"Hey Siri, What's a disciple?"

We can ask our phones and scour the internet, but the only true way to know what a disciple is, is to become one. During this Lenten series, Chika will share with us how to respond to Jesus' invitation of discipleship to "take up [our] cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)

Chika Anyanwu is an international Catholic speaker, currently based in Anaheim, California. She received her bachelor's degree in English from California State University, San Bernardino in hopes of becoming a high school English teacher but fell more deeply in love with sharing about Jesus and the Catholic Church.  She was a parish Confirmation Coordinator and Young Adult Minister for eight years in Southern California, is a two-time alumna of the National Evangelization Teams Ministries (NET Ministries, USA), and currently serves as an Area Contact for the Life Teen youth ministry movement while still spreading the Gospel full-time.

“How Do I Find Purpose in Life?”

We are all longing for a sense of greater meaning in our lives. Yet, Catholics leaving the practice of the faith are six times greater than those entering the faith.  In this video presentation Bishop Donald Hying leads us through an inspiring account of how God’s plan for the world gives each of us great dignity and purpose. He recounts that through Christ’s Incarnation, Resurrection, and the Institution of the Church, God reveals the meaning of all life. Accompanied by stirring music, stunning videography, and insightful narration, this three-part series of short videos will instigate further meditation on how you can carry Christ’s mission in his Church and live a purposeful life. The presentation will include time for small group discussion, song and personal reflection.  It is especially encouraged for those who are questioning the faith or for those who need to explain to their children and friends straightforward reasons for their belief in God, Christ and his Church.

Bio

Bishop Donald Hying was the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 2011 to 2014.  He has been the bishop of the Diocese of Gary, Indiana since 2015.

Re-reading the Parable of the Prodigal Son:
The Mystery of Christ as the Prodigal Son

This mission talk will address principles of biblical interpretation, especially how to read the parables of Jesus.  Fr.  Walshe will apply and illustrate these principles focusing upon the parable of the Prodigal Son reading the parable through Christ as the Prodigal Son.  In this way the amazing richness of the Scriptures will shine forth.  It will strengthen your faith that the Bible is truly the word of God.

Fr. Sebastian Walshe is a Norbertine Canon of the Abbey of St. Michael in the Diocese of Orange, California, where he is a professor of philosophy for the seminary program.  He has studied at Thomas Aquinas College in California, Catholic University of America in Washington D.C., and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas at Rome  where he taught and received a Masters in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Philosophy. He has been a guest speaker on various media sources and is a popular speaker at our Lenten and Advent Series.
 

Dorothy Day (1987-1980) was a New York convert to the Catholic faith and the co-founder of The Catholic Worker newspaper and movement. Although she had a checkered past, once she converted she decided she could not live as a hypocrite, and she took seriously the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, most especially giving food and shelter to the poor. Dorothy noted that, “The poor, like garbage, get kicked around, until they get lost,” and they usually wound up on her doorstep. She had her share of struggles – as a single woman, as a working mother, and as a faithful yet dissatisfied daughter of the Church.  Going through her life, Fr. David will highlight key themes that strongly challenge us spiritually to be better Catholics because as James Forbes said, “No one gets into heaven without a letter of reference from the poor.”

Father David Andel was born in Cleveland, Ohio, moved to Alta Loma with his family in 1979, and graduated from Damien High School. After a year of college at Harvey Mudd, he entered Serra House and graduated from UC Riverside with a degree in applied math with physics. He then studied theology at St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo. He was ordained a priest for the diocese in 1995 and has served in several parishes, most recently helping at Our Lady of Hope in San Bernardino. He earned a degree in canon law from the Angelicum University in Rome.  He currently serves as the judicial vicar of the diocese.
 

“Depart from me Lord for I am a sinful man!”

Do you feel unworthy to serve? Too sinful to evangelize? Throughout Church history, we find individuals who confessed their sinfulness and unworthiness before God, and still emerged as effective evangelizers of the faith. This talk accompanies you to the same path. God wants us to acknowledge our unworthiness but never to use it as an excuse to discipleship.

Fr. Joseph has been a priest from the religious order of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette since his ordination in 2012. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and a minor in Psychology.  He finished his MA in Systematic Theology at San Carlos Seminary School of Theology in Manila and his MA in Bioethics at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Currently, he is the Parochial Vicar and Youth Ministry Coordinator at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Chino Hills where he enjoys giving inspiring homilies, and singing at mass and the harvest festival.