that is often overlooked. Jesus delights in being chosen by us in moments of darkness and struggle. His Heart rejoices when we freely turn to Him and offer ourselves in love in the present moment, and in doing so, we console His Heart.
Our current circumstance in the present moment is where our freedom, that is our ability to choose good, is exercised. When we choose Him in the
CLASSIFIED ADS
now, amid distraction, temptation or weakness, we are drawn closer to Jesus, who is always choosing us. The present moment intersects with eternity. The “eternal now” becomes a meeting place to encounter His desire for our love and our free response, “Yes, Lord, I love You.” C
PHOTO BY AARON BURDEN ON UNSPLASH
OC Catholic Afar
I am a fan of OC Catholic so when I was invited by a friend to join their group to visit Rome, I brought along a copy. I believe this was God's intervention so that I could experience the Jubilee pilgrimage on my own along with OC Catholic.
I was blessed to visit six of the seven pilgrim churches for the Jubilee in November 2025, including Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Basilica di San Giovanni Laterano, Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano,Basilica Papale di Santa Maria
Maggiore and Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls and Basilica Papale di San Paolo fuori le Mura.
—Dina Mercado is a parishioner of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Irvine.
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.
