GRACE FRANCIS, a parishioner at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress, has devoted 30 years of continuous service at five care centers within the Diocese of Orange.
GUESTS OF THIS YEAR’S INSPIRATIONAL CATHOLIC WOMEN BENEFIT DINNER, INCLUDING HONOREES IDA SMITH AND KIM BROWN, SHARE A LAUGH DURING THE FESTIVITIES HELD ON MAY 10. PHOTOS BY KIERNAN COLIFLORES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
As a parishioner at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Irvine for 40 years, Linda Henry has served in multiple ministries, including 17 years as a ministry leader for lectors.
And Vanessa Suarez raises a young child with special needs and still makes time to serve Catholic Charities of Orange County and St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Irvine.
These selfless women are among 22 who were honored for these and similar acts of service at the annual Inspirational Catholic Women Benefit Dinner held May 10 at the Arboretum on the Christ Cathedral campus.
The event was hosted by the Catholic Charities Auxiliary, a group that supports Catholic Charities of Orange County through outreach, fundraising and community service.
The theme for this year’s event, which also coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Charities Auxiliary, was the “Heart of Mary.”
“At this amazing event, we acknowledge inspirational women, who, by saying yes to serve the Lord have made a profound impact on our parishes, our schools and our ministries,” event chairwoman Karen Castro said. “The auxiliary has chosen the theme, Heart of Mary, because these women replicate the commitment and the devotion that our Blessed Mother had.”
The benefit dinner serves as a fundraiser for New Hope Counseling Services, which provides mental health programs at several diocesan elementary schools.
Funds also support the Cantlay Food Distribution Center, which has fed more than 35,000 underserved families so far this year.
“These are women who have exemplified the heart of Mary in their everyday life,” said Fr. Christopher Smith, pastor emeritus of Christ Cathedral, who served as presenter.
As the festivities got underway, a video message from Most Rev. Timothy Freyer, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Orange, was shown.
“Each one of these women has devoted herself to the Lord, to the Church and to all of our brothers and sisters in a variety of different ways,” Bishop Freyer said. “Most of them are doing things we don’t normally see from day to day. They just humbly continue to serve the Lord with generosity of spirit, with joy, with enthusiasm and with zeal. And so, this is our opportunity to thank them, but also to remind all of ourselves that we are called to be like them. We’re called to be willing to serve in whatever way the Lord calls.”
Honoree Susan Heffron, a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Placentia, was recognized for her involvement in multiple ministries and programs, including the Welcome Home Returning Catholics Ministry, Eucharistic and Baptism Preparation ministries and Special Needs Religious Education. Heffron and her husband also donate time to Wells of Life, a Christian nonprofit that provides clean and safe water to underserved regions of Uganda.
“I have said yes to the Lord to bring Jesus to others,” said Heffron, the second oldest of 16 children. “I’m also inspired by Mary’s compassionate heart in noticing the needs of others and then working to do something about it.”
Inspired by the joy felt by her 98-year-old mother when receiving flowers, honoree Ida Smith creates floral arrangements for the elderly. As a parishioner of St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Yorba Linda, Smith also serves in the tech ministry, livestreaming weekday Masses, weddings, funerals and the Rosary.
“Christ is using technology to reach the homebound, the ill and the incarcerated, giving them hope and the word of the Lord,” Smith said. “I pray that through streaming, we are caring for those in need through the loving heart of Mary. As I enter the church each day, I thank our Lord for this blessing because I truly love what I do.”
The Inspirational Catholic Women for 2024 are:
Dr. Maria Abello-Fider, Corpus Christi, Aliso Viejo
Angela Aranda, Holy Family, Orange
Mary Ann Barnes, St. Anne, Seal Beach
Kim Brown, St. Martin de Porres, Yorba Linda
Krista Corbello, The GIVEN Institute
Minerva Diaz Conkle, Pope John Paul II Polish Center, Yorba Linda
Grace Francis, St. Irenaeus, Cypress
Rosa Gaona, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Santa Ana
Sue Goldberg, St. Hedwig, Los Alamitos
Lynn Hearn, St. Bonaventure, Huntington Beach
Susan Heffron, Orange County Cursillo
Linda Henry, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Irvine
Katie Hughes, Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry
Diana Leary, Holy Trinity, Ladera Ranch
Liza Lower, Santa Clara de Asis, Yorba Linda
Dorothy Morehouse, Saints Simon & Jude, Huntington Beach
Ellen Myers, Holy Family, Orange
Maria del “Carmen” Rozatti, Christ Cathedral, Garden Grove
Karna Sadayasu, St. Edward the Confessor School, Dana Point
Ida Smith, St. Martin de Porres, Yorba Linda
Vanessa Suarez, Catholic Charities of Orange County
Joy Ward, St. John Neumann, Irvine