Our Lady of Fatima parishioner Robert Szymczak reflects on his service.
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THE
LOVE OF GOD IS BIGGER THAN DEATH
We celebrate our loved ones in life and beyond.
INVITATION TO TRUST
God will provide, just as we love to provide for our friends and family.
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
Director of Custom Content: Caroline Wong, cawong@scng.com
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Managing Editor: Caitlin Adams Art Director: Ryann Beveridge
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.
AROUND CAMPUS
MEDITATION COURTYARD
Donors: Peter & Mary Muth Foundation. This serene area is surrounded by the Arboretum, Tower of Hope, Small Gallery and Large Gallery. Visitors here enjoy comfortable seating, views of the campus architecture and peaceful fountains near the Tower of Hope.
If you are interested in learning about additional naming opportunities for yourself, loved one or special occasion on Christ Cathedral's campus, contact the Orange Catholic Foundation at (714) 282- 3021 or info@OrangeCatholicFoundation.org C
“ The Lord's compassion is not an occasional, sporadic emotion, but is steadfast…” — Pope Francis
POPE LEO THE GREAT C. 400-461
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
TI 1:1-9, PS 24, LK 17:1-6
TUESDAY
TI 2:1-8, 11-14; PS 37, LK 17:7-10
WEDNESDAY
TI 3:1-7, PS 23, LK 17:11-19
THURSDAY
PHMN 7-20; PS 146:7, 8-9A, 9BC10; LK 17:20-25
AROMAN DEACON WHO advised two popes, Leo was elected pope in 440 while on a diplomatic mission to Gaul, now France. He is one of three popes called "the Great." His title was earned for his teachings, in 143 letters and nearly 100 sermons that survive, and his administration, in which church governance was consolidated, the primacy of Rome stressed, and liturgical, pastoral and canonical uniformity urged. He also persuaded Attila the Hun not to sack Rome and was named a doctor of the church.C
MEMBERS OF SAINTS SIMON & JUDE QUILTING CLUB HAVE CHERISHED FELLOWSHIP, FAITH AND FRIENDSHIPS FOR 25-PLUS YEARS
BY GREG HARDESTY
FOR MEMBERS OF SAINTS Simon & Jude quilting club, some of whom have been with the club since its inception more than a quarter century ago, it’s all about faith, fellowship and friendships for life.
One of the most active church quilting groups in the Diocese of Orange, the 15 to 30 women (men are a rarity) who quilt on the first Wednesday evening of the month in the community center of the Huntington Beach parish craft beautiful creations at an astounding rate, many of which go to local non-profits and charities.
The group works on a common project every month with a different member leading.
The oldest quilter is 86 and the youngest is 12. That pre-teen, Nikki, was just a baby laying on a blanket in the corner of the room when her mother, Tish, joined the group. Nikki now is a full-fledged member who already has designed a quilt and has led at meetings.
“It doesn’t get any better than that,” said Pam Gayle, who got involved in the quilting group when it formed in 1998.
One of the most experienced members of the group, Gayle got involved with it when it first formed.
“It’s not even about the quilt at all,” she said, “but about the relationships that happen.”
GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDDAUGHTER
Dottie Cardullo, who started quilting when she was 20, is one of the club’s founders.
The former parish office employee and two friends, Julie Jacinto and Christina Flores, had been quilting at a Protestant church. But they got tired of the commute and launched the club with the blessing of the pastor of Saints Simon & Jude at the time, Fr. Alex.
The shelter for pregnant women in crisis, Casa Teresa, local hospitals, schools, veterans’ groups, senior facilities and a long list of other organization and charities have been the grateful beneficiaries of the quilts, which also have been a staple at parish fundraisers.
Cardullo and her granddaughter,
Madison, are one of two grandma-grandkid combos in the club. Madison attended Saints Simon & Jude from K-8 grade. Around sixth grade, she began attending the quilting club.
“Initially, I joined to learn a new skill from the lovely guild ladies,” said Madison, now 28.
After going through high school, college and establishing her career as a dietitian, Madison still finds herself drawn back to the guild.
“Recently, I’ve been attending more consistently, not only to learn new techniques from the incredible women in the guild but also to spend quality time with my Nana,” she said. “If you ask anyone in the guild, they'll tell you that Dottie is truly a gem — she knows almost everything there is to know about sewing.”
QUILTING DURING COVID
Several club members recalled the challenges of the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pat Jeffords, a member for six years, describes how one person would choose a pattern and cut out the pieces needed to make all the blocks. Members would sign up to participate in sewing the blocks and pick up a packet with the fabric pieces from the leader’s house.
The leader then would post a video she made demonstrating how to sew the pieces together to form the block.
After about a week, the finished blocks were dropped off at the leader’s house and she would sew them together into a finished quilt top.
“This was a very helpful activity during
SAINTS SIMON & JUDE QUILTING CLUB MEMBERS (BACK) PAM GAYLE AND JOAN ZIMMERMAN AND (FRONT) PAT HARTZEL AND RUTH BECK WORK ON A GROUP PROJECT DURING A RECENT MEETING. PHOTO BY YUAN WANG/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
COVID and kept many of us relatively sane during that challenging time,” Jeffords recalled.
Said Mary Lu Booker, a 10-year club member: “We didn’t falter during COVID but became closer and worked harder during those times.”
Cardullo was quick to point praise at fellow club member Rose Ram, who she refers to as “the hub of the group who keeps everything humming.”
USING GOD’S GIFTS
Once quilters join the club, they tend to stay.
“The first meeting put the bug into me, and I was hooked,” said Vicky Walters, who has been sewing since she was 12.
Adds Walters: “My heart sings every time I complete a quilt.”
Pam Hogan, a relatively new member, didn’t know what to expect when she joined the group.
“The members were so welcoming and so helpful and their mission to help others was so inspirational,” Hogan said. “It’s such a little gift of time and effort, yet the rewards are indescribable.”
Club members say the quilting sessions deepen their faith.
“When you’re bound by prayer, friendship and the love of quilting — I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything,” Gayle said.
Walters said giving back is what it’s all about.
“I have been given so much and feel blessed every day,” she shared. “I want to give back as much as I can. This is how I earn my way into heaven, by making quilts and other things for those in need.”
Cardullo, who at meetings typically mentors others, shared: “Our feeling is, God has given us a creative gift and we come together in fellowship as Catholics. I’m using the gifts God gave me to serve my family and my community.” C
THE QUILTING CLUB MEETS ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY EVENING OF THE MONTH IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER OF THEIR HUNTINGTON BEACH PARISH. PHOTOS BY YUAN WANG/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
THE QUILTING CLUB AT SAINTS SIMON & JUDE PARISH IN HUNTINGTON BEACH WORKS ON A COMMON PROJECT EACH MONTH. PICTURED: (LEFT PHOTO) PAT JEFFORDS; (RIGHT PHOTO) JOAN ZIMMERMAN.
A DIFFERENT MEMBER OF THE QUILTING CLUB LEADS THE MEETINGS EACH MONTH. PICTURED: VIRGINIA OSTIZ AND DEBBIE BEEN.
NIKKI, AGE 12, IS THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF SAINTS SIMON & JUDE QUILTING CLUB.
WOUNDED WARRIOR: DOUBLE PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT IN OUR MIDST
BY RON KUZLIK
ON VETERAN’S DAY WE acknowledge the sacrifices of those who have served our country and thank them for their service.
Robert Szymczak of San Clemente and Our Lady of Fatima parish is like many other local veterans. He walks tall and straight, looks right into your eyes when he talks to you and is extremely proud of his service to our great nation.
But Szymczak is also the recipient of two Purple Hearts, a medal of the U.S. Military awarded on behalf of the president of the United States to those who have been wounded or killed while serving.
Born in Chicago in an area known as Polish Broadway, he was an only child, graduating from Gordon Technical High School, a Catholic school run by the Congregation of the Resurrection in Chicago. He then attended nearby DePaul University.
As a freshman Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) student, the head of the ROTC program suggested he apply for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
After graduation in 1962, he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
He became an artillery officer with his first assignment at the former Fort Baker located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito.
He served two overseas tours during the Vietnam War.
On the first tour of duty, he was serving as a military advisor to the Army of the Republic of (South) Vietnam.
In early 1965, Szymczak and his fellow soldiers were caught in an ambush in Quang Nai Province. He suffered various injuries during the attack.
“We were rescued by Marines that had just survived attacks at Chu Lai in Quảng Nam Province,” Szymczak said.
“During the ambush, one of the medics and I helped a South Vietnamese soldier who had been wounded. We were later presented an award by the South Vietnamese Army for aiding this wounded soldier.”
His next assignment was in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City).
“We were housed at the old Victoria hotel, which they used as barracks,” he recalled, “when the barracks where I was staying was blown up when the North Vietnamese drove a truck filled with explosives into the building.
“This was April 1, 1966,” he said. “So ironic because it was April Fool’s Day and the same day that my wife Camille and I were engaged in 1962.”
He and his wife Camille (née DePaolo) from Philadelphia were married December 8, 1962, in Runnymede, N.J., while he was in Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Szymczak continued to serve a total of 25 years before retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1983.
In addition to two Purple Hearts, he was also awarded the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit (his highest-ranking award), three Meritorious Service Medals as well as the Basic Airborne (“Jump Wings”) and Combat Infantry Badges.
He then went to work for Ford Aerospace in Newport Beach.
“I retired from the Army on a Friday at Fort Myer in Virginia,” he shared, “and went to work on Monday morning at Ford Aerospace in California.”
He continued his career at Ford for the next 15 years before retiring from there.
Szymczak and his wife have a daughter, Rebecca, who lives in Dana Point, and a son, Robert II, who resides in Virginia.
He proudly points out that they each have two sons.
“I am a grandfather four times now,” said Szymczak. “They are all grown now, but I am still their granddad.”
He and his wife have been parishioners at Our Lady of Fatima ever since they arrived in California.
He has been an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion for the past 20 years.
“It’s ironic,” he shared. “This church was built in 1962, the same year that Camille and I were married,” he said with a smile.
“The parishioners are so friendly and there are so many activities we do together.”
Szymczak is active in the parish. He
belongs to a bridge group that meets on Monday mornings. He has been a Brother Knight since 1990 and takes on many roles at Knights of Columbus events.
“Every Lent we have Fish Fries, an Oktoberfest, a Christmas party for the children and even a St. Patrick’s Day celebration,” he shared.
Every month, Knights of Columbus Council 3772 hosts a free breakfast for all parishioners.
“I’ve worked so many different jobs at the Knights of Columbus breakfast,” Szymczak shared. “I’ve cooked. I’ve served. I’ve even worked the condiments table.
“But pancakes are my specialty,” he said with a grin.
For more information on the Military Order of the Purple Heart, go to: https:// www.purpleheart.org/ and for Our Lady of Fatima parish in San Clemente at https:// www.olfchurch.net/ C
ROBERT SZYMCZAK IS PICTURED IN FRONT OF HIS HOME IN SAN CLEMENTE. PHOTO BY CHIP CUTHBERT
THE PURPLE HEART IS A MEDAL OF THE U.S. MILITARY AWARDED ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WOUNDED OR KILLED WHILE SERVING. PHOTO BY CHIP CUTHBERT
ROBERT SZYMCZAK OF SAN CLEMENTE AND OUR LADY OF FATIMA PARISH GRADUATED FROM THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT, N.Y., IN 1962. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT SZYMCZAK
Cross Catholic Outreach’s Home Building Program Restores Hope to Haitian Families
Emma and Thelius earn a small income by farming and selling a portion of their crops at a market in the rural community of Colladère, Haiti. Like most of their neighbors, they don’t make enough money to afford a home beyond the dilapidated patchwork shack they lived in for many years.
Raising eight children in that small home
“These new homes are a lifetransforming blessing...”
Michele Sagarino, Cross Catholic Outreach
was challenging enough, but they also faced additional hardships when it would rain. Water poured in through the roof, ruining their belongings and making them sick.
“Sometimes mud falls on the children’s heads,” Emma explained at the time. “Sometimes they sleep on the bed with me, and sometimes I can’t even walk in the house without getting my feet wet and muddy.”
For families with few economic opportunities, the idea of escaping this abject poverty and obtaining a safer, more secure home must seem like an unachievable goal — and it would be in most circumstances — but with God, all things are possible. Through a special outreach of the Kobonal Haiti Mission, Emma’s family received a simple but sturdy new home, and many others are being rescued out of terrible living conditions thanks to the gift of safe housing.
“The visionary Catholic leaders at the Kobonal Haiti Mission have launched several life-transforming programs to help the poor in the Central Plateau region of Haiti, but one of their most impactful efforts involves constructing sturdy cement-block houses for the area’s poorest families,” said Michele Sagarino, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, a Vatican-recognized ministry involved in those projects. “Our U.S. donors have been contributing to the mission’s ministries for years, and there is
a growing interest in expanding its housing program because so many families still need our help.”
The idea of funding a house for a needy family may initially seem daunting to some donors, but Sagarino said those concerns disappear when they learn more about the outreach.
“It may seem hard to believe, but a contribution of $13,141 can bless a family in Haiti with a new, safe home,” she explained. “That gift will build a four-room concrete block house that includes a solid cement foundation, a galvanized steel roof, a solar light system for indoor electricity and an outdoor latrine. Once they hear that, some of our donors sponsor an entire house. Others make a partial gift, and we combine those to achieve the same result. Their generosity has enabled us to build thousands of homes for the poor in recent years.”
Sagarino also pointed out that the Kobonal Haiti Mission involves the benefiting families in the process as much as possible, because they view the program as a “hand up” rather than a handout. Family members help with unskilled labor such as clearing the land, helping move construction materials, mixing cement and painting.
Of course, the experience produces important spiritual blessings as well.
“These new homes are a life-transforming blessing, and we make it clear they are a gift from God,” Sagarino said. “That’s our ultimate goal. We want to bless people materially and spiritually — to restore their hope and strengthen their faith.”
Readers interested in supporting Cross Catholic Outreach’s housing programs and its other outreaches to the poor can contribute through the ministry brochure inserted in this issue or send tax-deductible gifts to: Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC04044, PO Box 97168, Washington DC 20090-7168. The ministry has a special need for partners willing to make gifts on a monthly basis. Use the inserted brochure to become a Mission Partner.
Before and after photos of families beneting from the mission’s home-building project are dramatic and clearly reveal why providing safe shelter is such a vital part of Cross Catholic Outreach’s ministry work. The Nicolas family was provided with one of these houses last year, and the gift has changed their lives. Cross Catholic Outreach is condent U.S. Catholics will help their ministry continue this effort so many other Haitian families can escape extreme poverty and enjoy a brighter future.
Ministry Seeks Support From U.S. Catholics To Build Homes for Poor Families in Developing Countries
Your rusty sheet metal roof leaks like a sieve when it rains. Your plank-and-mud walls have begun to crumble around you. Your fabric curtain “door” provides no security from intruders, and your children have to place mats on the dirt floor to sleep at night. You have no running water, no electricity and no indoor plumbing for sanitation.
Who among us would even call a place like that a home?
“At best, the makeshift houses you find in the world’s poorest communities are the simplest form of shelter,” said Michele Sagarino, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, one of the world’s leading Catholic relief and development ministries with an expanding program for providing improved housing for the poor. “Until you see one of those fragile little houses firsthand, it’s hard to imagine how a couple could live there — or raise their children there. But the sad truth is that millions of people in Haiti have been living like that for generations because there hasn’t been an alternative. They grew up living in those conditions, and without some kind of intervention, their children will too. That’s why our ministry has made it a priority to provide families with safe, sturdy housing. It’s a way to break that terrible cycle of poverty, improve lives and change things for future generations.”
According to Sagarino, Cross Catholic Outreach achieves this objective by partnering with local Catholic leaders, mobilizing community participation in its home-building projects, and utilizing the support of compassionate Catholics in the United States. Donations made by those compassionate Catholics enable Church leaders to build quality cement-block homes for those who need them most.
According to Sagarino, Cross Catholic Outreach’s current work includes extensive home-building projects in central and southern Haiti. That work is underway in and around Kobonal (See the related story on the opposite page) and in the city of
Jérémie.
These efforts are supported by U.S. Catholics, many of whom have worked with the ministry for years to restore hope in deeply impoverished communities.
“When I ask those men and women why they specifically want to provide the poor with sturdier, more dignified homes, some say it is because they feel God has blessed their lives and they want to give back in a way that will make a significant impact,” Sagarino said. “Others say they do it because they understand how important a home is to creating stability and security for a family — and that’s very true. Once people have a safe place to call home, they are able to focus on improving their lives in other ways. They can use their resources to educate their children, take care of medical needs and provide more nutritious meals. A safe, reliable house offers more than improved shelter. It provides a foundation for building a better life.”
Sagarino, who has been involved in humanitarian outreaches for more than two decades, considers providing better housing for children and the frail elderly one of the highest priorities, and the Catholic ministries she partners with in the developing world agree.
“They follow the model Jesus Christ set for us,” she explained. “He sought out the weak, the isolated, the forgotten and the destitute. He addressed their urgent needs and gave them hope. That is what our partners in Haiti, Guatemala and other countries are doing — and it’s what our generous Catholic donors in the U.S. also want to accomplish with their charitable giving. They want to help the poorest of the poor in Christ’s name and for his glory.”
The fact that Cross Catholic Outreach works through existing Catholic ministries in these countries where it serves has two purposes, according to Sagarino. It properly respects the role of the local Catholic leaders and it allows more of a donor’s gift to be used directly on home construction.
“The local Catholic ministries have the
Some families live in old, one-room stone or wood houses, but these are typically crumbling with age, have leaky roofs and include interior kitchens that fill the small space with smoke when meals are prepared.
buildings and staff in place to manage the process, so our donors’ contributions can be used to buy the raw materials needed and to hire local workers to do the actual construction. It’s an approach that allows us to do more with less, and it also strengthens the local Church.”
While providing safe housing serves an obvious purpose by improving a poor family’s living conditions, Sagarino said the gift actually has a much greater impact than
How To Help
most people realize.
“When people move into a sturdy home, their hope is restored. They feel they can finally escape generations of poverty and provide a better life for their children,” she said. “I see that when I visit villages transformed by a major housing project. Families see the change as an answer to prayer and they praise God for the mercy he has shown them.”
To fund Cross Catholic Outreach’s effort to help the poor worldwide, use the postage-paid brochure inserted in this newspaper or mail your gift to Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC04044, PO Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090-7168. The brochure also includes instructions on becoming a Mission Partner and making a regular monthly donation to this cause.
If you identify an aid project, 100% of the donation will be restricted to be used for that specific project. However, if more is raised for the project than is needed, funds will be redirected to other urgent needs in the ministry.
MUCH TO CELEBRATE AT OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
BY LOU PONSI good
ALONG WITH THE celebration of the Eucharist, the center-point of every Catholic Mass, a series of additional celebrations took place during the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass on Oct. 20 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (OLG) in La Habra.
The Mass was celebrated in honor of the Rev. Msgr. Justin MacCarthy, Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who served as OLG’s Pastor for 35 years.
The Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of the Diocese of Orange, was the main celebrant.
In June, Msgr. MacCarthy was honored for the 60th anniversary of his ordination.
“Our long-time parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe have many edifying stories of Msgr. MacCarthy’s excellent leadership of this parish,” said Fr. William Goldin, Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Habra. “In his more than three decades of service to our church, Msgr. MacCarthy was a truly
THE MASS WAS CELEBRATED IN HONOR OF THE REV. MSGR. JUSTIN MACCARTHY, PASTOR EMERITUS OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, WHO SERVED AS OLG’S PASTOR FOR 35 YEARS. A CHALICE MODELED AFTER THE ORIGINAL “ARDAGH CHALICE” (HOUSED IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND IN DUBLIN) WAS DEDICATED IN HIS NAME.
shepherd.”
A special chalice, recently purchased for the parish by an anonymous benefactor, was shown publicly for the first time during the Mass and blessed by Bishop Vann.
Dedicated in Msgr. MacCarthy’s honor, the chalice is a replica of the “Ardagh Chalice,” considered one of the most sacred treasures of the early Irish Church, Fr. Goldin said.
Before the collection was taken up, the chalice was brought forward by Kathy Garcia, a devoted long-time parishioner and volunteer, and Scott Miller, interim Business Manager at OLG and long-time parishioner, and blessed with holy water and then used for the first time during the Mass.
“It’s a great day for me,” Bishop Vann said just prior to the concluding rites of the Mass. “I’m very grateful to be here with you today, and especially to honor Msgr. MacCarthy. When I first came here, he was one of the first priests I met. He has been a real friend and a helper and a partner in many, many ways.”
Modeled in the style of late Roman tableware, the original “Ardagh Chalice” (housed in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin) is believed to be more than 1,200 years old and was discovered in the 1800s by a man digging for potatoes near Ardagh, Co. Limerick, Ireland.
With Msgr. MacCarthy being from Ireland, dedicating the chalice in his name is a fitting tribute, Fr. Goldin said.
“The chalice will remain here in Msgr. MacCarthy’s honor for many years to come,” Fr. Goldin said. “We’ll use it from now on for major feast days, such as Christmas, Easter, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, our Patronal Feast. So, it will be the ‘Msgr. Justin MacCarthy Chalice’ going forward.”
The replica belonging to Our Lady of Guadalupe was crafted in 1914 in Dublin, Ireland, and is itself a prized antique and a fine example of Irish ecclesiastical silver, Fr. Goldin said.
Each Sunday at the 10 a.m. Mass, Our Lady of Guadalupe’s 4-person professional choir, the OLG Schola Cantorum, inspires the congregation with sacred music. Connie Salazar serves as the OLG Director of Music. But for this special Mass, the Schola Cantorum increased to nine members and was accompanied by professional harpists and a tubular bell player. The OLG Schola Cantorum singers for this Mass were as follows: Sopranos: Tamara Bevard, Rebecca Tomasko, and Anna Schubert; Altos: Emily Border and Stephanie Shepson; Tenors: Jon Lee Keenan and David Morales; and the Basses were: Dylan Gentile and Abdiel Gonzales. The harps were played by Liesl Erman and Elisabeth Zosseder, and the tubular bells were played by Austin Cernosek.
FOR THIS SPECIAL MASS, THE SCHOLA CANTORUM INCREASED TO 9-MEMBERS AND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY PROFESSIONAL
AND A TUBULAR BELL
day of Cardinal Basil Hume, Archbishop of Westminster from 1976 until his death in 1999. At this Mass, the OLG Schola Cantorum also sang Claudio Monteverdi’s Beatus Vir and Johannes Brahms’ Geistliches Lied
The OLG Schola Cantorum sang selections from the “Westminster Mass,” a 21st century classical Mass setting by Roxanna Panufnik which features harps and tubular bells. This Mass was composed for the Catholic Church’s own Westminster Cathedral in London, England, to honor the 75th birth-
In addition to Bishop Vann, the concelebrants of the Mass included Fr. William Goldin, Fr. Gastón Mendiola-Arroyo, Parochial Vicar of OLG, Fr. Michael Pontarelli, Pastor of St. Juliana Falconieri in Fullerton, and Fr. Henry Stephan, O.P., a priest of the Province of St. Joseph of the Dominican Friars, who was visiting La Habra to be the guest speaker at Fr. Goldin’s “Catholics Invade the Bar” series the following Wednesday. C
BISHOP KEVIN VANN IS PICTURED WITH FR. WILLIAM GOLDIN, PAROCHIAL ADMINISTRATOR OF OLG, AND FR. GASTÓN MENDIOLA-ARROYO, PAROCHIAL VICAR OF OLG, AND MEMBERS OF THE OLG SCHOLA CANTORUM. PHOTOS BY YUAN WANG/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
HARPISTS
PLAYER.
OC CATHOLIC RECIPE SWAP PECAN NUT CUP COOKIES
INGREDIENTS
COOKIE DOUGH
½ cup butter, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp of almond extract
1 ¾ cups of all-purpose flour
1 3oz cream cheese
FILLING
1 cup butter, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
1 cup
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cream cheese, butter and flour and mix all ingredients with hands.
Shape one teaspoon of the mixture into ungreased cups of mini-muffin cup pan and bake for 7-10 minutes.
Remove from oven, cool and sprinkle a little confectioners sugar and serve. The cookies can be placed in a cookie tin for up to two weeks. Makes about 3 dozen cookies. Enjoy! C
—Submitted by Josephine Bivona
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BÁO CÁO LẠM DỤNG TÌNH DỤC
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THE LOVE OF GOD IS BIGGER THAN DEATH
HUNDREDS OF FAITHFUL FROM THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE PARTICIPATE IN A NIGHT OF ALTARS
BY JORGE LUIS MACÍAS
AFTER OFFICIATING THE Holy Mass, Fr. Juan Navarro solemnly sprinkled holy water on each of the altars, in memory of the deceased loved ones.
At Christ Cathedral, the significant commemoration of Catholics from various parishes honored their deceased in a culturally relevant and spiritually enriching way.
“May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace,” said Fr. Navarro at each altar mounted on different levels.
That is a phrase that is recited in the Commemoration of All Souls, also known as All Souls' Day, which is celebrated on Nov. 2.
“Grant them, Lord, eternal rest and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace,” he continued.
And the attendees responded: “Amen.”
Organized by the Hispanic Ministry of the Diocese of Orange, directed by Armando Cervantes, the commemoration prior to the Day of the Dead took place on Oct. 25.
“It has been a great opportunity for new generations of Hispanics born in the United States to join our traditions,” said Cervantes. “Sometimes we don't understand the meaning because the secular world has stolen them from us, but when the beauty of faith is included, everything changes.”
The Catholic Church teaches that prayers for the dead can help them atone for their sins and enter heaven (2 Maccabees 12:38-46).
Although the roots of the altars' creation are rooted in the ancient indigenous traditions of Mexico, primarily the Aztecs, the festivities have evolved to incorporate
as a family and community of faith, thanks are given to God for everything he has done for each of his children.
In ancient Greece, the resting place of the deceased was called a necropolis. It was a large cemetery with funerary monuments. The Greek word, spelled nekropolis means “city of the dead.”
At present it is called a cemetery, whose meaning is “bedroom.”
“For this reason, we always say that those who rest in Christ sleep in Christ for the resurrection, and may the Lord awaken them and call them to life as He did with Lazarus (John 11, 1-5),” said Fr. Navarro.
On the highest level of the altar of the Church of Saint John the Baptist, in Costa Mesa, Sr. Bertha Rafael, of the Congregation of Discalced Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament, placed two first-degree relics: a hair of Saint Carlo Acutis and another of the Blessed María Inés Teresa del Sagrado Sacramento, founder of her congregation.
And, in the middle of two Easter candles, she placed a photograph showing her late father, Daniel Rafael. She also prayed for the repose of the souls of her niece Adriana and her sister Trini.
“Praying for our dead is a dogma of faith,” said Sr. Bertha Rafael. “For us, life does not end after death, but we are still on the way to reach heaven, which is our goal and the members of the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant pray for the Purgative Church, and the Purgative Church prays for the Church Militant.”
Mónica Rivera, lay director of the Christianity Cursillo Movement, expressed that praying for the souls in purgatory is a duty of every Christian.
elements of Catholicism.
After the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, the Franciscan, Dominican and Augustinian friars integrated into indigenous practices the Catholic observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, which are remembered on Nov. 1 and 2.
“Our loved ones are always on our minds, and we know that, especially these days, we can say that the love of God is greater than death,” Fr. Juan Navarro stressed.
In fact, he stated that on those dates the victory of God is precisely celebrated, and,
“Many souls are not yet in heaven. Yes, they are purifying themselves, and with our prayers we can help them so that they can see God face to face,” she said.
“Therefore, we must offer sacrifices for those souls: Masses, Rosaries, Holy Hours and Eucharists.”
A FAMILY GATHERS BY THE ALTAR THEY ASSEMBLED TO HONOR THEIR DECEASED LOVED ONES DURING CHRIST CATHEDRAL’S NIGHT OF ALTARS HELD ON OCT. 25. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
ALTARS IN MEMORY OF DECEASED LOVED ONES WERE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED DURING THE NIGHT OF ALTARS ON OCT. 25.
In preparing the altars, where our intentions and prayers are physically represented, the parishioners presented altars of three to seven levels, and are made up of: water, which represents the purity of the soul and remembers that Christ Jesus quenches our thirst and that He is the living water.
Candles symbolize light, faith and hope. The number of candles may correspond to the deceased. Purple candles indicate mourning and those that form a cross represent faith (Matthew 5, 13-16; 1 John 1,7).
The cempasuchil flowers, or flower of
the dead, add festivity to the altar; It guides souls with its color and aroma, forming paths of petals.
The Holy Rosary is a symbol of faith and intercession for the deceased, and the crucifix reflects the Christian faith and the sacrifice of Jesus, remembering the promise of the resurrection.
Thus, the celebration of the Day of the Dead is not only a tribute to those who have passed away, but also a reaffirmation of faith, recognizing death as a part of life's journey and maintaining a spiritual bond with those who came before us, to strengthen our relationship with the communion of saints. C
BY LOU PONSI
EACH YEAR, JSERRA Catholic High School honors the grandparents of its students with a special Mass, followed by lunch and other festivities.
The latest Grandparents Day Mass and celebration held on Oct. 16 was JSerra’s most successful ever, with nearly every seat in the 2,000-seat gymnasium filled with students, parents, school officials and of course, grandmothers and grandfathers.
“It's just exploded and it's super exciting to see that much enthusiasm for not only being with your grandkids, but being at Mass with your grandkids,” said Pat Reidy JSerra’s vice president of mission and faith. “We realize it's very important that our students know that we see the value of them not only interacting with their grandparents, but having their grandparents influence their lives in a spiritual sense as well as in a practical everyday sense.”
The celebration also provides an opportunity for the grandparents to see what everyday life is like at JSerra for their grandchildren, Reidy said.
Reidy also said it is important to dispel the belief that elder members of the community have little to contribute to the younger generation.
“The opposite is true,” he said. “If you’ve walked around the block 35 times and someone else walked around the block 10 times, you probably would have observed more than that person would have. You have just walked around the block a few more times.”
Gary and Helen Salas, grandparents of junior Peyton Salas, made the drive from Los Angeles to the JSerra campus in San Juan Capistrano.
“I love it,” Helen Salas said. “I love the Mass. I love to meet her friends. She's a junior, so I only have one more Grandparents Day left.”
Peyton said her grandparents are “su-
per involved” in all aspects of her life.
“They're really my only two grandparents,” she said. “They're always with us. They're always at my tennis matches. So, it's great having them around.”
As a member of Caritas Christi (Love of Christ), a service group at JSerra, senior Wyatt Boyd ushered many grandparents to their seats for the Mass and assisted during Communion.
This was the first year Boyd’s grandparents, Patti and Willis Boyd, attended the event and the first time they attended a Catholic Mass.
“I wanted to show them how it is,” Boyd said. “I’m super grateful to have my grandparents here. I know they love and support me.”
“It’s really exciting to be part of Wyatt’s life because he’s done so well here,” Willis Boyd added.
Patti Boyd said her grandson is “an incredible human being.”
“We are so honored to have him as our grandson,” she said.
And while it’s important to tap into the life experiences of the older generation, Reidy said, it’s equally vital for grandparents to see how vibrant young people are, especially at Mass.
“They realize that God is alive, Jesus is still with us, and he's working in the hearts of young people, and they are responding with great enthusiasm and energy,” Reidy said. “I say, yes, there's a lot to be hopeful about in this generation.” C
FR. JUAN NAVARRO BLESSES ALTARS DURING NIGHT OF ALTARS HELD AT THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS.
NIGHT OF ALTARS FEATURED ALTARS HONORING PARENTS, SIBLINGS AND FRIENDS, AS WELL AS A MASS, LIVE CULTURAL PERFORMANCES, VENDORS AND A TRUNK-OR-TREAT EXPERIENCE.
JSERRA’S ANNUAL GRANDPARENTS DAY MASS IS A MUCH-LOVED TRADITION AT THE SCHOOL. PHOTO BY LOU PONSI/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
INVITATION TO TRUST
BY REBEKAH VALDERRAMA
I'VE RECENTLY LEVELED UP my stay-at-home-mom game by learning how to bake bread. It was something I was always nervous to try, but I've been surprised how fun and easy it can be with a little bit of practice. My kids eat their crust now! And I feel like a superwoman.
I found bulk bread flour and yeast at Smart and Final, and stashed them in my garage freezer. Now not only have I brought my materials cost down below a loaf of Walmart sandwich bread, I feel like I'll never run out of breakfast for my kids again. With that much overstock storage, I know there will always be enough ingredients on hand to make bread for my family. It's a good feeling. All that to say, today's reading from 1 Kings really resonates with me this year. Since I quit my office job to stay at home with my kids, providing for them has been my whole world. When I'm doing my job, they always have clean clothes to wear, a peaceful home to live in, and food to eat. I can't imagine the heartbreak of the widow of Zarephath when she realized that her supply of flour and oil was running dry, and she wouldn't be able to provide for her son. The country was in the midst of a famine, but if she's like many of us, she probably felt it as a personal failure anyway. She probably also felt completely abandoned by God. How could he let this happen to her and her family?
Of course, we know she wasn't abandoned by God, and the prophet Elijah was there to make sure she knew it too. He invited her to trust God in a radical way, and the most surprising thing in this story is that she did! We know that God keeps His promises, and obviously we know how this story ends, but it's so much harder to put this lesson into prac-
asking me to let go and trust Him with everything - my children, the bread, the budget.
I actually did recently increase our weekly giving, even though it means we're relying on my freelance income to do it. It's scary to trust that God will take care of our family if we trust Him with our future, but He always does. He did, the time my husband was out of work for six months. He did, during a year-long house hunt a year later. And He will again, with every scary thing we allow ourselves to offer up to Him.
We all have areas of our lives that we don't feel ready to surrender to God's never-failing hands. What is the flour jar in this season of your life that He's asking you to offer up in order for Him to fill you up beyond your wildest dreams? This is the reminder we all need again and again: trust Him. Follow in faith, and He will provide for you and your family like He sustained the widow of Zarephath and her son when all hope seemed lost. C
CLASSIFIED ADS
tice in my own life than to read about it in the Bible.
Trusting God is hard! I don't like worrying about running out of flour to make bread for my family. I don't like worrying about running out of money
in our weekly budget because we were generous in the collection basket. Day to day, I have my head down, worrying about cooking the next meal, washing the next load of laundry, getting the kids to the next activity. But God is
PHOTO BY ARTURRRO ON UNSPLASH
OC Catholic Afar
We recently visited Lahaina on the island of Maui and were shocked at the devastation the people are still suffering through from last year’s horrible fire. Maria Lanakila Catholic Church was one of the only buildings to survive. Every home surrounding it was burned to the ground. The burned area is off limits to everyone and there are security guards at every street entrance. We met the pastor, Father “K”, who visits the church every day to pray. He was kind enough to take us with him past security and to unlock Maria Lanakila so we could go inside the church. He gave us a tour inside and around his church and described the horrific day the fire happened. Over 25 parishioners died and over 450 families became homeless. The people of Lahaina have a long way to go to resume life as they knew it. They need our prayers and support. To learn more, visit https://www.marialanakila.org/
—Tom Nadal and Maria Nadal are parishioners at San Francisco Solano Catholic Church in Rancho Santa Margarita. The pastor of Maria Lanakila, Fr. Kuriakose Nadooparambil (Father K) kindly took our pictures.
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