This San Juan Capistrano restaurant is the only place you can find a very special wine dating back to the founding of the California Missions.
CELEBRATING WHO WE ARE
Our differences and unique cultures are gifts from God.
LIGHTING A RIGHTEOUS FIRE
SacredSpark is a dating app for Catholic singles.
EUCHARISTIC RENEWAL
St. Carlo Acutis is a unique canonization for many of us.
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.
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ROSARY BEADS
READER CALL-OUT
While on my honeymoon to Mexico 60 years ago, I ran across a jeweler who advertised making personal homemade jewelry. I showed him a tin one-decade carved Rosary ring that I often lost or misplaced, and he agreed to make a necklace so I would not lose it. I have not missed a day of saying the Rosary since.
—John P. Chard, MD, Mission San Juan Capistrano.
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READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
ROMANS 1:1-7; PSALM 98:1BCDE, 2-3AB, 3CD-4; LUKE 11:29-32
“ Do not give up if someone does not understand you.”
— Pope Leo XIV
SAINT PROFILE
EDWARD THE CONFESSOR 1005-1066
ST. EDWARD REIGNED AS KING of England from 1042 to 1066. Biographers describe his natural gifts of patience, caution, and flexibility, which equipped him for effective governance. Edward defended the country from external enemies and protected his authority from his internal opponents. Thus, in 1066 he left his successor a country that was more peaceful, united, and stable that it was when he became king. Edward showed his holiness in his care for the poor and generosity to the church. He was also known for his miracles. For example, water in which he had washed his hands healed people of skin diseases and epilepsy. Edward was so popular that for a long time he was celebrated as a patron saint of England.C
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
TUESDAY
ROMANS 1:16-25; PSALM 19:2-3, 4-5; LUKE 11:37-41
WEDNESDAY
ROMANS 2:1-11; PSALM 62:2-3, 6-7, 9; LUKE 11:42-46
THURSDAY
ROMANS 3:21-30; PSALM 130:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6AB; LUKE 11:47-54
FRIDAY
ROMANS 4:1-8; PSALM 32:1B2, 5, 11; LUKE 12:1-7
SATURDAY 2 TIMOTHY 4:10-17B; PSALM 145:10-11, 1213, 17-18; LUKE 10:1-9
BY MEGAN MORRIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE LIFE CENTER OF SANTA ANA
THIRTY YEARS AGO, ST.
Mother Teresa said, “The greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion.” She called it a tragedy, not only for the child, but for the mother.
If that was true then, how much more urgent is her message today when misinformation surrounds women’s healthcare, and abortion pills are being mailed directly to the homes of our sisters and brothers in Christ?
The devastating reality is that we live in a culture of death. Abortion doesn’t just take the life of a child; it leaves behind a broken family.
Praise the Lord that amid confusion and pain, God’s grace triumphs, and because The Life Center of Santa Ana has been firmly rooted in the Catholic faith for over 50 years, the Lord hears our prayers and provides in His perfect timing.
And the Blessed Mother intercedes, her name is on every door at the center, Mother of Good Counsel, Queen of Heaven, Cause of our Joy, Pray for us.
The Life Center’s board has been prayerfully discerning how it can do more. Yes, having families build Christ-centered relationships with faithful Catholic mentors matters. Yes, material help matters. But real support must go further.
It must mean personalized care plans that meet a mother’s challenges headon, so that when she has the courage to say yes to life, she knows she won’t walk alone. Staff and volunteers will mentor her every step of the way, help identify and ease her financial burden and educate her in basic life skills, so she can feel capable, secure and supported in her decision to choose life.
And then, when the baby is born, she still has a healthy and good choice she can
OCTOBER IS RESPECT LIFE MONTH
make, with the support of her mentor, she can choose to gift her baby for adoption, or she can choose to parent her baby.
Almost one year ago the center took the bold, courageous step to launch the St. Mother Teresa Benevolence Grant, a grant that families at risk for abortion can apply for, it was born out of that prayerful discernment of what
“real support” must look like today, it was born out of love.
That love is reflected most beautifully in the story of the very first Benevolence Grant recipient, Jaritzy Marquez.
“At 14 weeks my abortion was scheduled just one day after my 18th birthday,” Marquez shared, “It’s hard to even say those words now but looking back they were true, knowing I had a relationship with God, knowing I had a loving and caring partner and the support of my family, I still scheduled the abortion. I was consumed with fear and solely focused on protecting the future I had always imagined for myself.”
She explained that she had always loved to plan graduating from a university, opening her own coffee shop, getting married and eventually having children, but her unexpected pregnancy filled her with fear.
“How will I finish school?” she asked. “How will I ever open up my coffee shop and how can me and my partner raise a baby when I still feel like a baby myself?”
Her partner, desperate to stop the abortion, reached out to The Life Center, at first Marquez wasn’t ready to
JARITZY MARQUEZ IS PICTURED AT HER COFFEE POP-UP, A CUP OF FAITH. PHOTO COURTESY OF JARITZY MARQUEZ
listen, but after receiving a simple text, “We would love the opportunity to invest in your healthy and bright future. Can we meet tomorrow so you have a sense of the real support we provide?”
Her heart began to soften.
“The next morning, God really touched my heart,” Marquez shared. “Rather than go to my 7 a.m. abortion appointment, I went to The Life Center.”
There, she met with a mentor who listened, encouraged and lifted burdens
from her shoulders. She learned about adoption, parenting and the risks of abortion, but most importantly, she felt seen, heard and understood.
“That moment marked the beginning of my 18th year, not the day of an abortion, but the start of a new future,” Marquez said. “I was able to take a giant step closer to my dreams, not only pursuing school as a first-generation Hispanic college student but gaining the courage to launch my own faith-based coffee business. What began as a dream has become
a small business where my family and I play an important role together. We not only serve coffee, but we use a percentage of the earnings to sponsor people who cannot afford to attend church retreats, giving them the chance to encounter God in a deeper way. My goal is to expand my business, Cup of Faith Coffee, not just to sell coffee but to touch hearts and to bring people closer to God.”
She continued, “I was heading toward a decision made from fear and lies, but God stopped me and reminded me that
His plans are always better than mine.
“Today, instead of living in regret, I live in gratitude, for Him, for The Life Center, for my partner and for the community that continues to walk with me.”
Her words are a testimony to what real support can do.
God’s plans are perfect and as St. Mother Teresa also said, “I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world,” the Benevolence Grant is that love letter of real support for families at risk for abortion.
JARITZY MARQUEZ AND HER PARTNER SEBASTIAN (BACK ROW, STANDING) PARTICIPATE IN THE LIFE CENTER OF SANTA ANA’S REGULARLY SCHEDULED WALKING WITH MOMS & DADS PARENTING PROGRAM. PHOTO COURTESY OF MEGAN MORRIS
A TASTE OF FAITH
LA MISIÓN WINE
BY PATTY MAHONEY
IF YOU ARE IN THE San Juan Capistrano area — perhaps visiting the historic Mission — do stop by the new River Street Marketplace and a cozy restaurant called Finca.
The owner of Finca is California native and award-winning chef, David Pratt. Some may be familiar with his former restaurant, Brick, which was in
San Clemente. Finca supports regenerative agriculture and sources from local farms. The menu features plenty of fresh greens and wood-fired grilled meats with a Mexican-inspired flavor.
But what makes this a stop on the “A Taste of Faith” excursion, however, is a very special wine, Vinisterra La Misión.
According to General Manager Birch Weber, the story goes something like this:
In 1769, when Junipero Serra first settled the Mission in San Juan Capistrano, the farmers planted the first grape variety brought to California from the Old World, known as the “Mission grape.” They had such an abundant harvest in that first year that they decided to turn these grapes — originally cultivated to be table grapes — into wine. And when they tasted the finished
his life and personality, Chef David considered naming the restaurant Communion, but settled on Finca, which means farmhouse in Spanish. To learn more visit https://finca-sjc.com/ C
of
CELEBRATING WHO WE ARE AT OUR LADY OF FATIMA ACADEMY
BY BRITNEY ZINT smile
JACQUE NUNEZ, A MEMBER of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians Acjachemen Nation, went to a Catholic school to teach students about her Native American culture, but she didn’t want to leave without making sure that all the children knew how their own heritage and differences were gifts from God.
“Whether it’s me or any other culture, take time to learn why they are different,” Nunez said. “If you speak a different language at home, that’s a treasure.”
She continued, “If you eat different food at home, that’s a treasure. So, celebrate who you are and be proud of who you are. The one thing that will connect all of us is that I love God and you do, too.”
Our Lady of Fatima Academy in San Clemente hosted Nunez on Sept. 23 for a storytelling assembly about the Acjachemen people for students in TK up to eighth grade. Then Nunez taught the fourth- and fifth-grade students, who study Native Americans more in depth, how to weave baskets. The Juaneño Band of Mission Indians Acjachemen Nation are the original inhabitants of Orange County as well as other parts of Southern California.
Increasing cultural awareness at the school was one of Principal Jennifer Jukic’s goals this year. In addition to teaching the students about the local indigenous people, Jukic said the message of embracing diversity aligns with the school’s Catholic faith.
“Christ was a friend to all, and He embraced everyone,” Jukic explained. “At Our Lady of Fatima we teach the kids to be like Jesus, which means to be a friend to others and to accept everyone. I think celebrating diversity and culture is being not only educated, but also being a kind person and bringing a
to someone else.”
Nunez sang traditional Native American songs and had the children play unique musical instruments, including a deer toenail rattle, flutes, whistles and clapper sticks. The Acjachemen nation did not play drums, Nunez pointed out.
The male students acted out hunting, all the children participated in giving thanks through a song, and Nunez showed the prized Abalone shells once used for trading. Nunez also told a story about the first girl in a tribe to be born with freckles and how she was made fun of for her differences.
“I thought it was really interesting to learn about different people’s ways of living or the way they have their food, make their food or their clothing,” said fifth-grader Isabella Cappello, 11.
Cappello went on to say that the story of the girl with freckles reminded her to treat everyone nicely, a lesson she said she learns in Mass.
Fourth-grader Beckett Parnes, 10, agreed with Capello’s takeaway from the story.
“Even if people are different, that makes them cool,” Parnes said. “Differences are cool.”
Fifth-grade teacher Dana Ware had the idea to invite Nunez to speak at Our Lady of Fatima. Ware said fifth- and fourth-graders study Native American cultures; the students look at the tools, resources, art and storytelling history to learn about who the people were. Nunez’s storytelling and artifacts, from the wolf skins, musical instruments, baskets and photographs, bring the learning to life, Ware said.
“The kids really thrive, because they may not remember reading their paragraphs, but they are going to remember this interactive storytelling,” she added. “They are going to remember this, and it will connect back to the deeper learning we are doing in the classroom.” C
ISABELLA CAPELLO, 11, LEFT, GETS HELP WITH THE BASKET FROM HER MOM SHELBY CAPELLO AS SHAYNA MOEDER, 10, LOOKS ON DURING AN ASSEMBLY AT OUR LADY OF FATIMA ACADEMY IN SAN CLEMENTE.
MATTHEW WEST, 10, LEFT, AND COHVEN VITER, 10 WEAVE BASKETS DURING AN ASSEMBLY AT OUR LADY OF FATIMA ACADEMY IN SAN CLEMENTE.
JACQUE NUNEZ, THE OWNER OF JOURNEYS TO THE PAST, TEACHES BASKET WEAVING TO STUDENTS DURING AN ASSEMBLY CELEBRATING NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE AT OUR LADY OF FATIMA ACADEMY IN SAN CLEMENTE ON THURSDAY, SEPT. 25. PHOTOS BY SCOTT SMELTZER/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
CELEBRATING POLISH CULTURE
BY MEG WATERS
THE SAINT JOHN PAUL II Polish Center in Yorba Linda recently celebrated all things Polish — with music, dancing, great food, games and crafts.
The 46th Annual Dożynki Festival was held on Sept. 20 and 21 and included a walk-through display of King Bolesław’s legacy, as this year marks 1,000 years of Polish nationhood which began with the coronation of King Bolesław the Brave in 1025.
The director of the John Paul II Center, Fr. Zbigniew Fraszczak, S.V.D., said, “This annual festival enables us to share our Polish culture and our good and tasty food. The event always attracts many people, and I believe that everyone has a nice time here.”
Fr. Zbigniew said that this year the center was honored to host Fr. Angelos Sebastian, the Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia of the Diocese of Orange, as well as Mrs. Paulina Kapuścińska, Consul General of the Republic of Poland.
“This is the largest annual fundraiser for the St. John Paul II Polish Center,” said volunteer Conrad Wyszomirski, “but some of the funds support various local charities.”
A portion of last year’s proceeds was sent to help recovery efforts for the victims of the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires in January.
Wyszomirski estimated between 10,000 and 15,000 people attended the two-day event.
“Last year we raised approximately $90,000,” he added, “and we expect to do the same this year — or maybe a little more.”
After 46 years, the festival has become a significant event for the residents of
THE DOŻYNKI FESTIVAL IS A CELEBRATION OF POLISH CULTURE. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
Yorba Linda, as well as Polish expatriates and their descendants from throughout Southern California. This year, performances included artists from Poland, San Diego, Tucson, Los Angeles and several from Yorba Linda.
Local mayors Janice Lim from Yorba Linda and Kevin Kirwin of Placentia, were on hand and each presented awards to the center honoring its contribution to the local community.
Nearly 400 families call the parish home, many of Polish descent, visiting the center regularly to attend Mass and celebrate holidays in their native language.
Wyszomirski said that it takes more than 100 volunteers to plan, staff and run the event every year. They believe it is the largest community-based Polish festival outside of Poland.
The Saint John Paul II Polish Center is one of the few places in Orange County where the traditional Latin Mass is offered on Sunday mornings at 7:15 a.m., followed by an English Mass at 9 a.m. and a Polish Mass at 10:30 a.m. Confession is available before each Mass. First Friday Mass is offered in English at 8:30 a.m. and in Polish at 7:30 p.m. To learn more, visit www.polishcenter.orgC
FR. ZBIGNIEW FRASZCZAK OFFERS A BLESSING DURING THE 46TH ANNUAL DOŻYNKI FESTIVAL HELD ON SEPT. 20 AND 21 AT THE SAINT JOHN PAUL II POLISH CENTER IN YORBA LINDA. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
THE DOŻYNKI FESTIVAL FEATURED TRADITIONAL POLISH DANCE PERFORMANCES.
THE FESTIVAL FEATURED MUSIC, DANCING, TRADITIONAL FOOD AND FUN CARNIVAL GAMES.
LIGHTING A RIGHTEOUS FIRE
DATING APP SACREDSPARK PROVIDES A NEW WAY FOR CATHOLIC SINGLES TO DATE WITH THE GOAL OF ENTERING SACRAMENTAL MARRIAGE
BY GREG HARDESTY
WHEN EMILY MET Daniel, they instantly hit it off. She was in the Netherlands on a swing through Europe as a speaker at Catholic events. He was an event volunteer whose duties included showing Emily around his native country.
When Daniel dropped her off at the airport after four days, he thought: I think I met the woman I’m supposed to marry.
After two years of long-distance dating, they wed.
A decade later, and now parents of three children ages 6, 5 and 1, Orange County-based Emily Wilson — a noted Catholic speaker, author and YouTuber — and her husband, entrepreneur Daniel Hussem, are hoping to help fellow devout believers meet, date and tie the knot.
This month, in the Diocese of Orange and more than a dozen other dioceses nationwide, the spouses are scheduled to flip the “on switch” on a dating app they created after a beta phase that attracted the interest of thousands of singles around the country.
Their app, SacredSpark, is designed for real, faith-focused relationships and marriage — not endless swiping.
“We’re all about making online connections for offline relationships,” Hussem said.
NO FAKING IT
Churches throughout the Diocese of
Orange have ministries for singles, but according to statistics Hussem cited from a recent Stanford University study, 61% of couples meet online.
The demographic SacredSpark is targeting — singles ages 18 to 35, although any adult can sign up — is especially well-versed in looking for love online.
But SacredSpark is different from other long-established secular online dating platforms, Hussem and Wilson stressed.
For starters, users can’t fib about their appearance. They make introduction videos exclusively from within the app and can’t import videos made elsewhere. This gives SacredSpark users a crystal-clear idea of what prospective partners really is like in person and weeds out all the phony-balonies.
“What we’re trying to do is make online dating a lot more human, intentional, and personal — something authentic
and Catholic for young singles where faith isn’t an afterthought,” Hussem said.
MATCHMAKING FUNCTION
Wilson touts the uniqueness of the app’s matchmaking function. Close friends and relatives who know a SacredSpark user best can help them carry the load by acting as their personal matchmakers right within the app, and even
MARRIED COUPLE DANIEL HUSSEM AND EMILY WILSON ARE THE FOUNDERS OF THE CATHOLIC DATING APP, SACREDSPARK. PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY WILSON
communicate with other matchmakers to jointly set up their single friends and cheer them on during their dating journeys.
And the Catholic faith is central to
SacredSpark recently launched a video formation series called Dating101.
Among the tips: Pay attention to red and green flags.
“Red flags are signs that something is off — such as disrespect for boundaries, manipulation, constant emotional highs and lows or a weak prayer life,” Wilson explained.
“Don’t ignore these warnings; bring them to prayer, talk to a mentor and listen to the peace or unease God places in your heart,” she advised. “On the other hand, green flags show maturity and virtue—someone who shows up consistently, listens well, communicates clearly and makes sacrifices when needed.”
STARTED OFF AS LIGHTHEARTED EXPERIMENT
The genesis of SacredSpark dates to fall 2023, when Wilson began posting “matchmaking” prompts on Instagram. Catholic singles shared their names and locations to connect with other singles in their area.
What started as a lighthearted experiment has led to 12 marriages, 20 engagements, hundreds of dating couples and even a few babies, Wilson said.
Once enough singles in a diocese join the waitlist, SacredSpark fully unlocks at launch. This ensures that there’s a strong, active community of singles at the start instead of the real-life equivalent of a gathering that has more crickets than courting couples.
The Diocese of Orange is among the top 15 most active dioceses in terms of signups, reflecting a strong desire among Catholic singles for faith-filled relationships and marriage, Wilson and Hussem noted.
No officials at the Diocese of Orange were consulted in the creation of SacredSpark , but Wilson and Hussem hope to meet with leadership to explain the concept and how, in their view, the app can become a great service to would-be lovebirds who regularly attend Mass.
“We’re trying to start a revolution for Catholic dating,” Wilson said. “We absolutely love the Diocese of Orange with all our hearts. It’s such a special place and there are so many beautiful things going on with the Church here.”
The couple attends Mass at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Dana Point, and when their busy schedules permit, they go to daily Masses a couple times a week.
GOING GLOBAL?
SacredSpark is initially launching in the U.S., but Wilson and Hussem hope to take the pious platform global.
“We have lots of international signups on the waitlist — from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands — you name it,” Wilson said.
For more information on SacredSpark, or to join the waitlist, visit www. sacredspark.app C
COME SOAR WITH US! WINGS
WOMEN IN GOD’S SPIRIT
the app’s mission and vibe. It comes with loads of material Wilson has created, including dating tips for singles who are more comfortable reading a Bible than sipping drinks at a bar.
ST. MARTIN DE PORRES CHURCH YORBA LINDA | WINGS@smdpyl.org
MEETINGS ARE: WEDNESDAYS 9 -11AM | OCTOBER - MAY
EUCHARISTIC RENEWAL WITH ST. CARLO ACUTIS
BY REBEKAH VALDERRAMA
TODAY WOULD BE THE feast of St. Carlo Acutis, if it weren't the twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. I think if I were ever canonized as a saint, I would be delighted if that happened to my very first feast day. At least, that's the kind of humility I aspire to.
You and I will probably never be canonized, but the opportunity to celebrate the very first feast day of a fresh new saint is a call to each of us to renew our commitment to the universal vocation to sainthood.
This is an especially unique canonization for most of us. For the first time in our lives, someone younger than us was just canonized.
St. Carlo was the same age as my sister. Though we lived on opposite sides of the globe, we shared formative events, similar milestones and common cultural touchpoints over the brand new internet.
St. Paul had to tell St. Timothy "Let no one despise your youth" (1 Tim 4:12) Some might read the press releases about the "patron saint of computers" or "God's influencer" and cringe. I get it. It sounds a bit like "How do you do, fellow kids?" But I've got to tell you, it's working on me.
Recently, I've been battling a phone addiction. I got lazy and let technology get between myself and my family, and between myself and God. Something had to give, so I've adopted some strategies that are helping, but I've got a ways to go.
But let me tell you this story about St. Carlo. The "patron saint of video gamers" only spent two hours per week playing video games. Two hours per week. Some of the gamers you know probably spend the majority
of their free time on screens. Some gamers famously damage their health and their relationships over games. That might be you. That wasn't Carlo. From the day of his first communion, he never missed daily Mass. He chose to spend his free time in Eucharistic adoration. I'm sure that trusting himself to the Eucharistic heart of Jesus helped him govern his own passions and make wiser choices with his time. I'm praying
to, between 30-69% of Catholics don't believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. That number should be zero. St. Carlo said, "You see queues in front of a soccer match or an actor or rock singer, but you don't see a queue for the tabernacle where there is the Real Presence of God who lives among us."
Recent efforts, like the National Eucharistic Revival, are producing beautiful fruit in the hearts of the people of God as they are invited to a renewal of their faith and the practices of adoration and frequent communion. As St. Carlo said, "People who place themselves before the sun get a tan; people who place themselves before the Eucharist become saints."
Does the way you spend your free time reflect your faith? The canonization of St. Carlo reminds us that there are saints all around us. You and I are called to be among them. C
for his intercession as I strive to do the same.
St. Carlo gave his time and talents to making a website that catalogs over 150 eucharistic miracles in multiple languages. He hoped to inspire a love for the Eucharist all over the world. The site has since been turned into an exhibit which has toured every continent on Earth. You might have gotten to see it in the last few years when it's visited local parishes. If you haven't seen the exhibit in person, the entire thing is available to view at https://www.miracolieucaristici.org/ Depending on the studies you listen
A TAPESTRY DEPICTING ST. CARLO ACUTIS HANGS FROM THE FACADE OF ST. PETER’S BASILICA DURING THE MASS FOR HIS CANONIZATION AT THE VATICAN SEPT. 7, 2025. CNS PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ
OC Catholic Afar
Stephanie Mulhern, sixth-grade Religion teacher at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic School in Dana Point, and her mother, Mary Penny Rice, a catechist at St. Nicholas Parish School of Religion in Laguna Woods, visited the Augustine Institute in Florissant (St. Louis) Missouri for a fabulous three-day retreat with seminars instructing us on Lectio Divina, which we can now implement in our classrooms this fall. Holding the OC Catholic newspaper is the CEO and professor Dr. Tim Gray at the Institute who publishes both the Amen App and the amazing Formed publications everyone can receive each day! Trip of a lifetime!
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.