Annual Report - Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange

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ANNUAL MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

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A GREAT CELEBRATION

OBSERVING 40 YEARS OF JOURNEYING TOGETHER IN FAITH The LORD has done great things for us; We are glad. — Psalm 126:3 IN THE 40 YEARS of its existence, the Diocese of Orange has grown to encompass 62 parishes and 41 schools serving 1.2 million Catholics. As one of the fastest-growing and most diverse dioceses in the U.S., the Diocese of Orange, its administrators, clergy, staff and volunteers serve individuals and families in many different cities and neighborhoods who speak a multitude of languages and represent numerous cultures. Myriad diocesan ministries include outreach to the sick and dying, education and formation of Catholic schoolchildren, care for incarcerated youth and help for forgotten older adults. Diocese of Orange staff and ministers reach out to the heartsick homeless and to the frightened immigrants. Representatives pursue social justice for the downtrodden and work behind the scenes providing care, food and clothing for the working poor. Diocese of Orange priests, religious and lay people comprise a vast network dedicated to the support and nurturing of the Catholic community from the fringes of Los Angeles County south to the San Diego County border. The Diocese of Orange gratefully commemorates four decades of devotion to the Orange County community. We joyfully commit ourselves to serving our communities in the future, and welcome all Orange County Catholics to partner with us in our ongoing journey in faith.

The Diocese of Orange’s 40th anniversary celebration began with a 5K run/walk and included a carillon concert, anniversary mass, family fun zone, a virtual tour of the cathedral, food vendors and beer garden, a speaker series, photo exhibit and live music on the plaza stage.

2016/17 MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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GROWING IN FAITH

FORMING FUTURE LEADERS

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SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST

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OUR MISSION OF MERCY

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BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE

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STEWARDSHIP AND INVESTMENT

36

ACCOMPANYING THE SICK AND VULNERABLE

40

CONCLUSION

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GROWING IN FAITH

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. —Proverbs 3:5-6

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FAITH FORMATION MINISTRIES SERVE YOUNG AND OLD THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE is strongly committed to providing excellent Catholic education to both adults and children during all phases of their faith journeys. Teachers instruct children and teens in strong Catholic values as well as the highest quality academics in 34 parish and Diocesan elementary schools and seven high schools. The diocese also offers educational and recreational opportunities outside its traditional Catholic campuses, including thriving youth and adult ministries, a sports league, and perhaps most important, the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) ministry, which prepares adults for initiation into the Catholic Church. In fact, about 64,000 children and adults are learning the Roman Catholic faith throughout the Diocese of Orange each year.

Bishop Vann, active on Twitter at @OCBishop, takes a selfie with young people during the Orange County Catholic Youth Conference.

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ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ARE AN excellent choice for children, educators say, not only because of their high academic standards – but also because Catholic schoolteachers are faith-filled professionals called by God to do His work. “Our staff aren’t here looking to get rich,” says Debbie Vallas, principal of Christ Cathedral Academy. “Our teachers’ purpose in life is to step outside themselves to nurture others and help children develop the character they need to be leaders of our society and our Church. They aren’t here just to collect a paycheck. For them, teaching at our school is not a job but a ministry. We emulate Christ as we serve the children we teach.” “The Office of Catholic Schools supports 34 elementary and seven secondary schools with a well-rounded curriculum, including many unique programs that are not offered in other school systems,” notes Superintendent Greg Dhuyvetter. Faith is the foundation of Catholic education even among the youngest students (at Christ Cathedral Academy, preschoolers are as young as 2 years old), said Preschool Director Patti Abeyta. “Faith is your foundation. It is there for your whole life. Once you have that foundation, you always know it’s there. It’s like an anchor in your life.” At Catholic schools, spirituality is the No. 1 focus. Values such as integrity, honesty, a positive attitude and loving others as Christ did are emphasized. “We encourage good habits like a strong work ethic, being kind and helpful to others, forgiveness and reconciliation, and looking outside themselves to help others,”

Vallas said. “These are life skills. When they go out into the world, they can accept challenges in a positive way and make good decisions. They can be leaders.” (Above) Catholic Schools Week was celebrated throughout the diocese, including a special Mass with school children, donors and supporters. (Below) Mater Dei Head Football Coach Bruce Rollinson gets his players fired up before the game.

MARIAN ALLIANCE POOLS RESOURCES FOR THREE SANTA ANA SCHOOLS The principals of three Catholic schools in some of Santa Ana’s poorest neighborhoods came up with a mutual plan to combat their problems, including concerns about funding and student welfare. The resulting partnership – the Marian Alliance – includes the School of Our Lady, St. Joseph’s and St. Anne’s schools in partnership with the University of Notre Dame. The alliance pools the schools’ mutual resources and empowers them to offer additional programs in diverse topics such as technology, music and the arts that would not be possible for each campus to offer individually. One such program is the outstanding Marian Alliance Band comprised of musicians from each of the three schools. The band has performed together with Bishop Kevin Vann in a memorable 2016 concert. The Marian Alliance provides its schools with collaborative budgets, marketing and a built-in support structure, notes St. Joseph’s School Principal Brad Snyder. “What’s helped most is the ability to go to the outside population to make people aware of the good we’re doing in our neighborhoods,” Snyder notes. “With the alliance and the support of the Orange Catholic Foundation, we have a brand and we reach people we never could reach before.” 2016/17 2016/17MINISTRY MINISTRY&&MISSION MISSION REPORT

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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS TEACH CHILDREN MORALS, VALUES, A SOCIAL CONSCIENCE AND TO BE OF SERVICE TO OTHERS. WE NURTURE THE WHOLE CHILD. —DEBBIE VALLAS, PRINCIPAL, CHRIST CATHEDRAL ACADEMY

Between 1991 and 2016, more than 32,000 people have completed the Rite of Initiation in the Diocese of Orange, says Lesa Truxaw, director of the Office of Worship.

ASPIRING CATHOLICS LEARN FAITH THROUGH RCIA MINISTRIES DONNA COUCH, DIRECTOR OF Faith Formation at St. Edward the Confessor parish in Dana Point, believes that individuals preparing for the Rite of Initiation into Catholicism need to walk in tandem with people who care about them and care deeply about their faith. Couch has served as faith formation director for 30 years, ensuring that St. Edward’s provides guides and mentors who teach and show catechists what it means to welcome and form someone in faith and be their caring companion. She is joined by a large number of dedicated volunteer instructors who help provide hospitality, facilitate small groups and become the initiating community. RCIA ministries throughout the Diocese of Orange instruct four kinds of individuals, Couch notes: n Unbaptized people with no background in religion. n Unbaptized people who’ve delayed their baptism or

were baptized in other churches. n People who were baptized as infants but are uneducated in their faith. n Catholics who never completed their initiation sacraments (confirmation and Holy Eucharist). “These are people of all different ages, genders and walks of life, in different stages of faith development, and they all need an adult, updated, practical approach to Catholicism,” Couch says. “We provide all the information, and there is a big dose of spirituality to show them how to see world differently as Catholics.” Between 1991 and 2016, more than 32,000 people have completed the Rite of Initiation in the diocese, says Lesa Truxaw, director of the Office of Worship. At the Diocesan level, Truxaw notes, “Our role is to help with formation of teams to assist parishes in exploring the fullness of the vision of RCIA. We are the resource for technical questions.” When people hear the good news, she adds, then they are inclined to become Catholic. “We’re doing a lot of work with evangelization right now, with Catholics and those from other faiths and those without faith traditions. We believe that God has planted within us the seed of wanting to know Him. When people in our society allow that seed to grow, we’re there to meet their growing awareness of who God is.”

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FAITH FORMATION PROGRAMS EXPAND, DEEPEN CATHOLIC EDUCATION Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Originated in Rome in the 1950s, this program engages children as young as 2 1/2 in age-appropriate, hands-on materials based on Scripture and the Liturgy. Because it engages children so profoundly, it has become the preferred approach to young children’s catechesis in a growing number of dioceses, parishes and schools around the world, including the Diocese of Orange. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd’s foundation is the philosophy of education pioneer Maria Montessori: “that each child learns through exploring the environment and the knowledge base that’s provided for them,” says Katie Dawson, director of Parish Faith Formation for the Diocese of Orange. The program, Dawson says, “allows children to explore their relationship with God, which actually is pre-existent to coming to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. In other words, every child already has a relationship with God. What we do is help them to explore and deepen that relationship.” Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is designed for three age levels, spanning ages 3 to high school seniors. It exists in more than 60 countries. In the Diocese of Orange, seven parishes offer the program with 51 certified catechists teaching it. More than 525 students were enrolled in the diocese’s program in 2016.

lives and the lives of others. Following the inventory, participants study the results and ultimately choose one charism to discern and experiment with. Then participants practice what they have learned. Two to four weeks into this process, many enrollees begin to recognize patterns in their lives that have been present for years but they had never recognized before.

YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY Orange County Catholic Youth Conference The Orange Catholic Youth Conference was founded when Bishop Kevin Vann arrived and found that there were no events specifically for Orange County’s high school youth, says Armando Cervantes, director of the Youth and Young Adult Ministry. “Bishop Vann wanted to engage the high school youth in our diocese,” Cervantes explains. The one-day OCYC conference is typically held on Palm Sunday weekend in tandem with the Vatican’s annual Youth Day and draws more than 1,000. The event includes workshops, Mass with Bishop Vann, testimonies and presentations. At

Called & Gifted Discernment Process The Called & Gifted Discernment Process was developed by the St. Catherine of Siena Institute in 1993. Called & Gifted is a three-part discernment process intended to help lay Catholics discern their charisms. Charisms, or spiritual gifts, are special abilities given to all baptized Christians by the Holy Spirit. Those enrolled in the Called & Gifted workshop take the Catholic Spiritual Gifts Inventory to begin the process of discerning their charisms. Participants learn: n The role of every Catholic and of the local parish in the mission of the Church to the world. n The critical role of charisms in the life and service of other lay Catholics and in the life of the parish or Christian community. n The signs and characteristics of 24 common charisms. n How discerning and using charisms can change their 2016/17 MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

GROWING IN FAITH

lunchtime, attendees can meet with different religious orders and connect with the wider Diocesan community, Cervantes says. “When Bishop Vann shares in conferences of this magnitude, he can talk to youth and truly engage with them,” he says. “Because everyone is from the diocese there is a very real, heartfelt experience in meeting with brothers and sisters who come from nearby. They meet with each other, connect with their peers and are challenged to live out their faith. The Bishop loves to see the young flock getting excited and passionate about their faith.” In addition, the diocese holds Middle School Youth Day, an annual event that engages middle school children from Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego counties with music, Mass and speakers capped off with a half-day at Knott’s Berry Farm. “They get comfortable and feel proud of being Catholic and sharing their faith,” Cervantes says. In 2016, 500 youth attended the weekend event.

Orange County Catholic Sports League The Orange County Catholic Sports League fielded 10 teams of young Catholic adults who want to play soccer and basketball with their peers from other parishes in 2016, says Karlos Campana, the 10-year-old league’s sports coordinator. Men and women from 18 to 39 years old also will play softball in spring 2017, Campana says, in response to growing demand. The league holds events on Saturdays and runs on fees and diocesan funds, which cover field rental, referees, equipment and health insurance. “We hope to add volleyball in the future,” Campana says, “to have four sports going all year long so that players don’t have to choose between sports.” Ninety players are signed up for the 2017 softball program, while in 2016 soccer drew 12 teams with a total of about 200 players, he adds. The league holds a social event such as ice skating, billiards or go-karts once a month so that the players can interact off the fields. Campana played baseball at Tustin High School, then at Holy Names University in Oakland, and now competes in the Orange County Sports League himself. The Orange County Catholic Youth Conference drew hundreds of young people to the campus of Christ Cathedral to celebrate their faith.

The Orange County Youth Sports League offers social events and team sports competition to interested Catholic young adults 18 to 39 years old. Sports include soccer, basketball, softball and baseball played on local fields.

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FORMING FUTURE LEADERS It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. —1 Peter 1:12

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ASSORTED TEAMS VARIED INDIVIDUALS MINISTER TO A ARE CALLED TO CHANGING CHURCH VOCATIONS MORE THAN EVER, THE success of today’s Catholic Church requires flexible leadership from a nimble team of individuals, each with distinctive skills. Parish priests are dedicated to shepherding their parishioners’ spiritual lives but they also must reach out to their local communities to address complex societal issues. Parish pastors are called to manage the sophisticated business interests of their increasingly diverse parishes while overseeing day-to-day operations. Lay leaders minister in church, in homes and on the streets, helping extend God’s infinite mercy to those who need it most.

SINCE FR. JOHN MONEYPENNY became director of vocations for the Diocese of Orange in July 2012, he has noticed that the men who seek to become priests have changed along with the times. Today most men in the discernment process are older, Fr. Moneypenny says, have already earned their college degrees, and desire most to make the Church a better, holier place. “These are individuals who enrich the diocese and the priesthood with their gifts and talents,” he notes. Both men and women who are interested in religious vocations may attend discernment classes held by the Vocations Office, and information nights are parishes

Lay leaders minister in church, in homes and on the streets, expanding ministries to meet the changing needs of today’s Catholic Church.

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draw interested men to consider the priesthood. In addition, the Priests vs. Seminarians basketball game annually shows that priests and future priests like to have fun, get involved and interact with the community. Presently 34 men sponsored by Bishop Vann are making their way through the seven-year formation process; they are part of a growing number of men who are filling seminaries in a trend Fr. Moneypenny calls ‘The Francis Effect.’ Imbued with Pope Francis’s spirit of evangelization, today’s future priests will no longer wait in the rectory but be called to serve as community leaders. “It’s definitely different than the church of the ‘50s,” Fr. Moneypenny says. “Sunday Mass is the easy part, the joyful part. The real work is through the week.” In addition to doing the work of the Church, such as pastoral counseling, priests must understand the modern world of technology, be aware of all laws, know how to manage people and how to provide a safe environment. Orange County seminarians – including single men in their 20s and 30s, widowers in their 50s, and many Vietnamese Catholics – study at six different seminaries in four countries, Fr. Moneypenny explains. “They are called to represent the Church, a responsibility that means they must be true witnesses by how they act, what they do, and how they serve.” Once finished with the seven years of formation, each priest writes a letter to the Bishop seeking ordination. Fr. Moneypenny attests they are worthy and have been trained. Ordination occurs every year at St. Columban’s Church on the first weekend each June. The ceremony involves the laying on of hands, a tradition that hails all the way back to the apostles; anointing with sacred chrism; and vesting of the robes. At one point the priests lay prostrate and pray silently on the floor before the altar. “It is wonderful to be a priest,” Fr. Moneypenny declares. “Priests are happy people. It’s a wonderful life – a wonderful way to serve the Lord and the people.”

academic institutions and other dioceses. It is open to adult catechists, Catholic school educators, youth ministers, Confirmation coordinators, Faith Formation ministers, volunteers and aspiring Diaconate candidates. Recently a group of St. Polycarp parishioners in Stanton completed a three-year certification program that included theological instruction as well as training in leadership, human and faith development, social justice and other relevant topics. The newly certified individuals will utilize their new skills to minister to their families, parish community and society. Three different programs operate at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Santa Ana, including the certification program, Bible study, and Caminando Con Cristo, notes Institute Director Olivia Cornejo. “One of our goals for next year is to visit each one of our parishes to promote the Institute for Pastoral Ministry and the programs we currently offer,” Cornejo says. “We are also interested to hear more about the needs our parish leaders have so that we can continue developing new programs and reviewing present ones to respond to their needs.”

(Below) The Institute for Pastoral Ministry trains laypeople to serve diocesan spiritual, liturgical and sacramental needs; (Right) The 125 deacons active in Orange County today fulfill an ancient and specific role in the Church, where the original idea of the clergy included bishops, priests and deacons. “The deacons take the grace of the altar into the streets and bring the needs of the streets to the altar,” says Diaconate Director Frank Chavez.

INSTITUTE FOR PASTORAL MINISTRY PREPARES LAY LEADERS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS offered by the Institute for Pastoral Ministry prepare lay men and women to serve the spiritual, liturgical and sacramental needs of the Diocese of Orange. Lay ministry formation opportunities range from basic formation courses to various advance certification programs. The Institute also collaborates with parishes, 2016/17 MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

FORMING FUTURE LEADERS

GOOD SHEPHERDS, GOOD LEADERS PROGRAM MENTORS FUTURE PASTORS NOT LONG AGO IT was common practice for established Orange County pastors to mentor young priests so that they would be prepared to take over parish leadership when the time came. More recently, running a parish has grown more complex. Pastors these days must understand sophisticated business practices, including finance, human resources, property management and technology as well as the spiritual needs of parishioners. Even if older pastors are available to mentor younger priests, pastoral work has changed so much that more training is needed. The Good Shepherds, Good Leaders program aims to provide budding pastors with the administrative and business training they need to run thriving, efficient parishes – parishes that are in fact complex business entities with large, detailed budgets, many staff members and programs to manage, a large facility to maintain, fiduciary responsibilities to donors and more. Rev. Steve Sallot, vicar general and moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Orange, runs the new 18-month program, which saw its first cohort complete the training. “Today priests are becoming pastors much sooner and with a higher level of responsibilities and expectations,” Fr. Sallot says. “We have a shorter time to mentor them, so we needed a different methodology to guarantee accountability and bring these guys along.” Good Shepherds, Good Leaders is a national program based on one first established a decade ago on the East Coast. This is the first year it has operated in both the Orange and Los Angeles dioceses. In addition to providing business training, the program helps develop the priests’ leadership skills. “They feel more confident in their leadership style” once enrolled in the program, Fr. Sallot notes. “The process helps them open up, to understand their temperament and style, and lets them know how to get groups working together better. Language, culture, age, gender – all of those are issues you face in a parish as you work to build community,” he adds. “It shows how they can create a project or take an idea and make it happen. They can see that it is a real process, not magic or the luck of the draw.” Many new pastors will serve in complicated communities with many diverse needs, Fr. Sallot says. “We help the priests identify where their skills are, to determine the liabilities and deficits they must overcome, and develop the skills and credibility they need to become successful pastors.”

DIACONATE SERVES IN THE SACRISTY AND ON THE STREETS IT HAS BEEN MORE than 50 years since the Second Vatican Council restored the permanent diaconate and permitted married men to be ordained, but there are still people in the pews who remain unclear about who deacons are, the process they undertake to become ordained, and the role they play in the Church. Frank Chavez understands. Chavez, who directs the Office of the Diaconate, was ordained 32 years ago in the Diocese of Orange’s first class of deacons. “Lots of folks didn’t know what a deacon was because the Diaconate was new at that time. Today people are more knowledgeable about what a deacon is and they are comfortable with him doing baptisms and funerals.” Deacons are men who bring the experiences of family and career to their preaching and ministry. They proclaim the Gospel at Mass, preach and teach in the name of the Church, baptize, witness weddings and conduct wakes and funeral services. Perhaps more important, Chavez says, the 125 deacons active in Orange County today fulfill an ancient and specific role in the Church, where the original idea of the clergy included bishops, priests and deacons. “The deacons take the grace of the altar into the streets and bring the needs of the streets to the altar,” he explains. By their nature as fully participating members of the community, deacons are effective teachers and witnesses of the faith to the needy. “As leaders who are committed to the Gospel values, we’re helping to define the Church as a living body that changes and grows,” Chavez says. There are more than 17,000 permanent deacons in the United States. All but two of the 60 parishes in the diocese have deacons assigned to them. “We are out there working in the jails, in homeless programs, and in advocacy for immigration rights,” Chavez says. Besides serving as deacons, Chavez notes, they are often married parents who work in such diverse careers as gardeners, doctors, dentists, plumbers and attorneys. The most important quality for an effective deacon is humility, he adds, because deacons are formed in the image of Christ the servant. “The Diaconate is an exciting thing for the Church. It’s a real gift.”

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SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST

It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown into the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the Earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade. —Mark 4:31-32

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OC CATHOLICS LEARN TO EVANGELIZE AS WITNESSES OF THE FAITH WHEN POPE BENEDICT XVI called for the New Evangelization, he wanted to re-propose the Gospel to those who have experienced a crisis of faith. He called Catholics to be evangelized and then to go forth and evangelize to others. While the practice of evangelization can seem foreign to Catholics who are accustomed to witnessing their faith privately, Pope Francis urges us to openly share our faith. “The Church is the salt of the earth, she is the light of the world,” the Holy Father says. “She is called to make present in society the leaven of the Kingdom of God and she does this primarily with her witness, the witness of brotherly love, of solidarity and of sharing with others.” The Diocese of Orange has institutional programs, ministries and parishes that share God’s love with everyone, especially Catholics who doubt their faith, those who have fallen away from the Church and needy individuals who seek the personal blessings that Christ brings. These outreach efforts range from formal evangelization programs to the messages of love and acceptance included in diocesan media, such as EWTN-TV’s spiritual programming and the Orange County Catholic newspaper.

THE CHURCH IS THE SALT OF THE EARTH, SHE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. SHE IS CALLED TO MAKE PRESENT IN SOCIETY THE LEAVEN OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND SHE DOES THIS PRIMARILY WITH HER WITNESS, THE WITNESS OF BROTHERLY LOVE, OF SOLIDARITY AND OF SHARING WITH OTHERS. —POPE FRANCIS

FOCUS MISSIONARIES ENLIVEN THE SPIRIT ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES FOCUS MISSIONARIES ARE TRAINED in a nationwide program to evangelize to college students with the goal of building their faith and sending them into the world to evangelize to others. Locally FOCUS-trained visiting missionaries serve at Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine, where they work with existing Catholic ministries to enhance Bible study and other spiritual programs on campus, explains Armando Cervantes, director of the Youth & Young Adult Ministry. “This is the second year FOCUS ministries have served locally,” Cervantes says. “It’s a blessing we are able to have them. We win the hearts of college students, build them in the faith and send them to the world.” In much the same way, Jovenes para Cristo – Youth for Christ – is a burgeoning movement for Spanishspeaking youth 18-plus years of age who want to deepen their spirituality. A number of events are held at parishes and on the Christ Cathedral campus throughout the year. The movement has spread to others nationwide. Orange County Catholics joined millions worldwide in commemorating Palm Sunday.

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OC CATHOLIC MEDIA DELIVERS FAITH MESSAGES TO THE SOUTHLAND EVANGELIZATION TAKES UNIQUE FORMS and uses various vehicles in order to engage Orange County Catholics in the Church. In order to enrich the spiritual lives of the 1.2-million local Catholics, the Diocese of Orange broadcasts local and national radio programs, syndicated television ministries and delivers the nation’s largest Catholic weekly newspaper. Director of Communications Ryan Lilyengren says the Southern California car culture drives specific media programming. In fact, he adds, the diocese has a many-pronged approach to getting the message out. “Our mission is to support the faith lives of Catholics in Orange County,” Lilyengren says. “After we bought the former Crystal Cathedral campus, we took the opportunity to capture the imagination and interest of people beyond the county and throughout the world.” The diocese helped KCEO AM 1000 switch to Immaculate Heart Radio in 2012, increased the power of its transponder and assisted the station in obtaining an FCC license. The station operates in newly renovated Tower of Hope production facilities, where it live-streams video, hosts live shows, produces radio remotes and welcomes guests. Diocesan programming began with one show, an OC Catholic Radio newsmagazine hosted by Rick Howick, a convert to Catholicism.

The Diocese of Orange works with Immaculate Heart Radio to produce Catholic programing from Santa Barbara south to San Diego, reaching more than 12 million Catholics, Lilyengren notes. The diocese also partners with EWTN Radio to produce syndicated content that airs around the world. The Diocese of Orange produces several local and national television shows in its state-of-the-art Tower of Hope studios as part of the EWTN Global Catholic Network: “Cara Cara,” a national Spanish-language program; sports feature videos; and “Fr. Spitzer’s Universe” are some of them. EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network), now in its 36th year, is the world’s largest religious media network. Its 11 networks broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to more than 268 million households in more than 145 countries. EWTN airs family and religious programming from a Catholic point of view. Programs include inspiring talk shows, children’s animation, teaching series, thought-provoking documentaries and live coverage of Church events. Call Me Catholic is one of the locally produced programs. Host Peggy Normandin, a parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish, welcomes high-profile guest stars, such as Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries and famous Catholic authors. The diocese partners with the Orange County Register on the design, printing and delivery of OC Catholic. It now reaches more than 100,000 people, making it the nation’s largest Catholic weekly. A Spanish-language version began publishing in 2015 with Jorge Macias as editor. Orange County Catholic has garnered a host of prestigious national, regional and local awards and attracts hundreds of letters to the editor from engaged readers. “It gives Bishop Vann an important means of directly leading the people,” Lilyengren notes. “Our hope is that people learn about the Church and are inspired to join a ministry or otherwise become engaged in the Church.” Media-savvy Bishop Vann has his own Twitter handle and tweets his own messages, Lilyengren says. The Host Peggy Normandin, a parishioner of Our Lady Queen communications staff members produce award-winof Angels Parish, welcomes ning videos, develop and produce the diocesan and high-profile guest stars, such as Father Greg Boyle Christ Cathedral websites and post diocesan content of Homeboy Industries and famous Catholic authors. on myriad social media outlets.

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SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST

CURSILLO HELPS TRAIN LEADERS IN THE FAITH

DIOCESE ACTS ON POPE FRANCIS’S COMMANDS TO CARE FOR CREATION Upon distribution of the May 2015 Pope Francis encyclical, Laudato si, or “Praise be to you” in Medieval Italian, the Diocese of Orange and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange held a forum on the care for creation. Pope Francis’s encyclical is subtitled, “On Care for Our Common Home.” In it, the Pope critiques consumerism and irresponsible development, laments environmental degradation and global warming, and calls the people of the world to take “swift and unified global action.” Climate ambassadors, representatives from Catholic Relief Services, and parish advocates for the poor discussed the disproportional effects of climate change on the world’s poor and advocated global evangelization to let the world know that the Church cares about this issue, notes Greg Walgenbach, director of the Office of Life, Justice and Peace. “Some parishes have taken the call to heart and formed teams to encourage more environmentally sound practices,” Walgenbach says. “La Purisima Parish in Orange created a community garden in response to the Holy Father’s call to care for creation.” The Diocese of Orange website has a printable PDF list of “12 Tweet-able Takeaways from Laudato Si,” featuring one dozen of Pope Francis’s key quotes on global environmental issues. “Community actions, when they express selfgiving love, can also become intense spiritual experiences,” one of them says.

CURSILLO IS AN APOSTOLIC movement of the Roman Catholic Church. It was founded in Majorca, Spain by a group of laymen in 1944, while they were refining a technique to train Christian pilgrimage leaders. Cursillo is the original three-day movement and has since been licensed for use by several Christian denominations. “In a very simple way, Cursillo brings people closer to Christ,” explains George Balch, director of Pastoral Center Services, who is a leader of the Orange County Cursillo organizations with lay director Nick Williams. “The Cursillo experience and way of life changes your life and moves it into a direction toward Christ.” For most people, the Cursillo experience begins with the three-day weekend. “It isn’t just a retreat,” Williams says. “There is a method employed to keep us involved with the aspects of our faith; piety, prayers and study of the faith; and evangelization and apostolic action. We encourage people to go out and witness and bring people closer to Christ.” Eduardo Bonnín, a Spanish layman, helped develop Cursillo into an active renewal movement in the Church. In 1957, the movement spread to North America and the first American Cursillo was held in Waco, Texas. In 1981, the first English-speaking weekend was held in San Angelo, Texas. By then almost all 160 U.S. dioceses

had introduced the Cursillo Movement. In the movement, being “in colors” is to be in God’s grace. For that reason, Cursillo participants (cursillistas) greet each other with the phrase “De Colores” (in colors). “The outgrowth of living the weekend is much more engagement with our families and parishes,” Balch notes. “In my own case, I was a cradle Catholic but my faith was black and white. Going through Cursillo has made it Technicolor.” Cursillo is characterized by joyfulness, camaraderie and friendship, Williams says. “It astounds people. It’s an expression of God’s love – we know how to live that love on a daily basis with a closeness to our Savior and each other.” George Balch and Nick Williams direct Orange County Cursillo organizations throughout Orange County.

18 TOGETHER WE JOURNEY, TOGETHER IN FAITH

2016/17 MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST Randy Lyford, at left, gets Fr. Christian Mondor to sign his surfboard during the 8th Annual Blessing of the Waves.

NEOCATECHUMENATE INSPIRES CATHOLICS TO ACTION THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY IS a charism within the Catholic Church dedicated to Christian formation. It was formed in Madrid in 1964 by Kiko Argüello and Carmen Hernández. Taking its inspiration from the catechumenate of the early Catholic Church as converts from paganism were prepared for baptism, the Neocatechumenate provides post-baptismal formation to adults who are already members of the Church, says Santiago Avila, an assistant to recently named auxiliary bishop Father Timothy Freyer. Avila, who was born into the Neocatechumenate, says the movement has deepened his faith and calls his Catholic beliefs into action. “It gives me formation I wouldn’t have as a traditional Sunday churchgoer,” he adds. “We scrutinize the Word, study Scripture and use the books of the Church to see our faith in action.”

BLESSING OF THE WAVES CALLS ATTENTION TO THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT FIRST HELD IN THE Diocese of Orange in 2008, the Blessing of the Waves is held each summer. It draws people of all faiths to Huntington Beach to show spiritual appreciation for the ocean and all that it gives the planet and its population. The event is now hosted and organized by the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council and draws more than 1,500 participants who show their concern for a cherished environment already compromised by the effects of climate change, toxic emissions and other pollution, notes event founder Father Christian Mondor, vicar emeritus of Sts. Simon & Jude Parish. “In Orange County our beaches are more than simple geography; they are a cultural and spiritual center of our community,” says Fr. Christian. “It is important that we recognize this common element in all our lives, regardless of faith tradition. “Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI and other spiritual leaders have called on all people to commit to protect of the gifts of nature and preserve them for future generations,” he adds. “Environmental protection and curbing climate change are matters of social justice that demand immediate action.”

20 TOGETHER WE JOURNEY, TOGETHER IN FAITH

“Our faith in Christ, who became poor, and was always close to the poor and the outcast, is the basis of our concern for the integral development of society’s most neglected members.” —Pope Francis, The Church of Mercy

OUR MISSION OF MERCY 2016/17 MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

OUR MISSION OF MERCY

OC MINISTRIES EXTEND MERCY TO EVERYONE IN DECLARING THE EXTRAORDINARY Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis reminded us that “Jesus is the face of the Father’s mercy.” The Jubilee of Mercy’s important message enlivened vital ministries in the Diocese of Orange to extend outreach to the hungry, the poor, the imprisoned, and immigrants who yearn for freedom. Mercy drives crucial mental health outreach efforts, as well as outreach to those scarred by abortion, divorce and other critical health concerns. For Katie Dawson, diocesan director of Faith Formation, the powerful image of Pope Francis bending down to wash the feet of prisoners made it clear that mercy was a driving theme for the pontiff. “Both personally and in ministry, Pope Francis has featured acts of mercy

Pictured are actual items found along the path of migration that were the foundation of the Migrant Stations exhibit in the Cultural Center Lobby at Christ Cathedral.

prominently from the beginning,” Dawson notes. “The ‘Francis Effect’ seems to have captured the imagination in the world of both believers and non-believers.” Locally the Jubilee included the opening of the Doors of Mercy at Holy Family Cathedral and the Mission Basilica, visitations to pilgrimage sites and the Stations of Mercy, and the participation of extraordinary numbers of Catholics in the April 2016 ‘24 Hours with the Lord’ event. “The participation of thousands of people suggests a hunger for reconciliation,” she adds. “We were stunned at the level of response and the numbers of members of the Church who came back through confession. There were lines out the door at all hours of the day and night.”

CITIZENSHIP CAMPAIGN REACHES OUT TO REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS DURING THE PAST FEW years, the Diocese of Orange has collaborated with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Diocese of San Bernardino to develop several ways of effectively addressing comprehensive, compassionate immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship, explains Greg Walgenbach, who directs the Office of Life, Justice and Peace. A dramatic, visual depiction of the dangerous lives of immigrants, Migrant Stations of the Cross, took place for 10 days in early 2016, Walgenbach notes, with many Bishops on the Cathedral campus for an immigration summit walking the stations.

Every station had material and objects found in the desert by immigrants fleeing to America “Most people walked through the stations prayerfully and tearfully,” he recalls. In addition, the diocese teamed with the Holy Cross Melkite Parish in Placentia on efforts to respond to the refugee crisis and the issue of unaccompanied minors, he says.

22 TOGETHER WE JOURNEY, TOGETHER IN FAITH

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE NURTURES FAITH BEHIND BARS WHEN FRED LA PUZZA first heard about ministering to adults incarcerated in Orange County jails and to adolescents held in Juvenile Hall, he recalls, “it was like a light bulb went on. This is for me!” La Puzza grew up in a tough neighborhood and felt a connection with the youth. “My thought was, I’m going to tell them about God, and God will change their lives,” La Puzza remembers. “It didn’t take long to realize that God had beaten me there and was in the hearts of each one of them.” Twenty-eight years later, La Puzza serves as director of the Office of Restorative Justice and Detention Ministry, leading more than 300 volunteers who speak four different languages and minister to Orange County’s five jails, four juvenile detention facilities and at Orangewood Children’s Home. “Restorative justice means providing rehabilitation resources or practices that give people back their dignity,” La Puzza explains. “One of our philosophies is to heal or restore the relationships that have been damaged or broken. “It is redemption for not only the incarcerated, but their families, the victim and the victim’s family,” he adds. “It also affects the justice system, the attorneys and public defenders. The ripple just keeps getting bigger.” Restorative Justice operates many programs, including: n Padres Unidos, or Families United, which is funded in part by a grant from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. The program assists families with kids who are in jail or on probation. Ministers serve the families alongside Chapman University interns trained in intervention and social work. n Parenting classes were initiated in 2014 and were such a success that the Probation Department took over funding them. Parents who graduate from the program don commencement gowns and receive degrees in recognition for completing the 27-week class. About 75 parents attend each week. n Restorative Justice also serves in South Orange County at San Felipe de Jesus, a satellite of St. Edward the Confessor Parish, as well as in central OC at La Purisima Parish in Orange and St. Anthony Claret Parish in Anaheim. n Christ Bound, a ministry to youth on probation or released from detention, focuses on kids transitioning out of gangs or catching at-risk kids to give them an alternative to gangs. Fred Olvera sets up the Lights On mobile home in front of the Orange County Jail in downtown Santa Ana.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES ASSISTS OC’S NEEDY SINCE 1976, CATHOLIC CHARITIES of Orange County has fed the hungry, consoled the hurting, and cared for the young, providing help and creating hope for all people of Orange County, regardless of religion, ethnic diversity, culture or creed.

LIGHTS ON PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP MEETS FREED PRISONERS UPON RELEASE

Fred La Puzza in 2004 developed the Lights On program to meet head-on the people who were slipping through the cracks. “There is a 67-percent recidivism rate in the first two hours after prisoners are released from jail,” La Puzza says. “Volunteers work seven days a week at all hours standing outside the doors of the jail, meeting those who have just been released. We want to keep them safe, get them away from the streets and sometimes abusive boyfriends or spouses and pimps. They appreciate that there is a friendly person with a warm smile who will shelter them until they can call a friend to pick them up.” He partners with the staff of St. Vincent de Paul, the Mariposa Women’s Center and the Salvation Army to operate the program on site from a donated RV. “We get letters from people who have been through the service, saying they can’t believe that someone cares enough to do this for them.”

2016/17 MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

After getting her bag of food, a mother holds her son up in the air outside the Catholic Charities Doris Cantlay Center on West Warner Avenue in Santa Ana; Bottom: A citizenship class is held at Santa Ana’s Catholic Charities of Orange County. The charity works with both documented and undocumented immigrants to gain lawful citizenship and temporary stay permits.

OUR MISSION OF MERCY

Executive Director Teresa ‘Tita’ Smith, LCSW says Catholic Charities of Orange County serves as a social services agency in the Diocese of Orange. “We promote a holistic approach to social service delivery that is client-centered and community-based,” Smith explains. “Our strength lies not only in the effectiveness of the services we provide, but in our ability to access our community’s hard-to-reach populations in need.” Catholic Charities lives out its mission in three distinct ways: 1. Provides quality professional social services to individuals and families to transform hopelessness and despair into self-reliance and optimism. 2. Advocates for justice and respect to transform social structures so that human dignity, reverence for family life and community well-being are embraced. 3. Expands knowledge, providing education and resources to assist Catholic parishes to live out the Gospel’s call to practice works of charity and justice. Catholic Charities provides the following: n Together with counseling services for children, adults and families, Catholic Charities operates food distribution programs, healing from abortion through Project Rachel, camps for developmentally challenged individuals, natural family planning education and resettlement/refugee, immigration and citizenship assistance. n Those who need assistance with food can work with Catholic Charities to apply for benefits from the Cal Fresh (food stamp) program. Catholic Charities operates the Cantlay Food Distribution Center in Santa Ana, which provides food and other necessities to individuals and families three days a week. n Casa Santa Maria in Buena Park, also operated by Catholic Charities, provides clean, safe and affordable housing for older adults in need. Residents must meet federal eligibility guidelines set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. n Columbian Disability Service is an accumulation of various summer camps serving individuals with disabilities. Camp ReCreation, Weekend Getaway and ACE are residential camps for people with disabilities to experience spiritual, emotional, mental and physical growth. n Catholic Charities of Orange County operates the Immigration Service Center, whose purpose is to foster family reunification, economic empowerment, political participation and social integration by providing low-cost or no-cost, high quality immigration services that enable eligible immigrants and refugees to obtain legal immigrant or citizenship status. n Serving individuals since 1976, Catholic Charities of Orange County has assisted more than 35,000 persons become citizens of the U.S. n The Catholic Charities Counseling Center offers therapy for issues such as anxiety, depression, mood disorders, trauma, relationship challenges, grief and loss, court-required individual therapy, problems at work, parenting challenges and anger management.

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PENNIES FROM HEAVEN HELPS FUND WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTERS THE PENNIES FROM HEAVEN annual campaign operates through most parishes, uses baby bottles to collect funds that go to shelters and clinics for pregnancy care. Greg Walgenbach, the director of the Office of Life, Justice and Peace, notes that more than $250,000 is collected annually to assist women, families and children in need.

MINISTRY EXTENDS GOD’S MERCY TO THOSE TOUCHED BY ABORTION GOING BEYOND THE PROJECT Rachel hotline, the diocese operates a new ministry, Hope and Healing After Abortion. The program has trained 20 people to do companion ministry. “They meet with individuals who’ve been affected by abortion,” says Michael Donaldson, the director of Pastoral Services to Families in All Stages. “They walk with the women in their grief, discern why they had the abortion and help them reach some point of healing. They have deep dialog and listening sessions; opening up helps them heal.” Donaldson says many people are suffering silently, including spouses, parents and grandparents, who are all dealing with grief. “It’s not a single issue or an individual issue. It will affect a person’s performance in life if it is not taken care of.”

DIVORCE AND SEPARATED MINISTRY REACHES OUT TO FAMILIES FIVE ORANGE COUNTY PARISHES now have programs for divorced and separated individuals in which pastors meet with them, emphasizing that they remain “a very important part of the church, for they are going through the bereavement process,” says Donaldson. “With a 70-percent divorce rate in our diocese, it’s affecting entire families,” he adds. “Adults are supported so that they can support their children. One of the vital ministries is to keep families together and not to allow divorce to be cyclical.” 2016/17 MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

OUR MISSION OF MERCY

Fear of the unknown and social stigma surround sufferers of depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses, but the diocese is sending the message that the Catholic Church is walking with them. Bishop Kevin Vann has worked with Pastor Rick Warren on two statewide conferences and 18 parishes have held forums on mental illness since 2014.

MINISTRIES SUPPORT THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ST. JOHN PAUL II, addressing the 1997 International Conference of Health Care Workers on Illnesses of the Human Mind, reminded the political community of its duty to recognize and celebrate “the divine image of man with actions that support and serve all those who find themselves in a condition of severe mental illness. This is a task which science and faith, medicine and pastoral care, professional skill and a sense of common brotherhood must help to carry out through an investment of adequate human, scientific and socio-economic resources. “Whoever suffers from mental illness ‘always’ bears God’s image and likeness in himself, as does every human being,” says St. John Paul II. “In addition, he ‘always’ has the inalienable right not only to be considered as an image of God and therefore as a person, but also to be treated as such.” Since 2014, the Diocese of Orange has partnered with Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren, who lost a son to suicide, on a series of events aimed at reaching out to those affected by mental illness. Since that time, several countywide conferences have addressed the issue. Today 18 parish-based mental health forums have taken place, addressing such issues as teenage suicide and depression. The events have linked families and individuals with useful resources, such as therapists, county officials and organizations like NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. “One in four of us suffer deal with chronic depression, anxiety or some other form of mental illness,” says Donaldson. “There is a huge stigma based on everyday lingo, calling someone wacked, crazy or loony.” To address this and assist the mentally ill, the diocese partnered with Dr. Louise Dunn, who directs the New Hope Counseling Hotline in the Tower of Hope on the Cathedral campus, to train religious leaders in a mental health first-aid course. “We know the symptoms and the tools to help the suffering, and to address the issue at the parish level by understanding and providing useful resources.” Diocesan resources include: 1. Diocesan Mental Health Resource Guide for Families and Individuals 2. The Diocese of Orange Mental Health Awareness program 3. Each Mind Matters 4. Hope for Mental Health-Saddleback Church 5. the Mental Illnesses Ministry 6. Work with the National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities and New Hope Crisis Counseling Center 7. Access to OC LINKS, an information and referral line that provides telephone and online support or linkage to any of the Health Care Agency’s Behavioral Health Services 8. Welcomed and Valued Program: Building Faith Communities of Support and Hope with People with Mental Illness and Their Families.

26 TOGETHER WE JOURNEY, TOGETHER IN FAITH

BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE “Christ Cathedral is becoming a great beacon of faith for the West Coast. We have so many blessings and so much energy and participation and engagement. It’s a testimony, a powerful witness of faith that we are a vibrant, active Catholic community.” —Bishop Kevin Vann

2016/17 MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE

DIOCESAN EFFORTS STEADILY IMPROVE FRAMEWORK FOR WORSHIP AND LEARNING THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE is well on the way to transforming the worldrenowned Crystal Cathedral and its 34-acre campus into a spiritual and physical center for Roman Catholic worship – Christ Cathedral. Yet the Cathedral and campus renovation projects are but a few of the ambitious construction projects underway throughout the diocese that are testimony to its vibrancy. New construction and renovation projects include extensive additions at Rosary Academy, installation of new HVAC systems at four parish schools, ex-

pansion of St. Junipero Serra School, construction of Christ Our Savior Parish in Santa Ana and groundbreaking for Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ladera Ranch. Also included is an ambitious, visionary Information Technology buildout that will create a common diocesan IT platform.

Bishop Kevin Vann signs a wall within the sanctuary of Christ Cathedral after the blessing of the sanctuary on Feb. 11, 2017. The event marked a milestone in the renovation of the Cathedral.

28 TOGETHER WE JOURNEY, TOGETHER IN FAITH

DIOCESE MARKS START OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL SANCTUARY CONSTRUCTION

BISHOP KEVIN W. VANN led a ceremony and blessing of Christ Cathedral on Feb. 11, 2017, marking the start of active construction within the sanctuary space. Hundreds of Christ Cathedral contributors, architects, engineers, clergy and designers, and parishioners joined Bishop Vann in ceremonially signing the concrete floor of the building, representing their support 2016/17 MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE Hundreds of Christ Cathedral contributors, architects, engineers, clergy and designers, and parishioners joined Bishop Vann in February 2017 to show their support for the transformation of Christ Cathedral.

n Bishop Vann selected John A. Romeri, former director

of liturgical music for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, as the first Christ Cathedral Director of Music Ministries. n Hundreds of special events have been held on campus, most importantly the huge celebration marking the Diocese of Orange’s 40-year anniversary. n Complicated rehabilitation has been competed on the Cathedral’s Hazel Wright Organ, one of the most famous musical instruments in the world. n The Orange Catholic Foundation continues to raise funds to dedicate the new Cathedral in 2019. n Innovative methods used to retrofit the Tower of Hope have garnered the diocese and its architects several prestigious engineering and design awards.

Meanwhile, at Rosary Academy… The all-girls Catholic high school in Fullerton in partnership with the diocese recently completed two campus renovation projects. The strength and conditioning center is primarily used by sports teams and is available to the student body for use in supervised workouts and training. The high school’s library has been transformed into a learning and enrichment center with adaptable education space where students can receive learning support and meet to study before and after school. These improvements are just the latest in a series of ambitious renovations at the school, which first opened in 1965. Rosary previously refurbished its chapel, reconditioned its labs and science classrooms and restored the assembly hall using school funds.

And in the Elementary Schools… New HVAC systems installed in June at four parish elementary schools are providing new air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems in a cost-efficient, environmentally sound manner. The diocese, the parishes and Shea Homes Charities funded the systems, which were installed at Our Lady of Guadalupe School in La Habra, St. Justin Martyr School in Anaheim, and St. Anne School and the School of Our Lady, both in Santa Ana. “This project targets the schools that are identified as having the greatest number of heat disruptions and immediately improves comfort and learning for all,” says Greg Dhuyvetter, superintendent of schools. “Our great schools just got better!”

At St. Junipero Serra Catholic School…

and contribution to this seminal project in the life of the local Church. Construction of the worship level marks the five-year anniversary of the acquisition of the Christ Cathedral campus by the diocese and follows several years of active and deliberative design work. To date, a number of major milestones have been reached: n Mass is celebrated daily at the renovated Arboretum and more than 10,000 people attend 11 weekend Masses offered in four languages.

Groundbreaking will take place soon at St. Junipero Serra Catholic School, which continues to grow and anxiously awaits the completion of its sacred Chapel, Student Creation Center (emphasizing its commitment to STEAM education and the arts), which will complete the final phase of the school’s structural development. St. Junipero Serra Catholic School continues to remain faithful to their past, confident in their future, and steadfast as they move forward with and through Christ.

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IT BUILDOUT PROMISES LASTING, EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGY

As Well as at Christ Our Savior Parish and Holy Trinity Catholic Church… In November 2008, Christ Our Savior Cathedral Parish opened its Cathedral Parish Complex in Santa Ana at Raitt and Alton streets, providing a home for parishioners to gather together in worship and making meeting space available. In February 2012, then-Bishop Tod Brown announced that the Diocese of Orange had acquired the Crystal Cathedral complex. Since then the parish has been known as Christ Our Savior Catholic Parish. The young parish today is meeting the challenge of building a new campus that answers to the needs of the community of faith in the diverse city of Santa Ana. The newest Catholic parish in the Diocese of Orange, Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ladera Vista, broke ground for its new 18,323-square-foot church in March, after 11 years of fundraising. The parish, founded on seven acres of land donated by the diocese, held its first Mass on July 3, 2005 in the Ladera Ranch Town Green Gazebo. Holy Trinity now has more than 2,000 registered families who look forward to completion of their new church.

Neil Kessler spent his career helping start-up businesses lay the IT foundation for creating new products. Now he uses his expertise to upgrade technology throughout the diocese.

WHEN NEIL KESSLER ARRIVED to begin his work as the new director of Information Technology for the Diocese of Orange, he didn’t know what expect, exactly. Kessler was dedicated to providing technologybased leadership, to securing resources, developing competencies and delivering services in the most costeffective manner. Still, he hadn’t anticipated the time and energy required to modernize IT equipment and competency of the 110 fairly independent ministries and parishes – each essentially a small business – that make up the diocese. “My advice is always free to the schools and parishes,” Kessler says. “We never leave anyone out in the cold. We find a way to create a network adminis-

2016/17 MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE

tration and ensure data backup.” He educates each site in preventive maintenance, including ensuring the software is operational, computers are rebooted regularly, the latest drivers are installed and antivirus programs are up-to-date. Perhaps most important, Kessler acts as the vendor for the diocese, ordering new equipment as necessary and achieving savings through economy of scale. “When I started we had an immature IT environment,” he notes. “We ended up behind the times, with our systems nearing the end of life. We looked at the opportunity to save money with a buildout – building the capabilities of a common platform that everyone can share.” It is still in its infancy, but presently Kessler’s six-person team is slowly transforming the Christ Cathedral campus environment to form the backbone of common platform for the diocese. “As funds become available we can expand,” he explains. “We have a list of 20 projects that could be funded, but each is waiting its turn.” Kessler spent his career helping start-up businesses lay the IT foundation for creating new products. In the process, he says he made millions of dollars for the start-ups and eventually worked his way out of each job. It was draining and unfulfillThe diocesan IT team supports technology at the Christ Cathedral campus and provides serves to every parish in the diocese.

ing and other people lost jobs because the owners sold the businesses at huge profits. When he first heard about the Diocese of Orange needing an IT manager, Kessler thought he’d refer one of the many IT experts he’d mentored for the position. “I sat down with the diocese and talked about the role and exactly how I’d approach it,” he recalls. “Before I knew it, it was the role I wanted. I can create something of value, help the organizations, and assist the diocese to not only save money but build technological competency and feel good doing it.”

DID YOU KNOW?

THE DIOCESE IS THE 10TH LARGEST AND ONE OF THE FASTESTGROWING IN THE NATION.

32 TOGETHER WE JOURNEY, TOGETHER IN FAITH

Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.” —Colossians 4:17

STEWARDSHIP AND INVESTMENT

2016/17 MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

STEWARDSHIP AND INVESTMENT

ENSURING THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF OUR PRECIOUS FUNDS THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE recently issued a painstakingly crafted Pastoral Plan which directs the diocese to be transparent and open with regard to stewardship and finance. The diocese is committed to learn about the financial practices and needs in every parish. We support ethical and just labor practices with those who serve in the diocese, and vow to maintain parish facilities and use all diocesan facilities with respect and care. The Pastoral Plan acknowledges that many individuals, foundations and businesses generously contribute

time, talent and treasure to the diocese and to their local parishes, yet there were a number of recommendations: n The diocese must be dedicated to education in the schools and faith formation in the parishes, as well as practical training in areas of stewardship and lay leadership as a way of life; n Guidelines based on universally accepted practices must be developed for salaries, compensation and benefits, just and equal wages, and labor practices; n Regular repair, responsible use and maintenance of facilities must continue; n Consideration and provision of funds must be addressed for the rental of space in neighborhoods in order to provide ministerial services not otherwise provided by the churches; and n The diocese and parishes must operate with transparency and openness regarding the above points. With the Pastoral Plan in mind, then, the Diocese of Orange safeguards and grows its assets, establishes and maintains a functioning set of policies and procedures, and ensures compliance to audit and generally accepted accounting principles and ethical standards. Our mission is to ensure that diocesan resources are managed efficiently and responsibly, using the highest standards of accountability.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF ORANGE, A COPORATION SOLE STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2016 (AUDITED) REVENUE AND SUPPORT Contributions, grants and bequests....$9,173,753 Diocesan assessments...........................7,827,012 Diocesan programs...............................5,165,936 Cemetery operations...........................12,246,845

REVENUE

Investment loss.................................... (2,867,796) Insurance programs.............................32,747,160 TOTAL REVENUES........................ $64,292,910

INSURANCE PROGRAMS

47%

CEMETERY OPERATIONS

18%

CONTRIBUTIONS, GRANTS AND BEQUESTS

13%

DIOCESAN ASSESSMENTS

11%

DIOCESAN PROGRAMS

7%

INVESTMENT LOSS

-4%

INSURANCE PROGRAMS

37%

DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATION

18%

GRANTS, DONATIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

12%

DIOCESAN PASTORAL MINISTRIES

11%

EXPENSES Program services: Diocesan pastoral ministries................$8,721,388 Clergy support programs......................2,950,439 Investment programs.............................5,163,887 Cemetery operations.............................8,532,013 Insurance programs.............................28,334,754 Grants, donations and scholarships......9,403,714 Support services: Diocesan administration......................13,731,832 TOTAL EXPENSES........................ $76,838,027

EXPENSES

CEMETERY OPERATIONS

11%

Other changes in net assets: Other comprehensive pension loss..... (5,609,000)

INVESTMENT PROGRAMS

7%

Gain on sale of Marywood property....17,023,155

CLERGY SUPPORT PROGRAMS

4%

INCREASE (DESCREASE) IN NET ASSETS............................. $(1,130,962)

THE COMPLETE SET OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED FOOTNOTES CAN BE REQUESTED THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

34 TOGETHER WE JOURNEY, TOGETHER IN FAITH

DIOCESE INVESTS FUNDS ACCORDING TO THE CATHOLIC FAITH THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE now uses Investing for Catholics for its pension fund, investing its funds in strict accordance with the tenants of the Catholic faith. Irvine-based Investing for Catholics provides socially responsible investing advice and portfolio implementation to institutions and individuals. The firm was developed to meet the unique needs of Catholic investors — investing responsibly in line with the Catholic faith while maximizing returns for the risks taken. Investing for Catholics serves individuals and U.S. Catholic institutions, including dioceses, religious institutes, foundations, endowments, educational institutions and health care organizations. Investing for Catholics is a wholly owned division of Index Fund Advisors, Inc., a fee-only Independent Financial Advisor registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE HAS ENTRUSTED ITS PENSION FUND TO INVESTING FOR CATHOLICS, AN IRVINE FIRM THAT REPRESENTS MANY CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS. —RYAN LILYENGREN, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, DIOCESE OF ORANGE

2016/17 MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

STEWARDSHIP AND INVESTMENT Donors and supporters write messages of love and hope on a wall within the sanctuary of Christ Cathedral, during the blessing of the sanctuary just prior to construction commencing. The wall will be covered with tile, but it will remain a permanent part of the structure.

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ACCOMPANYING THE SICK AND VULNERABLE

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. —James 5:13-15

2016/17 MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

ACCOMPANYING THE SICK AND VULNERABLE

DIOCESE HONORS SANCTITY OF LIFE AT ALL STAGES IN THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED Diocese of Orange Pastoral Plan, Bishop Kevin W. Vann dedicates diocesan efforts to everyone: The homeless people who live on our streets and riverbeds are just as important to God as the wealthy families who donate funds to diocesan campaigns. “The Shepherd of the whole People of God, Pope Francis, has challenged the faith communities of the world, and every diocese as well, to become field hospitals, noted for practical works of mercy,” writes Bishop Vann. “In a world lonely and seemingly removed from God, we crave mercy, forgiveness and love. We are reminded of a phrase from a popular song years ago, that ‘God is watching us from a distance.’ But we sometimes forget that He indeed has ‘pitched his tent among us.’” Diocesan efforts to aid the sick and vulnerable among us are as diverse as the people they serve, but here we look at some of the vital ways we reach out to comfort, assist and strengthen them.

CAMPAIGN AGAINST ASSISTED SUICIDE CONTINUES IN THE AFTERMATH OF Governor Jerry Brown signing into law physician-assisted suicide, the Diocese of Orange continues its fight as a partner in legal challenges to the law. “We worked for over a year to educate people about the dangers of making this legal,” notes Greg Walgenbach, director of the Office of Life, Justice and Peace. “Now the California Catholic Conference and Catholic health care institutions are working on a wholeperson care initiative,” he adds. “We are working to include holistic pastoral care for end-of-life individuals to lift up the dignity of the human person, because we want people to learn to both live and die well.” Toward that end, he says, the ongoing educational mission is to host end-of-life preparation in parishes throughout the diocese.

DID YOU KNOW?

Bishop Kevin Vann and Dr. Richard Afable, executive vice president, St. Joseph Health Southern California Region / president & CEO, St. Joseph Hoag Health, share a moment at the Mental Health Forum at Mission Hospital.

ASSISTED-SUICIDE WORK NOTES PHYSICIANS’ ETHICAL DILEMMA

In addition to end-of-life education sessions, the diocese offers assistedsuicide forums that often include experienced participants such as Dr. Vincent Nguyen, medical director of the Hoag Palliative Care program, and Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, associate professor of psychiatry and director of the UC Irvine School of Medicine Program in Medical Ethics. Both men are active in the fight against the new law, noting that it is unethical for doctors to assist their patients in ending their lives. “There is little time in the medical student’s curriculum for palliative care and very little preparation of physicians to do this [end-of-life] work,” Dr. Kheriaty notes. “Early on in a physician’s training there is an avoidance of the whole subject, with no one wanting to use the ‘d-word’ [for dying].” Dr. Nguyen says his team of doctors, nurses and social workers with palliative care training works to ensure that the patient and family members are clear about the prognosis and treatment options. “People are afraid,” says Dr. Nguyen. “And they want doctors to be honest with them.”

THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE WAS FORMALLY ESTABLISHED BY POPE PAUL VI WITH 44 PARISHES AND MORE THAN 300,000 CATHOLICS IN 1976.

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BUSTING MYTHS REGARDING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND DIVORCE THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE hosts “Myth Busting: The Catholic Church and Divorce” workshops periodically, notes Michael Donaldson, director of the Office of Pastoral Care for Families in All Stages. The events feature panelists, including clergy and annulment experts, who help Catholics understand that if they are divorced and not remarried, they can be very much a part of the faith and may participate in the sacraments. The Myth-Busting workshops address Church programs, anger and coping skills,

helping kids cope, annulment myths, dating and intimacy for Catholics and finding a full life after divorce.

Ministering to Bereaved and Divorced Myth-busting is one ministry to divorced members of the Church. The diocesan Death and Divorce ministry is another. The Death and Divorced ministry works with divorced, separated and widowed Catholics, hosting annual retreats and weekly meetings. “We have a strong ministry,” Donaldson notes, to provide a support system, spirituality and help toward healing and beginning again. 2016/17 MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

ACCOMPANYING THE SICK AND VULNERABLE

SERVING THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS SPECIAL-NEEDS CATHOLICS MAKE up a sizable portion of the nation’s faithful, with the National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities noting that 14 percent of Catholics have some type of disability. In 2001, the Diocese of Orange Office for Faith Formation invited selected therapists, special education teachers, theologians, doctors and parents to form the Special Needs Advisory Circle. “We have built a coalition of social and spiritual support within our faith community to help parishes and families with special needs grow in holiness to love and serve our Lord,” says Annette Z. Venegas, program assistant in the diocesan Faith Formation office. “We promote accessibility of mind and heart, so that all persons with disabilities may be welcome not only at worship, but at every level of service as full members of the Body of Christ.” Persons with special needs, whether they are mentally challenged or physical disabled, want what every Catholic wants. “They want acceptance, respect, to be welcomed and to be treated the same as others,” explains Andrea West, who began the first class promoting faith formation, sacramental preparation and socialization for Catholics with special needs in her parish, St. Joseph’s in Placentia, 15 years ago. “They want all the same things we do. They bring the image and face of God, teaching us patience, perseverance and acceptance.”

NEW HOPE MINISTRIES CONTINUES CRISIS COUNSELING HOTLINE (Above) The Office of Pastoral Care to Families in All Stages offers a number of educational programs, such as its ministry to divorced Catholics and its Death and Divorce ministry; (Right) Catholics with special needs receive the Eucharist.

THE NEW HOPE HOTLINE, begun in 1968, was the nation’s first 24-hour suicide hotline. It was developed as part of the Rev. Robert Schuller’s ministries following the tragic suicide of a member of Schuller’s Garden Grove Community Church. As part of the historic acquisition of the Crystal Cathedral in 2012, the Diocese of Orange committed to continue this important ministry of care and service to those facing acute hardships. The New Hope Crisis Center was incorporated as a ministry of Catholic Charities of Orange County and answers about 600 to 800 calls a year. Since its founding, hotline calls have been continuously answered by well-trained volunteers who act as

peer counselors to all callers with any kind of issue. “Our mission is to provide a place, any time of the day and any day of the week, where someone who is in crisis or hurting emotionally has a place they can call, says Dr. Louise Dunn, was hired by Catholic Charities to continue in the position of director of the crisis center. “Our services are available to anyone who calls us,” she adds. “There are no limitations, not even geographical ones. We use an active listening model where we ask openended questions and help callers brainstorm. When appropriate, we give them a plan of action.” Most of the callers are not in a state of crisis but are overwhelmed by their lives, Dr. Dunn observes. “Most of those who call us need to be heard at a heart level rather than at an intellectual level. We

listen to what’s underneath what they’re telling us. People call for prayer. In the best cases, there is an ‘aha’ moment and there is always the opportunity for insight.” One of the most powerful things about the New Hope Center is that it is faith-based, Dr. Dunn says. “There are prayer lines, but those are limited to 3 minutes each, but you won’t find another general call center that is faith-based, where the person who fields the call will pray with them.” Now that New Hope is a part of Catholic Charities of Orange County, Dr. Dunn says, the ministry has opened an exciting new chapter – enabling the program to work closely in support of those suffering through parish churches and increasing the center’s ability to reach many more hurting people than ever before.

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2016/17 MINISTRY & MISSION REPORT

CONCLUSION

CELEBRATING OUR PAST, CREATING OUR FUTURE

CONTINUING OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER IN FAITH Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness. — Psalms 96:11-13 THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE has served a growing and diverse flock of more than 1.2-million Catholics in many different Southern California cities and neighborhoods for more than 40 years. We look forward to a future full of promise as we look forward to international recognition of and participation in the grand opening of the world-renowned Christ Cathedral. Uniting one of the fastest-growing and most diverse dioceses in the U.S. isn’t easy. Still, the Diocese of Orange, its administrators, clergy, staff and volunteers successfully serve individuals and families who speak a multitude of languages and represent numerous cultures. As we anxiously await the official opening of Christ Cathedral in 2019, we joyfully commit ourselves to serving our communities well in the future, and welcoming all Catholics worldwide to partner with us in our ongoing journey in faith.

Bishop Kevin Vann and Auxiliary Bishop Dominic M. Luong presided over a mass and celebration marking the lunar new year and the traditional Vietnamese Tet holiday at the Vietnamese Catholic Center.

The Journey – Music & Arts Festival took place during the diocese’s 40 the anniversary celebration in September and included performers Matt Maher, Colton Dixon, Phil Wickham, Andy Mineo and Jordan Feliz.