By Marie Widmann

VICTORVILLE—Victorville City Council Member Angela Valles stood in the strong desert sun describing the moment that she, as a 16-year-old, revealed to her Catholic parents that she was pregnant. 

 Valles’ pregnancy led to her dropping out of high school and becoming homeless for a time. 

By Mike Shawver
Director, Office of Social Concerns

 Ash Wednesday is March 5 and the start of our Lenten journey towards Easter. I encourage you and your parish community to participate in CRS Rice Bowl sponsored by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the international humanitarian outreach of the Catholic Church. 

 Now is the time to order your FREE rice bowl materials in English and Spanish, so that they arrive before Ash Wednesday at www.crsricebowl.org/order. 

By Andres Rivera
Staff Writer

RANCHO CUCAMONGA—All people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, Bishop Gerald Barnes told the Catholic faithful gathered for the 8th Annual Diocesan Migration Mass. The annual Mass that celebrates the strength gained by embracing diversity and promoting just treatment of all people was held Jan. 12 at Sacred Heart Parish, Rancho Cucamonga.

 This year National Migration Week focused on migrant children, undocumented immigrants, refugees and victims of human trafficking with the theme “Out of the Darkness.” 

HEMET—For decades Bruce McAdams was a faithful Catholic active in many different ministries. But he admits he felt something was missing in his faith life.

 Like many, it was the example of St. Francis of Assisi that would complete McAdams’ spirituality. 

 “When I started learning how Francis loved and cared for the less fortunate in this world, I felt I was lacking that in my ministry,” he says. “I feel that I’m connected now.”

By John Andrews
Editor

MORENO VALLEY—He certainly had the stature to call his talk at St. Patrick Parish an academic event, but Bishop John Quinn saw himself as more of a conduit in the proceedings.

 “I’m not here to teach you something,” he said to begin the second of his three-night talk at the Moreno Valley parish on January 10. “I’m here to help you receive the Word of God.”

By Isabel Cruz

SAN BERNARDINO—On January 19, over 300 community members from the Inland Empire gathered at the Diocesan Pastoral Center for a benefit show to expose the current global human trafficking crisis and raise funds for a Typhoon Haiyan relief mission that takes place this month. 

 The night was filled with cultural performances in solidarity with victims of human trafficking and the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, and talks on the presence of human trafficking in our community.