An unofficial count of the attendance was 1,085 and the Dinner had raised over $82,000 at press time. Proceeds from the Bishop’s Dinner benefit the Diocesan Seminarian Program. Seminarians and priests who have been ordained in recent years spoke with gratitude about the support of the event and its impact on their vocational journey.
The theme of the Bishop’s Dinner reflected this year’s Diocesan refrain “Siempre Adelante.” In his remarks Bishop Barnes offered a forward-looking perspective as he stressed, among other topics, the importance of engaging youth and young adults.
“They have questions, they have a different view of our world,” he said. “They demand authenticity. We need to listen to them, as much as we share our own experience and knowledge.”
The event also serves as the moment for Bishop Barnes to bestow his Episcopal honor, the Amar es Entregarse Award (“Love is the Total Giving of Oneself”). This year’s honorees were Rich and Susie Herbst, Sister Maria Jennifer Nguyen, L.H.C., Martin and Mary Swanson and the Valley Missionary Program.