By Most Reverend Gerald R. Barnes

 I am in the midst of perhaps the busiest time of my year, aka, Confirmation Season. It is truly a joyous and life giving experience for me to offer this Sacrament to so many thousands of people, as they become fully initiated in our Catholic faith. But with the size of our Diocese and the sheer number of people who are to be confirmed, it is a schedule that takes a fair amount of stamina. 

By Most Rev. Gerald R. Barnes

 Greetings to you in this new year, 2015. Not too long ago we celebrated the hope and joy of our Savior’s birth at Christmas. Just around the corner is Lent, when we take our spiritual inventory and resolve to move closer to God in anticipation of the Resurrection of his Son at Easter.

By Most Rev. Gerald R. Barnes

 In his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul presents a dramatic invitation for us to offer ourselves, body and mind, as a living sacrifice, “holy and pleasing to God.”

By Most Reverend Gerald R. Barnes

 Taken from Bishop Gerald Barnes’ address at the Combined Vicariate Meeting with the parishes of the San Bernardino Pastoral Region on February 5.

 In the midst of celebrating who we are as families, the opportunity that’s given to us, we cannot lose sight of the many challenges that our families are facing today. We can celebrate without dismissing the pain the reality that our people live. I want to mention some of these tensions and there are many.

By Most Rev. Gerald R. Barnes
Bishop of San Bernardino

 As we celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Savior, so much of the season draws us to family. We are inspired by the Holy Family and enriched by recounting their difficult and dangerous journey to the humble surroundings into which God was made flesh among us. We bring it to life each year in Las Posadas, Simbang Gabi and other cultural depictions.

By Bishop Gerald R. Barnes

 A few years ago I was talking with the mayor of a prominent city in our diocese about the reports of extremely low voter turnout in a recent election. Not Catholic but a man of faith, this mayor said to me very directly that many of those who did not vote were “your people.” He went on to say that if local Catholics voted in greater numbers it would lead to positive change in the city.