OC CATHOLIC - FEBRUARY 27, 2022

FEBRUARY 27, 2022

AROUND OUR DIOCESE

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

‘MY LIFE HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED’

FR. CHRISTOPHER SMITH REFLECTS ON RETIRING AS EPISCOPAL VICAR AND RECTOR OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL PAGE 6 FR. CHRISTOPHER SMITH EMBRACES BISHOP KEVIN W. VANN AFTER ANNOUNCING HIS RETIREMENT ON FEB. 13 AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

BE A VOICE IN THE '21-'23 SYNOD The Synod is a two-year process when the Church furthers the understanding of Her mission by listening to feedback from all who experience it.

The Diocese of Orange invites you to express your experience, sentiments, and thoughts by submitting your reflections online.

Participate today!

RCBO.org/synod

FEBRUARY 27, 2022

CONTENTS

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LENT. RINSE. REPEAT.

Our faith is a series of rituals and observances repeated across the years.

ART OF RELIGION

Fr. Peregrine Fletcher of St. Michael’s Abbey finds his vocation merged with his passion for art.

SHINE THE LIGHT ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING

St. Irenaeus Health’s special ministry, Human Trafficking to Human Triumph, held a solidarity walk and prayer vigil this month.

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.

OCCatholic.com

OCCatholicNews

@OCCCatholicNews

GUEST COLUMN

HOW TOM BRADY CAN INSPIRE OUR LENTEN DISCIPLINE

BY ELISE ITALIANO URENECK CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

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OM BRADY HAS RETIRED. Even as I write these words, I can still hardly believe it. The “greatest of all time” NFL quarterback’s career began when I was 16. I’m now nearly 38.

Since he was drafted, I graduated from high school, college and graduate school. I’ve had two different careers, gotten married and given birth to two sons. From what I can tell, I have more gray hair than he does, and I’m without any doubt in worse physical shape than he has ever been.

I’ve been reading a good deal about his career these past few weeks, marveling at his longevity as well as the many records he set over 22 years in the league. As has been

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noted by many, his skills not only didn’t diminish over two decades, but improved as time went on.

For all of the seemingly miraculous moments Brady gave sports fans -- even those like me who were conditioned to root against him by virtue of loyalty to home teams -there was no mystery as to how he pulled off what seemed like the impossible: Brady was single-minded in pursuit of his goals.

From what I can tell he had two of them: winning and being the best quarterback while marching his team down the field to victory.

There was also no mystery as to how he succeeded -- in fact, all of those come-backfrom-several-scores-down-in-the-fourthquarter moments he attributes to self-disci-

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CONTINUES ON PAGE 14

ELISE ITALIANO URENECK IS A COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT AND A COLUMNIST FOR CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE. 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

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WE ARE KNOWN

BY OUR FRUIT

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HIS WEEK, JESUS TELLS US that we must examine our own inner selves, our attitudes and dispositions, virtues and faults, rather than judging others. What is in our hearts comes out in what and how we speak. If our hearts are filled with kindness and compassion, those qualities will be evident in our speaking, just as beautiful, wholesome fruit comes only from healthy trees. And vice-versa. The Wisdom writer Sirach in the first reading agrees with this concept—that we will be judged by our words. Paul reminds us that the reward of discipleship is eternal life. Today’s psalm of thanksgiving and praise reminds us of God’s kindness and faithfulness, which we are to emulate in our thoughts, words, and deeds. We are known, each of us, by our own fruit.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. C

Don’t forget that God never tires of forgiving.

”

— Pope Francis SAINT PROFILE

ANNE LINE C. 1565-1601

A

NNE IS ONE OF THREE LAYWOMEN among the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales canonized in 1970 by Pope Paul VI. Anne Heigham and her brother were disowned by their Protestant father for converting to Catholicism. She married another disinherited convert, Roger Line, who died in exile in Flanders in 1594. Left penniless and always in poor health, Anne began working with Jesuits in London, where she organized and operated safe houses for priests and embroidered vestments. She took voluntary vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Within one month, February 1601, she was arrested, tried at the Old Bailey, convicted of hiding a priest, and hanged at Tyburn. Anne is a patron of the childless, widows and converts. C

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

1 PT 1:3-9; PS 111:12, 5-6, 9, 10C; MK 10:17-27

1 PT 1:10-16; PS 98:1-4; MK 10:28-31

JL 2:12-18; PS 51:36AB, 12-14, 17; COR 5:20 — 6:2; MT 6:1-6, 16-18

DT 30:15-20; PS 1:1-4, 6; LK 9:22-25

IS 58:1-9A; PS 51:3-6AB, 18-19; MT 9:14-15

IS 58:9B-14; PS 86:1-6; LK 5:27-32

DT 26:4-10; PS 91:1-2, 10-15; ROM 10:8-13; LK 4:1-13

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FEATURE

‘MY LIFE HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED’ FR. CHRISTOPHER SMITH REFLECTS ON RETIRING AS EPISCOPAL VICAR AND RECTOR OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL

now proudly say that,” he said.

FATED TO SERVE

Fr. Christopher, one of seven children of the late Gene and Joan Smith, seems fated to have overseen the development of Christ Cathedral. His grandparents lived next door to the drive-in theater where Rev. Schuller began preaching.

Equally fated appears to be the appointment of Fr. Bao, who while in the seminary shadowed Fr. Christopher, who at the time was pastor of St. Joseph Church in Santa Ana. “He’s been an excellent priest over the years and has exercised some good pastoral ministry and leadership,” Fr. Christopher said of his successor.

Fr. Christopher is a member of the Diocese of Orange’s first class of seminarians who were ordained priests on June 3, 1978.

After July 1, he will retain the title of rector emeritus of the Christ Cathedral parish and work on special projects, including the establishment of the St. Callistus Chapel to be built under the cathedral within its undercroft, as well as the relocation and restoration of the parish outreach center.

BY GREG HARDESTY

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ROM HIS 11TH-FLOOR OFFICE in the Tower of Hope, Father Christopher Smith can savor a panoramic view of Orange County and beyond.

“That’s where I was born,” the seventh-generation Californian said, pointing out St. Joseph Hospital, a speck in the distance.

Directly in his view just outside his window stands the iconic Christ Cathedral, which Fr. Christopher played a key leadership role in transforming from the former Crystal Cathedral into the spiritual home of the Bishop of Orange and a major center of Catholic worship on the West Coast.

Over the last decade, as episcopal vicar and rector of Christ Cathedral, Fr. Christopher has lived and breathed the administration, development and carrying out of the mission of the 37acre parish, which is comprised of the Christ Cathedral, Arboretum, Our Lady of La Vang Shrine, Cultural Center, Tower of Hope, parish school and other assorted facilities.

With the recent announcement of his retirement, Fr. Christopher is preparing to hand over the role of rector to his successor, Fr. Bao Thai, the current pastor of St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Tustin.

Fr. Christopher was the first staff member of the Diocese of Orange assigned to the cathedral after the Diocese purchased the campus and its buildings in 2012 from Crystal Cathedral Ministries, led by the late

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PRAISE FROM BISHOP VANN FR. CHRISTOPHER SMITH RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT FROM HIS POSITION AS EPISCOPAL VICAR AND RECTOR OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

Rev. Robert H. Schuller.

And he was there for the completely renovated and updated Christ Cathedral’s dedication in 2019.

It’s time to step down, he says. But the transition won’t be easy.

“I’ve been honored to have a significant say in the development of this campus,” he said, adding that he got emotional when announcing his retirement at Masses celebrated Feb. 12-13.

His voiced wavered when he told parishioners: “Since the year 2012, from

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our venerable origins as St. Callistus Parish, we have been on a once-in-a-lifetime journey together in the founding and development of Christ Cathedral.”

“My life has been transformed by the patience, generosity and zeal of parishioners and all who have been part of this great journey.”

In his office which he will vacate in a few months, Fr. Christopher got wistful.

“There are very few people who can say they’ve been a founding part of a cathedral, and all of our parishioners can

After Fr. Christopher announced his intention to retire in a letter to Bishop Kevin Vann, the latter sent him a twopage response.

“It’s the kind of letter any priest would dream of getting from his bishop,” Fr. Christopher said.

Bishop Vann recapped his many accomplishments and assignments, which include associate pastor at St. Hedwig and St. Bonaventure churches, diocesan vicar for religious education from 1987 to 2004, and vicar for priests from 2004 to 2012.

“Truly, only God knows the full extent of how many souls you touched, CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

FEATURE / CATHOLIC FAMILY LIVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

taught, and inspired by your leadership to the be better disciples of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Vann wrote.

MORE MUSIC

Fr. Christopher will celebrate his 44th year as a priest on June 3, and he turns 70 on June 28.

When his schedule significantly frees up, he plans to devote more time to his lifelong passion of music. He began taking piano lessons at age 6 and, like Bishop Vann, plays the piano and organ. He has a restored 100-year-old upright Monarch player piano at his home.

Fr. Christopher was a member of a group of priest musicians, “The Second Collection,” which included Msgr. John Urell, a fellow classmate in that first group of seminarians who were ordained in 1978 and who also is retiring this year as pastor of St. Timothy Catholic Church in Laguna Niguel.

Fr. Christopher also will spend more time on his spiritual writings and is considering turning the 170 or so “Rector’s Columns” he has written for the church bulletin into a book. Most are one-page reflections on Sunday Scriptures.

Public speaking and continued tours of the cathedral also are planned.

Over the years, Fr. Christopher has taken as inspiration the words of Pope Benedict 16th, “Deus caritas est” (God is Love), written in his first encyclical and an echo from the First Letter of John, “We have come to believe that God first loves us.”

“When you believe you are first loved by God, that sets the whole path of your life,” Fr. Christopher said. “Over the years, the focus of my priestly ministry has been to do whatever I could do to help people believe they are first loved by God. And I will take that philosophy into my retirement.” C

LENT. RINSE. REPEAT. REPETITION HELPS US EMBED JESUS’ PASSION AND RESURRECTION INTO OUR VERY BONES

BY KATIE DAWSON

R

EPETITION IS A FUNNY thing.

Sometimes we love it. Other times, it makes us howl.

A few years ago, just about every parent and grandparent with children of a certain age heard the phrase “Let it Go,” and a particular melody played in their heads. The kids wanted to hear the song on repeat; for the rest of us who had to listen, its inescapable tune and lyrics embedded themselves in us.

That’s what repetition does. It embeds in us stories, songs, and practices.

Sometimes repetition massages a truth into our very bones.

In the journey of faith, the benefit of repetition is that it serves to embed truths in our lives. In a noisy world, repetition is an essential tool. It helps us to remember: Rituals and celebrations, practices and disciplines, revisited and strengthened each year, assist us as we internalize and prioritize eternal truths in our leaky human brains -- and hearts.

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Once again, this season, we commit to penitential practices during Lent to focus intently on the work of God within us. As we experience Holy Week and Jesus’s Passion, and the weeks leading to them, God’s rescue mission will amaze us even as it breaks our hearts.

We will arrive at Easter, once again, astounded by Jesus’s victory over the grave.

The risk of repetition, of course, is that we might not pay full attention to the story. We’ve been here before. Nothing new to see. The hardest person to reach is the one who thinks they already know what you’re going to say.

Still, the fact is that we’ve really never been HERE before. One reason religious practices repeat is that we ourselves are always changing (hopefully growing) and we never come to a story – or our faith -- as the same individuals we were last year. Another reason for repetition is that, if we pay attention, there is always something new to learn, something to absorb that we didn’t see before.

This is why our readings at Mass nev-

er change as we cycle through almost the whole Bible every three years. Each time we hear the stories we come to them with more life experience; hopefully we glean a little more wisdom and truth from what we hear.

This is why we repeat annually the liturgical seasons and celebrations in the same pattern and with the same focus.

We travel the liturgical year like a wellworn path – yet the scenery is always different. We are not really going round in circles, we are journeying “into God.” Once again, this Lent, we will be amazed at what God has done in Jesus.

We have heard it over and over again, so we risk tuning out these truly astounding, eternally vital lessons.

Yet, we must know the point of repeating is so we can embed these “ever ancient, ever new” truths of a Father who loves us, a Son who saves us and Spirit that fills.

Again, repetition is the way we learn and grow our faith so we can be saved from sin and brokenness and live in the abundance of God. And while we’ve heard these truths before, we really can’t hear them repeated often enough. 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

ART OF RELIGION NORBERTINE FATHER INTEGRATES RELIGIOUS VOCATION WITH ICONOGRAPHY

BY CATHI DOUGLAS

S

OME OF PATRICK FLETCHER’S earliest memories are of scouring his family’s home for blank pieces of paper to use for his drawings and sketches.

At 34 years old, Fletcher -- now known as Father Peregrine, a Norbertine based at St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado Canyon -- is a recognized multimedia artist who produces religious art displayed throughout the abbey.

Most recently, Fr. Peregrine worked for months to produce a detailed icon of St. Norbert for the Norbertine Fathers’ 900th anniversary jubilee in May 2021.

The icon, created from a combination of acrylics, oils and colored pencils, remains displayed prominently in the sanctuary.

“I remember as a kid stealing blank pieces of paper from my parents’ copy machine and sketching everything,” he recalls of his childhood. “First I drew the cartoon characters I saw on Saturday morning shows. Later, I created my own comic books and characters. I just loved to draw and create stories.”

Fr. Peregrine also spent money he earned from mowing lawns on how-to drawing books.

Now serving the Norbertine community as assistant novice master, he often works in the abbey’s art studio with other confreres, as the religious community members are called.

“When I first came to the abbey, I was so inspired by a number of seminarians who met once a week to paint together,” he said. “They really encouraged me to

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FR. PEREGRINE FLETCHER AT WORK IN HIS STUDIO AT ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY IN SILVERADO CANYON. PHOTOS COURTESY OF FR. PEREGRINE FLETCHER

join them and I’m so glad I did. I learned a lot; we taught each other and shared the lessons we learned.”

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, as one of five children, Fr. Peregrine credits his accountant father and homemaker mother with encouraging their kids’ creativity.

AN INSPIRED LIFE

These days, Fr. Peregrine combines his religious calling with the growing demand for his artistic talents. In his opinion, the two combine well to form a fulfilling, inspired life.

“There is something both natural and supernatural about art,” he observed.

“There’s a natural desire to create and craft things. On a supernatural level, it’s a blessing to do it in service to the Lord,

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CONTINUES ON PAGE 9

FR. FLETCHER’S PASSION FOR ART BEGAN WHEN HE WAS A CHILD.

FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

the saints, His Holy Mother, making the artistic process filled with meaning.”

Creating icons, he added, requires an immersion unique in the art world.

“The whole process is a prayer. Your soul is united to God and the image you are depicting, whether it’s Mary, a saint, or an angel. The whole process is, in a way, something very beautiful, supernatural, and divine.”

“I love any art that is true, honest, and beautiful,” he added. “But icons fulfill a uniquely prayerful purpose. In making an icon, the artist prays, fasts, and involves the entire self. For me, all that is a very compelling reason to create them.”

His work with seminarians is demanding, but Fr. Peregrine manages to find pockets of time to work on various art projects. Most of the art he and his confreres create hangs in the monastery.

“This building is so huge that we can ornament all our walls with homemade art.”

Fr. Peregrine’s most recently completed project is an illustrated book on St. Philomena, which will be published next spring by TAN Books.

But perhaps his best-known work is the icon of St. Norbert, which required him to think, pray and request the saint’s guidance.

“I wanted to depict him but also include a narrative that told his life story,” he explained. “An icon is not a frozen picture, but something the viewer interacts with, an image in which they can see God’s hand at work.”

For six or seven months, the icon demanded a great deal of decision-making; it proved impossible, for instance, for him to use egg tempera, his favorite medium, because of time constraints.

“I asked God to guide me even in the simpler and more practical decisions, such as the best medium, size, and preparation process,” he noted.

He is working on an icon of a little-known medieval Norbertie sister, St. Gertrude, the daughter of St. Elizabeth

FR. FLETCHER’S ICON OF ST. NORBERT, FOUNDER OF THE NORBERTINE ORDER. PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. PEREGRINE FLETCHER

of Hungary. His hope is to continue depicting Norbertine saints; to date he has completed five such icons.

THE NORBERTINE COMMUNITY

Fr. Peregrine came to St. Michael’s nine years ago in a roundabout fashion, spending more than six years as

a diocesan seminarian in Missouri before choosing to join the Norbertine community.

“God was calling me from a very early age,” he said. “Yet my spiritual director is the one who encouraged me to consider religious life. I hadn’t sensed my own worthiness for that, but I came to discover many things that

led me here.”

Introduced to the abbey through several retreats, he loved the way the confreres live and pray together, leading penitential lives. Even though St. Michael’s is very far from my home, it immediately felt like home.

“The simpleness of our way of life was why God was calling me.” C

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DIOCESAN NEWS

SEEK22 BRINGS RENEWED HOPE AND DISCOVERY TO O.C. The local theme of SEEK rang true with the central gathering space: Mission Way. SoCal clothing companies, HE NEW YEAR BROUGHT a Santa Barbara-based coffee roaster, hope and a renewed sense of religious orders and the Dominican mission to California CathoSchool of Philosophy and Theology all lics. On Feb. 4-6, the regional represented the diversity and creativity SEEK22 conference in Orange County California Catholics offer to the Church. brought together 700 participants, Because the conference was local, including students from 13 campuses, 21 one participant was able to bring his priests, four bishops, multiple religious mother to the closing Mass on Sunday. and dozens of benefactors who expeThrough his encouragement and the rienced the hybrid conference hosted Lord’s grace, she returned to confession

by FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic after 39 years away. She joined over 600 University Students. other confessions heard throughout the Students from Cal Berkley, UCSB, weekend.

USC, UCLA, Cal Tech, UCI, UCR, Most of the confessions were heard CSUN, CSULB, CSUF, SDSU and John during the climatic Saturday evening of Paul the Great University gathered at keynote speakers, Msgr. James Shea and Christ Cathedral, uniting with 22,000 Sr. Miriam James, SOLT, followed by a participants across 20 countries experinight of adoration in the beloved Christ encing the event in regional locations.

Cathedral.

Attendees received the missionary “SEEK, for me, in a word, is discall to explore their personal relationcovery,” explains CSUF Chaplain, Fr. ship with Jesus Christ and share the Florante Moren. “It is discovering what Gospel with peers through engaging else we can do and how we can grow speakers, sacraments and entertainour faith deeper. It is discovering ways ment throughout the weekend. In to engage more of ourselves to a divine particular, “CA SEEK22” took local to relationship with the Lord.” a new level, elevating a sense of pride With hundreds of college students for being Catholic in California from returning to campus having had a zealindividual to deeply communal. ous fire lit within, the grace of these new Participants had the privilege of celdiscoveries will surely carry throughebrating Mass with Bishop Kevin Vann out campus cultures. Many students and Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Freyer, committed to returning to Mass, joining along with the Archdiocese of Los a Bible study, saying yes to missionary Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Mark Trudeau discipleship, and most importantly, divand Auxiliary Bishop Alex Aclan. Dying deeper in intimacy with Jesus Christ namic speakers like Emily Wilson and and His Church.

Fr. Mike Schmitz presented keynotes via FOCUS Missionaries across Califorlivestream and inspired attendees to live nia will continue to challenge students a life of virtue and mission. to grow in relationship with the Lord Abby Merkel, a third year at UCSB and with those around them, ultimately and a Santa Margarita native, said, “My FR. MIKE SCHMITZ ADDRESSES ATTENDEES OF SEEK22 HELD FEB. 4-6 IN ORANGE COUNTY. leading to knowing Christ Jesus and PHOTO COURTESY OF FOCUS favorite talk from SEEK22 was from fulfilling His Great Commission.

Fr. Mike Schmitz. His conviction that live the faith and encourage others to masculinity to renouncing modern-day Photos and videos from the CA Catholics cannot just be good people, get to Heaven.” idols. Students were awestruck on FriSEEK event are at instagram.com/fobut must save souls, has stayed with me California had eight local speakers day night as San Diego-based illusionist, cus.california. Registration for SEEK23 since leaving the conference. SEEK22 take the stage Saturday, covering a Danny Ray, captivated audiences with Jan. 2-6, 2023, in St. Louis, Missouri, is encouraged me to be bolder in how I variety of topics from guardian angels to his Gospel-infused illusions. already open at seek.focus.org. C MORGAN KNOBLOCH, FOCUS MISSIONARY AT ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY

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DIOCESAN NEWS

SHINE THE LIGHT ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING SUBMITTED BY ROSEMARY LEWALLEN

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T. IRENAEUS HEALTH Ministry’s Bridge of Light: Human Trafficking to Human Triumph Ministry held a Solidarity Walk and Prayer Vigil on Monday, Feb. 7 at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress.

Fifty people attended, including Cypress Mayor Paulo Morales and two representatives from CarePortal, Pastor Domingo Mota, Area Director and Timothy Abbott, Regional Director.

The evening started with meditative chanted Taize prayer in the church and scripture reflection by Deacon Jerry Pyne. He noted that the problem of human trafficking may seem overwhelming. However, “If we can change one life, we’ve changed the world.”

Human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the United States. The victims of sex trafficking are 98% women and girls. Posters were displayed that showed alarming statistics: Only 1% of victims are rescued; Every 30 seconds someone becomes enslaved; Human trafficking generates an estimated $150 million USD annually.

After the procession walked to the last station, we entered the Education Building. Monica Kovach, Chair of Bridge of Light Ministry, thanked everyone for coming and gave more information about the purposes of the evening: to increase awareness of human trafficking in our midst; increase education about the types of human trafficking; to learn the warning signs to prevent human trafficking, to report suspected human trafficking on the National Human Trafficking Hotline 1– 888-3737-888, and to commit to take action against human trafficking.

She advised us to trust our gut if we have reason to believe that human trafficking is occurring and report it. Professionals will investigate the situation. Reports are anonymous.

Monica closed the evening by urging

CYPRESS MAYOR PAULO MORALES SPEAKS AT ST. IRENAEUS HEALTH MINISTRY’S BRIDGE OF LIGHT: HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO HUMAN TRIUMPH MINISTRY EVENT ON FEB. 7.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAREPORT

us to take action: Sign the letter to Governor Newsom requesting veto of SB 357 which repeals the crime of loitering with the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense in public areas.

The evening closed with a prayer by Deacon Jerry Pyne for the victims of

human trafficking. We want to thank all those who made this powerful event possible, including Monica Kovach, Carol Reed, Donna Kriessel, Betty Borowski, Rosalie Valles, Mayor Morales, Deacon Jerry Pyne, Sr. Gemma Pires, Joe Tucciarone, Rorie Ramirez, Elaine Brewster

and Rick Tkach.

To join the St. Irenaeus Church CarePortal Response Team, email healthministry@sticypress.org. Learn more at CarePortal.org. For questions, please contact Monica Kovach at 310-490-6113. C

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DIOCESAN NEWS

AROUND OUR DIOCESE

BY STAFF

A MESSAGE OF THANKS

Thanks to all who attended the Mass for the Protection of Unborn Children on Jan. 21, which included a special prayer of blessing for those participating in OneLife LA and in the Walking with Moms in Need initiative.

In his homily at the Mass commemorating the 49th anniversary of Roe v.

Wade, Bishop Kevin W. Vann said the following: We have great opportunities and challenges in the coming year as we see the possibility of the end of Roe and the need for a redoubling of efforts at the state level, as my brother California Bishops and I wrote in our recent statement, to “honor women with life-affirming support and practical resources so that all families can thrive, and so that no woman feels trapped into the devastating decision to end a life by abortion.”

To meet and rise to these challenges and see “justice abide in the garden land” (as the prophet Isaiah says) we will need to overcome the divisive spirit which has overtaken our land (and sometimes even corners of our Church) and come together in the unity that only the Holy Spirit can give us.

In that communion, we will by God’s grace see ourselves and witness to a better future – God’s future for us, wherein every woman in crisis, every unborn child, each and every one of us in our inherent dignity “will live in a peaceful country” and go “forward [together!] in hope.”

The Mass for the Unborn next year is scheduled for January 23, 2023.

Thanks to all who attended OneLife LA and joined around five thousand others (a great in person witness during ongoing pandemic)! Save the date for next year’s OneLife LA. Next year’s OneLife LA will be held

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BISHOP KEVING W. VANN CELEBRATED THE MASS FOR THE PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN ON JAN. 21, WHICH INCLUDED A SPECIAL PRAYER OF BLESSING FOR THOSE PARTICIPATING IN ONELIFE LA AND IN THE WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED INITIATIVE. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

on Jan. 21, 2023.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS LENTEN FISH DINNERS

The Knights of Columbus Cypress Council #8599 is again hosting its special Fish Fry dinners on each Friday of the Lenten Season at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress. Everyone is invited.

The Lenten Fish Dinners will be served on six consecutive Friday evenings, March 4, 11, 18, 25, and April 1, 8, between 5 -7 p.m. in the parking lot of St. Irenaeus Parish on Grindlay Street, between Lincoln and Orange in Cypress On the menu will be full dinners of fish and chips, cole slaw, roll and cookie

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KNIGHTS BRIAN COTA AND JORGE RODRIGUEZ PREP FISH FOR DRIVE-THROUGH DELIVERY AT ST. IRENAEUS KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ANNUAL FISH FRY DINNER ON LENTEN FRIDAYS IN 2021.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IRV CUEVAS.

DIOCESAN NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

for $10 adults and $7 for children ages 5-12. Also: two slices of cheese pizza for $5. Early tickets will be sold after Masses the weekend of Feb. 26-27, and possibly a subsequent weekend. Credit cards will be accepted. An added attraction this year will be a low-cost Raffle for a luxurious 3-night stay at the Welk Resort in Escondido in mid-June.

The Council’s Grand Knight Rick Tkach says it’s more than delicious dinners, but also a way to help local organizations such HSA (Home School Association); H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everyday); Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops; M.E.F.P.(Marriage Enrichment Formation Program); Special Olympics; American Wheelchair Mission; People With Intellectual Disabilities; La Habra Life Shelter; and other Knights of Columbus approved charities in Cypress and surrounding communities.

The Knights of Columbus Cypress Council 8599 has been serving the local community and Saint Irenaeus Parish since 1984, and since beginning its Lenten Fish Fry dinners, thousands of meals have been served to parishioners and neighbors. The Council is composed of nearly 200 members and extends an open invitation for others to join.

For more information, contact Deputy Grand Knight Rick Tkach (714) 829-7289 or Irv Cuevas, Council Media Relations (562) 594-8081.

BISHOP KEVIN W. VANN WAS THE MAIN CELEBRANT OF A SPECIAL MASS TO HONOR WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE ON FEB. 5 AT ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY. — Submitted by Irv Cuevas PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE.

WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE

St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado Canyon hosted a special celebration and luncheon on Feb. 5 to commemorate the World Day for Consecrated Life and to honor religious jubilarians.

It included a Mass, with Bishop Kevin Vann presiding.

FR. SCOTT AND DEACON STEVE RECOGNIZED

Legatus, an international organization of Catholic business leaders

and executives who have committed to study, live and spread the Catholic faith, recently recognized two people in the Diocese of Orange.

Fr. Scott Borgman, J.C.D., judicial vicar of the Tribunal and Office of Canonical Services, was recognized with the Western Region’s Chaplain of the Year award. Deacon Steve Greco, founder of Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry in Irvine, received the Bowie Kuhn Special Award for Evangelization.

Congratulations to Fr. Scott and Deacon Steve!C

DEACON STEVE GRECO RECENTLY RECEIVED THE BOWIE KUHN SPECIAL AWARD FOR EVANGELIZATION. COURTESTY PHOTO

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GUEST COLUMN TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY (12) THROWS A PASS AGAINST THE LOS ANGELES RAMS DURING THE FIRST HALF OF AN NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND PLAYOFF FOOTBALL GAME JAN. 23, 2022, IN TAMPA, FLA. PHOTO: / MARK LOMOGLIO / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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pline. Brady has been the first to admit that if he didn’t work hard at his craft, he’d naturally be an average player.

In 2021, sports columnist Sally Jenkins of The Washington Post broke this down for readers: While Brady’s restrictive diet and demanding physical training program are well known and widely marketed, self-discipline really comes down to the choice to delay instant gratification for a later reward, and to continue to do it over an extended period of time.

“The more good behaviors you have, the better things turn out,” Brady has remarked. “It’s just, do people have the discipline to repeat those behaviors?

That’s the tricky part.”

Brady’s throwing coach Tom House shared that “what separates ... elite athletes, the Hall of Famers, is that they try to get better every day not by 20% but just 1 or 2%.”

Brady dedicated himself to small, incremental improvements, not growth by leaps and bounds. The broken records and Super Bowl rings might seem to the average sports fan to be feats of great strength, but they were, in the end, goals that he inched toward.

To my mind -- and I can’t believe I’m writing this as a Philadelphia Eagles fan -- this is Brady’s lasting gift to everyone out there who feels average but who has big dreams.

It’s also a lesson for people trying to

kick bad habits, addictions or negative behaviors. Virtue is cultivated day in and day out, through small choices made over and over again. Practice doesn’t always make perfect, but it does make things more permanent.

And it’s certainly helpful for us Catholics to take this aspect of the “TB12 Method” into Lent, a season marked by the three disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

These disciplines are not corporal punishments, though they should hurt a bit. That pain, delayed gratification or absence of something good all help us to remember through our body what we are pursuing with all our mind, heart and strength -- heaven.

What we fast from should remind us of the bread for which we truly hunger.

The time we give to prayer instead of activity, recreation or work should help us to better enter into that which is eternal.

And by giving not from our surplus but from our poverty, we make room not to consume more goods but to receive the One who wants to occupy our hearts and homes.

What we choose to do for our Lenten disciplines should help us make incremental progress toward holiness. In other words, they should be things that we can do for 40 days, over and over.

But they should be just the first step in building habits that we want to continue well beyond Easter. That’s the method for the ultimate victory, the race well run. C

Moments in our Journey After years of restoration work, the Hazel Wright Organ in Christ Cathedral is now back on its way to being regularly played during Masses while fine-tuning work continues.

—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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