Catholic Parish to Mark 75th Year

One of Orange County’s oldest Catholic churches will celebrate its 75th anniversary--a year late--on Sunday at the Irvine Bowl in the Festival of Arts grounds in Laguna Beach.

St. Catherine of Siena Church has served Laguna Beach in its current form since 1923, when it became its own parish. St. Catherine, in her brief 33 years of life from 1347 to 1380, had many roles--as mystic, peacemaker, theologian, preacher and doctor in Siena, Italy.

The church began in 1909 as a mission under St. Joseph’s parish in Santa Ana. Masses were held in those days in a converted schoolhouse.

In 1931 the present early-California mission-style structure at 990 Temple Terrace was built in less than 60 days for $11,000 under Father Cassian Tritz.

Today the church has several active organizations, such as a 182-member Women’s Council that serves the homebound and an adopt-a-social-worker program that serves mostly single mothers. The church also aims to expand its 41-year-old youth ministry, which currently serves 280 children.

“There’s a perception this is a sleepy little parish, but it certainly isn’t sleepy,” said Msgr. John Urell, vicar general of the Diocese of Orange and pastor at St. Catherine for the last two years. “It’s filled with excited, faith-filled men and women interested in being part of the church.”

The anniversary will be celebrated with a casual luncheon accompanied by mariachis and other entertainment beginning at 10:30 a.m. Information: (949) 494-9701.

Three-Day Men’s Conference Slated by Crystal Cathedral

The Crystal Cathedral will hold a three-day motivational and inspirational conference for men beginning Thursday.

The event, which aims to convey that success is gained through character, will feature more than 15 workshops and 20 speakers. The latter will share their personal and spiritual success stories, said Bob Cavinder, director of the church’s men’s ministry.

Speakers will include Ken Blanchard, an author, who will discuss effective leadership based on ethics and business morals. The Rev. Robert H. Schuller will also speak. Michael Guillen, a scientist and television journalist, will discuss “Science and Religion: Can Smart People Believe in God?”

Conference registration is $59, a fee that includes two lunches. Admission to only Saturday’s session is $35 for adults and $25 for those 21 and under.

The event begins at 1 p.m. Thursday. Information: (714) 544-5679 or www.crystalcathedralmen.org.

Israeli Teens Will Bring Songs, Dances and Stories to Costa Mesa

A song-and-dance troupe of Israeli teens will visit Orange County this week to perform in honor of Israeli Independence Day at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Jewish Federation of Orange County, 250 E. Baker St. in Costa Mesa.

Known as Dor Sheni, or “Second Generation,” the group is composed of children of families that immigrated to Israel from Morocco, Tunisia and Ethiopia. They will offer songs in Hebrew, English, Yiddish and Ladino. The teens, who live in Orange County’s sister city of Kiryat Malachi, will tell stories about their lives to reflect their role as second-generation Israelis.

Admission is $10, with students and Jewish Federation annual campaign donors of at least $50 admitted free. Refreshments will be served. Reservations: (714) 755-5555, Ext. 221.

Developer of Nation’s First Genome Center Will Speak

Paul Silverman of the Western Center of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences will discuss the implications of cloning and cell regeneration as Shabbat guest speaker at 8 p.m. Friday at Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’alot, 3652 Michelson Drive in Irvine.

Silverman, whose expertise is in biotechnology research, developed the first national human genome center at UC Berkeley. Currently, he develops studies that use the scientific and scholarly resources of the academy’s western members. Information: (949) 857-2226.

‘Hunger Walk’ Scheduled at First Christian Church of Fullerton

The 10th annual Fullerton area “hunger walk” will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at First Christian Church of Fullerton, Harbor Boulevard and Wilshire Avenue.

Sponsored by Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty, a worldwide movement that fights hunger both in local communities and overseas, the walk aims to raise $30,000.

Walkers will register at 12:30 p.m. and walk either a 3.3-mile route or an easier 2.7-mile route. Both walks end at the church. Walkers will get donations to go to the walk’s co-sponsors, Fullerton Interfaith Emergency Service and Church World Service.

The former will use its share to provide food for the needy at its distribution center. The latter, Church World Service, has sent nearly $1 million in relief supplies to help Kosovo refugees and will use its proceeds to send additional relief.

Donors may designate any one of 18 Christian, Jewish or ecumenical anti-hunger and relief agencies to receive their gifts. Information: (714) 879-5631.