HEMET—For decades Bruce McAdams was a faithful Catholic active in many different ministries. But he admits he felt something was missing in his faith life.

 Like many, it was the example of St. Francis of Assisi that would complete McAdams’ spirituality. 

 “When I started learning how Francis loved and cared for the less fortunate in this world, I felt I was lacking that in my ministry,” he says. “I feel that I’m connected now.”

By John Andrews
Editor

MORENO VALLEY—He certainly had the stature to call his talk at St. Patrick Parish an academic event, but Bishop John Quinn saw himself as more of a conduit in the proceedings.

 “I’m not here to teach you something,” he said to begin the second of his three-night talk at the Moreno Valley parish on January 10. “I’m here to help you receive the Word of God.”

By Isabel Cruz

SAN BERNARDINO—On January 19, over 300 community members from the Inland Empire gathered at the Diocesan Pastoral Center for a benefit show to expose the current global human trafficking crisis and raise funds for a Typhoon Haiyan relief mission that takes place this month. 

 The night was filled with cultural performances in solidarity with victims of human trafficking and the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, and talks on the presence of human trafficking in our community. 

CORONA-NORCO—A national training program to train church ministers in intercultural competency that has been piloted in the Diocese of San Bernardino is now being given to clusters of parishes, most recently to those in the Corona-Norco area.

 Building Intercultural Competencies for Ministers (BICM) training was given Jan. 15, 22 and 29 at St. Mel parish in Norco with leadership and staff from that parish along with  St. Matthew, Corpus Christi, St. Mary Magdalene and St. Edward also in attendance.

By Vanessa Bookenhagen

 Every year, without fail, in the midst of the frantic pace of staff and volunteers distributing Christmas food and toys to hundreds of low-income families, the story of the nativity becomes very real and very local for Catholic Charities. This past holiday season, Catholic Charities met the Holy Family in the faces of a local family that had nowhere to rest their heads only days before Christmas.

California is facing its third straight year of lower than normal rainfall. Because of the potentially dangerous impact on people, industry and the environment, the Catholic Bishops of California are asking all people of faith to join in prayer for God’s mercy and compassion.

View Memo | Suggested prayers | Message from California Catholic Conference