MATER DEI INTRODUCES NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
Mater Dei High School hosted a media day on June 15 to introduce new head football coach Raul Lara to news outlets.
A native of Long Beach, Lara spent 13 years as head football coach of his alma mater, Long Beach Poly. While there, the program earned five CIF championships and Lara was named CIF Southern Section Division I Coach of the Year in 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2012. He most recently coached at St. Anthony High School in Long Beach.
During the media day, Coach Lara referenced his strong Catholic faith several times and his desire to continue the tradition of excellence at Mater Dei.
FROM THE OFFICE OF CONSECRATED LIFE
The Diocese of Orange gives thanks to God for calling Dalia Zakhary on June 15 to be the first consecrated virgin consecrated by the hand of Bishop Kevin Vann in the Diocese of Orange. Dalia’s presence gives a fuller expression of consecrated life in the Diocese, and her vocation is a living image of the Church as the Bride of Christ.
As a consecrated virgin, Dalia is not given a specific assignment in the Diocese. Instead, she is called to live her consecration in the world and continue to work at her job in Orange County. She participates in the life of the local church by offering her prayers, penance, charitable service and apostolic activities according to her capacities and gifts.
Bishop Vann expressed gratitude for Dalia’s calling and proclaimed in his homily that “Dalia’s witness of consecrated life will strengthen all of us as we respond to the call to love ever more deeply in this often cold and broken world.”
DALIA ZAKHARY AND BISHOP KEVIN VANN ARE PICTURED ON JUNE 15 AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL. PHOTO BY KAYLEE TOOLE/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
As an ode to mental health awareness, a bench was installed on the Christ Cathedral campus on May 28 as a part of the Green Bench OC- Promise to Talk campaign, a mental health stigma reduction initiative that is being implemented by the three Providence Orange County hospitals: Mission Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital and St. Jude Medical Center.
The bench has been painted green, the color of mental health awareness, and was blessed by Bishop Timothy Freyer at the May 28 unveiling ceremony. It is now a permanent fixture on campus, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to supporting and accompanying those in need of support in our parishes and
communities.
For more information on this initiative and others visit https://www.rcbo.org/ministry/office-for-family-life/
BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER (WITH DEACON MODESTO CORDERO ON HIS LEFT) BLESSES A MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS BENCH ON MAY 28 AT THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE