ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH RECEIVES FAMOUS ARTWORK REPLICA
St. John the Baptist parish in Costa Mesa recently announced that through the generosity of benefactors, in conjunction with Arte Divine, the parish has been gifted with a replica of Michelangelo’s magnificent Pieta in commemoration of the 20-year anniversary of the Norbertine Fathers coming to serve the parish community.
The artwork is faithful in every detail to Michelangelo’s original. It was cast using a proprietary Carrara marble blend and then hand-finished and polished by Arte Divine’s master artisans.
The statue arrived at the parish on July 25 and was blessed by Fr. Augustine Puchner at the 5:30 p.m. Mass on July 27.
In the words of Fr. Augustine, “The Pieta is a magnificent legacy gift for St. John the Baptist parish; a gift that will edify and inspire each person who enters our church for generations to come.”
ST. IRENAEUS CHURCH TO HOST FALL FIESTA
St. Irenaeus Church in Cypress will hold a Fall Fiesta Fundraiser on September 16-18.
The fiesta is open to the public including parishioners in the Diocese of Orange and other community members. The fiesta committee held an envelope stuffing day on July 30 and prepared 4,615 envelopes to be sent to registered parishioners.
Approximately 40-50 parishioners came and worked from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. to complete the task. Volunteers included representatives from St. Irenaeus Parish Staff, St. Irenaeus Parish Ministries, Members of the Knights of Columbus, the Parish Choir, St. Irenaeus School parents and students who attend St. Irenaeus School. The volunteers were treated to some pepperoni and cheese pizza when they took their breaks. Thanks to their work, parishioners received their opportunity tickets by the first week of August.
Fall Fiesta is a very important fundraiser with proceeds benefitting both the parish and St. Irenaeus School.

PICTURED AT THE JULY 30 ENVELOPE STUFFING AT ST. IRENAEUS CHURCH FOR THE FALL FIESTA ARE ST. IRENAEUS PARISH CHOIR DIRECTOR ANTHONY KOCAL, VOLUNTEER NOLIE CIMATU AND ST. IRENAEUS CHOIR MEMBERS MYRNA RHODES, AND TIM GARCIA. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. IRENAEUS PARISH
ALPHA SERIES
St. Joachim Church in Costa Mesa will be hosting an Alpha series starting in September. It will run for 11 consecutive Wednesday nights starting with dinner at 6:30pm. Final dates to be determined soon. For more information, call Carol Nasr at 949-439-0226.

ST. JOACHIM CATHOLIC CHURCH, COSTA MESA. PHOTO BY SPENCER GRANT/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS PRESENTATION
Learn why modern-day slavery continues to be a social justice issue today and ways we are helping to address it. All are welcome to attend a presentation on Thursday, Sept. 8 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at St. Bonaventure Parish Hall, 16410 Springdale St., Huntington Beach. For more information, call 714-846-3359.

ST. BONAVENTURE CHURCH, HUNTINGTON BEACH. PHOTO BY STEVEN GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE