Latest Stories

ALL IN THE FAMILY

THE LITTLE GIRL TOLD her mother: “I want to go to Jesus University.” Anna Hernandez was puzzled. After all, her... 

by GREG HARDESTY 

A CALL TO THE DIACONATE

DEACON TOM SAENZ didn’t enter the Diocese of Orange’s permanent diaconate, expecting to one day lead it. “I thought I’d... 

by GREG MELLEN 

FROM THE HEART: “SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL THROUGH THE AGES”

WHEN THE BOOK IDEA was first pitched to Fr. Peregrine Fletcher, O.Praem., of St. Michael’s Abbey, it seemed like too... 

by GREG MELLEN 

HOLY TRINITY HONORS OUR MOTHER MARY WITH MAY CROWNING CELEBRATION

IN ANOTHER FIRST for Holy Trinity Parish in Ladera Ranch, more than 300 parishioners gathered on May 3, to honor... 

by MEG WATERS 

“THE HANDS AND FEET OF CHRIST”

THEY ARE THE UNSUNG workers and volunteers who help allow the Catholic Church to attend to and serve its diverse... 

by GREG MELLEN 

Local

CELEBRATING MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2026

DRESSED IN BRIGHT RED gowns with matching mortarboard caps, Mater Dei seniors took to the stage to receive their diplomas…

CELEBRATING ROSARY ACADEMY CLASS OF 2026

DR. ERIN BARISANO, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Orange, encouraged Rosary Academy’s graduating class of 2026 to…

CELEBRATING SANTA MARGARITA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2026

THE 473 GRADUATES making up Santa Margarita Catholic High School’s Class of 2026 are poised for success as they move…

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Christ Cathedral

CHRIST CATHEDRAL MUSIC MINISTRY HOSTS MASTER CLASS

ORGANISTS AND vocalists, many aspiring to perform church music, were given the opportunity to receive individualized feedback and instruction from…

CHRIST CATHEDRAL’S MARIAN GARDENS WINS RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE AWARD

THE MARIAN GARDENS project at Christ Cathedral was recently recognized by Partners for Sacred Places with a 2026 Faith &…

A LIGHT IN THE DARK: 10TH ANNUAL HOMELESS PERSONS’ INTER-RELIGIOUS MEMORIAL SERVICE

THE DIOCESE HOSTED THE 10th annual Homeless Persons’ Inter-religious Memorial Service at the Christ Cathedral campus to honor those who…

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Sports

PAROCHIAL ATHLETIC LEAGUE INDUCTS ITS LATEST HALL OF FAMERS

THE 2026 INDUCTEES INTO the Parochial Athletic League Hall of Fame include a former NFL wide receiver, a longtime football…

BROTHER & SISTER SHINE ON MATER DEI SOCCER FIELD

JASMINE AGUILAR PLAYS soccer at Mater Dei High School. Her brother, Marcel, also plays soccer for the Monarchs. Both are…

SMCHS SETS HIGH BAR FOR COLLEGE SPORTS ADMISSIONS

AFTER RETIRING AS SPORTS editor for the Los Angeles Times, Mike Hiserman joined the staff at Santa Margarita Catholic High…

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National

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Statement Responding to President Trump’s Social Media Post on Pope Leo XIV

“I am disheartened that the President chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father. Pope Leo is not…

OC CATHOLIC AFAR

Fr. Greg Walgenbach (Director of Office of Life, Justice, and Peace & Missions) and Rebecca Freeman (Pastoral Care Ministry Coordinator,…

OC CATHOLIC AFAR

We recently visited Lahaina on the island of Maui and were shocked at the devastation the people are still suffering…

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National Headlines

TRAVEL DIARY: THE CHURCH OF THE MADONNA
WHEN THE CHURCH OF the Madonna was built in the Borough of Fort Lee, N.J. during the 1850s, it was...

FINDING THEIR WAY
CLARA ARBIZO WASN’T EXPECTING much. The parishioner of St. Anne’s in Santa Ana was among 200 young adults who participated...

DIOCESAN BISHOPS AND DELEGATES ATTEND NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS
INDIANAPOLIS — A delegation from the Diocese of Orange recently attended the tenth National Eucharistic Congress in Indiana’s capital city,...

DIOCESE OF ORANGE ANNOUNCES DELEGATION TO NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS IN INDIANAPOLIS
The Diocese of Orange is proud to announce its delegation to the upcoming National Eucharistic Congress (NEC) scheduled for July...

World

FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT: A RURAL COMMUNITY IN UGANDA RECEIVES ELECTRICITY

KAKUBANSIRI, A SMALL village in the Gomba district of Uganda, lived without electricity since its inception. Despite some progress, national…

BISHOP VANN MEETS WITH POPE LEO XIV

On Aug. 1, Bishop Kevin Vann reunited with his former classmate and our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, during a…

A WITNESS TO HISTORY

ANNETTE WALKER, presi­dent of City of Hope Orange County and former interim CEO of St. Joseph Health, went with her…

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World Headlines

SPECIAL TERMS USED DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN POPES
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Here is an explanation of some of the terms and practices related to the time between...

CONCLAVE TO BEGIN MAY 7
THE FUNERAL FOR POPE Francis took place April 26 in St. Peter’s Square with about 250,000 in attendance. He was...

OC CATHOLIC AFAR
Alan and Desiree Wendell brought along the OC Catholic on their cruise vacation to Australia and New Zealand where they...

OC CATHOLIC AFAR
Ashley and her father Dr. Vincent Nguyen visited the Vatican Garden while in Rome this past Christmas for the start...

Education

BUILDING MOMENTUM TOGETHER: CRISTO REY ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL RAISES MORE THAN $2 MILLION AT ANNUAL ¡VIVA! GALA

UNDER THE THEME “Building Momentum Together,” Cristo Rey Orange County High School raised over $2 million at its third annual…

OLFA STARTS A NEW TRADITION

AS THE END OF THE school year approaches, one local campus decided it was time to start a new tradition:…

UNLEAVENED BREAD

AS SECOND-GRADE students around the diocese prepare for their First Communion, one classroom decided to look closer at the history…

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Education Headlines

STRIKES, SPARES AND MOTHER & SON TIME
ANGELA MERCHANT LINED up her green bowling ball and let it fly, knocking all but five pins down. But this...

NEW VIRTUE CURRICULUM FOR PAX CHRISTI STUDENTS
If academic excellence was the only metric of success in school, traditional Catholic education would appear to be no different...

LEADERSHIP IN ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
EIGHTH-GRADER SYDNEY de Leon has honed her leadership skills during her tenure at St. Cecilia Catholic School. Teacher Gabriele Nguyen...

CELEBRATING WHO WE ARE AT OUR LADY OF FATIMA ACADEMY
JACQUE NUNEZ, A MEMBER of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians Acjachemen Nation, went to a Catholic school to teach...