Category: Newsroom

We are so grateful for the partnership that many of our school principals have with their pastors, and we’d like to share three examples of schools that are doing this well. As someone who has attended the Latino Enrollment Institute at Notre Dame University and has also attended webinars put on through NCEA, the National Catholic Educational Association– I have learned through both of these organizations that the pastor principal relationship is key to helping a Catholic school thrive in their community.

The Latino Enrollment Institute has taught me that when you have a “shared vision of a committed school leader and an engaged pastor” it will help “the growth and vitality” of the school and parish community. You can read more about the Pastor and Principal as partners here.

The National Catholic Educational Association recently held a webinar titled: Pastor & Principal Collaboration and Leadership where my mentor, Kristy Dunn, spoke about how she works together with her pastor in various ways to help her Catholic school thrive.

I want to highlight three principals in our Diocese of Orange that are working with their pastors to make a difference in their faith communities and are helping their Catholic schools thrive.

Principal JoAnn Telles, St. Angela Merici School in Brea

How do you and your pastor work together to strengthen the spiritual life of your school community?

Fr. Reader is consistently present at all of our school events, whether it’s a general parent meeting, a fundraiser, a Consultative Board meeting, or a Parent Association meeting. He actively participates, offering ideas and sharing practical examples to help improve our community. He always makes time for us, demonstrating his genuine commitment to our school and families.

Can you share an example of how you and your pastor have partnered to serve or engage with the wider community beyond the school and parish?

We recently attended the Mayor of Brea’s breakfast, which was an amazing opportunity to connect with other pastors of different faiths, as well as city leaders like the police chief, fire department, and other officials. Fr. Reader and I actively seek opportunities to engage with the wider community beyond the school and parish. For example, we collaborate with local leaders on community events, support city initiatives, and participate in interfaith gatherings to promote dialogue, service, and partnership. These experiences allow us to model civic engagement and faith in action for our students and families.

Principal Amanda Hawley, St. Joseph School in Placentia

How do you and your pastor work together to strengthen the spiritual life of your school community?

Fr. Martin and I meet weekly as part of the parish leadership team, and we share a unified vision for evangelization and helping our students grow in their relationship with Christ. Our collaboration is open, respectful, and spiritually supportive of one another. His presence on campus and his role on our School Advisory Board strengthen the connection between parish and school.

What are some effective ways you and your pastor communicate or collaborate on school initiatives and parish events?

We stay aligned through weekly leadership meetings, regular check-ins, and shared planning for liturgies, sacramental preparation, Family Masses, and parish-school events. Our communication is strong and unified, ensuring that families experience a seamless connection between parish and school life.

Can you share an example of how you and your pastor have partnered to serve or engage the wider community?

Beyond campus, Fr. Martin and I attend community events together such as the Placentia Prayer Breakfast and Taste of Placentia. We believe being present in the wider community is an important part of our shared ministry. We also collaborate on service efforts like Blessing Bags and outreach to local families, giving our students meaningful opportunities to live out the Gospel beyond the parish and school.

Principal Stella Costello, St. Irenaeus School in Cypress

How do you and your pastor work together to strengthen the spiritual life of your school community?

We started out the year planning a collaborative, all parish staff retreat with a theme from John 10:27 – “My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me.” Fr. Mark worked with me, along with other leadership staff, to focus on hearing, knowing, and following Christ.

What are some effective ways you and your pastor communicate or collaborate on school initiatives and parish events?

Fr. Mark is a hands-on leader who makes himself available whenever possible. He leads by example, which encourages me to be a better school leader. We have worked together on such recent events as the Parish Fiesta and Trunk-or-Treat.

Can you share an example of how you and your pastor have partnered to serve or engage with the wider community beyond the school and parish?

Fr. Mark and I recently had an opportunity to participate in the City of Cypress Prayer Breakfast. This was an amazing opportunity to come together with other churches in the community, share our testimonies of how Christ brings clarity into our daily lives, and pray for our community, our nation, and the world.

We are grateful for the principals in our diocese who shared a little about how they work together with their pastor in their Catholic school communities. There are many more stories, and we hope to share more of them in the future.

For information about each of these three schools, we invite you to visit their websites:

St. Angela Merici School in Brea

St. Joseph School in Placentia

St. Irenaeus in Cypress

For more information about other wonderful schools in our diocese, please navigate through our website.

There are many events that take place throughout the school year in our Catholic schools which includes praying the Living Rosary, usually in October. This event takes place in October to honor the Month of the Holy Rosary or the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

A Living Rosary event is a prayer service where students each represent a bead and lead the prayer when it’s their turn. The students form a circle, similar to the way a life size rosary may be formed. There are variations to this prayer service.

How St. Cecilia School Celebrates their Living Rosary Event

“Each October, the 7th and 8th graders at St. Cecilia School come together to create a Living Rosary for the school community.  Every student stands in the place of a rosary bead and leads the congregation in the prayer they represent.  As part of this tradition, the students also present Mary with roses symbolizing their love, prayers, and devotion. This powerful and beautiful visual of communal prayer offers students and families a meaningful way to honor our Blessed Mother,” says Mrs. Nguyen, 8th Grade Teacher.

How St. Bonaventure School Celebrates their Living Rosary Event

“Every October, our 8th grade students lead the entire St. Bonaventure School community in the Living Rosary, a beautiful tradition that honors our Blessed Mother and fills our church with prayer and unity. The 8th graders symbolically form a circle around the congregation, representing each bead of the rosary, as we pray together in English, Vietnamese, German, Spanish, Greek, and Polish, a reflection of our diverse and faith-filled community. Through this powerful experience, our students deepen their devotion to Mary and celebrate the beauty of prayer in many languages and voices, united as one family of faith,” says Mrs. Frei, Director of Marketing and Enrollment.

Many schools in the Diocese of Orange celebrate this honored Catholic school tradition, and we welcome you to learn more about our Catholic schools and their honored traditions by taking a tour at one of our schools.

St. Cecilia School is located in Tustin and you can contact them here.

St. Bonaventure School is located in Huntington Beach and you can contact them here.

From the barking of the puppies to the chirping of the birds, to the quiet tortoise and the slithering boas, Holy Family Catholic School comes alive with the sounds of God’s creatures each year on the Feast of St. Francis, which takes place on October 4.

It is well known that St. Francis had a love for animals and the environment. 

To honor this tradition and to celebrate St. Francis, our school community gathers for our morning assembly.  Parents arrive with their family pets  and children join their families.

Father says a prayer over the animals, blessings them with holy water. and we sing,  “Make Me a Channel of your Peace”, which is the prayer of St. Francis.

This is our time honored tradition and how we remember St. Francis  and celebrate his love of all creatures as family members under God’s care.

For more information about Holy Family Catholic School, please visit their website.

In mid-July, over a hundred children and volunteers flock to St. Irenaeus Parish for our annual Bible Camp.  This is a special time for the children in our community to engage in arts and crafts, games, and activities focused on building a stronger relationship with Christ.  This year’s campers participated in the True North curriculum where they learned to trust Jesus in a wild world.  

Every year the Youth Faith Formation team does an outstanding job decorating our Parish hall and classrooms, fitting the Bible camp theme.  This year our campus was transformed into an amazing Alaskan adventure filled with forests, falls, and faith-filled fun!  While the annual decorations are undeniably spectacular, the most beautiful thing to observe is the evangelization that takes place, and our Parish school community plays an integral role in supporting this effort.  Not only do our school children attend the camp, but our Junior High students, alumni, and parents serve as volunteers.  They are examples of the hands and feet of Jesus at work.

Our school mission is to partner with parents and the Parish to foster discipleship, stewardship, and leadership.  The annual Bible camp is evidence of our work together.  Inspired by St. Irenaeus’ words, “the glory of God is man fully alive”, our school community has answered the call and mission of our Parish to bring people to an encounter with Jesus Christ that makes them fully alive.  Through our work at the school and Parish, may we continue to draw closer to our loving Father and bring others to know Him.

For more information about St. Irenaeus School, please visit their website.

Saints Simon & Jude Catholic School is proud to share the installation of a beautiful Mary statue on our school campus. This meaningful addition was made possible through the generous support of Andrew Nguyen and his family, whose gift reflects a deep commitment to our Catholic faith and school community.

The presence of the Blessed Mother on our grounds is a powerful reminder of our mission to form students in faith, knowledge, and service. As the Mother of Jesus and our spiritual mother, Mary stands as a symbol of love, compassion, and obedience to God’s will. Her image on our campus offers students, staff, and visitors a visible expression of our Catholic Identity and a daily invitation to prayer and reflection.

Placing this statue on school grounds allows our community to honor Mary’s role in salvation history and to recognize her loving guidance in our lives. We are grateful to the Nguyen family for helping us create a sacred space that strengthens the spiritual heart of our school. May Mary’s presence inspire all who pass by to walk closely with Christ and live out their faith with grace.

Update: The statue was installed at the end of July and will be blessed in mid-August 2025.

To learn more about Saints Simon and Jude Catholic School, please visit their website.

This summer, Mission Basilica Preschool is undergoing an exciting transformation with a brand-new playground for our preschool students. Blending the joy of childhood play with the beauty and heritage of our historic campus.

Big trucks rolled onto school grounds earlier this summer, carefully working around the historic brickwork that has stood for generations. Preserving the historic charm of our campus has remained a top priority throughout the project, especially since the preschool playground holds deep roots in Mission history. What’s now a space for play once served as the garden for the nuns who lived here when the property was a convent.

The project is being led by our wonderful Preschool Director, Laura Bullock, an alumna of Mission Basilica School herself. With a heartfelt connection to the school, Laura thoughtfully selected Pacific Play Systems to design and build the new playground. Known for creating fun, safe, and developmentally appropriate play spaces, the company is helping us create an environment where our youngest learners can thrive.

Over the years, our preschool has grown significantly, and it was time for a refreshed play area that meets the needs of our expanding community. The new playground will feature age-appropriate equipment, updated safety features, and engaging spaces for creative and active play, all while respecting the sacred and historical nature of our campus.

We are thrilled to share that the playground will be completed in early August, just in time for the new school year. To celebrate, Mission Basilica School will hold a Blessing and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony during Mission Basilica School’s Back to School BBQ in mid-August.

We can’t wait to see our preschoolers enjoy this vibrant new space. A perfect blend of tradition, growth, and joyful learning.

For more information about Mission Basilica School, please visit their website.

This summer, the students at Blessed Sacrament School celebrated the life and mission of Saint John the Baptist through hands-on learning, storytelling, and prayer. St. John the Baptist’s Feast Day, that celebrates his birth, is on June 24. During summer school, the students were able to celebrate this day with a weeklong celebration.

To begin the week, the teacher set up a special prayer table with items that helped bring John’s story to life. The table included a bowl of water for baptism, a wooden cross, desert sand, a jar of honey, toy locusts, and images of John the Baptist and Jesus. These materials allowed students to explore and ask questions in a meaningful way.

A highlight of the celebration was when students acted out the baptism of Jesus. Taking turns playing John, Jesus, and the people at the river, the children stepped into the Gospel story and gained a deeper understanding of John’s message and mission.

Throughout the week, students were encouraged to revisit the prayer table to reflect and pray. They learned that just like John, they can help prepare the way for Jesus by being kind, brave, and loving in their daily lives.

The week ended with a simple prayer circle, where students shared what they learned and offered prayers of thanks.

It was a joyful and faith-filled celebration—one that brought the Gospel to life in a way our students will remember.

For more information about Blessed Sacrament School, please visit the school’s website.

Three local Catholic schools recently participated in their city’s tree lighting events. The first tree lighting event was held on December 6 in the City of Tustin. St. Cecilia Catholic School has been a part of this community event for the past two years where the choir has performed both times. During the first year, the Department of Catholic Schools helped coordinate this event and this second time around, the school took charge in all in the planning.

“Watching my son and his school choir perform at the Tustin Christmas Tree Lighting on Friday was an incredibly proud moment. I was moved by the way they sang three beautiful Christmas songs, pouring their hearts into every note.  They set a warm, festive tone as they kicked off the evening.  It was also heartwarming to see so many supportive families from our St. Cecilia School community that came to show their support. This performance was a fantastic opportunity for the SC choir to share their voices and leave a lasting impression on the community, making for a memorable start to a wonderful event.” –Mrs. Ogaz, St. Cecilia School Parent and Staff.

In the city of Orange’s tree lighting event on December 8, St. Norbert Catholic School and Holy Family Catholic School participated by bringing a craft to share with the community in an informational booth that featured both schools and was organized by the Department of Catholic Schools. This booth was staffed by parent volunteers from each school in Orange and one parent said, “The tree lighting event was beautiful and a fun Orange tradition.  It was great representing St. Norbert and sharing with the community the wonderful opportunities, experiences, and traditions our school provides.” – Mrs. Del Mundo, St. Norbert Parent.

These tree lightings presented a wonderful opportunity for our Catholic schools because it allowed the schools to engage with their local community and share about the way their schools function in case any community members are interested in learning more about enrolling or even working in these schools. These events also bring alumni, current families, and local parishioners together and provides a fun experience for everyone to celebrate their school’s presence in the community.

For more information about St. Cecilia School in Tustin, please visit their website.
For more information about the schools in Orange, please visit them at St. Norbert Catholic School and Holy Family Catholic School.

On Thursday, November 21, our TK and Kindergarten students held their annual Thanksgiving Prayer Service. The students gave thanks to God through prayer and song before enjoying a meal together. They had all brought a food item to donate to our HOPE Ministry. November 21, coincidentally is also the feast day of the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary. All three sisters residing at the St. Irenaeus convent, Sr. Rosaleen O’Connell, Sr. Rosemary O’Sullivan, and Sr. Annette Figueiredo were invited to attend, along with the parish priests. The sisters were invited not only to share in the prayer service, but also because the school wanted to honor their feast day.

The students gave the sisters cards and a chain of paper lanterns (made by our first and eighth grade buddies), to honor Nano Nagle their founder.  Nano was known as the “The Lady of the Lantern,” because she would often visit the sick and poor at night. With the streets of Cork, Ireland poorly lit, she would be seen carrying a lantern to light her way.

In addition to the cards, Mrs. Stella Costello our principal, placed paper lanterns throughout the campus with quotes attached from Nano. Students were challenged to find all the lanterns, read the quotes, and reflect on them.

We are very grateful for our Presentation Sisters who founded our school back in 1963. They have been an integral part of our school’s history. Thank you to all the sisters past and present who have assisted in the formation of our students.

 

 

For more information about St. Irenaeus School, please visit their website.