Family, friends and colleagues will join Bishop Barnes for a 25th Anniversary Gala on March 17 to be held at the Doubletree Inn in Ontario. The following day St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Chino Hills will host a Diocesan Mass and reception to mark the anniversary, an event expected to draw parishioners from all over the Diocese. The Mass will also be livestreamed on the Diocese’s YouTube channel for those who are unable to attend.
The mid-March events have been planned for months but others are being added to highlight the 25th Anniversary of Bishop Barnes’ ordination as a bishop. On April 29, the Ministry Formation Institute (MFI) will hold a symposium to reflect on the legacy of lay formation under Bishop Barnes’ leadership. The gathering will include current participants in the Parish Ministry Formation Program (PMFP) and Coordinator of Ministries Formation Program (CMFP) as well as past graduates of the Straling Leadership Institute and Department of Evangelization and Catechesis for Hispanics (D.E.C.H.), two precursors to the MFI.
The symposium will cover the past, present and future of lay formation programs in the Diocese, including remarks from Bishop Barnes, himself.
Also scheduled as part of the Bishop’s 25th Anniversary observance is a Festival of Cultures on November 4. This event is reflective of the emphasis Bishop Barnes has placed during his episcopacy on the value and enrichment that the cultural diversity of the Diocese brings. The Festival of Cultures will provide a showcase for the ethnic cultures of the Diocese, including Hispanic, Asian-Pacific, African, Native American and others to celebrate with Bishop Barnes in their traditional cultural attire, contribute foods from their culture and offer music and dance performances.
The Silver Jubilee will conclude on Dec. 20 with a closing Mass at Queen of Angels Church in Riverside.
Beyond the scheduled 25th Anniversary events, the Diocese will produce materials and items to commemorate the Jubilee. These will include a commemorative book, a children’s coloring book, banners, prayer cards, a video and a special edition of the Inland Catholic BYTE.