By Andres Rivera
Staff Writer

 Typhoon Haiyan hit Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines, in early November, displacing thousands and leaving many missing or dead. In the Diocese of San Bernardino, parishes, ministries and schools rallied to offer prayers and donations to support the relief efforts. 

 Following the news of the devastating effect the typhoon had on the impoverished and densely populated country, the diocesan Mission Office invited parishes to hold a second collection to benefit Catholic Relief Services, in aid for the victims of the typhoon. 

SAN BERNARDINO—In the month of November Catholics of African Descent celebrated “Black Catholic History month.” 

 It is a month filled with memorials and commemorations of the contributions made to the Church by Catholics of African descent, some of whom have been called “fathers and teachers of the Church.”

SAN BERNARDINO—Just months into a public campaign to raise money for the construction of a men’s shelter in West San Bernardino, Mary’s Mercy Center has received a $200,000 grant from Bank of America that will be used for the project.

 Mike Hein, Vice President/Administrator of Mary’s Mercy Center, said he was grateful for the generous donation and hopes it will bring legitimacy to the fundraising campaign.

By Sister Chilee Okoko, DMDM 

SAN BERNARDINO—Bishop Gerald Barnes has worked hard to insure that the mission of the diocese is lived out in every aspect of ministry. The issues of pastoral ministry - social justice, love for the poor, the underserved, the suffering, justice for immigrants - hold pride of place in his heart. This reflects the teaching of Jesus in Mark 12:41-44; willingness to share, to give, even from the little he has.

By Andres Rivera
Staff Writer

GRAND TERRACE—Raymond Palacios was overwhelmed by his first experience attending Mass after years of distancing himself from God and the Church.

“The experience of attending Church after a couple of years of not going, I just started crying,” Palacios said.

Now a seminarian at Blessed Junipero Serra House of Formation in Grand Ter­race, Palacios attributes the sense of com­munity and fellowship he found at his par­ish and in Serra House in allowing him to answer the call to join the seminary.

“I wasn’t religious at all growing up. There was a point in high school when I felt that I was against God,” Palacios said. “But that soon changed.”

After attending Mass by the invita­tion of his family dur­ing Christmas a few years ago, he began attending Mass more regularly and felt compelled to attend a retreat the parish sponsored. The retreat experience at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Rialto changed his outlook on life and inspired him to embrace his faith more.

Palacios says he was impacted by the sense of community and the faith of the people attending and coordinating the re­treat.

Over the past year, Palacios began to discern his vocation. A friend introduced him to a religious brother and he began speaking with associate director of voca­tions, Father Javier Gonzalez. Aside from attending discernment nights and retreats, Palacios also interacted with the seminar­ians currently undergoing formation at Ser­ra House and watched videos on vocations to help him in his discernment.

His family and friends were happy to hear of his acceptance to Serra House. Though some were shocked to hear of his decision, most expressed that they saw it coming.

“What was interesting was someone at work who is actually not religious kept asking all these questions,” Palacios said. “I thought it was so amazing that someone could be so interested in what I was doing.”

Entering Serra House has been an over­whelming experience for Palacios, he says. He enjoys the sense of community and spending time with his fellow seminarians, and is adjusting well to his change in life­style.

“I spend my time in constant prayer,” Palacios said. “I love to pray, it keeps my relationship strong with God.”

For more information on Palacios and other seminarian's stories, visit our YouTube Channel.

SAN BERNARDINO—At the very top of the list of the most populous dioceses in the country, you will find expected Catholic  strongholds like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Boston.

 With the release of the 2013 Kenedy Directory, a widely-used annual volume of church statistics, you now find the Diocese of San Bernardino near the top of that list, too.