GOD’S CREATURES, BOTH GREAT AND SMALL
OCTOBER 18, 2026
PAGE 8
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ORANGE ■ OCCATHOLIC.COM
HONORING BLESSED FULTON SHEEN AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL PAGE 16 CHRIST CATHEDRAL HOSTED A VENERATION OF BLESSED FULTON SHEEN ON OCT. 6, WITH CLERGY, MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY AND HOSPITALLER ORDER OF ST. LAZARUS OF JERUSALEM IN ATTENDANCE. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
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OCTOBER 18, 2026
CONTENTS
5 7 10 12 18
NEW FATHER ABBOT AT ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY
Right Reverend John Caronan is the third abbot to lead the abbey in Silverado Canyon.
HOW DONATED FOOD BECOMES MEALS FOR NEIGHBORS
At Bracken’s Kitchen in Garden Grove, volunteers make the magic happen.
KEEPING CHRIST AT THE CENTER
The Afif family is notable for many reasons, but faith is what’s important to them.
ST. NORBERTFEST MARKS 50 YEARS
The annual festival has become a neighborhood mainstay of community fun.
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
MESSENGERS OF GOD’S MERCY AND LOVE
God is always ready to forgive us our sins, extending mercy and forgiveness.
ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC MISSION STATEMENT The Orange County Catholic Newspaper seeks to illuminate and animate the journey of faith for Catholics within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange – building solidarity among the faithful and inviting a deeper understanding and involvement in the mission of Christ – through the timely sharing of news, commentary and feature content in an engaging, accessible and compelling format.
ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC
The Official Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange Diocese of Orange Pastoral Center, 13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove 92840 Publisher: The Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of Orange Executive Editor: Jarryd Gonzales Managing Editor: Patricia Mahoney, editor@occatholic.com News Ideas: editor@occatholic.com Delivery Problems: occatholicsupport@occatholic.com
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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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To report sexual abuse by clergy or church personnel please call: 1 (800) 364-3064 Healing and Hope After Abortion: 1 (800) 722-4356 New Hope Peer-to-Peer Support Line | Mon - Fri 7:30 AM - 9:30 PM | Sat - Sun 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM: 1 (714) NEW-HOPE or 1 (714) 639-4673 BÁO CÁO LẠM DỤNG TÌNH DỤC Nếu bạn là nạn nhân bị lạm dụng tình dục bởi một linh mục/ tu sĩ hay một thành viên trong Giáo Hội gây ra, xin hãy gọi và báo cáo cho Giáo phận ở số điện thoại miễn phí sau đây: 1-800-364-3064, và đồng thời báo cáo cho nhà chức trách địa phương. 본당내의 성적학대 신고 성직자나 성당 사목을 대표하는 관리자에 의한 성적 학대의 피해자 인 경우, 교구청의 무료 신고 전화 번호, 1-800-364-3064 및 관할 지역 법 집행 기관에 전화하십시오.
DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS
SACRAMENTS
PHOTO COURTESY OF GREG AND ROCHELLE HASTINGS
READER CALL-OUT
On June 26, 1976, at St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church in Fullerton, we had the privilege to be one of the first couples to be married in the newly formed Diocese of Orange. We are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary as the diocese celebrates its 50th anniversary as well. Our wedding was a memorable gathering of family and special friends.
“
SAINT PROFILE
— Pope Leo XIV
SAINT LUKE
S
C.1-84AD
AINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST was a first-century Greek physician from Antioch, a background that deeply influenced his distinctive contributions to early Christianity. Unlike most other New Testament writers, Luke was a highly educated Gentile, and his medical expertise is clearly reflected in the precise, compassionate descriptions of healing found within his writings. After converting to Christianity, he became a loyal companion and helper to Saint Paul, accompanying him on perilous missionary journeys across the Mediterranean. This unique blend of scientific training, diverse cultural perspective, and firsthand missionary experience shaped him into a meticulous historian, enabling him to compose the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles with a rare level of detail and literary sophistication. C
—Greg and Rochelle Hastings, St. Martin de Porres Parish, Yorba Linda. OC Catholic is looking for photos of our readers receiving their Holy Sacraments. Baptisms, First Communions, Weddings — we want to see your special day! Please include a brief description of the photo and why it is special to you. Include your name and home parish, and send to: editor@occatholic.com
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
4
”
Nothing can separate us from God's love.
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
EPHESIANS 2:1-10; PSALM 100:2, 3, 4, 5; LUKE 12:13-21
EPHESIANS 2:1222; PSALM 85:9AB10, 11-12, 13-14; LUKE 12:35-38
EPHESIANS 3:2-12; ISAIAH 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6; LUKE 12:39-48
EPHESIANS 3:1421; PSALM 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19; LUKE 12:49-53
EPHESIANS 4:1-6; PSALM 24:1-2, 3-4AB, 5-6; LUKE 12:54-59
EPHESIANS 4:7-16; PSALM 122:1-2, 3-4AB, 4CD-5; LUKE 13:1-9
EXODUS 22:20-26; PSALM 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51; 1 THESSALONIANS 1:5C-10; MATTHEW 22:34-40
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FEATURE
BELLS RING TO CELEBRATE NEW FATHER ABBOT AT ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY BY GREG MELLEN
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HEN THE BELLS at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church began to peal at 12:39 p.m. on June 19, St. Michael’s Abbey officially entered a new era. When again they rang at 9:50 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, the bells announced the time had come for the public at large and assorted dignitaries to share in a ceremonial Solemn Mass of the Abbatial Blessing. At the special Mass, Right Reverend John Caronan, O.Praem., 62, who in June became the third abbot in St. Michael’s 65 years and the first elected in more than 30 years, publicly declared his resolve to fulfill the duties of his office under the Rules of St. Augustine. In a sanctuary of Our Lady of the Assumption, bathed in spectral colored shafts of light slanting through the stainedglass windows, the Mass was presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke. Although Fr. Abbot John had already been formally installed as the spiritual father and major superior of the abbey, Cardinal Burke performed the rites to celebrate with the larger congregation, including presenting the pastoral staff to Fr. Abbot John. Bishop Kevin Vann and Bishop Timothy Freyer also participated and presented the father abbot with his official ring and miter, respectively.
The ceremony also included congratulations and a papal blessing from Pope Leo XIV read to the congregation.
BLESSINGS OVERFLOW
The Mass, celebrated in both Latin and English, was held before a large gathering of the faithful who filled the pews, as well as more than 125 Norbertine brothers, seminarians and clergy from across the country. Honored guests and attendees included: Cardinal Roger Mahony; San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone; Oakland Bishop Michael C. Barber; Eparchy Our Lady of Lebanon Bishop A. Elias Zaidan; Rev. Canon Matthew Talarico; former Hungarian Ambassador to the Holy See Archduke Eduard Habsburg-Lothringen; St. Michael’s Abbey Foundation Chair Steffiana James; Orange County Supervisor Donald Wagner. The Mass was part of four days of celebrations that concluded with the Solemnity of St. Michael the Archangel or Michaelmas. Over the long weekend, the abbey had more than 2,000 visitors. Fr. Augustine Puchner, O.Praem., a member of the Norbertine community of CONTINUES ON PAGE 6
BISHOP KEVIN VANN (PICTURED) AND BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER PRESENTED FR. ABBOT JOHN CARONAN WITH HIS OFFICIAL RING AND MITER, RESPECTIVELY. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE O C T O B E R 18 , 2 0 2 6 ■ O C C A T H O L I C
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FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
ON MONDAY, SEPT. 28, A CEREMONIAL SOLEMN MASS OF THE ABBATIAL BLESSING WAS CELEBRATED IN HONOR OF RIGHT REVEREND JOHN CARONAN, O.PRAEM., BECOMING THE THIRD ABBOT IN ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY'S HISTORY. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
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St. Michael's, said the outpouring was impressive. “It means a lot to have so many supporters, cardinals and bishops and all of our friends to come out and support and pray for us,” he said. “It reminds us how many people are out there who support us.” Known for his humility, Fr. Abbot John introduced himself with self-deprecating humor saying he would only take 8 minutes and 9 seconds of the congregation’s time. He went on to recall an anecdote about why he does not hang his academic credentials on his office wall. After he graduated from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome in theology and canon law in 1995, then-Fr. John was summoned to a meeting with Fr. Ladislas Parker, founding abbot of St. Michael’s. Fr. John said he earned a summa cum laude, the highest possible designation, but then admitted he missed several questions in his oral examination. Fr. Parker replied that maybe Fr. John should more properly be designated “summa cum proude.” He then offered his congratulations with a toast. The meeting taught the future father abbot not to overstate or overestimate himself. Fr. Augustine remarked that the anecdote said a lot about the new father abbot, first for helping to keep alive the legacy of Fr. Parker, who passed away in 2010, and also for driving home the importance of humility. The father abbot told another amusing anecdote about a phone message from Bishop Vann. In 2023 he received an unexpected voice message to call Bishop Vann, which would later turn into an offer to be the judicial vicar for the diocese. However, the father abbot said, “My spontaneous reaction was ‘I must
be in trouble.’”
ABBEY THRIVING
Fr. Abbot John and the Norbertine community have enjoyed a close relationship with the Diocese of Orange since the diocese’s founding 50 years ago. “It’s a special blessing,” Bishop Freyer said of the particularly close relationship. “Especially since Fr. Abbot John was judicial vicar for the diocese. This will only strengthen our unity.” In addition to being judicial vicar at the Diocese of Orange, overseeing the court and canon law, he has also held judicial positions at the Diocese of Orange and elsewhere. Fr. Abbot John was born John Edgar Caronan in Manila, Philippines, in 1964, emigrating to Southern California in 1974 and joining the St. Michael’s community in 1985 and being ordained into the priesthood in 1994. He is the first Philippines-born abbot in the international Norbertine community. Fr. Abbot John was elected to a 12-year-tenure, succeeding Fr. Eugene Hayes, who retired in May at the age of 75. The new Fr. Abbot takes over at a propitious time for the Norbertines, who have enjoyed steady growth in popularity among clergy, prospective seminarians and the community. St. Michael's currently has more than 100 priests and seminarians. In addition to his religious credentials, Fr. Abbot John also has business skills, having studied accounting for three years at Cal Poly Pomona as a young adult. “He’s building upon a (strong) foundation and continuity,” Fr. Augustine said. “He has great experience with the dioceses and parishes. And his youth will invigorate us.” C
DIOCESAN NEWS
A WEEK OF SERVICE TURNS DONATED FOOD INTO MEALS FOR NEIGHBORS BY MEG WATERS
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NSIDE BRACKEN’S KITCHEN in Garden Grove, volunteers sorted donated bread, chopped vegetables and separated heads of cauliflower—simple tasks that would ultimately help provide thousands of meals to people across Orange County. The volunteers came to the kitchen on Sept. 24 as part of the Sisters of St. Joseph’s annual Week of Service. Now in its 11th year, the initiative brings together sisters, employees, parishioners, associates and community members for projects addressing hunger, homelessness and other local needs. According to Damaris Molena-Morales, program coordinator for the St. Joseph Justice Center, which organized this Day of Service, Nearly 100 people participated in this year’s weeklong ef- VOLUNTEERS CRAIG BURGESS, LEFT, AND MARY KALTENBACH HELP PREPARE MEALS AT BRACKEN’S KITCHEN IN GARDEN GROVE ON fort. Projects included a beach cleanup, SEPT. 24. PHOTOS BY SCOTT SMELTZER/DIOCESE OF ORANGE packaging food for low-income seniors at the Orange County Food Bank, hosting a social at an Illumination Foundation recuperative-care facility and working at an educational farm. At Bracken’s Kitchen, volunteers helped process donated food and prepare ingredients for meals distributed through shelters, schools, colleges, churches and community organizations. For first-time participant Rebecca Freeman, the work was both practical and spiritual. “The Week of Service is a way that the sisters have organized the local community and volunteers to really remind us what our call to the Gospel is—to help others and to be present for others,” Freeman said. “It’s also just a fun way to be out and about with our brothers and sisters in Christ doing good work.” As she separated cauliflower, Freeman said she appreciated seeing how Bracken’s Kitchen combines hunger relief with environmental responsibility. VOLUNTEERS HELP PREPARE MEALS AT BRACKEN’S KITCHEN IN GARDEN GROVE.
“There’s also a sustainable practice to how they operate here,” she said. “Having the generosity of making sure food doesn’t go to waste, and seeing how that turns out into this beautiful, delicious meal that they’re putting together—it’s great.” Lauren Kelly, Bracken’s Kitchen events coordinator, explained that the nonprofit is not a traditional soup kitchen. Instead, its staff prepares meals for partner organizations that distribute them to people in need. Those partners include shelters, Title I school districts with many low-income children and college food pantries. Bracken’s Kitchen also serves hot meals from its food truck at community events. At one recent school event, the organization served 270 people. Kelly said Bracken’s Kitchen reaches approximately 2.2 million people annually through its programs. Much of the food begins as donations. Bread is sorted into buns, croissants and loaves, with some repurposed as homemade croutons. The organization quickly incorporates grocery-donated food into meals or shares it with the Orange County Food Bank. The Week of Service reflects a tradition that began with the Sisters of St. Joseph’s founding in Le Puy, France, in 1650. The first sisters went into their community, identified unmet needs, and responded directly. The congregation brought that mission to Orange County about a century ago.C
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DIOCESAN NEWS
GOD’S CREATURES, BOTH GREAT AND SMALL BY STAFF
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OR CENTURIES, CHRISTIAN FARMERS have sought blessings for their livestock, praying for their animals’ health and productivity. St. Francis of Assisi saw all of creation — from the tiniest insect to the moon in the night sky — as a reflection of God’s goodness and care. In The Canticle of the Creatures, his famous poem praising God’s creation, St. Francis wrote: “Praised be you, my Lord, with all your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun, who is the day through whom you bring us light.” Known as the patron saint of animals and the environment, St. Francis of Assisi is celebrated each year on Oct. 4. The annual Blessing of the Animals typically takes place on or around his feast day. Each year, the Diocese of Orange invites the faithful to bring their pets — whether furry, scaly or feathered — to parish campuses for a special blessing. Enjoy these photos from Sts. Simon & Jude School and St. Hedwig Parish. C
STS. SIMON & JUDE SCHOOL IN HUNTINGTON BEACH CELEBRATED ITS BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS ON OCT. 3. PHOTOS BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
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CONTINUES ON PAGE 9
DIOCESAN PAGE HEADING NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
ST. HEDWIG PARISH IN LOS ALAMITOS CELEBRATED ITS BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS ON OCT. 4. PHOTOS BY SCOTT SMELTZER/DIOCESE OF ORANGE O C T O B E R 18 , 2 0 2 6 ■ O C C A T H O L I C
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DIOCESAN NEWS
KEEPING CHRIST AT THE CENTER BY LOI PONSI
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EAN-PAUL AFIF HAS built a life marked by notable achievements: professional basketball player, wealth advisor, movie producer, community servant, husband and father. But for Afif, a devout Catholic and active member of multiple faith-focused organizations, one role surpasses all the others. “I always like to start with saying I’m a husband and a father,” Afif said.
“But first and foremost, we’re called to be a child of God.” Afif, his wife, Krista, and their nine children — who range in age from 21 months to 17 years old — worship at St. John Maron Catholic Church in Orange. He recently shared his thoughts about his journey in a wide-ranging conversation on OC Catholic Radio with host Lisa Hendey, reflecting on how faith shapes every part of his life. “It’s less about the trophy or the title or the prize,” Afif said. “It’s more about
the journey, and more about what we’re called to be.” A three-sport athlete at Temecula Valley High School and Linfield Christian School, Afif went on to play junior college basketball at St. Catharine College in Kentucky before transferring to Loyola Marymount University and later the University of North Dakota. Standing 6 feet, 7 inches, he earned a one-year contract with the NBA’s Sacramento Kings in 2002, then spent several seasons in the NBA Development League before transitioning briefly into coaching. Eventually, Afif moved into banking and finance, becoming a wealth advisor for Morgan Stanley.
JEAN-PAUL AFIF, HIS WIFE, KRISTA, AND THEIR NINE CHILDREN ATTEND ST. JOHN MARON CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ORANGE. PHOTO COURTESY OF JEAN-PAUL AFIF
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A NEW KIND OF COMMUNITY
During the radio interview, Afif spoke at length about his involvement in the Orange County chapter of Legatus — an international organization of Catholic lay business leaders and their spouses. For him, Legatus represents more than professional fellowship; it has become a spiritual anchor. Founded in 1987 by Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan, Legatus takes its name from the Latin word for “ambassador,” reflecting its mission to apply and spread the Catholic faith in the business world. The Orange County Legatus Chapter was officially chartered in October 1989. Afif said he joined Legatus to be among other business professionals who wanted to bring Christ into every part of their professions and every facet of their lives. The organization became something even more personal for him and his wife: the perfect date night. “Somebody had told me long ago, you should never ever stop dating your wife,” Afif said. But with the responsibilities of everyday life — especially the hustle and bustle of raising nine children — date nights were inconsistent. “It’s not that date nights were unfulfilling; it’s that we didn’t keep them, and when we did, they weren’t always what we wanted them to be … Maybe one night we go to a concert and have a date night that was a perfect 10 but then skip the next five months of date nights, and then the next one we went on was In-N-Out Burger and it wasn’t a date night.” Afif began to contemplate what a truly revitalizing evening with his wife should look like. Whatever they do as a couple, Christ should be at the center, he concluded. Legatus offered exactly that. Monthly Legatus meetings include confession, the Rosary, a traditional Mass and a guest speaker. CONTINUES ON PAGE 11
DIOCESAN NEWS
JEAN-PAUL AFIF IS INTERVIEWED BY OC CATHOLIC RADIO'S LISA HENDEY. PHOTO BY LOU PONSI/DIOCESE OF ORANGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
The impact of including Christ made date nights purposeful, he said. “It has been the best thing I've ever done,” Afif said. “Once we joined Legatus and we began to experience the fruits, we've been rejuvenated tenfold. Legatus has really made me a better husband, father, Catholic and businessperson.” Afif also serves on the board of the Orange County Legatus Chapter and on the boards of First Friday Friars, Obria Medical Clinics and the Santiago
Retreat Center. He serves in the cadre of the Orange County chapter of the Order of St. Lazarus as well. His insights extend beyond Legatus and into his daily life. Preserving Sundays, protecting dinner hours and encouraging his children to spend time in Eucharistic adoration are priorities. “Spend 15 minutes in front of the Eucharist a day,” he said, “and it’ll make all the difference in the world.” To learn more about the Legatus Orange County Chapter, visit legatus. org/orange-county C O C T O B E R 18 , 2 0 2 6 ■ O C C A T H O L I C
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DIOCESAN NEWS
ST. NORBERTFEST MARKS 50 YEARS BY LOU PONSI
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OME YEARS AFTER ST. Norbert Catholic Church in the city of Orange was established by the bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the parish held its first-ever parish festival. The festival was dubbed the St. Norbert Fun & Arts Festival and featured rides, games and a raffle with a 1970 Ford Maverick as the grand prize. The annual festival has changed
names multiple times over the years, from the original name, the St. Norbert Fun & Arts Festival, to Fiesta Days, the Family Fall Festival, Western Fall Festival, Family Fall Festival, the St. Norbert School Carnival, the Turning the Century Oktoberfest ’99 and the St. Norbertfest as it is called today. The 2026 St. Norbertfest, held Oct. 2-4, marked the event’s 50th anniversary. While the three-day festival has varied in size and scope, undergone name changes and even was canceled a few
ST. NORBERTFEST, HELD OCT. 2-4, MARKED THE EVENT’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY. PHOTO BY LOU PONSI/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
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times due to a variety of circumstances, including a worldwide pandemic, the sentiment has remained constant and is now the St. Norbertfest tagline: “One parish. One family. One community.” “People just enjoy coming together and spending time with their family and their friends and their parish ministry friends as well,” said Michelle Navarro, who has served as lead organizer of the festival for the past two years along with her husband Paul.
Over the decades, highlights include a visit from Bozo the Clown for the 1971 festival along with a performance by José Feliciano on the main stage. Rides had been scarce until the parish contracted with a major ride provider in 1979. By the mid-’80s, food booths were plentiful and the rides got bigger and better. In the 1990s, a ceramics booth and Silly String were introduced, and both remain festival favorites to this day. This year’s festival featured more than 25 rides along with an area for kiddie rides. CONTINUES ON PAGE 11
DIOCESAN NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
THE LATE 1980S HOSTED A "UNIQUE BOUTIQUE" THAT SOLD WHATEVER PARISHIONERS DISCARDED FROM THEIR HOMES. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ST. NORBERT PARISH
A DESSERT BOOTH IN THE 1980S FEATURING GOODIES BAKED BY PARISHIONERS WAS ALWAYS A FAVORITE WITH ANYONE WHO HAD A SWEET TOOTH.
MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT, INCLUDING THIS BARBERSHOP QUARTET IN THE 1970S, HAS BEEN A STAPLE SINCE THE EARLY DAYS OF THE FESTIVAL.
The most popular food item, by far, is the funnel cake. “For us, it’s always been a community builder,” St. Norbert Facilities Manager Ruben Meraz said. “The ministries work the booths. It’s always been a source of
pride for them.” Entertainment has always been a mainstay, but organizers decided to put greater emphasis on providing top-flight performers and music that appeals to all ages and cultures, said parishioner
Armando Cervantes, the festival’s entertainment director. This year, perhaps the most notable of the performers at the festival was country singer and songwriter Sean Oliu, a graduate of Servite High School
and assistant ice hockey coach for the Friars. The lineup also included a Beatles tribute band, a Southern California Catholic dance troupe that taught line dancing and a high-energy Latin band. “Both the leadership at the parish and our co-chairs have been very supportive of making entertainment a really important part,” said Cervantes, who also serves as director of Youth and Young Adult and Spanish ministries for the Diocese of Orange. “We’ve learned that the more entertainment and excitement there is, the more people want to stay.” As part of the festival’s golden anniversary, organizers and former pastors were honored and presented with special gifts during opening ceremonies. “The festival brings parishioners together while also welcoming people from throughout the local community to enjoy the festival,” said Cecilia Cervantes, parish business manager. “It’s an event we look forward to each year, as the parish and school community comes together not only to volunteer and make it possible, but also to spend time together and enjoy the festivities.” C
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ROSARY ACADEMY
OPEN HOUSE ALL- GIRLS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN FULLERTON 6th–8th Grade Girls & Families — Come Discover Rosary! Explore our campus, meet our educators, and learn how Rosary empowers young women through academics, faith, leadership & sisterhood. Complimentary dinner provided.
OCTOBER, 19 2026
5PM - 8PM
SCAN TO LEARN MORE & REGISTER
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DIOCESAN NEWS
HONORING BLESSED FULTON SHEEN AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL BY BRADLEY ZINT
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N HONOR OF THE RECENT beatification of Blessed Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Christ Cathedral hosted veneration of Blessed Sheen
relics, vespers and a blessing ceremony for a Sheen statue on Oct. 6. Members of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, of which Blessed Archbishop Sheen was also a member, also attended.
The event was livestreamed and is available on YouTube. Fr. Al Baca, episcopal vicar of ecumenism and inter-religion, noted during the service how Blessed Archbishop Sheen “was engaged in building
BISHOP KEVIN VANN OFFERS A BLESSING FOR A NEWLY INSTALLED STATUE HONORING BLESSED FULTON SHEEN. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
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bridges with other Christian leaders and communities at a time when ecumenism was only beginning to be a normal part of the Catholic landscape we know today.”
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DIOCESAN NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16
Blessed Archbishop Sheen preached on the cathedral campus during its Crystal Cathedral era under Dr. Robert Schuller, who, like many Americans, was inspired by the powerful Catholic televangelist. The Crystal
Cathedral commissioned a bronze statue of Sheen in the 1990s and displayed it for decades, but it left the campus following the Crystal Cathedral sale to the Diocese of Orange. About two years ago, the Catholic Church-affiliated Santiago Retreat
Center managed to acquire the Sheen statue and put it on display at their center. In light of Blessed Archbishop Sheen’s beatification, it was thought that the Sheen statue should return to the cathedral campus where the
archbishop preached. Thanks to the generosity of a loan agreement with the Santiago Retreat Center, the bronze statue is back on the cathedral grounds, close to the Arboretum where Sheen famously spoke to an ecumenical congregation in 1972. C
BLESSED ARCHBISHOP SHEEN PREACHED ON THE CATHEDRAL CAMPUS DURING ITS CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL ERA UNDER DR. ROBERT SCHULLER. THE BRONZE STATUE DEPICTING BLESSED SHEEN WAS RECENTLY INSTALLED OUTSIDE THE ARBORETUM. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE O C T O B E R 18 , 2 0 2 6 ■ O C C A T H O L I C
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CATHOLIC FAMILY LIFE
MESSENGERS OF GOD’S MERCY AND LOVE
mercy, for He desires us to cling to His Merciful Heart, repent and trust in Him. He gave her many messages; one particularly striking one was: “The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy” (Diary, 723). Her feast day is Oct. 5.
FOR YOUR FAMILY:
■ Make the effort to apologize to each other when appropriate, saying “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you” rather than just “Sorry” and “That’s ok.” ■ Ask God’s help to recognize and rejoice in His many gifts of love and mercy and then offer your mercy and love to others. ■ When praying the Creed, focus on the words “I believe in … the forgiveness of sins…” and thank God for this precious gift. ■ Go to Confession regularly, asking for and receiving God’s merciful love and forgiveness. Read Jesus’ promises to St. Margaret Mary and St. Faustina, and share which means the most to you. C
BY SR. DIANE HEISS, SDSH
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HILE SOME THINK of God as a judge waiting to catch us in wrongdoing and punish us, this is not the God whom Jesus reveals to us. Jesus said of himself: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9). So then, how do the Gospels portray Jesus? Jesus was compassionate and understood our burdens. Therefore, He invited us to come to him for support: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light” (Mt. 11:28-30). Jesus was merciful, defending the woman caught in adultery. He told her accusers “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (Jn. 8:7). At the same time, He did not condone sin, for after their departure he asked her “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” and upon hearing her response, “No one, sir” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore” (Jn. 8: 10-11). He wants us to be our best and true selves, created in His own image and likeness. Sin defaces and distorts His image in us, weakening or destroying our union with Him. Jesus was magnanimous in His mercy, not only forgiving
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PHOTO BY TAHIRO ACHOUB ON UNSPLASH
but also promising immediate entry into heaven to a dying man who had no possibility of reforming his life. “Dismas,” one of the two criminals crucified along with Jesus, turned to Jesus, asking to be remembered when Jesus came into His kingdom, and heard: “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Lk. 23:43). It is never too late to sincerely repent of our sins, ask God’s forgiveness even with our dying breath and to receive it. At times God chooses messengers to reveal in a special way His mercy and
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love, and this month we celebrate two of them. Jesus appeared to Sr. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 1670s in France, revealing His love for humankind through His Sacred Heart. His sixth promise, that “Sinners will find in My Heart an infinite ocean of mercy” is another instance of how deeply Jesus desires each of us to turn to Him, repenting of our sins and accepting His infinite love and mercy. Her feast day is Oct. 16. When Jesus appeared to a Polish nun, Sr. Faustina Kowalska, in the 1930s, it was to remind us once again of His love and
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OC Catholic Afar
Bryan, Jennifer and John Carlson visited the Grotto of Our Lady of Fatima on the grounds of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dingle, Ireland on June 30. Their family trip to Dublin, Dingle and Cashel followed John’s completion of a six-week summer engineering program at University College Dublin (led by faculty from the University of Notre Dame where John is a rising junior). A 2024 Servite alumnus, John will complete Notre Dame degrees in Engineering in 2028 and Theology in 2029.
—The Carlsons attend San Antonio de Padua del Cañon Catholic Church in Anaheim Hills.
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. O C T O B E R 18 , 2 0 2 6 ■ O C C A T H O L I C
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