On July 10, Bishop Alberto Rojas was the chief presider at a graduation Mass of thanksgiving for 26 faithful Catholics who have recently completed the Diocese’s Pastoral Care Program.
The morning Mass took place at Christ the Redeemer Church in Grand Terrace. Concelebrating priests were Father Romeo Seleccion, MS, Episcopal Vicar for the San Bernardino Pastoral Region, and Father Eliseo Napier, M.S.P., pastor of St. James the Less Parish in Perris.
The Pastoral Care Program is an annual course offered by the Diocesan Office of Education and Formation in collaboration with the Center for Religion and Spirituality of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. The program is aimed at leaders and parishioners who feel the call to serve in ministries that offer the compassion of Christ to people suffering for various reasons (the sick, the grieving, lonely or abandoned elderly, divorced people, the incarcerated, immigrants and others).
Participants study and explore the theological and scriptural basis for ministry and pastoral care, and the fundamentals of care for people experiencing physical, spiritual and psychological suffering. The course is available in English and Spanish, and the classes are offered through Zoom once a month.
The graduates in this year’s English class are Louise A. Considine, Bonnie Crocker, Jeanne E. Joslin, Teresa Maria Seipel, Patricia Cruz, Coleen Richardson, Dan Gil Zenarosa, Deacon Octavio Echeverria and Xochitl Rodriguez Solano.
The graduates in this year’s Spanish class are Arturo Santiago, Leticia Gausin, Rosa María Sánchez, Audrey González, Marylety Díaz, Santa Rodriguez, Clara Hernández, Mirza Barrera, Senorina S. Saldivar, Elea Rangel, Olga Patricia Gutierrez, Silvia Marín García, Gricela Rivas, Magdalena P. Sanchez, Teresita de Jesus López, Javier Castellanos and Pedro García.
The 2021-2022 Pastoral Care Program will begin in English on November 18 and in Spanish on October 13. Financial aid is available for qualified applicants. For information and course registration, please contact the Center for Religion and Spirituality at (310) 338-2799 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..