SAN DIEGO — On Catechetical Sunday, celebrated Sept. 21 this year, the Catholic Church highlights those entrusted with the responsibility to teach in its name, particularly catechists. This year’s theme, taken from the First Letter of St. Peter (3:15), is “Always be ready to give an explanation … for a reason for your hope.” Within the... The post Church celebrates those who teach faith appeared first on The Southern Cross.| The Southern Cross
SAN DIEGO — The Office of the Bishop has announced the following appointments: Bishop Felipe Pulido as Vicar for Clergy, effective July 18 Father Emilio Magaña as associate pastor of St. Mark Parish, San Marcos, effective Aug. 1 With the agreement of their superiors: Father Ramiro Sanchez Chan, CS, as pastor of Our Lady of... The post Priest assignments announced appeared first on The Southern Cross.| The Southern Cross
By Christina Bagaglio Slentz, Ph.D. Sept. 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, begins the Season of Creation, a time when faith leaders around the world direct our collective attention to the care of our common home. The season concludes on Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis. This year’s theme,... The post Celebrating peace with creation! appeared first on The Southern Cross.| The Southern Cross
New ministry for newly married SAN DIEGO — Growing in your marriage is truly a lifelong project. “T(w)o Become One: Marriage Mystagogy,” a ministry for newly married couples, will meet on the first Thursday of each month for fellowship and practical hands-on tools to help couples in their marriage today. The first meeting will be... The post News around the diocese: New marriage ministries, young adult retreat, San Lorenzo Ruiz celebration, Mass for migrants, and more appeared first on ...| The Southern Cross
SAN DIEGO — Nine Catholic schools in the Diocese of San Diego have new principals this year. At the elementary school level, they include: David Blair, St. Charles School; Jamie Brandt, St. Martin of Tours Academy; Annalisa Burgos, Nazareth School; María Guadalupe Hernández, St. John of the Cross School; Lorena Hernández, St. Pius X School;... The post New principals bring wealth of experience appeared first on The Southern Cross.| The Southern Cross
SAN DIEGO — Across the Diocese of San Diego, Catholic schools welcomed students to a new academic year with festivities for students and their families and staff. Almost 200 students gathered Aug. 13 for the first day of class at St. Charles School. It’s just one of the 39 Catholic elementary schools, which along with... The post Catholic schools welcome back students for new year appeared first on The Southern Cross.| The Southern Cross
SAN DIEGO — A new, interfaith ministry focused on having people of faith accompany migrants and asylum-seekers to their immigration hearings is well underway. FAITH, which stands for “Faithful Accompaniment in Trust & Hope,” was officially launched Aug. 4 in the chapel at the diocesan Pastoral Center. The pilot program is a joint initiative of... The post FAITH accompanies migrants at downtown courthouse appeared first on The Southern Cross.| The Southern Cross
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY — Stories about “the first 100 days” are standard fare at the beginning of a U.S. president’s four-year term. But a pope is elected for life and without having promised voters anything or having presented a platform. Pope Leo XIV was elected May 8, making Aug. 16 the 100th day... The post Pope leaning into new role in first 100 days appeared first on The Southern Cross.| The Southern Cross
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV asked Catholics to observe Friday, Aug. 22, as a day of prayer and fasting for peace and justice, particularly in Ukraine and in the Holy Land. At the end of his general audience Aug. 20, the pope noted that the church will celebrate the feast of... The post Pope sets Aug. 22 as day to pray, fast for peace appeared first on The Southern Cross.| The Southern Cross
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV paid a private visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace of Mentorella, high in the Monti Prenestini mountain range of central Italy. On his last full day in Castel Gandolfo, Aug. 19, the pope made the hour journey northeast to pray in the shrine church...| The Southern Cross
SAN DIEGO — Bishop Michael Pham, of the Diocese of San Diego, recalled his arrival in the United States as a refugee as he celebrated an early morning Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral on World Refugee Day, June 20.| The Southern Cross
SAN DIEGO — “This is history in the making. We are becoming part of the history of something beautiful.” That’s how Gloria Morales-Palos, a co-chair of the San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP), described a new, interfaith ministry focused on having people of faith accompany migrants and asylum-seekers to their immigration hearings. FAITH, which stands for...| The Southern Cross
SAN DIEGO — The Force may not have been with Bishop Michael Pham on July 17. But the Holy Spirit certainly was. “You may be used to seeing a tall bishop and cardinal … but now, you can envision before you a shorter bishop, like Yoda in ‘Star Wars,’ getting ready to lead,” he said...| The Southern Cross
SAN DIEGO — Catholic Charities, in the Diocese of San Diego, continues to work on several fronts to support immigrant families, parishes and schools in the face of unprecedented actions from the federal government. Fulfilling its Gospel mission, the organization has provided emergency assistance to the most vulnerable in the community for more than a...| The Southern Cross
By Justin McLellan VATICAN CITY — When hope seems long gone, Christians can turn to Jesus to overcome being resigned to despair and regain the desire to be healed, Pope Leo XIV said. “Sometimes we feel blocked, stuck in a dead end, and it seems pointless to hope,” the pope told thousands of pilgrims gathered...| The Southern Cross
Take a moment to imagine two trees. One is green and lush, offering shade. The other is a charred remnant of what was once a tree after a forest fire. Which of these is beautiful? How do you know which one is beautiful? Why does this matter? If you are like most humans, you picked...| The Southern Cross
By Christina Bagaglio Slentz In May 2015, Pope Francis released his encyclical, “Laudato Si,” which highlights the gift of creation. Drawing from Scripture, tradition, and magisterial teachings of our faith, the encyclical frames the revelation of God’s love for us and calls us to healing action to respond to today’s environmental crisis. Pope Francis explains,...| The Southern Cross
CARMEL VALLEY — “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Pulido began his homily with this Psalm (118:24) at the Mass he celebrated May 24 to ordain seven men to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of San Diego. Newly named Bishop Michael...| The Southern Cross
SAN DIEGO — “Breathtaking.” That’s how Alejandra Casas describes the opening procession of the diocese’s Pentecost Mass for All Peoples. Representatives of cultural Catholic communities enter one by one, dressed in their brightly colored traditional attire. “There is such beauty in our Church,” she says. She and her husband, John Casas, lay leaders in the diocese’s...| The Southern Cross
