By Andres Rivera
Staff Writer
CHINO—For 12 years Rose Avila and Maria Avila have led a group of faithful Catholics in a monthly spiritual exercise of praying the Hail Mary 2,000 times in a single day to end abortion, for the souls in purgatory, for vocations and a host of other petitions. Inspired after reading a book on prayer, the two friends have worked to share their love of prayer with St. Margaret Mary Parish and the greater community.
By Michael Nicodemus
St. Edward, Corona
CORONA—In November the youth group of St. Edward parish in Corona hosted a Thanksgiving feast for those in our community who are in need.
By Andres Rivera
Staff Writer
CORONA—Corpus Christi Parish in Corona is celebrating its second year of recreating the nativity of Jesus in a big way.
The “Streets of Bethlehem” event will feature a life sized recreation of Bethlehem streets and a manger scene, filled with actors, activities and live animals on Dec. 7 and 8.
“This event is our gift to the families of our communities and is free to all,” said Mary Kruger, organizer of the event.
Last year Corpus Christi saw approximately 1,500 people visit the exhibit. Thinking this year may yield a larger turnout, organizers opted to extend the hours and add another day for viewing.
“We hope this will keep the true meaning of Christmas alive and educate children as well as adults,” said Kruger.
Bethlehem’s gates will be open 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on both days, allowing visitors to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of Israel 2,000 years ago.
The exhibit will cover approximately one acre and include a meat and fish market, spice grinding shop, gladiator school, candle shop, Jewish home, market place, carpenter shop, wine grape stomp, pottery making, open fires and more.
A cast of about 100 volunteers will recreate the travels of Mary and Joseph through the birth of Jesus. The Bethlehem experience will also portray an encounter with angels, Roman soldiers, King Herod, the three kings, shepherds, a live camel, donkey and other animals.
This year will also feature food and drinks, a petting zoo, and craft booths.
Corpus Christi Church is located at 3760 McKinley St., in Corona. For information contact Mary Kruger at (951) 202-9910. Donations are needed and greatly appreciated.
By Andres Rivera
Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO—Local music groups and parish choirs showed off their talents and songwriting abilities during the Vocational Music Contest hosted by Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in San Bernardino.
The Nov. 10 contest and concert provided parish music groups the chance to showcase their talents while promoting vocations to the priesthood through music.
FONTANA—The Pan de Vida ministry at St. Mary Parish, Fontana is very active, providing boxes of food to 200 families every two weeks. In the process of meeting people’s needs, they found a family, a mother with four children whose father has disappeared while on his way from Guatemala. They have been living in a 25- foot trailer with no beds or furniture. As a parish, St. Mary’s decided to do something about it.
By Andres Rivera
Staff Writer
NORCO—Families who have children with special needs in the Norco area have a new ministry that makes faith formation and sacramental preparation more accessible to them.
The Special Needs Ministry, coordinated by Andrea West, is in its second year at St. Mel parish in Norco.
