An Evening With the Bishop
A Special Gathering
It was a special evening — volunteers gathered with their priests and Most Reverend Timothy E. Freyer, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Orange, for dinner after a long and grace-filled day of ministry.
The Second Confirmation
To accommodate the families of the candidates, two separate services were held. This Friday, Auxiliary Bishop Freyer confirmed the remaining candidates. The celebration was just as beautiful as the first — marked by his personal witness as he shared the story of his call to the priesthood. His humble beginnings are still evident: at dinner, he stayed, listened, and graciously took time to answer every question.
The Dinner
Arriving first at the rectory, there was an immediate problem: the food had been mistakenly delivered to the ministry center. While the younger members of the team — “Vision” — transferred everything over, the task fell to one person to welcome the priests and Auxiliary Bishop Freyer as they arrived.
Before the meal was served, the main course options were noted: salmon with vegetables, or pasta with chicken parmigiana. After the Caesar salad was served, each guest was asked their preference. Every one of them chose the pasta. It was only after serving them that several trays of lasagna were discovered in the kitchen — and the quiet weight of not having offered it settled in.
Humility
Before the meal arrived, Father Erialdo mentioned that the kitchen appliances were outdated and several weren’t working. Even with a microwave, heating each meal individually would have been a challenge. Dinner arrived barely warm — yet no one complained.
That’s not always an easy thing. When a meal falls short, the temptation to grumble — or send it back — is real. But these gracious men offered a quiet and powerful lesson in humility: it was never about the meal. It was about the richness of the conversation shared around the table.
1 Peter 4:9 (NABRE) “Be hospitable to one another without complaining.”
Patty
Patty, the Confirmation and Youth Ministry Coordinator, clearly operates in the grace of God. An introvert by nature, she surprised many with how effortlessly she engaged Bishop Freyer in conversation. She asked whether he played a musical instrument. He replied that he did not — and that opened a natural door to share that Patty had been part of an all-girl Mariachi group. The Bishop was delightfully surprised and drew her into a deeper conversation about that experience. The quiet, humble spirit this young woman carries is a testament to how she will lead many to Christ. Thanks be to God for her generous service.
Dinner Conversations
Throughout dinner, the conversations unfolded richly while many thoughts stayed quietly in the heart.
The parish is truly blessed to have Father John as Pastor. The following morning, he was set to depart with the eighth-grade class on their trip back east — with arrangements already in place for him to celebrate Mass at several historic cathedrals along the way, including Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.
Cats
When the conversation turned to cats, there was a natural opening to share about Prudie — a beloved companion of more than twenty years. About two years ago, a prayer went up asking the Lord to grant Prudie five more years, and she is living up to that prayer beautifully. Whether one loves cats or not, Prudie’s story has a way of bringing a smile. She is gently and tenderly cared for. There is something quietly profound in that: God blesses those who show care for the elderly and the vulnerable — including the animals entrusted to us. How we treat the least among us is often a mirror of how we ourselves will one day need to be treated.
World Youth Day
Pope Leo XIV has announced that the next World Youth Day will take place in Seoul, South Korea, from August 3–8, 2027. The theme — “Take courage, I have overcome the world” — sets a bold tone for what will be the first World Youth Day ever held in South Korea and only the second in all of Asia. Patty is already working diligently to prepare the Vision team for this momentous pilgrimage — a testament to the missionary heart alive in this parish.
Vision
Vision, an organization born from this parish, is led by Patty with quiet and purposeful devotion. Under her guidance, these young men and women give themselves wholeheartedly to supporting the Youth Ministry — and what they offer is more than assistance. It is witness.
There was a time when it was difficult to imagine how youth, with their limited years and still-forming life experience, could effectively teach others in the faith. But the Holy Spirit has a way of confounding that kind of expectation. What has unfolded under Patty’s gentle and steady hand is a transformation — not just in what these young people do, but in who they are becoming. Their dedication inspires others to pursue a life filled with genuine joy.
1 Timothy 4:12–13 (NABRE) “Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation, and teaching.”
Patty’s Family
During COVID, a blog post — Keeping the Faith — briefly introduced Patty’s family. They faithfully attended outdoor Mass throughout that season, filling eight seats between them. Together, they are a force for holiness. Two of Patty’s younger siblings attended the Confirmation and served as altar servers — a beautiful image of a family that does not simply live the faith quietly at home but brings it with them wherever they go.
Father Erialdo took a moment to share with the Bishop that Patty’s brother is currently in seminary, studying for the priesthood. A family sending a son to the altar of God — that is a gift that multiplies.
Colossians 3:12 (NABRE) “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Saying Goodbye
Because this parish was the first on the Confirmation schedule in the Diocese of Orange, two more classes remain before the program concludes. The hope is that students will show up — not merely out of obligation, but so that this season of formation can close as it began: together, in community, with the care it deserves.
A Closing Prayer
Lord, how good it is to serve You — especially in the company of those who do so with such quiet and generous hearts. Gratitude rises for every opportunity to walk alongside the youth in this season of formation, and for all who give themselves freely in that service.
For each student who has received the Sacrament of Confirmation: may the sealing of the Holy Spirit they have been given not remain dormant, but blaze to life — bearing fruit in witness, in courage, and in lives surrendered to You.
Pour out Your grace upon the Vision group. Guide them by Your Spirit. Give them clarity of purpose, depth of love, and a boldness in mission that can only come from You. May their service to this community be an ever-deepening act of worship.
Amen.
