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MAY 5, 2024
Valerie Ortiz plans to join the Poor Clare Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.
SPARKLE AND SHINE
St. Columban Catholic Church hosts its third annual dance for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
BEING NICE IS MEDIOCRE
Jesus sets an example of love that we should strive to emulate.
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.
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
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Delivered weekly to parishes and homes throughout Orange County, Calif., Orange County Catholic is published by SCNG Custom Content, a division of Southern California News Group that offers content development and design expertise to businesses and nonprofit institutions. The Orange County Catholic editorial staff and editorial council are responsible for the content contained herein. Events and products advertised in Orange County Catholic do not carry the implicit endorsement of the Diocese of Orange or SCNG Custom Content.
Donors: Dennis and Lynne Jilot. The 1,000-pound steel crucifix of Christ cathedral is called the crux gemmate. Designed by Brother William Woeger, FSC, and Monsignor Arthur Holquin of the Diocese of Orange and made in Omaha, Nebraska, the crucifix hangs 18 feet above the altar from a baldachin (canopy). It features the Alpha and Omega symbols as well as semi-precious stones. C
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
ACTS 16:11-15; PS 149:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6A AND 9B; JN 15:26— 16:4A
TUESDAY
ACTS 16:22-34; PS 138:1-2AB, 2CDE-3, 7C-8; JN 16:5-11
“ Keep your minds and hearts open to workers, especially the poor and defenseless.”
— Pope Francis
WEDNESDAY
ACTS 17:15, 22—18:1; PS 148:12, 11-12, 13, 14; JN 16:12-15
THURSDAY
ACTS 1:1-11; PS 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; EPH 1:17-23; MK 16:15-20
THIS FRENCH ARISTOCRAT, a pagan holding high office in a local government, was converted to Catholicism by his relative, St. Honoratus, and became a monk at Lerins. An austere and strict monastic, Hilary succeeded Honoratus as bishop of Arles when he was just 29. As bishop, he preached notably, donated his earnings from manual labor to the poor, ransomed captives by selling sacred vessels, and built and visited monasteries in his diocese. But he got into trouble by claiming metropolitan jurisdiction over other bishops and tried to depose one who appealed to the pope. As pope, St. Leo the Great restricted Hilary's authority, but later recalled him “of blessed memory,” perhaps signaling a reconciliation before Hilary's death. C
FRIDAY
ACTS 18:9-18; PS 47:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; JN 16:20-23
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
SATURDAY
ACTS 18:23-28; 47:23, 8-9, 10; JN 16:23B28
SUNDAY
ACTS 1:1-11; PS 47:23, 6-7, 8-9; EPH 1:1723; MK 16:15-20
TYLER DUNING WAS anxious to attend JSerra Catholic High School because of the success of the school’s baseball program.
Dunning does indeed play baseball at JSerra.
But now as a junior, Dunning feels he was led to JSerra in response to a higher calling.
On April 14, Dunning was among 33 JSerra students who gathered for a special Mass at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Dana Point to partake in JSerra’s first-ever Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, a process developed by the Catholic Church for prospective converts to the Catholic faith.
The students received Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation from Most Rev. Timothy Freyer, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Orange.
“I didn't grow up Catholic or Christian or anything,” Dunning said. “So, everything regarding my faith has been on my own and been my personal journey.”
Dunning took a class where students were taught about the sacraments as they pertain to the Catholic faith.
He attended an optional campus ministry retreat in the fall at the Palomar Christian Conference Center.
Dunning said the retreat changed the course of his life.
“I would say coming away from the retreat, I had a grasp that is the most important thing … my relationship with God,” he said.
JSerra was given permission by Bishop Kevin Vann to prepare students to receive the sacraments due to the substan-
tial number of JSerra students desiring to convert to Catholicism over the past few years.
“We would like to thank Bishop Vann for the privilege of preparing our students for these sacraments,” said biology teacher Sr. Miriam, the director of the school’s Curriculum.
JSerra students encounter Catholicism as part of their everyday experiences at the school, Sr. Miriam said.
Interactions with sisters, campus ministers, faculty, staff and coaches all play a role, the sister said.
“JSerra students also have opportunities for spiritual encounters through daily adoration, class retreats and weekly all-school Mass, forming intellect in the classroom, leading students to know the Sacraments and to know who God is,” she added.
The students who received the sacraments were mentored and guided by 11 of their JSerra classmates, who served as Godparents.
Some of the students had never been baptized or were baptized in a different denomination of Christianity, said Bella Holsten, campus minister.
Some converted from other religions or grew up without organized religion.
Senior Lauren Walcott, who enrolled in JSerra as a freshman because of the school’s fine engineering magnet program, began thinking about receiving the sacraments during her sophomore year.
In addition to having a transformational experience at the class retreat, Walcott said that taking a theology class this year titled “Christian Apologetics” provided her with a “logical and philosophical background” to better understand the Catholic faith.
“Just being a super logical person, I kind of needed that affirmation from a class side,” said Walcott, who will pursue an engineering degree at Rice University in the fall.
Patrick Reidy, JSerra’s vice president of Mission and Faith, said the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults was a “spiritual gift from God” and the most significant event in the 21-year history of the school.
“The ultimate purpose of our school and everything we do is to draw every young person more deeply into the heart of Christ who loves them infinitely, and to help them to discover the joy of giving
their lives fully over to Him,” Reidy said.
“It is a breathtaking and undeserved privilege to see that happen in the most sublime way imaginable: by fully embracing a life in the Church.” C
LONG BEFORE FR. MIKE
Schmitz popularized the “Bible in a Year” podcast, Fr. Tim Peters was teaching biblical courses at parishes throughout Orange County.
“For years, I’ve been brainstorming and talking with friends about establishing a Biblical Institute in the Diocese of Orange,” said Fr. Tim. “I visited the Diocese of Guadalajara years ago and was very impressed with their Biblical Institute. I love the idea of a Biblical Institute that walks with the people and helps them to discover and share the riches which are found in Sacred Scripture.”
A Catholic Biblical Institute would offer more in-depth study geared for church leaders, ministry volunteers and anyone who wishes to amplify their knowledge of Scripture. The courses are open to anyone.
Fr. Timothy Peters, the program’s director, was raised in Fountain Valley and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Orange in 2003. He studied at the Gregorian University and also has a doctorate (S.Th.D.) in biblical theology from the Angelicum University in Rome. He currently served as an assistant professor at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo where he does formation work for those who are preparing for the priesthood. He wrote his doctorate on the theme of Messianic Hope in the Second Temple Period. He teaches biblical courses on the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Prophets, Psalms, Wisdom Literature, Introduction to the New Testament and the Synoptic Gospels.
Bible Institute courses are designed and organized so that Catholics at any level can participate. Students may audit the courses or take them for academic credit. Fr. Tim will have a bibliography with books, readings and homework for those who wish to take the course for credit. The first sessions will begin in mid-May at Christ Cathe-
dral in Garden Grove. They will cover the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) and the Historical Books including Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1&2 Samuel and 1&2 Kings. The Christ Cathedral classroom is small, and space is limited, so anyone interested in the Old Testament series should register before the course begins at: bit.ly/49UfQDk
St. John Neuman Catholic Church in Irvine will host classes beginning with the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. Participants are encouraged to sign up early but can register online or at the first session.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Santa Ana will also host a course in Spanish on the Pentateuch and Historical Books beginning May 21st. Register at: bit.ly/44ovvts
The goal is to expand the program to more parishes and create courses in other parishes which can work through the curriculum of the program.
“The Institute is designed to help people really read scripture and know what to look for in the text,” said Fr. Tim. “Once they have a little background, the Scriptures jump off the pages, and the students see things they never noticed before. I want them to enter into the world of the text.”
Long-time student Dana Frost, a parishioner at the Mission Basilica in San Juan Capistrano, is enthusiastic about the new Biblical Institute.
“I’ve been studying with Fr. Tim for over 12 years,” said Frost. “Fr. Tim is very clear and very concise. He has great handouts, and his pace is enthusiastic. He covers more material than you can believe – the class goes by fast; the language is simple so a first-time Bible student can understand it as well as someone who has studied the Bible for a long time.”
Fr. Tim is also considering a pilgrimage
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 to the Holy Land for those who complete the program.
“The geography of the Holy Land is like the fifth Gospel – an element you lose when you haven’t seen the places in person. The proximity and distance between
the various Bible stories add context to the text.”
Frost is planning on continuing her studies through the Institute.
“I learned so much more about my faith through his classes,” she said. “I now understand how the Mass readings tie
together since I understand the books they are taken from; it makes the Mass readings more meaningful. I highly recommend these classes – I’ve never met anyone who didn’t really love the course. Fr. Tim makes an hour-and-a-half seem like 20 minutes.”
For anyone interested in learning more about the Biblical Institute and to sign up for classes, information will be posted on the Diocese of Orange website. For more information on Biblical retreats and other programs at: https://www.rcbo.org/ministry/lumen-christi/bible/ C
FORMER DIOCESE EMPLOYEE VALERIE ORTIZ WISHES
TO CONSECRATE HER LIFE WITH THE POOR CLARE
MISSIONARY SISTERS OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
BY JORGE LUIS MACÍASVALERIE ORTIZ'S FAITH WAS born when she was a child. Her mother, María Agripina, and her grandmother, Alicia Álvarez, always dressed her as the Christmas angel.
“My grandmother always taught us to pray,” said the 24-year-old, who will travel to Mexico to join the Poor Clare Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Mother María Inés Teresa Arias founded the religious congregation on Aug. 23, 1945, in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Their motto is “He must reign.”
“I was always the angel of the posadas, my cousin Alexa was the Virgin Mary and my cousins were the little shepherds,” she remembered.
The posadas are a Christmas festival celebrated in Mexico and Hispanic communities in the United States. It begins on Dec. 16 and lasts for nine nights. The final celebration takes place on Christmas Eve. Ortiz was 6 years old when her grandmother passed away, but the seed of prayer and love germinated in her heart.
Born in Orange, the daughter of María Agripina and Jesús Ortiz— originally from Mexico City—served as an altar server at Holy Family parish from the ages of 8 to 17.
“I prayed with my mother, and I knew that we had to go to Mass on Sundays, but I do not think I had a direct relationship with God—and even less in high school!” she emphasized.
However, Valerie had friends who de-
voted themselves to prayer. One of them, Rodrigo Corona, told her everything they did in the La Purísima parish youth group in Orange. She met the coordinator, Valeria Tovar, and said to herself, “This is where I belong!”
There she found friendship, companionship, love, charity, humility and obedience to God. It was in that group that Valerie's faith and love of service indeed grew.
“I began to visit the Blessed Sacrament and felt the desire to offer my life to God as a religious sister,” she said. “It was a nice feeling, although I didn't really understand it, but I accepted it with all my heart.”
Upon returning home, she relayed the experience to her mother, who started to cry. “It’s okay,” her mother told her. “If God wants it, then that is how it will be.”
Ortiz did not know what to do. The pandemic occurred, and her relationship
with God was severed. She stopped going to Mass and no longer prayed, but that mystical experience did not leave her at peace.
That desire bothered her.
“What is this idea of giving my life to God?” she asked herself.
“I did not want to anymore, and I tried with all my might not to think about it,” she said. “Avoiding it was a struggle. I was fighting against God because I wanted to make my life. I wanted to get married, have my children and have a career... but I was always uncomfortable, undecided about what I wanted to do, but I also knew that I didn't want to say yes to God.”
Valerie's doubts ended after she graduated from high school.
“I was fighting for three or four years, and God won,” she said. “I was fighting against the will of God, and I got tired,” she admitted. “One cannot fight against
God. He is not going to lose. He gets what He wants from us.”
Valerie realized that her work friends were further distancing her from God. They were mundane, but her grandmother's teachings also called for her to return to her Christian values and morality.
Finally, she said to God: “I like my job, but people are taking me away from You. So, I will leave my job without a plan, and I do not know what will happen, but you will guide me.”
Valerie had been unemployed for three months and one day, before Christmas 2022, she decided to live the new year as if it were the last year of her life.
From then on, Valerie asked herself: “How many years of my life am I going to give to the Lord? As many as I have left!”
During the process, she slowly broke away from her ties. At the end of Lent
CONTINUES
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 2023, she completely surrendered to the Lord.
“I told the Lord, OK, since you want me to be a religious sister, I say yes! But you must tell me where because there are many communities out there. And it has already been difficult for me to say yes to You, so help me.”
Upon arrival, she saw there were religious sisters in the row where she was supposed to sit, so Valerie decided to sit alone all the way in the back.
After the film, she talked with Sr. Maricela Valenzuela, a Poor Clare Missionary. Later, she was invited to their group called “To Jesus through Mary” to
Days later, she visited the cinema with friends to see the St. Joseph documentary, “A Father’s Heart.” At the time, she was working in the office of the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Orange as a formation coordinator.
be with the congregation and discover her probable vocation.
However, Valerie never mentioned that she wanted to be a religious sister to them. After the fourth months of going with the sisters, with fear and tears in her eyes, she spoke to Sr. Maricela about the desires of her heart.
“Sr. Maricela also cried with joy and, with so much peace, at that moment I felt like the wall I had built between God, and I had collapsed forever,” she emphasized.
Valerie says that God chose her to have a beautiful life as a religious sister.
“Only because of His mercy can I say that despite so many years of fighting against Him, God won the battle.”
At the end of April, Valerie went to live out her postulancy in the congregation's house in Santa Ana, and, depending on how things go, she will be sent to Cuernavaca, Mexico to fulfill her novitiate. C
THIS WAS A NIGHT they got to “sparkle and shine.”
Those were the sentiments shared by volunteer Martiza Bravo as she watched the revelers spin and sway on the dance floor during the third annual dance for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at St. Columban Catholic Church in Garden Grove.
Organized annually by the St. Columban’s Women’s Council, the April 19 soiree provided an opportunity for adults with special needs to enjoy a meal – served by St. Columban students – and then dance to DJ music amid disco lights and balloons.
This year’s dance drew about 70 attendees and sported a springtime theme titled “April Showers Bring May Flowers.”
The event is free for the attendees.
“The one fact that is extremely important to me is that a lot of the times they're overlooked,” said Bravo, whose career involves working with individuals with developmental disabilities. She is an honorary member of the Women’s Council.
“So, events like this, their inner light gets to shine and to me, that's what's very important. It's amazing to see who they are as people and individuals.”
Hilda Mendez, a member of the Women’s Council, was the catalyst for starting the dinner dance, inspired by her grandson Markus, a young man with a developmental disability.
When her grandson was in high school, Mendez approached a school district about organizing a prom but was turned down.
Other attempts at starting an event through other organizations were also unsuccessful.
“People like to do things,” Mendez said. “We all want to do things. These young adults wanted to do what everybody else was doing, but there weren’t a lot of venues that they could go to.”
After joining the St. Columban’s Women’s
WE NEED TO STOP BEING NICE.
Being nice is mediocre at most. Our world desperately needs many things, but being nice is not going to satisfy our hearts that yearn for authentic and unconditional love. Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus minister to the outcasts, broken and sinners. Was He simply being thoughtful? Surely, they deserve more than that. Jesus was gentle with those who were wounded, but He did not distort the truth out of fear of offending someone. Instead, He revealed the Father’s love for His children by calling them to repent so they would be free to follow Him with joy.
Jesus proved His love for us by paying the ultimate price as He poured Himself out on the cross. “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Rm. 5:8)
It’s incredible that God would pay such a price to save those who do not return His love. It’s even more astonishing to understand that He desires our love in return. Jesus thirsts for our love, and His total self-gift merits a total response.
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Mt. 22:37)
When we keep our relationship with God and His commandments at the center of our lives, everything else is reordered. Otherwise, we will justify our immoral behavior and make excuses about our unfaithfulness, such as telling ourselves it’s okay to miss Mass on Sunday as long as we watch it online later. We rationalize that we are nice people who will probably go to Heaven (or at least Purgatory) because we aren’t serial criminals. Our neglect to love God with our whole heart quickly carries into our relationship with others.
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mt. 22:39)
It’s easy to be kind to those who treat us respectfully, but that is not what the Lord commands. We are called to love who God loves. We are the ones who God loves. Therefore, we must love ourselves and recognize the masterpiece that God has called us to be. Knowing our infinite value and that we are sacred in the eyes of God moves us
to respond with generosity and freedom to love others in a broken world.
The call to holiness means to totally love God and others. Mediocrity, not hate or malice, is the greatest obstacle to growing in holiness. Mediocrity is the lukewarm response we may offer to God when considering His commandments or the blasé attitude we take towards our neighbors who reach out in need.
Servant of God, Guglielmo Giaquinta, the founder of the Pro Sanctity Movement and the Apostolic Oblates, was keenly aware of the
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you receive God’s Word.
How am I aware of God’s gaze of love in this Scripture?
How is He inviting me to live in His gaze of truth? How am I being called to conversion?
How is He calling me to respond and share what I have received with others?
Close with a prayer of thanksgiving for the graces received during this time of prayer.
obstacle of mediocrity to our call to holiness. He also was deeply convicted of the power of the Gospel and its ability to “explode mediocrity for the bits of rubble that it really is!” He offered a method of Lectio Divina, which he called the “Explosive Gospel.” This method is a means to examine our lives with confidence and expectation so our capacity for love is healed and grows so our total response to God and others is even greater. There are three questions to ponder with any scripture passage of your choice. Read the passage each time before you pause and pray with the question. This method is very fruitful when prayed with others who take turns sharing what they are receiving. C
Council, Mendez ultimately got approval from the Diocese of Orange.
“I got together with the ladies, and we did the first one three years ago,” Mendez said. “We give them a place to go. We want them to have fun.”
Fr. Joseph Luan Nguyen, St. Columban’s pastor, kicked off the festivities with a blessing and then made the rounds to every table to greet the attendees and family members individually.
“We thank the Women’s Council for their generosity and support, and we hope for many more years to come,” said Fr. Nguyen. “May our hearts rejoice and may our lives become active to participate to help one another.”
The Women’s Council works with the Regional Center of Orange County, a
nonprofit that provides services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, to get word out to the community about the event.
Garden Grove Chapter 4581 of the Knights of Columbus has worked with the Women’s Council to provide support and assistance for the event in a variety of ways.
Maddie Potter accompanied her friend Austin Simmons at the request of Simmons’ mother.
Simmons had three plates of food and burned it all off on the dance floor.
Potter said it was Simmons’ first time at an event that was organized specifically for individuals with developmental disabilities.
“It is a blast,” Potter said. “I think he loves it.” C
Evie-Mae and Willow Mahoney brought along an issue of OC Catholic when they visited the Painted Church in Captain Cook, Hawaii, over spring break.
Officially known as St. Benedict Catholic Church, the building dates back to the mid-1800s. It is a beautiful church set on a quiet and peaceful road. Its interior walls are filled with paintings depicting various saints and biblical scenes.
Evie-Mae and Willow attend Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ladera Ranch.
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.
