OC CATHOLIC - APRIL 17, 2022

APRIL 17, 2022

FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR ST. JOSEPH’S

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

HE IS RISEN FOR PARISHES, EASTER WEEK RETURNS TO IT PREPANDEMIC WAYS PAGE 6

THE RESURRECTED CHRIST IS DEPICTED IN A MOSAIC AT ST. JOHN NEWMANN CATHOLIC CHURCH, IRVINE. PHOTO COURTESY OF SPENCER GRANT/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH, ORANGE PRESENTS

BE A APRIL VOICE FIESTA OF THE 29, 30 IN THE MAY 1 '21-'23 2022 SYNOD

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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.

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APRIL 17, 2022

CONTENTS

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CREATING EASTER TRADITIONS

As a holiday that brings families together, traditions become a way of creating memories.

A GALA FOR FAITH

This year’s Orange Catholic Foundation’s annual dinner featured country music and prayer.

POPE: VICTORY IS NOT RAISING A FLAG ON A PILE OF RUBBLE

Pope Francis’ Palm Sunday sermon exhorted warring parties to negotiate for the good of the people.

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: Monsignor Stephen Doktorczyk Editor: Patricia Mahoney, editor@occatholic.com News Ideas: editor@occatholic.com Delivery Problems: occatholicsupport@occatholic.com

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

SCNG CUSTOM CONTENT Managing Editor: Caitlin Adams

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Delivered weekly to parishes and homes throughout Orange County, Calif., Orange County Catholic is published by SCNG Custom Content, a division of Southern California News Group that offers content development and design expertise to businesses and nonprofit institutions. The Orange County Catholic editorial staff and editorial council are responsible for the content contained herein.

Events and products advertised in Orange County Catholic do not carry the implicit endorsement of the Diocese of Orange or SCNG Custom Content.

OCCatholic.com

OCCatholicNews

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GUEST COLUMN

Honor Mom On Mother’s Day By Helping Teen Moms and Babies

Moms for Moms Mother’s Day Tribute Campaign

Here’s a way to honor your mom — or any mom or dad in your life — and support Mary’s Path. That’s not to say this should replace the flowers, but this gift will definitely keep giving long after the flowers have faded. All the moms honored in the campaign will be listed in a special full-page Mother’s Day tribute ad in the Orange County Register.

May 8, 2022 Changing Lives Two at a Time

About Mary’s Path Mary’s Path is a home for pregnant and parenting youth from the foster care system.

Believing that every life is a gift from God, Mary’s Path empowers and equips vulnerable teen mothers and their babies for lives of dignity, hope and self-sufficiency.

(714) 730-0930 ext. 134 maryspath.org/momsformoms Deadline for inclusion in tribute ad is April 26, 2022

EASTER OFFERS HOPE

BY EFFIE CALDAROLA CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

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IKE LIFE ITSELF, ent starts out nice and slow. And suddenly, Easter is upon us.

There may have been a Lenten midway point, or maybe as Holy Week began, we realized that Lent has sped by. We ask ourselves, Did I do enough? It’s human nature to feel like maybe we should have done more.

There’s always more.

As my deacon friend replied when people asked how much money they should donate: “Give more.” That’s the standard we humans set for ourselves and sometimes that causes negative selftalk or disappointment.

So, perhaps we should look instead at what we’ve learned and, most important, what God has done in us. As John’s Gospel reminds us, God loved us first.

Like the prodigal’s father, God is always waiting and welcoming, unconditionally loving. God -- and Easter -- always offers hope.

Easter season invites us into 50 days of celebration. Not because, on that early morning when a group of women discovered an empty tomb, everything was perfect and earth’s problems disappeared. But rather, because on that morning, hope was born anew into a broken world.

This year, I noticed many retreats and websites offered hope as a Lenten theme. Not because everything is so rosy, but perhaps because on this earth right now, everything seems bleak. We

PHOTO: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

need hope more than ever.

The invasion and suffering of Ukraine began almost as Lent did. It shadowed us as we prayed, abstained and “gave up” as an offering. It dominated the news and pushed the pandemic from the headlines.

But it didn’t keep away this news: We were reminded of how little time we have to stave off the worst effects of climate change. Worldwide, the impact is greatest on the poor, and this impact will increase migration at a time when millions around the world are on the move, seeking refuge at doors often closed to them.

We ask, Where are our leaders on climate change? Why are we worrying CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

Changing Lives Two at a Time

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

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In Christ no one can ever truly separate us from those we love.

EVERYTHING IS CHANGED

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ASTER CHANGES EVERYTHING. Having been raised from the dead, Jesus shatters the frightful images that haunt humanity. Betrayal, torture, crucifixion, death, burial—these terrors pale in the brilliant glory of Jesus resurrected. Today’s psalm guides our response to God’s power: “it is wonderful in our eyes.” Today is indeed a day for wonder, for gasping in astonishment at Jesus’ resurrection. For all of human history, death had been final. In the Acts of the Apostles, though, Peter testifies that Jesus, who was publicly executed, was raised to life by God. John’s Gospel admits that the disciples “did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.” Even Jesus’ closest friends were not expecting this innovation: life after death. In response to the Easter miracle, Paul tells us to become “a fresh batch of dough.” Everything, even our very selves, must become new. Easter changes everything.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. C

— Pope Francis

SAINT PROFILE

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BLESSED SAVINA PETRILLI 1851-1923

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ORN IN SIENA, ITALY, this foundress had a lifelong devotion to St. Catherine of Siena. As a young member of a Marian sodality, she taught catechism to street children and gradually felt called to serve abandoned children and the poor. At 22, she began the work of establishing the Congregation of the Sisters of the Poor of St. Catherine of Siena, which received papal approval in 1877. Somewhat impulsive and impatient, Savina made a special vow never to deliberately refuse God anything. She counseled her sisters, “Whoever looks at us must see Jesus in us.” She died of cancer and was beatified in 1988. Her congregation serves today in Italy, South America, Asia and the United States. C

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

ACTS 2:14, 22-33; PS 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; MT 28:8-15

ACTS 2:36-41; PS 33:4-5, 18-20, 22; JN 20:11-18

ACTS 3:1-10; PS 105:1-4, 6-9; LK 24:13-35

ACTS 3:11-26; PS 8:2, 5-9; LK 24:35-48

ACTS 4:1-12; PS 118:1-2, 4, 22-27; JN 21:1-14

ACTS 4:13-21; PS 118:1, 14-21; MK 16:9-15

ACTS 5:12-16; PS 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; RV 1:9-11A, 12-13, 17-19; JN 20:19-31

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FEATURE

HE IS RISEN

FOR PARISHES, EASTER WEEK RETURNS TO IT PREPANDEMIC WAYS

BY GREG MELLEN

I

N NEW YORK CITY, the dropping of a large, glittering ball at midnight marks the end of an old year and the arrival of the new. In Paris, the Eiffel tower is lit in a rainbow of twinkling colors. In Los Angeles and other cities, there are fireworks and other celebrations.

However, for Catholics and Christians, a stone rolled away from the tomb of Jesus may be the ultimate symbol of transition to rebirth, renewal and hope.

And this year, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic threw a shroud over the Diocese of Orange, parishioners will have the chance to celebrate Easter as they are accustomed.

With the pandemic showing signs of receding, churches will be fully open for Easter. Back in 2020, parishioners could not attend Mass but were instead limited to watching it via live-stream. This year, Masses will be held fully indoors without social distancing or masks being mandated, although still recommended.

“You’ll see churches filled to the brim,” said Deacon Modesto Cordero, director of the Office of Worship. “My expectation is that all the churches and services will be full.”

That includes roughly 2,000 parishioners for each of 11 services at Christ Cathedral between the Easter Vigil on Saturday and Easter Sunday.

At Christ Cathedral, the famed Hazel Wright pipe organ will play in full throat.

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FR. CHRISTOPHER PHAM CELEBRATES THE EASTER MASS IN VIETNAMESE ON APRIL 4, 2021. PHOTO: CHUCK BENNETT

Across the Diocese the beauty of Orange County’s diversity will be on display with services in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese and Polish.

In the Diocese of Orange, the time around the celebration of Easter and the resurrection may be the most special of times.

Bishop Timothy Freyer described the significance of the transition of old to new on the “We Are An Easter People” episode, on OC Catholic Radio.

Bishop Freyer said that in his death and resurrection, Jesus “manifests that he is God,” and that when Jesus was resurrected, “the gates of Heaven opened for the first time.”

THE MOST IMPORTANT MASS Although Easter Sunday is a time of celebration, what precedes it is at least equally important, or more, the New Year’s Eve to New Year’s Day, so to

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speak.

At the Diocese of Orange, as in dioceses and archdioceses across the world, the Great Easter Vigil is profound.

The Mass is held after sunset on Holy Saturday. It is considered by some to be the first celebration of Easter, as historically the new day was considered to begin at sunset the night before.

At Christ Cathedral, Diocese of Orange Bishop Kevin Vann traditionally has baptized and accepted scores of candidates into full communion at the vigil.

This year it is on Saturday, April 16.

Across the Diocese, 1,000 children and adults are expected to be baptized.

That includes those being baptized and those who may have been baptized Catholic without completing confirmation or those baptized in another Christian church who are converting to Catholicism.

Another Easter first at Christ Cathedral will be the availability of the

baptismal font.

“It’s perhaps the most important Mass of the year,” Deacon Tom Saenz said of the Vigil. “It is a beautiful Mass full of signs and symbols from darkness to light.”

“We are blessed as a Diocese to baptize so many new Catholics on this Holy Saturday. This ceremony is the Church’s most significant vigil and is the climax of the liturgical year,” Bishop Vann said after the 2016 Vigil Mass.

After the solemnity of the Vigil, on Sunday morning parishes will gather for Easter Mass, fellowship with friends and family on the way out of church and in church halls and even egg hunts for children at some parishes.

A DEACON’S CLOSER CONNECTION

Last year, Deacon John Silberstein completed a personal journey into the CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

FEATURE / CATHOLIC FAMILY LIVING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

Easter light.

As a sixth-grader, he had tried out for choir and was told by the music teacher, “you’re not going to sing,” he recalled.

“I never sang in public since that time,” Deacon Silberstein said.

Fast-forward five decades and he finally found the courage to take singing lessons with fellow deacons without really thinking where it might lead.

One night, he was at his parish at St. Killian’s in Mission Viejo on a bit of business. For fun, he started singing to check out the acoustics.

Then, he said, “out pops the director of music.”

At the Easter Vigil last year at St. Killian’s, Deacon Silberstein made his public debut singing “Exsultet,” a 10-minute a capella solo, also known as the Easter Proclamation.

“Never take for granted or let a sixth-grade teacher prevent you from doing things,” he said. “Fifty years later, I was at the right place at the right time.”

With the paschal light flickering and surrounded by his brother deacons, Deacon Silberstein had emerged from his musical darkness into a new Easter.

“That’s the centerpiece of perhaps the most important Mass of the year,” Deacon Saenz said.

This year, the symbolism of moving from dark to light may have even more resonance as the faithful pray that the worst of the pandemic is finally past.

As Pope Francis said in his 2019 Easter Homily, “God takes away even the hardest stones against which our hopes and expectations crash: death, sin, fear, worldliness.

Human history does not end before a tombstone, because today it encounters the ‘living stone,’ the risen Jesus.” C

CREATING EASTER TRADITIONS CATHOLIC FAMILIES INCORPORATE CELEBRATIONS NEW AND OLD TO MARK THE RESURRECTION

Cadbury eggs and of course, jellybeans.

EASTER MEALS

BY CATHI DOUGLAS

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S EASTER SUNDAY approaches, Catholic families across the globe prepare to celebrate Christ’s resurrection.

Still, the solemnity of Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the days leading up to the glory of Easter provide important lessons for Catholic families.

Some celebrations – such as the mythical Easter bunny, baskets full of goodies and Easter egg hunts – are time-honored traditions enjoyed by our parents and even their parents. Others have their roots in our countries of origin, while new ideas are incorporated into our family feasts.

In embracing traditions old and new, Catholic parents combine faith, family, and food to mark the resurrection miracle and welcome spring, writes Emily Sanna in the April 2020 issue of U.S. Catholic.

“U.S. Catholic readers describe celebrating Easter and Holy Week with special meals, fellowship and family traditions,” Sanna said. “Ham, Polish sausage, leg of lamb, lamb cake and deviled eggs were common foods, along with the ubiquitous Easter chocolate.

“Many of people’s favorite traditions revolved around spending time with loved ones,” she said.

EASTER EGG HUNTS

In Sanna’s story, several Catholics

PHOTO: BILL ALKOFER/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

describe the Easter Bunny as their least-favorite annual tradition. Still, from the White House to the most modest suburban yard, Easter egg hunts inspire children of all ages to hunt real and plastic eggs.

In many homes, including ours, the days leading to Easter include decorating hard-boiled eggs with dyes, cutouts and crayons. Hiding plastic eggs with candy and coins is a late-night Holy Saturday parental duty.

We remember Easter mornings as a highlight for our three kids. Now that they’re adults, heading to Mass in our Sunday best isn’t nearly as much fun.

EASTER BASKETS

Even today, I fill baskets full of candy and goodies for our three grown kids, our daughter-in-law, my husband and my mother. Because our middle child lives in the Bay Area, I must create their baskets a little early.

This year I noticed that the See’s Bordeaux eggs are a lot smaller than they used to be. That means more Easter grass, as well as some store-bought chocolate eggs in colorful foil, Reese’s ‘eggs,’

While I’m fond of brunch, our attendance at Easter morning Mass means that we usually celebrate with a late lunch or early supper.

Not especially fond of lamb, we’ve hosted barbecues or roasted a ham. Once we had sandwiches and salads mid-afternoon.

For many Catholic families, baking hot-cross buns or braided sweet breads are an Easter tradition. Baking together is a great way to teach youngsters simple math, chemistry and nutrition.

REMEMBERING FAMILY MEMBERS

The Easter resurrection also is an opportunity to remember our loved ones who have passed. Bringing flowers to their resting places reminds family members of Jesus’s sacrifice that leads us to eternal life in Him. This year, our yard is springing forth with hydrangeas, roses, amaryllis and lilies – a perfect time to create original floral bouquets for both the living and the dead.

OTHER FAMILY TRADITIONS

Because we were already dressed in our fancy Easter outfits, my parents and I usually asked a neighbor to snap a family photo. Sometimes my mother and I dressed in matching dresses that she made herself – often my Barbie doll wore the same dress.

Looking back on those images is a wonderful way to acknowledge our love for each other, for the Lord and the circle of life. 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

A GALA FOR FAITH

THE ORANGE CATHOLIC FOUNDATION’S ANNUAL FETE OPENED WITH MASS, FOLLOWED BY COUNTRY MUSIC AND AWARDS

BY LOU PONSI

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HE ORANGE CATHOLIC Foundation’s 2022 Gala was held, in part, to celebrate to contributions of those selfless members of the Diocese of Orange who’ve made it their mission to support the Diocese in extraordinary ways through philanthropy and in-kind contributions.

Titled “A Night of Country Under the Stars,” the April 2 gala at Christ Cathedral sported a country theme, highlighted by a performance from Gary LeVox, former lead singer for the Rascal Flatts.

But before honorees were recognized, the evening opened with a Mass in Christ Cathedral, celebrated by the Very Reverend Christopher Smith, rector of Christ Cathedral.

KTLA meteorologist and Orange County native Henry DiCarlo served as master of ceremonies for the gala.

PRESIDENT’S AWARD

The foundation’s first ever President’s Award to recognize the Catholic Community Leader of the Year was given to Dr. Vincent D. Nguyen, Board-Certified hospice and palliative care specialist with Hoag Hospitals.

The award recognizes “an outstanding individual Catholic leader or leaders who has given their time and service to Catholic parishioners, parishes, schools and/or ministries in a significant and impactful way.”

Nguyen, who is the palliative program medical director at Hoag, oversees palliative services, trains physicians in the field, has authored several articles in

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BISHOP KEVIN W. VANN, COMPLETE WITH COWBOY HAT, ADDRESSES ATTENDEES AT THE OCF GALA, “A NIGHT OF COUNTRY MUSIC UNDER THE STARS.” PHOTO: LISA RENEE

the Journal of Palliative Medicine and co-authored chapters in two books on end-of-life care.

The physician also served on the Orange Catholic Foundation’s board of directors for six years and was a board member for the Supportive Care Coalition, the only Catholic membership organization focusing on advancements in palliative care.

“I’m grateful to my patients and

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families who have contributed to my learning and growth as a physician and a Catholic,” Nguyen said. “I’m privileged to be invited into my patients’ worlds to preserve the dignity in the midst of their serious illness and journey with them to the end of their earthly lives.”

Nguyen, a graduate of Mater Dei High School, is also member of the Caring for the Whole Person Initiative Leadership Team in the Office of Pastoral

Care for Families in All Stage for Diocese of Orange.

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD

The Chairman’s Award, recognizing the philanthropist of the year, was given to the Walker Family, whose patriarch, C.J. Walker founded Farmers & Merchants Bank in 1907.

Walker’s great-grandsons, Daniel CONTINUES ON PAGE 9

FEATURE

GARY LEVOX, FORMER LEAD SINGER FOR THE BAND RASCAL FLATTS, PERFORMS AT THE ORANGE CATHOLIC FOUNDATION 2022 GALA AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL. PHOTO: LISA RENEE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Walker and Henry Walker, serve as CEO and president of the bank respectively.

Through the Farmers & Merchants Bank Foundation, contributions have included grants for individuals and organizations and in-kind donations for charity events.

Farmers & Merchants is the founder and main sponsor of The Orange Catholic Foundation’s Conference on Business & Ethics and has been a presenting partner for all 19 years.

The bank also provides banking services to local nonprofits, including the Orangewood Foundation, Orange County School of the Arts and the Samueli Academy.

Farmers & Merchants collaborated with the Diocese on the acquisition and

renovation of Christ Cathedral in 2011.

“It is important to our family that the Christ Cathedral remain true to its dedication as a house of worship, as we like to refer to it as a kingdoms asset,” Daniel Walker said. “Christ Cathedral will now carry on as a house of worship for Catholics and for all faith traditions in reverence to those who went before the current faithful and for future generations.”

AN APPEAL

The evening celebratory for sure, but the event also featured an appeal for support from the hundreds in attendance to ensure that the Diocese’s retired priests can enjoy a reasonable quality of life after their years of service to the church and its community.

Reverend Steve Sallot, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach, pointed out that 46 Diocese of Orange priests are retired.

Over the next five years, an additional 30 priests will reach retirement age and, ten years from now, 51 priests currently in active ministry will be at least 70 years of age and therefore eligible to retire.

Most retired priests live in rectories, apartments, trailers and mobile homes, Fr. Sallot said.

“We have to find out own housing,” Fr. Sallot said. “After active ministry, retired priests no longer rely on their parishes for support. They live on social security, a small pension and whatever personal savings they may have.”

The foundation is raising funds to convert rectory space at St. Joseph’s in

Placentia to living suites for four priests and searching for other underused properties which can also be converted to living spaces.

“We believe that it could be a model for other sites in our Diocese and other parish communities,” Fr. Sallot said. “It’s our prayer that we wish to make this a great success by building up a community as well as living spaces for retired priests.”

Fr. Sallot cited a survey of priests nearing retirement, which concluded the retirees want to retain independence, while being connected to a community of faith.

“Because that is the source of our lives,” Fr. Sallot said. “That is where we found our juice as parish priests, living and working in a community of believers.” C

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DIOCESAN NEWS

FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR ST. JOSEPH’S PLACENTIA SCHOOL WELCOMES NEW SMARTLAB

BY PRINCIPAL AMANDA HAWLEY

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INCE 1969, St. Joseph Catholic School in Placentia has been providing a distinguished academic education guided by our Catholic heritage to our parish and surrounding community. Our cohesive faculty and staff work hard to identify each student’s learning styles and God-given gifts.

Forming well-rounded individuals and life-long learners, St. Joseph offers so much more than the basic curricular areas.

We are proud to have a strong and competitive athletic program serving grades 5-8, and five years ago we recognized the desire for more arts education on campus and founded SJS Performing Arts for grades 1-8. Our performing arts produces beautiful musicals each spring, sings at weekly Mass and gives students the opportunity to join our Junior Thespian Troupe #10415.

As we move into the future and continue to recognize needs in our students and community, the area of STEAM education came to the forefront. Students are craving innovative ways to think and expand their knowledge in the areas of science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). But how do we do that in our small Catholic school with a tight annual budget?

In the winter of 2020, we were blessed to be connected with Campos EPC, an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction company located out of Denver, Colorado. At that time Campos EPC was opening a new office in Ana-

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BISHOP KEVIN W. VANN VISITS AND BLESSES THE NEW STEM LAB AT ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN PLACENTIA. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN GEORGES/THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE

heim and they were looking to identify a school that they could support in the area with both educational materials as well as engineers to teach and inspire students about their industry. Through many meetings and prayers (and right in the middle of a pandemic) St. Joseph Catholic School was officially identified to receive a grant from The Campos EPC Foundation to build a SmartLab on our campus. The very first one in North Orange County!

After a year and a half of planning with Campos EPC and Creative Learning Systems, construction and installation of the SmartLab was completed on March 23. What perfect timing after

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just celebrating our patron saint feast day the previous weekend!

The SmartLab features 12 student workstations, which will accommodate 24 students in the lab at once, to guide learners through an open-ended, project-based learning experience.

Utilizing elements such as Ozbots, Snap Circuits, Claymation stop motion video, K’nex machines, robotics and more, the SmartLab will enable students to become more focused and build stronger critical thinking skills that they will take with them into high school, college and beyond.

St. Joseph Catholic School is beyond blessed to be the recipient of this gift

and is looking forward to seeing it in action with our students. Being a strong supporter of both Catholic Education and innovation in our schools, Bishop Vann generously came to celebrate Mass and bless our lab on Sunday, March 27.

The St. Joseph community was thrilled to have Bishop Vann present and be able to see the SmartLab for the first time. We are looking forward to an official ribbon cutting with Campos EPC in the very near future. The future is BRIGHT at St. Joseph Catholic School!

You can find out more about St. Joseph Catholic School in Placentia by visiting our website at SJSplacentia. org. C

DIOCESAN NEWS

PICTURED, LEFT TO RIGHT: TIM TOLZDA, SR. PRINCIPAL; RILEY S., EIGHTH-GRADER; JACOB S., EIGHTH GRADER; JULIE RADZAI, UPPER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. SERRA SCHOOL

AROUND OUR DIOCESE

Junipero Serra Catholic School.

Congratulations, Jacob and Riley!

POTLUCK BOOK STUDY

BOOK GRAPHIC COURTESY OF FR. QUAN TRAN

Author Fr. Quan Tran will discuss his topic on Ch. 11: Desire, and Efforts in ST. SERRA 8TH GRADE Holiness in his book, The Imitation of STUDENTS WIN AWARDS IN Mary on Friday, April 22 in Quinn Hall, WRITING CONTESTS 11482 Los Alamitos Blvd., Los Alamitos.

St. Serra is proud to be able to celeAnd as always, everyone is invited brate the extraordinary achievements of to contribute to, and feast on delicious two eighth-grade students. Essays written entrées put together by our local and

by Jacob S. and Riley S. were prize winvisiting parish members alike! ners in two separate writing contests. n Located in Quinn Hall The students’ performance in these n Doors open 6 p.m. two highly respected writing contests n Potluck 6:30 p.m. are a testament to both the academic n Discussion 7:15 p.m. excellence and the Catholic Identity of St. CONTINUES ON PAGE 12

BY STAFF

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DIOCESAN NEWS

ST. CECILIA CHURCH, TUSTIN. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN GEORGES/THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

THEOLOGY CLASSES

Theology classes in English presented by Father Erialdo Ramírez Alfaro are held each Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at St. Cecilia Church, Kuper Hall, 1301 Sycamore Ave., Tustin. No reservations required and there is no cost.

For more information, call 714-5443250, ext. 15.

Clases De Teologia En Español Presentado por el Padre Erialdo Ramírez Alfaro. Fechas: jueves, el 24 de febrero de 2022 - el 29 de diciembre de 2022.

Duración: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Ubicación: Parroquia Católica de Santa Cecilia / salón 1301 Sycamore Avenue Tustin CA 92780; no es necesario hacer una reservación. Sí tienen

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preguntas, se puede llamar al: 714-5443250, extensión 15. Costo: gratuito.

CLOSING FESTIVITIES FOR 500 YEARS OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE PHILIPPINES The Christ Cathedral campus will be celebrating the closing festivities for 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines on Saturday, April 23. The day features a 10 a.m. procession around the plaza, followed by an 11 a.m. Thanksgiving Mass with Bishop Kevin Vann. A lunch and cultural fare will be held from 12:152 p.m. The event is hosted by the San Jose Filipino Ministry, a part of Ethnic Ministries of the Diocese of Orange.

RSVPs are requested by visiting www.500yoc.eventbrite.com C

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GRAPHIC COURTESY OF SAN JOSE FILIPINO MINISTRY

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PARISHIONERS ATTEND AN EASTER VIGIL AT HOLY TRINITY CHURCH IN LADERA RANCH ON APRIL 3, 2021.

PHOTO: STEVEN GEORGES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

about where to get cheaper gas rather than how to limit fossil fuel consumption?

How, we ask, do we find hope in these times?

During Lent, I read a story of a religious sister working among impoverished people in a foreign land. I don’t remember her name or the country, but words she spoke about her life framed my Lenten experience: “My needs,” she said, “are few and simple.”

Those words began to follow me, in a hopeful and positive way, as I shopped.

Do I really need this? Does this contribute to the simplicity that would deepen my spirituality?

Pope Francis has remarked that in Western culture, the presence of God “is diluted by consumerism,” and those words, too, should follow us.

We are tied to this earth. Its pain and

destruction are ours. But with every tree we plant, with every article of extra clothing or unnecessary plastic we reject, we feel a sense of hope in God’s presence.

I feel hope when I visit the Catholic Climate Covenant website because I see answers and actions I can take.

I feel hope when I see in the bulletin of a local parish that their Care for Creation Committee is hosting a teach-in on “How to Lower Your Carbon Footprint.” I have hope that more parishes will embrace this, and more church leaders will prioritize climate change and Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home.”

I see hope in the worldwide outpouring of help to Ukrainian refugees.

“Hope never disappoints,” Pope Francis said, “hope goes not alone, but together.”

I feel Easter hope in community.

That’s where we find strength. C

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CATHOLIC NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

VICTORY IS NOT RAISING A FLAG ON PILE OF RUBBLE, POPE SAYS ON PALM SUNDAY

BY CAROL GLATZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY (CNS) —Jesus obeyed the most challenging of commandments: to love one’s enemies; and he invites humanity to do the same by breaking a vicious cycle of evil, sorrow and hatred with love and forgiveness, Pope Francis said on Palm Sunday.

“As disciples of Jesus, do we follow the master, or do we follow our own desire to strike back?” he asked in his homily April 10.

Pope Francis began Holy Week with Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square with an estimated 50,000 people -the first time large numbers of people could participate since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago.

He also made a heartfelt appeal for a cease-fire by warring parties and the start of a “real negotiation,” even if it requires “some sacrifice for the good of the people.”

“What kind of victory will it be to plant a flag on a pile of rubble?” he said after the Mass and before leading the Angelus prayer. “Put down the weapons. Let an Easter truce begin.”

Clearly referring to the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, the pope did not specifically name which conflict he was talking about, saying Christ died to be victorious over sin and death, “not over someone and against someone else.”

However, he denounced this “endless” war, which “daily places before our eyes heinous massacres and atrocious cruelty committed against defenseless civilians.

Let us pray about this.”

A war aiming for victory according to the logic of the world, the pope said, “is only the way to lose.” It is better to let the victor be Jesus, who carried the cross and died to free people from evil and so life, love and peace might reign.

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POPE FRANCIS HOLDS PALM FRONDS AS HE CELEBRATES PALM SUNDAY MASS IN ST. PETER’S SQUARE AT THE VATICAN APRIL 10, 2022. PHOTO: PAUL HARING / CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

Palm Sunday, which marks the start of Holy Week, commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and the beginning of his passion.

Because of ongoing difficulty walking and his doctor’s advice to rest, Pope Francis did not take part in the traditional procession to the obelisk in the center of the square but was driven by car to the altar before the start of the ceremony.

Dozens of young people carried palm branches, and bishops, cardinals and the pope held “palmurelli,” large woven palms. All the pilgrims in the square were

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given olive branches donated by Italian olive oil producers and several people also held large rainbow “peace” flags or smaller flags of Ukraine and other countries.

After blessing the palms and listening to the Gospel reading of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, the young people, bishops, cardinals and deacons processed to the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica for the main part of the Mass, which included the reading of the Passion.

In his homily, Pope Francis highlighted how Jesus “obeyed the most demand-

ing of his commandments: that we love our enemies.”

“How often we spend time looking back on those who have wronged us!

How often we think back and lick the wounds that other people, life itself and history have inflicted on us,” he said.

Instead, Jesus teaches humanity “to break the vicious circle of evil and sorrow.

To react to the nails in our lives with love, to the buffets of hatred with the embrace of forgiveness,” he said.

When people resort to violence, he said, they forget about God, their father, and “about others, who are our brothers and sisters. We lose sight of why we are in the world and even end up committing senseless acts of cruelty.”

“We see this in the folly of war, where Christ is crucified yet another time,” the pope said. “Christ is once more nailed to the cross in mothers who mourn the unjust death of husbands and sons. He is crucified in refugees who flee from bombs with children in their arms. He is crucified in the elderly left alone to die; in young people deprived of a future; in soldiers sent to kill their brothers and sisters.”

If people want to see if they truly belong to Christ, “let us look at how we behave toward those who have hurt us,” the pope said.

The Lord asks people respond the way he does: by showing “compassion and mercy to everyone, for God sees a son or a daughter in each person. He does not separate us into good and bad, friends and enemies. We are the ones who do this, and we make God suffer,” the pope said.

“Brothers and sisters, in the course of this week, let us cling to the certainty that God can forgive every sin, bridge every distance and turn all mourning into dancing,” the pope said. C

Moments MomentsininourourJourney Journey

Palm Sunday Mass is celebrated at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Santa Ana. —Photo by Steve Georges/Diocese of Orange

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

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