Father Guzman joins priesthood in ‘Ordination like no other’

SAN BERNARDINO– In a year that Bishop Gerald Barnes described as being “like no other,” Antonio Guzman still completed his journey to become a priest of the Diocese of San Bernardino. Father Guzman was Ordained at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in San Bernardino on June 29. The Ordination Mass was celebrated under the current social distancing and public health directives of the Diocese, limiting attendance to 100 people. It was also livestreamed on Diocesan social media, where more than 3,500 people had watched by the next day.

As he spoke to the crowd at the conclusion of the liturgy, Fr. Guzman offered a message of gratitude.

“I want to thank God for calling me to this ministry of the priesthood. I thank all the people who have walked with me during this journey of discernment,” he said. “I ask for your prayers in the same way that I keep you in my prayers.”

Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas and Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Rutilio del Riego joined Bishop Barnes in concelebrating the Mass. During his homily, Bishop Barnes alluded to his impending retirement – expected in June of 2021 – when he turned and addressed Fr. Guzman directly.

“You are the last of my sons that I will ordain as diocesan bishop. So, I get a little emotional,” Bishop Barnes said in Spanish, “but look who the Lord has sent me to ordain, one of his best children.”

Earlier Bishop Barnes made reference to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on milestone public events like graduations, weddings, baptisms and holiday gatherings.

“A lot of people had plans this year,” he said. “All of it had to be done in different ways.”

Father Guzman’s Ordination was no exception. A native of Colima, Mexico he was unable to have his parents present for the Ordination because of challenges related to the pandemic. He did have several members of his extended family there to share the moment, however. An Ordination Mass is typically attended by hundreds of priests, but in this case the number had to be limited and most sat spread out in a section of pews in the Cathedral. A small group of seminarians, several who were classmates of Fr. Guzman in seminary, occupied another section of the church. A number of local laypersons who came to know Father Guzman during his parish internship were also at the Ordination.

All were required to wear a face mask. The book of Ordination prayers sat on a stand for the Bishop to read rather than being held by an altar server. All of the participants applied hand sanitizer throughout the liturgy, including all of the priests who processed to the altar for the laying on of the hands ritual. At the close, Fr. Guzman offered a blessing to all of his family members from the ambo, departing from the custom of blessing each person individually with a touch of their forehead.

“The world has changed with this virus and I am with the people,” Father Guzman said in an interview the week prior to his Ordination. “Who am I to not be part of this, too?”

When COVID-19 directives began to take effect he returned early from Assumption Seminary in San Antonio to complete his studies at St. Junipero Serra House of Formation in Grand Terrace. Local

Catholics got to know him in a unique way as he served Mass and read the Gospel at most of the Diocesan Masses that were livestreamed from Serra House and viewed by thousands of people every Sunday.

Fr. Guzman’s Ordination took place on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Bishop Barnes called on the faithful to turn to these two “roots” of the Church in the difficult present days of the pandemic.

“We’ve been given the strength to live through difficult times,” he said. “We know our God is waiting for us. It gives us inner peace.”

In his final remarks, Bishop Barnes announced the Fr. Guzman’s first assignment as a priest will be at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Riverside, effective July 1.

Diocese organizes Peace Walk against racism

SAN BERNARDINO – As he spoke of his decades long experience of racism, and the current national climate following the police killing of George Floyd, the voice of Deacon Don Norris, the only African American deacon in the Diocese, began to rise.

“We do not know what is going to happen next and when it is going to happen,” he said. “All we are asking for is equality, justice and hope. We ask our Church to remain local and proactive in denouncing the sin of racism.”

The Diocese, indeed, made a public denunciation of racism with a Peace Walk on June 20, a day after the annual Juneteenth observance that marks the day that slaves in Texas received the news of their liberation. More than 75 people took to the streets of San Bernardino, praying the Rosary and carrying signs as they walked from the Diocesan Pastoral Center down Highland Avenue to Perris Hill Park. The walk was organized by the Diocesan Ministry to Catholics of African Descent.

“I want to be visible and show my support that we as Catholics stand up against racism, that we stand up for those who are marginalized,” said Amy Christensen, who drove all the way from 29 Palms to participate in the Walk.

Many other local Catholic laypersons came to support the event. They were joined by five priests, three deacons and two religious sisters. Diocesan Seminarian Michael Ezeoke led the group in praying the Rosary. When they reached Perris Hill Park, Father Manny Cardoza gave an impassioned reflection. He offered that the tide of racism can only be turned if every person is willing to look at their own role in it – through their actions, inactions or cultural assumptions.

“We have to look at ourselves and be honest and say, ‘I was part of the problem,’ “ said Fr. Cardoza, who is the Pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in San Bernardino. “We have to ask ourselves, where is the racism in my own culture that I haven’t recognized and asked forgiveness for?”

Philomina Nwarueze, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish, Rancho Cucamonga, came to the United States from Africa 35 years ago. She spoke briefly at the Peace Walk. While not American born, she said she has come to recognize and experience the kind of racism that is perpetrated against African Americans.

“I’m actually one of them. We share the same blood,” Nwarueze said. “So, I decided to come out today and fight for my children and fight for my grandchildren. I want them to feel free in this land.”

Some signs and words of reflection at the Walk characterized the Catholic fight against racism as a Pro Life issue. Both Deacon Norris and Fr. Cardoza affirmed this idea, saying whenever the dignity of any human person is threatened, it becomes a “Life” issue for the Church.

“You can’t be a follower of Christ if you are going to pick and choose which of his teachings you like best,” Deacon Norris said.

Sam Kolendowicz, Director of Pro Life Ministries at Our Lady of Hope, who is European-American, joined the Peace Walk.

“I’m here to pray for an end to this [racism],” she said. “It pains me that I can count the number of white people here on one hand.”

Ezeoke, who is African, said he has been troubled that some of those who he has participated in Pro- Life marches and events with in the past have been silent on the issue of racism in recent weeks.

“If you know a black person ask them what it is like to be a black person in America—then you’ll know.”

Diocese reopens churches for Mass

SAN BERNARDINO – “Let us come back to the Feast now.” The words of Father Duong Nguyen, SVD, to the faithful at Holy Rosary Cathedral during Morning Mass on June 14 captured the feeling at churches throughout the Diocese as public Masses resumed.

In all, 68 of the 93 parishes in the Diocese opened their churches for Mass. To do so they had to sign off on a series of stringent diocesan requirements reflecting ongoing social distancing and public health directives related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the most notable, no more than 100 people or 25 percent of church capacity (whichever is less) was allowed at each Mass. Parishioners were required to wear a face mask, and most churches required that every other pew was left empty. Each church was to receive a thorough cleaning between each Mass.

Because of attendance restrictions, many parishes, including Holy Rosary, offered online registration for those wishing to have a guaranteed seat. Some Masses still had room for “walk in” parishioners who had not registered.

While the Masses had a different look, most who attended were overjoyed and emotional to return to church after three months away. It was a special occasion, indeed, occurring on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.

“It was kind of like Christmas Day. I even put on heels,” said Holy Rosary parishioner Olivia Guerrero. “It was a beautiful experience. No one could see me smiling because of my mask.”

Said parishioner Chris Doubet, “I’m glad to be able to come in and pray and listen to the sermon.”

The highpoint for many was receiving the Eucharist after a painful period of spiritual hunger. Parishioners were asked to apply hand sanitizer before receiving the host and to keep on their face mask until consuming it.

“It was emotional for me to receive the body of Christ,” said Roseann Segura. “Being on my knees here and praying for everyone.”

In his homily, Fr. Nguyen, the Rector of Our Lady of the Rosary, encouraged the faithful to view the recent period of absence as an invitation to gratitude.

“We’ve been living in a difficult time. We’ve been deprived of some of the things that are essential to us,” he said. “We may ask ourselves what the Eucharist means to us. We may appreciate being able to receive the Eucharist now more than before.”

Guerrero said she understood Fr. Nguyen’s point. “You don’t know what you’ve missed until you don’t have it anymore.”

Fr. Nguyen encouraged parishioners to add a prayer of thanksgiving to God in the coming week for being able to return to Mass and receive the Eucharist.

Those who are over 65, have an underlying health condition, or are not yet comfortable being in public were encouraged to remain at home and watch their parish livestream of Mass. Bishop Gerald Barnes has kept in place the dispensation from attending Mass weekly for the people of the Diocese.