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A DESIRE TO HELP

SPOTLIGHT ON ST. CECILIA CATHOLIC CHURCH’S FOOD DISTRIBUTION MINISTRY

By MIKE ZINN     1/14/2025

THE FOOD PANTRY OF St. Cecilia parish in Tustin has been helping those in need for over 40 years. Led by long-time parishioner Pete Ruiz and staffed by many volunteers of all ages, the pantry serves some 225 families every Friday afternoon.

FOOD PANTRY VOLUNTEERS BAG FRESH VEGETABLES DURING DISTRIBUTION DAY AY ST. CECILIA PARISH. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

Ruiz has been a parishioner at St. Cecilia since 1976 and has directed the Christian Services ministry for approximately 45 years. This ministry assists those in need with housing and basic living needs, in addition to the food distribution program.

PETER RUIZ, CENTER, LEADS THE VOLUNTEERS IN A PRAYER FOR THE FIRE VICTIMS IN LOS ANGELES ON JAN. 10 BEFORE STARTING THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION AT ST. CECILIA PARISH IN TUSTIN.

Ruiz inherited this desire to help others from his father. When he became a parishioner at St. Cecilia, he noticed that there was no food distribution ministry. So, he went to St. Ann parish in Santa Ana and volunteered there. He was particularly impressed by a senior who ran the program and did so many great works of service.

One day after assisting at St. Ann, Ruiz said, “I felt the Holy Spirit come over me.”

He then decided that he should start the same kind of program at St. Cecilia. Ruiz worked with then-pastor Fr. Patrick Doherty to do just that.

Ruiz researched the parish boundaries and found they extended west into Santa Ana, near the Santa Ana Zoo. Ruiz felt there was a need in this community as well, so he distributed flyers for the food distribution program to attract people to St. Cecilia.

Ruiz was teaching a Bible Study group at the parish at the time, and his students became the core group of volunteers who would bag and distribute the food.

Today, the core group is much like his original ministry members. Long-time parishioners Sandie and Bill Guard, Tia and Khanh Tran, Patty Baer, Miguel Prietto, Londa Woods, Jeanne and Mike DePasquale and Beatrice and Tony Oliveras have tirelessly supported this ministry with long years of service.

“It is a hectic two hours,” said volunteer Mike De- Pasquale of distribution day, “but we’ve developed practices that allow us to safely distribute over 5,000 pounds of food each week to members of our local community.”

With Ruiz at the helm and DePasquale and Khanh Tran serving as his assistants, this well-oiled machine  not only gets food to those in need but also makes them feel welcome and encouraged to return.

In addition to being the food pantry’s leader, DePasquale calls Ruiz the group’s spiritual leader.

“He leads us in prayer before food distribution and often includes extra prayers for any sick or grieving member of the St. Cecilia community.”

One volunteer couple, Pam and Gary Schoenbachler, have made the ministry a family affair, with three generations of family members volunteering at various times.

Pantry volunteer Bill Guard had this to say: “We love being involved because it is a way to give back and get to know people in our St. Cecilia community, both those we work with and serve.”

The food distribution program is open every Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Second Harvest Food Bank of  Orange County delivers the food to St. Cecilia and the core group of 10 to 15 volunteers handles the distribution. St. Cecilia Catholic School students also earn service hours by volunteering on various days.

The Christian Services ministry, led by Ruiz and his loyal group of volunteers, has been an essential fixture within the Tustin community since its inception. Serving those in need with grace and a welcoming spirit have been the cornerstones of this long-time St. Cecilia ministry. Under the guidance of Ruiz and his team, serving the parish and community will remain vital to the parish’s vision well into the future.