OC CATHOLIC - SEPTEMBER 18, 2022

SEPTEMBER 18, 2022

WE WERE BORN READY PAGE 6

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ORANGE n OCCATHOLIC.COM

COMING TOGETHER

BISHOP FREYER LEADS REGIONAL SYNOD EFFORT THAT WILL CULMINATE IN ROME NEXT YEAR WITH GATHERING OF BISHOPS PAGE 8 A DEPICTION OF THE OPENING SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT IN 1545 BY NICOLO DORIGATI, 16TH CENTURY, ITALY. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIDGEMAN IMAGES

23RD BISHOPS' CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT | DINNER & AUCTION SAVE THE DATE CCOC.ORG

Tuesday, October 18, 2022 Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club | Mission Viejo UNDERWRITING & SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE Proceeds from this event benefit families at-risk with food, shelter, and emergency needs.

For more information, please call/ text: (714) 347-9676 MGarorti@ccoc.org

Hosted by Bishop Kevin Vann, Bishop Timothy Freyer, Bishop Thanh Nguyen & Bishop Emeritus Tod Brown.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2022

CONTENTS

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INSPIRING ORGANIZATION

The start of the school year is a great opportunity for children and teens to foster positive habits that will serve them well in life.

PRAYING FOR CHANGE

The Immigration Ministry at Mission Basilica in San Juan Capistrano serves a large community and advocates for the undocumented.

POPE: SCIENTISTS SHOULD WORK FOR PEACE

In an audience with the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Pope Francis encouraged the scientific community to pursue advances that protect the planet and advance the cause of peace around the world.

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: Monsignor Stephen Doktorczyk Editor: Patricia Mahoney, editor@occatholic.com News Ideas: editor@occatholic.com Delivery Problems: occatholicsupport@occatholic.com

ADVERTISING Director of Custom Content: Caroline Wong, cawong@scng.com

SCNG CUSTOM CONTENT Managing Editor: Caitlin Adams

Art Director: Kenneth Abbott

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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GUEST COLUMN

REFLECTION: A ‘SHINY BOX’

BY DEACON MODESTO CORDERO

A

FEW YEARS BACK, I was standing at the back of my Church, ready to proceed with the Gospel book in hand like any other Sunday morning.

As the choir started to sing the gathering song, a young man approached me and asked, “What is that shiny box?” — pointing at the tabernacle inside the Blessed Sacrament Chapel — “Why are people kneeling in front of it?” The question caught me off guard, and as I began to walk in the procession, the only words that came out of my mouth were: “See me after Mass!” Unfortunately, after Mass was over, I couldn’t find that young man. I don’t even ever remember seeing him at Church prior to that day. I felt like I had lost the opportunity to introduce this young man to the best gift we Catholics have — Jesus Christ — in His real presence at the Eucharist secured inside a “shiny box” - the tabernacle.

Reflecting on this occasion reminds me that, regardless of age, many Catholics have trouble understanding that the bread and wine we offer at Mass becomes the actual Body and Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ through the act of consecration. The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ are really, truly, substantially and dependably present together with Jesus’ Soul and Divinity. He is present to nourish our souls because of the transubstan-

DEACON MODESTO CORDERO. PHOTO BY THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

tiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, which takes place at the altar table.

Christ’s true presence remains in the Eucharistic elements long after the consecration and Mass has ended.

That is why we keep His true body inside the tabernacle so we can bring Him later to our brothers and sisters that are sick, in prison or unable to participate in person at Mass. We kneel in front of Him and spend time CONTINUES ON PAGE 15

The Diocese of Orange, through OC Catholic newspaper, presents local, national and world news about the Catholic Church. Our intention is to give our readers access to a variety of perspectives in order to help them to process the information within the framework of our Catholic faith, but also to better understand the perspectives of those with opposing viewpoints. We hope that ultimately our readers will be better equipped to have constructive conversations that further the growth of the Catholic Church.

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DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

“

SEPTEMBER 18, 2022 TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

What do those who follow Christ do? They go where he goes…

”

— Pope Francis

RELYING ON GOD’S LOVE

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AKE A CHOICE. GOD or money, material things, earthly pleasure. This is what Jesus asks us to do in today’s Gospel. The Pharisees and scribes, and many people, want it both ways. God and wealth. But Jesus knows that “no servant can serve two masters.” It is not that wealth is inherently bad, but the pursuit of it to the exclusion of what is good and righteous is. Our faith is meant to guide and shape the way we live. If we are followers of Jesus Christ, we will treat others, especially the poor and vulnerable, fairly and justly. We will live with devotion to God and let our lives speak the truth of God’s love for all.

We will put first things first, or more precisely, put God and God’s ways first, assured that when we do, everything else will fall into place.

SAINT PROFILE

JOSEPH OF COPERTINO 1603-1663

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ECAUSE THIS ITALIAN FRANCISCAN was seen to levitate and move through the air, usually toward a tabernacle or statue of Mary, he is a patron saint of airline pilots, crews and passengers, as well as astronauts and test-takers. A poor, unschooled peasant from Copertino, Joseph entered a friary in 1620. He was dismissed for failing to complete even simple tasks, but joined another friary through family connections. There he learned to read his missal and breviary, and he approached exams by praying hard. He was ordained in 1628. The “flights,” which he could not control, prompted investigations by two Inquisitions; Joseph was exonerated, but could not celebrate Mass publicly or participate in public functions. He was canonized in 1767. C

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. C

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

PRV 3:27-34; PS 15:2-5; LK 8:16-18

PRV 21:1-6, 10-13; PS 119:1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44; LK 8:19-21

EPH 4:1-7, 11-13; PS 19:2-5; MT 9:9-13

ECCL 1:2-11; PS 90:3-6, 12-14, 17BC; LK 9:7-9

ECCL 3:1-11; PS 144:1B, 2ABC, 3-4; LK 9:18-22

ECCL 11:9 — 12:8; PS 90:3-6, 12-14, 17; LK 9:43B-45

AM 6:1A, 4-7; PS 146:7-10; 1 TM 6:1116; LK 16:19-31

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FEATURE

WE WERE BORN READY CATHOLIC WOMEN’S SERVICES MEAN SO MUCH

BY MEG WATERS

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ID YOU KNOW THAT the Catholic Church is the largest provider of private social services in California?

Every year it serves millions of the most at-risk families in the state through Catholic Charities and various ministries, including Catholic hospitals, healthcare systems, schools and parishes.

According to Ellen Roy, executive director of Catholic Charities, Orange County serves more than 100,000 local families helping with food, clothing, infant care, rent and many other services for the poorest of the poor among us.

In June of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade, a landmark decision that abortion is not a constitutional right. The decision does not make abortion illegal, but rather leaves its regulation to individual states. In response, some states set out to legally ban abortion while others set out to pass legislation to protect access to pregnancy termination. California has more than 20 pieces of legislation pending, including Proposition 1 on the November ballot, that would expand abortion by making it legal to terminate a pregnancy anytime up until birth. The California Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCC) is now calling on all California Catholics to step up.

There is currently no legislation pending to help women in crisis preg-

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BISHOP KEVIN VANN LED A MASS FOR THE UNBORN AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL ON JAN. 21, 2022. PHOTO BY STEVEN GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

nancies keep their babies, so, the Church is shedding light on alternatives.

According to Kathleen Domingo, executive director of the CCC, the time is now to amplify and expand the work the Church has been doing for over 200 years in the state to help families, including pregnant women and their children, support life regardless of the challenges they face. There are currently more than 170 prolife centers in California where women can get prenatal care and access to other services to help them successfully bring their babies into the world and either keep them or find a loving adoptive family. Once the baby is born, many services and support systems help women who need it build a new life.

“This year in CA, we have seen a del-

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uge of abortion-expanding legislation,” said Domingo. “Our state is determined to make abortion its top priority. But, we know from the work of our charities and ministries that most economically vulnerable women and Black, Latino and Native American women don’t want abortion. Instead, they want help during pregnancy and while they raise their children. This is where we come in. We were born for this moment! From the beginning, Christians have been helping those in need in their communities—women, children, families. Our CA bishops are asking all Catholics to prioritize our assistance for women, children and families in our parishes and neighborhoods. When women are accompanied and supported, they and their children flourish, and

we transform communities with the love of Christ!”

WE WERE BORN READY

Born Ready is a forum to empower, equip, mobilize and resource Catholics to fulfill their baptismal call to serve women, children and families, especially women in difficult and unexpected pregnancies.

THE FIRST STEP IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IS TO GET INVOLVED.

To do so, visit wewerebornready. com. Read the California Bishops’ statement on supporting women, children and families. Learn about the statewide effort and sign up to receive email updates.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

FEATURE / CATHOLIC FAMILY LIVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

STEP TWO IS TO TAKE ACTION.

Most parishes already have a pro-life groups that work tirelessly at the neighborhood level. Parish leaders are invited to become familiar with community resources and help parish-based ministries from St. Vincent de Paul food pantries to moms groups to mental health ministry, etc., to coordinate ministries of accompaniment using inventories like those available through the Walking With Moms Initiative.

Greg Wal­genbach is the director and can be reached at gwalgenbach@ rcbo.org. Give support to local pregnancy clinics and shelters and help your parish raise funds through the Walking With Moms Collection (formerly Pennies from Heaven). Learn more at rcbo.org/ walking-with-moms. And find out how else you can participate and support your parishes Respect Life Month activities in October, through service, prayer and advocacy.

Become an advocate by contacting your state representatives.

Oppose bills that would expand abortion and back bills that support expanded paid family leave, hotel vouchers for homeless pregnant women and improve support for incarcerated mothers. To learn more about these bills, visit cacatholic.org/action-alerts. For more on the No On Prop. 1 campaign, visit cacatholic.org/Prop1.

Patience and perseverance are essential. Each parish may approach We Were Born Ready differently, but the cumulative result of uniting the many efforts already under way as well as new initiatives will be transformative.

Remember that Catholics love and respect women—we elevate all women through our veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary.C

INSPIRING ORGANIZATION PARENTS CAN HELP CHILDREN CULTIVATE CERTAIN HABITS TO ACHIEVE LIFETIME SUCCESS

BY CATHI DOUGLAS

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HEN THE NEW academic year rolls around each fall, I say a prayer of thanksgiving: “Thank you, Lord, that our kids have reached adulthood and we don’t have to deal with back-to-school responsibilities anymore.”

Raising a house full of children is challenging for any family, especially when parents work long hours and have differing schedules. My husband and I remember vividly the times when we forgot the cupcakes meant to share with a class, or when we left a school project at home, or misremembered the half-day schedule on certain dates. Not to mention the juggling required when a child fell ill.

Anomalies and emergencies aside, we worked together to get our family organized using tips and tricks gleaned from parenting guides, other families, and trial-and-error. Our kids and both of us still use most of these key strategies, including: n Keeping a large, printed family calendar centrally located in a high-traffic area. n Choosing outfits, laying out clothing and packing lunches the night before. n Double-checking the carpool schedule. n Confirming after-school activities in advance. n Setting alarms — both parents and children need early wakeup times. n Ensuring each child has an age-appropriate space to do homework, as well as the right tools for their projects.

STUDENTS RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AT ST. BARBARA CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN SANTA ANA. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. BARBARA CATHOLIC SCHOOL n Going through each child’s backpack every evening — or ensuring that older children check theirs — so that homework is done on time. n Planning ahead for financial responsibilities, such as fees for special programs. n Calendaring picture days and planning laundry, haircuts and grooming accordingly. n Considering designated areas for each child, where they can keep homework, completed schoolwork and ongoing projects.

We also found it useful to maintain the dinner menu for each weekday on the fridge alongside a grocery list.

Looking back, it would have been wise to designate the back porch as the central place to store shoes, jackets, and backpacks. I’ve seen ingenious designs using cubbies or lockers to corral kids’ supplies while boosting family efficiency.

Our kids graduated from high school before networked devices became commonplace, but I think Alexa or Google reminders would be a godsend; they even feature menus, music, and useful household suggestions.

I still believe our huge wall calendar — full of school deadlines, doctor and dental appointments, work schedules,

and afterschool activities — would be a necessity. Household chores and responsibilities, as well as special events in and outside the family, are part of the calendar and can be checked off.

Getting kids in the habit of checking the calendar prepares them for success in college and the workplace.

In fact, organizational habits can last a lifetime. With two out of three kids successfully launched, my husband and I still keep the big family wall calendar up to date.

We also still lay out our clothes the night before, make sure laundry is done before we require certain outfits and coordinate grocery shopping to accommodate special events.

But perhaps the best habit we encouraged is the traditional family dinnertime. Unless one of us worked an evening shift, we dined together as a family every night and we still do.

Not only did family dinners teach our kids time management skills, but they also helped them develop the fine art of conversation.

They learned decent table manners, the importance of nutrition, and — best of all — the incomparable value of family togetherness. C

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FEATURE

COMING TOGETHER BISHOP FREYER LEADS REGIONAL SYNOD EFFORT THAT WILL CULMINATE IN ROME NEXT YEAR WITH GATHERING OF BISHOPS

BY GREG HARDESTY

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HE TERM “SYNOD” comes from the ancient Greek word for “coming together,” and refers to bishops gathering to pray and make decisions affecting the Catholic Church.

On Oct. 10, 2021, Pope Francis ordered a two-year process for bishops around the world to consult with everyone from parishioners to monks to sisters and others to determine how the Church can better serve the faithful as well as society at large, and to make its governance more open and inclusive of all its members.

Auxiliary Bishop of Orange Timothy Freyer led the process for Region XI, which includes the 12 dioceses in California and two in Nevada.

Recently, the group published a 10-page summary of its findings after holding 3,290 in-person sessions with a total of 61,056 in-person participants.

Another 284 virtual sessions included a total of 4,034 virtual participants.

Orange County Catholic sat down with Bishop Freyer to discuss the results of the Synod.

Q. Can you provide some background on this Synod?

It’s happened in phases.

In the Synod’s first phase, every diocese worldwide was asked to come up with a process of listening to the people of God and those who have been estranged from the Church, as well as

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A SYNOD GATHERING AT ST. POLYCARP CATHOLIC CHURCH IN STANTON IN FEBRUARY 2022. PHOTO COURTESY OF DIOCESE OF ORANGE

the marginalized of society.

The Diocese of Orange was ahead of the curve.

We had a whole process six years ago where we held listening sessions throughout the entire Diocese that culminated with the promulgation of the diocesan pastoral plan, so we already had done a lot of this work.

Then, in 2017, we created our strate-

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gic plan, and that resulted from meeting with people from all corners of the Diocese.

A lot of what we asked was what this Synod is asking: What are your joys?

What are your hopes? What are your challenges? How can we be better?

Our findings were synthesized in our diocesan report to the Synod, and recently we completed the synthesized

report from our 14 dioceses in our region of the country.

Q. Who participated in this effort?

We had a real diverse group of people. We had people from the religious, the laity, priests and myself, and my challenge to everyone was we had to read these reports, pray over them, deCONTINUES ON PAGE 9

FEATURE

A SYNODAL GATHERING AT SANTA CLARA DE ASIS IN YORBA LINDA WAS HELD ON FEB. 24, 2022. PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. WILLIAM GOLDIN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

termine what were the things we were hearing – not what we wanted to hear personally, or only what we agreed with.

Our job was to hear what the people of God were saying, and not opine about it. That’s what the Holy Father wants to know: What are they saying? Not what I think they should be saying.

Q. What is the purpose of this Synod?

To improve collaboration, to make sure we’re listening not just to the super-active people, but to everybody including the divorced, those who have left the Church, and even those who have never been Catholic.

Q. What were some of the key findings of the Synod?

The joy that people receive when they come together for the Sacraments, the strength that they receive through receiving the Sacraments, being part of the Catholic community.

There’s a call for better preaching, better faith formation and catechesis and better care for the poor and outcast.

In our Diocese, many people want the Church to continue its teaching on divorce and remarriage and care for the LGBTQIA+ community, and there are some who believe we need to be more welcoming while still being faithful to the Church’s teachings.

Q. Did you enjoy leading

this effort?

Yes. I enjoyed the different perspectives that people involved in the process had and I was edified that we have religious from very different ways of thinking and because it was a process rooted in prayer, agendas were never pushed, which is rare in our society.

We always had respectful, prayerfilled conversations.

Q. What happens next?

We sent our Region XI document to the U.S. Bishops Conference. They now are in the process of synthesizing all the documents into a national document. Then we will work with Canada to create a continental version of the document, and next year, the pope will convene a meeting in Rome to review

all synthesized Synod documents and prayerfully consider how to move forward as a Church that “journeys together” and what the Holy Spirit is calling us to do now.

The pope’s hope is this process will encourage us to have a more collaborative approach in all of our parishes and dioceses. He’s asking us to really look at how we come to decisions.

I think the Diocese of Orange is much more collaborative than other parts of the world. We do a lot of this to some degree already, but I think it’s a challenge for us to continue to ask ourselves, how do we listen better to the signs of the time?

For more information on the Diocese of Orange Synod 2021-2023, visit https://rcbo.org/synod/ C

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PAID ADVERTISEMENT

A mother stumbles down a road strewn with rubble, her two frightened children in tow.

This time last year, she and her husband would have been planning a vacation for the family.

Now, their lives have been turned upside down, and she wonders whether her son and daughter will ever even see their father again.

More than a hundred miles away, another woman stands at a crowded checkpoint, hoping to cross into Poland before nightfall.

Her children are grown, but she is heartsick because she was unable to confirm their whereabouts before fleeing from her home.

She prays they are safe.

In the Archdiocese of Przemyśl, Poland, two men set up cots for arriving refugees. Their parish has mobilized these volunteers to help

set up shelters and distribute food, but the men are concerned the flow of incoming women and children could soon overwhelm them. Still, they work on, relying on God and the Church to make their mission of mercy successful.

“It is painful to see the fear and suffering in the eyes of the refugees fleeing Ukraine, but we should not shrink back from those images because they are a call to action — a call from God. He wants us to manifest His love for these families and to help them in their hour of need,” said Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, one of the respected Catholic ministries helping families displaced by the war. (See the related story on the opposite page.)

The stories Cavnar relates about the needs in

Displaced Ukrainians line up for supplies provided by Catholic ministries.

© The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images

Ukraine War Reveals Both the Tragedy of War and the Power of Catholic Compassion

Ukraine and Eastern Europe are heartbreaking, but there are success stories too. These demonstrate the power of compassion and underscore why it is so important American Catholics remain involved in relief efforts.

“In one case, we were asked to help Caritas in Veritate, a global confederation of Catholic institutions, obtain an ambulance to do triage work in the crumbling cities. With contributions from our donors we were able to help, and soon after the ambulance was put into action, we heard it had saved the life of a young girl who had been injured in the conflict. Her father had no way to get her to a hospital — and most of those were either damaged or overcrowded anyway — but the ambulance was able to reach her, stop the bleeding and take care of her wounds,” Cavnar said. “That was an answer to prayer. That was Catholic compassion in action.”

Even if the conflict in Ukraine ended today, Cavnar insists the Church and her people would need to remain engaged and ready to serve.

“For now, we are focused on helping with medical needs and providing food and other necessities to the refugees fleeing Ukraine, but we know that the destruction the war caused to homes and livelihoods will create hardships for these people even after the conflict ends,” he said. “The Church will need to be a source of hope then too. This war has shown us the face of human tragedy, but it has also revealed the power of Catholic compassion.”

Readers interested in supporting Cross Catholic’s outreaches to the poor can contribute through the ministry brochure inserted in this issue or send tax-deductible gifts to: Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept.

AC02207, PO Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090-7168. The ministry has a special need for partners willing to make gifts on a monthly basis. Use the inserted brochure to become a Mission Partner or write “Monthly Mission Partner” on mailed checks to be contacted about setting up those arrangements.

Dedicated Catholics Make Major Impact on Poverty

by Serving as ‘Mission Partners’ Consistency and reliability have long been recognized as important character traits in our society, and most of us raise our children to uphold those values, especially in the workplace. We do that because we know consistency and reliability produce stability and help us weather the unexpected storms in life.

The same is true when it comes to charity, according to Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach. That is why his ministry cherishes its Mission Partners — donors who

have committed to monthly giving.

“Mission Partners represent the foundation of our ministry,” he said. “Their commitment to helping the poor on a monthly basis gives us a steady, reliable way to serve. Without them, the missions we support in the developing world would be unable to commit to long-term projects, and it would be much more difficult for us to respond to disaster situations. When we can depend on the support of Mission Partners, we can move forward confidently and

take on every challenge that’s put before us.”

Because monthly giving is so important to Cross Catholic Outreach’s work overseas, the ministry makes it as easy as possible for its donors to become Mission Partners. That option is included on appeals, on the charity’s website and in the brochures it distributes at Catholic parishes and in Catholic newspapers.

“Ultimately, we ask people to become Mission Partners because monthly giving has a huge impact on the priests, religious

sisters and Catholic lay leaders working in the trenches, fighting to end hunger and alleviate poverty,” Cavnar said. “When they face an unexpected crisis or a natural disaster strikes, the missions know they can come to us for help because our Mission Partners have provided the resources needed to overcome those immediate challenges.

We can make decisions in a matter of hours and send help within days — and the poor are blessed as a result.”

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

The images flashing across our television screens shocked young and old. For many, they evoked memories of photographs taken during World War II and stories told by parents and grandparents about the cities destroyed by advancing German tanks and bombers. Younger people, who may have fewer connections to the previous war in Europe, also found the broadcasts disturbing.

Most were stunned to see modern office buildings and factories collapse before their eyes as frightened survivors fled missile and artillery barrages.

“All of us — young and old — were grieved by the destruction and suffering we saw, but importantly, our next reaction was compassion. We wanted to do something to help the people of Ukraine, especially the thousands of wounded and fearful families who were frantically seeking refuge from the violence,” explained Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach.

As an official Catholic charity with a long history of providing disaster relief, Cross Catholic Outreach was able to quickly develop a plan to help Ukrainian refugees by providing medical aid and other resources through three key partners close to the action — Cardinal Konrad Krajewski of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Service of Charity; Caritas in Veritate; and the Archdiocese of Przemyśl, Poland, which is located near the Ukrainian border.

“Each of these partners is directly involved in relief efforts, either in Ukraine or in neighboring countries accepting refugees,” Cavnar explained. “Thanks to contributions we’ve received from our U.S. Catholic donors, we have been able to help in a variety of ways. For example, we helped Cardinal Krajewski secure ambulances so emergency medical services could be brought directly to areas with urgent needs. We also helped fund generators, clothing and food for families still in Ukraine and those who had fled the country.”

In the case of Caritas in Veritate, Cross Catholic Outreach supported internally displaced children and families in the Ukrainian communities of Lutsk, Struga and Nowa Uszyca with much-needed food, water and spiritual support. Its work with the Archdiocese of Przemyśl focused on the care and resettlement of Ukrainian refugees, specifically helping with food, temporary shelters and trauma therapy.

© Sipa via AP Images

U.S. Catholics Offer Meaningful Support to Refugees Fleeing Devastating War in Ukraine

Missile and artillery damage has made homes in Ukraine unsafe, so families have had to flee to other areas or leave the country to find relief.

Fortunately, the Catholic Church has been mobilized to provide urgently needed food and other resources.

While these efforts represented a shift in focus for Cross Catholic Outreach, which is best known for its ministry work in other parts of the world, Cavnar felt compelled to become involved.

“The needs of war refugees weighed heavily on our hearts and on the hearts of our donors, even though they are usually focused on the work we do in Haiti, Guatemala, Kenya and other nations plagued by extreme poverty,” he explained. “This mission also fit perfectly with our traditional strategy for providing help overseas. We have always worked through Catholic missions closest to the action, supplying them with the resources they need to serve more effectively,” Cavnar said. “Our expertise in identifying trusted Catholic partners and quickly mobilizing resources has been very useful to the ministries serving Ukrainian families in this great hour of need.”

Cavnar said that while he is proud of what Cross Catholic Outreach has achieved and is grateful to the many American Catholics who have helped fund the work being done, he

hopes other troubled areas in the world will also remain on people’s hearts and minds in the months ahead.

“I think of Tigray, Ethiopia, where long-established Catholic missions are also trying to help war survivors and where food shortages are causing serious problems with malnutrition. Then there are remote villages in Africa that, due to a recent drought, face a serious water crisis,” he said. “Cross Catholic Outreach has been able to remain

involved in all of those areas, but it is only because faithful American Catholics have been so generous in supporting our work. As problems in the world escalate — and the war in Ukraine is certainly one of the most challenging trials — we will need to be even more openhearted and openhanded. The Church must remain a beacon of hope for families with no other place to turn for help, and we will all need to play our part in that mission of mercy.”

How to Help To fund Cross Catholic Outreach’s effort to help the poor worldwide, use the postage-paid brochure inserted in this newspaper, or mail your gift to Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC02207, PO Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090-7168. The brochure also includes instructions on becoming a Mission Partner and making a regular monthly donation to this cause.

If you identify an aid project, 100% of the donation will be restricted to be used for that specific project. However, if more is raised for the project than needed, funds will be redirected to other urgent needs in the ministry.

DIOCESAN NEWS

PRAYING FOR CHANGE

MISSION BASILICA’S IMMIGRATION MINISTRY AIMS TO RAISE AWARENESS TO PLIGHT OF UNDOCUMENTED

BY SPENCER GRANT AND MARA CASEY

D

EDICATED TO HELPING the undocumented of San Juan Capistrano, Mission Basilica’s Immigration Ministry has provided free consultation with lawyers, workshops on immigrant rights and visits from the Mexican Consul.

On two Tuesday evenings a month, a little over a dozen people have been meeting outside the Basilica with the goal of raising public consciousness about the plight of the undocumented. It is tied in with the Faith Justice Prayer Walk, jointly sponsored by the Interfaith Justice Collaborative and Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano.

“The American people are so busy that they don’t know what’s going on,” said walk attendee Blanca Mejia, who was born in Ecuador.

“The Prayer Walk’s other purpose is to let the undocumented community know we stand by them and are here to help,” added Silvia Vargas, a volunteer with the immigration ministry.

A recent meeting began as ministry volunteer Sue Connor welcomed the group with the following words: “We pray for a change of heart and mind that leads to an inclusive global family where there is no war, no gun violence, no racism, no violence against women, and the welcoming of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers.”

Attendees were asked to take a moment to prepare and share a petition of their choosing and to select a sign from a collection on the lawn. Signs included: Faith Justice; Welcome the Stranger;

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ATTENDEES OF A RECENT PRAYER WALK MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GATE CARRYING SIGNS AIMED TO RAISE AWARENESS TO THE PLIGHT OF THE UNDOCUMENTED. PHOTO BY SPENCER GRANT/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

Home is Here; Path to Citizenship; Compassion and a banner reading Bienvenides Immigrantes y Refugiados.

The group walked up the narrow Camino Capistrano sidewalk to the Mission’s gate and spread out with their signs to inform motorists about their issues.

“I’ve been with the group for the last three years, working with immigrant families,” explained Eduardo Moreno as he held up the end of the banner. “We are looking for immigrant families who have no support in the community.”

Volunteer Miriam Zuniga is the lead facilitator for the Community Leader Commission here in Capistrano. She directs a large group of adult leaders who especially work with affordable housing.

“We’re hoping Bill HR 8433 will pass because it will change the registry dates from 1979 to 2015,” she said. “If you’ve been here since 2015 and have proof of good moral character you can apply for citizenship.”

At one point towards the end of the evening, the group trooped back to the Basilica and offered a closing prayer: “God, our journey through life is long and hard. We cannot make this trip alone; we must walk together on this

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ATTENDEES OF A RECENT PRAYER WALK STAND AT THE MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GATE CARRYING SIGNS AIMED TO RAISE AWARENESS TO THE PLIGHT OF THE UNDOCUMENTED. PHOTO BY SPENCER GRANT/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

journey. Help us to see You in those you send to journey with us.

“In the refugee family, seeking safety from violence, let us see You; In the migrant worker, bringing food to our tables, let us see You; In the asylum-seeker, seeking justice for himself and his family, let us see You; In the unaccompanied child, traveling in a dangerous world, let us See You. Teach us to recognize that as we walked TONIGHT with each other,

You are here.”

“As people of faith,” said volunteer Heather Chapman, “we believe prayer works. Behind the scenes I don’t know what God is doing but I believe prayer heals.”

“We’re small,” added Connor. “We’re just trying to do something.”

An upcoming prayer walk is scheduled for Sept. 27. For more information visit missionparish.org C

DIOCESAN NEWS

AROUND OUR DIOCESE

dates back to 16th century Poland. It remains a longstanding tradition in Polish communities throughout the world, including the United States and Canada.

The Polish Center is located at 3999 Rose Drive in Yorba Linda. For more information, contact our office at 714-9968161 or go to www.polishcenter.org.

BY STAFF

ST. JOACHIM CHURCH TO HOST ALPHA SERIES

St. Joachim Church in Costa Mesa will be hosting an Alpha series exploring the Christian Faith beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The series will run approximately 11 weeks. Each talk looks at questions around our faith and is designed to spark conversations in an open and safe environment. Each week dinner will be provided, we will watch a video, share experiences, ask questions and meet new friends.

There is no cost to attend. Please contact Carol Nasr to register at 949439-0226.

ANNUAL DOZYNKI HARVEST FESTIVAL

The 43rd annual Dozynki Harvest Festival at the Saint John Paul II Polish Center in Yorba Linda concludes Sunday, Sept. 18. Hours are from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Pope John Paul II Polish Center will be raffling off cash prizes of $5,000, $3,000 and $1,000, and many other prizes at this year’s harvest festival. The opportunity drawings for the cash prizes will be on Sept. 18 at 3 p.m. Winners need not be present. Raffle tickets may be purchased for $5 each.

Food and music go hand-in-hand at a harvest celebration. The Dozynki will feature Polish folk dancers in traditional costumes.

Please come and enjoy delicious Polish food such as freshly prepared stuffed cabbage, traditional pierogi, authentic Polska kielbasa and Polish beer.

Dozynki is a celebration of thanksgiving after a bountiful harvest that

ST. POLYCARP CHURCH HOSTS FAMILY FESTIVAL

St. Polycarp Catholic Church in Stanton will host the final day of its Family Festival on Sunday, Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

St. Polycarp is promising to have a very exciting live entertainment program this year with lots of great food for families to enjoy. Come and celebrate the weekend and support St. Polycarp’s Fiesta!

FR. PAT PHILBIN ST. JOACHIM CATHOLIC CHURCH, COSTA MESA. PHOTO BY SPENCER GRANT/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

ST. JOHN PAUL II POLISH CENTER, YORBA LINDA. PHOTO BY JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

The Province of the United States recommends to our fraternal prayers our dear brother, Patrick Philbin, priest, of the Lalanne House Marianist Community, Los Angeles, California, USA, who died in the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary on July 25, 2022, in Orange, California, at the age of 89 with 69 years of religious profession.

Patrick Bernard Philbin was born on July 10, 1933, in Akron, Ohio. He entered the novitiate at Marcy, New York, in 1951, and professed first vows there on December 28, 1952. He attended the University of Dayton in Ohio, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1955. He began teaching English that autumn at Chaminade High School in Dayton and remained there for four years. He professed perpetual vows on August 15, 1956, in Dayton.

Fr. Pat taught in New York from 1959 through mid-1971. He earned a master’s degree in French from Western Reserve University in 1962 and a master’s degree in theology from Notre Dame University in 1972. He was ordained on CONTINUES ON PAGE 14

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DIOCESAN NEWS

PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD

IINSTALLATION OF THE MAIN STAINED GLASS WINDOW FOR CATHEDRAL MEMORIAL GARDENS LOCATED ON THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS IN GARDEN GROVE. PHOTO BY STEVEN GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

FR. PATRICK PHILBIN. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MARIANIST ORDER OF THE UNITED STATES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

November 25, 1972, in New York.

His calling brought him to California, and he served at Junipero Serra High School in Gardena for 13 years as a teacher, chaplain and eventually, principal. He also was the director of the Marianist community at Serra for several years.

Fr. Patrick earned a third master’s degree – this one in counseling from Loyola-Marymount University – in 1987 and concluded his tenure at Serra that same year. Following a year’s sabbatical, he was asked to become the Catholic chaplain at the University of California, Irvine where he ministered daily to Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korea, and Vietnamese students, as southern California became home to many leaving the ravages of war in Vietnam.

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It was while he was working with the Vietnamese community in southern California that Fr. Patrick was invited through the Diocese of Orange and the auxiliary bishop of Ho Chi Mihn City to teach first-year seminarians and young nuns at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in Ho Chi Mihn City. Beginning in 2000 he spent six months of each year in Vietnam for nearly two decades.

As he celebrated his 70th anniversary of profession and 50th anniversary of ordination in 2022, Father Patrick wrote of his work in Vietnam, “In retirement, this continues to be a joy beyond my fondest imaginings as a young Marianist religious.”

May he rest in peace.

Excerpt taken from Fr. Pat’s obituary as issued by The Marianists Province of the United StatesC

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Long-time OC Catholic photographer Steven Georges recently received a first place 2022 OC Press Club award for his photo taken of Cathedral Memorial Gardens on the Christ Cathedral campus. Congratulations, Steve!

ORANGE WALK FOR LIFE n All are invited to join Bishop Kevin Vann, Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen, Bishop

Timothy Freyer, cathedral rector Fr. Bao Thai and the faithful at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove for the Orange Walk for Life on Saturday, Oct. 1, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, Orange County chapter. n Attend your parish morning Mass and caravan to Christ Cathedral, or attend the International Rosary at 8:30 a.m. and Trilingual Mass 9 a.m. at the cathedral’s Our Lady of La Vang Shrine. The Eucharistic Procession begins at 10:30 a.m. n The Orange Walk for Life, which kicks off Respect Life Month in October, will also offer opportunities to meet pro-life organizations, pro-life guest speakers and hear a briefing on California’s Prop 1.

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THE NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL KICK-OFF TOOK PLACE AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS ON SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022. PHOTO BY CHUCK BENNETT/DIOCESE OF ORANGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

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in joyful and thankful prayer as we remember that the Eucharist is Christ’s dying gift and that the Eucharist is Jesus Christ within us. This is our faith and what the Catholic Church teaches about the Eucharist, The Eucharist provides us with superabundant nourishment. It is the supreme act of self-giving. It is a sign of overflowing love for us. At every Mass, the priest reenacts Jesus’ actions at the last supper. He takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it and gives it to the people.

The Eucharist is a sacrament of love!

Many tend to narrow the consideration of the Eucharist to the basic sacramental elements of bread and wine. But we know that the Eucharist is more. The Eucharist is our commitment to give

ourselves as Jesus gave himself to us.

The Eucharist is the principal sacramental celebration of the Church. It is the food for the journey.

As the Bishops of the United States continue to invite us to embrace and celebrate this gift of life, the Eucharist, let’s use these three years of the National Eucharistic Revival as a time for us to reflect deeper on the meaning of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Now is the time for us to renew our love, belief, and commitment to the Eucharist, Jesus Christ’s gift to us! Let’s take the time to visit and spend time in prayer with Christ, who is waiting for us inside that “shiny box” (the tabernacle) — calling us to convert and rekindle our relationship with Him. Jesus Christ, now and forever!C

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WORLD NEWS

POPE URGES SCIENTISTS TO WORK FOR PEACE, PROTECT THE PLANET

BY CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The Catholic Church “embraces and encourages a passion for scientific research as an expression of love for the truth and for knowledge about the world,” Pope Francis told members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

Scientific inquiry, research and discoveries should lead to awe in the presence of God, who created the world and human intelligence, but it also should lead to a greater commitment to peace and human development, the pope told the scientists Sept. 10.

The 80 academicians, who include dozens of Nobel Prize winners, come from the fields of astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, physics, biology, medicine, botany, zoology, genetics and physiology and other specialties.

Members are chosen based on their scientific achievements, not their religious beliefs, and study issues of concern to the Vatican.

“As far as I am aware, no other religious institution has such an academy,” the pope told members, but “many religious leaders have expressed an interest in establishing one.”

Established in 1603, the academy demonstrates the church’s commitment to truth and to learning about “life in all its symphonic splendor,” the pope said.

Science should lead to a greater appreciation of God’s creativity, he said, but it also should lead to a greater commitment by people to protect the world God created and help the people God made.

In recent years, he said, members of

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POPE FRANCIS LEADS AN AUDIENCE WITH MEMBERS OF THE PONTIFICAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AT THE VATICAN SEPT. 10, 2022. THE POPE SAID SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DISCOVERIES MUST BE PLACED AT THE SERVICE OF PEACE, DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION OF THE PLANET. (CNS PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA)

the academy have used their knowledge and interdisciplinary research to weigh in on the fight against hunger, the protection of oceans and seas, promoting sustainable development in poor neighborhoods and in urging a fair and broad response to the health crisis provoked by the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2022 plenary session of the academy Sept. 8-10 was devoted to exploring the topic, “Basic science for human development, peace and planetary health,” a topic that Pope Francis said explored recent scientific discoveries “about the earth, the universe and the place of human beings within it.”

The academy provides an important space for scientists specializing in a broad variety of fields to bring their work together and to examine current global problems from different angles, he said. It also brings philosophy and theology to bear on those challenges, which helps “provide answers to humanity’s ultimate questions, which are also being asked by new, and sometimes disoriented, generations.”

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“The positive results of science in the 21st century will depend, to a great extent, on the ability of scientists to seek the truth and apply discoveries in a way that develops in tandem with the search for what is right, noble, good and beautiful,” Pope Francis told the academicians.

Peace is an urgent need today and one for which scientists have a particular responsibility, he said.

“After two tragic world wars, it seemed that the world had learned to move progressively toward respect for human rights, international law and various forms of cooperation,” he said.

“Unfortunately, history shows signs of regression.”

While not mentioning Russia’s war on Ukraine specifically, Pope Francis spoke of both the intensification of “anachronistic conflicts” and the reemergence of “instances of a myopic, extremist, resentful and aggressive nationalism.”

And, he said, while “St. John Paul II gave thanks to God that, through

Mary’s intercession, the world had been preserved from atomic war,” it now appears that “unfortunately, we must continue to pray for protection against this danger, which should have been averted long ago.”

“All knowledge based on science and experience must be utilized to avoid wars and overcome suffering, poverty and new forms of slavery,” the pope said, urging scientists to “disarm science and thus become a force for peace.”

“In the name of God, who created all human beings for a common destiny of happiness, we are called today to bear witness to our fraternal vocation to freedom, justice, dialogue, mutual encounter, love and peace, and avoid nurturing hatred, resentment, division, violence and war,” he said.

“In the name of the God, who gave us the planet to safeguard and develop,” he continued, “we are called today to ecological conversion, to save our common home and life and that of future generations, rather than increasing inequality, exploitation and destruction.”C

Moments MomentsininourourJourney Journey

A Christ Cathedral Academy student tends to her classwork during the first week of school.

—Photo by Steven Georges/Diocese of Orange

Send your photos that capture Catholic life in your parish community to: editor@occatholic.com

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Seminars are held at various parishes throughout Orange County. To view the full list of dates, times and locations, visit OrangeCatholicFoundation.org/estate-planning.

For any questions, please contact Roxanna Payton at 714.282.6046 or email PlannedGiving@OrangeCatholicFoundation.org

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