The Radiate Love campaign has brought hope to the Catholic faithful of California during this special Jubilee Year. This initiative by the California Bishops has encouraged countless of couples and families to seek enrichment and restoration through a variety of resources. Here in San Bernardino, we celebrated marriage by offering and supporting a variety of marriage enrichment events and having a special Jubilee of Marriage Mass on July 26 at St. Christopher parish in Moreno Valley. Married couples received a special blessing and were reminded that they are called to be “pilgrims of hope” in their families and communities.
In order to continue building a marriage and family culture in our State, the Bishops, in partnership with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Witness to Love marriage preparation ministry, Communio, and the Culture Project, sought to reanimate the work being done in each diocese by convening a Marriage Summit in Oakland at the Cathedral of Christ the Light on Sept. 26. The Summit, “Love IRL” (In Real Life), gathered ministry leaders from parishes, Catholic schools, and apostolic movements, offering them the opportunity to learn about the marriage ministry challenges at hand, the tools available to face the challenges, and to network and collaborate with colleagues. A team of nine participants from our Diocese attended the Summit, including a Notre Dame High School teacher, a Parochial Vicar from The Holy Name of Jesus Parish, and Marriage Education Skills Instructors.
Our hope is to return to our places of ministry with a renewed sense of mission and purpose; to be light posts in our communities and help our children see the beauty of marriage and family life as Pope Leo reminds us, “Many young people today… need someone to show them in a concrete and clear way, especially by the example of their lives, what the gift of sacramental grace is and what strength derives from it. Someone to help them understand ‘the beauty and grandeur of the vocation to love and the service of life’ that God gives to married couples.”
May the Lord continue to pour out His Holy Spirit over all marriages and families in the Diocese of San Bernardino.
For more information about the Summit please https://cacatholic.org/loveirl/
or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Paola Martinez is the Director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life Ministries in the Diocese of San Bernardino. Mario Martinez is the Director of Parish Life at The Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Redlands.