OC Bishop retweeted
Yesterday, Bishop Vann welcomed Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik to Christ Cathedral!
The day began with a lunch, followed by a guided tour of the cathedral grounds.
Cardinal Lazzaro serves as Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy at the Vatican- where he helps Pope Leo by working with all the priests around the world. His Eminence is the first Korean cardinal to lead a Vatican department. Before being made a Cardinal, he served as Bishop of Daejeon, South Korea, for over 15 years.
We were honored to host him at our diocese! 🙏
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On Wednesday, July 29th, 2026, I was honored to accompany the Holy Father in the “Canticle of Peace” event at the Pontifical Gardens in Castel Gandolfo.
This spiritual and cultural event was organized by the Laudato Si Center for Higher Education and the Andrea Bocelli Foundation. Pope Leo XIV led us in prayer, with the magnificent participation of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation’s Children’s Choir and Mr. Bocelli himself.
Afterward, I visited the Borgo Laudato Si, a project close to the heart of the Holy Father that seeks to inspire a renewed culture of care for our common home rooted in our Faith.
The Diocese of Orange and I have shared this commitment to be good stewards of God’s Creation, in accordance with our Faith. In our way, the Diocese of Orange is putting into practice this commitment at the Ferrucci Avocado Ranch near Vista, California.
Pope Leo XIV was gracious to extend to all of you his Apostolic Blessing and greetings.
The Most Rev. Kevin W. Vann, D.D., J.C.D., D.Min.
Bishop of Orange
OC Bishop retweeted
Here are my Fourth of July thoughts on the 250th birthday of the U.S.A.:
sanangelodiocese.org/news/a-…
OC Bishop retweeted
During last month's visit with Bishops Vann, Freyer, Nguyen and a group from our diocese, Pope Leo XIV shared some inspiring words and expressed gratitude to his "old classmate," Bishop Kevin Vann, for our support of Borgo Laudato Sì — a project close to his heart. 🙏
This initiative opens the gardens of Castel Gandolfo to the public, models environmental conservation, provides job training and hosts an educational center where everyone from children to CEOs can learn about care for the earth, human development and our Faith.
(Part 2):
As Bishop of Orange, I affirm my communion with Pope Leo XIV and my gratitude for his faithful witness to the Gospel in a time of great complexity and tension. I encourage the faithful entrusted to my care, and all people of goodwill, to receive his words with the seriousness they deserve, to pray for peace among nations (cf. 1 Tim 2:1–2), and to commit themselves to the hard and necessary work of building a world in which the Gospel and the dignity of every human life are recognized and protected.
(Part 1):
As Bishop of Orange, I affirm my communion with Pope Leo XIV and my gratitude for his faithful witness to the Gospel in a time of great complexity and tension. I encourage the faithful entrusted to my care, and all people of goodwill, to receive his words with the seriousness they deserve, to pray for peace among nations (cf. 1 Tim 2:1–2), and to commit themselves to the hard and necessary work of building a world in which the Gospel and the dignity of every human life are recognized and protected.
OC Bishop retweeted
Our bishops are celebrating 50 years of the Diocese of Orange in Italy! 🇮🇹🙏
Today, @OCBishop celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving alongside Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Freyer and Auxiliary Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen at the St. Thomas Villanova Pontifical Church at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence outside Rome.
Bishop Vann’s pilgrimage also included a visit to the Borgo Laudato Si’ — Centro di Alta Formazione Laudato Si’, established by Pope Francis in 2023 and located at Castel Gandolfo, where the group met with the institute’s leadership over lunch.
OC Bishop retweeted
Francis Eugene George, O.M.I. was created a cardinal OTD in 1998.
He once observed that, above all, a cardinal is “someone who reminds people that they must, with everything that is in them, surrender themselves entirely to God.”
That he did. To Christ be glory in the Church!
I concur with Bishop Barron. It’s a thoughtful reflection on how faith has shaped our understanding of human dignity, freedom and the common good. It draws on the Church’s intellectual tradition and invites us to consider why societies flourish when they remain anchored in their spiritual foundations.
I was impressed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio's speech at the Munich Security Conference. He indeed addressed a number of particular political issues, but what most grabbed my attention was his stress on the common culture that unites Europe and America. He cited Dante, Shakespeare, the Sistine Chapel, Cologne Cathedral—even the Beatles as expressions of basic cultural intuitions that still inform the West. But he pressed the matter further, insisting, in the spirit of both Christopher Dawson and Pope Benedict XVI, that that culture is grounded ultimately in the Christian faith. It is simply the case that reverence for the dignity of the individual, for human rights, for political freedom, and for equality comes, in the final analysis, from the Christian Gospel. Basic to his presentation was the conviction that Europe and America will truly flourish when each re-discovers its spiritual mooring.
OC Bishop retweeted
We are saddened to hear of the death of John L. Allen, Jr.
John had a great love for the Lord, the Church and his wife, Elise Ann. We were blessed to have him speak at a few events at our Cathedral, and we enjoyed his wisdom and humor over meals.
Bishop Vann and John have been friends for many years, and he brought John to Fort Worth when he was the bishop there.
Please join us in praying for the repose of John's soul as well as consolation for Elise.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It is with great joy and gratitude that I share with you that I was discharged from the hospital this afternoon following a successful surgery and a recovery that has progressed more quickly than anticipated. During this period, I will not be receiving visitors until further notice, as I will be focusing entirely on rest and healing.
I am deeply grateful for the many prayers, messages of support, and expressions of care. These have brought me great comfort and strength, and I humbly ask that you continue to keep me in your prayers as I complete my recovery.
I also wish to express my profound gratitude to the Sisters of St. Joseph, Providence St. Joseph Hospital, my physicians, nurses, caregivers, and all members of the hospital staff. During my time there, I witnessed firsthand the Catholic values so beautifully lived out through the compassionate and dedicated care provided to patients.
I kindly ask that you continue to remember me in your celebrations of the Holy Eucharist, in Eucharistic adoration, and in your personal and communal prayers. Together, let us give thanks to the Lord for graciously answering our prayers with a successful surgery and a journey toward full recovery.
In Christ’s love,
Most Rev. Kevin W. Vann, D.D., J.C.D., D.Min.
May I respectfully suggest that from my experience here , and during my years in Texas that these observations in this publication are out of touch with pastoral life “ in the trenches “? Here at Christ Cathedral , and at our parishes we have at times two, three and four priests available ( and at times myself ) for the celebration of the Sacrament , not to mention the seasonal celebrations .The numbers remain of penitents and those waiting have remained , and in fact seem to be increased this year. What decline ?
NCR interviews James O'Toole, whose new book, For I Have Sinned, details the growth and eventual decline of confession in the United States, prompting questions about the sacrament's future. bit.ly/4sf4Z1j
I would concur ; and the author has neither seen nor experienced the numbers we have for the Sacrament certainly here at Christ Cathedral and other parishes here in the Diocese of Orange on a regular basis ; not to mention the seasonal penance services .
+Kevin Vann
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What a wonderful way to welcome the New Year! Last night, I had the privilege of celebrating New Year's Eve Mass with the first English Community, graciously hosted at the home of a St. Mary’s parishioner.
Wishing you all a joyful and blessed 2026!🎊 #NewYearsEveMass #NewYear2026
It was wonderful to celebrate Mass at @christcathedralca on Christmas Eve and St. Francis Home on Christmas Day.
May this Christmas season continue to be filled with grace, joy and time shared with family and friends.
