Pope Francis returns to the house of the Father, Memorial Mass for +Pope Francis, and much more!

Posted on 04/23/2025 16:38 PM (Diocese of San Bernardino E-Newsletter Archive Feed)

Pope Francis returns to the house of the Father, Memorial Mass for +Pope Francis, and much more!

View this email in your browser

Center for Spiritual Development - A ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. The Art of Spiritual Direction. A in-person training and formation program for spiritual directors. Enroll by July 1, 2025. Visit thecsd.org/asd or contact ldominguez@csjorange.org

Art in the Garden at the St. Joseph Center Garden on May 17, 2025 at 3:00pm - Click here for tickets

Pope Francis laid in his wooden coffin in front of cardinals and Bishops inside St. Peter's Basilica

Pope Francis returns to the house of the Father
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, returned to the house of the Father on April 21, at the age of 88. Just the day before, Pope Francis gave the traditional Easter blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, a significant appearance since being discharged from a 5-week stay in the hospital. Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires and was elected as the pontiff on March 13, 2013. “The papacy of Pope Francis was marked by his humility. He truly modeled the servant leadership of the Lord Jesus,” Bishop Alberto Rojas said in a statement. “He was a free man who was not afraid to speak to us plainly about the need to change old processes, systems and thought patterns that he believed had taken us away from the Gospel. We give thanks to God for the fresh and revolutionary spirit of our Holy father Pope Francis!” To read Bishop Rojas’ full statement, please click here.

Diocese of San Bernardino Memorial Mass for +Pope Francis on Friday, April 25th at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral. Click here for livestream

Bishop Rojas shares message, “Easter is the fruit of God’s Love”

Graphic inside the tomb of Jesus with an empty rock with the words "He has Risen! He is not here."

Dear friends, Happy Easter to you and your families! We have gone through the 40 days of Lent, putting more emphasis on prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We were committed to keeping our resolutions with the hope of obtaining new life in the Risen Lord Jesus. Our faith in the Risen Christ is essential for this life and for the one to come. The Resurrection of Jesus is the source of our Christian Faith because it proved that Christ Jesus is God. Thus, while we continue to move forward through the struggles and challenges of our life-journeys, I pray and hope that you are experiencing something new this Easter, because as people of faith we are also pilgrims of Hope. To read the whole message, please click here.

Notre Dame students recreate the Passion of Christ

High School students acting out the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in a school gym

On April 15, the Peer Ministry students led the Notre Dame High School community in a powerful Passion of Christ, walking through the final days of Jesus' life. Their reverence and leadership helped set the tone for a meaningful time of Adoration and reflection, drawing our hearts closer to the true meaning of this sacred week. Afterwards, Notre Dame students got to hang out with animals at the petting zoo in their very own Jerusalem marketplace. To view additional photos, visit notredameriverside.org/passionplayphotos.

Memorial Masses for +Pope Francis. Following the Mass of Resurrection for Pope Francis on April 26 our Universal Church will enter a nine-day period of mourning. The diocese will offer a Mass each evening during this Novena at churches across our six vicariates. Click here for schedule.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Jubilee 50 Hours of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament April 24 - 27, 2025 1430 5th St, San Bernardino, CA 92411 Click here for schedule

St. Catherine of Siena Feast Day Celebration on April 26th from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and April 27th at 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Enjoy food, drinks, games, face painting and music. Church address is 339 N. Sycamore Ave. Rialto, CA 92376

20th Anniversary Celebration for St. Junipero Serra House of Formation on April 24th at 6:00 p.m. Join us as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Serra House, home of our seminarians. Bring your family and friends! 6:00 p.m. Mass at Christ the Redeemer followed by dinner and live music.

Vespers with Eucharistic Adoration in Celebration an Prayer for the Jubilee Groups. Each month during the Jubilee year, the Vatican will honor special groups. In solidarity, our diocese will hold vespers (evening prayer) and Eucharistic Adoration on the corresponding Sunday at our Cathedral. Join us in celebrating the Jubilee! Next Vespers in on April 27th at 5:30 p.m. and the Jubilee Group Highlighted is Persons with Disabilities at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Cathedral located at 2525 N Arrowhead Ave, San Bernardino, CA, 92405

What happens during the Vatican's 9 days of mourning for the pope? Read here.

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Pray the Rosary with Bishop Alberto Rojas. Watch here.

El Papa Francisco regresa a la casa del Padre
El Papa Francisco, el primer pontífice latinoamericano, regresó a la casa del Padre el 21 de abril, a la edad de 88 años. Justo el día anterior, el Papa Francisco dio la tradicional bendición pascual desde el balcón de la Basílica de San Pedro en el Vaticano, en una aparición significativa tras haber sido dado de alta de una hospitalización de cinco semanas. El Papa Francisco, nació como Jorge Mario Bergoglio el 17 de diciembre de 1936 en Buenos Aires y fue elegido pontífice el 13 de marzo de 2013. "El papado del Papa Francisco fue marcado por su humildad. Realmente modeló el liderazgo de servicio como el del Señor Jesús,” declaró el obispo Alberto Rojas. "Él era un hombre libre, que no tuvo miedo de hablar con sencillez sobre la necesidad de cambiar los viejos procesos, sistemas y maneras de pensar que él creía que nos habían alejado del Evangelio. ¡Le damos gracias a Dios por el espíritu renovador y revolucionario del Papa Francisco!". Para leer el mensaje completo del obispo Rojas, haga clic aquí.

El Obispo Rojas comparte mensaje: “La Pascua es fruto del amor de Dios”

Queridos amigos, ¡Felices Pascuas a ustedes y a sus familias! Hemos pasado los 40 días de Cuaresma, poniendo mayor énfasis en la oración, el ayuno y la limosna. Nos comprometimos a cumplir nuestros propósitos con la esperanza de obtener una nueva vida en el Señor Jesús Resucitado. Nuestra fe en Cristo Resucitado es esencial para esta vida y para la venidera. La Resurrección de Jesús es la fuente de nuestra fe cristiana porque demostró que Cristo Jesús es Dios. Por eso, mientras seguimos avanzando entre las luchas y desafíos de nuestra vida, rezo y espero que estén viviendo algo nuevo en esta Pascua, porque como personas de fe también somos peregrinos de la esperanza. Para leer el mensaje completo, por favor, haga clic aquí.

Los estudiantes de Notre Dame recrean la Pasión de Cristo

El 15 de abril, el Ministerio Compañeros estudiantes guiaron a la comunidad de la Preparatoria Notre Dame en una impactante representación de la Pasión de Cristo, recorriendo los últimos días de la vida de Jesús. Su reverencia y liderazgo ayudaron a crear el ambiente adecuado para un momento significativo de Adoración y reflexión, acercando nuestros corazones al verdadero significado de esta semana sagrada. Después, los estudiantes de Notre Dame pudieron convivir con animales en el zoológico interactivo de su propio mercado de Jerusalén. Para ver más fotos, visite notredameriverside.org/passionplayphotos.

Celebración del 20º Aniversario de la Casa de Formación San Junípero Serra Acompáñenos a celebrar el 20º aniversario de la Casa Serra, hogar de nuestros seminaristas. ¡Traiga a su familia y amigos! Misa a las 6 p.m. (en inglés) en la parroquia Cristo Redentor Seguida con una cena con música en vivo Haga clic aquí para ver el folleto

The Diocese of San Bernardino has published the following web pages on topics that are filled with resources you can use.

Resources for your ministry

Welcome to our Diocesan E-newsletter. I hope you’ve enjoyed this little blast of news and information about the Church of San Bernardino. There are so many great events and stories of faith in our Diocese we just had to find another way to share them with you. Yes, the Holy Spirit is alive in the digital world! We hope that you will be a regular subscriber to the MiniBYTE. We’ll use it to keep you up to date on the many events and programs offered by the Diocese, and to share with you stories of how our Catholic faith is alive and well in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

__________

Yours in Christ, John Andrews
Director of the Department of Communications

Copyright © 2018 Diocese of San Bernardino, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
minibyte@sbdiocese.org

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
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Diocese of San Bernardino · 1201 E Highland Ave · San Bernardino, CA 92404-4607 · USA

Pope Francis returns to the house of the Father, Memorial Mass for +Pope Francis, and much more!

Posted on 04/23/2025 16:38 PM (Diocese of San Bernardino E-Newsletter Archive Feed)

Pope Francis returns to the house of the Father, Memorial Mass for +Pope Francis, and much more!

View this email in your browser

Pope Francis returns to the house of the Father
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, returned to the house of the Father on April 21, at the age of 88. Just the day before, Pope Francis gave the traditional Easter blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, a significant appearance since being discharged from a 5-week stay in the hospital. Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires and was elected as the pontiff on March 13, 2013. “The papacy of Pope Francis was marked by his humility. He truly modeled the servant leadership of the Lord Jesus,” Bishop Alberto Rojas said in a statement. “He was a free man who was not afraid to speak to us plainly about the need to change old processes, systems and thought patterns that he believed had taken us away from the Gospel. We give thanks to God for the fresh and revolutionary spirit of our Holy father Pope Francis!” To read Bishop Rojas’ full statement, please click here.

Bishop Rojas shares message, “Easter is the fruit of God’s Love”

Dear friends, Happy Easter to you and your families! We have gone through the 40 days of Lent, putting more emphasis on prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We were committed to keeping our resolutions with the hope of obtaining new life in the Risen Lord Jesus. Our faith in the Risen Christ is essential for this life and for the one to come. The Resurrection of Jesus is the source of our Christian Faith because it proved that Christ Jesus is God. Thus, while we continue to move forward through the struggles and challenges of our life-journeys, I pray and hope that you are experiencing something new this Easter, because as people of faith we are also pilgrims of Hope. To read the whole message, please click here.

Notre Dame students recreate the Passion of Christ

On April 15, the Peer Ministry students led the Notre Dame High School community in a powerful Passion of Christ, walking through the final days of Jesus' life. Their reverence and leadership helped set the tone for a meaningful time of Adoration and reflection, drawing our hearts closer to the true meaning of this sacred week. Afterwards, Notre Dame students got to hang out with animals at the petting zoo in their very own Jerusalem marketplace. To view additional photos, visit notredameriverside.org/passionplayphotos.

El Papa Francisco regresa a la casa del Padre
El Papa Francisco, el primer pontífice latinoamericano, regresó a la casa del Padre el 21 de abril, a la edad de 88 años. Justo el día anterior, el Papa Francisco dio la tradicional bendición pascual desde el balcón de la Basílica de San Pedro en el Vaticano, en una aparición significativa tras haber sido dado de alta de una hospitalización de cinco semanas. El Papa Francisco, nació como Jorge Mario Bergoglio el 17 de diciembre de 1936 en Buenos Aires y fue elegido pontífice el 13 de marzo de 2013. "El papado del Papa Francisco fue marcado por su humildad. Realmente modeló el liderazgo de servicio como el del Señor Jesús,” declaró el obispo Alberto Rojas. "Él era un hombre libre, que no tuvo miedo de hablar con sencillez sobre la necesidad de cambiar los viejos procesos, sistemas y maneras de pensar que él creía que nos habían alejado del Evangelio. ¡Le damos gracias a Dios por el espíritu renovador y revolucionario del Papa Francisco!". Para leer el mensaje completo del obispo Rojas, haga clic aquí.

El Obispo Rojas comparte mensaje: “La Pascua es fruto del amor de Dios”

Queridos amigos, ¡Felices Pascuas a ustedes y a sus familias! Hemos pasado los 40 días de Cuaresma, poniendo mayor énfasis en la oración, el ayuno y la limosna. Nos comprometimos a cumplir nuestros propósitos con la esperanza de obtener una nueva vida en el Señor Jesús Resucitado. Nuestra fe en Cristo Resucitado es esencial para esta vida y para la venidera. La Resurrección de Jesús es la fuente de nuestra fe cristiana porque demostró que Cristo Jesús es Dios. Por eso, mientras seguimos avanzando entre las luchas y desafíos de nuestra vida, rezo y espero que estén viviendo algo nuevo en esta Pascua, porque como personas de fe también somos peregrinos de la esperanza. Para leer el mensaje completo, por favor, haga clic aquí.

Los estudiantes de Notre Dame recrean la Pasión de Cristo

El 15 de abril, el Ministerio Compañeros estudiantes guiaron a la comunidad de la Preparatoria Notre Dame en una impactante representación de la Pasión de Cristo, recorriendo los últimos días de la vida de Jesús. Su reverencia y liderazgo ayudaron a crear el ambiente adecuado para un momento significativo de Adoración y reflexión, acercando nuestros corazones al verdadero significado de esta semana sagrada. Después, los estudiantes de Notre Dame pudieron convivir con animales en el zoológico interactivo de su propio mercado de Jerusalén. Para ver más fotos, visite notredameriverside.org/passionplayphotos.

The Diocese of San Bernardino has published the following web pages on topics that are filled with resources you can use.

Resources for your ministry

Welcome to our Diocesan E-newsletter. I hope you’ve enjoyed this little blast of news and information about the Church of San Bernardino. There are so many great events and stories of faith in our Diocese we just had to find another way to share them with you. Yes, the Holy Spirit is alive in the digital world! We hope that you will be a regular subscriber to the MiniBYTE. We’ll use it to keep you up to date on the many events and programs offered by the Diocese, and to share with you stories of how our Catholic faith is alive and well in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

__________

Yours in Christ, John Andrews
Director of the Department of Communications

Copyright © 2018 Diocese of San Bernardino, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
minibyte@sbdiocese.org

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Diocese of San Bernardino · 1201 E Highland Ave · San Bernardino, CA 92404-4607 · USA

Interfaith procession and prayer service shows united support for immigrants, Serra House 20th Anniversary Mass, and much more!

Posted on 04/16/2025 16:22 PM (Diocese of San Bernardino E-Newsletter Archive Feed)

Interfaith procession and prayer service shows united support for immigrants, Serra House 20th Anniversary Mass, and much more!

View this email in your browser

Bishop Alberto Rojas walking with Imam Mahmoud Harmoush, Suzzanne Singer, Rev. George Lamb in downtown riverside surrounding taller building while a crowd carrying signs in support of immigrants follow behind them.

Interfaith procession and prayer service shows united support for immigrants
More than 300 people joined local religious leaders for a public procession and prayer service in downtown Riverside on Apr. 12 to show united support for immigrant communities and express concerns about the enforcement policies of the Trump administration. The walk was led by Bishop Alberto Rojas, Imam Mahmoud Harmoush from the Riverside Islamic Center; Rabbi Suzanne Singer from Temple Beth El Riverside, and the Rev. George Lamb from Living Way Christian Fellowship Church. The event began at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and concluded with a moving prayer service at St. Francis de Sales Church. “May those in authority turn away from the evils of prejudice, fear and racism,” Bishop Rojas prayed at the service. “God, please touch the heart and the mind of the President of the United States and all the members of the Congress.”

St. Junipero Serra House of Formation 20th Anniversary Celebration Join us as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Serra House, home of our seminarians. Bring your family and friends! 6:00 p.m. Mass (in English) at Christ the Redeemer Followed by Dinner and Live Music Click here for flyer

Local Catholic students lobby their concerns during Youth Advocacy Day

A group of six high school students dressed in business attire in an office standing in front of United States government flags including the USA flag and California State flag.

The annual California Catholic Conference (CCC) Catholic Youth Advocacy Day took place on April 9, providing local Catholic school students an opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions to legislators at the State Capital in Sacramento. The issues they selected ranged from protections for undocumented students in schools to rights for college women who become pregnant. The students began their day conducting legislative visits and attending Committee Hearings of various subjects such as education, revenue and taxation, healthcare, agriculture and housing and community development. Students also had the opportunity to celebrate Mass at the nearby Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. After a brief lunch, some students continued meeting with legislators to voice their concerns and questions, while others had the opportunity to take tours of the State Capitol and California Museum.

Guatemalan Consulate in San Bernardino introduces Holy Week Exhibit

Bishop Alberto Rojas in a brightly lit hallway with Guatemalan Consul Rachel Donado pointing at a painting with a purple matting and palms coming out from the sides

The Guatemalan Consulate in San Bernardino inaugurated this month the exhibit “Holy Week in Guatemala.” The display of images and altars offers a panoramic view of the deep-rooted tradition by which the Guatemalan people honor the Passion of the Lord. Consul Raquel Donado warmly welcomed visitors, including Bishop Alberto Rojas and Father Bonifacio Vázquez. Bishop Rojas expressed his joy at the event, confident that this fusion of faith and culture will help immigrants strengthen their sense of identity.

Former diocesan priests and Catholic school teacher called to Eternal Rest

We ask for your prayers for the eternal repose of the souls of +Father David Geib, OP and +Father David Faruggia, OP, both of whom served in the past at St. Andrew Newman Center at the University of California, Riverside. Fr. Geib, a Dominican friar of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, died peacefully from complications of Alzheimer’s disease on March 10 in Oakland, CA. Fr. Farrugia, a Dominican friar of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, died peacefully in his sleep on April 1, 2025 in Benicia, CA, one day shy of his 65th anniversary of ordination as a Roman Catholic priest. Mrs. Dianna Bocanegra, the beloved fifth-grade teacher at Sacred Heart Parish School in Rancho Cucamonga, passed away on April 10. Mrs. Bocanegra had taught at Sacred Heart School since 2022 and previously at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Montclair from 2012-2022 (Pictured bottom left: Bocanegra with her former 5th grade class in 2019). Please keep Mrs. Bocanegra’s family, Sacred Heart Principal Enrique Landin, the students, and the entire school community in your prayers.

Diocesan Celebration of the Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis Sunday, April 27th | 12:30 p.m. Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Rancho Cucamonga Canonization of the first Millennial Saint Entertainment and hospitality on school grounds | 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Full schedule of events with the blessed relic from April 24th - April 27th Click here for schedule

Click here for flyer

Procesión interreligiosa y servicio de oración muestran apoyo unido para los inmigrantes
Más de 300 personas se unieron junto con líderes religiosos locales en una procesión pública y servicio de oración en el centro de Riverside el 12 de abril para mostrar su apoyo unido a las comunidades inmigrantes y expresar su preocupación por las políticas de control de la administración Trump. La caminata fue dirigida por el Obispo Alberto Rojas, el imán Mahmoud Harmoush del Centro Islámico de Riverside; la rabina Suzanne Singer del Templo Beth El Riverside; y el reverendo George Lamb de la Iglesia Living Way Christian Fellowship. El evento comenzó en el Monumento de Martín Lutero y concluyó con un emotivo servicio de oración en la Iglesia de San Francisco de Sales. "Que las autoridades se alejen de los males del prejuicio, el miedo y el racismo", rezó el obispo Rojas durante el servicio. "Dios, por favor, toca el corazón y la mente del presidente de los Estados Unidos y de todos los miembros del Congreso".

Jóvenes católicos locales se reúnen con políticos durante el Día de la Defensa

El Día de Defensa de la Juventud Católica de la Conferencia Católica de California (CCC) se celebró el 9 de abril, brindando a los estudiantes de escuelas católicas locales la oportunidad de expresar sus inquietudes y opiniones a los legisladores en la capital del estado en Sacramento. Los estudiantes comenzaron el día realizando visitas legislativas y asistiendo a audiencias de comités sobre diversos temas, como educación, ingresos e impuestos, salud, agricultura, vivienda y desarrollo comunitario. También tuvieron la oportunidad de celebrar una misa en la cercana Catedral del Santísimo Sacramento. Después de un breve almuerzo, algunos estudiantes continuaron reuniéndose con los legisladores para expresar sus inquietudes y preguntas, mientras que otros tuvieron la oportunidad de visitar el Capitolio Estatal y el Museo de California.

El Consulado de Guatemala en San Bernardino presenta la exposición Semana Santa

El Consulado de Guatemala en San Bernardino inauguró este mes la exposición “Semana Santa en Guatemala”. La muestra de imágenes y altares ofrece una visión panorámica de la arraigada tradición con la que el pueblo guatemalteco honra la Pasión del Señor. La cónsul Raquel Donado recibió cálidamente a los visitantes, entre ellos el obispo Alberto Rojas y el padre Bonifacio Vázquez. El obispo Rojas expresó su alegría por el evento, convencido de que esta fusión de fe y cultura ayudará a los inmigrantes a fortalecer su sentido de identidad.

Ex sacerdotes diocesanos y maestra de escuela católica reciben el llamado al descanso eterno

Pedimos sus oraciones por el eterno descanso de las almas del +Padre David Geib, OP, y del +Padre David Faruggia, OP, quienes sirvieron en el pasado en el Centro Newman San Andrés de la Universidad de California, Riverside. El Padre Geib, fraile dominico de la Provincia del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús, falleció en paz por complicaciones de la enfermedad de Alzheimer el 10 de marzo en Oakland, California. El Padre Farrugia, fraile dominico de la Provincia del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús, falleció en paz mientras dormía el 1 de abril de 2025 en Benicia, California, un día antes de su 65 aniversario de ordenación como sacerdote cátolico romano. La Sra. Dianna Bocanegra, querida maestra de quinto grado de la Escuela Parroquial del Sagrado Corazón en Rancho Cucamonga, falleció el 10 de abril. La Sra. Bocanegra había enseñado en la Escuela del Sagrado Corazón desde 2022 y anteriormente en la escuela Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Montclair, de 2012 a 2022. Por favor, mantengan en sus oraciones a la familia de la Sra. Bocanegra, al director de la Escuela del Sagrado Corazón, Enrique Landín, a los estudiantes y a toda la comunidad escolar.