Bishop Alberto Rojas will bestow three organizations that have a long track record of support for the Diocesan Seminarian Program with the Amar Es Entregarse Award at the 22nd Annual Bishop’s Dinner on May 27.
The Knights of Columbus, Serra International and the Italian Catholic Federation will be the honorees at this year’s dinner, again to be held at the J.W. Marriot Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert.
Bishop Rojas has continued with the tradition of the Bishop’s Dinner, which was begun by Bishop Emeritus Gerald Barnes in 2000. The annual award is given to those who exemplify Bishop Barnes’ Episcopal Motto, Amar Es Entregarse (“love is the total giving of oneself”). It is typically bestowed upon individuals but has in the past has been given to honor such organizations as Catholic Charities San Bernardino-Riverside, Lestonnac Free Clinic, Mary’s Mercy Center, Martha Village and Kitchen, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, El Sembrador Ministries and the Valley Missionary Program.
The Knights of Columbus is an international Catholic fraternal service order that has grown over its 141-year history to support many Church ministries including Catholic education, parishes, dioceses and social issues such as refugee relief, feeding the hungry and pro-life ministry.
Serra International is a global lay vocations apostolate with over 20,000 members. Its primary mission is to promote vocations to the ministerial priesthood and consecrated life and to assist its members, in their own lives, to answer God’s call to holiness. The Serra Club of San Bernardino was chartered in February of 1980 at the urging of founding Bishop Phillip Straling who saw an urgent need for future priests in the growing Diocese of San Bernardino.
The Italian Catholic Federation is a family-oriented, non-profit fraternal organization dedicated to promoting activities that build faith and family spirit and bring men, women and children of all ages together. It promotes and supports the Catholic faith and its values, encourages apostolic and charitable works, and celebrates Italian heritage in its communities.
“All three of these groups have shown generous and steadfast support for our Seminarian Program, which is the focus of the Bishop’s Dinner,” said Bishop Rojas. “It fills me with great joy to honor them this year with the Amar Es Entregarse Award in recognition of their great faith and love of our local Church.”