OC CATHOLIC - JANUARY 9, 2022

FLYING HIGH

JANUARY 9, 2022

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

ONELIFE LA RETURNS PAGE 8

MARCHERS ASSEMBLE FOR THE ONELIFE LA EVENT IN JANUARY 2020. PHOTO COURTESY OF ONELIFE LA

THE ORANGE CATHOLIC FOUNDATION PRESENTS THE 19TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON BUSINESS & ETHICS

FEBRUARY 18, 2022 7:30 AM TO 11:00 AM

JW MARRIOTT, ANAHEIM 1775 S CLEMENTINE STREET, ANAHEIM, CA 92802

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR HONOREES BISHOP’S AWARD FOR EXEMPLARY BUSINESS INTEGRITY HONOREES

AL BALDWIN

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD BALDWIN & SONS

The Conference on Business & Ethics has motivated leaders to grow more responsibly in their personal and professional lives through inspirational keynote speakers and honorees who exemplify integrity and ethical business practices. Designed to inspire, this conference is unique as each year honorees are selected for their influential and ethical business practices in the Orange County community.

PRESENTING PARTNERS BENJAMIN & CARMELA DU

LEGATUS HOLY SPIRIT CEO FORUM

FAMILIA GONZALEZ REYNOSO FOUNDATION

Keynote Speaker

LUKE ZAMPERINI

PRESIDENT AND CEO, THE LOUIS ZAMPERINI FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, UNBROKEN: PATH TO REDEMPTION

ROGER KIRWAN

CHAIRMAN & CEO WOODSIDE CREDIT

Luke Zamperini is the son of famed U.S. Olympian and World War II hero Louis Zamperini who is the subject of the best selling book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption

by Laura Hillenbrand, and the film by the same name directed by Angelina Jolie. Luke is also Executive Producer of the film sequel Unbroken: Path to Redemption and President of the Louis Zamperini Foundation, a 501c3 charitable organization that provides curriculum to high schools, youth correctional facilities, and the National Guard Youth Challenge program that teaches resilience, hope and forgiveness based on his father’s incredible life.

Luke is a motivational Christian speaker, musician, avid golfer, Bible teacher and retired Chief Building Inspector for the City of Los Angeles. He resides in Southern California with his wife Lisa.

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD HONOREE

2022 DEDICATION - HANK EVERS The 2022 Conference on Business & Ethics will be dedicated in memory of Hank Evers. Evers worked for nearly 10 years with The Orange Catholic Foundation and the Diocese of Orange. His love for the Church and Catholic schools motivated him to make the Conference on Business & Ethics one of the top rated non-profit events in Orange County.

Evers helped raise millions over the years through this conference and other Catholic school campaigns to support students in need.

PROCEEDS FROM THE SPECIAL APPEAL WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE ORANGE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FUND.

THE GONZALEZ FAMILY (NORTHGATE MARKET)

SCAN QR CODE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO BECOME A PARTNER WWW.ORANGECATHOLICFOUNDATION.ORG/CBE To become a partner today, visit www.OrangeCatholicFoundation.org/CBE. For partnership questions, please contact Gennifer Billish at 714.282.3138 or email GBillish@OrangeCatholicFoundation.org.

JANUARY 9, 2022

CONTENTS

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EVERY PRECIOUS LIFE

Project Cuddle, founded in 1994, seeks to aid mothers and care for abandoned infants.

WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES

In times of struggle, faith is tested and can grow stronger.

POPE: MATURE FAITH IS REALISTIC, HOPE-FILLED

Pope Francis celebrated a Jan. 1 Mass celebrating Mary, Mother of God and World Peace Day.

PLUS

Guest Column, Weekly Readings, Moments In Our Journey

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: Tracey Kincaid, tkincaid@rcbo.org Editor: Patricia Mahoney, editor@occatholic.com News Ideas: storyideas@rcbo.org Delivery Problems: occatholicsupport@occatholic.com

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SCNG CUSTOM CONTENT Managing Editor: Caitlin Adams

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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.

OCCatholic.com

OCCatholicNews

@OCCCatholicNews

GUEST COLUMN

BEAUTY AND DIGNITY OF EVERY HUMAN LIFE another person? Especially when that person is a preborn child, a homeless person, a person with extreme disability, EVEN YEARS AGO, Archbishop a person who is incarcerated?

José Gomez had a vision for a OneLife LA illustrates, through stodifferent kind of pro-life event ries, witness, song and service the beauty in Los Angeles. He saw the need and dignity of every human life! Each for a new approach that would unite OneLife LA speaker shares a transformayoung people, families and people from tion, a recognition of his or her own digevery cultural background to celebrate nity through the mercy of another. And the dignity of every human life from all have used that awakening to bring the conception to one’s very last breath. message of hope to the world. Over the This year, OneLife LA returns in person last seven years, we have met: on Jan. 22 with the theme Forward in Jose Arellano grew up in the gang Hope! culture of Los Angeles. After years in and OneLife LA shines a spotlight on the out of incarceration, a conversion led him dignity of every human person. So many to a new life. He was shown mercy and people don’t understand that they have now helps people answer the question dignity, that they have been created for “why do you care about me?” a reason. How difficult is it, then, to Immaculée Ilibagiza lost her entire recognize and respond to the dignity in CONTINUES ON PAGE 13 PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

BY KATHLEEN DOMINGO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CALIFORNIA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

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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.

DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

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BAPTISMAL DEATH AND RESURRECTION

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S WE CELEBRATE THE BAPTISM of the Lord, we also honor our own baptism as our initiation into the Christian life and community. In the Gospel, the baptism of Jesus, with his immersion and then emergence from the water, points to his later submission to God at his death, and his emergence from the grave at his resurrection. This pattern of death and resurrection is our path too, as followers of Jesus. Throughout life, often in small ways, we learn to surrender our limited and self-centered agendas. This surrender often feels like death. The sacrament of Baptism ritually enacts this pattern to remind us of Jesus’ death and resurrection, so that we too might embrace the deaths and resurrections of our own lives. As Jesus emerged from the water, he encountered his Father and the Holy Spirit. Like Jesus, we can know we are God’s beloved, empowered by the Spirit.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. C

Everything has been prepared in God’s plan. He weaves our history…

— Pope Francis SAINT PROFILE

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GUDULA

DIED 646

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HE FAMOUS CATHEDRAL-LIKE Church of Sainte-Gudule in Brussels, Belgium, is dedicated to this laywoman. The daughter of Count Witger and St. Amalburga, she was brought up at the convent in Nivelles under the care of her cousin, St. Gertrude. Afterward, she lived with her parents at Hamme, and was said to spend her days in prayer and good works. Her Carolingian dynasty kinship produced a number of saints, including her sister, Raineld. Her relics were moved from church to church, and Emperor Charlemagne reportedly prayed before them. C

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

1 SM 1:1-8; PS 116:1219; MK 1:1420

1 SM 1:9-20; 1 SM 2:1, 4-8ABCD; MK 1:2128

1 SM 3:1-10, 19-20; PS 40:2, 5, 7-10; MK 1:2939

1 SM 4:1-11; PS 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25; MK 1:4045

1 SM 8:4-7, 1022A; PS 89:16-19; MK 2:112

1 SM 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1A; PS 21:2-7; MK 2:1317

IS 62:1-5; PS 96:1-3, 7-10; 1 COR 12:4-11; JN 2:1-11

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FEATURE

EVERY PRECIOUS LIFE DEBBE MAGNUSEN SAW A NEED TO HELP MOTHERS IN CRISIS AND FOUNDED PROJECT CUDDLE

BY MEG WATERS

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HE CATHOLIC CHURCH teaches us that all human life is precious and respect for the dignity of the human person is not only important, but it is also foundational to a moral vision for society.

This is why the Church has been at the forefront of protecting life from conception to natural death.

Recognizing that life is full of trauma that may make alternatives such as abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia etcetera seem reasonable, the church teaches they are, in fact, a grave moral evil.

But just saying “No” isn’t an answer for women in crisis, which is why so much of Catholic social service is directed at helping and supporting people who are facing terrible choices. And it is why Catholics support religious and secular organizations that are working hard to find ways to help individuals through the trauma without destroying the soul.

More than 30 years ago, Debbe Magnusen founded a nonprofit, Project Cuddle, initially to supply police cars with stuffed animals for on-the-scene comfort to children who were victims of crime.

A few years later she was appalled at news stories of babies being abandoned in dumpsters and left to die. She decided to change the focus of Project Cuddle to a rescue mission for women and their babies in crisis. She set up a toll-free hotline and within 12 hours received her first call.

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DEBBE MAGNUSEN AT HER HOME IN COSTA MESA. PHOTO: DREW KELLEY

“We are committed to helping women with whatever they need – everything from food and shelter to pre-and-post natal care to adoption service or helping her to raise her child herself, said Magnusen. “Most importantly, we do it all without judgment.”

At the time she began, it was illegal to surrender unwanted babies. Today, women can legally surrender unwanted babies at fire stations, hospitals, or other locations legally. Project Cuddle is one resource that these drop-off locations

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can turn to for assistance in finding the children care and a loving family.

Today, Project Cuddle has volunteers around the country who are willing to step in at a moment’s notice to help women in crisis find a compassionate solution to their dilemma. Through licensed adoption agencies Project Cuddle can link hopeful parents with children providing a wonderful outcome to a terrible situation. Other times, mothers just need help and support to sort out the best alternatives which may

also include housing, counseling, food, and provisions for the baby so that the mother can successfully raise the child.

Again, all this is done in a supportive, non-judgmental environment.

They even get asked by women in abortion clinics who have had a change of heart but don’t know where to turn.

One of Magnusen’s early calls eventually led to the adoption of her first child.

Since then, Debbe and her husband adopted five children in addition to their CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

FEATURE / CATHOLIC FAMILY LIVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

two biological children. All adults now, they are well educated, thriving and living the life God meant for them In all, Project Cuddle has rescued nearly 1,000 children across the country, and a few overseas.

Debbe attributes her passion for abandoned babies to an incident in Mexico when she was about 8 yearsold. Her father, a dentist, was visiting an orphanage in Mexico to care for the children’s dental needs. While young Debbe was sitting at the dinner table with the other children, a bedraggled man burst into the room caring for a naked newborn, covered in blood with the umbilical cord still attached. The orphanage immediately took the child in, but the visual of this poor unwanted baby remained in the recesses of Debbe’s heart.

“I think I had blocked it out for many years because the memory was so traumatizing, recalled Magnusen.

“But after I had started rescuing babies, my mother reminded me of the incident in Mexico, and it brought all the memories flooding back. I think that is where I get my commitment to this cause.”

Early on, Project Cuddle attracted the attention of many celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, John Stamos and Paula Abdul who recorded a video to introduce the public to the need for Project Cuddle, and the services it provides.

Project Cuddle is based in Costa Mesa. There are always opportunities for volunteers and donations of cash or baby items. People interested in volunteering can download a application online to begin the process.

Magnusen says it typically costs about $1,000 to rescue a baby – funds to help the mom or cover other fees. For more information, please visit www.projectcuddle.org or call 714-432-9681. The toll-free crisis hotline is 1-800-628-3353. C

WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES OUR FAITH IS TESTED AND THEN BECOMES STRONGER ONCE FACED WITH ADVERSITY

BY CATHI DOUGLAS

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T’S ONLY HUMAN to question the goodness of God when tragedy strikes, whether it’s a personal disaster or the global coronavirus crisis.

For those of faith, however, even the most horrific event opens our hearts to a profound relationship with Our Lord.

One silver lining of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic is the cultivation and nurturing of family togetherness; we found comfort and meaning in being thrown together for months at a time.

Thus, a lasting effect of the coronavirus may be flexible work schedules permitting family togetherness.

In the same way, a sudden health emergency forces us to both treasure our loved ones and thank God for his mercy. For me, my husband’s recent collapse at a large, noisy holiday party reminded us of our frailty. Thankfully, he is fine now – but the incident was frightening.

I’d been so excited to attend a party that meant dressing up and paying special attention to my hair and makeup, and to get outside our coronavirus ‘bubble’ to reconnect with friends.

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

It was such a large gathering that we were waylaid again and again by hugs and conversations. The next thing I knew, my husband Les passed out cold.

He fell right onto his head, something that I saw in slow motion yet couldn’t prevent, with a terrible sound of his forehead’s smack against concrete. It’s a sound that I won’t soon forget.

The event screeched to a halt as nearby off-duty nurses tended to Les and the paramedic team checked him for heart and brain issues. While it seemed like an eternity, it took just a few minutes to revive him, clear him of immediate danger, and to make our way safely home.

Other than looking like he’d been in a fistfight, Les suffered no aftereffects. Our doctor thoroughly evaluated him, including referring him for a brain scan. Ultimately, we chalked it up to low blood sugar from going too long between meals.

I wish I could say that I immediately flew into action when faced with my unconscious husband, but the reality is that I was nearly immobilized with shock. After it was over, all I could

think about was how close I seemed to come to losing my life partner and, with him, life as I know it. How could God endanger us in that way?

That evil question lasted but a second, followed immediately by thanksgiving. We are offered a new chance for life, another day together, new memories.

When we Christians encounter trouble, our faith often becomes deeper, notes author Thomas Zanzig in “Understanding Catholic Christianity” from St. Mary’s Press, adapted in an article titled “When Tragedy Challenges Faith.”

“For many people who trust in God even in the presence of suffering, the Resurrection becomes not just a matter of belief but a life-giving reality that they experience in their life here and now,” Zanzig notes. “The Christian response to suffering is to hang in there and keep believing that goodness can eventually come from our pain, and that God’s grace is given to us when we suffer and when we grieve.”

Thus, it is with an especially grateful heart that I begin this new year – with thankfulness for God’s continued blessings and my dear family in 2022. C The Maria Ferrucci Catholic Family Living feature is intended to inspire families to live their faith in the way Maria Ferrucci did throughout her earthly life.

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FEATURE

ONELIFE LA RETURNS TO IN-PERSON CELEBRATION FAITHFUL ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND JAN. 22 EVENT THAT CELEBRATES BEAUTY AND DIGNITY OF HUMAN LIFE FROM CONCEPTION TO NATURAL DEATH

BY GREG HARDESTY

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N DEC. 12, 2021, in his weekly Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis said: “Faith is not an abstract theory, a generalized theory; no! Faith touches us personally and transforms each of our lives. Let us think about the concreteness of our faith….Brothers and sisters, let’s find something concrete and do it!”

The pope’s recent Advent message particularly resonates with Greg Walgenbach, director of Life, Justice and Peace at the Diocese of Orange, as he prepares for the annual OneLifeLA event in downtown Los Angeles, a daylong celebration of the beauty and dignity of every human life.

The event, to be held Saturday, Jan. 22, serves as a great opportunity to learn about how to get involved with many Southern California-based service organizations, Walgenbach said, such as ones that provide life-affirming support to pregnant women, assist immigrants and refugees, the homeless, survivors of human trafficking, the elderly, the disabled and the dying and help foster children find permanent homes.

O.C. Bishop Kevin Vann contributed funds to help get the daylong OneLife LA off the ground in 2015, and the event since has grown into a gathering of 10,000-plus Catholics throughout Southern California that echoes annual “March for Life” events in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.

While those two gatherings tend to concentrate on the pro-life movement and the rights of the unborn, OneLife LA aims to mobilize thousands of people to do good work every day to help those in need, Walgenbach said.

“The event is very much about the whole Catholic teaching and Christian

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ATTENDEES AT THE LAST ONELIFE LA MARCH, HELD IN JANUARY 2020. THE 2021 EVENT WAS CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19. COURTESY OF ONELIFE LA

understanding of life from conception to natural death and everything in between, for life to be protected and human dignity to be upheld and uplifted,” he said. “And it does that in a very celebratory way.”

ing speakers, and a 5 p.m. Requiem Mass for the Unborn at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral.

“Forward in Hope” is the theme of this year’s OneLife LA, which last year was held virtually because of the COVID-19 A WALK THROUGH pandemic. Event officials are closely DOWNTOWN L.A. monitoring the exploding Omicron The free, family-friendly event – held variant of the coronavirus but are hopeful outdoors – begins at 11 a.m. with a 1-mile necessary protocols such as wearing face solidarity-building walk through downcoverings and being vaccinated will make town L.A. and ends with a festival, live for a safe event this year. music, food trucks, entertainment, inspir“If you’re going to attend something,

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then this is probably a safe event to attend – it’s very spread out and there is no single point of entry,” said Isaac Cuevas, director of Immigration and Public Affairs in the office of Life, Justice & Peace at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

OneLife LA not only has grown in size but also in terms of its ability to help people recognize the importance of what the pro-life movement really is, Cuevas added.

“It’s not just about the unborn, but CONTINUES ON PAGE 9

FEATURE orangediocese • follow January 2, 2022 orangediocese Today, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord “They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother.

They prostrated themselves and did him homage.”

Matthew 2

ATTENDEES AT THE LAST ONELIFE LA MARCH, HELD IN JANUARY 2020. PHOTO COURTESY OF ONELIFE LA

orangediocese • follow January 1, 2022 orangediocese Happy New Year from the Diocese of Orange! Praying you have a blessed 2022!

“For you will surely have a future, and your hope will not be cut off.”

Proverbs 23:18

To report sexual abuse by clergy or church personnel please call: 1 (800) 364–3064 Healing and Hope After Abortion: 1 (800) 722–4356 New Hope Crisis Counseling Hot Line (24/7): 1 (714) NEW–HOPE or 1 (714) 639–4673

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

all stages of life,” he said. “It’s one thing to be pro-life, but another to recognize human dignity in all its facets. This event provides an opportunity for all of us to live out our own best lives in serving others.”

ARCHBISHOP, OTHERS TO SPEAK

Archbishop Jose H. Gomez is among seven scheduled speakers at this year’s event.

Others include Sister Bethany Madonna, who entered the Sisters of Life in 2007. While attending the University of Central Florida, she had a profound encounter with the Lord, which drew her heart toward the vulnerable unborn and their mothers. After her graduation in 2006, she worked for the Respect Life Office for the Diocese of Orlando before joining her religious community.

Another speaker, Deacon Ed Shoener, serves at St. Peter’s Cathedral in the Diocese of Scranton, Penn. Shoener is a founding member of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers and the Catholic Institute of Mental Health Ministry at the University of San Diego.

He serves on the Council on Mental Illness of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability and on the Board of Pathways to Promise, an interfaith cooperative that facilitates the faith community’s work in reaching out to those with mental illnesses and their families.

Deacon Shoener, along with family and friends, founded “The Katie Foundation” after his daughter, Kathleen, died by suicide in 2016. Katie’s obituary went viral because it spoke to the needs and concerns of people who live with mental illness.

Walgenbach urged parishioners to attend the event together to take back to their churches ideas about how to best serve their communities.

“We want to be a hopeful presence to those most in need,” he said.

Added Cuevas: “This is not just a one-day event for us. It’s an opportunity for people to come and learn about some organizations and get involved in their community.” C For more information about OneLifeLA and to register (not required, but recommended), visit onelifela.org.

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DIOCESAN NEWS

AROUND OUR DIOCESE

BY STAFF

CHRIST CATHEDRAL CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT MASS

The Christ Cathedral choir performed Christmas songs and carols prior to the celebration of Christmas Midnight Mass in Garden Grove. The Mass was celebrated by the Very Reverend Christopher Smith, rector and Episcopal vicar of Christ Cathedral.

“It is in living our ordinary lives in yes, these extra ordinary times, that Jesus continues to love us unconditionally just the way we are,” said Fr. Christopher Smith in his homily.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 12

THE CHOIR PERFORMS DURING CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT MASS AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL IN GARDEN GROVE. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE.

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THE VERY REVEREND CHRISTOPHER SMITH ADDRESSES THE CONGREGATION AS DEACON MODESTO CORDERO AND REV. DANIEL B. READER LOOK ON. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

DIOCESAN NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

OUR SAVIOR CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS DAY MASS

Christmas Day Mass was celebrated in Spanish and other languages at Christ Our Savior Catholic Parish in Santa Ana. This was the first Christmas Mass celebrated in the Diocese’s newest church, which was dedicated by

Bishop Kevin Vann on Sept. 11. The 18,500-square-foot sanctuary and is architecturally modern. It was originally planned to be the Diocese’s new cathedral until the Diocese bought the Crystal Cathedral campus in Garden Grove and renovated it. Christ Our Savior’s church seats 1,200 parishioners and is designed to accommodate Masses in American Sign Language.C

GUITARIST AL VALASCO PERFORMS DURING CHRISTMAS MASS ON DEC. 25 AT CHRIST OUR SAVIOR CHURCH. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

FR. JOSEPH ROBILLARD, PASTOR AT CHRIST OUR SAVIOR CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SANTA ANA, ADDRESSES PARISHIONERS DURING CHRISTMAS DAY MASS. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

FR. JOSEPH ROBILLARD GREETS A YOUNG PARISHIONER DURING CHRISTMAS DAY MASS AT CHRIST OUR SAVIOR CHURCH. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE J A N U A R Y 9, 2 0 2 2 n O C C AT H O L I C

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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS NEWS

FLYING HIGH

BY JENELYN RUSSO

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N THE FIRST NATIONAL Signing Day of the 2021-22 academic year, several senior athletes from Orange County Catholic high schools made their commitments to play their respective sports at the collegiate level.

Mater Dei High School had 24 student athletes from 10 sports programs sign letters of intent during a November 10 ceremony hosted at the Meruelo Athletic Center on campus.

Nine athletes from the school’s boys and girls water polo programs will be continuing to play at the next level.

Ryan Kerry committed to Wagner University. Logan McCarroll will be playing for Princeton University. Ryan McManigal and Luke Redoutey are both headed to UC Santa Barbara.

From the girls’ side, Gracin Kerry will be playing for Villanova University.

Genoa Rossi committed to UCLA. Jada Ward is headed to USC, and both Grace Klingler and Nicole Tyner signed with Indiana University.

The Monarchs baseball program saw three players make college commitments. Ethan Hedges committed to USC. Jack Kirrer signed with UC Berkeley, and Cade O’Hara is headed to Texas Tech University.

From the pitch, four players from Mater Dei’s girls soccer program will play at the collegiate level. Gracie Burns is headed to SMU. Annie Karich will play for Santa Clara University. Josephine Master signed with University of Colorado, Boulder and Angelina Rivas committed to University of Montevallo.

Girls volleyball player Jordyn Schilling will play for West Virginia University. From the boys’ volleyball program, Trevor Gruner committed to Campbells-

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ELEVEN SENIORS FROM SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL MADE COLLEGE COMMITMENTS IN NOVEMBER. PHOTO COURTESY OF SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL.

ville University and Jeffrey Sowa signed with Loyola University, Chicago.

Monarch basketball players Soleil Montrose and Lani White signed with University of Texas, El Paso and University of Utah, respectively.

Rounding out the Mater Dei signees are boys lacrosse player Rowan Piani who will play for The College of Wooster, girls lacrosse player Madeleine Luer who signed with Villanova University and rower Lydia Dillon who committed to University of Rhode Island.

“We congratulate these 24 exceptional students for their hard work and dedication to their sport while balancing their studies,” said Mater Dei Executive Director of Communications, Allison

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Bergeron. “We also commend and thank their support system of parents, teachers, coaches, mentors and friends who helped them reach this milestone event.”

Servite High School saw 11 of their senior athletes make collegiate commitments, including six from the Friars’ baseball program.

Chris Grothues and Jarrod Hocking are headed to UCLA. Xavier Cardenas III signed with San Diego State.

David Ladjevic committed to Long Beach State. Mikiah Negrete will play for University of San Diego and Trevor Schmidt signed with University of Arizona.

Golfers Jack Cantlay and Chip Deegan committed to Long Beach State and

the US Naval Academy, respectively.

And from the school’s soccer program, Eddie Villeda committed to UC Santa Barbara, and Justin Falson and Lucas Gimenez both signed with Sacramento State.

“It is always an incredible feat to earn the opportunity to play at the next level, but considering what these young men have gone through over the last couple years, the accomplishment is even greater,” said Servite Athletic Director, Alan Clinton. “We are so grateful for the way these Friars have represented Servite during their high school careers and are excited to see what they accomplish this year before moving on to compete collegiately.” C

GUEST COLUMN

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MARCHERS ASSEMBLE FOR THE ONELIFE LA EVENT IN JANUARY 2020. PHOTO COURTESY OF ONELIFE LA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

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714-956-4000 www.Masciel.com

Garrett Masciel • DRE#01920249

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family to genocide and hid while soldiers hunted for her for three months. She learned to forgive and now teaches others to recognize human dignity, even in those who are most difficult to love.

Lizzie Velasquez, born with a rare physical disorder, was once voted the world’s ugliest woman. She turned this situation around, shining the light of her joyful life to let everyone know that they are wonderfully made, no matter what they may see in the mirror.

JJ Hanson, a former Marine, lived with an aggressive and deadly brain tumor. He used his last months to speak against physician assisted suicide and help others see the beauty of their last moments, however difficult.

Karen Gaffney is a long-distance swimmer who crossed the English Channel, and she happens to have Down syndrome. Her life illustrates God’s gifts to all people, differently shared but equally loved.

OneLife LA 2022 is back in-person on Saturday, Jan. 22, beginning at 12 noon in downtown LA. Register at onelifela.org.

This year is especially significant.

With the Supreme Court set to rule on Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health as early as June, Roe v Wade could be overturned, returning abortion policy to each state.

Were Roe to be overturned, CA abortion laws would not change.

Instead, our focus in California should be to continue building a caring community that responds to the dignity of each person with love and mercy. This is the long view. It is not a quick fix. It requires commitment and a willingness to put ourselves in the place of another.

With the inspiring witness of our OneLife speakers, over the last seven years, OneLife LA has challenged thousands of people to perform works of mercy for their neighbors. We are transforming our communities and showing people their own dignity so they might see the dignity in others. Showing them that they are loved so they can respond in love to those around them. This is the transformative message of the Gospel. This is the foundation of the pro-life movement.

The message of OneLife LA is more important now than ever! I hope to see you at OneLife LA on Jan. 22, 2022!

Together, let us go forward in hope!C

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CATHOLIC NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

ON NEW YEAR’S, POPE SAYS A MATURE FAITH IS REALISTIC, BUT HOPE-FILLED

BY CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As Catholics begin a new year contemplating the motherhood of Mary, they should be inspired not to let problems weaken their faith or prevent them from helping others grow, Pope Francis said.

“In her heart, in her prayer,” he said, Mary “binds together the beautiful things and the unpleasant things,” and learns to discern God’s plan in them.

Pope Francis celebrated Mass Jan. 1, the feast of Mary, Mother of God, and World Peace Day, in St. Peter’s Basilica and then led the recitation of the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square with thousands of people, including dozens who held signs with the names of countries at war.

In his homily at the Mass, Pope Francis pleaded for an end to violence against women.

“Enough,” he said. “To hurt a woman is to insult God, who from a woman took on our humanity.”

And, in his Angelus address, Pope Francis insisted peace is a gift from God that requires human action.

“We can truly build peace only if we have peace in our hearts, only if we receive it from the prince of peace,” he said. “But peace is also our commitment: it asks us to take the first step, it demands concrete actions. It is built by being attentive to the least, by promoting justice, with the courage to forgive, thus extinguishing the fire of hatred.”

Peace also requires “a positive outlook as well, one that always sees, in the church as well as in society, not the evil that divides us, but the good that unites us,” the pope said. “Getting depressed or complaining is useless. We need to roll up our sleeves to build peace.”

Pope Francis said he could not look at

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POPE FRANCIS VENERATES A FIGURINE OF THE BABY JESUS AT THE START OF MASS MARKING THE FEAST OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD, IN ST. PETER’S BASILICA AT THE VATICAN JAN. 1, 2022. IN THE FOREGROUND ARE YOUNG PEOPLE DRESSED AS THE MAGI. PHOTO: ROMANO SICILIANI, POOL VIA CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

Mary holding the baby Jesus in her arms without thinking of “young mothers and their children fleeing wars and famine or waiting in refugee camps. And there are many of them.”

“Contemplating Mary who lays Jesus in the manger, making him available to everyone, let’s remember that the world can change, and everyone’s life can improve only if we make ourselves available to others, without expecting them to begin,” he said. “If we become artisans of fraternity, we will be able to mend the threads of a world torn apart by war and violence.”

In his homily earlier at the Mass, Pope Francis asked people to consider what it must have been like for Mary, who had been told by the angel that her

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son would be great, to give birth in an animals’ stall and to lay her baby in a manger instead of a cradle.

“His poverty is good news for everyone, especially the marginalized, the rejected and those who do not count in the eyes of the world,” the pope said. “For that is how God comes: not on a fast track and lacking even a cradle! That is what is beautiful about seeing him there, laid in a manger.”

But for Mary, a mother, it must have been painful to see her son in such poverty, the pope said.

Mary “gives God to the world” in a dark stable in Bethlehem, he said. “Others, before the scandal of the manger, might feel deeply troubled. She does not: she keeps those things, pondering them

in her heart.”

And through faith, he said, “in her mother’s heart, Mary comes to realize that the glory of the Most High appears in humility; she welcomes the plan of salvation whereby God must lie in a manger. She sees the divine child frail and shivering, and she accepts the wondrous divine interplay between grandeur and littleness.”

“At the beginning of the New Year,” he said, “let us place ourselves under the protection of this woman, the mother of God, who is also our mother. May she help us to keep and ponder all things, unafraid of trials and with the joyful certainty that the Lord is faithful and can transform every cross into a resurrection.” C

Moments MomentsininourourJourney Journey

The Nativity is reenacted by the Eucharistic Youth at St. Boniface in Anaheim before the Vigil Christmas Mass.

—Submitted by Shaun Nguyen

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

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