By Lynne De La Torre

RIVERSIDE—Over 200 young adults gathered at the University of California, Riverside Feb. 15-18 for the seventh annual University Catholic Conference of California (UCCC) retreat, titled, “Come & See.” 

 The student-run Catholic Conference is open to all college students and alumni across California. The conference strives to form missionary disciples, witnesses within their communities and campuses. 

On February 12th, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Riverside hosted their annual Diocesan Spelling Bee. There were ten contestants from various schools in the Diocese. Their efforts and dedication were clearly shown throughout the contest. After 23 exciting rounds, seventh grader Sophia Bernabe, who attends St. George School in Ontario, placed first. The runner-up was Ellison Tolentino, a sixth grader from St. Edward School in Corona. Congratulations to all the participants! 

ONTARIO—The Office of Catholic Schools presented awards at its 18th annual banquet held Feb. 2 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario. Below is a summary of awards and recipients.

 Our Lady of Perpetual Help School’s new debate team hosted and participated in their first NextGen Debate League Tournament on February 9. OLPH students Avery Crousillac, Isabella Reed, and Jillian Brown placed third against teams from five other Coachella Valley schools: Desert Christian Academy, Indio Middle School, Bobby Duke Academy, Desert Ridge Academy, and John Glenn Middle School.

Catholic Schools Week is January 27 through February 2.

Click here to view a special Catholic Schools Week special section.

By Sarah Colella

 Catholic education fosters an incredible sense of community and nurtures the understanding of and commitment to community service. Our Catholic schools provide not only an excellent educational curriculum, but the Christ-centered teaching also cultivates a whole person approach with an emphasis on Catholic values. 

 My husband, David, and I were educated in the Catholic schools of the Diocese of San Bernardino. He attended Holy Rosary Academy and then Saint Thomas Aquinas High School; I attended Our Lady of the Assumption School and then Saint Thomas Aquinas High School. The education we received has been paramount to our success.