Packed Fall Pastoral Conference explores evangelization

By Ana Garcia

SAN BERNARDINO—Nearly 600 ministry leaders, including pastors, parish staff and members of the Coordinator of Ministries Formation Program (CMFP) and Diaconate Formation Program, attended the Fall Pastoral Conference at the Diocesan Pastoral Center on October 17-18. 

 This year’s conference, themed “Becoming an Evangelizing Parish,” was led by two Paulist priests: Father Kenneth Boyak and Father Bruce Nieli, who both emphasized the importance of becoming “missionary disciples” in the Church. 

By David C. Okonkwo

 November is the month chosen by the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus to celebrate black people and their contribution to the Catholic Church in particular; approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). 

By Petra Alexander

 In California’s cultural circles The Day of the Dead becomes clear. 

  People in makeup multiply, mixing color and creativity with skulls all around.  

 In antiquity, skulls and skeletons were a decoration proper of hermits and the most austere monks. A skull on their window or their desk reminded them daily that we will end up that way, and this let them live a temporary detachment under the principle: “Nothing goes with you when you die.”

By Marie Widmann

 Adagio, slowly and quietly, the violin engages the audience, softly accompanied by the piano, revealing the story of Thais, the most alluring and worldly woman of 4th century Thebes, as told in French composer Jules Massenet’s opera. The much loved “Meditation” interlude reveals Thais’ struggle to reject her life of opulence and sin and to accept God and a life of grace. 

SAN DIEGO—Bishop Cirilo Flores of San Diego passed away the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 6, at the city’s Nazareth House, accompanied by family and friends.

 A man who traced his roots to the city of Corona in the Diocese of San Bernardino, Bishop Flores was 66 years old.

SAN BERNARDINO—Pope Francis’ Exhortation Evangelii Gauduum, “The Joy of the Gospel,” has been hailed as both inspiring and readable, offered in the Holy Father’s characteristic down-to-earth style.