RANCHO CUCAMONGA—More than 140 people gathered on April 24 at Sacred Heart Church in Rancho Cucamonga to meet and listen to candidates for the 31st District seat in the United States House of Representatives.

The 31st Congressional District stretches from Rancho Cucamonga through parts of Fontana, Rialto, and San Bernardino, and includes most of Redlands. Five of seven candidates to replace retiring Congressman Gary Miller attended the forum. Democrats Pete Aguilar, Joe Baca and Eloise Gomez-Reyes along with Republicans Paul Chabot and Ryan Downing participated in the candidate forum, which was co-sponsored by Sacred Heart and the Justice for Immigrants Coalition of Inland Southern California.

By Andres Rivera
Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO—The Diocesan Office of Asian-Pacific Ministry will hold its annual Asian-Pacific Ministry Conference, a day of spiritual enrichment for the Asian-Pacific communities present within the diocese. 

The day-long conference, to be held May 24 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in San Bernardino, will focus on “Living the Spirit of the Gospel.”  The topics will be based on the four core values of the Diocese: faith sharing, reconciliation, collaboration and hospitality. 

By Andres Rivera
Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO—Doris Pacheco was suffering from depression because of a multitude of troubles in her life. The combination of economic stress, health issues and family conflict left her with a feeling of hopelessness. 

 She says she found relief after joining her parish’s Charismatic prayer group.

 “I believe through my faith, I was able to survive those difficult moments,” Pacheco said. “It was through the support of the prayer group.”

The Diocese is blessed with many seminarians but faces the steep cost of preparing them for the priesthood

SAN BERNARDINO—Every September when Bishop Gerald Barnes announces the newest group of diocesan seminarians, there is cause for celebration.

 But it also initiates some number crunching to make it work financially.

By Andres Rivera
Staff Writer

ROME—Among the millions expected to flood Rome for the canonization of Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, a small delegation sporting Blessed John XXIII parish t-shirts will be among those representing the Diocese of San Bernardino. 

 Attending the canonization will be particularly special for this group as it means the elevation of their parish’s patron from Blessed to Saint. 

By Marie Widmann

 The darkness is intense at 4 a.m. as the large truck rolls into the parking lot of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, completing its journey from the Los Angeles wholesale floral district. Several brave souls from the Knights of Columbus greet the young driver and over the course of an hour they remove large crates from the truck. The men stack the crates according to the treasures they contain: ferns, baby’s breath, red roses and roses of all other shades.