Read below for a roundup of recent happenings around the Diocese.
Consecration of Columbarium Garden makes history
On Nov. 20, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Bishop Alberto Rojas consecrated the Columbarium Garden at St. Theresa, Palm Springs. The new Columbarium makes history by becoming only the second piece of land consecrated in the Diocese of San Bernardino for Catholic burial. The Columbarium Garden has over 700 niches for cremated remains to be laid to rest and offers a private area for visitation, meditation and prayer. It is among the first in Southern California and reflects a growing trend in California, where 60 percent of burials are now cremated remains, said Al Martini, Director of the Diocesan Office of Catholic Cemeteries. May the faithful departed rest in peace at this special parish location.
Bustamante returns as Associate HR Director
Sinia Bustamante has made her way back to the Diocese as Associate Director of Human Resources, a position which she previously held from 2012-2020. “Returning to the Diocese for me was like coming back home. I feel comfortable here and my co-workers have walked with me through the most difficult time in my life,” said Bustamante. “Even if there have been changes, I still feel at home here.”
Bustamante has held various positions related to human resources in her career, most recently working for logistics company GEODIS as their Human Resources Manager. “I just fell into the HR field when I was 20 years old; I was going to college to be a teacher and had all my life planned out to be a teacher, but God had other plans,” said Bustamante.
“I enjoy the complexity of HR, and the challenge. No two days are ever the same and no two situations are ever the same; they may be similar but there are differences. I enjoy the problem solving and figuring out what is the best approach and resolution,” she added.
Bustamante says that her main goal now that she is back to working in the Diocese is reestablishing relationships she had with employees and priests and building new relationships to best help the people of the Diocese. “I’m just glad to be back, and I look forward to what may lay ahead,” Bustamante said.
Sr. Okoko honored during Black Catholic History Month
Sister Chilee Okoko, D.M.M.M., was honored at a Black Catholic History Month Mass celebrated on Nov. 27 at The Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Redlands (Columbia Street Church). Sr. Chilee serves as the Director of the Diocesan Department of Life, Dignity and Justice and has consistently supported and participated in the Diocesan Ministry to Catholics of African Descent, which gave her the award. We congratulate Sr. Chilee for this well-deserved honor.
Fr. Ron Rolheiser guides Clergy Advent Day of Prayer
Priests, deacons and religious sisters of the Diocese gathered at Sacred Heart, Rancho Cucamonga on Nov. 30 for the annual Advent Day of Prayer. Father Ron Rolheiser, renowned Catholic writer and speaker, gave the talk entitled “Advent – Gestating our Longing into Giving Birth to Christ.” Fr. Rolheiser characterized the Season of Advent as a time of living with tensions within ourselves as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas. “It’s a time when we’re called to get in touch with our desires, to get in touch with our restlessness, so that we can move more toward being pregnant with the Holy Spirit,” he said. It was Fr. Rolheiser’s third visit to the Diocese and second time leading the Clergy Advent Day of Prayer.
Vietnamese community holds Mass for Vietnamese Martyrs
The Vietnamese Catholic community in the Diocese gathered Nov. 12 at St. George, Ontario, for a Mass in honor of the Vietnamese Martyrs. The Feast of the Vietnamese Martyrs is Nov. 24. Many Vietnamese Catholics came from all over the Diocese for the Mass, which was followed by a reception and cultural entertainment in the parish hall. Another important celebration coming up for this community is Lunar New Year, which takes place in January and will be celebrated in individual parishes this year. We are grateful for the presence of the Vietnamese community in our Diocese!
Bishop Rojas celebrates three-year anniversary of Coadjutor announcement
Dec. 2 marked three years since Bishop Alberto Rojas was appointed by Pope Francis as the Coadjutor Bishop for our Diocese! We thank Bishop Rojas for saying “yes” to Our Lord and to our community. We are very grateful for his presence and leadership in our Diocese and ask for God’s continued blessings on him as he carries out his ministry as Bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino.
St. Margaret Mary begins year of celebration for diamond jubilee
St. Margaret Mary Parish in Chino is celebrating 75 years as a parish community. The parish was erected in October 1947, due to rapid growth at Chino’s first parish, Our Lady of Guadalupe. The parish is in the process of planning ways to celebrate the milestone, including a diamond jubilee yearbook, a time capsule to be opened in 25 years for the centennial, a pilgrimage to France to where their patron St. Margaret Mary received visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a Jubilee Mass in October 2023. “Over the past 75 years of service to Our Lord Jesus Christ, the family of St. Margaret Mary Parish has continually shown willingness to work together and love one another through apparent obstacles of change and growth,” the parish posted on Facebook. The current church was built in 1959 with a capacity of 800.
Beatty departs Diocese
Caroline Beatty, who served as the Director of the Diocesan Office of Parish Assistance for 16 years, left her position with the Diocese this October. The Office of Parish Assistance provides support to parishes and Catholic schools of the Diocese with fiscal matters, bookkeeping, internal controls, asset management as well as accounting procedures and policies.
“I built a lot of relationships with the parishes and schools,” Beatty said of her years in diocesan ministry. “I’ll miss that.” Beatty was especially noted for her expertise in the Sage accounting system. For the past year Beatty has also served as the Director of the Diocesan Office of Accounting.
Bishop Barnes celebrates Priesthood Ordination Anniversary
Bishop Barnes will celebrate his Priesthood Ordination Anniversary on Dec. 20. We thank him for his years of leadership in our Diocese and pray for his continued wellbeing.