“Our Lady at the Center” documentary will make its world premiere on May 11 at Christ Cathedral.
6
5 8
MILAGROS COFFEE
A husband and wife team aims to build community and faith through their pop-up coffee shop.
LIVING THE STATIONS
Holy Family Catholic School in Orange has performed a Good Friday Living Stations of the Cross event for 40 years.
SPECIAL TERMS USED DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN POPES
All the terms you need to know during this momentous time.
14
PRAYING WITH THE POPE
Over his 12-year pontificate, Pope Francis taught us profound, yet simple ways to pray.
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
Delivered weekly to parishes and homes throughout Orange County, Calif., Orange County Catholic is published by SCNG Custom Content, a division of Southern California News Group that offers content development and design expertise to businesses and nonprofit institutions. The Orange County Catholic editorial staff and editorial council are responsible for the content contained herein. Events and products advertised in Orange County Catholic do not carry the implicit endorsement of the Diocese of Orange or SCNG Custom Content.
Rosary Beads
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
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
điện thoại miễn phí sau đây: 1-800-364-3064, và đồng thời báo cáo cho nhà chức trách địa phương.
ROSARY BEADS
READER CALL-OUT
I worked in Israel from 1979 to 1982 at an airfield in the Negev Desert.
While in Jerusalem, I bought a box of Rosary Beads from the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. I visited St. Catherine's, the little church next to the Church of the Nativity, with my wife and three sons. Carolers were singing in Bethlehem Square, some from California and it was a once in a lifetime experience for this small Catholic family from Irvine. The area is now the West Bank of Palestine.
—Bob Kohler, St. Thomas More Veterans Ministry, Irvine
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
ACTS 6:8-15; PSALM 119:2324, 26-27, 29-30; JOHN 6:22-29
TUESDAY
ACTS 7:51—8:1A; PSALM 31:3CD-4, 6 AND 7B AND 8A, 17 AND 21AB; JOHN 6:30-35
“ To give love, always, and to welcome with open arms the love we receive from the people we care about: this is the most beautiful and most important thing in our life…” — Pope Francis
SAINT PROFILE
WEDNESDAY
ACTS 8:1B-8; PSALM 66:1-3A, 4-5, 6-7A; JOHN 6:35-40
THURSDAY
ACTS 8:26-40; PSALM 66:8-9, 16-17, 20; JOHN 6:44-51
HILARY OF ARLES 403-449
THIS FRENCH ARISTOCRAT, a pagan holding high office in a local government, was converted to Catholicism by his relative, St. Honoratus, and became a monk at Lerins. An austere and strict monastic, Hilary succeeded Honoratus as bishop of Arles when he was just 29. As bishop, he preached notably, donated his earnings from manual labor to the poor, ransomed captives by selling sacred vessels, and built and visited monasteries in his diocese. But he got into trouble by claiming metropolitan jurisdiction over other bishops and tried to depose one who appealed to the pope. As pope, St. Leo the Great restricted Hilary's authority, but later recalled him “of blessed memory,” perhaps signaling a reconciliation before Hilary's death.C
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
FRIDAY
ACTS 9:1-20; PSALM 117:1BC, 2; JOHN 6:5259
SATURDAY
ACTS 9:31-42; PSALM 116:1213, 14-15, 16-17; JOHN 6:60-69
‘OUR LADY AT THE CENTER’ DOCUMENTARY, DETAILING THE STORY OF OUR LADY OF LA VANG, TO MAKE ITS WORLD PREMIERE AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS ON MAY 11
BY GREG HARDESTY
THE FOUR FILMMAKERS
huddle in a conference room at the Pastoral Center at the Christ Cathedral to fine-tune a globe-trotting documentary 2 ½ years in the making.
Working on computers and viewing a cut of the 86-minute film on a large screen usually used for business meetings, they made last-minute adjustments to edits, sound, subtitles, music and credits.
“Our Lady at the Center” makes its world premiere May 11 in the Freed Theater on the Christ Cathedral campus and on May 17 at Saigon Grand Center in Fountain Valley. Screenings are planned at six locations across the country, including Texas, Washington, D.C. and Florida.
The documentary details the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine and Marian Gardens at Christ Cathedral, the 1798 Marian apparition that appeared before a group of persecuted Catholics in the jungles of Vietnam, and how the Blessed Virgin Mary holds such a special place in the hearts of millions of Catholics worldwide.
Elysabeth Nguyen, chief executive officer of the OLLV Foundation and one of the film’s producers, listens to a Vietnamese man speaking, pauses the film and then provides a line that was missing from the subtitles:
Because Mary appeared at this place and helped a lot of persecuted people.
“Let’s condense that,” chimes in Bradley Zint, assistant director of communications for the Diocese of Orange and writer/di-
OF ORANGE
rector of the film, changing the line to:
Because Mary appeared here and helped many persecuted people.
“OK,” Zint says to Nguyen and the film’s producer, Scott Nguyen, as well as its cinematographer and director of photography, Christopher Tran.
“Keep going.”
FOUR-COUNTRY SHOOT
“Our Lady at the Center,” a production of the OLLV Foundation and the Diocese of Orange, is the first English-language movie that tells the story of Our Lady of La Vang, who has represented hope, faith and promise to Vietnamese Catholics around the world.
The shrine on the Christ Cathedral campus was blessed in July 2021 and the Marian Gardens behind it opened in May
2024.
Shot in the United States, Vietnam, Peru and Italy, and featuring more than 50 people giving their testimonies in English, Vietnamese, Spanish and Italian, the filmmakers completed a rough cut of the documentary in December.
After screening the movie twice before Bishops Kevin Vann, Thanh Thai Nguyen and Timothy Freyer, the filmmakers have cut about 30 minutes of footage to get the film to a slim 86 minutes.
‘A HEALER AND PROTECTOR’
The documentary tells the story about how the shrine was built at the Christ Cathedral campus interspersed with the story of the 1798 apparition and all the different facets the Blessed Virgin Mary has come to represent to the faithful.
“She’s a healer and a protector,” said Zint, who dug up a lot of Diocesan archival footage along with scenes he helped oversee or filmed himself in Vietnam and Peru.
The Very Rev. Bao Thai, rector of Christ Cathedral, is one of many Diocesan officials, along with the bishops, to appear in the film.
“Our Lady of La Vang to me, she is always watching over me,” Fr. Bao says in one segment. “She is my mom. I put it this way, she is my heavenly mom and always the one who I can rely on.”
A BONDING EXPERIENCE
The filmmakers bonded over their experience. One highlight (lowlight?) was a 16hour trip in a van on a mountainous road high up in the Peruvian Andes. Another was staying at a rustic Vietnamese hostel.
The four filmmakers also had to improvise for some reenactments.
“You know how hard it is to find a Vietnamese jungle around here?” Zint says with a laugh. To double for Vietnam, they used the huge banyan tree outside Holy Family parish in Orange, as well as a home in Westminster with lush landscaping.
As executive producer, Elysabeth contributed much of her own funds toward the estimated $200,000 documentary. Although no cash contributions came from the diocese or OLLV Foundation, various in-kind donations supplemented the project, as did a considerable amount of footage used from the diocesan archives. It was a true community-wide effort, with Hollywood industry professionals (including the narrator, Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, a Hallmark Channel actress) and many others providing their services for free or at a considerable discount.
A key moment in the film comes about halfway through in a reenactment of what the filmmakers and a doctor are calling a miracle that occurred at the cathedral’s La Vang shrine just days before it was dedicated (no spoilers here).
Elysabeth Nguyen was asked what she hopes viewers take away from the movie.
“The miracle of community, the miracle of how the apparition of Mary happened, the miracle that happened here on campus and the miracle of making this movie,” she says.
Tran and Scott Nguyen said they hope the documentary will inspire the younger generation to embark on their faith journeys.
As for Zint, this movie marks his second documentary for the Diocese of Orange after one detailing the famous Hazel Wright Organ inside Christ Cathedral. Said the public relations professional and former veteran newsman: “If there’s a great story to tell, I want to tell it.”
Visit OurLadyattheCenter.com to buy tickets to see the film, learn more and see the trailers. To support the film, call (714) 282-4292 or email info@ollvfoundation.org C
SCOTT NGUYEN, ELYSABETH NGUYEN, BRADLEY ZINT AND CHRISTOPHER TRAN MAKE UP THE CORE TEAM BEHIND THE DOCUMENTARY FILM “OUR LADY AT THE CENTER,” WHICH DETAILS THE STORY OF OUR LADY OF LA VANG. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE
MILAGROS COFFEE: WINNING HEARTS FOR GOD ONE LATTE AT A TIME
BY MEG WATERS
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN a Catholic and a Baptist walk into a bar?
For Diane and Justin Walker, a miracle happened. One of many, it turns out. The unlikely path to marriage started on opposite coasts, and involved bartending, a traveling barista and a pool table.
Diane Contreras was always a strong Catholic raised at San Antonio de Padua parish in Anaheim Hills. She had recently moved to the Washington suburbs, working for a micro coffee roaster called Vigilante.
Justin Walker, who grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., was a bartender at a local bar and a practicing Baptist
intrigued by Catholic teachings. Diane occasionally came into Justin’s bar to play pool, something she enjoyed doing with her family back in California.
“I was bartending by myself,” recalled Justin. “She comes into the bar by herself one time…and orders water. I recognized her because she would come in often with friends, and I became familiar with her laugh. God was always pinging something in my heart, like ‘all right you gotta talk to her’.”
In a chain of events that only the Holy Spirit could orchestrate, she looked up from the pool table just in time to see Justin’s smiling face behind the bar. She returned a big, welcoming smile, enough to give Justin the confidence to ask her out.
Flustered, Diane went to her car to leave, and Justin followed.
“I was replaying the moment in my head; I couldn’t believe I did that,” said Diane. “Then I saw Justin coming toward my car.”
Justin had tickets to a family night party and a game with a professional lacrosse team.
“I knocked on her window and just asked if she had a boyfriend, a real smooth line. When she said no, I thought—perfect—and invited her to the game.”
“It was like one ‘God moment’ after another,” recalled Diane. “We discovered we knew many people in common, and everyone said the same thing — Justin was the nicest guy in the world and, as it turns out, a famous local bartender because of his warm and welcoming personality.”
That game was one of many miracles. For several years, Diane had been thinking and praying about building a place that was intentional and supportive so people could see how God worked in their typical day. She wanted to create a community for those who were alone, lost and looking to meet others.
“While I always had my group of friends, my church and my faith, I often went out by myself, engaging with the world, meeting strangers and hearing their stories, said Diane.”
The couple moved back to California, where Justin began classes for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) at San Antonio de Padua. Eventually, they got married. However, restarting their careers during the COVID-19 lockdowns
JUST MARRIED: JUSTIN AND DIANE WALKER ON THEIR WEDDING DAY AT SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ANAHEIM HILLS.
JUSTIN AND DIANE WALKER WITH THEIR MILAGROS COFFEE POP-UP TENT AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. PHOTOS COURTESY OF DIANE CONTRERAS
proved challenging. Justin found a job as a tech recruiter in Costa Mesa, while Diane could not shake the idea of using coffee to build a sense of community.
“One day, while I was praying the Rosary, I got an image of a latte mug with Psalms written inside it. God showed me that we could convey a message through a small business connected to the community.”
Thus, Milagros Coffee was born, and bright blue tents began appearing at parishes and Catholic events throughout Orange and L.A. Counties. “We do pop-ups because we can go to different places; we’re not confined to a building. Our intention is to build fellowship, and everything is faith-based,” Diane explained.
When customers order a drink, it comes with a saint's name on a card containing a prayer, which is called out when the drink is ready. Their motto is “pray while you wait,” encouraging the virtue of patience. The condiments station is referred to as the “prayer station.” In addition to napkins, cream, sugar and stirrers, there are also slips of paper with verses from the Bible or Psalms. Guests can write down personal intentions and place them in a basket to be prayed over. "We invite people into that space and allow the Holy Spirit to do the rest,” Diane stated.
Justin is now the Human Resources director at Sts. Simon & Jude parish in Huntington Beach but also works behind the counter at Milagros events. Diane is now working full time to give the Holy Spirit a venue through Milagros Coffee.
Milagros is promoted via Instagram, where it has built a large following. Followers can find out where Milagros will be next; not all events are church-related. They also participate in secular events like the Floral Park home tour in Santa Ana.
There is no charge for hosts to have a Milagros coffee pop-up at their events. In fact, Milagros donates 15% of the gross proceeds back to the sponsoring organization, making it a fundraiser for the hosts. For more information, contact Diane Walker at diane@ milagroscovveecompany.com or follow on Instagram @milagroscoffeecompany. C
LIVING THE STATIONS
BY MIKE ZINN
AFTER HOLY SEASON ends, we often struggle to keep the spiritual momentum moving forward.
What will your month of May look like to keep your spirit strong after Lent? Will you keep any positive Lenten habits moving forward, or revert to pre-Lenten ways?
How can we make the month of May and beyond an everlasting Lent?
The Catholic Church's traditions are significant in deepening faith, developing community and building memories. The Stations of the Cross are one such tradition. Holy Family Catholic School in Orange has performed a Good Friday Living Stations of the Cross event for 40 years. The eighth-grade class takes on various roles, such as cantors, narrators and townspeople. The role of the townspeople is what makes this particular Living Stations of the Cross event so unique and special because the siblings of the eighth graders take on these roles. These same eighth graders may have also been the townspeople when their older siblings were where they are now. It’s a special tradition.
Holy Family’s principal, Marie Ubl, has witnessed 27 years Living Stations of the Cross.
“They give students a deeper and more insightful meaning of the suffering of Jesus, followed by the 15th Station, and the joy and hope of the Resurrection,” she shared.
Eighth-grade teachers, Marion Nanry and Staci Trout co-directed the event. Students devote 10 hours of rehearsals leading up to Good Friday, and participate in many assignments and activities throughout Lent.
Nanry, who has taught at the school for 26 years, calls the entire process “a miracle.”
“It never fails to move me,” she said.
Trout, who has been at the school for 19 years, spoke of the traditional aspect of the event.
She said that the script's origin is unknown, but it has remained unchanged over the event's history.
“The script's words have a profound impact on the students participating and the people attending the event.”
The Stations of the Cross being depicted on the altar of this cavernous church give all people in attendance, young and old, a view of the Passion of Jesus Christ and unite the church and school of Holy Family into one faithful and tradition-driven spiritual community.
It is the hope that those attending with carry with them the spirit of Lent all year long. C
WE ARE ONE BODY: MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH 2025
BY REBECCA FREEMAN, PASTORAL CARE MINISTRY COORDINATOR, OFFICE FOR FAMILY
ORANGE
“IWOULD LIKE TO remember our brothers and sisters who suffer from mental illness, and also victims—often young people—of suicide. Let us pray for them and their families, so that they are never left alone, or discriminated against, but instead are welcomed and supported.”
The remarks from the late Pope Francis on World Mental Health Day in 2021 still resonate in our mission as a Church to come alongside all those who are facing a mental health concern and their families. Pope Francis himself would often remark on some of his own struggles in mental health, especially as a young man and would often bring the intentions of Mental Health related pastoral needs in his Worldwide Prayer Network. With the Holy Father’s entrance into eternal life this past April, these words particularly speak into this Jubilee year as we seek to be “Pilgrims of Hope” throughout the world.
Mental Health is an area that impacts all of our lives. As SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) notes,
■ One in 5 American adults experienced a mental health condition in a given year.
■ One in 6 young people have experienced a major depressive episode.
■ One in 20 Americans have lived with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression.
■ Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, it was the second leading cause of death for people ages 1024.
■ People with severe mental illnesses are
LIFE IN THE DIOCESE OF
over 10 times more likely to be victims of a violent crime than the general population.
This May, we honor Mental Health Awareness Month, which is often symbolized with lime green ribbons, the national awareness color, along with various programs offering education and solidarity in our communities. And here in our Diocese, we embody the Body of Christ and live out our Social Teachings by having a particular alignment to come alongside all those in need as people of faith. In addition to the various support, prayer and education our over 12 parish Mental Health Ministries provide throughout the year, there
GUEST COLUMN
are a few special events this month that all are welcome all to attend that may inspire and guide you in this call. Here are a few opportunities:
On May 6 at 6pm, St. Nicholas parish in Laguna Woods will be hosting a “Mental Health & Spirituality” presentation — topics addressed include the neuroscience of prayer, the benefits of spirituality in recovery and more.
On May 15, St. Martin de Porres parish in Yorba Linda will have its annual St. Dymphna Feast Day Mass and Rosary at the parish.
On June 7, Our Lady of Fatima in San Clemente will host an Anointing Mass.
There are many ways that you can continue to make a differ
ST. JOHN’S SEMINARY CAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA
ence as the hands and feet of Christ. In their statement from 2018, our California Catholic Conference of Bishops state, “Mental illness is neither a moral failure nor a character defect. To suffer from a psychiatric disorder is not a sign of insufficient faith or weakness of will. Christian faith and religious practice do not immunize a person against mental illness.” In this way, consider how your parish, family, workplace and community can continue reaching out, providing resources, accompanying those in need and helping to destigmatize mental health.
For more resources and to learn how to start or join a Mental Health Ministry at your parish, visit: rcbo.org/mental-health. Starting on Laudato Si’ Week
Whole, Heart, a Trauma Awareness Symposium” on the Christ Cathedral campus on March 14, 2026.
For more information check out: https://catholicmhm.org/orange https://www.usccb.org/mentalhealth
https://cacatholic.org/resources/ mental-health/hope-and-healing/ New Hope Peer-to-Peer Support Line
714-NEW-HOPE/ (714) 639-4673
Over 50 years at the Cathedral!
The support line’s operating hours are:
Mon – Fri | 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Sat – Sun | 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. New Hope Counseling Ser vices-
This program will help lay ministers increase their knowledge of the Catholic intellectual tradition and improve their ministerial skills for the life of the Church. Students will be prepared to work in different areas of ministry and make professional and personal connections with others of the same mind and spirit.
For more information
Email: mapm@stjohnsem.edu or visit www.stjohnsem.edu
Watch a brief video about the program
A studio with professional video, audio, and lighting equipment has been built to produce visually stunning content by our world-class faculty. This studio allows our students to have an enjoyable technological experience.
CHRIST CATHEDRAL CELEBRATES DIVINE MERCY MASS FOR THE REPOSE OF THE SOUL OF POPE FRANCIS
BY LOU PONSI
MORE THAN 2,000 OF the faithful gathered on April 27 at Christ Cathedral to celebrate the Divine Mercy Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. Fr. Angelos Sebastian, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia of the Diocese of Orange, described the pope as a “missionary of mercy,” echoing the Holy Father’s message of hope and forgiveness, urging the congregation never to never stop seeking God’s mercy.
Both levels of the cathedral were nearly filled to capacity for the Divine Mercy Mass which is always celebrated on the Sunday following Easter Sunday.
Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope in the history of the Catholic Church and first from the Americas, died on April 21 at age 88 after having a stroke.
“Pope Francis continually called us to be missionaries of mercy,” Fr. Angelos said. “Not to sit back and hoard the mercy we have received, but to go forth and be instruments of healing in our own broken world.”
Fr. Angelos also emphasized the Holy Father’s profound level of humility, reiterating the pope’s assertion that it is the responsibility of Christians to care for the poor and marginalized members of society.
“Mercy is the beating heart of the gos-
Pope Francis has given the world some of the most beautiful and urgent messages of our time.
— Fr. Angelos Sebastian
pel,” Fr. Angelos said. “It is Jesus stooping to touch the eyes of the blind, to cleanse the leper, to call the tax collector from his booth, to forgive the woman caught in sin.”
Fr. Angelos recalled the words of Pope Francis, who proclaimed, “The Church must be a field hospital after battle. Heal the wounds. Heal the wounds. Heal the wounds.”
He also mentioned Pope Francis' teaching that “mercy is always greater than any sin and no one can place limits on the love of God who is ever ready to forgive us his children.”
Fr. Christopher Smith, rector emeritus of Christ Cathedral, and one of several con-celebrants for the Mass, was pleased to see the cathedral filled for the second week in a row.
The cathedral was also near capacity for Easter services on April 20, Fr. Christopher said.
“I thought it was fabulous,” Fr. Christopher said of the Mass and Fr. Angelos’ homily. “It was very much in the spirit of Pope Francis. And how appropriate to mention mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday. And mercy was quite the theme for Francis.”
Kimberly Jetton of Cerritos doesn’t normally attend Mass at Christ Cathedral but came to the April 27 service to show the cathedral to a friend visiting from out of town, who had never been to the iconic house of worship before.
“The service was absolutely beautiful,” Jetton said. “To see all the priests and the con-celebrants up there was just beautiful.”
Jetton’s friend, Amanda Ragone, who was visiting from Henderson, Nevada, also said the number of con-celebrants was inspiring.
“To see all the people, the different cultures, it's really amazing,” Ragone said.
Parker Rill attended the Mass with his girlfriend, who was visiting from Hawaii.
“We went to a few churches in San Diego yesterday and saw a few memorials for the pope but this was definitely super beautiful to see this Mass,” Rill said. “The music's always beautiful and the homily
was a lovely tribute to Pope Francis.”
Philip Catlett usually attends Mass at St. Norbert Catholic Church in Orange but was invited to the cathedral by his daughter.
“He left a legacy of love,” Catlett said of Pope Francis. “He was just a really great man.”
In his homily, Fr. Angelos also touched on Pope Francis' commitment to safeguarding the beauty of creation, as inspired by his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi.
Pope Francis' leadership was about service and loving communion with the people of God, rather than power and privilege, Fr. Angelos said.
“Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis has given the world some of the most beautiful and urgent messages of our time,” Fr. Angelos said. “He has called us to be a Church that goes forth, not one content behind the closed doors, but a Church that seeks the lost, embraces the wounded and becomes a field hospital after battle.” C
FR. CHRISTOPHER SMITH GREETS ATTENDEES FOLLOWING DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY MASS AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL.
THE FAITHFUL GATHER TO REMEMBER POPE FRANCIS ON APRIL 27 AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
FR. ANGELOS SEBASTIAN GREETS AN ALTAR SERVER ON APRIL 27 AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL.
THOUSANDS LINE STREETS OF ROME TO BID FINAL FAREWELL TO POPE FRANCIS
BY JUSTIN MCLELLAN, CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
ROME (CNS) — The casket bearing the body of Pope Francis made its final journey through the streets of Rome accompanied by applause and shouts of gratitude from thousands of mourners. After the funeral Mass April 26, pallbearers carried Pope Francis' coffin through St. Peter's Basilica, stopping briefly at the steps leading to St. Peter's tomb before placing it on a retrofitted popemobile parked outside. Hundreds awaited outside and applauded as the vehicle, accompanied by four police officers on motorbikes, left the grounds
of Vatican City for the last time. According to the Vatican and Italian police, some 150,000 people watched the pope's casket pass by. Along the wide boulevard in front of Torre Argentina, where Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C., tourists and bystanders packed the streets, some teetering on top of the stone walls around the ancient site. Residents were leaning out of their upper-story apartment windows, everyone camera-ready. When the motorcade passed, people clapped and cheered, some shouting “Grazie, Papa Francesco” (“Thank you, Pope Francis”) and “Viva il papa.” (“Long live the pope”). C
POPE FRANCIS' CASKET IS DRIVEN PAST THE COLOSSEUM ON ITS WAY TOWARD HIS BURIAL PLACE IN THE BASILICA OF ST. MARY MAJOR IN ROME APRIL 26, 2025. (CNS PHOTO/JUSTIN MCLELLAN)
PALLBEARERS CARRY THE CASKET OF POPE FRANCIS INTO THE BASILICA OF ST. MARY MAJOR IN ROME APRIL 26, 2025, AHEAD OF HIS BURIAL. THE POPE REQUESTED TO BE BURIED IN THE MARIAN BASILICA FOLLOWING HIS FUNERAL MASS AT THE VATICAN. (CNS PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ)
PALLBEARERS CARRY THE CASKET OF POPE FRANCIS INTO THE BASILICA OF ST. MARY MAJOR IN ROME APRIL 26, 2025, AHEAD OF HIS BURIAL. THE POPE REQUESTED TO BE BURIED IN THE MARIAN BASILICA FOLLOWING HIS FUNERAL MASS AT THE VATICAN. (CNS PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ)
SPECIAL TERMS USED DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN POPES
BY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
VATICAN CITY
(CNS) — Here is an explanation of some of the terms and practices related to the time between the death of Pope Francis April 21 and the election of his successor.
“SEDE VACANTE”
Dioceses are also called sees. The Latin for “when the see is vacant” is “sede vacante.” When the vacant see is the pope's Diocese of Rome, all major church decisions, such as new legislation or the appointment of bishops, stop until a new pope is elected. Only ordinary business and matters that cannot be postponed can be conducted by the College of Cardinals.
INTERREGNUM
The period between popes is called an interregnum — between reigns — even though St. Paul VI set aside many of the regal trappings of the papacy and references to a papal “reign” gradually fell into disuse. Pope Paul inaugurated his ministry in 1963 with a coronation, then set aside the papal tiara. It was the last time a pope wore the beehive-shaped tiara, a triple crown.
CONCLAVE
A meeting of cardinals to elect a new pope is a conclave. The word — from the Latin “cum clave” (with key) — means under lock and key. In 1268, cardinals couldn't decide on a new pope. After nearly three years the people finally locked them up and cut their rations. The man elected, Pope Gregory X, ordered that in the future cardinals be sequestered from the start, and eventually the practice became normative.
CAMERLENGO
U.S. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, as camerlengo, or chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, assisted by the vice chamberlain and a canonical adviser, is in charge of safeguarding the temporal goods of the church and its temporal rights during the
CARDINALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD PRAY IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL AT THE VATICAN MARCH 12, 2013, BEFORE BEGINNING THE CONCLAVE TO ELECT A SUCCESSOR TO POPE BENEDICT XVI. THE FOLLOWING DAY, ON THE FIFTH BALLOT, THEY ELECTED CARDINAL JORGE MARIO BERGOGLIO OF BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, WHO CHOSE THE NAME FRANCIS. (CNS PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA)
interregnum. The chamberlain heads a three-member commission that oversees physical preparations for the conclave and leads what is called a “particular congregation” — a group of three other cardinals chosen by lot — to conduct the minor dayto-day business of the Vatican until a new pope is elected.
DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS
Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re is the current dean. As dean, he calls the cardinals to Rome and presides over their daily meetings before the conclave. Because Cardinal Re is over 80 and ineligible to enter the conclave, the dean's duties inside the Sistine Chapel will be handled by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the top-ranking cardinal-bishop of those under 80. Inside the chapel, Cardinal Parolin will administer the oath of secrecy and preside over the conclave. When a candidate achieves a two-thirds majority vote, Cardinal Parolin — in the name of the entire college — asks the candidate if he accepts the election and what name he will take.
CARDINAL-ELECTORS
Only cardinals under the age of 80 on the day the “sede vacante” begins can enter a conclave and vote for a pope. Even if he is retired from other church posts, if a cardinal is under 80 he is considered an active cardinal for the purposes of the conclave.
As of April 21, the day of Pope Francis' death, there are 135 cardinal-electors.
GENERAL CONGREGATIONS
All cardinals who are able to go to Rome attend the general congregations, which are daily meetings in which the College of Cardinals prepares for a conclave, discusses the needs of the church and handles more serious church business that must be attended to between popes. Cardinals over 80 may participate in these meetings but they are not required to. General congregations end when the cardinals enter into conclave.
PARTICULAR CONGREGATIONS
Between popes, the church's camerlengo and three other cardinals chosen by lot handle the day-to-day business of the Holy See in daily meetings called particular congregations. These continue while the cardinals are in conclave. Every three days three new cardinals are chosen by lot to assist the camerlengo.
“EXTRA OMNES”
The Latin command, “all outside,” orders everyone who is not authorized to be in the Sistine Chapel during the conclave to leave before the conclave starts.
SECRECY
Cardinals take two oaths of secrecy
not to reveal to anyone anything directly or indirectly related to the election of the pope. The first oath is taken the first day a cardinal joins the general congregation; the second, at the start of the conclave. The few non-cardinals authorized to assist the cardinals while they are in conclave also take an oath of secrecy.
SCRUTINEERS
These are three cardinals, chosen by lot at the start of a conclave, to oversee the depositing of the marked, folded ballots for pope into an urn. They shake the urn, count the ballots to assure the number of votes and voters matches, then open each ballot and record and read aloud the name on it. They add the votes cast for each candidate to determine if a pope has been elected and handle the burning of the ballots and any notes taken by cardinals.
“INFIRMIERI”
Three cardinals are chosen by lot at the start of a conclave to oversee conclave voting by any cardinal-electors who are too ill or infirm to sit through the conclave sessions in the Sistine Chapel. On each ballot, after depositing their votes in an urn, they go together to the sick cardinals with blank ballots and a locked box in which the completed ballots can be placed through a slit. They return to the conclave and deliver the votes.
REVISERS
Three cardinals, chosen by lot at the start of a conclave, recount and verify each round of balloting for the election of a pope.
WHITE SMOKE, BLACK SMOKE
The traditional signal, from a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, indicates whether a pope has been elected: Black smoke, no; white smoke, yes. The smoke is generated by burning conclave ballots and notes with chemicals to make the smoke the right color.C
CONCLAVE TO BEGIN MAY 7
BY STAFF
THE FUNERAL FOR POPE
Francis took place April 26 in St. Peter's Square with about 250,000 in attendance. He was buried at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome.
Masses offered for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis, nine in total, began with the funeral Mass and will continue through Sunday, May 4, being offered by various cardinals present in Rome.
The conclave will start on May 7, with eligible cardinals under 80 years of age voting on the next successor to Peter. As of this writing, it appears that 133 will be present and voting. The 2005 conclave which elected Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and the 2013 conclave, in which the voting cardinals chose Cardinal Jorge M. Bergoglio, both consisted of 115 voting cardinals.
The cardinals present in Rome are meeting on a daily basis to discuss various matters. This is foreseen to continue through the May 6.
For the conclave, the cardinals will be sequestered at the Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City State. They are completely cut off from the outside world and will not have use of electronic devices, telephones, televisions and newspapers. They will be transported in the morning and afternoon to the Sistine Chapel, where the voting will take place, twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, with the exception of opening day, when there will be only one voting session. This will continue until such time as a pope is elected by at least a 2/3 majority of those voting and present.
Let us pray for the voting cardinals, that they may be truly open to listening to the Holy Sprit.
A suggested prayer:
O God, eternal shepherd, who govern your flock with unfailing care, grant in your boundless fatherly love a pastor for your Church who will please you by his holiness and to us show watchful care. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
CARDINALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINE UP IN THE VATICAN'S SISTINE CHAPEL MARCH 12, 2013, TO TAKE THEIR OATHS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CONCLAVE TO ELECT A SUCCESSOR TO POPE BENEDICT XVI. THE FOLLOWING DAY, ON THE FIFTH BALLOT, THEY ELECTED CARDINAL JORGE MARIO BERGOGLIO OF BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, WHO CHOSE THE NAME FRANCIS. THE CARDINALS WILL AGAIN GATHER MAY 7, 2025, TO ELECT A A SUCCESSOR TO POPE FRANCIS, WHO DIED APRIL 21. (CNS PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA)
WHITE SMOKE BILLOWS FROM THE CHIMNEY OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL MARCH 13, 2013, AT THE VATICAN SIGNALING THAT ARGENTINE CARDINAL JORGE MARIO BERGOGLIO, WHO BECAME POPE FRANCIS, WAS ELECTED THE 266TH ROMAN CATHOLIC PONTIFF. THE CARDINALS WILL AGAIN GATHER MAY 7, 2025, TO ELECT A SUCCESSOR TO POPE FRANCIS, WHO DIED APRIL 21. (CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING)
PRAYING WITH THE POPE
BY JOAN PATTEN, AO
AS WE MOURN THE LOSS of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, it is fitting to give thanks to God for the many gifts we have received through his life and vocation. Pope Francis was the first Jesuit to be elected pope and his formation in Ignatian spirituality offered a unique perspective to the Church. Over his 12-year pontificate, he taught us profound, yet simple ways to pray, and his spiritual lessons will continue to guide us on our journey of holiness.
PRAYING FOR OTHERS: POPE FRANCIS’ FIVE FINGER PRAYER
Pope Francis introduced the Five Finger Prayer method well before his papacy to help people structure their intercessory prayers. Starting with the thumb, we recall those closest to us. Moving to the index finger, we pray for those who teach and guide us. The tallest finger prompts us to pray for those in authority. The ring finger, being the weakest, reminds us to pray for the sick and the poor. Finally, the smallest finger encourages us to pray for ourselves. Pope Francis taught that prioritizing others in our prayers helps us see our own needs more clearly.
SEEKING GOD’S MERCY: THE EXTRAORDINARY JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY
In 2016, Pope Francis led the Church through an extraordinary jubilee year dedicated to God’s mercy. He was deeply moved
us that God never tires of forgiving us; it is we who tire of asking.
PRAYING IN FEAR: EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT OF PRAYER
PRAYING WITH JESUS
by God’s tenderness and desired for all people to experience the loving embrace of the Father, akin to the prodigal son in Jesus’ parable. He guided us to approach the Lord in our misery with a heartfelt prayer from Evangelii Gaudium: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace” (Evangelii Gaudium, 3). Pope Francis reminded
An iconic moment during Pope Francis’ pontificate was his solitary walk under a dark, rainy sky through the empty plaza of St. Peter’s Basilica at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. He turned to Sacred Scripture and led the Church in a prayer of trust, recalling the disciples’ fear during the storm in Mark 4. “‘Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?’ Lord, you are calling to us, calling us to faith. Which is not so much believing that you exist, but coming to you and trusting in you… Lord, may you bless the world, give health to our bodies and comfort our hearts. You ask us not to be afraid. Yet our faith is weak and we are fearful. But you, Lord, will not leave us at the mercy of the storm. Tell us again: ‘Do not be afraid’ (Mt 28:5). And we, together with Peter, cast all our anxieties onto you, for you care about us” (cf. 1 Pet 5:7).
DEVOTION TO OUR LADY, UNDOER OF KNOTS
Pope Francis had a special devotion to Our Lady under the title, Mary Undoer of Knots. He encouraged us to seek her intercession for the most hopeless cases, including during the coronavirus pandemic and for resolving conflict among nations at war. “You, Salvation of the Roman people, know what we need, and we trust that you will provide for those needs so that, as at Cana of Galilee, joy and celebration may return after this moment of trial.” (Prayer of the Holy Father Francis, March 2020)
In 2024, despite battling several illnesses, Pope Francis wrote the meditations for the annual Via Crucis in Rome on Good Friday. He guided us to accompany Jesus and dialogue with Him along the way to the cross. Following St. Ignatius of Loyola’s tradition, Pope Francis offered various petitions and invited us to respond to Jesus with freedom and transparency: “When hope fades and disappointment reigns, Jesus, remember me. When I am powerless to make a decision, Jesus, remember me. When I lose faith in myself and in others, Jesus, remember me...When I think that all my prayers are fruitless, Jesus, remember me.”
As we pray for the soul of Pope Francis, let us also give thanks to God for the fruits of his prayer life that he revealed so simply to us. May Pope Francis gaze upon the face of our merciful Father, whom he desired each of us to encounter on this earth and in eternity. C
A PHOTO OF POPE FRANCIS IS DISPLAYED INSIDE CHRIST CATHEDRAL ON MONDAY, APRIL 21, FOLLOWING NOTICE OF HIS DEATH. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
OC Catholic Afar
The Burce Family recently visited Rome and brought along a copy of OC Catholic. Pictured: Vlad, Anne Claire, Malia (24) and Merrick (17).
This picture was taken at St. Peter’s Square to show the scale and grandeur of the Basilica. As it is currently a Jubilee Year, our family entered through the Holy Doors of St. Peter’s Basilica; and on separate occasions during our visit to Rome we entered through St. Mary Major Basilica and St. John Lateran Basilica. It was a memorable experience that we will cherish spiritually as a family and look forward to another Jubilee experience in the next 25 years.
—The family attends Santiago de Compostela Catholic Church in Lake Forest.
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.
