Exhibit Teaches Students About Eucharistic Miracles
SAN DIEGO — Students at the School of the Madeleine in San Diego’s Bay Park neighborhood recently had the opportunity to learn about Blessed Carlo Acutis and more than 80 Eucharistic miracles that he researched and documented.
The touring exhibit has made stops at various local parishes since 2021, including Mission San Diego de Alcalá, Guardian Angels Parish in Santee, Mary Star of the Sea Parish in La Jolla, Our Lady of the Valley Parish in El Centro, and St. Stephen Parish in Valley Center.
The free exhibit is part of the legacy of Blessed Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager who compiled information about many Eucharistic miracles throughout the centuries and around the world before his death from acute leukemia at age 15.
The Catholic Church teaches that, when the words of consecration are spoken by the priest at Mass, bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. Eucharistic miracles like those depicted in the exhibit, include occasions on which the consecrated bread and wine physically changed into human flesh and blood in a manner that has baffled scientists.
For more information on how to bring the Eucharistic miracles exhibit to your parish or school, contact Jon Kern at jkernpt@gmail.com or (760) 460-1203.
Birthline Invites You to ‘Love Another Mother’
SAN DIEGO — Following its successful debut last year, Birthline of San Diego County will host its “Love Another Mother” campaign in honor of Mother’s Day.
Tax-deductible donations of all sizes are welcome and can be made at birthlineofsd.org by clicking on the “Love Another Mother” donation button. All donations for the campaign must be received by Monday, May 1.
Every $200 donation to Birthline’s campaign will sponsor a Mother’s Day gift and festive brunch for a deserving mother or other caregiver with children under age 6. Each mother will receive a $50 shopping gift card to Walmart, a spa-at-home gift bag of toiletries, and a living plant for the home.
With an office in the Clairemont area, Birthline of San Diego County serves pregnant women and families with children age 6 and younger by providing diapers, children’s clothing and other essential items free of charge, as well as making referrals for prenatal care, housing, education, employment, addiction recovery, domestic violence prevention and other services.
Father Joe’s Villages Launches Online Thrift Store
SAN DIEGO — Father Joe’s Villages launched a new online thrift store April 24. Online shoppers can peruse available items at my.neighbor.org/shop.
The online store represents an expansion of the organization’s retail operations from its brick-and-mortar stores. Items on sale include gently used clothing, jewelry, entertainment, household goods, accessories, electronics and other items donated by supporters, with all the revenue funding the organization’s programs and services for homeless individuals and families.
The online store will feature promotions for its customers during the first four weeks of its launch, kicking off with huge promotions throughout the first month.
“With over 8,000 individuals experiencing homelessness on any given night in San Diego, our compassionate and varied solutions are more necessary than ever,” said Deacon Jim Vargas, president and CEO of Father Joe’s Villages. “Clothing donations help to power our online and retail stores, and now our supporters have the opportunity to help us raise funds for services from wherever they are.”
‘Silver Rose’ to Journey Through San Diego
SAN DIEGO — The Running of the Silver Rose of Guadalupe, a pro-life event sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, will wind its way through the Diocese of San Diego from May 13 to 21.
The event was started in 1960, by Knights of Columbus Council 2312 in Monterrey, Mexico, as a way of expressing gratitude to Our Lady of Guadalupe. A natural rose, blessed by a bishop, was transported in a relay from London, Ontario, through the United States, to Monterrey.
In the decades that followed, the natural rose was replaced first by a bronze rose and later by the current silver rose, and the event expanded to include multiple routes. There are eight routes this year; the one that includes San Diego began on Feb. 25 in Hawaii and, like the other routes, will end in Mexico on Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
At 2 p.m., Saturday, May 13, the rose will be transferred from the Orange Diocese Chapter of the Knights of Columbus to the San Diego Chapter at Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside. The rose will then travel to a succession of diocesan parishes, where prayer services will be held. A tentative schedule includes stops at about 20 parishes in San Diego and Imperial counties. The California-based Knights will then present the rose to their counterparts in Arizona, who will carry on the Running of the Silver Rose in their own state.
For more information, visit kofc.org/silverrose. To find out how to participate, contact Armando Mena at americanaztec@sbcglobal.net or (760) 213-1535.
Lecture Series Ongoing at St. Thérèse of Carmel
SAN DIEGO — Catholic Answers, one of the nation’s largest lay-run apostolates, and St. Thérèse of Carmel Parish in Carmel Valley are teaming up to present the “On Fire for the Faith” Lecture Series.
The monthly series, held at St. Thérèse of Carmel Parish, features a lineup of leading Catholic apologists and lay evangelists and will continue throughout 2023. The Friday evening events begin with wine and cheese at 6:30 p.m., followed by a lecture at 7 p.m. There is no cost to attend, but a free-will offering will be accepted.
The next talk will be “How the Eucharist Makes Sense of Everything Else” (May 19) with Joe Heschmeyer, Catholic Answers apologist and author.
St. Thérèse of Carmel Parish is located at 4355 Del Mar Trails Road, San Diego 92130. For more information, call (858) 481-3232 or email parishoffice@stocsd.org.
Women’s Retreat to Be Held in Julian
JULIAN — The Whispering Winds Women’s Auxiliary Spring Retreat, “More to Your Story,” will be held May 19 to 21 at Whispering Winds Camp in Julian.
All women are invited to come enjoy warm fellowship and the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. The retreat will be led by Paula Mascari Bott, director of ministry development and programs at Whispering Winds. A Sunday Mass will be celebrated by Msgr. Mark Campbell.
The cost is $230, which includes two nights’ lodging and seven meals. Active WWWA members are eligible for a discounted rate of $200. For a partial scholarship, contact Chris Villalobos at (619) 977-7403 or chrisvillalobos5@gmail.com.
Register online at whisperingwinds.org/camps-retreats/womens-retreat. For more information, contact Cathy Sperrazzo at cathy@eyetoeyepr.com.
Retreat Offers After-Abortion Healing
SAN DIEGO — Rachel’s Hope will hold an after-abortion healing retreat for Catholic (and Catholic-friendly) women.
It will be held Friday, May 19, to Sunday, May 21, at the diocesan Pastoral Center. Mass will be included.
Group size is limited. Housing is available if needed.
The cost to attend is $60. Partial scholarships are available.
For more information, visit RachelsHope.org. For questions or to register, call Rosemary Benefield at (858) 581-3022, text (858) 752-9378 or email rachels_hope@juno.com.
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 & 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 sdrosarycrusade@gmail.com or call/text (619) 909-3194.
Catholics Can ‘Encounter’ Jesus in Rancho Peñasquitos
SAN DIEGO — Encounter, a Spirit-filled evening of inspiring music, prayer and Eucharistic adoration, is held on the second Friday of each month at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Rancho Peñasquitos.
Sponsored by the parish’s Hearts of Fire Ministry, the event runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish at (858) 324-0490.
Street Evangelization Brings Gospel to Public Square
SAN DIEGO — St. Paul Street Evangelization is a grassroots, nonprofit organization dedicated to taking the Gospel message to the streets.
Participants in the ministry do this in a non-confrontational way, allowing the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of those who witness their public Catholic presence.
For more information or to get involved, visit streetevangelization.com, call (619) 515-3267 or email scb@procopio.com.
Scholarship Gala Celebrates JPCatholic’s 20th Anniversary
ESCONDIDO — John Paul the Great Catholic University will hold its annual Scholarship Gala on Saturday, May 20, at Vintana Wine + Dine Restaurant in Escondido.
This year’s gala will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the school, which was founded in 2003 by five lay Catholics in North County. The university opened its doors to its first students in September of 2006 at its temporary campus in Scripps Ranch. In 2013, it relocated to its permanent campus in Escondido.
The gala will begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner and student entertainment from 7 to 9 p.m.
Tickets range from $500 to $2,500 per person. All funds raised from tickets will support the university’s Student Scholarship Fund. There will also be a silent auction prior to the dinner. Dress is cocktail attire.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit jpcatholic.edu/events/scholarship-gala/2023.php.
