By Van Hoang

LUCERNE VALLEY—On May 3 about 1,500 Vietnamese Catholics from across Southern California came to St. Joseph Monastery in Lucerne Valley to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Joseph the Worker. The celebration also brought in faithful from neighboring states. 

 Ten buses transported faithful from various locations in Orange County to the remote High Desert location. The monastery is located in the middle of a hill surrounded by two other hills with higher elevation. A 33-foot cross on a rocky hill can be seen from miles away.

RIVERSIDE—The 19th Annual Diocesan Sports Tournament will be held 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on August 22 at Andulka Park (5201 Chicago Ave.) in Riverside. 

 The annual tournament will see parish young adult ministries compete in basketball, soccer and volleyball. Parish teams, with young adults 18 years old and older, should register by August 12.  Registration is $20 per participant. Each team will contribute $10 per game to help pay for a certified referee.

SACRAMENTO—A bill that would have legalized doctor prescribed suicide in California stalled in the State Assembly thanks in part to strong advocacy work against the bill by a broad-based coalition that included diocesan and parish ministers along with lay Catholics.

By Sister Chilee Okoko, DMMM

SAN BERNARDINO—As the Diocese seeks to improve understanding among the lay faithful about Catholic teaching on end of life, Bishop Gerald Barnes has also called for a strengthening of ministry to the sick and dying.

SAN BERNARDINO—The weekend before Father’s Day, Catholic Charities introduced the first Faith, Fathers, Family & Fun event at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino. In partnership with the Diocese of San Bernardino, the event celebrating families included an outdoor stadium Mass that began at 9:30 am. 

 The Catholic Bible Institute is an extension program of Loyola Marymount University. It entails a comprehensive study of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures focusing on methods of study, sharing and praying with Scripture.