HABEMUS PAPAM!!

Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the first US-born pontiff and will be known as Pope Leo XIV

Chapter Chaplain's Homily Reflection - THE CALL TO SHARE DIVINE MERCY

THE CALL TO SHARE DIVINE MERCY
On this final day of the Octave of Easter - the eight day celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection - the Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday. In today’s Gospel, the Risen Jesus commissions his disciples, sending them forth just as the Father sent him. The first reading shows us the early Christian community gathered in prayer Jesus’ resurrection, sharing their possessions, and supporting one another in love.
When the first reports of the Resurrection reached the disciples, they were filled with joy, yet soon fear and guilt crept in. A week later, Jesus appeared again—not to condemn them, but to strengthen them. Notice what He did not do. He did not revisit the pain of Good Friday. He did not rebuke them for abandoning him. He did not shame them for their doubts. Instead, his first words were: “Peace be with you.” It was the greeting they needed most.
You will recall how the disciples left him alone and fled his presence on Good Friday. If God had built his kingdom on the standards of tit-for-tat, Jesus would have confronted them with anger and reproach. But in the Upper Room, he offered peace as a sign of reconciliation to those who had turned away from him. He forgave them without demanding apologies.
In this encounter, Jesus did something only love and trust can do. Despite their failures, He gave them shalom, not recrimination; mercy, not retribution. He refused to define them by their mistakes because he knew the human person is always more than his or her failures. And as if this were not enough, he breathed the Holy Spirit upon them and sent them out to bring God’s merciful forgiveness to the world. What a love. What a mercy.
In all this, we see that God’s mercy is God’s heart bending toward us in love, even when we do not deserve it. It is his steadfast willingness to forgive, to heal, and to restore us whenever we fall short. Mercy is the light that enters our darkness and the love that refuses to give up on us.
Today’s Gospel also shows how Jesus wanted the story of Good Friday’s mercy to be told alongside the message of his Resurrection. We see this not only in how he forgave the disciples, but also in how he handled Thomas’s unbelief. Thomas’s attitude invited judgment, yet Jesus corrected him with gentleness, treating his doubt with understanding and compassion.
Therefore, the message behind the Upper Room appearance is clear: the Church is founded on Mercy and sent to bring forgiveness and peace to the world. This mission is urgent. That is why, on February 22, 1931, Jesus appeared to St. Faustina as the “King of Divine Mercy,” clothed in a white garment. He asked her to seek God’s mercy, to trust in His abundant compassion, and to become a channel of mercy to others.
Guided by the Holy Spirit, Pope John Paul II, after 69 years of the Lord’s appearance to sister Faustina, designated the Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday on April 30, 2000. Since then, the message and practice of Divine Mercy have renewed countless lives and inspired works of charity across the world.
Yet our world today is wounded because it lacks true love, true mercy, and true forgiveness. Leaders fail in their peace plans because peace cannot be built on revenge or resentment. We see the consequences everywhere: racial discrimination, terrorism, gang violence in schools and communities, kidnappings, broken families, and the rising rate of divorce. Hatred and unforgiveness have become the language of our age.
Jesus reminds us that the human person is weak and prone to error. If we measure everything strictly by justice, we will never know peace. Justice alone cannot save us. Mercy completes what justice begins. Justice makes us good citizens; mercy makes us Christians. If God judged us only by justice, none of us would stand (cf. Lk 5:32). In Christ, God reconciled the world to Himself, not counting our trespasses against us, and entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18).
This is why the message given to St. Faustina is so vital. It reminds us that Jesus is not only the God of justice but the God of mercy (Lam 3:21–23). He does not treat us as our sins deserve but tempers justice with compassion. He invites us to learn from Him how to forgive without counting the cost.
Mercy matters in daily life because it shapes how we live and relate to one another. It forms how families forgive, how communities reconcile, how we approach God in prayer, and how we treat the poor, the struggling, and the difficult. Mercy becomes the soil where healing, unity, and holiness take root.
Is it any wonder St. Paul urges us in Romans 12 to “Bless those who persecute you… Repay no one evil for evil… Never avenge yourselves… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (12:14,16,19,21). Therefore, let us open our hearts to receive Christ’s peace, open our minds to His instruction, and open our lives to share the Divine Mercy of Good Friday and the new life of Easter with all who encounter us - through the way we live, speak, forgive, and love.

Fr. Imo

Chaplain 

Arrowhead Desert Valley Chapter

Cinco de Mayo Dinner - Dance, Saturday, May 2nd

Del Rosa Council #4488 is hosting a Cinco de Mayo Dinner - Dance

Saturday,  May 2nd

Doors open at 4:30pm

Dinner 5:30 - 7:00pm

Dance 7:30 - 11:30pm

The Passing of Former District Deputy John Lopez

John Lopez Obituary

October 10, 1938 - March 24, 2026

John was born October 10th, 1938 to John and Emma Lopez. He served 6 years in the Navy participating in atomic bomb testing as a Frogman for the Navy. He married Lucy on May 13th, 1961. His twin boys Rick and Gary were born September 29th, 1966 and his daughter Veronica was born August 26th, 1971. He also has a granddaughter Francisca and grandson in law Octavio as well as two granddaughters Aria and Gianna. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus for many years. He coached Jr. Bowlers, Little League Baseball and Girls Softball for Rialto Girls softball league and Eisenhower High School. He attended and completed training classes through the catholic church so that he could serve God more He taught catechism classes for Christ the King church and also in our Lady of Guadalupe in El Centro where he had the largest class of 300 confirmations, he was also a lector and a Eucharistic minister in the church. He was visited by the Bishop of San Diego. He loved to fish hunt travel golf and just to play games on his computer he also loved to camp with his family whom he loved dearly. He was always there for anyone he loved that needed him. He was an amazing man and will be missed. May his soul rest east now.

The Passing of Fr. George Gonzales

Fr. George Gonzalez was a member of the Knights of Columbus for 74 years. He did his first degree 11-1- 1951. He was a member of Grand Terrace council 12050 & was member of Assembly 2247 Padre Pio in Temecula. Our brother got called home “Good and faithful servant job well done.”

May Our Lord Jesus grant him eternal peace and may the perpetual light shine upon him. 

Here are the services for Fr George:

Tuesday, December 30: Viewing, Vigil and Rosary at Christ the Redeemer, Grand Terrace
4PM to 5PM: private family viewing
5PM to 7PM: public viewing
7PM: Vigil and Rosary (Msgr. Lopez presides)
Small reception afterwards

Wednesday, December 31: Funeral Mass at St Frances Xavier Cabrini, Yucaipa

10AM: Mass (Bishop Rojas presides; Msgr Webber homilist)
Reception after Mass in parish hall
1:30 PM: Burial at OLQP Cemetery (Bishop Barnes presides, tentatively)

Catholic Scouting Donation Opportunity

My Brothers, 

I am asking that you prayerfully consider making a monetary donation to our Catholic Committee on Scouting so that we may supply these awards and patches to every Scout that earns them. We would also use these funds to promote Catholic Scouting as a Youth Ministry throughout our Diocese of San Bernardino with your help. There are two ways in which you can send your donation. • Zelle to sbcatholicscouting@gmail.com • Mail a check payable to San Bernardino Catholic Committee on Scouting o C/O Manuel Alexandre, Treasurer 11831 Amethyst Ct, Jurupa Valley CA 91752 I would like to thank you for taking the time to consider donating to Catholic Scouting. If you have any questions, please feel free to email, sbcatholicscouting@gmail.com, or call me, (909) 896-5832.

Vivat Jesus!

Mark Glaudini

ADVC wins Third consecutive California Chapter of the Year

Arrowhead Desert Valley Chapter President Alex Castenon receives the 2024-2025  California Jurisdiction's chapter of the year award.

Council 5392 wins Division 5 Awards

Grand Knight Jess Ocampo, from Council 5392 San Gorgonio Council Beaumont/Banning, Division 5 received 5 awards which include 1st place in Family Program.

The passing of PCP Charles Howard and Funeral Information

It is with great sorrow to notify you of the passing of Arrowhead Desert Valley Chapter Past Chapter President Charles Howard.
Brother Charles was  influential in many brother's journey in the Knights of Columbus. We ask you to remember him and Cinthy in your prayers.

Pro-Life in Practice: 20 Active Ways to Help

The Bible tells us that "Faith without works is dead." The link below will lead you to some practical ideas of how you can convert your pro-life faith into action.

Show me 20 ways that I can help support life.

Prayer for Priests