SPEAKING TO A gathering of close to 10,000 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Bishop Timothy Freyer urged each attendee to embrace a renewed spirit of welcome in their parishes and ministries.
Bishop Freyer delivered these words of encouragement as part of “There’s More,” a celebration of the diocese’s 50th anniversary as well as a kick-off campaign designed to inspire the faithful to welcome anyone to the Catholic Church.
BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER PRESENTS THE MONSTRANCE DURING THE “THERE’S MORE” EVENT. MORE THAN 11,000 CAME TO THE HONDA CENTER IN ANAHEIM, AS PART OF THE DIOCESAN 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
The phrase — There’s More — centers around the theme that with Christ, there is always more.
The Aug. 22 celebration was one of the largest diocesan-wide events ever organized by the Diocese of Orange, and the first to utilize a major offsite location such as the Honda Center, officials said. “‘Radical hospitality’ is an integral part of There’s More,” said Bishop Freyer, who framed the diocesan initiative as an invitation for people at every stage of faith.
“It doesn’t matter whether a person has never stepped foot into a church, or maybe they’re a person who was raised in the faith, got busy, but now realizes it’s time to come home,” the bishop said. “As you see a person who looks new, who looks nervous, who looks confused, go up to them. Welcome them.”
Bishop Kevin Vann reflected on how each person has a vocation to which God has called them and encouraged the faithful to recognize that calling, follow it and keep moving forward.
BISHOP KEVIN VANN ADDRESSES ATTENDEES OF THE “THERE’S MORE” EVENT HELD ON AUG. 22 AT THE HONDA CENTER IN ANAHEIM. PHOTO BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“Each of us has a vocation to which God—the Lord—has called us,” said Bishop Vann. “That is what He wants us to know, to do and to move forward with.”
Lasting roughly four hours, There’s More featured guest speakers, worship music and fellowship among dozens of diocesan priests and attendees. Many attendees came as groups donning matching T-shirts, designed specifically for the event as a show of representation of their parishes.
Darryl Empalmado was among about 30 parishioners in attendance from St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Irvine.
“We’re proud to be a part of this parish,” Empalmado said. “Our community is 50 years old and that is a big, big thing for us and for our church. We’re actually 30 years in our parish this year so it’s a big celebration for us to be part of this community and proud to be Catholic and to be amongst all these fellow Catholics here. The Holy Spirit brings us all together and we want to evangelize our faith to those who don’t have a home because this is our home.”
Fr. Cheeyoon Chun, director of the Office of Vocations for the diocese and Sr. Mari Josephine Chun of the order of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, served as masters of ceremony.
Fr. Cheeyoon and Sr. Chun are real-life brother and sister.
Headline speakers included Fr. John Riccardo from the Archdiocese of Detroit and Msgr. James Shea of the Diocese of Bismarck. A third headliner was Tony Melendez, endearingly known as the “toe picking” guitarist. Born with no arms, Melendez has shared the stage with Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict and Pope Francis and has played at 11 World Youth Days.
“I live my whole life not worrying, trying to be happy,” Melendez said. “People ask me, ‘well, Tony, why are you so happy inside?’ Because I have the Lord in my heart. Because Jesus loves me and I love him. Love is something, and it’s the answer.”
Having attended the Harvest Crusade, Michele Santos, a parishioner at Christ Our Savior in Santa Ana, is familiar with the uplifting experience of worshiping as part of a large crowd.
“It’s wonderful,” said Santos, who also works as an administrator at JSerra Catholic High School. “But this is even better because Jesus was here in the Eucharist. And it was wonderful to see all our priests that I’ve known throughout the years because I’ve grown up going to Catholic school all my life and I know all these priests.”
The bishops also used the event to challenge parishioners to collectively give 500,000 hours of service, do 500,000 hours of Adoration and pray 500,000 rosaries. They were encouraged to log their efforts using the “PrayServe” app., which was also introduced at the event. Attendees were encouraged to share the website, theresmore.us which will lead the user to parishes, events and ministries where hopefully they’ll be embraced and welcomed, Bishop Freyer said.
“Because the website can’t do that,” he said. “You can do that. You, through your welcome, through your friendliness, through your hospitality, will make that journey all the more easier.