THE YEAR OF HAZEL CONCERT SERIES
The Year of Hazel concert series continued on Dec. 16 with the Christmas at the Cathedral concert. Around 2,000 came to the cathedral to hear the performing choirs, brass ensemble and Hazel Wright Organ.
The Year of Hazel series continues on Jan. 28 with the Interfaith Choral Festival & Prayer Service. Visit HazelWrightOrgan.com and ChristCathedralMusic.org to learn more!
CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS PROGRAM
Catholic Charities of Orange County had its annual Christmas Blessings Program, bringing happiness to Orange County families.
The Cultural Center on the Christ Cathedral campus was the distribution site on Dec. 16 for families to pick up the various donated goods, including toys and games. Thank you everyone for their support and hard work!
VOLUNTEERS POSE WITH SANTA DURING CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ORANGE COUNTY’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS PROGRA< COURTESY PHOTO
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
The St. Pius V School in Buena Park celebrated their annual school-wide Christmas program in the church on Dec. 14. The eighth-grade grade students performed a beautiful recreation of the Christmas story and students in all grades sang hymns for all to enjoy.
ST. PIUS V SCHOOL STUDENTS PERFORM THE CHRISTMAS STORY ON DEC. 14. COURTESY PHOTO
BRONZE BAS-RELIEF SCULPTURE INSTALLED AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL
The third of four bronze bas-relief sculptures for Christ Cathedral’s ground floor walls was installed on Dec. 14. The work by Bolivian artist Pablo Eduardo is titled “Wedding Feast at Cana.” Allthe sculptures depict Gospel images reflecting the divinity of Christ.
“Wedding Feast at Cana” was generously underwritten by S. Michael & Lynn Joseph of The Joseph Family Foundation, longtime benefactors of the Diocese. The work felt especially important to them because they renewed their wedding vows at Cana.
“It was very meaningful to us,” said S. Michael Joseph.
Lynn Joseph added, “We are wonderfully impressed with the beauty of the Manifestation, we love the how it presents Jesus and Mary in the foreground with the bride’s concerned parents in the
back. This represents His first miracle! We’ve been married nearly 50 years…that’s His miracle too!
Bishop Kevin Vann and rector emeritus Fr. Christopher Smith were on hand for the installation.
The fourth and final sculpture is scheduled to be installed in early 2023. As the sculptures have come
in, they replaced temporary Biblical messages that were displayed for the cathedral’s 2019 dedication.
Eduardo’s bronze artwork is also located throughout the cathedral for its Stations of the Cross, Bishop’s Doors and narthex.
S. MICHAEL AND LYNN JOSEPH AND PICTURED WITH BISHOP KEVIN VANN AND RECTOR EMERITUS FR. CHRISTOPHER SMITH ON DEC. 14 INSIDE CHRIST CATHEDRAL. PHOTO BY STEVE GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
ST. IRENAEUS CATHOLIC CHURCH’S HEALTH MINISTRY
St. Irenaeus Catholic Church’s Health Ministry brought an early Christmas to residents and staff of
several long-term care centers during the week of Dec. 12.
A total of 450 bags were distributed to residents in five local care facilities, including bags for homebound parishioners. Parishioners also gave monetary donations to fund the project. Each bag was lovingly hand-decorated by students of St. Irenaeus parish school and those attending Youth Faith Formation programs.
In addition, singers from the St. Irenaeus parish choir and the Filipino Catholic Federation Choir caroled at the centers, encouraging residents to sing traditional Christmas songs with them.
ST. IRENAEUS CATHOLIC CHURCH’S HEALTH MINISTRY VISITED RESIDENTS AND STAFF OF SEVERAL LONGTERM CARE CENTERS DURING THE WEEK OF DEC. 12. COURTESY PHOTO
SACRED HEART LEADERSHIP RETREAT
Young women ages 18-30 are invited to a day of prayer and renewal, spiritual presentations and small group discussions on Jan. 8 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday Mass is included in the day. The
retreat is hosted by the Sacred Heart Sisters. For more information and how to register, visit www. sacredheartsisters.com