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지역 법 집행 기관에 전화하십시오.
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
SEPTEMBER 28, 2025
CONTENTS
LIVING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST
Meet Louise and Gene Hernandez, parishioners of St. Martin de Porres.
SACRED STRINGS OF BEADS
Parishioners share the stories behind their treasured Rosaries.
SHEPHERDS ALL AROUND US!
Mr. Jackson and Mr. Dallas provide security at St. John the Baptist Catholic School. 17
JSERRA'S GHANAIAN HUMANITARIAN MISSION
The mission was part of a synodal delegation with Catholic Relief Services.
THE BOND OF SISTERHOOD
The Women in God's Spirit program has been coordinating fellowship across the diocese for 38 years.
I AM CONGRESS
Speakers will include Fr. Gregory Maria Pine and Rev. Ricky Manalo. 18 ANOTHER STONE IN OUR SHOE
Deacon Kevin Duthoy reflects on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
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
READER CALL-OUT
During my junior university year I studied in Paris. I was at the site of the original grotto where St. Bernadette, my Confirmation saint, saw Our Lady. I bought this wooden Rosary and held it in the stream of water still dripping out of the rock. This is a treasure replete with memories and prayers.
—Karen Donner, St. Joseph Parish in Placentia.
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
“ There is no cry that God does not hear.” — Pope Leo XIV
SAINT PROFILE
MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND RAPHAEL C. 3RD CENTURY
THESE ARCHANGELS, MESSENGERS SENT by God, are the only ones named in the Bible. In the Book of Daniel, Michael is called “the great prince”; in the Letter of Jude, he argues with the devil over Moses' body; and in the Book of Revelation, he leads the battle against Satan. He is patron of the sick, radiologists and mariners. Gabriel explains Daniel's visions to him in the Book of Daniel, and in the Gospel of Luke announces to Zechariah and Mary the births of their respective sons. He is the patron of messengers and telecommunications and postal workers. Raphael guides Tobiah in the Book of Tobit; he is patron of the blind, physicians and travelers. The church created their joint feast after the Second Vatican Council.C
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
DANIEL 7:9-10, 1314, PSALM 138:12AB, 2CDE-3, 4-5, JOHN 1:47-51
TUESDAY
ZECHARIAH 8:2023, PSALM 87:1B3, 4-5, 6-7, LUKE 9:51-56
WEDNESDAY
NEHEMIAH 2:1-8, PSALM 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6, LUKE 9:5762
DIOCESAN TEACHERS GATHER FOR ANNUAL EDUCATOR CONVOCATION
BY BRITTANY ZINT
ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY, all 37 Catholic schools closed on a Friday so teachers and principals could gather together for a new school year and deepen their understanding of how to ensure their Catholic faith permeates all aspects of their teaching.
The 1,350 Catholic educators gathered at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Sept. 12 for the annual Educator Convocation. The day featured a keynote speaker on “Making Every Class Catholic,” Mass with Bishop Kevin Vann and breakout sessions for elementary and high school teachers.
“We are so blessed here in the Diocese of Orange, and it’s a particular special blessing for me to be here with all of you as we celebrate this wonderful special gift of Catholic education and the mission that has been entrusted to each one of us in a very particular way,” said Superintendent Dr. Erin Barisano.
In his homily, Bishop Vann remembered his own experiences starting a new school year and how it was a great time of making new friends, starting anew and meeting all the possibilities God had for him.
Life is light and shadows, Bishop Vann said, and teachers are the light that will overcome the shadows and teach their students to do the same.
“Who you are and what you do with your ministry is transformative for the life of the world and the life of the Church,” Bishop Vann said. “I thank you for all that, and I’m thankful to be here at the beginning of this new school year.”
The keynote address, “Making Every Class Catholic,” was given by Brett Salkeld, Ph.D., an archdiocesan theologian from the Archdiocese of Regina
in Canada. He earned his doctorate in systematic theology from Regis College at the Toronto School of Theology.
Salkeld shared how the Catholic faith shouldn’t be taught just during religious studies and Mass, but across all subject matter.
Salkeld did a great job explaining why teachers are not just explaining facts, but the reasons behind them, said JSerra Catholic High School Principal Eric Stroupe.
This idea has been a conscious focus at JSerra, said Stroupe, who added that he appreciated that Salkeld gave examples about how to integrate Catholic teachings not just in subjects like English and art, but the more challenging ones of science and math.
“Getting teachers to think about why teaching in a Catholic context should be different is something teachers don’t think about sometimes,” Stroupe said. “They just think, ‘I know my subject and I’m going to teach my subject.’ But when you consciously ask them to think how you are going to teach it differently in a Catholic school, it gets them to be more intentional about what they are doing. It puts more purpose behind their endeavor as an educator.”
The oft-heard student refrain for teachers, “Why do I need to learn this?” is another way of asking, “What’s the point of human existence?” Salkeld challenged the audience to consider. He contended that while there is value in attaining education toward economic prosperity, gaining skills and knowledge for the job market, they are not enough.
“Kids naturally want to ask the big-picture questions,” Salkeld said. “They want to know not just how it works, but why it matters and what it means.”
SISTERS FROM JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO STAND WITH PETER BASTONE, BIOLOGY TEACHER, LEFT, AND ERIC STROUPE, PRINCIPAL. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
TEACHERS AND STAFF FROM ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN PLACENTIA GATHER DURING THE EDUCATOR CONVOCATION HELD AT MATER DEI ON SEPT. 12.
He added, “In a Catholic school, we are free and privileged to be able to make a beautiful proposal about the nature of the world, of reality, of God and of our students’ place in it.”
St. Irenaeus Catholic School Principal Stella Costello said the talk was exactly what they needed to hear as Catholic educators; it was a message they can bring back to their parish. The idea that school is about more than just good grades is a conversation Costello and her staff have
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been having amongst themselves and their St. Irenaeus families.
“We tell parents that when we can put aside all the things we think are successes in the world, and we can truly help children understand who Christ already knows they are going to be,” Costello said. “Then, they will find success as individuals. We just know the world tells us it’s things like money, things like status, but God has a place for all of us and when we know what that is, then that’s where you find success.” C
TEACHERS AND STAFF FROM MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL POSE FOR A PHOTO. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
BISHOP VANN INSPIRES TEACHERS AND STAFF WITH HIS HOMILY DURING MASS AT THE EDUCATOR CONVOCATION.
LIVING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST
SPOTLIGHT ON LOUISE AND GENE HERNANDEZ, ST. MARTIN DE PORRES PARISH
BY MIKE ZINN
IN THE WORDS OF St. Martin de Porres parishioner Gene Hernandez, “faith is all about choices.”
Some years ago, Gene and his wife Louise chose to attend a Cursillo retreat. Louise said the retreat greatly influenced her life.
“I made special bonds with fellow parishioners,” she shared, “that remain to the present.”
Louise was born in Glendale and grew up in Burbank, the third oldest of nine children born to a Lutheran father and a Catholic mother. She attended Mass and was a student at St. Patrick Catholic School in North Hollywood.
Gene was born and raised in Burbank and was a parishioner and student at St. Finbar in Burbank.
Both Louise and Gene credit their families for being strong role models and greatly influencing their lives during these formative years.
The couple attended Burbank High School but didn’t know each other. They instead met on a double date — though they were with other people. Louise quickly realized that she was more interested in Gene than her date.
Gene graduated from Burbank High School in 1967, and Louise graduated one year later in 1968. Gene went on to Pierce Community College, where he earned an associate degree in 1969. The couple got married in July of the same year. They headed north after the wedding, as Gene transferred to San Jose State University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice administration in1971. In San Jose, Louise worked as a secretary until their
daughter was born. After graduation, Gene enrolled in a master’s program and was eventually hired by the Fullerton Police Department.
In Fullerton, they were parishioners St. Mary parish until they moved to Yorba Linda (and St. Martin de Porres parish) in 1986.
During his career in law enforcement with the Fullerton Police Department, he rose to the rank of captain, and later joined the Chino Police Department, where he was chief of police until his retirement in 2006.
Initially, Louise was a stay-at-home mom. Later, she worked at several medical facilities, including Brea Community Hospital before establishing her own radiology transcription business, Executive Medical Services.
Both Louise and Gene have been highly active at St. Martin de Porres parish. Together, the couple has been involved in facilitating small faith groups, acting as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and delivering fish fry meals to the homebound. Individually, Louise is involved with the WINGS (Women in God’s Spirit) program.
“It fills my life with friendship and a shared purpose of growing closer to God with faith-filled women,” she shared.
Gene has been a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus and served as Grand Knight. He has been involved with the parish's Oktoberfest event and the Skid Row Food Program. He was also named Catholic Man of the Year for the parish and was a nominee for Catholic Man of the Year for the County of Orange.
Gene has been very active in the Yorba Linda community. He is a former city councilman and served as mayor. He has served in leadership roles for numerous local organizations, including Rotary International, where he held the position of District Governor. Currently, he serves as vice president of the Yorba Linda Water District board of
directors.
Both Louise and Gene have a deep love for their St. Martin de Porres parish. “Our parish is the heart of my spiritual life,” she shared, “where I encounter Christ in the sacraments and grow in faith among a loving community.” C
EVERY WEDNESDAY, A group of dedicated volunteers — fittingly called the Gardening Angels — don their garden gloves and take up their shears to beautify the grounds of historic Mission San Juan Capistrano.
On one Wednesday this summer, they welcomed extra help from Farmers & Merchants Bank employees for what’s become a tradition known simply as “Mulch Day.”
A MULCH DAY TRADITION
Mulch Day has been happening every August for the last 22 years in preparation for the Mission’s annual fall gala, thanks to
the generosity of George O’Connell, owner of O’Connell Landscape Maintenance, a family-owned business based in Santa Ana. Each year, his company supplies the mulch free of charge.
O’Connell, a long-time San Juan Capistrano resident, also serves as board chair of the Mission Preservation Foundation.
Mechelle Lawrence Adams, executive director of Mission San Juan Capistrano, shared that a partnership blossomed five years ago with Farmers & Merchants Bank to make Mulch Day even more successful.
At the time, F&M Bank Foundation Director Tiffany Roberts was looking for a service project for staff. F&M Bank Foundation Co-Presidents Kevin Tiber and Christine Walker-Bowman are also long-time supporters of the Mission.
Lawrence Adams welcomed the extra hands because “we want everything to look pristine for the fall, with the return of students and with the big gala in September.”
She explained, “The day is a combination of O’Connell Landscape, our own
MECHELLE LAWRENCE ADAMS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, HELPS DISTRIBUTE FRESH MULCH TO THE MISSION’S FLOWERBEDS DURING MULCH DAY AT THE MISSION, A VOLUNTEER GARDENING EVENT, ON AUG. 20. PHOTO BY JEFF ANTENORE/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
in-house staff, the Gardening Angels and Farmers & Merchants Bank.”
“We need every one of them,” asserted Lawrence Adams.
Roberts explained that it was a perfect fit because the Mission lacked the financial resources to hire landscapers for the 10-acre site, and the bank had plenty of willing volunteer
"Farmers & Merchants said 'we have bodies, we can help,'" added Roberts.
A DAY OF SERVICE
On Aug. 20, a group of 25 bank staffers, from tellers to senior management, who came from various branches across Orange County, showed up ready to lend a hand.
Sam U’Ren, Preservation and Facilities manager for the Mission, demonstrated the proper way to mulch the flower beds, and for the next couple of hours, the visiting volunteers got to work.
“It’s August, it’s hot and it’s hard work, but yet this is the biggest group we’ve had
and the most mulch we’ve moved in five years,” said Roberts.
Eight cement trucks-worth of mulch to be exact.
WHO ARE THE GARDENING ANGELS?
A retired horticulturalist, John Bishop has been volunteering at the Mission since 2016. The former director of horticulture at the Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona del Mar, Bishop leads a core group of 20 Gardening Angels every Wednesday at the Mission.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said.
Volunteers are always needed, and no experience is necessary.
“We will train you,” insisted Bishop.
It’s good exercise, and especially great for those who have a passion for the outdoors, said Bishop, who lives in San Juan Capistrano.
Besides pruning, deadheading and other gardening chores, the group also
tries to develop new plant variants. They were successful with a cactus-succulent collection located by the east gate.
According to Bishop, the Gardening Angels are aiming to redesign many parts of the grounds, and would like to add more drought-tolerant plants, as well as native plants to the landscape.
Called the “Jewel of the Missions,” it is also known for its exquisite gardens, which attract countless visitors from near and far.
“It’s a true therapeutic experience,” said Borre Winckel, an avid gardener and Mission Basilica parishioner who has been a Gardening Angel for nine years.
Fellow Gardening Angel Kris Anderson was once a frequent visitor herself.
Gardening since she was a child and used to pull weeds,
Anderson was inspired by the beauty of the Mission. Once she retired, the Mission Viejo resident stopped by the office and asked if she could volunteer. That was over three years ago, and she’s been back every week since.
“I love helping,” she said. “And there are so many people who are knowledgeable about plants here.”
Unlike Anderson, Shalynn Tran is lacking a green thumb.
Her parents have the magic touch with gardening, but she claims she hasn’t had great luck with plants herself.
A marketing assistant at Farmers & Merchants Bank, Tran is a first-year Mulch Day volunteer.
“This is my way of giving back to nature,” she said, pausing from her mulching duties.
To learn more about the Gardening Angels and how to volunteer, visit https://www.missionsjc. com/volunteer/ C
SHALYNN TRAN OF FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK SPREADS MULCH DURING MULCH DAY AT THE MISSION. PHOTO BY JEFF ANTENORE/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
SACRED STRINGS OF BEADS
FIVE O.C. PARISHIONERS SHARE THE STORIES BEHIND ROSARIES THEY CHERISH
BY GREG HARDESTY
THE STRING OF BEADS that Catholics use as a prayer aide to recite the Rosary, the sequence of mediations and prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary, are popular gifts for big days like First Communion as well as for Mother’s Day, birthdays and other special occasions.
For many, rosaries also become cherished family heirlooms.
OC Catholic asked readers to submit photos and explanations about rosaries that hold special meaning to them. The following five stories are part of an ongoing series that illustrate why rosaries are much more than strings of beads and crucifixes.
MIKE CHAMBERLIN
Our Lady of Fatima, San Clemente
Once a week, Mike Chamberlin dedicates an hour to reciting the Rosary that belonged to his mother, Eva Kathryn
(Brenner) Chamberlin, in the chapel of his family’s longtime parish.
“As my fingers work the wooden beads, I think of the many Rosaries my mom prayed on this very same one,” Chamberlin said. “I imagine she used it a lot while I served in Vietnam.”
Chamberlain, raised in Illinois until his family landed in Manhattan Beach and, ultimately, San Clemente, was drafted into the U.S. Army and served with the 9th Infantry Division in Dong Tam from 1968-1970.
The rosary was always at his mother’s bedside. When she died in 2010 at age 93, Chamberlin made sure to “make good use of it.”
He spent 40 years as a TV newsman before retiring in 2008. After that, the San Clemente High School graduate returned to his first love, playing the guitar and singing, and since then has performed more than 3,000 concerts –many of them for free at nursing homes.
The music he hears in his head when he recites the Rosary is a true love song to not only Mary, but his mom.
JOANNA RONAN
St. Angela Merici, Brea Joanna Ronan and her family love to walk Sunset Beach. In May 2023, she found a rosary washed up in the surf.
“The smoothed crucifix and miraculous medal suggested that it had been tumbling in the waves for quite a while,” Ronan recalled. “The day I found this rosary had been a stressful one, and I took it as God’s not-so-subtle nudge to seek peace in prayer, especially in the Rosary. Whenever I use it, I say a prayer for its previous owner.”
MARTHA SCHNIEDERS
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Irvine “Can you fix my rosary?”
Martha Schnieders often hears these words as founder of a small ministry at her home parish.
The ministry’s focus? Repairing damaged rosaries.
Over the last five years, Schnieders figures she’s “prepared 150 rosaries for prayerful action,” as she put it.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE CHAMBERLIN
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOANNA RONAN
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARTHA SCHNEIDERS
“I hear heart-filling stories of loving and deceased parents, First Communions, devoted pilgrimages,” she said. “Most of the time, you can readily repair a rosary. Making the effort as part of your prayer life can have a rewarding blessing.”
Schnieders’ unique ministry was inspired by fellow St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parishioner Steven Caswell, who asked her to fix his broken rosary.
A short time later, both were at a pro-life rally, and Steven saw a stranger with a broken rosary.
“He went up to him, practically snatched the rosary from the startled fellow, and told him, ‘She'll fix it!’” Schnieders recalled. “Then Steven alerted me to the likelihood that there are probably broken rosaries lying in drawers all over Orange County with no one to fix them. What a sad thought!” What does Schnieders charge for fixing broken rosaries?
“One very devoted Hail Mary.”
IRENE HIRSCH
Holy Family, Orange
It’s hard to read the gold writing on the small case that holds the rosary
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that belonged to Irene Hirsch’s Hungary-born grandmother, Anna Nieszer.
The inscription reads:
St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans.
Hirsch’s grandmother and other relatives came to America in 1952 after being displaced and losing their home and other property during World War II. They were refugees in Austria when the Catholic Relief Services helped them connect with St. Stephen Catholic Church in Los Angeles, who then sponsored our family, as well as many others.
The ship Hirsch’s family came on docked in New Orleans.
“We never thought to ask her,” she said, “but the church must have given them these rosaries as welcome gifts. That’s the only time she was in New Orleans.”
She added, “Like my grandmother, I keep the rosary in my purse. I feel a deep connection to her whenever I use it.”
SANDRA STOCKALPER
St. Hedwig, Los Alamitos
One day, Sandra Stockalper will inherit her mother’s rosary – making her the third in a generation of devout Catholic women to cherish it.
The rosary, with the original crucifix missing, belonged to her mother’s grandmother, Josefa Chavez de Medina, and dates to the 1800s.
Stockalper’s mother, Maria Ines Alvarado, and Sandra’s family have been parishioners of St. Hedwig Catholic Church since 2020, which is the year her son, Liam, also started school there. He’s an altar server.
The rosary was gifted to Stockalper’s mother by her mother, Margarita Medina de Alvarado, who was born in January 1900.
“My great grandmother, I am told, would go to daily Mass to recite the Rosary in her hometown of El Paso, Texas,” Stockalper says. “She asked my mother to protect it for the rest of her life.”
That’s something Stockalper is certain to do, too. C
PHOTO COURTESY OF IRENE HIRSCH
PHOTO COURTESY OF STOCKALPER
LOVE BLOOMS HERE
STUNNING ROMANCE OF THE MISSION GALA HONORS MYRON SUKUT AND MOZELLE SUKUT, PH.D., & FEATURES ABI CARTER
BY MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO STAFF
HISTORIC MISSION SAN
Juan Capistrano was the site of the coveted Romance of the Mission gala held on Sep. 12. This year’s beautiful event with the theme “Love Blooms Here” honored Myron Sukut and Mozelle Sukut, Ph.D., for their many contributions to Mission San Juan Capistrano and featured a spectacular concert by artist Abi Carter in the Ruins of the Great Stone Church. Net proceeds of over $300,000 will support the Mission’s continued preservation and stewardship.
San Juan Capistrano residents Myron Sukut and Mozelle Sukut, PhD., have long supported Mission San Juan and numerous local causes. Mozelle Sukut helped create the Mission’s Artifacts Council and Gardening Angels and is currently on the city's 250th Anniversary Celebration committee. Founder of Santa Ana-based Sukut Construction, Myron Sukut previously served on the Mission Preservation Foundation Board and his company is instrumental in many local building projects.
“These special friends have done so much to make a difference and while we know they typically don’t like publicity, it was our honor and duty to recognize their many contributions at this year’s gala,” said Mission Preservation Board Chair George O’Connell.
Mission San Juan Capistrano’s Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence Adams led the evening program followed by a magnificent live concert in the 19th century Ruins of the Great Stone Church featuring singer-songwriter Abi Carter. The Coachella Valley native and season 22 winner of American Idol performed moving renditions
of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road , the gala tradition When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano and ended the set with Hallelujah while a backdrop of an incredible digital mapping projection was displayed on the walls of the Ruins.
The famous Mission bells were rung by Mission bell ringer Michael Gastelum as guests made their way to the Central Courtyard for dinner coordinated by Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano Executive Chef Adrián Hernandez.
Reverend Monsignor J. Michael McKiernan offered the dinner blessing followed by a deliciously curated four-course, plated dinner served by the Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano team led by General Manager Matt Harrison. Wine pairings were provided
by Kyle and Sylvia Franson of Rancho Capistrano Winery and Chris Lobo of Native Hands Winery while beer service was donated by Matt Ewing of Mission Brewery.
Among the major gala supporters were Eden and George O’Connell/O’Connell Family Foundation, the Moiso family, EJ and Michael Farrell, Dame Connie and Dr. Peter Spenuzza/ Spenuzza Velastegui Family Foundation, Bette and Wylie A. Aitken, Laurie and Darren O. Aitken, Kerry and Gavin S. Herbert Jr./Roger’s Gardens, Chris and Bill Griffith, Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, Deanna and Robert Saint-Aubin, Lugano, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club.
Other major contributors to the incredible evening were Brite Ideas and D Lighting for their stellar production and lighting program, BBJ La Tavola Specialty Linen, Signature Elevated Rentals and Brand Enhance Parking & Hospitality. Support from the Stirrat and Roth families provided underwriting
for the gala’s incredible invitation and Resurgam décor tied to the event theme, “Love Blooms Here.” A commemorative book donated by James Irvine Swinden and The Irvine Museum, Franz A. Bishcoff: The Life & Art of an American Master was gifted to each guest. The gala’s opportunity drawing included packages from Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, Hyatt Regency San Francisco, Four Seasons Napa Valley, Hilton Hotel Palm Springs/Kaiser Grill, radiant cut diamond earrings by Lugano, a Discovery Cube experience, an electric folding bike from Jim Curwood of Buy My Bikes and an original painting Morning Light at the Mission by David Imlay. For a complete listing of gala supporters or for more information about Mission San Juan Capistrano, visit www. missionsjc.com . To learn about how to pledge for next year’s 250th anniversary gala on Sept. 18, 2026, contact Mechelle Lawrence Adams at (949) 234-1311. C
MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO’S ROMANCE OF THE MISSION GALA WAS HELD ON SEPT. 12. PHOTO BY
SHEPHERDS ALL AROUND US!
WHERE CAN WE FIND GOD’S SHEPHERDS?
BY ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL STAFF
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC School is currently celebrating two very important members of its faith community. Last Easter Vigil, the school’s spiritual family welcomed its security guard, Jackson, or “Mr. Jackson” as the children sometimes call him, to the Catholic Faith. This coming Easter, the school will be welcoming its latest security guard, Dallas, to its community of believers. St. John’s is truly blessed with not one but two unique and dedicated Shepherds protecting its faith-filled home.
The school’s rector, Fr. Damien Giap, O.Praem, sees these men as examples of the Holy Spirit at work.
“God provides shepherds to His people in unique and yet always appropriate places,” he said. “God’s shepherds are vigilant, responsible and caring people who are entrusted with the well-being of others around them. A good shepherd is a person who enters by the gate, knows and cares for the sheep and lays down his life for them. That is who these men are!”
Both men were inspired by the witness to the Catholic faith of the SJB families in the school and parish community. Watching over the children and their parents during morning prayer every day, providing vigilant care during student weekly Mass and monitoring community functions filled with grace and the Holy Spirit throughout the year, has helped them to see the power of God’s work through the people that they serve. Children and their parents treat these hard-working professionals like members of the family and both men have responded to the call.
Principal Paula Viles also sees them as faith-filled examples to the community.
“At a time like this in our world, and with the exciting distraction of the construction of our new gymnasium, it can be easy to forget what's most important to our faith community,” she said. “Jackson and Dallas are a very important part of our SJB family and their enthusiastic response to God’s call is an inspiration to us all. They watch over us daily, they’ve opened their hearts to us and they shepherd our children and their families through each day with kindness and genuine concern. We count them as some of God’s greatest blessings to us.” C
SCHOOL RECTOR FR. DAMIEN GIAP IS PICTURED WITH ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL SECURITY GUARDS DALLAS AND JACKSON. PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. DAMIEN GIAP
JSERRA STUDENTS EMBARKS ON HUMANITARIAN MISSION TO GHANA
BY LOU PONSI
NATALIE MYERS SPENT the waning days of her summer break on the front lines of the Catholic Church’s humanitarian efforts in Africa, an experience the JSerra senior said had a profound effect on her.
As a member of the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry Advisory Council, Myers made the trip to the West African country of Ghana as part of a synodal delegation with Catholic Relief Services.
“The world exposure, the cultural exposure and religious exposure were great,” Myers said. “The Catholic Church loves to love, and it was great to see how this can be achieved.”
While in Ghana, Myers joined with Catholic leaders from across the U.S. to witness the Church’s efforts to advance justice, health and human development around the world.
“Going there, it was proof that the Catholic Church is present, working to make people’s lives better,” she said. “And it is present in so many different ways.”
The 14-member council visited Osu Castle, also known as Fort Christiansborg, in Accra, where they learned about the history of the transatlantic slave trade.
Myers and her peers also visited with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Clubs at Ghana Senior High School, where students were leading efforts to improve public health and sanitation.
The council visited the St. Rocio Clinic, where they witnessed early childhood development programs and chlorine production initiatives designed to improve access to safe water.
They observed the work of Catholic Relief Services and the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Organization, a development arm of the Catholic diocese in Ghana that provides resources to 300 Burkinabé asylum-seek-
er households.
Myers, who lives in Carlsbad and is a junior catechist at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in that city, was nominated for a position in the Catholic Youth Ministry Advisory Council by a youth minister at her church.
From there, she went through an application process to be accepted on the advisory council.
“I realized this was the group that went to Rome last year,” Myers said of being nominated for a council position.
“I was honored.”
Members of the youth advisory council are required to create a service project, and Myers led a clothing drive at JSerra and at her church.
The donated clothing was delivered to Mexico, where it was distributed to several nonprofit organizations.
The invitation sent to the advisory council to join the synodal delegation came from Most Rev. Nelson Pérez, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and chair of Catholic Relief Services.
“She was excited for the opportunity to travel to Ghana,” said JSerra theology teacher Randall Justman, who is Myers’ mentor. “When she returned, she was glowing. She was so eager to share about what she experienced. As she shared with me, she kept talking about how she wanted to bring that back to her community.”
Thinking back on the experience, Myers said she was especially moved by the harmonious coexistence among people of different religions.
“At one of the refugee relief camps, everyone was Muslim and receiving help
from Catholic Relief Services. People co-exist so easily and so beautifully. That was a big culture shock coming from America where it’s not like that.”
In contemplating her future, Myers said the trip to Ghana reinforced her love for travel and learning about different cultures and this passion might evolve into a career in international law.
“She got to see people that lived in very different circumstances than she does but still remained faithful and joyful,” Justman said. “Some of the things we stress at JSerra are the dignity of the human person, service and keeping the faith at the center of our lives. When I think of Natalie and her experience, her desire to serve those around her, and her joyful disposition, I know with certainty that she views every individual through the eyes of Christ.” C
NATALIE MYERS (CENTER) IS PICTURED AFTER MASS IN GHANA. PHOTO COURTESY OF NATALIE MYERS
THE BOND OF SISTERHOOD: WOMEN CREATE GENERATIONAL COMMUNITY WITH WINGS PROGRAM
BY MADISON ZUÑIGA
FOR 38 YEARS, WOMEN across 10 diocesan parishes have coordinated fellowship through WINGS (Women in God’s Spirit), a regularly scheduled program devoted to spiritual development and community.
WINGS was originally founded in 1987 at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Yorba Linda by six women who sought time to deepen their faith and friendship.
“We went to a class on how to start a Bible study… and we had the idea,” explained Roz Odion, one of the group’s founders.
Inspired by the class, they created WINGS with the guidance of Fr. Dan Hopcus and Sr. Paula Damiano. As young mothers, they intentionally designed the structure of the meetings around the school calendar to accommodate family schedules.
Offering childcare during the meetings was “revolutionary,” according to Odion, as it opened the door for more women to join.
“At the time, we were all sitting in the Blessed Sacrament chapel with our children. We were dying to come out and mingle with these other young moms.”
Barbara Baldo, a past moderator for WINGS, added: “I think it's more of a sisterhood that’s really been created between
all of us, different ages, different walks of life. It’s the bond of the sisterhood.”
Mary Coulter, who currently serves as the moderator for WINGS, agreed.
“We really would like to get more of the young women,” said Coulter. “It's so powerful to have a breadth of women, from the start of their adult life to retirement.”
The community inherently fosters multi-generational connection.
“If you're a mom, you're going to want to have those women that have raised their children already to give you some advice,” said Coulter.
Linda Tapia, another original member, explained that WINGS is a great place to meet other women, to share faith and to really see God in action.
“WINGS is faith, family, fun and fellowship,” she said.
Tapia emphasized the support that the group provides.
“We’ve gone through deaths, we've gone through the loss of children, we've gone through the loss of homes and cancer, divorces. Anything you can think of. The women have supported each other through these hard times, and it's because of being in WINGS. It has always been very much rooted in prayer.”
Baldo said she believes WINGS is one of the oldest ministries in the diocese.
COME SOAR WITH US! WINGS
WOMEN IN GOD’S SPIRIT
ST. MARTIN DE PORRES CHURCH
YORBA LINDA | WINGS@smdpyl.org
MEETINGS ARE: WEDNESDAYS 9 -11AM | OCTOBER - MAY Women of
“I think that tells something about the way it feeds us,” she shared. In the fall, members focus on building their faith, and invite clergy, sisters and other outside speakers to explore different topics. In the winter, the group runs a Bible study that coincides with Lent. The spring season centers on outreach opportunities,
so that after a year of development members can put their faith in action.
“I think that we have a real variety at WINGS,” said Bernie Cinadr, a WINGS member. “Some people will be more interested in the Bible study, or some will be interested in the catechetical talks at the
WINGS MEMBERS GATHER FOR CHRISTMAS BRUNCH.
WINGS MEMBERS SHARE THEIR CULINARY TALENTS. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARY COULTER/WINGS
I AM CONGRESS
BY STAFF
THE 2025 EUCHARISTIC Congress:
I AM: A Beacon of Hope takes place Oct. 17-18 on the Christ Cathedral campus. It is a time to gather, celebrate the Eucharist, and grow and renew our faith. The weekend features dynamic keynote presentations, bilingual tracks, inspiring liturgies and opportunities for spiritual renewal and pastoral growth. It also features sessions for adults and children.
To learn more or to register, visit https:// www.rcbo.org/congress/ Presenters include:
Aquinas and through articles in Angelicum, Nova et Vetera, The Thomist, Aleteia, Magnificat and others. He is also a frequent speaker and podcast contributor (for example, Pints with Aquinas, Godsplaining, Catholic Classics) and combines rigorous theological clarity with warmth in teaching and ministry.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16
beginning, and our speakers will really speak to that, and in the spring we have our outreach. And I just think it’s a wonderful balance under the umbrella of prayer.”
WINGS member Cathy Holden archives the history of the group. She emphasized the sense of faith that each meeting brings.
“We feel so faith-filled by the end of every meeting,” she said. “Over the years, there have been so many nuggets, I call them, words of wisdom. For example: ‘every saint has a past, every sinner has a future’, ‘there is a lot we can accomplish if no one is looking for recognition’, and ‘people will become better when they stop trying to become better off.’ These are just a few to give an idea of what it's all about.”
WINGS also creates a unique space for women to share God-given gifts with the community. “We have a gal that does the absolutely most beautiful dance,” said Holden. “We've got people that will lead
us on different things, in songs and prayers. We need to develop their God-given talents, gifts and abilities.”
At its first meeting, WINGS had 40 women in attendance. Now, the community has 170 registered for the upcoming year. Along with speakers, study and outreach, WINGS also puts on retreats, skits and holiday brunches.
“We come to this belief that it's not just ‘my’ parish—it is our faith,” said Coulter. “And our faith is universal.” WINGS invites all women in the diocese, especially those who are young, to join in fellowship and enjoy the generational community and rich traditions of WINGS.
Meetings will begin in October, on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the parish hall at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church.
For more information, visit https://smdpyl.org/wings or contact Mary Coulter at wings@ smdpyl.org. C
Fr. Gregory Maria Pine, O.P., is a Dominican friar of the Province of Saint Joseph, serving as Instructor of Dogmatic and Moral Theology at the Dominican House of Studies and as Assistant Director of the Thomistic Institute. He holds a doctorate (S.T.D.) in Dogmatic Theology from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, with earlier theological studies at the Dominican House of Studies. Before entering the Order of Preachers, he earned his B.A. at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he studied mathematics as well as humanities and Catholic culture. Ordained to the priesthood in 2016, Fr. Gregory has since contributed widely to Catholic theology and formation through books (including Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly), co-authoring works such as Credo: An RCIA Program, Marian Consecration with
Rev. Ricky Manalo, C.S.P., Ph.D., is a Paulist priest, liturgical composer, author, and educator whose work bridges theology, culture, music, and pastoral ministry. He studied composition and piano at the Manhattan School of Music, theology at the Washington Theological Union, and later pursued liturgy and culture along with sociology of religion at the Graduate Theological Union. His doctoral work focuses on liturgical studies and sociology of religion, especially the interplay between Sunday Eucharist and everyday worship practices. Fr. Manalo has had significant pastoral and cultural impact: he composed Mass of Spirit and Grace, which was used by Pope Francis during the historic Mass in Abu Dhabi in 2019, has written many hymns and liturgical pieces beloved throughout the Church and is recognized as a pioneer in integrating intercultural styles into Catholic worship. He holds awards including the 2018 Pastoral Musician of the Year by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians and has authored books such as Chanting On Our Behalf and The Liturgy of Life. Fr. Ricky also serves on advisory bodies for liturgical, cultural diversity, and worship within the U.S. Catholic Church, and regularly leads workshops, concerts, and talks nationally and internationally. C
WINGS MEMBERS COMPILE NECESSITIES AS PART OF AN OUTREACH PROJECT FOR THOSE IN NEED. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY COULTER/WINGS
FR. GREGORY MARIA PINE, O.P.
REV. RICKY MANALO, C.S.P., PH.D.
THE PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS: ANOTHER STONE IN OUR SHOE
BY DEACON KEVIN DUTHOY
THE PARABLE OF THE RICH man and Lazarus makes many of us uneasy. Again, Jesus calls us to see truth and act upon it while there is still time. Our desire to be masters of our own lives conflicts with dependence on God. Once known, the hard teachings of Jesus if ignored become a stone in our shoe, irritating our conscience.
This parable highlights the gulf between lavish wealth and abject poverty and their eternal consequences. Yet it is not simply about earthly riches but how we use whatever wealth we have —our time, talents and treasure. Neither riches nor poverty guarantee heaven or hell. What matters is whether we cling to false gods of self-indulgence or embrace the true wealth of love for God and neighbor.
This is the only parable where Jesus names a character: Lazarus, while the rich man remains anonymous. Jesus wants us to understand that the poor are not a soulless class devoid of identities but unique persons, each made in God’s image. Poverty is not only about lacking possessions, just as wealth is not always measured by money. That selfishness that destroys hearts can live in anyone.
The rich man’s sin was not his wealth but his indifference. He knew Lazarus by name, saw him suffering daily at his gate, and yet did nothing, hardening his heart. That indifference became the chasm that separated him from God. Lazarus, mean-
while, was not saved by his poverty but by his trust in God in the midst of suffering. Here Jesus rejects the so-called “prosperity gospel” that equates success with God’s favor.
This parable is about values — aligning ourselves with Jesus’ concern for those physically and/or spiritually impoverished. The rich man’s failure was not ignorance but deliberate neglect. All of us have access to Moses, the prophets and Jesus. Do we apply their teaching to those lying at our “gates.” Jesus calls us to move from the abstract to the personal, to recognize faces and attach
harbor within us, from the inside out. But while we live, gates can be opened through love, mercy, compassion, forgiveness and reconciliation, breaking the false credo that for me to succeed, win and be rich, someone else must lose, fail and be poor. True wealth is found only in communion with God and neighbor. Most of us are both rich man and Lazarus—rich in some ways, impoverished in others. Yet all of us stand before the same choice. How we treat others, especially the marginalized—the Lazarus at our gate—has eternal consequences. Jesus reminds us: “What you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me” (Mt 25:45).
So, who is Lazarus in your life? Perhaps a wayward child, an addicted friend or someone suffering whom Isaiah described as one “from whom you turn your face” (Is 53:3). Each lies at our gates. The road to heaven begins at the intersection of ability and opportunity through the opened gates of our hearts. C
names that demand our compassion.
Wealth and poverty often exist side by side in our communities. Jesus challenges us to encounter poverty in its many forms: addiction, loneliness, hatred, discrimination, violence, materialism and broken relationships. These are signs of spiritual poverty as real as Lazarus’ sores. The rich man’s spiritual blindness kept him from seeing what God asked of him. So too, our decisions and priorities map the path toward our eternal destiny. The gates we leave closed today may become eternity’s unbridgeable abyss.
The divisions in our world—between haves and have-nots, races, religions, citizens and strangers—are not just happenstance. They result from what we
THE MIRIAM AND IRA D. WALLACH DIVISION OF ART, PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS: ART & ARCHITECTURE COLLECTION, THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY. "JESUS HEILT EINEN GICHTBRÜCHIGEN."
OC Catholic Afar
The Tung family visited the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with a copy of OC Catholic. This basilica is a designated pilgrimage site for Jubilee Year of Hope 2025.
—The Tung family (Austin, Natalie, Matthew, John) attend St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Yorba Linda.
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.
