OC CATHOLIC - JANUARY 23, 2022

JANUARY 23, 2022

AROUND OUR DIOCESE

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

GOING VIRTUAL CHRIST CATHEDRAL RELEASES NEW VIRTUAL TOUR AVAILABLE ONLINE PAGE 6

THE VERY REV. CHRISTOPHER SMITH, RECTOR AND EPISCOPAL VICAR OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL, TAKES A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS USING A VR HEADSET. PHOTO COURTESY OF DIOCESE OF ORANGE

JANUARY 23, 2022

CONTENTS

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MURALIST WITH A MISSION

Artist Gina Seriel finds her vocation in her art and in helping the less fortunate.

GIVING SELFLESSLY

Finding ways to give off yourself to others is an expression of faith.

POPE ANNOUNCES MOTTO FOR HOLY YEAR 2025

Pope Francis decreed that the upcoming Holy Year theme will be “Pilgrims of Hope.”.

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

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

SCNG CUSTOM CONTENT Managing Editor: Caitlin Adams Art Director: Fernando M. Donado 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

BRIDGING DIVIDES SHOULDER TO SHOULDER

BY GREG ERLANDSON CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

T

HE ANNIVERSARY OF the Jan. 6 riot that humiliated Congress and horrified a good portion of our nation has gone more or less as one might have predicted during these divided times.

The two political parties went to their respective corners, one to commemorate the anniversary and the other to criticize the commemoration.

That our country is divided is undeniable. What seems to unite both left and right at this moment is distrust and despair.

They share a growing distrust of American institutions -- the three branches of government, the fairness of elections past and future -- and a growing sense of despair that this divide may not be bridgeable.

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A recent poll suggesting that a minority of Americans believe violence is justified to achieve their ends adds to the current whiff of apocalyptic fever.

Too often the news media can be complicit in adding to this fever. Journalists tend to paint in black and white, contrasting two extremes as a way of seeming balanced, while adding to the impression that we are all divided into two implacable, irreconcilable camps.

This binary way of seeing ourselves and our nation is fundamentally distorted, according to Noelle Malvar, a senior researcher with More in Common USA. In a recent interview with Kevin Loker of the American Press Institute, Malvar argues that “divisions among the majority of Americans are not as extreme as we think.”

Research by her organization compares

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CONTINUES ON PAGE 12

GREG ERLANDSON, DIRECTOR AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, CAN BE REACHED AT GERLANDSON@CATHOLICNEWS.COM. PHOTO: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

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

GOD’S LAW

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CRIPTURE HAS ALWAYS HELD God’s law to be the path to human happiness. In today’s first reading, Ezra the priest reads the scroll of the law to the people returned from exile. They weep—then are joyful. Israel’s relationship with God had always been defined by how they kept and lived God’s law. The author of Psalm 96 likewise praises the law of God as the source of wisdom, joy and enlightenment, purity and justice.

In his advice to the bickering Corinthians, Paul points out that, just as God has made all parts of a human body essential for the health of the whole, living as “Christ’s body” requires that each member be recognized as necessary for the good of all. Finally, in Luke’s Gospel Jesus claims that the Spirit is sending him to relieve human suffering. Like Ezra, he is reading from a scroll, proclaiming God’s “law” of mercy to those in need.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. C

Life and “goodness cannot be defended with the ‘sword.’”

— Pope Francis

SAINT PROFILE

MARIANNE COPE 1838-1918

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ARBARA KOOB WAS BORN IN GERMANY, and moved to the United States with her family when she was 2.

She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in Syracuse, N.Y., serving for 20 years as a teacher and hospital administrator. In 1883 she traveled with six sisters to Hawaii to minister to people with Hansen’s disease, then known as leprosy. In 1888, they opened a home on Molokai for women and girls with the disease, and continued the work of St. Damien de Veuster after his death. Mother Marianne died on Molokai; her feast is her birthday. At her canonization in 2012, Pope Benedict XVI called her “a shining example of the tradition of Catholic nursing sisters and of the spirit of her beloved St. Francis.”. C

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

2 SM 5:1-7, 10; PS 89:20-22, 2526; MK 3:22-30

ACTS 22:3-16 OR 9:1-22; PS 117:1BC, 2; MK 16:15-18

2 TM 1:1-18 OR TI 1:1-5; PS 89:4-5, 2730; MK 4:1-20

2 SM 7:18-19, 24-29; PS 132:1-5, 11-14; MK 4:21-25

2 SM 11:1-4A, 5-10A, 13-17; PS 51:3-7, 10-11; MK 4:26-34

2 SM 12:1-7A, 10-17; PS 51:12-17; MK 4:35-41

JER 1:4-5, 17-19; PS 71:1-6, 15, 17; 1 COR 12:31 — 13:13 [13:413]; LK 4:21-30

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FEATURE

MURALIST WITH A MISSION LOCAL ARTIST FOUNDS THRIVING HOMELESS MINISTRY

BY BILL QUINNAN

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HEN GINA SERIEL moved to Orange County from the Naples, Florida area in 2004, it undoubtedly seemed the ideal locale for her career as an artist. Little did she know that her decision to come to the region would also lead to her founding Our Father’s Table, a ministry that has already helped more than 300 people overcome chronic homelessness since its inception in 2014.

As a classically trained artist specializing in custom projects for high-end residences, Seriel has created everything from murals to trompe l’oeils to hand-painted wallpaper. And indeed, Orange County’s luxury housing market afforded steady demand for her talent.

But upon returning to the practice of her faith in her 40s, Seriel felt the Lord calling her to something greater. “(I) felt that, ‘Lord, there’s got to be more to life than painting murals in people’s homes,’” she said. “I love what I do, but there’s just got to be more to life than that.”

RETURNING TO THE FOLD

Born and raised in a Cuban-Sicilian home, “Catholicism was pretty much in our blood from generations back,” Seriel said.

“So, I ended up going back to the Church and going, ‘Lord, where do you want me to be? What do you want me to do? Whatever you want my life to be for your purpose, let me know and I’ll do it,’” she explained.

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GINA SERIEL WITH BISHOP EMERITUS TOD BROWN. PHOTO COURTESY OF GINA SERIEL

She began attending Mass at Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano, becoming involved with Serra’s Pantry among other ministries. While working with a particular woman through the ministry, Seriel witnessed firsthand how complicated rising out of chronic homelessness can be.

“Our Father’s Table kind of sprang from that daily Mass and that daily prayer of, ‘What do you want me to do?’” she said.

While the organization’s name evokes images of people coming to the Lord’s table as one, Seriel also sees it as a tribute to her own father. She recalls how he did not hesitate to share his meal with a hungry stranger in need outside a restaurant in Athens.

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“It was instinctual. He didn’t even flinch,” she said.

A PERSONAL APPROACH

The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development defines a chronically homeless person as someone who is not part of a homeless family; has either been homeless for a year or more or has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the least three years; and has a disabling condition such as a substance-abuse disorder, a serious mental illness, a developmental disability or a chronic physical illness or disability.

“That group has a very specific set of needs, a very specific set of barriers,” Seriel said. “So, I decided to really focus

on that – how can we help them? What are their needs? And from that point on, we created a homeless-intervention program, and from that intervention program we really work on restoration.”

Seriel noted that while there are hundreds of agencies and thousands of programs designed to serve the homeless, the chronically homeless are seldom aware of the programs that exist, much less which are best suited to help them personally. Moreover, Seriel has found that overcoming chronic homelessness typically requires interaction with dozens of agencies from the time one is homeless until one is in a stable housing situation.

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FEATURE / CATHOLIC FAMILY LIVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

“When someone enters into our program, we have a very one-onone relationship with them … We become their mentor, we become their advocate, we become their navigator,” Seriel said. “We’re … looking at and what are the specific hurdles they’re trying to overcome ... and then we address those together.”

REACHING OUT

Rather than drawing homeless people in through food drives and other events, Seriel and other Our Father’s Table volunteers actively go out seeking those in need. Seriel notes that while members of the homeless community suffering severe mental illness or addiction may be easy to spot, others maintain a low profile.

“I teach my volunteers all the time the little things to look for, for somebody who’s living on the street that normally you wouldn’t notice,” she said.

Our Father’s Table’s Care Navigators strive to build permanent friendships with those they seek to help, an approach Seriel sees as a vital to the organization’s 95 percent success rate. Viewing the individuals it serves as friends rather than clients, Our Father’s Table is better able to adapt to the desires of the individual, and even provide assistance if needed after the individual is no longer homeless.

“We have the unique ability to really connect with our folks – that’s one of our secret sauces for our success rate,” Seriel said. “These success stories aren’t the end results of something that we have created, that we have wanted for them. The end result is what they have wanted for themselves.”

For more information about Our Father’s Table, visit ourfatherstableus.org. C

GIVING SELFLESSLY

DONATING TIME, TREASURE, AND TALENT IS A WORTHY GOAL IN THE NEW YEAR

BY CATHI DOUGLAS

“Jesus’ disciples and Christian stewards recognize God as the origin of life, giver of freedom, and source of all things. We are grateful for the gifts we have received and are eager to use them to show our love for God and for one another. We look to the life and teaching of Jesus for guidance in living as Christian stewards...Stewards of God’s gifts are not passive beneficiaries. We cooperate with God in our own redemption and in the redemption of others.”

– “To Be a Christian Steward, A Summary of the U.S. Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on Stewardship” 1992

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HILE JESUS admonishes us throughout Scripture to give selflessly to others, most of us fail to follow His very clear directives.

Whether it’s charitable giving, volunteer work, or even praying for the less fortunate, many Catholics are so caught up in their own lives and worries that they simply can’t or won’t extend a helping hand.

As one who is guilty of that behavior myself, I’ve strongly resolved in 2022 to do more good works of all kinds. Such selflessness doesn’t come easily to me, or it seems, to most anyone else.

In fact, a 2011 report by Notre Dame

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

University’s Catholic Social and Pastoral Research Initiative written by theologian John Cavadini and sociologist Christian Smith, concludes that the vast majority of Christians fail to follow their own traditions’ directives when it comes to giving, and Catholics are less generous in voluntary financial giving than members of other Christian groups.

Of course, we must acknowledge that this is a vast generalization.

Many Catholics donate cash to their parishes, the diocesan Pastoral Services Appeal, local parochial schools, Catholic Charities of Orange County and many other Catholic and secular nonprofit organizations. At year’s end, many of us write additional checks to nonprofits as part of our tax planning.

Giving once weekly to my home parish was as much support as I could once muster when I led a busy life as a working mother of three little ones, but when I founded a home-based business and became more in command of my schedule, my daughter and I spent a year teaching homeless youth through

School on Wheels. It was the beginning of hands-on volunteerism that continues today.

While dedicating hours to personally help others is both valuable and inspirational, I still find that the most challenging form of giving is remembering to pray for others. It is so natural to say a prayer for my family members and dearly departed friends and family; it’s another thing entirely to dedicate valuable prayer time to strangers, known or unknown to me personally.

I must find the time and energy, as well as the inspiration, to pray for the needy, those in Purgatory, the homeless, and those who struggle with illness and misfortune. I can start by dedicating my attendance at Sunday Mass to an individual in need, praying the Rosary for others’ special intentions and offering up daily sacrifices to other people.

If I want to follow Jesus’s mandate to selflessly give to others, then I must through the power of prayer extend His love and peace to others in the new year – as well as through charitable giving and good works. 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

GOING VIRTUAL CHRIST CATHEDRAL RELEASES NEW VIRTUAL TOUR AVAILABLE ONLINE

BY OC CATHOLIC STAFF

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ITH ITS STUNNING architecture and rich history, the Christ Cathedral campus is undoubtedly one of the most iconic cathedrals in America, and certainly one of the most unique.

To capture the majesty and heritage of the landmark property, the Office of Communications recently produced a comprehensive virtual tour of the entire cathedral campus, from its plaza grounds to the Tower of Hope.

The tour allows users using a computer (desktop or laptop), cell phone or virtual-reality headset to digitally walk through the sprawling 34-acre campus and its major buildings. And by “walking,” it means they click through the digital spaces within dozens of 360-degree images.

Virtual tours are becoming increasingly common for famous places, from the Louvre in Paris to the Great Wall of China. They are also popular in real estate listings. The tours allow users access to locations that resemble physically being there, but from the comfort of wherever they have a fast internet connection.

“I got the idea to make Christ Cathedral’s virtual tour after seeing one made for the White House,” said Bradley Zint, the Diocese’s assistant director of communications who spearheaded the effort.

“So I jokingly said, ‘If the White House has one, why can’t Christ Cathedral?’”

Aided by Jason Tomas, creative director of HowJaySay Studios, photography

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THE VERY REV. CHRISTOPHER SMITH, RECTOR AND EPISCOPAL VICAR OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL, STANDS IN THE CATHEDRAL’S GREAT PLAZA AND SHOWS HOW USERS CAN VIEW THE CATHEDRAL’S VIRTUAL TOUR USING A VIRTUAL-REALITY HEADSET. THE TOUR FEATURES MORE THAN 30 VIDEOS OF FR. CHRISTOPHER EXPLAINING VARIOUS DETAILS OF THE 34-ACRE CAMPUS. PHOTO BY SHAY RYAN/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE

for the virtual tour took place over several days this past summer. The 360-degree shots were captured using a special camera that sits atop a stick. The spaces needed to be empty of people and the lighting conditions just right to capture the awe-inspiring scenery.

Though other famous churches in the world have virtual tours, what makes Christ Cathedral’s unique is how comprehensively it captures all the major sites of the large property: Christ Cathedral, the Tower of Hope, the Chapel in the Sky, the Arboretum, the Great Plaza, Crean Tower and Cultural Center.

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It’s also notable for its priceless tour guide: the Very Rev. Christopher Smith, rector and episcopal vicar of the cathedral since 2012, when the campus was purchased by the Diocese of Orange as its new cathedral and headquarters.

As users embark on the tour, they will also see video icons. Clicking an icon opens up a video of Fr. Christopher explaining a particular aspect of the campus’ history, beginning with its founding as the Crystal Cathedral under the Rev. Robert Schuller through its transformation as a Catholic metropolis of worship under the Diocese of Orange’s steward-

ship.

The tour contains more than 30 videos that highlight things like buildings, chapels and sacred artwork.

“I was very happy to contribute and provide a context for the Christ Cathedral virtual tour,” said Fr. Christopher. “My involvement in much of the development of the campus since its acquisition by the Diocese of Orange has provided me with an insight into its history and legacy.”

“There is so much to know about the campus, from its artwork to its architecture, that any parishioner — even Diocese CONTINUES ON PAGE 9

FEATURE orangediocese • follow January 15, 2022 orangediocese Let’s celebrate five years of our Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Freyer!

Join us this Sunday, January 16, for 11:00 AM Mass at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Laguna Beach to celebrate The Most Reverend Timothy Freyer’s Fifth Ordination Anniversary.

He was ordained a Priest in 1989 and ordained Bishop on Jan. 17, 2017. We are incredibly blessed to have Bishop Freyer leading our Diocese and Church.

orangediocese • follow January 14, 2022 orangediocese Do you have the expectant faith that Jesus wants to heal you from your sufferings?

During this time of sickness and isolation for many, Fr. Ben reflects on the Gospel story of Jesus healing the leper (Mark 1:40-45). Jesus desires to heal us from all of our ailments.

Listen to Fr. Ben’s complete reflection through the link in our bio!

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

ON THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL VIRTUAL TOUR, USERS CAN WALK AROUND THE CATHEDRAL WITHIN 360-DEGREE IMAGES AND LEARN ABOUT VARIOUS COMPONENTS, SUCH AS THE RELIQUARY, ALTAR CANDLES, CATHEDRA AND CRUX GEMMATA. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

employees — can learn something about the campus from watching Fr. Christopher’s videos,” added Zint.

Interesting facts Fr. Christopher shares in the videos include: how light beams regularly shrine onto the floor of Christ Cathedral and create crosses, a phenomenon that was actually a happy accident; how the Chapel in the Sky closely resembles a smaller version of the Arboretum, both of which were designed by Richard Neutra; and how the Arboretum still has the small balcony Rev. Schuller famously preached from that overlooks the parking lot.

In addition to Fr. Christopher’s engaging narration, the videos feature stunning photography taken on the campus, some of which have never been published before.

Future expansions of the Christ Cathedral virtual tour will include the newly expanded Cathedral Memorial Gardens cemetery grounds and the

CHRIST CATHEDRAL VIRTUAL TOUR TIPS n The tour is best viewed using a laptop or desktop computer, but it is also accessible on mobile devices. n Given the high amount of data, video and images required to view the tour, a fast computer processor is recommended for an optimal viewing experience. n The tour can be viewed using a virtual reality headset on your mobile device. n The tour can be streamed online or directly downloaded for offline playing. n Headphones are recommended for the best audio experience.C

Our Lady of La Vang Shrine.

The Christ Cathedral virtual tour is available by visiting www.rcbo.org/ virtualtour C

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DIOCESAN NEWS

AROUND OUR DIOCESE

BY STAFF

ST. PHILIP BENIZI CATHOLIC CHURCH DEBUTES NEW ARTWORK

St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church in Fullerton debuted a new artwork for the campus during a special ceremony on Dec. 20. The Modern Baroque-style mural depicts the life of St. Philip Benizi, the parish’s patron saint. Bishop Kevin Vann attended the dedication and blessed the work, which was created by father-son duo Peter and Paul Mester.

MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO NAMES FIRST CORPORATE GIVING OFFICER

Mission San Juan Capistrano welcomed Juliet Patino to its staff earlier this month as Corporate Giving Officer.

The new position was created to better involve the local business community in the care and stewardship of the hisARTISTS PAUL AND PETER MESTER ATTEND THE DEDICATION OF THEIR MURAL, “A PICTORIAL LIFE OF ST. PHILIP BENIZI,” ON DEC. 20 AT ST. PHILIP BENIZI CHURCH IN CONTINUES ON PAGE 11

FULLERTON. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

FATHER DENNIS KRIZ AND BISHOP KEVIN W. VANN ATTEND THE DEDICATION AND BLESSING OF THE MURAL, “A PICTORIAL LIFE OF ST. PHILIP BENIZI,” ON DEC. 20 AT ST. PHILIP BENIZI CHURCH IN FULLERTON. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

JULIET PATINO WAS RECENTLY NAMED MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO’S FIRST CORPORATE GIVING OFFICER. PHOTO COURTESY OF MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

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DIOCESAN NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

toric landmark through partnerships, underwriting, sponsorships and private foundation support.

Patino cites the importance of developing a deep appreciation for companies who invest in nonprofits in their community through the voices of their employees.

“Businesses are home to wonderful and caring individuals who want connection to their passion and they are using their voices, time and commitment to enrich their community for all to enjoy. Building a bridge to bring corporations, individuals and nonprofits together is my passion.”

Patino received a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology from the University of La Verne and resides in South Orange County with her family.

INFO SESSIONS ON WORLD YOUTH DAY

The next World Youth Day will take place in Lisbon, Portugal in August 2023.

The Diocese of Orange Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry will host three information sessions for young adults to introduce them to World Youth Day and to present potential itineraries for this pilgrimage. Young adults are invited to learn more about the possibility of attending this experience and give their feedback regarding itinerary options.

The information sessions will take place on Monday, Jan. 24 and Thursday Jan. 27 in person at the Pastoral Center, at Christ Cathedral campus and Monday, Jan. 31 via Zoom.

BECOMING HOLY SPOUSES DATING & MARRIAGE WORKSHOP AT ST. POLYCARP

On Saturday, Feb. 5 St. Polycarp Catholic Church will host a practical dating and marriage workshop for young adults ages 18 to 35. The intention of this event is to prepare young adults to become holy spouses through

ST. IRENAEUS CATHOLIC CHURCH, CYPRESS. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

dating and marriage relationships. Single, engaged and married young adults are welcome!

Spots are limited!

Early bird pricing is $27, or $35 at the door.

Coffee, water and lunch will be provided. All remaining proceeds will be donated to pro-life centers in California.

For tickets, visit https://www. eventbrite.com/e/dating-marriage-workshop-tickets-231888634147

2022 SOLIDARITY WALK AND PRAYER VIGIL

The St. Irenaeus Health Ministry’s Bridge of Light: Human Trafficking to Human Triumph Ministry invites you

to join their 2022 Solidarity Walk and Prayer Vigil from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 7 to honor human trafficking victims. The event will be held at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church, 5201 Evergreen Ave. in Cypress.

The Solidarity Walk and Prayer Vigil will begin with Taize prayer in the church. Then everyone will walk in a candlelit procession to several stations, where we will turn on the light to recognize victims hidden in plain sight. We will shine our light to reveal the causes of human trafficking; how our purchases affect the lives of others; the ways men, women and children are victimized in sex and labor trafficking; and how laborers are exploited and

trapped in farms, factories and ships.

We will then conclude our vigil walk to the Education Building, where a short presentation will take place.

Note that this annual walk and vigil also honors St. Josephine Bakhita, patron saint of human trafficking victims, whose Feast Day is the next day (Feb. 8) as well as the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking.

Please join us in prayerful solidarity to shine light on the darkness of human trafficking and learn how to fight this heinous crime. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Monica Kovach, chair of Bridge of Light Ministry, at (310) 490-6113.C

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GUEST COLUMN Merchandise Fitness-Weight Loss LOSE 15-30 LBS IN 30 DAYS! I work with Clergy and Parishioners successfully! Easy & Safe. Gil Yurly 714-206-0443

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Real Estate Out of State Property Colorado OLD TOWN CHARM House for sale by Owner Open House by Appointment 303-828-4512 (leave message) Newly Renovated from Doors to floors Old Town Erie 260 Pierce St. $595,000 - NO HOA 4BR/2BA, detached 2c gar, close to b u s i n e s s e s , schools, rec center, etc. Weld County, Sale area 7,500sf, Leal Description L910 Blk 19 1660sf, 5 Stars Re-1J St. Vrain School District. New furnace, C/air, roof, filter gutters, deck, Elec/Gas Xcel Energy, Water/Sewer Town of Erie.

Real Estate Out of State Property Colorado OLD TOWN CHARM House for sale by Owner Open House by Appointment 303-828-4512 (leave message) Newly Renovated from Doors to floors Old Town Erie 260 Pierce St. $595,000 - NO HOA 4BR/2BA, detached 2c gar, close to b u s i n e s s e s , schools, rec center, etc. Weld County, Sale area 7,500sf, Leal Description L910 Blk 19 1660sf, 5 Stars Re-1J St. Vrain School District. New furnace, C/air, roof, filter gutters, deck, Elec/Gas Xcel Energy, Water/Sewer Town of Erie.

OC CATHOLIC SEEKS FREELANCE WRITERS

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A U.S. CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER IN WASHINGTON STANDS WATCH DURING A PRAYER VIGIL JAN. 6, 2022, THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL BY SUPPORTERS OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. PHOTO: JONATHAN ERNST, REUTERS / CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

how much Democrats and Republicans think they disagree with how much they actually disagree.

She calls this a “perception gap,” and studies show that both sides think that “almost twice as many people on the other side hold extreme views than really do.” Worse still, those of us who consume a lot of news media tend to be “almost three times as inaccurate” as those who consume less.

Unchecked, of course, this kind of misunderstanding of those with whom we disagree can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, each side exaggerating the extremism of their opponents and justifying their own.

While the church was relatively quiet in marking the Jan. 6 anniversary, perhaps it can play a role in addressing the perception gap that worsens our divide.

The glory and frustration of being an attentive Catholic, after all, is that we do not fit neatly into the binary political categories that so often Americans are shoved into.

We Catholics are pro-life and supportive of social justice. We support the right to private property as well as unions and workers’ rights. We uphold

a nation’s right to defend itself and we defend the rights of the immigrant and the refugee.

Ideally, being a Catholic is to be both/ and rather than either/or. While political ideology can trump the teachings of the church for some of us, Catholics do not fit neatly into the boxes that the media or popular perception may want to place us.

And for that reason, I wonder if the church can play a mediating role in the midst of our division. It can provide a meeting ground where Catholics and others who identify with either party can meet the other.

In 2020, the bishops’ conference promoted a program called “Civilize It,” hoping to ratchet down the anger in the political discourse. It provided prayers, resources and even a pledge.

To build on that initial effort, parishes and dioceses could bring people together for acts of service. In a soup kitchen, a pantry, eucharistic adoration, a prolife prayer vigil or a homeless shelter is where diverse Catholics can stand shoulder to shoulder.

Our differences are real, but not as huge as we fear. What we need to pay more attention to is what binds us together. C

CATHOLIC NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

GOMEZ: IMITATE REV. KING’S ‘EXAMPLE, PROPHETIC WITNESS’ IN WORK FOR JUSTICE

BY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged all people of goodwill to commemorate the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Jan. 17 holiday named for him by remembering “not only the justice he pursued, but how he pursued it.”

The civil rights leader “was driven by the biblical vision of righteousness and truth, a vision that he understood to be reflected in our nation’s founding documents,” Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez said in a Jan. 15 statement.

“He believed in what he called the ‘American creed,’ the belief expressed by our founders that all men and women are created equal and endowed by God with a sacred dignity and undeniable rights to life, liberty and equality,” the prelate added.

Rev. King, who was assassinated in 1968 at age 39, would have turned 93 Jan. 15. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on the third Monday of January each year.

Today, 54 years after his death, “America faces many challenges,” Archbishop Gomez said. Among them, he said, are “this ongoing pandemic, issues of economic inequality and racial discrimination, violence in our communities, the struggle to welcome immigrants and refugees.”

“In recent years, our nation has also become more polarized and our divisions angrier,” he said.

In looking to the future, “let us continue to draw from Rev. King’s wisdom, especially his commitment to the beatitudes of Jesus, and the principles of nonviolence and love for our enemies,” Archbishop Gomez urged.

He referenced Rev. King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” an open letter writ-

THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON IS SEEN IN THIS ILLUSTRATION PHOTO. THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE SLAIN CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER IS COMMEMORATED JAN. 17, 2022, WHICH IS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY. PHOTO: TYLER ORSBURN / CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

ten April 16, 1963, by the Baptist minister and activist while he was confined in a jail cell after he and other civil rights leaders were arrested for holding a nonviolent demonstration over the treatment of Blacks in Birmingham, Alabama.

A court had ordered that Rev. King could not hold protests there. He spent eight days in jail before being released on

bail.

In his letter, “Rev. King reminds us that we are brothers and sisters, part of a beautiful web of relationships of mutual care, each of us depending on others as others depend on us,” the archbishop said. “’Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,’ he wrote. “We are ... tied in a single garment of destiny.

Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

“Let us go forward in that same spirit of fraternity and solidarity, and let us carry on his work for equality and justice,” Archbishop Gomez said. “As we remember Rev. King, let us continue to learn from him and imitate his example and prophetic witness.” C

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CATHOLIC NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

VATICAN ANNOUNCES ‘PILGRIMS OF HOPE’ AS MOTTO FOR HOLY YEAR 2025

BY CAROL GLATZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis approved “Pilgrims of Hope” as the motto for the Holy Year 2025.

“The motto aims to give a concise sense of the full meaning of the jubilee journey, Archbishop Rino Fisichella told Vatican News Jan. 13.

The words “pilgrims” and “hope” also represent key themes of Pope Francis’ pontificate, said the archbishop, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, which is in charge of the Holy Year planning efforts.

The archbishop said the pope approved the motto Jan. 3 and that he is awaiting further instructions from the pope. In the meantime, the council already is working with Vatican and Italian authorities on the best way to welcome a large number of visitors during the year.

Traditionally for holy years, the celebrations begin with the pope opening the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve and ends with the sealing of the door one year later. The holy doors of St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major are opened for the year, too.

A holy year or jubilee is a time of pilgrimage, prayer, repentance and acts of mercy, based on the Old Testament tradition of a jubilee year of rest, forgiveness and renewal. Holy years also are a time when Catholics visit designated churches and shrines, recite special prayers, go to confession and receive Communion to receive a plenary indulgence, which is a remission of the temporal punishment due for one’s sins.

Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed the first Holy Year in 1300 and decreed that they would be celebrated every 100 years. But just 50 years later, a

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A WOMAN TOUCHES THE HOLY DOOR IN ST. PETER’S BASILICA AFTER POPE FRANCIS OPENED IT TO MARK THE INAUGURATION OF THE JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY AT THE VATICAN IN THIS DEC. 8, 2015, FILE PHOTO. POPE FRANCIS HAS APPROVED THE THEME “PILGRIMS OF HOPE” TO BE THE MOTTO FOR THE HOLY YEAR 2025.

PHOTO:MAX ROSSI / REUTERS, CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

more biblical cadence, Pope Clement VI proclaimed another holy year. Pope Urban VI thought holy years should be celebrated every 33 years as a reminder of the time Jesus lived.

Finally, in 1470, Pope Paul II estab-

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lished the celebrations every 25 years, which has been the practice ever since.

However, special anniversaries have called for special holy years, for instance, in 1933 to mark the 1,900th anniversary of Jesus’ death and resurrection and in

1983 to mark the 1,950th anniversary.

Pope Francis, seeing a need to emphasize God’s mercy and to encourage Catholics to return to the sacrament of reconciliation, declared an extraordinary Year of Mercy, which ran in 2015-16. C

Moments MomentsininourourJourney Journey

Fr. Michael D. Nguyên, parochial vicar at St. Cecilia in Tustin, directs morning school traffic.

—Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Orange

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

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