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7
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OCTOBER
27, 2024
CONTENTS
WELCOME HOME
St. Joachim Catholic School in Costa Mesa hosts its first Alumni Homecoming and Pickleball Tournament.
CHANNELING PEACE
October is National Bullying Prevention Month.
18 THE THREE MISSION FIELDS OF HOLINESS
What is holiness and how do we practice it?
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.
HOME ALTARS
READER CALL-OUT
Jose and Lisa Roussel shared a photo of their home altar. Many of the pieces were collected over the years and gifted to each other for birthdays and anniversaries. The oldest piece is the statue of St. Martin de Porres that Jose received as a Confirmation gift from his uncle.
Added Lisa: “As a native of New Orleans, no Catholic home altar is complete without a statue of St. Jude! Another nod to New Orleans is the tradition of St. Joseph altars. Our friend St. Anthony has helped us many times finding keys, phones, earrings…Our grandchildren have Christian names, so we have St. Michael for Micheal Xavier and St. Gemma for Gemma Jo…”
Lisa said they are “still on the hunt for the elusive St. Fabiola prayer card or picture! It’s been a great blessing to share and teach our grandkids who they all are.”
Lisa and Jose are parishioners of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in La Habra.
Send your home altar photos to: editor@occatholic.comC
“ Grace cannot be deserved, let alone bought, it can only be received as a gift.” — Pope Francis
THIS SYRIAN-BORN MARTYR, who gave himself the nickname “God-bearer” because of his certainty of God's presence within him and who may have been a disciple of St. John the Evangelist, became bishop of Antioch about 69. Eventually he was arrested and sent to Rome, where his strong desire for martyrdom was fulfilled when he was thrown to the lions in the Colosseum. In seven letters written to Christians in Asia Minor and Rome, he stressed the need to heal church conflicts, the authority of local bishops and the Eucharist as a source of unity.C
IT’S BEEN A BUSY OCTOBER at the Lambertian Ministry Center in Garden Grove.
The sisters who run it, members of the Lovers of the Holy Cross (LHC) of Los Angeles, have been holding online novenas, candlelight vigils, praying outside Planned Parenthood offices, and staging other events to mark Respect Life Month.
During October, Catholics are called to renew their commitment to the legal protection of human life, to support policies and service ministries that assist mothers and to extend compassion to those suffering from participation in abortion.
But as Sr. Josefa Ha explains it, the Lambertian Ministry Center has a much broader mission than providing help and support needed by young mothers to keep their babies amidst troubled pregnancies –as critical as that program is.
“When we say pro-life, we don’t mean we only help women who are contemplating abortions,” said Sr. Josefa. “Our ministry is for all women, especially young women. So, when they come here, they don’t feel singled out but feel like they are members of a larger community of women.”
A HOME IN ORANGE COUNTY
In 1992, LHC of Los Angeles became
independent from its Vietnam-based ministry, which was established in 1670 by French missionary Bishop Pierre Lambert de la Motte (hence the “Lambertian” name).
The L.A.-based order’s motherhouse is in Gardena.
Active in the Diocese of Orange for three decades, members of the LHC of Los Angeles finally got their own building in Orange County in 2021 after they purchased the property from a Christian organization.
Although renovations continue around the sprawling property, the Lambertian Ministry Center has a thriving chapel, youth center, a pre-school and after-school program, a large hall for events and retreats and a separate space called Mary’s Sanctuary, where Sister Josefa runs various women-focused ministries.
“We strive to nurture all women
through their journeys through life,” said Sr. Josefa, who has been a religious sister for nearly 30 years.
HELPING WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Sr. Josefa and her biological sister who also works at the Garden Grove center, Sr. Josephina, entered the convent together in 1986 – five years after their family came to the U.S. via boat from their homeland.
In Vietnam, Sr. Josefa and her five siblings grew up with nuns.
“I always wanted to become one of the sisters I knew,” she recalled.
That early exposure to nuns helped engender in Sr. Josefa a strong desire to help women and children.
“Back in 1670, when our order was founded, women were not allowed to go to school,” Sr. Josefa noted. “They had no status in society and children had no voice.
Bishop Lambert wanted us to educate women so they could help their families develop their faith and improve their social status.”
SUPPORT GROUPS
The Lambertian Ministry Center offers several ministries for women, in addition to its Respect Life Program, whose support services include medical, legal, employment and education. In addition, Mary’s Sanctuary holds baby showers for expectant mothers.
One new ministry, a mom’s group, is for mothers and mothers-to-be.
With the aim of “honoring the gifts of mom,” the group kicked off in October and meets six consecutive Fridays, takes two weeks off, then resumes for another six weeks. The meetings include prayer, a light dinner, a presentation and sharing.
SR. JOSEFA HA, LHC, IS PICTURED AT THE ORDER’S LAMBERTIAN MINISTRY CENTER IN GARDEN GROVE. PHOTO BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
Childcare is provided for free during the meetings.
There’s also a women’s retreat called “Morning with God” held every second Saturday from 9:20 a.m. to noon, with lunch provided. The free gatherings include guided meditation, presentations, time for personal reflection and group sharing.
The women — groups average around 18 — come from diverse backgrounds and are at various stages in life, Anita Alexander noted.
Alexander is a retired pharmacist and a 29-year parishioner at St. Martin de Porres in Yorba Linda, has been to seven “Morning with God” retreats.
“It’s humbling, it’s a teaching moment, it’s a connection – sometimes you’re the one offering, sometimes you’re receiving,” she said of the meetings. “It’s a time out from the usual to take time for yourself and the Lord.”
At the “Morning with God” meetings, Sr. Josefa usually starts off with a Scripture reading followed by discussion, then there’s a speaker, and then participants scatter on the grounds of the Lambertian Ministry Center for quiet reflection and, if they desire, to consult
with spiritual directors.
‘A GIFT, NOT A BURDEN’
Sr. Josefa recently began working fulltime at the Lambertian Ministry Center after visiting it frequently. She came to the center after working with USC students at Our Savior Parish and the USC Caruso Catholic Center.
Prior to that assignment, Sr. Josefa spent two decades as a hospital chaplain, and she’s also worked with homeless women.
“Here in Garden Grove, we teach women how to pray and teach them about the dignity of being women — how being a mother is a gift, not a burden,” Sr. Josefa said.
“We help them to see their children as treasured gifts from God. When they value their own body and learn the ministry as a mom, then they will know how to raise their children.
“We want all women to honor their gifts and dignity so they can value their children as gifts from God.”
For more information, contact the Lambertian Ministry Center at (657) 231-0110. It is located at 12211 Magnolia St., Garden Grove. The website is lhcla.orgC
SISTERS FROM THE RELIGIOUS ORDER LOVERS OF THE HOLY CROSS PRAY DURING THE ANNUAL WALK FOR LIFE EVENT HELD ON OCT. 5 AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL. PHOTO BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
WELCOME HOME
ST. JOACHIM CATHOLIC SCHOOL HOSTS A SCHOOL-WIDE REUNION
BY BRITNEY ZINT
IT WAS 1949 WHEN fourth-grader
Pete Rabbitt switched to a new campus that was just opening: St. Joachim Catholic School in Costa Mesa. Now, 75 years later, Rabbitt returned to his alma mater to celebrate with his family and grandchildren: one a current Sea King, and one an alumnus and valedictorian to boot.
“It was a great experience,” Rabbitt, 83, said, adding that it has been fun having his grandchildren attend his alma mater. “The good news is they got a great education.”
The Rabbitt family was among about 240 current students, alumni, friends and family who came out on a Saturday night for the school’s first Alumni Homecoming Pickleball Event and Mass. The event on Sept. 28 featured five pickleball courts, a bake sale, a bounce house obstacle course and TK Burgers truck.
The homecoming was a chance for alumni throughout the years to return to campus, celebrate the gift of a Catholic education, and raise money for the school’s endowment, said Principal Kelly Botto. Seeing so many alumni return “moves my heart,” she added.
“It’s great to see them and it’s great to see that it still feels like home for them,” Botto said. “For so many of our kids, they’re here for 10 years, from preschool all the way through eighth grade. It was their home for so many years. To see them come back and connect, it’s amazing.”
For 16-year-old Ava Farao, St. Joachim felt like that. She attended from kindergarten through eighth grade.
“I really loved it,” Farao said. “It was really community oriented, and I just love coming back because of that. It’s almost like
we never left. I see everyone and it’s nice to reconnect.”
For Rabbitt, the current campus is very different from his own school days. Rabbitt said he remembers there was only one building and the church during his time. A special breakfast also brought back happy memories.
“I think the one thing I remember was they used to give us cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate,” Rabbitt said. “I still remember that.”
Sea King parent Frank Calabretta also remembers a very different campus from his daughter’s times at the school.
“Back then it was nothing like this,” Calabretta said. “Nothing like this. We were still in barracks, old barracks from the army air base.”
Calabretta, who lives in the neighborhood and attends St. Joachim parish, said he is pleased to see his daughters and now his grandchildren attend school there.
“It is very rewarding to me, because I
ST. JOACHIM CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOUNDING STUDENT PETE RABBITT, 83, WITH HIS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW SHELLEY RABBITT AND GRANDSON HUGH RABBITT, AT THE SCHOOL’S FIRST ALUMNI HOMECOMING AND PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT. PHOTOS BY YUAN WANG/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
THE SEPT. 28 REUNION BROUGHT TOGETHER CURRENT AND FORMER STUDENTS OF ST. JOACHIM CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOR A FUN NIGHT OF COMMUNITY.
BISHOP VANN DEDICATES, BLESSES THE NEW ST. CALLISTUS CHAPEL AND CRYPTS
BY BRADLEY ZINT
ON OCT. 14, THE Feast Day of St. Callistus, Bishop Kevin Vann dedicated and blessed Christ Cathedral’s new St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts. Built in a stunning Romano-Byzantine style, the chapel in the cathedral undercroft includes burial spaces for generations of Diocese of Orange bishops, as well as niches for all the faithful.
The dedication also served as a day to celebrate the completed transformation of the Crystal Cathedral into Christ Cathedral, an elaborate process that began soon
after the purchase of the 34-acre campus was completed in 2012. That saga included extensively renovating the cathedral to accommodate Catholic worship, expanding the property's cemetery and building the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine.
The dedication Mass featured the placing of a relic of Pope St. Callistus I, who reigned from circa 218 to 222, inside the chapel’s reliquary. In the hours before the Mass, the relic, which was originally at St. Callistus parish after being brought from there from Rome, was venerated by the faithful.
Bishop Vann also anointed the chapel altar with chrism oil. The chapel’s elab-
orate tabernacle, inspired by 12-century medieval goldsmithing, was blessed, as was its refurbished pipe organ.
The roughly 11,000-square-foot chapel was named after St. Callistus Catholic Church, a parish in Garden Grove that closed in 2013 as part of the Crystal Cathedral sale. St. Callistus parishioners became the initial congregation of the campus, and Bishop Vann promised to remember their trust and sacrifice by naming the chapel after them.
“From the very beginning, it was determined that St. Callistus parish, the community out of which Christ Cathedral was born, would be forever honored by the presence of a chapel in the undercroft of the cathedral,” said the Very Rev. Christopher Smith, rector emeritus of Christ Cathedral, during the dedication Mass. “This chapel would be forever known as the St. Callistus chapel and, as we said over the years, that through the presence of this chapel the name St. Callistus now will always be part of the name Christ Cathedral.”
Notable within the St. Callistus chapel is a painting of Dr. Robert and Arvella Schuller, founders of the Crystal Cathedral. Their son, Robert A. Schuller, also of the Reformed Church in America, and his wife Donna were present at the chapel’s dedication Mass. They placed a wreath of flowers in front of the
BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER, BISHOP KEVIN VANN AND BISHOP THANH THAI NGUYEN ARE PICTURED INSIDE
CHRIST CATHEDRAL’S NEW ST. CALLISTUS CHAPEL AND CRYPTS WHICH WAS DEDICATED ON OCT. 14. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
BISHOP KEVIN VANN ANOINTS THE CHAPEL ALTAR WITH CHRISM OIL DURING
CCOC.ORG painting.
“We are here today in this sacred encounter with Christ the Lord in the continuing story and mission of the Crystal Cathedral and Christ Cathedral,” said
Bishop Vann, who also noted two nods to Crystal Cathedral history: quartz on the cathedral’s crux gemmata crucifix and the crystal draw knobs of the chapel organ console.
CONTINUES ON PAGE 12
FR. ANGELOS SEBASTIAN, VICAR GENERAL AND MODERATOR OF THE CURIA FOR THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE (CENTER), STANDS WITH FELLOW CLERGY PRIOR TO THE START OF MASS. PHOTO BY EVERETT JOHNSON/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE
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본당내의 성적학대 신고
성직자나
Building Sacred Spaces, and Connecting Hearts
The OLLV Foundation extends its deepest gratitude to our generous donors for helping to make the St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts a reality.
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Christ Cathedral Parish Bev Switzer Hsiu Yu Matthew Nguyen Thanh Nguyen Ha Le
Christ Cathedral Vietnamese Language Class Bich Lien Tran Huan Nguyen Matthew Vu ThanhVan HoHai Nguyen
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STRONG FOUNDATION, NEW HOME
OLLV FOUNDATION MEMBERS UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING A NEW HOME FOR THE DIVERSE CONGREGATION OF ST. CALLISTUS CATHOLIC CHURCH
BY GREG HARDESTY
ON JUNE 29, 2013, Fr. Tuyen Nguyen, then pastor of St. Callistus Catholic Church, was among the dozens of priests, parishioners and staff members who walked the long city block down Lewis Street to what eventually would become a new permanent home for the parish at Christ Cathedral.
The procession marked the beginning of a long and, for many, challenging journey that officially ended on Oct. 14, 2024, with the dedication and blessing of St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts.
St. Callistus parishioners can thank members of the OLLV Foundation — as well as diocesan leaders, who were committed to building them a new home — for helping them get to the finish line.
Bishop Kevin Vann had this to say regarding the foundation’s efforts:
“It has taken years to achieve this moment of completing our beautiful Christ Cathedral campus, and certainly our friends at the OLLV Foundation played their part in achieving this milestone. Their years of fundraising, first for the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine and Marian Gardens, and now the St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts, have been instrumental to our success. Moreover, the foundation and its donors reflect our rich diversity and heritage in the Diocese of Orange.
‘CHANGING PEOPLE’S LIVES’
The former St. Callistus was closed in 2013 as part of the Diocese’s purchase of the 34-acre campus from the late Dr. Robert H Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral Protestant megachurch in 2012.
For many parishioners of the multiethnic but predominantly Vietnamese parish, it was wrenching to say goodbye to the only church they had ever known and wait for years for the new one to materialize.
Now, they’re embracing their new home.
“I go there every day to pray and see how the new chapel is serving a lot of different people in various stages of their faith journey,” said Dr. Elysabeth Nguyen, a Christ Cathedral parishioner, longtime Diocese of Orange committee member and Silicon Valley veteran with strong connections to the Vietnamese American community who founded the OLLV Foundation in October 2022.
“Knowing this new sacred space is being used is the greatest satisfaction because I know it’s changing people’s lives,” Nguyen said.
LONGSTANDING ROOTS
The roots of the OLLV Foundation go back to 2012, when the Diocese bought the Garden Grove property.
After the Nguyen-run committee raised funds for the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine that opened on the Garden Grove campus on July 17, 2021, the committee formerly became a foundation in 2022 at the behest of Fr. Bao Thai, rector of Christ Cathedral, and Bishop Kevin Vann.
The move was made so the group could continue a philanthropic campaign for the new St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts, as well as for the Marian Gardens, which is presently open to the public and features prayer locations based on the four mysteries of the Rosary.
Their generosity will bless the faithful of today and those long into the future.”
The OLLV Foundation, an independent nonprofit, has raised millions of dollars in an ongoing campaign to cover the cost of the new chapel and
crypts, located in the undercroft of Christ Cathedral.
The opening of the chapel and crypts marked the 14-year completion of Christ Cathedral’s transformation from the Crystal Cathedral campus
Because many of the members of the committee and the OLLV Foundation were displaced St. Callistus parishioners, it wasn’t always easy, especially at first, to garner financial support from donors for the new chapel and crypts, Nguyen said.
But she had something to turn to as she and her fellow foundations members made their appeals:
DR. ELYSABETH NGUYEN SPEAKS DURING THE DEDICATION AND BLESSING OF THE NEW ST. CALLISTUS CHAPEL AND CRYPTS CELEBRATED ON OCT. 14. PHOTOS BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: VERY REV. BAO THAI, BISHOPS THANH, MICHAEL, HIEU, PHUONG AND NHAN, DR. ELYSABETH NGUYEN.
“The dedication of Christ Cathedral celebrated the profound faith of people who inspired the legacy of Dr. Robert H. Schuller and the Crystal Cathedral,” Bishop Vann continued, “which is echoed in small part today … and even more so by the portraits of Robert and Arvella Schuller.”
The St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts is now open daily. It will be used as an additional worship space for the cathedral campus, able to host Masses, weddings, funerals, lectures and other gatherings.
Paige Brooks also contributed to this story. C
DIOCESAN NEWS
THE CHAPEL’S ELABORATE TABERNACLE (WITH BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER PICTURED) WHICH WAS INSPIRED BY 12-CENTURY MEDIEVAL GOLDSMITHING, WAS ALSO BLESSED ON OCT. 14. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
BISHOP KEVIN VANN BLESSES THE BISHOPS’ CRYPTS, WHICH CONTAINS BURIAL SPACES FOR GENERATIONS OF DIOCESE OF ORANGE BISHOPS. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
ANTICIPATION BUILDS AHEAD OF THE START OF MASS ON OCT. 14. PICTURED: (LEFT) VERY REV. BAO THAI, RECTOR OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL, AND BISHOP KEVIN VANN. PHOTO BY EVERETT JOHNSON/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE
A DEDICATION MASS WAS CELEBRATED ON OCT. 14 FOR CHRIST CATHEDRAL’S NEW ST. CALLISTUS CHAPEL AND CRYPTS. PICTURED: (FROM LEFT) BISHOP THANH THAI NGUYEN, BISHOP KEVIN VANN AND BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
ROBERT A. SCHULLER, SON OF CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL FOUNDERS ROBERT H. SCHULLER AND ARVELLA SCHULLER, AND HIS WIFE DONNA WERE IN ATTENDANCE FOR THE DEDICATION OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL’S ST. CALLISTUS CHAPEL AND CRYPTS. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
Her own story.
BUILDING GOD’S KINGDOM
“I understand what it’s like to be moved from your home,” said Nguyen, whose parents relocated the family first in the 1950s, to South Vietnam from North Vietnam, and then to the U.S. in the mid-1970s after the fall of Saigon.
The immigrant family then had to move a few times in the Midwest where they initially settled before Nguyen finally relocated to California in the 1990s to attend college.
“A lot of the St. Callistus parishioners are older than me, and for years the original church had been their home,” Nguyen said.
“So, part of my appeal to them was, ‘God has a plan that we might not understand in our lifetime,’” she added. “One thing I know is that change is the only consistent thing in life. I told them we must figure out as a community how to contribute positively and be part of an exciting new journey as opposed to not being part of it.
“I told them, ‘We’re building our home. This is God’s home. We’re not doing it for us. We’re helping Him to build His kingdom.’”
People listened.
THANKFUL FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS
Nancy Le, a first-generation Vietnamese immigrant and retired self-made millionaire who made her money in real estate and textiles, donated $350,000 for the St. Callistus Chapels and Crypts campaign — the largest individual donor to date.
A mother and a grandmother, Le also is set to expand that initial gift to $1 million, Nguyen said.
Le is a first-time donor as are many OLLV Foundation members.
“The foundation, over time, has gained the trust of many people and encouraged them to become philanthropists,” Nguyen said.
“SCIENCE, MEDICINE AND EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES” WITH FR. ROBERT SPITZER
BY STAFF
ON NOV. 7, THE Lumen Christi Speaker Series will present “Science, Medicine and Eucharistic Miracles,” a discussion with Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D.
The OLLV Foundation is far from being a Vietnamese-only non-profit, Nguyen noted. Its members include people from at least nine different ethnic groups, from Chinese to Korean to Spanish-speaking communities, she said.
“We have now amassed support from different ethnic groups because they see the value of, one, being part of one church, and two, just because many of them are newcomers to the U.S. or to the Christ Cathedral, they realize they can make an impact.”
The husband-and-wife team of Chu and Nguyet Nguyen gave $200,000 for the St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts campaign.
A small business in Westminster donated $85,000, and the Chinese community at Christ Cathedral raised $50,000.
Past St. Callistus parish community presidents Ryan Pham and Josh Nguyen also have supported the project.
Le thanked Nguyen for reaching out and asking her to be part of the campaign to build the St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts.
“I’m thankful to God for all the blessings He’s given my family since I came to the United States not knowing a word of English,” Le said of her $350,000 gift. “I know everything I have today, including all the things my children have, is because of God.” C
Fr. Spitzer will discuss the intersection of faith and science analyzing the evidence and testimony for several Eucharistic miracles.
The talk will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Christ Cathedral’s Arboretum. To register, visit https://www.rcbo. org/ministry/lumen-christi/lc-speaker-series-registration/p
Fr. Spitzer is president of the Magis Center of Reason and Faith (magiscenter. com) and also the Napa Institute (napa-institute.org). He is the author of 18 books, including the award-winning “New Proofs for the Existence of God” and most recently, “Science at the Doorstep to God and Science, Reason, and Faith: Discovering the Bible.” He has also authored many scholarly articles on faith and science, metaphysics, and happiness and ethics. C
KAREN ROTE, FR. TUYEN NGUYEN, DR. ELYSABETH NGUYEN, NANETTE ABITRIA AND JOSEFINA PENNING ARE PICTURED INSIDE CHRIST CATHEDRAL’S NEW ST. CALLISTUS CHAPEL AND CRYPTS. PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. ELYSABETH NGUYEN
FR. ROBERT SPITZER, S.J., PH.D. PHOTO BY THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
SCHOOLS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
see the values that we raised our children with being passed on to their children,” Calabretta said.
Alumna Elizabeth Leahy started in first grade — then the youngest grade offered at the school — and graduated from eighth grade in 1993. Leahy said they tried public school for their oldest child before switching. Now she has three kids in Catholic school: two at St. Joachim and one who graduated from St. Joachim before continuing on at Mater Dei High School.
“Something was missing,” Leahy said. “We ended up switching her over here, which was amazing and has been the best thing for [my oldest daughter] and our family. It definitely helped me build my faith. If I wasn’t surrounded by that, I’m not sure faith would be as important as it is today. So, it definitely shaped me and I feel, for our kids, faith is something that is very important to instill in them.”
Her oldest daughter at Mater Dei, 15-year-old Grace Leahy, said the community is her favorite aspect of St. Joachim, but her teachers also prepared her well for the academic and social challenges of high school.
“St. Joachim taught me a lot of lifelong lessons I’ll keep with me,” Grace said.
Calabretta’s wife, Sue Calabretta, a retired St. Joachim teacher, said it’s the school’s shared vision and mission focused on academics and spiritual life that give it strength.
“It was a small community, so it was a really good collaboration with students and parents. That’s what I liked,” Sue Calabretta said.
It was also a time to remember Sr. Kathleen Marie Pughe, principal at St. Joachim from 2006-2019, whose efforts are greatly credited for the school's success. Sr. Kathleen was killed in a vehicular accident in March of 2022.
As students ran around the field, parents and alumni chatted and caught up, the distinctive pop of pickleball was in the background as teams prepared for the competition. Grace Leahy and Ava Farao, still friends after leaving St. Joachim, said they were excited to team up on the court. They had a simple strategy for success.
“To win,” Grace Leahy laughed, “just hit the ball over the net.” C
SAINT JOACHIM CATHOLIC SCHOOL EIGHTH GRADERS MAX CHILLEEN, MAX VUONG AND NICK LEE AT THE SCHOOL’S ALUMNI HOMECOMING AND PICKLEBALL EVENT HELD ON SEPT. 28.
OVER 200 CURRENT STUDENTS, ALUMNI, FRIENDS AND FAMILY ATTENDED ST. JOACHIM CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S FIRST ALUMNI HOMECOMING PICKLEBALL EVENT AND MASS ON SEPT. 28. PHOTOS BY YUAN WANG/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
ALUMNI THROUGHOUT THE YEARS RETURNED TO ST. JOACHIM CATHOLIC SCHOOL CAMPUS, TO CELEBRATE THE GIFT OF A CATHOLIC EDUCATION AND RAISE MONEY FOR THE SCHOOL’S ENDOWMENT.
OC CATHOLIC RECIPE SWAP
CHOCOLATE SPIDERS
WE HAD BEEN INVITED to a Halloween potluck and I was assigned a dessert. I decided to make a treat that my husband had enjoyed as a child. When I placed them on a serving plate, my 6-year-old son exclaimed, "Oh Mom! Those Chocolate Spiders look so yummy!" The name stuck and they have been a Halloween tradition ever since. That son is now 34!
—Robin MacGillivray, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church
Place chocolate and butterscotch chips in a glass bowl and microwave 2-3 minutes until melted, stirring at 1-minute increments. Stir in peanuts. Gently stir in noodles until coated. Drop spoonfuls onto wax paper-lined cookie sheets. Keep chilled until ready to serve. Happy Halloween! C
INGREDIENTS:
6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
6 oz butterscotch chips
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
1 cup crispy Chinese Chow Mein Noodles
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBIN MACGILLIVRAY
CHANNELING PEACE: MAKE A DIFFERENCE DURING BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH
BY SHARON ST. PIERRE, LCSW AND REBECCA FREEMAN, BCC, CCLS
HAS YOUR CHILD SHARED that they are being picked on at school? While some may minimize this as a learning experience that “toughens you up,” others will react as a “momma bear or papa bear” to protect their child. The reality is that an ongoing being “picked” on may be bullying. Bullying has consequences that negatively impact our youth. And this now includes the cyber realm which can be even more challenging. Often parents find themselves incorrectly thinking: “not my child.”
New Hope Counseling reports an increase of “bullying” like behaviors that are impacting the self-esteem of students of ages kinder through eighth grade. Students show higher numbers in coping through isolation, excessive worry negatively impacting their concentration, anger outbursts, poor grades and in worse case scenarios, self-harm.
The Center for Disease Control defines bullying as, “unwanted aggressive behavior, observed or perceived power imbalance, repetition or high likelihood of repetition of bullying behavior.” It is intentional behavior.
Research reiterates the negative mental and physical health effects and decreased academic performance for those who are bullied. Have you seen this with your child? Not to mention the future high-risk behaviors associated with those doing the bullying. Even bystanders witnessing the bullying sometimes have mental health concerns as a result. Being mean, sarcastic, or derogatory to others, “disliking or ghosting” in social media such as Instagram, are becoming social norms. This sense of entitlement can instill a lack of empathy, ultimately leading to the very opposite of treating
others with compassion.
Sadly, this is not an issue limited to the playground but can be seen within adult populations too. How self-reflective are we about how we speak to and about others around us? Do we gradually start dehumanizing another and forgetting their inherent dignity as a daughter and son of God? Are we caught in the trap
of “it is how I feel therefore I am right, and I don’t care how my words impact someone?”
There are many ways we can seek to model assertive communication and develop our own skills in conflict resolution. More than ever, this is needed to help curb the rise of bullying behaviors. The good news is the Good News —
we are a people of hope so we can be proactive and respond to this issue through the lens of faith. Catholic Social Teaching notes on Solidarity that, “The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.” It’s up to us to
PHOTO BY ROAD AHEAD ON UNSPLASH
shift the current of bullying and pave a new way forward guided by faith. This too requires intentionality.
New Hope Counseling recommends opportunities for quality time at home as one way to prevent bullying. This means time away from the screen, sharing about the day — ask how they show kindness at school. Listen without judgement. Model compassion in front of them. As human beings we are created to connect with others. Children especially need this space outside of technology. Dedicating even once a week to family dinner, praying the Rosary, and practicing daily active listening are additional tools to create a supportive environment at home.
May the Domestic Church thrive with the words of St. Francis of Assisi that the Lord might “make [us] a channel of Your peace, where there is hatred let [us] sow your love.” It starts and ends with me and us, together. Check out these bullying prevention and nonviolent communication resources for more information.
NEW HOPE COUNSELING
WILL OFFER A VALUABLE WEBINAR ON NOV. 4
Have you been told your child is being picked on? Are you being told your child is not kind to others? Join New Hope Counseling for an informative webinar on the topic of Bullying. Learn what bullying is and what it isn’t and tools to help children improve their self-esteem and communication with others.
Monday, Nov. 4 from 6:30 to 8 pm. Register via: https://checkout.square.site/buy/ I2OA32SHHT5DQ5F3MTDXDDQ5
Cost $20 per household by Oct. 25. Price goes up to $25 after. Registration closes October 31.
OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Compass for Parents- Compass - Anticipate, Accompany, and Answer (compassforparents.org)
Pax Christi International –Tools - PAX Christi International
New Hope Counseling- https://ccoc.org/programs/mental-health-counseling-services/counseling-services
Mental Health Resources in our Diocese: rcbo. org/mental health
Domestic Violence Hotline: 1.800.799. SAFE (7233) C
SHARON ST. PIERRE, CLINICAL DIRECTOR OF NEW HOPE COUNSELING SERVICES, A PROGRAM OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ORANGE COUNTY, SITS ON A BENCH WHICH WAS INSTALLED IN MAY ON THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS THAT WILL SERVE THE IMPORTANT CAUSE OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS. THE BENCH IS PART OF THE GREEN BENCH OC - PROMISE TO TALK CAMPAIGN. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
REBECCA FREEMAN, PASTORAL CARE MINISTRY COORDINATOR FOR THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE, ADDRESSES
THE THREE MISSION FIELDS OF HOLINESS
BY JOAN PATTEN, AO
WE ARE ALL CALLED to holiness. The Scriptures first introduce this call in the Old Testament when God commands the Israelites to be faithful to His covenant and obey His laws, making them His holy people and nation (cf. Ex. 19:5-6). Jesus reaffirmed this command to be holy and expanded the call to all people in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. He taught the crowds to be children of our Heavenly Father by making the Beatitudes their way of life. Using the metaphors of light and salt, Jesus taught that all children of God are called to be His witnesses in the world through their faithfulness and good deeds. Children resemble their parents; therefore, we, too, must “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5:48).
The Church continues to proclaim the universal call to holiness, specifically in the Second Vatican Council’s dogmatic constitution, “Lumen Gentium,” chapter five: “all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity; by this holiness as such a more human manner of living is promoted in this earthly society.”
Today, this teaching is not as novel or unfamiliar as it once was; however, how we are living it out always needs to be examined and deepened. Servant of God Guglielmo Giaquinta, the founder of the Pro Sanctity Movement, offered this insight about how we can live out our call to holiness in daily life. He outlined three dimensions of holiness that focus our mission fields in which we are called to live our call to holiness.
The first mission field of holiness is our personal relationship with God, known as the vertical dimension. This conforms with the first great command-
ment given by Jesus, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind"
(Mt. 22:37). We can grow in the vertical dimension of holiness by prioritizing daily prayer time so we can intentionally share our thoughts, feelings and desires with the Lord and learn to listen to His voice in Scripture and in the intimacy of our hearts. We grow in love for God by frequent reception of the sacraments and asking Our Lady to help us grow in trust in God’s love for each of us.
The second mission field of holiness are the relationships we have with our family, friends and local communities.
This is also known as the horizontal dimension of holiness. It follows the second great commandment of Jesus, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt. 22:39). To grow in the horizontal dimension of holiness, we can look for ways to serve our family and friends with simple acts of charity, patience and sacrifice. We can also pray for them, learn to listen and accept their limitations while encouraging them to trust the Lord.
When the vertical and horizontal dimensions of holiness are united and lived out well in our lives, we will witness the love of Christ to the world. A vertical and horizontal line forms a cross, and the
cross of Christ proclaims the Lord’s call to be his witnesses and, therefore, His saints. This leads us to the third mission field of holiness which is the societal dimension. The cross of Christ and the truth that it proclaims is meant to radiate into the world, which is done through us. To grow in the societal dimension of holiness, we can consider praying in public before meals, hanging a crucifix or holy image in our workplace, blessing people who cut us off in traffic and reaching out to the poor in our neighborhoods.
We celebrate the feast of all saints at the beginning of November and the Church commemorates the saints, known and unknown, who faithfully responded to God’s call in all three of these mission fields. Let us ask for the intercession of all the saints to pray that we can be Christ’s witnesses of love and mercy to a world that needs to see Him. C
PHOTO BY AARON BURDEN ON UNSPLASH
OC Catholic Afar
A family of parishioners from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Placentia and La Purísima Catholic Church in Orange visited Slovakia this summer. On their way through the Slovak spa resorts Trenčianske Teplice, Piešťany, Rajecké Teplice, Bešeňová, Tatralandia, Tatra Mountain, Štrbské Lake, Skalnaté Lake, (locals call mountain lakes: sea eyes), they went as far as the pilgrimage site on Maria Mountain (Mariánská Hora) in Levoča. In Levoča, they attended Mass in the Basilica of St. James, which is a Gothic sacral building. Together with the nearby Renaissance town hall, it forms a dominant feature of the Town square of Master Paul.
Pictured with a copy of OC Catholic are Paul, Elizabeth, Dr. Jane, Victoria and Sofia.
—Submitted by Paul Skuben
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.
