OC CATHOLIC - MARCH 8, 2026

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MARCH 8, 2026

CONTENTS

MUSIC MAKES LIFE COLORFUL

Christ Cathedral Academy middle school students took music education a step further by creating their own instruments.

BAYANIHAN GALA: A CELEBRATION OF FAITH AND CULTURE

A fundraising event to support the Poong Jesus Nazareno Filipino Catholic Center will be held this spring.

MISSION SJC TO CELEBRATE ST. JOSEPH'S DAY & RETURN OF THE SWALLOWS

The Mission’s March 19 spring festival is part of its 250th anniversary year celebrations.

CHOOSE GOD'S PERSPECTIVE

A narrow point of view is all that limits us from seeing the fullness of faith. 14 12

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: Jarryd Gonzales

Managing Editor: Patricia Mahoney, editor@occatholic.com

News Ideas: editor@occatholic.com

Delivery Problems: occatholicsupport@occatholic.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.

THE DECREE ESTABLISHING THE CHURCH OF ORANGE

BY REV. CHRISTOPHER HEATH, DIRECTOR OF DIOCESAN ARCHIVES

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT historical documents in the diocesan archives is the Apostolic Constitution establishing the Diocese of Orange. Dated March 24, 1976, and signed by Cardinal James Villot, secretary of state, it states in part, “From the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in California we separate the County of Orange and constitute it as a diocese to be called Orange in California, to have the same limits as the County of Orange.”

The document, written in Latin, uses the pronoun “we” to denote that Pope Paul VI, speaking with the “royal plural,” used a formal way of speaking when expressing the solemnity and authority of the occasion. To be sure, establishing a new diocese is one of those occasions. And it has a lead seal, wrapped in a small paper envelope, guaranteeing the authenticity of the decree.

The document goes on to describe the cathedral (originally Holy Family in Orange, now Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove), the organization of offices, the rights of the clergy, and the establishment of a diocesan archive in which to receive anything relating to the work of the Church in Orange County prior to 1976.

So, here are a couple of things to note from this decree: First, the official name of our diocese is “Orange in California,” not just Orange (to distinguish it from a “Diocese of Orange” which was in France and was dissolved in 1801). Second, it refers specifically to Cardinal Timothy Manning, who at the time was the Archbishop of Los Angeles, and who requested a new diocese to be formed from a portion of his diocese “for the eternal salvation of souls.” After a period of study, during which Los Angeles determined the viability of a new diocese, many others were consulted before

Pope Paul agreed to the request, namely the bishops in the United States, the cardinals in Rome, and the Apostolic Nuncio (essentially the Ambassador of the Vatican to the United States) Archbishop Jean Jadot. And third, the only diocesan office specifically mentioned in this decree is the archives.

Although this decree was signed March 24, 1976, the Diocese of Orange in California did not officially begin until the installation of its first bishop, William Johnson, on Friday, June 18, 1976, at Holy Family Cathedral in Orange. Promulgating a document is not always the same as beginning a new entity. In this case, until Bishop Johnson sat in his cathedral, there was no Diocese of Orange in California. That singular event was the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Church in California, in the United States, and in the Universal Church. It is well worth taking the time to thank God for what He has done in Orange County, and what He has done through the instruments of His people and clergy in the 50 years that have passed. It was indeed for the salvation of souls that our diocese was created, and we continue this great work today. C

ROSARY BEADS

READER CALL-OUT

In 2005, my granddaughter was a member of the Children’s Choir at Holy Family Catholic School in Orange. The choir was invited to sing at Pope Benedict’s New Year’s Eve Mass at the Vatican.

Her parents, David and Tina Zlaket, also attended and purchased this Rosary for me. At each decade it commemorates a Rome basilica. I treasure this Rosary and pray it every day.

— Virginia Zlaket, San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church, Anaheim Hills.

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

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY

2 KINGS 5:1-15AB; PSALM 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4; LUKE 4:24-30

“ Being a voice for the least is a fundamental aspect of the life and mission of every Christian.” — Pope Leo XIV

SAINT PROFILE

FRANCES OF ROME 1384 – 1400

THIS LAYWOMAN AND FOUNDRESS, born a Roman aristocrat, married Lorenzo Ponziano when she was 13; they had several children. In 1409, their palazzo was pillaged by Neapolitan soldiers and Lorenzo was exiled for five years, returning home a broken man. He died in 1436. Frances, known for her great charity during epidemics and civil war, organized a ladies society dedicated to self-denial and good works. It became the Oblates of Tor de Specchi, which she directed for her last four years. She is the patron saint of motorists, perhaps because she was guarded for 23 years by an archangel visible only to her. Her last words were: “The angel has finished his work. He is beckoning me to follow.” C

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

TUESDAY

DANIEL 3:25, 3443; PSALM 25:45AB, 6 AND 7BC, 8-9; MATTHEW 18:21-35

WEDNESDAY

DEUTERONOMY 4:1, 5-9; PSALM 147:1213, 15-16, 19-20; MATTHEW 5:17-19

THURSDAY

JEREMIAH 7:2328; PSALM 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; LUKE 11:14-23

FRIDAY

HOSEA 14:2-10; PSALM 81:6C-8A, 8BC-9, 10-11AB, 14 AND 17; MARK 12:28-34

SATURDAY

HOSEA 6:1-6; PSALM 51:3-4, 1819, 20-21AB; LUKE 18:9-14

SUNDAY

1 SAMUEL 16:1B, 6-7, 10-13A; PSALM 23: 1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6; EPHESIANS 5:8-14; JOHN 9:1-41

A MISSIONARY TRIP TO REMEMBER

BY GREG HARDESTY

THROUGHOUT HISTORY,

saints have walked the Earth as pilgrims, noted Cindy Hoang, a parishioner at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove.

All Catholics should strive to follow in their footsteps, she believes.

This past Christmas during the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, Cindy spent three weeks on a missionary trip to Vietnam, the Philippines and Japan, at the same time running the race to get as many indulgences as possible at the sacred sites.

As Cindy sees it, embarking on a pilgrimage is a way for Catholics to return their souls to God.

“Pilgrimages are transformative experiences that aren’t limited to religious sisters or priests,” said Cindy, herself a former religious sister who now works as a project manager for a software company.

“We are all called to be saints,” Cindy added. “As a layperson, I feel an even greater desire to pursue this path because of God’s immense love for us. He wants all of us to return our souls to Him as saints.”

VISIT TO OUR LADY OF LA VANG

A highlight of Cindy’s missionary trip was visiting Our Lady of La Vang in Quang Tri province, Vietnam. The major Marian apparition site commemorates the Virgin Mary’s appearance to persecuted Catholics in 1798.

The visit was especially meaningful for Cindy because it came during the Jubilee Year 2025, whose theme was “Pilgrims of Hope.”

Cindy had planned to visit Our Lady of La Vang in October 2019, but she had to fly back to Ho Chi Minh City to attend the funeral Mass for an aunt who died after a lengthy illness.

“God had a different plan for me,” said Cindy, who was 5 when her family escaped Vietnam by boat in 1980. They

Vietnam, that houses 60 children. Thanks to the generosity of family and friends, she was able to cover some of the children’s educational needs, including school supplies and tuition. Additionally, the funds are being used to provide clothing, food and shelter, ensuring that the children have a safe and nurturing environment to grow up in.

FEEDING THE HUNGRY

In Pasay City, an encounter with a homeless man while Cindy was looking for a place to eat led to feeding him and sharing a meal with some 50 homeless children.

“I decided to stay in a hostel near the homeless community rather than at a nice hotel,” Cindy said. In Japan, she attended Mass at St.

initially settled in Westminster before moving to Orange and Garden Grove, where Cindy spent her formative years.

During her pilgrimage to Vietnam, Cindy also visited Our Lady of Nui Cui Pilgrimage Center.

Located in Dong Nai province, the statue of Our Lady of Nui Cui, standing 33 meters tall, symbolizes the lifespan of Jesus Christ.

“It was a place of profound spiritual significance and breathtaking beauty,” recalled Cindy, who visited the site with a cousin, Sr. Duong of the Lovers of the Holy Cross, Thu Thiem.

“It was our first time meeting each other,” Cindy shared. “While I prayed the Rosary, I had the privilege of touching the beautiful, giant feet of Our Lady of Nui Cui. The moment was made even more special by the breathtaking view of the sea and mountains surrounding me. It was a truly divine and serene experience that I will cherish forever.”

Another highlight was visiting an orphanage in Binh Duong province,

Mary’s Cathedral in Tokyo and St. Ignatius Church, which has a vibrant Vietnamese community.

One of Cindy’s spiritual directors throughout the year has been Sr. Joanna Carroll, of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Orange.

Sadly, Sr. Joanna died in October 2025 –a couple of months before Cindy’s missionary trip.

“Unfortunately,” Cindy said, “I didn’t get the chance to share with her the details of my pilgrimage and missionary journey. But I believe Sr. Joanna and the other departed sisters are smiling down on me from Heaven, knowing how much this journey meant to me.”

FALL ITINERARY

This September, Cindy is planning a pilgrimage to Poland. She also hopes to visit Bosnia and Prague to continue a “Pilgrims of Hope” trip.

Her visit to Poland is timed to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sept. 8.

The trip also will coincide with Pope Leo XIV’s birthday on Sept. 14 and Cindy’s own birthday on Sept. 20. Her itinerary includes visiting the Shrine of Divine Mercy, the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa and the Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague.

Following that, Cindy will head to a seven-day retreat at Our Lady of Medjugorje in Bosnia. She then hopes to be in Mexico City on Dec. 12 to celebrate Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“Visiting sacred sites can awaken our minds to the presence of the divine, opening us up to the grace of God and the miracles that can occur during such transformative journeys,” Cindy said.

“Pilgrimages offer us the opportunity to step away from our daily routines and immerse ourselves in deep spiritual renewal,” she added. “They allow us to reconnect with God and strengthen our faith by praying at sacred sites.

“These purposeful journeys enhance our spiritual works of mercy and provide a unique chance for personal and spiritual growth.” C

FOR 30 YEARS, ST. BONAVENTURE ARTIST-SEAMSTRESSES HAVE DEEPENED THE WORSHIP EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR BANNERS, ALTAR CLOTHS

BY GREG MELLEN

THERE’S A WIZARD (wizardress?) behind the curtains. Three, actually.

For the past 30 years, Lynn Hearn, Nancy Minear and Dorothy Turley have worked behind the scenes at St. Bonaventure Catholic Parish, creating, hanging and draping the elegant banners and altar cloths that frame the sanctuary area at the church in Huntington Beach.

Without fanfare, they have helped bring color, context and pictorial storytelling to Sunday Masses and notable events at the parish. Their hangings can also be seen during the Catholic seasons of Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter (with two banners) and special occasions such as Pentecost and the feast of Christ the King.

“We think in terms of settings for the season,” said Hearn, who is also the head of adult education at the parish.

While trimmings and decorations such as banners may seem like only a backdrop and may even go unnoticed by some, they are an important part of the service, adding to the fullness of the liturgical experience.

Completing each other’s thoughts in the way only those who have spent decades as friends can, Hearn and Minear have simple explanations for the purposes their work provides.

“They help to encourage prayer,” said Hearn.

“To help parishioners deepen reverence,” Minear added.

Fr. Oliver Coughlin, the parish’s parochial vicar since July, is only beginning to realize the depth of the contributions of the pair.

“They do so much of the parish

in season and out of season,” he said. “They make the sanctuary inviting and beautiful. They draw the parish into deeper worship.”

SEAMSTRESS’ WORKSHOP

Most afternoons, Hearn and Minear can be found in a parish center room quietly working at their craft as they sew by hand and machine. Turley, the grand dame at 93, pitches in when she is up to the task.

“We try to work on it every day,” Hearn said, estimating it takes about 60 hours to complete a project.

Typically, before launching a project, the pair will spitball ideas and concepts, while sketching and sharing design ideas.

Minear said she wants the banners and CONTINUES ON PAGE 8

altar cloths to tell a story or fit in with the theme of seasons and events.

“We’ll do drawings and then it’s on to the Wonder-Under,” she said.

The women hang the fabric on a window and affix the paper-backed, iron-on adhesive web product on which they build and attach their designs.

On a recent weekday, Hearn and Minear were at work putting the final touches on a vibrant, deep purple banner ringed with a crown of thorns to be unveiled on Ash Wednesday.

Hearn said it takes about 10 yards of fabric to create the curtains and altar covering. She spends a lot of her free time “fabric hunting” online and in person to find the right material. It must be high-quality, fire-resistant fabric at a good price.

Usually, the church pays for the fabric, although Hearn donated the pricey $40-per-yard drapery for the newest piece.

The schedule for the Ash Wednesday banners portended a late night to come. The Vietnamese community concluded its Tết — Vietnamese New Year — festivities on Tuesday night and had cultural decorations up until then. Coincidentally, Hearn and Minear pitched in on the Vietnamese decor as well.

Both women downplay their contributions, saying the main attribute needed for what they do is, “the ability to sit and be patient,” Hearn said. “We just do the grunt work.”

Although they could always use the help, hand-sewing has become an almost forgotten art and craft.

Hearn and Minear began their drape work about 30 years ago, when Fr. Mike Heher, who did the banners at the time, asked for help.

Soon helping out became taking over and they’ve been at it ever since.

When the church underwent a $7.9 million renovation and rehabilitation in 2018, it included repositioning the altar and sanctuary. That required Hearn and Minear to cut down a number of their existing banners which had been created

FEATURE

for a much higher ceiling.

“It broke our hearts to cut it down,” Hearn said.

The silver lining, so to speak, is that the church found a Catholic charity in Mexico that was able to repurpose the fabric into quilts for the needy.

BEYOND CRAFTING

Banners are not all the pair have contributed to the arts at St. Bonaventure.

“We’re artists, we draw and paint,” said Minear, who enjoys working in oils, pencil and watercolors.

Hearn is a particular fan of watercolors and painting landscapes outdoors.

For years, the two contributed to

large murals for the parish's fall festival.

They also enjoy painting Paschal and baptismal candles.

Their work is impressive enough that Bishop Kevin Vann offered to commission a pair of oil paintings for himself of the Vietnamese Martyrs and St. Juan Diego, which, of course, the women donated.

Asked how long they can keep up their seam stitching ambitions, neither has plans to slow down.

“We’ve decided to go until we’re 90,” Hearn joked. “That’s to say we’re not going to stop.”

“Then we’ll continue in Heaven,” Minear added. C

Celebration

FUTURE ROYAL LUNCHEON + RED

& GOLD SHOW

NOW OR NEVER

All future Royals grades TK through 8 are invited to join us at the Future Royal Lunch and Red & Gold student-run musical theatre production. th

Friday, March 13

Luncheon at 12:30 PM | Matinee at 2:00 PM Servite High School

Red & Gold celebrates the very best of Rosary sisterhood.

MUSIC MAKES LIFE COLORFUL

BY BRITNEY ZINT

CHRIST

CATHEDRAL ACADE -

MY’S middle school student body recently explored its cultural heritage through music by researching and creating its own instruments out of recycled materials.

Music Director Mallory Susank challenged her sixth-, seventh- and eighth graders to choose a musical instrument that is culturally relevant to themselves, build it and write a research paper on it. More than 100 students from the Garden Grove campus created their own instruments from the guitar, maracas and glockenspiel to the Vietnamese Dong Son drum, the Indigenous Mexican huehuetl (upright drum) and the Macedonian gajda (bagpipe).

“My goal was to have students dig even deeper into their culture and learn how music played a role,” said Susank. “Everyone knows what a drum is, but do they know how and why it is used in their culture?”

The idea for the project came from Susank’s own middle school days when she was assigned to make her own instrument. Susank remembers loving working with her dad in the garage as they built a zither.

For Christ Cathedral Academy, she decided to add an additional dimension.

“Since our students have such rich and diverse cultures that are celebrated daily, I knew I wanted to enhance the project by making it more relevant to them,” Susank said. “I added the cultural element so that the students could dig deeper into their heritage and feel a sense of purpose to the project.”

Eighth-grader Benjamin Ngo, 14, said he originally didn’t think he could build a musical instrument. But he chose to make a Chinese rattle drum out of two cups, a boba

straw, string and dice.

Seventh-grader Grace Mayberry, 13, enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about her family’s history.

“I think it was good to connect more and look into it,” Mayberry said.

The 13-year-old with heritage from England, Poland, Italy and Germany decided to honor her German side by making a glockenspiel — an instrument she was already familiar with.

“I like the sound of it,” Mayberry said. “It stood out to me in orchestras and I thought it would be really cool to make.”

With the help of her grandpa and his decades of construction experience, Mayberry took PVC pipe and wood, cut them down, put them together and painted her instrument with flowers.

“It’s a little different because it’s not all metal; it’s PVC pipe,” Mayberry said. “But we cut it down to where it makes all the noises so when you hit it with the mallet, it does make do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do.”

The students’ research papers reflected how their instruments influenced their cultures and why they chose it. After reading them all, Susank said she was blown away by the submissions she received.

The entire middle school was assigned the project and had over 100 instruments submitted, each made uniquely.

“I particularly loved how the students decided to decorate their instruments with a lens into their culture,” she shared. C

BAYANIHAN GALA: A CELEBRATION OF FAITH AND CULTURE

BY REBECCA TAMONDONG Poong Jesus Nazareno Filipino Catholic Center (PJNFCC).

ARE YOU READY FOR A distinctive cultural event that will draw out the best in you as well as also entertain you?

The Bayanihan Gala is coming up on May 2, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel in Buena Park. The event is co-hosted by the Diocese of Orange San Jose Filipino Ministry (DOSJFM), Alagad ni Maria (AM) and the

The gala is a fundraising event to generate crucial funds and resources that will help ensure the stability and sustainability of the Poong Jesus Nazareno Filipino Catholic Center. The PJNFCC, inaugurated by Bishop Kevin Vann on July 21, 2025, is currently the only Filipino Catholic Center in the United States. The center sits on a 1.4-acre property in Anaheim purchased in May 2025 for $5.2

million. The outstanding loan balance is $2.4 million, the amount that the DOSJFM, AM and PJNFCC are hoping to pay off in the shortest time possible.

Bayanihan reflects the Filipino spirit of unity, where everyone comes together as bayani (heroes) through generosity and service — a concept that inspires people to give not just as donors but as partners in a shared mission to uplift the community and make a lasting impact. The decision to establish the Filipino

Catholic Center is grounded in this principle — to uplift the community and make a lasting impact. Bayanihan is a call to help each other grow together in unity and to flourish because by working together we can accomplish more. The biggest aspiration in this gala is the maximum participation of everyone in the faith community, working together united in faith, principle and conviction.

In addition, the “Bayanihan Gala: A Celebration of Faith and Culture” aims to foster Filipino cultural and religious traditions and values as well as to develop an appreciation of things Philippine in art, faith and culture. At the gala, these goals will be addressed partly by showcasing Filipino native dances and music. The Barkdahan Dance Troupe (BDT), established in June 2024, will perform during the evening’s program. The BDT consists of school children (aged 7 to 18). On invitation they have performed recently in pregame and halftime shows during Filipino Heritage Nights at Angel Stadium, the Intuit Dome and the Galen Center at USC. Rondalla Ni San Jose will provide background rondalla music before and during dinnertime. The Rondalla, an ethnic string ensemble, was organized two years ago and has performed at several Simbang Gabi receptions in December at the request of various parishes. A mini-Santacruzan is also being planned at the gala as a cultural and religious display of a Filipino tradition that usually takes place in May. Young people are also the participants in this short procession.

A silent auction will be held for guests to have additional opportunities to express their support and generosity. Dancing follows to music provided by Alex Lagman’s First Choice Band. For tickets, call Tess Quiaoit at (714) 920-8527. Tickets are $110 per person, early bird at $100 if purchased by April 15, 2026. C

MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO TO CELEBRATE ST. JOSEPH’S DAY & RETURN OF THE SWALLOWS

BY MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO STAFF

MISSION SAN JUAN Capistrano’s annual St. Joseph’s Day and Return of the Swallows festivities will be held on the historic Mission grounds on Thursday, March 19. To commemorate the Mission’s 250th anniversary, a special flyover by World War II-era North American AT-6 planes will take place between noon and 12:30 p.m. (weather permitting). The world-renowned return of the swallows is marked each year on St. Joseph’s Day, a liturgical feast day recognized in the Catholic Church.

The celebration includes the ringing of the historic Mission bells, Native American stories, music and dances, live mariachi music, flamenco dancers, historical presentations, local food, crafts for children and traditional presentations by Mission Basilica School and San Juan Capistrano elementary schools.

“Walking these grounds on this special day, you feel the weight of history and the promise of tomorrow,” said Mission San Juan Capistrano Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence Adams.

“That is the gift of 250 years. Our work doesn’t end at 250; it begins anew. Preservation is a promise to future generations and public programming like St. Joseph’s Day and the Return of the Swallows is a tradition in joy that helps to keep the Mission alive to new generations.”

St. Joseph’s Day is a feast day marked by the Catholic Church, which has been celebrated on March 19 since the 10th century. Mission San Juan Capistrano began celebrating the Return of the Swallows on Saint Joseph’s Day in the 1920’s when then-Mission resident priest Fr. St. John O’Sullivan wrote the legendary swallow story on St. Joseph’s Day, which happened to be his birthday.

The Mission’s swallows migrate 6,000 miles from Goya, Argentina, to San Juan Capistrano in large groups. Some cliff swallow colonies number more than 3,500 nests found under the eaves of the Mission. The gourd-shaped nests are made of mud pellets consisting of sand, silt and clay while the nest chambers are lined with grass and feathers.

St. Joseph’s Day event also features interpretive station tours led by Mission docents, the Legacy of Saint Serra exhibit, the Mission Treasures exhibit, a live lecture by world famous swallows expert Dr. Charles R. Brown and St. Joseph’s Day Altar, and an ecumenical effort to feed those less fortunate hosted by Mission Preservation Foundation board member Vicky Carabini.

St. Joseph’s Day Celebration Tentative Schedule

8:30 a.m. St. Joseph’s Day Mass at Mission Basilica

9:00 a.m. Historic bell ringing upon the Mission’s opening in honor of Saint Junipero Serra; Live music by Mariachi Tapatio

9:55 a.m. Welcome by Mission Executive Director, Mechelle Lawrence Adams

10:05 a.m. Ringing of the School Bell and Mission Basilica School procession

10:10 a.m. Vocalist Renée Bondi performs When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano

10:15 a.m. Mission Basilica School performs traditional songs and dances

11:15 a.m. San Juan Elementary School performances

Noon: Historic bell ringing in honor of St. Joseph and the Return of the Swallows

12:15 p.m. Journeys to the Past: California Native American Stories and Dances

1:00 p.m. Bird & Tushmal Singers, Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation

1:30 p.m. Duende Flamenco dance performance

2:00 p.m. The Swing Dolls: America’s premier tribute to The Andrew Sisters

2:00 p.m. Swallows Lecture and Q & A: Swallows expert, Dr. Charles Brown

For more details and advanced reservations, visit www.missionsjc.com/swallows Mission San Juan Capistrano is located at 26801 Old Mission Road, San Juan Capistrano. C

CHOOSE GOD'S PERSPECTIVE

BY REBEKAH VALDERRAMA

DO YOU EVER WATCH A movie or read a book and just wonder how the characters can be so blind? Of course, the butler was the murderer, or of course the shopkeeper was the secret admirer or of course the neighbor was an evil witch all along. I often feel the same way even when reading the Bible. Why would the people of Israel turn to idols repeatedly? Why would they grumble about being uncomfortable in the desert when they had just been freed from slavery?

I know I'm guilty of the same exact thing in my own life, and it comes down to that one word: perspective.

I see things from my limited point of view, from inside the crisis of the moment. The living room is so messy that I'll never be able to get it cleaned up. The kids are behaving so badly that I must be a horrible mother. I fall into the same sin again immediately after confession, so I must be a terrible sinner unworthy of God's love.

The Samaritan woman at the well must have been feeling some of that unworthiness. It brought her to the well in the middle of the day to avoid her neighbors' gossip. She was so caught up in the shame of her sin that she couldn't see any way for her story to bring God's glory. But from Jesus' perspective, she was a beloved daughter of God. She was broken by an imperfect past but destined for great things

because she would have the opportunity to witness the coming of the Messiah in a powerful way.

I'm reminded of the poem The Weaver by Grant Colfax Tullar, made popular by Corrie ten Boom.

My life is but a weaving

Between my God and me.

I cannot choose the colours

He weaveth steadily.

Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;

And I in foolish pride

Forget He sees the upper,

And I the underside.

Not ’til the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly,

Will God unroll the canvas

And reveal the reason why.

The difficulties we face in our darkest moments are a part of our glory story.

Some of the greatest saints have started

out as some of the greatest sinners. Take St. Paul, St. Mary of Egypt or St. Augustine. The tapestry of their lives declares the merciful plan of their redeemer.

The difficulties of the Israelites in the desert were part of the greater story, allowing God to show His power by bringing water from the rock.

The Samaritan woman's sinful past was a part of her greater story, allowing her to be at the right place at the right time, to be the first to hear Jesus profess to be the Messiah and to tell the world, "Come see a man who told me everything I have done."

My daily perspective is filled with complaints about my current situation, and helplessness over the things I wish I could control. I have a habit of facing every problem with a desire to solve it myself, instead of growing the instinct to turn to God for help and His perspective.

What discomfort are you facing right now? If you turned to God's perspective instead of your own temporal one, would you hear his voice telling you that he will never give you anything you can't handle with his help?

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

(Jeremiah 29:11) C

OC Catholic Afar

OC Catholic made it to the Super Bowl!

The New England Patriots faced off against the Seattle Seahawks for Super Bowl LX held on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The NFL’s biggest game will make a return trip to California next year when it’s played at SoFi Stadium.

— Bill Mahoney, Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ladera Ranch.

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Since 1950, Mater Dei High School has set the standard for excellence in Catholic education by preparing students for college, leadership, and life. Be a part of our legacy! Admissions and tuition assistance applications are available now for the Class of 2030. Come experience the Monarch spirit for yourself through our open houses, shadow program, and campus tours.

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