By Father David Andel, J.V.

SAN JACINTO—In his first Apostolic Exhortation “The Joy of the Gospel,” Pope Francis encourages the institutional Church to go out to the peripheries to encounter people and to bring them back into the fold of the Church. In his Apostolic Exhortation “The Joy of Love” Pope Francis devotes a large section to caring for the divorced and remarried, people who often see themselves on the periphery of Church life.

 With the departure of Father Javier Gonzales-Cabrera for a three-year educational sabbatical in Rome, the Diocese is adopting a new structure to carry out its ministry of vocations.

By Edgardo Juarez

 Today’s youth will be the leaders of tomorrow. Pope Francis calls us to accompany the youth in their vocational discernment and life journey. It is within the mission of the Ministry with Young Catholics to provide opportunities for young people to discover their God given potential and use their gifts and talents to build the kingdom of God in their communities. 

 Father Tony Das Neves, a retired diocesan priest who served in active ministry here for more than three decades, recently returned to the country of his birth, Portugal, to continue his retirement. Fr. Das Neves served as pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer, Sun City; Christ the Good Shepherd, Adelanto; St. Mel, Norco; and St. Joan of Arc, Blythe.

YUCAIPA—The flagship lay formation program of the Diocese, the Continuing Ministries Formation Program (CMFP), produced 95 graduates this year and they were celebrated by Bishop Gerald Barnes, diocesan staff, family and friends at a special Mass June 24 at St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Church in Yucaipa. 

By Marge Bitetti

 The United State Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) awards millions in grant monies each year to organizations that support the social mission of the Church through the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). 

 To qualify, organizations must fully uphold the teachings of the Church and must not participate in or promote activities that contradict Catholic moral and social teaching.