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 - CALL OUT TO GOD AND FEAR NOT

CALL OUT TO GOD AND FEAR NOT
The readings this weekend present us with the ever-present presence of God and man’s struggles to perceive it when faced with difficult times. These readings feature three men who are weighed down with concerns because of their difficult experiences. In the first reading, Elijah experienced depression because his miraculous deed to protect his people's faith backfired. He became scared by the threats of the wicked Queen Jezebel and fled for his life. In the second reading, the Israelites' refusal to accept salvation in Christ led Paul to frustration and grief. In the Gospel, the disciples rowed off into the chaos of a storm on the lake. They became devastated and feared for their lives when their struggle to reach a place of safety failed.
What is at stake in these challenges is not necessarily the magnitude of their experiences but how each one responded to them. This is important because our strength during difficult times is measured not by how much we suffer, but by how we respond to our suffering. While Elijah responded with fear, Paul responded with frustration and grief. The disciples also responded with fear. Even Peter, who later made a leap of faith, allowed fear to overtake him.
Where did these three men go wrong? Elijah's mistake came when he forgot the God who sent fire from heaven and focused instead on the queen who sent a death threat. He carried unrealistic expectations and misunderstood how God works. In Paul we see gift-consciousness, which made him think he could change the world overnight. God gave him ability to make converts, but he failed to realize it was not his power but God’s favor. He trusted too much in his own gifts. And when their expectations failed, fear set in. In Peter, we see ambition and acting without thinking. In this context, he acted on impulse and emotional fervor without counting the cost.
As we can see, these life experiences help to teach us that life is full of adventures, accidents, and harsh experiences. The world is not a safe place. As such, our lives are always in danger - terrorist attacks, tornadoes, earthquakes, political upheavals, hunger, and death, to mention but a few. These experiences do not just come our way because we are saints or sinners but because we are living in the world. So, while here on earth, we are paddled on every side by forces hostile to the kingdom. Though by our nature, we do not like harsh conditions, we are always looking for a better life.
The question now is, how should we respond to difficult times without giving in to fear? The way out is to fight fear with faith and truth. In the face of our struggles with fear, faith can help steady us and enable us to walk through raging waters. This is what Peter did in the moment of his failure: though shaking with fear, he clutched at Jesus and held him firmly. What is required is trust in his foreknowledge that “the hairs of your head are all numbered, fear not” (Lk 12:7).
The good news is that every one of them found help the moment they called out to God. The irresistible truth is that our being in this world is like walking on the waters of success and/or adversity, and the only way out is to realize that Jesus is always with us and call out to him. God never abandons the cries of his children who sincerely call upon him. Our problem is that at times we get consumed by wonder and surprise at our experiences and fail to cry out as Peter did.
So, in these unique readings about Elijah, Paul and Peter, the Church wants us to realize that no one is self-sufficient. No matter how smart, strong, gifted, or experienced we may be, every one of us reaches moments when fear rises, strength fails, and the waves of life begin to swallow us. Even when we are convinced that God is leading us and we are doing His will, we must never imagine that we can walk on water by ourselves. Therefore, let us leave this Mass today renewed in our desire to be God’s faithful people who depend and keep their eyes fixed on Jesus. He alone is our life. He alone is our hope. He alone is our strength. He alone is our salvation. And as long as our gaze remains on Him, no storm can ever overcome us.

Chaplain 

Arrowhead Desert Valley Chapter

The Passing of Former ADVC Marshal Vince Giracello & Funeral Information

It is with a heavy heart we regret to inform you the passing of Vince Giracello on July 7, 2026.  He served as Marshal for the Arrowhead Desert Valley Chapter and past Grand Knight of Our Lady of the Valley Council #5528.

The Funeral Mass will be Friday, August 21st at Our Lady of the Valley at 11:00am

The address is:

780 S State St, Hemet, CA 92543

2026 Plane Pull Saturday, September 12th

Join our team and put your strength to the test — pull a full-size jet down the runway as 

fast as we can! Every pull raises funds and awareness for Special Olympics Southern 

California athletes, supporting year-round sports, health, and leadership programs. 

No special skills needed — just teamwork and heart.

Jo

Past Arrowhead Desert Valley Chapter President Alex Castanon elected State Warden

 Our very own Past Chapter President Alex Castañon was elected the California State Warden for 2026 - 2027 Columbian year.

Congratulations to him and praying for his success as well as success for the entire California State Council. 

ADVC Chaplain Fr. Imo wins Juan Perez Award

Arrowhead Desert Valley Chapter Chaplain Fr. Cletus Imo wins Fr. Juan Perez Award for Southern California Region.

Duffy Family wins Family of the Year Award

Arrowhead Desert Valley Chapter Vice President James Duffy and Family win California State Council's Family of the Year Award.

2025-26 ADVC Star District Deputies

Congratulations to the 2025-2026 ADVC District Deputies that achieved 100% or more.

District    Member %       District Deputy
144          135%                 John Coffman
147          214%                 Ed Robillard
148          167%                 Michael Hall
149          281%                 Edward Franklin
152          173%                 William Calderon

Additional congratulations to All Star Districts for 100% of their councils achieving Star Council.      

147           Ed Robillard

CUF Exemplification Hosted by Council #16293 - Upland

The were 7 men that joined our Order Saturday, July 15th

3 for St Joseph

3 for St. Anthony

1 for St Elizabeth Ann Seton

Inland Charities Donates to the Bishop's Seminarian Burse

On Wednesday, March 11th, Inland Charities donated $51,000 to San Bernardino Diocesan Seminarian Burse. 

Pictured (left to right) are: Arrowhead Desert Valley Chapter (ADVC) Chaplain Fr. Cletus Imo, Inland Charities Secretary Dr. Donald Averill, Bishop Alberto Rojas, Inland Charities President Marc Cobb, ADVC Vice President James Duffy, and ADVC Marshal William Calderon.

15 Promises to Those Who Pray the Rosary

1. Whosoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest Graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against Hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant Mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men [and women] from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire for Eternal Things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.
6. Whosoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself [herself] to the consideration of its Sacred Mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the Grace of God, and become worthy of Eternal Life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the Light of God and the plenitude of His Graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the Merits of the Saints in Paradise.
9. I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of Glory in Heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by recitation of the Rosary.
12. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire Celestial Court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son, Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

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.

The Passing of Former District Deputy Manuel Joia Jr.

The Pro-Life Video Every Person Needs To See (Even People Who Are Pro-Choice)

This is one of, if not the, most powerful pro-life messages we’ve ever seen. This video was produced by the French March for Life movement, Marche Pour La Vie.

It honestly left our staff speechless. It is that powerful.

The description of the video in French reads: “À un choix de te perdre, découvrez l’histoire de Lucie et à travers elle de toutes les femmes qui ont dû faire face à la décision d’avorter” which translates to:

A choice to lose you, discover the story of Lucie and through her all the women who had to face the decision to abort:

At 1:02 it says “What would my life have been without you.”