By Anna Hamilton

 Only 20 days after the North Park Elementary shootings, we found ourselves with another death in the neighborhood. As families were attending local churches on Sunday morning, April 30, a young adult is enjoying time with some friends and family around the corner from his home. Andrew Martinez, age 22, of San Bernardino, lived his life with the hopes of making a better life for his mom, brothers, and family. 

SAN BERNARDINO—The Diocesan Department of Life, Dignity and Justice hosted its third annual Behavioral Health Conference on May 8 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center. 

SAN BERNARDINO—Celebration of Bishop Gerald Barnes’ 25th Episcopal Anniversary continued at an April 29 Theological Symposium offered by the Ministry Formation Institute (MFI) of the Diocese.

By John Andrews
Editor

GRAND TERRACE—Father Jose Sanz, DLP, who saw the diocesan seminarian program through a period of substantial growth and modernization in 21 years as Rector of St. Junipero House of Formation, has left the position but will remain there in a teaching capacity.

 Father Jorge Garcia, Vice Rector of Serra House since 2012, has been named the new Rector. The change becomes official on May 8.

 In the year of his Silver Jubilee, Bishop Gerald Barnes is being honored nationally for one of the hallmarks of his Episcopacy – lay formation.

SAN BERNARDINO—San Bernardino experienced another tragic act of public violence on April 11 when a man shot and killed his estranged wife and a nine-year-old boy in a San Bernardino elementary school classroom.

 The shooting at North Park Elementary School took place less than two miles from Our Lady of the Assumption Parish and School. While the school took immediate precautions to protect students’ safety, the parish offered a place for community, school and civic leaders to grieve and pray together, hosting an interfaith prayer service in the church just hours after the shooting occurred.