OC CATHOLIC - FEBRUARY 13, 2022

AROUND OUR DIOCESE

PAGE 10

FEBRUARY 13, 2022

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

FAITH AND MARRIAGE VALENTINE’S DAY COINCIDES WITH WORLD MARRIAGE DAY, AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE AN IMPORTANT SACRAMENT PAGE 6

TWENTY-ONE COUPLES CELEBRATE THE CONVALIDATION OF THEIR MARRIAGES IN A CEREMONY AT GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ALEXANDRIA, VA., JUNE 24, 2017. PHOTO: TYLER ORSBURN / CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

FEBRUARY 13, 2022

CONTENTS

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VALENTINES AND MARRIAGE

Long marriages are a sign of faith and revolutionary love.

COUPLES IN OUR COMMUNITY

In celebrating marriage, we look at some of the couples exemplifying wedded love.

POPE: WITH GOD, NAVIGATE LIFE WITH TRUST, OPTIMISM

Pope Francis addressed his audience and exhorted them to allow God in their lives.

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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OCCatholicNews

@OCCCatholicNews

GUEST COLUMN

CELEBRATING WORLD MARRIAGE DAY

BY DEACON TONY MERCADO ST. MARY’S CHURCH, FULLERTON

W

ORLD MARRIAGE DAY is celebrated every second Sunday in February, coinciding with Valentine’s Day. In today’s world, most couples begin a relationship and see where it will go. Once they reach a certain milestone, they will consider marriage. When we, as Catholics, commit to marriage, our love and commitment rise to a new level. When we agree to marry our future husband or wife, we also agree to bring GOD into our lifelong commitment to each other, because we enter into a covenant with GOD. A covenant is a relationship of commitment with GOD and HIS people.

As couples prepare for marriage, they choose scripture that will be used during their

wedding ceremony. Most couples will choose scripture from 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8a, because of the beautiful words, “Love is patient, love is kind… It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.” These are beautiful words.

They are powerful words. They really help us to understand that love as a universal understanding does not describe an emotion. Love is an action. Love, as an emotional description is simple, too simple. We can love people, pets, food, etc., if we talk about how those things make us feel. But if we truly want to discuss love, especially for a husband or wife, we must talk about action as in the scripture I just mentioned. Bearing, believing, hoping and enduring are ways that we act or react to our husband or wife.

Most young couples thinking about CONTINUES ON PAGE 12

DEACON TONY MERCADO, ST. MARY’S CHURCH, FULLERTON. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

The Diocese of Orange, through OC Catholic newspaper, presents local, national and world news about the Catholic Church. Our intention is to give our readers access to a variety of perspectives in order to help them to process the information within the framework of our Catholic faith, but also to better understand the perspectives of those with opposing viewpoints.

We hope that ultimately our readers will be better equipped to have constructive conversations that further the growth of the Catholic Church.

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DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

“

The greatest disease in life is the lack of love…

— Pope Francis

FEELING BLESSED

C

ONGRATULATIONS! WELCOME to the Kingdom! Rejoice and leap for joy! Sounds a little like Easter, doesn’t it? Well, in a very real way, it is.

This Sunday, the scriptures remind us that we are blessed and beloved, especially when we have difficulties and don’t feel especially blessed. Jesus reminds us that God blesses us in our trials, so we should trust in the saving power of God. We are “raised from the dead,” as it were, each time we arise from our hardships. The ultimate proof of all of this is our new life in Christ, who died so that we could be free of sin, and was raised from the dead so that we might all have new life. Wouldn’t that be something? A new life, in which poverty is riches and sadness is transformed into lightness of spirit? It’s a topsy-turvy world, isn’t it? Do you feel blessed today?

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. C

”

VALENTINE

SAINT PROFILE

THIRD CENTURY

H

OW FEB. 14 CAME TO BE celebrated as the feast for lovers is somewhat a mystery. What little is known of the feast’s namesake can be attributed to the lives of two martyrs: one a priest, the other a bishop.

Their lives have no connection to the contemporary holiday. The priest Valentine reportedly was beheaded in 269 by Emperor Claudius II. The bishop, known for healing, was martyred earlier. It’s probable that a medieval custom of sending messages of love on this day somehow merged later with the feast. C

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

JAS 1:1-11; PS 119:67-68, 71-72, 75-76; MK 8:11-13

JAS 1:12-18; PS 94:12-13A; 14-15, 18-19; MK 8:14-21

JAS 1:19-27; PS 15:2-4AB, 5; MK 8:22-26

JAS 2:1-9; PS 34:2-7; MK 8:27-33

JAS 2:14-24, 26; PS 112:1-6; MK 8:34 — 9:1

JAS 3:1-10; PS 12:2-3, 4-5, 7-8; MK 9:2-13

1 SM 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; PS 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13; 1 COR 15:45-49; LK 6:27-38

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FEATURE

FAITH AND MARRIAGE VALENTINE’S DAY COINCIDES WITH WORLD MARRIAGE DAY, AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE AN IMPORTANT SACRAMENT

BY MEG WATERS

O

NE MIGHT THINK that something as consequential to humankind as the inception for the Creator’s earthly embodiment and mission of salvation, might take place in a more auspicious place than at a common wedding in a backwater hamlet on the outskirts of Galilee. Far from the magnificent temple in Jerusalem, and the corresponding crowds, wouldn’t it have been more effective to pick a grand stage to get the word out that something big was starting?

But our God is full of surprises.

The wedding feast at Cana has more layers of meaning than Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, but essentially, it exalted marriage as the second of what would become seven sacraments. Marriage is the foundation of the Christian family, and good marriages are the bedrock of a moral society.

Jesus’ ministry used the optics of a marriage to begin his work. Like a married couple, Jesus gave His whole self to establishing the New Covenant and His Church, the bride of Christ.

Several years ago, the Vatican initiated World Marriage Day to call special attention to the importance of marriage.

It is like the wedding anniversary for the sacrament of marriage – a time when we celebrate and look for ways to strengthen the bonds of married Catholics around the world.

This year the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) has dedicated

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SAINT VALENTINE BAPTIZING SAINT LUCILLA OF ROME BY JACOPO BASSANO, C. 1575 PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA

February 7-14 as National Marriage Week. The theme is: “Called to the Joy of Love.” Each Diocese has its schedule of events. There is even a Facebook

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page called For Your Marriage, a separate Catholic nonprofit dedicated to strengthening marriages.

The Diocese of Orange has celebrated

Worldwide Marriage week for 16 years.

The celebration’s highlight is a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Vann. It is always well attended. This year the tri-lingual Mass was held at Christ Cathedral at on Feb.7. Engaged and newly married couples were particularly encouraged to participate as Bishop Vann used the occasion to highlight long-married couples who share their joys and struggles.

Prayers were also offered for both married and recently engaged couples.

According to Armando Cervantes, Director of Youth, Young Adult, and Hispanic Ministries for the Diocese of Orange, many parishes also have special blessings for married couples or a special Mass. The week is also an excellent time to learn about the many support ministries for married and engaged couples provided by the Diocese.

The first step for couples seeking to marry in the Church is attending a marriage preparation course at the parish level. The system not only addresses the significance of the marriage commitment, but it also helps couples make decisions about important topics such as finances and domestic expectations.

The Marriage Course by ALPHA is for couples seeking practical support to strengthen their relationship, keep the spark alive and stay connected. The next 7-part series started on Feb. 10, 2022, and meets weekly on Thursday evenings from 7–9 p.m. (ends March 24). It will be conducted online via Zoom so participants can join from the comfort of home.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a weekend for married couples who value their relationship and desire a richer, fuller life together. Couples from all over the world have experienced the beauty and the gift of the weekend. The CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

FEATURE / CATHOLIC FAMILY LIVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

weekend dates for 2022 are Feb. 1820, May 20-22, June 24-26, Sept.

23-25, Nov. 11-13. Applications and additional information are available on the Diocese website or your local parish.

Retrouvaille is designed for marriages going through pain or stress.

It is intended to be an opportunity for healing and growth in the marriage. For more information, visit www.retrouvaille.org.

In a recent pastoral letter, Pope Francis spoke directly to married couples and families. “…all husbands and wives “set out” from their own land at the moment when, in response to the vocation to conjugal love, they decide to give themselves to each other without reserve.

Becoming engaged already means setting out from your land, since it calls you to walk together along the road that leads to marriage. Different situations in life, the passage of time, the arrival of children, work and illness, all challenge couples to embrace anew their commitment to one another, to leave behind settled habits, certainties and security, and to set out towards the land that God promises: to be two in Christ, two in one. Your lives become a single life; you become a “we” in loving communion with Jesus, alive and present at every moment of your existence. God is always at your side; he loves you unconditionally.

You are not alone!”

Anyone who has been married knows that it can be the couple’s greatest joy and deepest hurt. The Church and the Diocese want to create a culture where marriages can thrive. C Visit https://www.rcbo.org/resource/marriage-enrichment-resources/ to learn more about the Diocese of Orange’s marriage resources.

VALENTINES AND MARRIAGE EVERY LONGMARRIED COUPLE IS A REVOLUTIONARY LIKE ST. VALENTINE

BY CATHI DOUGLAS

S

T. VALENTINE, REPUTEDLY a bishop under the Roman Emperor Claudius II, was a Christian revolutionary who died because he defied an unjust law that made weddings illegal.

Thus, the patron saint of lovers with a holiday named for him was a martyr for marriage, as described by Francine and Byron Pirola in “St. Valentine and Revolutionary Marriage,” a 2018 story on their website, smartloving.org.

They write that every long-married couple is a revolutionary like St. Valentine: “A living witness to a beautiful truth.

We don’t get to be longtime married without standing, again and again, against the cultural pressure to be unfaithful, to pursue our own self-interests and gratify our every desire.”

Indeed, the Pirolas note, St. Mother Teresa of Kolkata used to urge her listeners that “Love, to be real, it must cost – it must hurt – it must empty us of self.”

Thus, the path to love as Christ loves, said Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons, is for spouses to work every day to acknowledge one’s faults, receive and extend forgiveness, and cultivate virtue – consistently doing good, not only for oneself, but also for one’s spouse.

Fitzgibbons, director of the Institute for Marital Healing and author of “Hab-

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

its for a Healthy Marriage: A Handbook for Catholic Couples,” [Ignatius Press, 2019], said there are two distinct views about marriage – the traditional Catholic belief and the non-religious model.

“The Catholic belief is that marriage is a sacred and lifelong union of husband and wife with the common mission of deepening their own mutual love, growing in self-knowledge and in virtues to become more Christlike, raising children, and helping each other to attain eternal life,” wrote Dr. Fitzgibbons.

“The non-religious model focuses primarily on seeking one’s own happiness through a satisfying emotional relationship, which is the fragile foundation for marriage due to an excessive reliance on one’s feelings.”

This year Valentine’s Day falls two weeks before Ash Wednesday – a traditional day of penance, fasting and abstinence. Couples who celebrate with a fancy dinner and a rich dessert, among other things, can enjoy a bit of a “fling” before Lent.

Perhaps this Valentine’s Day is the

perfect time to implement an idea from Marian Christiana, writing in 2019 on the Diocese of Knoxville’s website.

In “Marriage Enrichment: A Valentine’s Day Gift That Will Help Build Intimacy,” Christiana writes that her gift to her husband was to write him a love letter expressing gratitude for a past action.

“It may seem like such a simple thing,” she said, “but his selfless act of love has stayed with me all these years.

Memories like this one help to bring me back to the true joy in our marriage, especially on days that I need reminding.”

The letter is a gift that helps build intimacy based on shared memories and the feelings they create.

“Think of a particular instance in your marriage that causes you to feel grateful for your spouse whenever you think about it,” she recommended.

“Share that memory with your spouse in a letter of gratitude. You can still have the romantic dinner or sneak away for a romantic getaway, but I guarantee you that the letter about that particular memory will enhance your intimacy even more.” 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

COUPLES IN OUR COMMUNITY OC CATHOLIC HIGHLIGHTS SOME MILESTONE MARRIAGES IN THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

WHAT ROLE DOES YOUR CATHOLIC FAITH PLAY IN YOUR MARRIAGE?

My faith has always been very important to me. It meant so much to me when Dylan decided to become Catholic because it meant that we could grow deeper in our faith and love together with the Lord as our guide. Him being a Catholic made our wedding feel like a true Holy Matrimony rather than just a simple wedding ceremony.

— Ashley

BY PATRICIA MAHONEY

T

HIS SUNDAY FEB. 13, 2022, marks World Marriage Day. Traditionally observed on the second Sunday of February, the day honors a husband and wife as the core unit of the Christian family and their faithful commitment to the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

This year’s World Marriage Day theme is entitled, “Called to the Joy of Love.”

According to the United Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website, “The observances of National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14) and World Marriage Day (Sunday, Feb. 13) are an opportunity to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family.”

To honor the blessed union of husbands and wives, the OC Catholic has invited three married couples within the Diocese of Orange to reflect on their wedding day and the role their Catholic faith continues to play within their marriage.

The Catholic faith plays a big role in our marriage and life. We are constantly wanting to do better for ourselves and those around us. We have our ups and downs each and every day like any couple does but we both know that God and faith will get us where we need to be. He has a plan for us, and we look forward to his plan.

—Dylan

WHAT IS THE BEST MARRIAGE ADVICE YOU RECEIVED OR CAN GIVE?

The best marriage advice I received was to remember that our marriage will never be perfect. We are going to have challenges thrown our way and the most important part will be how we approach and get through those challenges together.

— Ashley

n Ashley & Dylan Isaacsen | October 23, 2021 | San Francisco Solano, RSM, CA | Married 3 months

WHAT IS A FAVORITE MOMENT OF YOURS FROM YOUR WEDDING DAY?

Aside from the exchange of coins, rings and vows, my favorite part was being able to incorporate Filipino wedding traditions such as the veil which symbolizes us being clothed in love as one and the cord which symbolizes being bound together in unity.

— Ashley

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ASHLEY AND DYLAN ISAACSEN ARE PICTURED ON THEIR WEDDING DAY, OCT. 23, 2001. COURTESY OF SHAY RYAN

A favorite moment of mine on our wedding day was seeing our family and friends come together to make our day extra special. The exchanging of our vows to make us husband and wife after

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a long time of planning and preparing.

Knowing that it was finally happening, and we were becoming one in the eyes of God. —Dylan

The best marriage advice I can give someone would have to be to follow your heart and follow God and learn to lean on those around you for help. With God and your heart leading your way, and the support of your loved ones around you. You will notice how different and easier life can be if you allow yourself to be guided instead of fighting everything around you.

—Dylan CONTINUES ON PAGE 9

FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

WHAT ROLE DOES YOUR CATHOLIC FAITH PLAY IN YOUR MARRIAGE?

n Katie & Tim Dawson | April 12,

1980 | St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Encino, CA | Married 41 years

Everything. There is no way we would have made 50 plus years without putting Jesus at the center of our marriage. There were storms that came in almost every way. We found that Jesus, the Church and sacraments carried us through. Despite the challenges, our love and faith grow stronger. We currently have a Bible study online, “The Bible and You” that enhances our faith and love for one another.

— Steve

Katie Dawson is the Director of Parish Evangelization and Faith Formation for the Diocese of Orange

WHAT IS A FAVORITE MOMENT FROM YOUR WEDDING DAY?

We were delighted by some friends who recreated the bottle dance from Fiddler on the Roof – four men dancing with bottles on their head! And none of them fell. So fun!

— Katie

KATIE AND TIM DAWSON ON THEIR WEDDING DAY, APRIL 12, 1980. COURTESY OF KATIE AND TIM DAWSON

WHAT ROLE DOES YOUR CATHOLIC FAITH PLAY IN YOUR MARRIAGE?

Tim and I were fortunate to meet at Loyola Marymount University and both of us were very involved in campus ministry and prayer meetings. We received some excellent support as we got ready for marriage and understood our decision as part of God’s invitation and call in our lives. We also understood that remaining in love for a lifetime would require the support of a faithful community and some supernatural grace. There are not just two of us in this project of marriage Christ is the center, the foundation of it.

— Katie

WHAT IS THE BEST MARRIAGE ADVICE YOU HAVE RECEIVED/OR CAN GIVE TO OTHERS?

When conflict arises – and it must – don’t generalize, hold grudges or punish each other. Never say “you never” or “you always” and don’t accumulate grievances and unload on the other.

Compromise and communication are essential – and of course, prayer together always helps.

— Katie n Deacon Steve & Mary Anne Greco

Our marriage has always been centered around our Catholic faith. We really became involved in volunteering at the parish level after we had children.

We always felt it was important to share our faith with others and help others draw closer to Jesus Christ. We taught Religion classes, attended Bible studies and later started teaching Bible studies. Our circle of friends was centered around the Catholic Church. We attended conventions, read books and spent many hours discussing our faith with each other and sharing it with others.

— Mary Anne

WHAT IS THE BEST MARRIAGE ADVICE YOU RECEIVED OR CAN GIVE? DEACON STEVE AND MARY ANNE GRECO WALK DOWN THE AISLE FOLLOWING THEIR WEDDING CEREMONY ON DEC. 18, 1971. COURTESY OF DEACON STEVE GRECO

| December 18, 1971 | Holy Family Church, Glendale, CA | Married 50 years Deacon Steve Greco is a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Orange. He serves at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Irvine, is the founder of Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry with his wife Mary Anne and hosts a weekly Catholic radio show.

WHAT IS A FAVORITE MOMENT OF YOURS FROM YOUR WEDDING DAY?

Most definitely having Mary Anne ap-

pear in her dress and walking down the aisle with her father. I felt tremendous amount of love for her and for the Lord Jesus for sending her to me.

— Steve My favorite moment was seeing Steve standing at the altar waiting for me to enter. I was surprised that at the end of the day, the most precious moments were during the Mass. After all the wedding planning for the reception, it was the Mass that was the most meaningful.

— Mary Anne

We have taught a course called “Marriage in the Lord.” That says it all. To the extent that Jesus is the center and glue of the marriage is the extent that the marriage will continue to grow in love and strength. Also, it is critical to learn how to forgive and to forget. Don’t hold on to the things that pull you apart.

— Steve The best marriage advice I would give anyone is to center your marriage around the Lord. Make Jesus the center of your marriage. It makes all the difference. Learn to forgive and never forget how much we are forgiven by God. C — Mary Anne

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DIOCESAN NEWS

AROUND OUR DIOCESE

BY STAFF

DIOCESE OF ORANGE CELEBRATES TET

The Most Rev. Thanh Thai Nguyen, auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Orange, presided over two Masses and celebrations marking the Lunar New Year and the traditional Vietnamese Tet holiday in February.

Bishop Nguyen was at the Vietnamese Catholic Center (1538 Century Blvd., Santa Ana) for the Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 1. On Feb. 5 at 8:30 a.m., Bishop also presided over the Mass and provided a special New Year’s blessing at the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine on the Christ Cathedral campus.

Tet is an abbreviation for Tết Nguyên Đán, which means the first morning of the first day of the first period. The Orange County celebrations are among the largest of their kind in the United States.

Many varieties of flowers were displayed throughout the week. Firecrackers were also lit, an act that is believed to weigh off evil spirits.

On the first morning of Tet, adults THE TET CELEBRATION HELD ON FEB. 1 AT THE VIETNAMESE CATHOLIC CENTER INCLUDED A DRAGON DANCE PERFORMANCE. THE DRAGON SYMBOLIZES GOOD LUCK FOR THE CONTINUES ON PAGE 11

NEW YEAR. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

BISHOP THANH THAI NGUYEN PRESIDES OVER A SPECIAL MASS TO CELEBRATE TET ON FEB. 1 AT THE VIETNAMESE CATHOLIC CENTER IN SANTA ANA. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

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A MASS AND CELEBRATION TO MARK LUNAR NEW YEAR WAS HELD ON SATURDAY, FEB. 5 AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE.

DIOCESAN NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

celebrate the New Year by presenting children with red envelopes that contain “lucky money,” or lì xì.

The Tet festival is not only a New Year’s celebration; it is a celebration of the symbiotic relationship between all things and honors the peaceful relationship between the Creator and humans.

Families often display yellow Mai flower trees (mai vàng) and/or cherry blossoms (hoa đào). They will also showcase other flowers, such as yellow chrysanthemums or orchids, which signal spring and a new beginning.

A tray of fruits is also displayed as a symbol of prosperity. Plenty of foods were prepared on the Lunar New Year’s Eve for family and friends to enjoy for three days of the New Year.

ST. POLYCARP HOSTS DRIVETHRU DISTRIBUTION EVENT

St. Polycarp Catholic Church hosted a drive-thru food distribution event in its parking lot on Saturday, Jan. 29 for families in need.

Distributed items included: whole chickens, yogurt, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, frozen foods, milk, juices, meats, cheeses, diapers, hand sanitizers, PPE COVID supplies, masks and COVID tests.

The event was sponsored by St. Polycarp Catholic Church FSC, Friends of Families, United Across Borders Foundation and the Community Action Partnership-Orange County Food Bank.

WALK FOR LIFE, ORANGE

On Jan. 22, Fr. Al Baca, director for evangelization and faith formation for the Diocese of Orange, joined over 350 Catholics on the Walk for Life. Many came in groups from their parishes.

St. Thomas More was present in big numbers with their pastor, Fr. Eugene Lee. The day begin with the celebration of Mass at St. Norbert in Orange. After Mass, a long procession of joyful Catholics walked almost 3 miles to Holy

ST. POLYCARP CHURCH, STANTON. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

Family in Orange.

This was the second year that the Walk for Life, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, has marched in the Diocese.

“Last year, 25 people marched in the first Walk for Life, so this year’s number was amazing,” said Fr. Baca.

Various Right to Life/Family Services were on hand to support the event, including Obria Medical Clinics, Mary’s Path, Horizon Pregnancy Clinic and Forty Days For Life. Special thanks to Jeff Rice of the Knights of Columbus for spearheading the event.

“Next year, we will double the numbers,” said Fr. Baca. “We gave witness to Life and to Jesus with prayer and joy!”C

FR. AL BACA JOINS FELLOW PARTICIPANTS FOR THE WALK FOR LIFE IN ORANGE. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE RIN F E B R U A R Y 1 3 , 2 0 2 2 n O C C AT H O L I C

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marriage are blinded by their emotions as they prepare for the sacrament of marriage. They think that their love is the greatest, by comparison to any other couple they can think of. Those of us who have been married for some time, can think back to those days of simplicity. As I reflect on the last almost 20 years of my marriage, I can think of several instances in where I fell deeper and deeper in love with my wife. I ask you to reflect on your marriage and do the same. Look back to the times that there were new developments in your marriage or new challenges – a medical issue, a financial issue, an addition

to the family (childbirth), the loss of a loved one. These are all everyday occurrences, yet they are all opportunities to rely on GOD and our husband or wife to help us through these events.

Marriage is such a beautiful experience. Whether we experience the joys of marriage or the challenges of marriage, the beauty of our married lives is that every day, we have the opportunity to love one another more than we did yesterday.

Why? Because “Love never fails”.

Each and every act of love that we experience gives us the opportunity to fall deeper in love as a married couple. What better example do we have of love than GOD? Afterall, GOD is LOVE… C

CATHOLIC NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

‘CALLED TO JOY OF LOVE’ IS THEME OF NATIONAL MARRIAGE WEEK USA FEB. 7-14

BY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON (CNS) — “Called to the Joy of Love” is the theme of this year’s National Marriage Week USA Feb. 7-14.

The week includes World Marriage Day, which this year is Feb. 13.

The annual observances “are an opportunity to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family,” said a Feb. 3 news release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The theme for this year’s celebration of National Marriage Week mirrors the title of a national pastoral framework for marriage and family life ministry approved by the U.S. bishops in June 2021.

Each day of National Marriage Week, digital content will be made available through USCCB’s social media channels: Twitter (@USCCB), Facebook (www.facebook.com/usccb) and Instagram (https://instagram.com/usccb).

Daily content will include a series of videos featuring how various ministries are fortifying married couples in the midst of challenges such as infertility, grief for the loss of a child, and the stressors of daily life.

Livestreamed events also will be available through USCCB social media channels including the recitation of the rosary for married and engaged couples and a conversation on what it means to care for a sick spouse.

The USCCB offers resources to the faithful for the promotion of marriage as a lifelong union of one man and one

JULIO PRENDERGAST AND CHRISTINA MACDOUGALL ARE ALL SMILES AS THEY EXIT ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN WADING RIVER, N.Y., FOLLOWING THEIR WEDDING MASS AUG. 20, 2021. THE THEME IN 2022 FOR NATIONAL MARRIAGE WEEK, CELEBRATED ANNUALLY FEB. 7-14, IS “CALLED TO THE JOY OF LOVE.” WORLD MARRIAGE DAY, OBSERVED ON THE SECOND SUNDAY OF FEBRUARY, IS FEB. 13 THIS YEAR. PHOTO: GREGORY A. SHEMITZ / CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

woman via three websites: ForYourMarriage.org, PorTuMatrimonio.org and MarriageUniqueForAReason.org.

Resources available to dioceses include a flyer that may be used by parishes as a bulletin insert, as well as social media graphics for download in English and Spanish at ForYourMarriage.org/ celebrate-national-marriage-week.

Last November in a presentation on “Called to the Joy of Love: A Pastoral Framework for Marriage and Family Life Ministry,” Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco told his fellow bishops that bolstering marriage

and family ministry is an appropriate undertaking during this “Amoris Laetitia Family Year.”

Declared by Pope Francis in March 2021, the year concludes June 26 during the 10th Meeting of Families in Rome with the pope.

Addressing marriage and family life is vital in a time when families are under increasing threats from “sweeping ideological currents that destroy and undermine our sexual identity as man and woman and God-given vocations as father and mother, son or daughter,” said the archbishop, chairman of the

USCCB’s Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth.

Launched in 2010, National Marriage Week USA is part of an international event aimed at mobilizing individuals, organizations and businesses in “a common purpose to strengthen marriage in communities and influence the culture,” said the USCCB release. World Marriage Day was started in 1983 by Worldwide Marriage Encounter.

The NationalMarriageWeekUSA.org website has more information about the weeklong observance and various resources. C

To report sexual abuse by clergy or church personnel please New Hope Crisis Counseling Hot Line (24/7): call: 1 (800) 364–3064 1 (714) NEW–HOPE or 1 (714) 639–4673 Healing and Hope After Abortion: 1 (800) 722–4356 F E B R U A R Y 1 3 , 2 0 2 2 n O C C AT H O L I C

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CATHOLIC NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

WITH GOD, PEOPLE CAN NAVIGATE LIFE WITH TRUST, OPTIMISM, POPE SAYS

POPE FRANCIS LEADS THE ANGELUS FROM THE WINDOW OF HIS STUDIO OVERLOOKING ST. PETER’S SQUARE AT THE VATICAN FEB. 7, 2022. IN HIS REMARKS, THE POPE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE NOT TO DESPAIR, BUT TO INVITE JESUS INTO THEIR LIVES. PHOTO: VATICAN MEDIA /CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

BY CAROL GLATZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Jesus wants people to invite him into their lives, no matter how poor, inadequate or shameful their lives are, Pope Francis said.

“Sometimes we feel unworthy of him because we are sinners. But this is an excuse that the Lord does not like, because it distances him from us!” the pope said Feb. 6 during his Sunday Angelus address.

“He is the God of closeness, compassion, tenderness and he does not seek perfectionism: he seeks our welcome,” he said.

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The pope addressed the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the midday Angelus prayer and reflected on the Sunday Gospel reading from St. Luke in which Jesus invites Simon Peter to try fishing again after catching nothing all night.

Pope Francis said daily life can be compared to the daily work of fisherfolk in which, “every day the boat of our life leaves the shores of our home to sail out into the sea of daily activities; every day we try to ‘fish from the sea,’ to cultivate dreams, to pursue projects, to experience love in our relationships.”

“But often, like Peter, we experience the ‘night of empty nets’” and the “disappointment of trying so hard and not

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seeing the desired results,” he said.

“How often we too are left with a sense of defeat,” which can breed “disappointment and bitterness” that can dangerously eat away at one’s heart like “termites,” he said.

It is precisely when one’s “boat” is empty, “when we have nothing to offer him,” that there is room for Jesus “to enter our voids and fill them with his presence,” the pope said.

“This is what the Lord loves to do,” he said: “to make use of our poverty to proclaim his wealth, our miseries to proclaim his mercy.”

“God does not want a cruise ship,” the pope said. “A poor ‘ramshackle’ boat

is enough for him, as long as we welcome him.”

With the Lord, people can “navigate the sea of life without fear, without giving in to disappointment when we catch nothing and without giving up,” he said.

Whether in one’s own personal life, in the life of the church or society, there is always “something beautiful and courageous that can be done, always,” the pope said.

“We can always start again -- the Lord always invites us to get back on our feet because he opens up new possibilities.”

Let us chase away pessimism and mistrust and put out to sea with Jesus!

Our little empty boat, too, will witness a miraculous catch,” he added. C

Moments in our Journey

Guests of Christ Cathedral campus visit Our Lady of La Vang Shrine in observance of Lunar New Year on Feb. 1.

—Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Orange

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

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