Parent letter faith reflection
On January 1st we celebrated the Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God. It was not a holy day of obligation yet the church was full for the Mass in celebration of this feast day. As I looked around at those gathered, seeing all our many different parish communities coming together, I thought of how Mary is like a collage: A collage brings things together, creating something new out of diverse things.
A collage can create something new out of things that might not normally be thought to go together. Being more than a sum of its parts a collage can bring out beautiful aspects that can’t emerge until combined in a new way. A collage can create a richer, more complex picture. By joining with our Blessed Mother in this collage called Christianity we become something so much more joined together in community than we can be individually. We more fully become the living face of God.
Good-bye Bishop Barnes
by Giana
“Amar Es Entregarse,” meaning, “Love is a total self-giving.” These wise words are Bishop Gerald Barnes’ motto. Bishop Barnes announced that he will be resigning in June of this year, on his birthday. This is because it is required in the Catholic Church law for a bishop to retire once they turn 75 years old. Bishop Barnes has led our diocese for 27 years, which makes him the longest current serving bishop of a Catholic diocese in the United States.
I’ve never met the bishop personally, but I’ve heard great things about him. I have learned that he has served in many committees as well as having participated in the Mexican American Cultural Center and Assumption Seminary. He was also given the OHTLI award by the government of Mexico for working with citizens of Mexico living in the United States.
I know the bishop must be busy all the time, but I wish that he visited all the churches in San Bernardino at least once so that I could meet him. Overall, Bishop Barnes is an amazing bishop and I hope to meet him one day.
God bless,
Mrs. Alhadef
Campus Minister
5th Grade Aide/4th Grade