Disabilities ministries focus of upcoming conference
LAKESIDE — The two-day “All Are One in the Body of Christ” Disabilities Ministries Conference will be held on Friday, Jan. 31, and Saturday, Feb. 1, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish.
Presented in both English and Spanish, the conference will cover what can and cannot be done to minister to individuals with special needs and disabilities in parish communities. There will be testimonials from families of students with special needs and practical applications for catechists, parents and more.
A certificate in special education will be granted to everyone who attends both days.
The English-language conference will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., both Friday and Saturday. The conference in Spanish will be from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday.
There will be many exhibitors representing various organizations that serve people with disabilities, along with publishers and resources.
The event was organized by the diocesan Office for Evangelization and Catechetical Ministry, in collaboration with the National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities (NCPD) and the advisory team for Ministry with Special Needs from the Diocese of Orange.
There is a $50 cost to attend, which includes lunch and materials. For more information, contact Leticia Trent at ltrent@sdcatholic.org or (858) 490-8232.
Retreat offers healing from abortion
SAN DIEGO — Catholic women can find healing from post-abortion grief at a retreat from Friday, Jan. 31, to Sunday, Feb. 2, at the diocesan Pastoral Center.
The cost to attend is $60; partial scholarships are available. Housing is available if needed. Group size is limited.
For information or to register, visit RachelsHope.org, call (858) 581-3022, text (858) 752-9378 or email rachels_hope@juno.com.
Workshop to help draft ‘Creation Care’ plans
SAN DIEGO — The Vatican invites all faithful to take action to care for creation via the “Laudato Si” Action Platform. The Diocesan Creation Care Ministry assists them in this annual cycle of reflecting and planning new steps to lessen harm to the earth and all life.
All are invited to attend a hands-on “Laudato Si” Action Platform Workshop from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5, at the diocesan Pastoral Center. An optional pizza dinner will precede the workshop at 5:30 p.m.
The ministry will assist participants in developing their own parish, school or family “Laudato Si” Action Plan for this year.
For more information, email cslentz@sdcatholic.org. Register at bit.ly/CCLSAPWorkshop5FEB25.
Diocesan Mass to mark ‘World Day of Sick’
SAN DIEGO — Auxiliary Bishop Michael Pham will celebrate the Diocese of San Diego’s annual “World Day of the Sick” Mass at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 8, at Good Shepherd Parish in Mira Mesa.
The multilingual liturgy will include the anointing of the sick and a blessing of caregivers and ministers.
The Mass will be livestreamed on the diocesan website.
For more information, visit sdcatholic.org/event/world-day-of-the-sick-mass.
‘Love Our Priests’ to gather for Mass, potluck
SAN DIEGO — The “Love Our Priests” Prayer Group will gather on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Ascension Parish in Tierrasanta.
There will be a Mass at 10 a.m., followed by a potluck lunch. The special guest will be Father Victor Maristela, associate pastor of St. Michael Parish in Poway, who will share his vocation story.
For more information, email jeanlaskey@outlook.com.
Catholic schools families invited to USD games
SAN DIEGO — A “Catholic Schools Day” celebration will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, at the University of San Diego’s Jenny Craig Pavilion.
The day will feature both women’s and men’s basketball games, along with exclusive perks and activities for Catholic school students, their families, friends and the community.
USD women’s basketball will take on Santa Clara at 2 p.m., followed by a match between Torero men’s basketball and San Francisco at 7 p.m. Between the games, fans can also enjoy USD baseball’s second home game of the season as they battle Texas Christian University at Fowler Park at 5 p.m.
All Catholic school students will receive complimentary tickets to both basketball games and the baseball game. Meanwhile, $1 general admission tickets will be offered to friends and family of Catholic school students.
There will also be cheer and choir performances by Catholic school students, as well as a bounce house, lawn games, food vendors and more.
For information or to purchase game tickets, visit usdtoreros.com. To access these “Catholic Schools Day” perks, use the promo code CATHOLICSCHOOLSDAY25.
Father Joe’s going to ‘Wonderland’
SAN DIEGO — “Alice in Wonderland” is the theme of the Father Joe’s Villages Ladies Guild’s upcoming annual fundraiser.
It will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 17, at The Dana on Mission Bay.
The event will include lunch, entertainment, and an opportunity drawing. Online auction bidding will be at Father Joe’s website, my.neighbor.com.
The Ladies Guild is a service organization that provides funds and assistance for homeless children living at Father Joe’s Villages.
The cost to attend is $65. Free parking is available. For more information, email Blanex@aol.com.
Retreat offers healing for children of divorce
TUSTIN, Calif. –– Did you grow up in a divorced family? Are your parents recently divorced or separated?
If so, the dioceses of San Diego and Orange are offering the opportunity for adults from divorced families to give voice to their pain and find healing through Christ.
A unique retreat will be held from March 28 to 30 at Lestonnac Retreat Center in Tustin. Presented by the peer-led ministry Life-Giving Wounds, the retreat is grounded in Catholic tradition and evidence-based psychology.
The cost to attend is $375 for single occupancy, $325 for double occupancy, and $125 for commuters. Prices will increase after Saturday, Feb. 15.
For more information about Life-Giving Wounds, visit lifegivingwounds.org. For questions about the retreat, email jperegoy@sdcatholic.org.
Gala supports trafficking survivors
SAN DIEGO — Children of the Immaculate Heart, a nonprofit that has served survivors of sex trafficking and their children since 2013, will hold its 12th annual gala on Saturday, March 1.
It will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at St. Therese of Carmel Catholic Church in Carmel Valley.
The evening will include a three-course dinner, drinks, a jazz band, silent and live auctions, and door prizes.
Cy Kellett, host of “Catholic Answers Live,” will serve as emcee. The keynote speaker, Jamie Gates, Ph.D., is a sociology professor at Point Loma Nazarene University and the leading expert on human trafficking in San Diego.
The gala supports the holistic treatment of clients in Children of the Immaculate Heart’s program. These services include housing assistance, individual counseling, equine therapy, financial tutoring, career planning, education, monthly groceries, and transportation.
Tickets are $85 per person. RSVP is required at childrenoftheimmaculateheart.org/events or by calling (619) 431-5537.
Women’s Auxiliary hosting Lenten reflection
CHULA VISTA — The Whispering Winds Women’s Auxiliary will hold a Lenten reflection at 9 a.m., on Saturday, March 8, at St. Pius X Church in Chula Vista.
The speaker will be Claire Frazier-Vzaguirre, M.Div., MFT.
There is no cost to attend, but a free-will offering will be taken.
For more information, email kesa1@cox.net or call (619) 504-7620.
Men can explore vocation in March
SAN DIEGO — The Diocese of San Diego is hosting an event for those who are interested in exploring a possible vocation to the priesthood.
Explorer Day will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Saturday, March 22, at St. Francis Center, located on the University of San Diego campus.
Those who participate will have the opportunity to tour the dorms where the seminarians stay and to listen to speakers. They can attend Mass at the seminary chapel and pray together.
Transitional Deacon Anthony Jimenez, who is to be ordained to the priesthood in June, urged anyone considering a vocation to attend this event.
“You owe it to yourself to take advantage of this opportunity to see if this is what you’re called to do,” he said during a meeting on the diocesan synod at the Pastoral Center on Jan. 16.
Those who may be interested must speak to their pastor to pick up an application and get approved by him. For more information, contact Carmel Maglalang at St. Francis Center at (858) 490-8389 or cmaglalang@sdcatholic.org.
Rachel’s Vineyard offering post-abortion healing
The Rachel’s Vineyard ministry is presenting “A Time for Mercy,” a Catholic post-abortion retreat, from Friday, March 28, to Sunday, March 30.
Organizers promise a safe place to renew, rebuild and redeem hearts broken by abortion. Rachel’s Vineyard retreats are open to women and men seeking healing from an abortion. The retreats are confidential and non-judgmental, offered in the Catholic tradition.
Early registration is recommended, as space is limited.
For more information, visit atimeformercy.org, call (951) 325-7702 or email RVTemecula@verizon.net.
Divorced, separated invited to healing Mass
SAN DIEGO — The Diocese of San Diego wants divorced and separated Catholics to know: “You are not alone. Divorce and separation are never part of the plan. The Church is here to help.”
The diocese will deliver that message at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 9, at the diocesan Pastoral Center in the form of a bilingual Healing Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Ramon Bejarano.
For more information, email jperegoy@sdcatholic.org.
Young adults can network at YCP events
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego chapter of Young Catholic Professionals (YCP) hosts regular events for young Catholics in their 20s and 30s.
Among the organization’s recurring events is its Executive Speaker Series, where a Catholic speaker is invited to reflect on his or her faith and career. There is no cost for admission, and attendees can enjoy free beer, wine and appetizers, as well as time for networking.
YCP San Diego also holds networking happy hours, half-day retreats and other events.
For more information on upcoming events, visit youngcatholicprofessionals.org/chapter/san-diego.
Women welcome to discern together
SAN DIEGO — Women, ages 18 to 35, who feel that God might be calling them to consecrated life are invited to share their experiences and walk with other women in discernment.
Weekly meetings are held at 6:30 p.m., Mondays, at Mission San Diego de Alcala.
For more information, contact Sister Katia Chavez, SJS, at (760) 562-2727 or visit usasjs.org/prayer-request#MeettheVocationDirectors.
Men invited to join ‘Rosary Crusade’
SAN DIEGO — The Men’s Rosary Crusade gathers at 9 a.m., every first Saturday of the month, at the corner of 6th and Laurel in Balboa Park. All men are welcome.
The rosary intentions are for reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for the conversion of America, for families and for the unborn.
For more information, email draguez@sbcglobal.net or call (619) 920-8363.
