To report sexual abuse by clergy or church personnel please call: 1 (800) 364-3064
Healing and Hope After Abortion: 1 (800) 722-4356
New Hope Peer-to-Peer Support Line | Mon - Fri 7:30 AM - 9:30 PM | Sat - Sun 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM: 1 (714) NEW-HOPE or 1 (714) 639-4673
BÁO CÁO LẠM DỤNG TÌNH DỤC
Nếu bạn là nạn nhân bị lạm dụng tình dục bởi một linh mục/ tu sĩ hay một thành viên trong Giáo Hội gây ra, xin hãy gọi và báo cáo cho Giáo phận ở số điện thoại miễn phí sau đây: 1-800-364-3064, và đồng thời báo cáo cho nhà chức trách địa phương.
본당내의 성적학대 신고
성직자나 성당 사목을 대표하는
교구청의 무료 신고 전화 번호, 1-800-364-3064 및 관할 지역 법 집행 기관에 전화하십시오.
7
11
FEBRUARY 22, 2026
CONTENTS
ST. BONAVENTURE HOSTS LOCAL LEADERS
City leadership visited the school to talk about the intersection of faith, education and service.
A GRAND DAY WITH GRANDPARENTS
St. Angela Merici Parish School hosted a special day for students and their loved ones.
ST. HEDWIG HOSTS CAREER, SPECIAL PERSONS DAY
The school gathered friends and family for a day of visiting classrooms and learning about interesting careers. 12
14
THE
MOST GLORIOUS
Transfiguration remains mysterious, and the Church invites us not to solve it but to experience it in our hearts.
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
SCNG CUSTOM CONTENT
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.
ROSARY BEADS
READER CALL-OUT
This Rosary has all my saints’ charms that have been blessed & touched by their relics.
List of saints: St. Rita, St. Gemma Galgani, St. Philomena, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Padre Pio, St. Michael the Archangel, Blessed Miguel Pro, Blessed Lucia Dos Santos, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. Charbel, St. Junípero Serra, St. Martin de Porres. — Grace Restrepo, Holy Family Catholic Church in Orange and Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Encino.
If you would like to share a photo of your Rosary Beads with our readers, please send a photo and brief description (include your name and parish) to: Editor@occatholic.com
“ Let us learn the cry of hope” — Pope Leo XIV
SAINT PROFILE
PETER DAMIAN 1007-1072
PETER DAMIAN IS CONSIDERED one of the great church reformers during a time of crisis. He reluctantly left a hermit's life to take charge of his religious community and establish five hermitages in Italy. Later, as bishop of Ostia, he was involved in important church events, yet he pleaded to be allowed to return to the solitary prayer life. Peter is credited with many spiritual writings. To a bishop he once wrote, "let your lips continually ruminate something from the scriptures." He was declared a doctor of the church in 1828.C
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
LEVITICUS 19:1-2, 11-18; PSALM 19:8, 9, 10, 15; MATTHEW 25:31-46
TUESDAY
ISAIAH 55:10-11; PSALM 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19; MATTHEW 6:7-15
WEDNESDAY
JONAH 3:1-10; PSALM 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19; LUKE 11:29-32
THURSDAY
ESTHER C:12, 14-16, 23-25; PSALM 138:1-2AB, 2CDE-3, 7C-8; MATTHEW 7:7-12
FRIDAY
EZEKIEL 18:21-28; PSALM 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7A, 7BC-8; MATTHEW 5:20-26
PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK
SATURDAY
DEUTERONOMY 26:16-19; PSALM 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8; MATTHEW 5:43-48
DIOCESE CELEBRATES NATIONAL MARRIAGE WEEK WITH SPECIAL MASS
BY MADISON ZUÑIGA
ON SAT., FEB. 7, approximately 70 married couples from across Orange County attended the National Marriage Week Diocesan Wedding Anniversaries Mass 2026, celebrated in the Arboretum at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove.
Organized by the diocesan Office for Family Life, the Mass offered the opportunity for couples to renew their commitments to each other in four languages. A reception in the Cultural Center followed, where couples could enjoy refreshments, take a photo with Bishop Nguyen, browse resources and pick up a free book.
The Mass coincided with National Marriage Week, recognized in the United States from Feb. 7 to Feb. 14, and preceding World Marriage Sunday, which lands on Feb. 8.
Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen presided at the Mass, celebrating the vocation of ordinary married life in his homily: “Marriage includes the mundane and sometimes difficult realities of socks on the floor, dishes in the sink and snoring at 3:00 in the morning. It is far more than a lifestyle choice or a living arrangement with tax advantages; it is a vocation and a sacred calling similar to that of a priest or religious.”
“Like any vocation,” Bishop Nguyen continued, “marriage requires an ongoing dialogue with God, where even ordinary acts—like washing a dish or tossing a sock in the hamper—are done for the glory of God. God calls married couples to live in a radical way, putting the interests of their spouse and family ahead of their own.”
“The whole idea is to acknowledge that marriage is the foundation of the family and the stronger the marriages
we have, the stronger our families can be, the stronger that our parish communities can be, the stronger that our whole society can be,” said Linda Ji, Director of the Office for Family Life.
Couples who registered for the Mass had the opportunity to share private prayer intentions that would be delivered to Bishop Nguyen. “Couples carry all kinds of joys and burdens and challenges from their family life, and they're able to offer those at this Mass, and that’s a beautiful opportunity,” said Ji.
After the Mass, Ji took the opportunity to acknowledge both the couples who were celebrating many decades of married life, and the couples who had been married recently. “It becomes a space where younger couples can also see, hey, it is possible to stay married for decades. It is possible to make it through these hard times,” said Ji.
Arturo Diaz and his wife Andrea were among the couples married longest, having celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2025.
“We were married at St. Columban Filipino Catholic Church in Los Angeles on Feb. 19, 1965,” Arturo described. “I met my wife in Long Beach…My aunt arranged the meeting. We spent the entire day exploring the local sites, conversing and dining. Andrea then brought me to meet her family. Andrea and I communicated by phone and letter writing, while I continued attending classes at UC Berkeley. After four months of long-distance relationship, we both decided to get married.”
Sixty years later, Arturo and Andrea have three children, six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Isabella Prause and her husband Trevor were among the newly married, celebrating a year and a half together. “This is our first time coming togeth-
er to the cathedral,” she explained. “I think I came here like 10 years ago for my first retreat. So I feel like it was just a big full circle moment for me to come back with my husband. I mean, just getting this blessing is just so special and I really feel like it strengthened our marriage more. We have a baby on the way too, so it's extra special, and just being able to bring us closer together, because you know times obviously can get hard. We're still very new to marriage, but as much as we can put God in our relationship that really is what means most to us.”
For couples who are new to the married life, Ji has been working to create space for them to find community and support. On Jan. 23, the Office for Family Life hosted a holy hour and dinner
FEATURE
event specifically for engaged couples and newlyweds.
Jan. 23 marks the lesser known and formerly celebrated Feast of the Espousals (honoring the marriage between the Virgin Mary and Joseph). It was traditionally celebrated before Vatican II and it is still observed by certain religious groups and regions today, but it is no longer on the General Roman Calendar. Ji explained how the feast “sheds light on what God can be doing in these families during this really beautiful early period of their marriage.”
She continued, “There aren't a lot of spaces in the Catholic Church right now that serve those particular people in that phase of life.” “We have campus ministries or young adult ministries out there. And then we have marriage and family, maybe school age children opportunities.
But there's kind of a gap in between.”
The guided holy hour was presided over by Fr. Ian Gaston. Afterwards, the group enjoyed a family-style dinner and a guest speaker.
“These couples had to give up a Friday night, which is pretty precious,” said Ji. “But it seemed like the feedback was pretty positive. So we'll either try it again at the diocesan level or we hope that some of our parishes would host something similar.”
Ji highlighted the many marriage enrichment opportunities presented by the Office for Family Life, and encouraged couples to take advantage of these regardless of what season their relationship might be in. “I always like to encourage couples to not wait until the crisis to work on your marriage. I compare it to wellness checkups with your doctor. We’re supposed to go every year to make sure we're
doing okay. Just because you go to the doctor doesn't mean you're actually sick. You just want to make sure you're on the right track.”
“Ultimately, being faithful to marriage vows—promising to be true in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health—is a powerful witness to the sanctity of commitment in a society with a high divorce rate,” Bishop Nguyen concluded in his homily. “This faithfulness reflects the loyalty of Jesus to the Heavenly Father.”
Couples in the Orange County Diocese can look ahead to a variety of upcoming events from the Office for Family Life, including communication skills workshops, information sessions on annulments, a post-abortion healing retreat, and a retreat for healthcare professionals. Visit rcbo.org/familylife for more information and scheduling. C
ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC SCHOOL HOSTS LOCAL LEADERS TO SPEAK ON FAITH, SERVICE
BY BRITNEY ZINT
HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY
leaders recently joined with local business owners to speak to Catholic schoolchildren about the importance of faith, education and service.
St. Bonaventure Catholic School’s entire student body and many parents came out for an early-morning assembly on Jan. 29 to hear from the mayor of Huntington Beach, Casey McKeon, about the interconnectedness of faith and leadership.
St. Bonaventure's principal, Dr. Richard Yoon, said he wanted to give the students the chance to see their leaders and understand that their faith is not just about going to church but using their gifts to serve the community.
“At St. Bonaventure, we believe leadership is not about position or title, but about service: serving others with integrity, passion and faith,” said Dr. Yoon. “As a Catholic school, we strive to form young people who understand that they are called to lead by example, to care for their community and to live out their faith through action. Our city leaders remind us that true leadership means working for the common good and serving with humility and dedication.”
The mayor was joined by many local leaders, including City Attorney Mike Vigliotta, Mayor Pro Tem Butch Twining, City Council member Pat Burns, former city attorney and state attorney general candidate Michael Gates, H-Wave owner Jim Heaney, Smith Machine and Tool owner Catherine Smith. Almost all of those gathered were St. Bonaventure alumni, or parents of current or former students.
McKeon spoke about his experience growing up and bouncing around
HUNTINGTON BEACH MAYOR CASEY MCKEON ADDRESSES STUDENTS DURING MORNING ASSEMBLY AT ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC SCHOOL HELD ON JAN. 29. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
churches but not having the opportunity to attend a school like St. Bonaventure. He said it was around the time that he decided to run for City Council that he began really wondering what God’s plan for him was.
“For me, it wasn’t just to work and try to be successful and, of course, raise my family,” McKeon said. “It became apparent that I needed to give back to my community, and I realized that is what God’s ministry is for me.”
McKeon told the children he is proud of the work he and his fellow public servants have done over the last three
years to reduce the number of unhoused people on the streets and lower crime across the city. He urged the students to consider their own purpose.
“My advice to you as you grow up and pursue sports and academics and those things, really think about: What is your ministry?” McKeon asked. “What is your purpose in life? What did God put you here for? And really start to think about how you can give back to your community, because it can start small with small gestures, volunteering and charity work that can lead to big things, like being up here in front of you guys and being the mayor of this amazing city.”
After the assembly, city officials and business leaders had a chance to tour the campus. St. Bonaventure Catholic School, which was built in 1966, has been updated, revitalized and changed since members of the group attended the school themselves or had children who attended.
While the tour was a chance to see the new, it was also a chance to reminisce about the past. Twining, the mayor pro tem, jumped at the chance to see St. Bonaventure again. Although he comes to the parish often, he said he doesn't get to see what is new with the school. Two of his children attended the school in
the late ’90s, and his granddaughter will be joining TK soon.
“Coming back and seeing the school again brings up old memories,” Twining said, adding of the new developments, “I love seeing progress. This is amazing.”
Dr. Yoon also outlined the plans to make the campus continue to meet the needs of its growing student population. Dr. Yoon said they want to build a two-story gym/multipurpose room as well as a regulation football field. The school is also looking at how to repurpose its convent. When these plans start to take shape, they will be going before the City Council for approval. C
ELI HARRINGTON, A SIXTH-GRADE STUDENT, CENTER, POSES WITH BUTCH TWINING, HUNTINGTON BEACH MAYOR PRO TEM, PAT BURNS, HUNTINGTON BEACH COUNCIL MEMBER, MICHAEL GATES, FORMER CITY ATTORNEY, MIKE VIGLIOTTA, HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY ATTORNEY AND JIM HEANEY, OWNER OF H-WAVE. PHOTO BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
CELEBRATING EDUCATORS IN THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
BY BRITNEY ZINT
TEACHERS SPEND THEIR days supporting and cheering on their students, but on a recent Friday night, the tables were turned and they got their moment in the sun for all they do for Catholic education.
The Diocese of Orange hosted its 12th annual Celebrating Catholic School Educators dinner on Feb. 6 in the hotel ballroom at the Anaheim Marriott Suites in Garden Grove. Educators with a milestone anniversary were recognized along with the Teachers of the Year from different campuses and three award winners. There was also a keynote address by Dr. Joy Roberts, co-founder of Friendzy, a faith-based curriculum used by the schools.
The dinner’s theme was “Anchored in Christ’s Love.”
“Tonight, we celebrate teachers who have modeled this theme beautifully,” said Dr. Erin Barisano, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Orange. “Through their commitment to mission and service to their students, they are living witnesses of Christ’s love in this world.”
Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen led the 322 attendees in song before saying the opening prayer.
St. John the Baptist School Principal Paula Viles was honored with the Bishop Vann Award, which is traditionally given to one educator each year for outstanding service to Catholic education.
“What began as a calling has become a lifetime of purpose,” Viles said. “I have been blessed to serve as a teacher, a leader and, most importantly, a quiet witness to the miracles that happen in Catholic schools every day.”
Viles began her teaching career in 1983 at St. John the Baptist in Costa Mesa. She worked as a classroom teacher until 1990 when she transitioned to the position of
XENIA JESKE IS CONGRATULATED BY DR. ERIN BARISANO FOR
DR. ERIN BARISANO CONGRATULATES BISHOP VANN HONOREE AWARD RECIPIENT PAULA VILES DURING THE12TH ANNUAL CELEBRATING CATHOLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS DINNER ON FEB. 6. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
computer teacher, a role involving “pioneering instructional technology as the tools of education evolved,” Dr. Barisano noted.
In 2009, Viles became the vice principal before being promoted to the top job in 2015.
“Throughout her decades of service, but especially in her years as principal,” Dr. Barisano said, “Paula strengthened the Catholic identity at St. John’s through her commitment to instill in the students our mission: ‘St. John the Baptist School prepares the way for students to embrace the fullness of God’s love in the world and in Heaven.’”
Viles, an educator for 43 years, started preparing for her role as a child. She thanked her six siblings for playing school with her every day “whether they wanted to or not.”
Viles also thanked her mentor Sr. Mary Vianney Ennis, S.M., who served as Viles’ predecessor at St. John the Baptist. Sr. Vianney saw leadership potential in her when she couldn’t see it herself.
“I am humbled and honored to accept the Bishop Vann Award,” Viles said. “I
preschool student and continued through high school before returning to become an educator herself.
“This award really isn’t my award,” LeClair said. “This award is truly a testament to the long line of Catholic educators who taught me and mentored me into the person I am today. Not a single one of us in the entire world would be where we are today without the teachers who educated us, supported us and, most importantly, loved us.”
Fr. Angelos Sebastian, vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Orange, gave the closing prayer. Before his prayer, Fr. Angelos, who had
served as a teacher, commended those in the room. He pointed out how they are not just teachers, but Catholic teachers who model themselves after Christ, the one eternal teacher.
“It’s not an easy choice that you make,” Fr. Angelos said. “It’s a sacrifice to be a Catholic teacher, and all of you have made that sacrifice. That’s making a difference in the lives of your students and in the lives of society. So, you are not alone in this. Remember, we are all on this mission together. The diocese is there to support you and, most importantly, the Lord is there to watch over us.” C
accept this award with a grateful heart and a profound sense of responsibility.”
Fourteen teachers across the diocese were also honored as the Teacher of the Year at their respective campuses. They were also finalists for the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Teacher of the Year awards, which were narrowed down to one primary and secondary teacher.
St. Hedwig Catholic School’s fifthgrade teacher Kyle Kelly was honored as the Elementary Teacher of the Year. Kelly teaches math, science and religion at the Los Alamitos school.
“He is committed to fostering a Christ-centered learning environment where faith and intellectual growth are inseparable,” Dr. Barisano said. “This teacher integrates Catholic identity into daily instruction, encourages respectful dialogue and strives to form the whole child: academically, spiritually and morally.”
Rosary Academy’s social studies teacher Caitlyn LeClair was honored as the Secondary Teacher of the Year winner. LeClair, in her fourth year at Rosary, started her Catholic school tenure as a
CAITLYN LECLAIR DISPLAYS HER PLAQUE AFTER BEING NAMED SECONDARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
KYLE KELLY, A TEACHER FROM ST. HEDWIG SCHOOL, RECEIVED THE ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR.
A GRAND DAY WITH GRANDPARENTS AT ST. ANGELA MERICI PARISH SCHOOL
BY BRITNEY ZINT
FROM THE SMALLEST learners
up to the eighth-grade leaders on campus, the entire St. Angela Merici Parish School community came together during a very special week for a performance where children showcased their singing and musical talents to honor their country, their patron saint and their grandparents.
The school in Brea celebrated its patron saint’s feast day along with Grandparents and Special Persons’ Day with a student-led prayer service and patriotic performance on Jan. 27, followed by classroom tours and lunch outside. The event was one of many the school hosted during Catholic Schools Week, a national celebration of Catholic education that is celebrated on each campus in the Diocese of Orange from Jan. 25 to Jan. 31 in a way that is unique and authentic to the individual campus.
“I’m so happy that we were able to celebrate with the grandparents,” said Principal JoAnn Telles. “The prayer service turned out lovely, and our students were amazing. But most of all, we were there to celebrate St. Angela’s feast day. She is an amazing role model for our students.”
The prayer service was led by St. Angela’s eighth-grade students who read Scripture, reflections on their patron saint and recited prayers.
“Lord God, on this feast of St. Angela Merici, thank you for the gift of Catholic education,” prayed eighth-grader Annabelle Acosta, the student council president. “Bless our students, teachers, parents and grandparents. With St. Angela as an example, let us grow in faith, kindness and courage.”
The prayer service featured music by the fifth- through eighth-grade campus ministry that performed Love the Lord and 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord), the
latter accompanied by the seventh graders on ukulele.
The patriotic performance for grandparents opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star-Spangled Banner, before the eighth-grade class took to the stage to play This Land Is Your Land on their ukuleles.
Waving American flags, transitional kindergarten, kindergarten and first graders sang You’re A Grand Old Flag followed by America the Beautiful by the second-, third- and fourth-grade students. Then there was a performance of My Country, ’Tis of Thee on recorders by fifth- and sixth-grade students.
The show concluded with God Bless America in ASL (American Sign Language) by the fifth- through eighthgrade students.
“It was lovely,” said music teacher Vanessa Halliday. “You can’t go wrong with kids singing patriotic songs for their grandparents. I mean, it really is such a treat when they get to come up and use their gifts and talents of reading and singing and even some dance moves in there. I’m very happy with how it went.”
Sisters Noelle and Avery Palacios, ages 6 and 11, said they were happy that their grandma, Martha Gallegos, came to spend time with them.
“It’s not every day that your grandparents get to come and see your classroom, visit you at school and you get to have lunch with them, so I thought it was fun,” said Avery, who is in fifth grade.
Gallegos said she wants her granddaughters to know that their family is always there for them and that they are loved.
“It’s something that is very special to me,” Gallegos said. “I love to be around my grandkids and my family. They were great. I love to see them perform. I’m here for every event.” C
A STUDENT SHARES A JOYFUL MOMENT WITH HIS GRANDPARENTS FOLLOWING THE GRANDPARENTS DAY PERFORMANCES AT ST. ANGELA MERICI PARISH SCHOOL. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
VANESSA HALLIDAY, MUSIC TEACHER, POSES FOR A PHOTO WITH SEVERAL OF HER STUDENTS FOLLOWING THE PERFORMANCES ON JAN. 27.
RENEE HERNANDEZ AND HER GRANDDAUGHTER, PAIZLEY DAVILA, POSE FOR A PHOTO DURING GRANDPARENTS DAY AT ST. ANGELA MERICI PARISH SCHOOL.
ST. HEDWIG HOSTS CAREER DAY, SPECIAL PERSON’S DAY
BY BRITNEY ZINT
THE LITTLEST LEARNERS
brought a special person with them to school while the upper graders had the chance to learn from professionals in specialized fields.
St. Hedwig Catholic School hosted its Special Person’s Day for TK- through fourth-grade students and Career Day for fifth- through eighth-grade students on Jan. 23 at the Los Alamitos campus. The event was part of St. Hedwig’s Catholic Schools Week celebration, which is a national event to honor and recognize the power of Catholic education.
The Special Person’s Day was a chance for each student to bring a loved one — such as a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or family friend — into the classroom to showcase their learning.
The children and their special person spent the morning in their classrooms doing a craft or activity before attending a student-led prayer service. The service featured singing, readings of student letters and poems and a chance to share why their person was special to them.
“Special Person’s Day was great,” commented fourth-grade teacher Emily Vaught. “The kids were very excited to have their special person come to their classroom, do something with them and then pray with them at the prayer service. It’s a really nice way for the kids to show their love and appreciation for someone special in their life.”
Principal Chris McGuiness said the highlight “was having several students present their special person and why they invited them. Hearing how grandparents and parents have been instrumental to their young lives was inspiring.”
Students went up in front of their
community and shared how their grandmother teaches them to make cookies, or how their mom is the most beautiful person in the world. The students’ stories showed how important it is for all young people to have adults they can look up to, McGuiness said.
“It is also a reminder to all of us that the little eyes are always watching us, and the trust they put in us to take care of them, even in the simplest ways, is making a difference,” he added. “As parents, educators and grandparents, we have an amazing responsibility to ensure that we support and nurture these little ones along the way. The influences we have on them are lasting.”
The older students spent Career Day hearing from 10 speakers: a space
JAY ULIBARRY, RIGHT, COLORS WITH HIS GRANDDAUGHTER ANDREA MACIAS, 7. PHOTOS BY SCOTT SMELTZER/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
MARK MASON, RIGHT, PLAYS CATCH WITH HIS NIECE PFEIFER JOWDY, 9, WHILE VISITING HER ST. HEDWIG CATHOLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOM.
operations specialist, superior court judge, RN/nurse educator, acoustics engineer, Long Beach city councilwoman, airport operations specialist, special education teacher, retired NBA player, video game developer and branding founder.
“Career Day has been a long tradition at St. Hedwig school,” said Mai Marquez, who teaches middle school math. “We invite parents and members of the community to share their profession with our middle schoolers, and their presentations highlight both their personal and professional
experiences. It is an opportunity for students to learn about a variety of careers and backgrounds and the dedication and hard work it takes to be successful.”
The speakers were all volunteers who offered to give their time. They gave a presentation and answered student inquiries.
“The students were riveted by the presentations and asked many insightful questions,” Marquez said. “The day is a favorite among our students, and we look forward to inviting more individuals in the future.”
ALBERT GUTIERREZ SITS WITH HIS GRANDSON NOAH JALDIN, 9, DURING ST. HEDWIG CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S SPECIAL PERSONS DAY AND CAREER DAY. PHOTOS BY SCOTT SMELTZER/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
BRIAN BERKENKOTTER, PART OF SPACEX’S TRAINING TEAM, SPEAKS TO A CLASS OF EIGHTH GRADERS DURING ST. HEDWIG CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S SPECIAL PERSONS DAY AND CAREER DAY ON JAN. 23.
THE MOST GLORIOUS
BY DEACON KEVIN DUTHOY
PARAPHRASING THE TITLE of an English novel by Christopher Monger, in the Transfiguration Gospel (Mt. 17:1-9), Peter, James and John go “up a hill but come down a mountain.” Bishop Robert Barron describes the Transfiguration as “the luminous transformation of Jesus that has dazzled mystics and inspired artists and poets throughout the centuries.” The Transfiguration remains mysterious, and the Church invites us not to solve it but to experience it in our hearts.
Transfiguration is a two-sided coin: arguably the most glorious and the most terrifying event witnessed in human history. We cannot fully grasp either the beauty of God’s glory or the fear evoked by this supernatural encounter, because we were not there. And even if we had been, we would probably be like Peter, James and John—face down, overwhelmed, unable to rise without the consoling touch of Jesus, filled with awe, fear and questions.
St. Thomas Aquinas devotes an entire question in his Summa Theologiae to the Transfiguration. He explains that Christ revealed his glory to select apostles because those who undertake a difficult journey need to know where they are going. That hard walk is human life itself, marked by suffering, doubt, broken dreams, anxiety and loss. Without a glimpse of what lies ahead at the end of our striving “to enter through the narrow gate,” despair easily takes hold. The Transfiguration, occurring just before Jesus enters his Passion, strengthens the disciples—and us—to endure the darkness by unveiling the glory that awaits beyond it.
Aquinas reflects on the dazzling light that radiates from Jesus, attributing it
to the qualities of the resurrected body, especially clarity—the capacity to shine. Holiness is associated with light because without light we cannot see what is beautiful, and in Christ’s light we see light (Ps. 36:10), that holiness resplendent beyond all.
Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus as witnesses to the Law and the Prophets. Moses the Lawgiver yields to Jesus, the Law made flesh; Elijah the messenger of God yields to Jesus, the Word incarnate. Together they echo John the Baptist’s humility: “He must increase; I must
erarchy among the apostles, but because they loved the Lord deeply.
Love, Aquinas concludes, is the requirement for truly seeing Jesus.
Theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar reflected: “Getting [Jesus] is not so much a matter of clarity of mind as intensity of affection.” The Transfiguration reveals the goal of our journey, the promise of resurrection and the supernatural, beautiful light awaiting those who love the Lord.
There are two mountaintop experiences here. One is exhilarating, everything comes together perfectly, and like Peter we want the moment to last forever. But the second is more enduring: the fearful moment when the apostles cannot rise until they hear Jesus say, “Get up; do not be afraid.”
The words “get up” mean more than standing—they mean being raised up, the same language used in the Gospels for resurrection and healing. Jesus invites us to be raised up despite fear, live transfigured lives, listening to His voice amid many others and walking forward changed, with the light of Christ reflecting from us outward to others in darkness. Though fear and questions remain, love and light have the final word.C
decrease.”
They represent the Old Testament past, while Peter, James and John represent the new covenant future, the Gospel soon to be proclaimed.
Together they model the Body of Christ, the Communion of Saints. In the Transfiguration, time converges just as it does at every Mass, where past, present and future are drawn into the saving mystery of the Cross and Resurrection.
Peter, James and John witness the Transfiguration not because of any hi-
PHOTO BY WILL GULLO ON UNSPLASH
OC Catholic Afar
St. Cecilia (Tustin) parishioners stand in front of St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Portumna, Ireland, with a copy of OC Catholic. Pictured: Fr. Michael Byrnes (pastor), John Kelly, Jim Cruickshank and Jim Schneider. The friends were in Ireland to visit John's brother Tom Kelly.
— The Kelly family attends St. Cecilia Parish in Tustin.
We want your photos! Send your pictures of “OC Catholic Afar” — of you, family or friends visiting Catholic churches and other interesting places — to editor@occatholic.com. Please include a brief description of the photo, the name of the person(s) featured in the photo and their home parish.
