On March 7, Bishop Emeritus Gerald Barnes shared his insights and memories of 28 years of Episcopal leadership of our Diocese in a lengthy interview at St. Junipero Serra House of Formation. The interview was recorded for the Diocesan Archives and excerpts from it will be released in future diocesan media content. The interview came just days before the 28th anniversary of Bishop Emeritus Barnes' installation as the second Bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino, which occurred on March 12, 1996. On March 18, Bishop Emeritus Barnes will celebrate the 32nd anniversary of his Episcopal ordination. We give thanks to God for Bishop Barnes’ many years of holy leadership of our Diocese. Let us offer our prayers for him on this special occasion!

On March 7, Bishop Emeritus Gerald Barnes shared his insights and memories of 28 years of Episcopal leadership of our Diocese in a lengthy interview at St. Junipero Serra House of Formation. The interview was recorded for the Diocesan Archives and excerpts from it will be released in future diocesan media content. The interview came just days before the 28th anniversary of Bishop Emeritus Barnes' installation as the second Bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino, which occurred on March 12, 1996. On March 18, Bishop Emeritus Barnes will celebrate the 32nd anniversary of his Episcopal ordination. We give thanks to God for Bishop Barnes’ many years of holy leadership of our Diocese. Let us offer our prayers for him on this special occasion!

On March 2, the Low Desert Vicariate of the Diocese held a Eucharistic Procession at Sacred Heart Parish in Palm Desert. Catholics of the Low Desert joyfully processed behind the Blessed Sacrament for approximately 1 mile around the Sacred Heart Parish and School property. It was the sixth Vicariate level Eucharistic Procession held in the Diocese since January of 2023, all with Bishop Alberto Rojas present. Previous Eucharistic Processions took place in the Hemet, High Desert, Low Desert, Riverside, San Bernardino and the West End Vicariates. 

This year’s Diocesan Junior High Academic Decathlon was held on Saturday, March 2 and for the second straight year St. Margaret Mary School took first place. St. Edward School, Corona took second place while Sacred Heart School, Palm Desert placed third. St. Margaret Mary will represent the Diocese in the virtual national competition on March 15th. Individual decathletes from OLPH Riverside, Our Lady of the Assumption, Sacred Heart Academy, and St. Joseph will also be going to the national competition for individual subjects. Good luck to all decathletes!

On March 2, the Low Desert Vicariate of the Diocese held a Eucharistic Procession at Sacred Heart Parish in Palm Desert. Catholics of the Low Desert joyfully processed behind the Blessed Sacrament for approximately 1 mile around the Sacred Heart Parish and School property. It was the sixth Vicariate level Eucharistic Procession held in the Diocese since January of 2023, all with Bishop Alberto Rojas present. Previous Eucharistic Processions took place in the Hemet, High Desert, Low Desert, Riverside, San Bernardino and the West End Vicariates. 

This year’s Diocesan Junior High Academic Decathlon was held on Saturday, March 2 and for the second straight year St. Margaret Mary School took first place. St. Edward School, Corona took second place while Sacred Heart School, Palm Desert placed third. St. Margaret Mary will represent the Diocese in the virtual national competition on March 15th. Individual decathletes from OLPH Riverside, Our Lady of the Assumption, Sacred Heart Academy, and St. Joseph will also be going to the national competition for individual subjects. Good luck to all decathletes!

The Diocese began to sow the seeds of a new statewide initiative to promote and highlight marriage and family, “Radiate Love,” with a workshop at the Diocesan Pastoral Center February 17-18. In the year ahead, the diocese will seek to illuminate and proclaim the goodness of marriage and family through the “Radiate Love” Campaign, which was created by the California Catholic Conference. To promote this initiative, The Diocesan Office of Marriage & Family Life invites married couples to attend a free marriage workshop to celebrate your marriage bond with a little fun, engaging discussions and encouragement. This free workshop is currently being offered in the following vicariates: The Riverside Vicariate on March 16 & 17 at St. Matthew Parish in Corona, The Low Desert Vicariate on April 21 at Sacred Heart Parish in Palm Desert, The High Desert Vicariate on May 5 at Holy Family Parish in Hesperia, The Hemet Vicariate on June 22 & 23 at St. Martha Parish in Murrieta.

The Diocese began to sow the seeds of a new statewide initiative to promote and highlight marriage and family, “Radiate Love,” with a workshop at the Diocesan Pastoral Center February 17-18. In the year ahead, the diocese will seek to illuminate and proclaim the goodness of marriage and family through the “Radiate Love” Campaign, which was created by the California Catholic Conference. To promote this initiative, The Diocesan Office of Marriage & Family Life invites married couples to attend a free marriage workshop to celebrate your marriage bond with a little fun, engaging discussions and encouragement. This free workshop is currently being offered in the following vicariates: The Riverside Vicariate on March 16 & 17 at St. Matthew Parish in Corona, The Low Desert Vicariate on April 21 at Sacred Heart Parish in Palm Desert, The High Desert Vicariate on May 5 at Holy Family Parish in Hesperia, The Hemet Vicariate on June 22 & 23 at St. Martha Parish in Murrieta.

On Feb. 20, Sister Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ, a French Catholic religious sister and Undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, led a Synod day of formation at the Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC). Sr. Becquart’s presentation was titled, “How to cultivate a culture of Synodality at the Diocesan and Parish levels.” Sr. Becquart shared her personal experiences of seeing how the Synod on Synodality has been received and integrated into other dioceses around the world. In addition to sharing her personal experiences, she provided information that can help our diocese work toward being a Synodal Church in Mission. Sr. Becquart said she was impressed with the Diocese of San Bernardino’s active participation in the Synod on Synodality. The Synod on Synodality, which began in 2021, will conclude with the Second Session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops from Oct. 2- 27, 2024. 

On Feb. 5, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Riverside hosted the annual Diocesan Spelling Bee. 16 students competed from eight Catholic schools, and the overall winner was Katie Correa from St. Catherine of Alexandria School in Riverside. The other participants were: Joseph Anicoche (St. Catherine of Alexandria School, Riverside), Evan Calaguas, who was the runner-up, and Gabriella Cornelio (St. Edward School, Corona), Camila Trevino-Davila and Kayla Hodges (St. George School, Ontario), Emma Koontz and Italia Rocha (St. Thomas School, Riverside), Kenneth Guico and Kalen Herrera (Sacred Heart School, Palm Desert), Malinalli Avila and Jaden Batantu (Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Riverside), Liam Chua and Gabriel Sy (St. Adelaide Academy, Highland), Maleah Viramontes and Annemarie Davila (St. Peter & St. Paul School, Alta Loma). Congratulations to Katie and all the participants for a job well done. 

On Feb. 20, Sister Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ, a French Catholic religious sister and Undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, led a Synod day of formation at the Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC). Sr. Becquart’s presentation was titled, “How to cultivate a culture of Synodality at the Diocesan and Parish levels.” Sr. Becquart shared her personal experiences of seeing how the Synod on Synodality has been received and integrated into other dioceses around the world. In addition to sharing her personal experiences, she provided information that can help our diocese work toward being a Synodal Church in Mission. Sr. Becquart said she was impressed with the Diocese of San Bernardino’s active participation in the Synod on Synodality. The Synod on Synodality, which began in 2021, will conclude with the Second Session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops from Oct. 2- 27, 2024. 

On Feb. 5, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Riverside hosted the annual Diocesan Spelling Bee. 16 students competed from eight Catholic schools, and the overall winner was Katie Correa from St. Catherine of Alexandria School in Riverside. The other participants were: Joseph Anicoche (St. Catherine of Alexandria School, Riverside), Evan Calaguas, who was the runner-up, and Gabriella Cornelio (St. Edward School, Corona), Camila Trevino-Davila and Kayla Hodges (St. George School, Ontario), Emma Koontz and Italia Rocha (St. Thomas School, Riverside), Kenneth Guico and Kalen Herrera (Sacred Heart School, Palm Desert), Malinalli Avila and Jaden Batantu (Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Riverside), Liam Chua and Gabriel Sy (St. Adelaide Academy, Highland), Maleah Viramontes and Annemarie Davila (St. Peter & St. Paul School, Alta Loma). Congratulations to Katie and all the participants for a job well done.