SAN BERNARDINO—When new San Bernardino Mayor Carey Davis convened a group of the city’s religious leaders in April to focus on preventing youth-related crime and violence, the Catholic Church was well represented. 

At the table were Father Leonard De Pasquale, I.M.C., V.F., Administrator of St. Bernardine parish; Father Henry Sseriiso, I.M.C., Administrator of Our Lady of the Assumption; and Father Manuel Cardoza, who will be Administrator of Our Lady of Hope parish beginning July 1. Also present was David Okonkwo, Director of the Diocesan Office of Catholics of African Descent and Michael Segura, a Catholic community organizer.

By Sister Paulina Hurtado, O.P. 

SAN BERNARDINO—A co-worker’s seven-year-old grandchild is invited by his mother at the beginning of Lent to reflect on what he’ll be giving up for Lent. After reflecting on the possibilities he says, “I’ll give up going to Church.”

Many of our children could respond the same way. Is it because they like Church very much or not at all? How inviting and inclusive do we make “the experience of Church” for them? At some special times they know they are part of the celebration, but are they developing their sense of God and their capacity to grasp and to answer to God’s love? Are they growing in appreciation of the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist as they move into the teen and the young adult years? 

By Msgr. Tom Wallace

My holy Saints ... Happy Easter! Thank you for the Lenten and Easter gifts for CRS Rice Bowl and the Holy Land. Your prayers and sacrifices bring comfort to those most in need. Your goodness for the good of others makes this world a better place. Be assured through your humble offerings you will be blessed. 

By Andres Rivera
Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO—The road has been long with many twists and turns, but come May 30, Kien Kieu will realize his dream of serving the people of God as a priest.

Bishop Gerald Barnes; joined by Auxiliary Bishop Rutilio del Riego, clergy, family and friends; will ordain Kieu a priest at 10 a.m. on May 30 at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in San Bernardino.

By Sister Mary Garascia, C.P.P.S

REDLANDS—Father Robert Spitzer, SJ, PhD, offered thought-provoking ideas on God’s creation of life at an April 23 talk at the University of Redlands co-sponsored by The Holy Name of Jesus Parish and Trinity Episcopal Church.

Using laws and theories of current physics and cosmology, Fr. Spitzer spoke about how science itself points to a time when there was nothing.  Then, since nothing truly is nothing, science cannot deduce something (the universe) from it; therefore science supports faith’s belief in a creator, Fr. Spitzer asserts.

RIVERSIDE—Father Celestine Mbanu, chaplain at Riverside County Regional Medical Center, was recognized by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors as the volunteer of the year at the regional medical center.