By Malie Hudson

 Every Sunday around 2 p.m., children from the Syro-Malabar Catholic Community busily help their parents prepare for a liturgy celebrated completely in Malayalam, a language spoken predominantly in the Kerala region of India. 

 With the release of Pope Francis’ groundbreaking encyclical, Laudato Si, now more than two years past, Diocesan leaders are looking to give new, local life to the Holy Father’s call for responsible stewardship of the earth.

 Is working as a minister of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of San Bernardino just another job?

 To many, the answer to this question would be an obvious ‘no.’

 At the same time, a need has been identified to help employees of parishes, Catholic schools and the Diocesan Pastoral Center keep focused on the mission of the Diocese as they go about their daily work. Beginning this ministerial year, a new Diocesan Office of Mission Integration will be charged with setting this focus.

 In recent years, the Diocesan Office of Restorative Justice has been extending its outreach to include the families of murder victims, the incarcerated, and the families of the incarcerated. This year, the Office is again expanding its ministry to include outreach to men and women who are being released from prison. 

 Many call it a life-changing experience—being part of the gritty reality of poverty. This is what happens when you are part of a Poverty Simulation. 

By Natalie Romano

 The Diocese is celebrating one of its biggest new classes of deacons following the ordination of ten men on August 12th in Chino Hills.