Following are brief descriptions of the diocesan pastoral ministries and services supported by gifts to the Pastoral Services Appeal which serve parishes and individuals throughout Orange County. For more information about these ministries and services, contact the respective diocesan offices by calling (714) 282-3000. Charitable donations to the PSA are tax deductible. Your donations are restricted for use only for these programs and cannot be used for any other purpose.

Religious Education and Formation
“Go into the world; and preach the Gospel to the whole creation.” – Mk 16:15

As Jesus brought his disciples and followers into a deeper relationship with God through his parables and living example, Catholic education programs continue to illuminate hearts and minds for peace, justice and leadership.

Campus Ministry Provides religious education, sacramental preparation, pastoral care and spiritual formation to students at Orange County’s college and university campuses.

Office of Faith Formation

• Catholic Schools Provides all aspects of administrative and teacher support, including personnel and curriculum, for 37 Catholic elementary schools and 7 Catholic high schools in Orange County.
• Religious Education Seeks to promote the Ministry of the Word by forming parish leaders and catechists, engaging in catechetical dialogue with parishes, developing approaches which respond to the spiritual hunger of our age and being attentive to the many cultures, age groups and life circumstances among the people of the Diocese of Orange.
• Youth and Young Adult Ministry Promotes catechesis, moral and spiritual formation of youth (13-18 years old) and young adults (18-35) in order to empower them to live as disciples of Jesus Christ, to draw them to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the Catholic faith community and to foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each person.

Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs Represents the Catholic Church in Orange County in engaging other denominations in dialog.

Institute for Pastoral Ministry Trains catechists and Catholic school teachers for parish and school religious education programs and provides formation to other parish ministry leaders. Assists catechetical leaders and Catholic adults to become more faithful and effective proclaimers of Church teaching.

Justice and Peace Resources are provided to develop parish advocacy efforts in support of a Culture of Life. Catholics are encouraged to practice faithful citizenship by promoting Catholic social teachings with particular regard to the dignity of life and solidarity with the poor.

Library and Media Center The largest Catholic Library/Media Center in the Diocese of Orange - open to the public. Provides resources to train, serve and support those involved in the ministry of faith formation of others and those pursuing their own spiritual development. The catalog is accessible through the Web Page of the Diocese of Orange (www.rcbo).

Catholic Communications and Information Provides communication and education for all people at a parish, diocesan and public level via the diocesan newspaper, the Orange County Catholic and Orange County Catholic en Español regarding the local Church of Orange.

Stewardship Provides education and resources to help parishes and schools promote the stewardship way of life thereby helping to build and sustain ministries and financial resources throughout the diocese.

Worship & Liturgy Plans and facilitates diocesan liturgical celebrations and provides guidance, resources and clarification on liturgical matters to parish Liturgy Committees and training to people engaged in liturgical ministries.

Outreach Ministries
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Mt 5:3

Hope, Empowerment, Dignity. These values are central to the whole person. The following ministries exemplify Catholic social justice teachings around our diocese. Your support is a clear answer to Jesus’ call to care for the sick, the hungry, the imprisoned, the poor and the lonely.

Catholic Charities of Orange County

The purpose of this agency is to utilize fiscal and human resources to strengthen families, reduce poverty and build communities, especially for those whose basic needs are most neglected. As an example of tithing, Bishop Brown commits 10% of PSA allocations to Catholic Charities each year.
www.ccoc.org

Catholic Deaf Community

Offers religious education, sacramental preparation and liturgy in American Sign Language to deaf children and adults. The religious and social support allows them to grow in their understanding of their giftedness and empowers them to become all they can be in our Catholic community and the world.

Detention Ministry

Through training and mobilizing of over 400 volunteers, Catholic Detention Ministry provides spiritual formation and sacramental life for our brothers and sisters who are incarcerated and in need of hope in six adult and four juvenile facilities throughout the County of Orange. This population is larger than any one of our parishes in the diocese. In the past year 26,634 hours of services and 68,394 contacts were made, in four different languages.

Hispanic Ministry

Facilitates leadership development in the Spanish speaking communities to enhance their integral service to the Church’s Mission to all peoples. The Church of Orange shows its high regard for the various cultures represented in our county by working with them to develop pastoral leadership.

Vietnamese Ministry

One of the many gifts of our Catholic Church is its universality: the diversity of culture. Provides programs to maintain the unique religious traditions of the many Vietnamese Catholics in Orange County.

Aid to Parishes in Need Provides grants to parishes, mostly those serving parishioners in multiple languages, who have a critical need for assistance in religious education programs, refurbishing and upgrading facilities, supplementing increasing operation expenses for Catholic schools, and other urgent needs.

Pastoral Ministries
Jesus said to them, “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.” – Mt 4:19

Catholics need prayer, spiritual direction and the sacraments. Through the ages, we have looked to the clergy, both priests and deacons, to provide these life-giving wonders of our faith. The Pastoral Services Appeal is an opportunity to ensure fruitful years of education, spiritual formation and renewal for our diocesan clergy.

Diaconate

The diocesan Diaconate ministry encourages men to discern their calling to serve as Deacons in our Diocese thereby building up, healing and sustaining the people of God. Through formation and continuing education, deacons are supported to grow in their vocation. Many will be found working with the least among us. The diaconate serves a unique role in our diocese that provides vital assistance to our Bishop, parishes and the wider community.

House of Prayer for Priests A place for our priests to go for prayer, spiritual renewal and reflection on their lives and ministries.

Seminarian/Clergy Education Provides education for men studying to become priests and post-graduate education for priests.

Vocations Discovering vocations to the priesthood, helping young men in the discernment process and supervising their education and spiritual formation as they prepare for ordination. As of Fall 2005, 29 men are studying in five different seminaries preparing to become priests for our diocese.

Your gifts to the 2006 Pastoral Services Appeal may legally only be used to support the pastoral services and ministries described here, and cannot be used for any other purpose.