PAULINA OCHOA LUA always enjoyed drawing and making art when her daughter Elena was young. That was more than a decade ago, and the lack of appropriate Catholic material bothered the mom.
PAULINA OCHOA LUA (LEFT) HOLDS TWO OF HER PUBLISHED COLORING BOOKS WHILE SOPHIA LEE HOLDS ILLUSTRATIONS FROM AN UPCOMING PROJECT. LEE ALSO ASSISTED WITH THE KOREAN TRANSLATION. PHOTO BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“I could never find a cute coloring book,” Paulina said of her search for Catholic-themed publications. “It stayed with me.”
Years later, she joined a Korean Catholic parish and saw another gaping absence.
As a single mother, she loved the quiet connection of time she spent sharing art, faith and contemplation with her child. It was something she wanted to provide to the Catholic community, and now, more specifically, to Korean Catholics.
Elena, now a high school junior, has continued drawing and has become a skilled artist in her own right, while Paulina is still a sketch and coloring enthusiast.
So, after letting the idea steep in her mind and spirit of bringing Catholic faith and art together, Paulina asked herself, “Why don’t I bring it to life?”
Taking on a second job to help kickstart her vision, Paulina created the Little Litany Co. to create “cute and holy Catholic coloring books.”
In 2025, in collaboration with another artist, Paulina self-published “Catholic Saints, Vol. 1,” and followed that with “O Holy Christmas.” It is estimated that only a minute percentage of the coloring book industry, which is geared toward secular themes, is religious, and even less are Catholic.
Although there is a niche Catholic market, with St. Ignatius Kids, Autom and The Catholic Company among others having titles, the coloring books are just a small segment among their offerings of other books and gifts.
GIVING BACK
Paulina is now focusing on a project that will meet a worthy need. After a move several years ago, she became a parishioner of Our Lady of Peace Korean Catholic Center in Irvine, which she said has been “such a gift” in its acceptance and providing for her spiritual needs. To give back, Paulina has embarked on a new coloring book, tentatively titled “Korean Catholics: Journey to Peace,” that will help tell the unique Korean and Korean American Catholic experience, complete with text translated into Korean. And while Korean Catholic books may be available in Asia, they are virtually unknown on this side of the Pacific.
Sophia Lee, business manager at Our Lady of Peace, provided the translation. She said she has never seen a project like it in the U.S. and said, “It was my pleasure,” about contributing.
Fr. Daniel Seo, director of Our Lady of Peace, has provided further translation and helped edit and guide the narrative portions of the book.
A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
While Paulina knows plenty about European and Latin American saints and apparitions, Korean Catholicism is something else altogether with its own culture and traditions.
“I spent about a year researching and studying online,” Paulina said of Korean Catholicism, which she is still learning about, observing and discovering. “Just learning about Korean Catholicism has really touched my heart,” she said. “It’s a really beautiful story I want to bring to life for kids.”
Catholicism was formally introduced in Korea in 1784 during the Joseon Dynasty when Korean diplomat Yi Seunghun encountered Catholicism in China and was baptized. St. Andrew Kim Taegon was ordained as the first Korean priest and martyred at the age of 25 along with St. Paul Chong Ha-sang and more than 100 companions. It is estimated more than 10,000 Korean Catholics were martyred during the 19th century and are remembered with a feast day in September. California is home to more than 50,000 Korean Catholics according to the Pew Research Center.
Our Lady of Peace opened its doors for Mass in 2010 and has a goal of building the first Korean Marian shrine in North America. For her part, Paulina said she hopes to donate part of the proceeds from her book to the effort.
EXPANDING HER COLLECTION
For Paulina, keeping track of all the ideas she has for future books, while trying to harness her energy, is no small feat. Paulina said although she and Elena don’t color together like before, they do brainstorm ideas.
“I have a whole list of themes,” she said.
She has thought of a book just on the parts of a church. Another on apparitions.
“There’s so much,” she said. “I could make a whole series on saints.”
Much of it is learn as you go, she added. For example, she admitted the future volumes of “Catholic Saints,” and maybe a re-issue of the first volume, should include the names of the saints.
“I just thought everyone would know all of them, but I guess it’s not that obvious,” she conceded.
She is also trying to learn more about selling and marketing her books to help offset printing costs. She was recently allowed to offer her books at an event at Holy Family Catholic Church in Orange, where she was able to sell about 100 and is hoping to research other opportunities. She also stressed that although she collaborates with another artist, the work is 100 percent artificial intelligence-free.
“If you buy these, you’re supporting hand-drawn independent artwork,” she said.
LEARN MORE
Anyone interested in learning more about Little Litany Co. and ordering books can visit the website at littlelitanyco.com and follow on Instagram.