By Andres Rivera
Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO—Mary’s role in salvation history will be the focus of the 12th Annual Theological Symposium on April 27 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in San Bernardino. 

 Typically, the theme for the symposium parallels the focus of discussion for participants in the Coordinator of Ministries Formation Program (CMFP), but this year the organizers also took the Year of Faith into account. The resulting theme for the day will be Mary, Model of Faith: The Year of Faith through the eyes of Mary.

 With renewed federal momentum to pursue comprehensive immigration reform, the Diocese of San Bernardino has joined in several advocacy events and held meetings with members of Congress to push for change in what the Church believes is a broken system.

By Andres Rivera
Staff Writer

RANCHO CUCAMONGA—The vocation directors for the Diocese of San Bernardino, Diocese of Orange and Archdiocese of Los Angeles will once again pool their resources to host a workshop on religious life from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 20 at Sacred Heart Parish, Rancho Cucamonga.

COACHELLA VALLEY—On March 23, Catholic Charities San Bernardino-Riverside hosted its 8th annual Spring Health and Resources Fair at Veterans Park in the Coachella Valley. There were over 800 Coachella Valley residents in attendance and over 30 community agencies providing free information on nutritional health awareness to Coachella families.

By Andres Rivera
Staff Writer

PALM DESERT—Founders, friends and key ministers in the early days of the Diocese of San Bernardino will be honored at the Fourteenth Annual Bishop’s Dinner on April 6 at the J W Marriot Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert.

 In the 35th anniversary year of the diocese’s founding, Bishop Emeritus of Reno Phillip Straling, founding bishop of the diocese, Rabbi Hillel Cohn, and the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word will receive Bishop Gerald Barnes’ Episcopal honor, the Amar Es Entregarse Award, at the dinner.

YUCAIPA—To mark the Year of Faith, Bishop Gerald Barnes decided to bring all six vicariates of the diocese together for a day of fellowship, reflection, faith sharing and worship.

 The diocese holds Combined Vicariate meetings for the San Bernardino and Riverside pastoral regions each year, allowing Bishop Barnes to address parish leadership and staff on a large scale. This year, on Feb. 19, the two meetings became one “Unified Vicariate,” held at St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Church in Yucaipa.