From left to right, the first-place winning posters of Alexandra Cocar (K-3rd), Sinai Castaneda (4th-6th) and Noelia Rios (7th-12th).
The Diocese’s Office of Child and Youth Protection held its 2nd Annual Child Abuse Prevention and Abuse Vic-tims Mass on April 13 at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, San Bernardino, with Bishop Rojas as the primary celebrant. The Mass takes place in April since that is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
“We want to draw special attention to the enormous responsibility that we all have to care and protect the innocence of children, and be alert and well-informed and educated in order to prevent child abuse in any shape or form,” said Bishop Rojas during the homily. “We also want to be aware and prepared to recognize the important obligation we have to accompany those who have endured abuse in their healing process.”
The Office of Child and Youth Protection coordinated this Mass for the first time last year and plans to continue holding it annually. This year for the first time, the office, in collaboration with the offices of Catechetical Ministry, Catholic Schools, Ministry With Young Catholics and Marriage and Family Life, also held a Child Abuse Prevention Month Art Poster Contest open to all children and youth under 18 in the Diocese.
The contest asked participants to submit a poster with their artistic interpretation of the theme “I Am Loved!” All posters were put on display at the Diocesan Pastoral Center and at the Child Abuse Prevention and Abuse Victims Mass.
The contest was categorized by grade level, K-3, 4-6 and 7-12 and winners were determined by vote of the Diocesan Pastoral Center employees. The first place winners are Alexandra Cocar (K-3rd), Sinai Castaneda (4th-6th) and Noelia Rios (7th-12th); the second place winners are Santiago Torres Zambrano (K-3rd), Chris-tian Muñoz (4th-6th) and Ariel Benitez (7th-12th); and the third place winners are Julio Flores (K-3rd), Angelyn Villalpando (4th-6th) and Olivia Ramirez (7th-12th).
All winners were awarded baskets that contained art supplies and other prizes.