New ministry for newly married
SAN DIEGO — Growing in your marriage is truly a lifelong project.
“T(w)o Become One: Marriage Mystagogy,” a ministry for newly married couples, will meet on the first Thursday of each month for fellowship and practical hands-on tools to help couples in their marriage today.
The first meeting will be at 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 4, at Good Shepherd Parish in Mira Mesa.
For more information, email jprust@sdcatholic.org or call (858) 490-8256.
‘Adventures’ recommended for married couples
SAN DIEGO — Adventures in Marriage is an interactive program that teaches couples the practical, “hands-on” skills essential to build a healthy, thriving marriage that can go the distance.
Sponsored by the diocesan Office for Family Life and Spirituality, it will be offered from 6:30 to 9 p.m., Tuesdays, Sept. 9 to 30, at the diocesan Pastoral Center.
Fun, practical and easy to learn, the program is for couples at any age or stage. It helps couples with good marriages discover how to have a great marriage and helps distressed marriages reboot and learn a much better way.
For more information, call (858) 490-8256 or email jprust@sdcatholic.org. Register at tinyurl.com/adventuresinmarriage.
Young adults retreating to Julian
JULIAN — The diocese’s annual Young Adult Retreat will be held from Sept. 12 to 14 at Whispering Winds Catholic Camp & Conference Center in Julian.
Young adults, ages 18 to 39, are invited to step away from the busyness of everyday life and enter a weekend of rest, reflection and renewal.
The weekend includes shared lodging, engaging talks, small group discussions, and powerful opportunities for prayer through Mass, Eucharistic adoration and confession.
The cost is $200 per person. For more information, call (858) 490-8260 or email yamsd@sdcatholic.org.
Registration open for Catholic Sports Volleyball League
SAN DIEGO — The Catholic Sports Volleyball League will begin a new season on Saturday, Sept. 13.
Games are played from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays, at South Mission Beach off Capistrano Place. The league is intermediate 4v4, and the season will have frequent double-headers and typically 10 to 12 games per team.
Regular registration — $400 per team or $80 per free agent — will end Saturday, Aug. 30. Late registration is $520 per team or $80 per free agent; late registrants should contact Catholic Sports to make sure that there are still openings.
For more information, email info@catholicsports.net. Register at catholicsports.net/sandiego-sports.
Diocesan celebration in honor of Filipino saint
SAN DIEGO — The Feast of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the first canonized Filipino saint and martyr, will be celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 13, at Holy Family Parish in Linda Vista.
There will be novena prayers at 9:30 a.m.; a Mass at 10 a.m., with Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Pulido presiding and diocesan and Filipino priests concelebrating; and a reception to follow.
Born in Manila in 1594, St. Lorenzo Ruiz became a missionary and sailed to Okinawa in 1636, along with three priests. In Japan, at age 42, he refused to renounce his faith and died after two days of torture.
“I am a Christian. This I profess until the hour of my death. And, if I had a thousand lives, I would give them all to the Lord,” he is said to have declared before dying.
For more information, contact Athena Besa at (858) 382-0036 or abesa@san.rr.com, or Alejandra Diaz at (858) 490-8306 or adiaz@sdcatholic.org.
Women’s ministry celebrating 130th anniversary
ESCONDIDO — St. Mary Altar & Rosary Society, of Escondido, is the oldest ongoing women’s ministry in the Diocese of San Diego.
Founded in 1895, the group will be celebrating its 130th anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 21, after all of the morning Masses. There will be a reception in the parish hall at St. Mary Church in Escondido.
At the 9 a.m. Mass, a special blessing will be given to all past and present members. In the hall, more than 40 albums, books and display boards will be available for perusal.
For more information, email mmccarthy@stmaryp.org.
Creation Care art contest open to diocesan youth
SAN DIEGO — “Peace with Creation” is the theme of the fourth annual Season of Creation Art Contest.
Sponsored by the diocesan Creation Care Ministry, the contest is open to fourth- through 12th-graders in local Catholic schools and faith-formation programs.
Entries of drawings, colorings and/or paintings will be evaluated based on both the quality of the artwork as well as the described creation care-themed inspiration attributed to the piece. Recognition and cash prizes for the top two places in each age category will be awarded.
The entry deadline is 11:59 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 21.
Winners will be announced on Sunday, Sept. 28, and they will be invited to receive their awards at the Feast of St. Francis Festival, which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4. All participants are invited to show off their art at the festival.
For submission details and registration, visit bit.ly/SOCArt2025.
Retrouvaille offering hope for troubled marriages
SAN DIEGO — Not willing to let go of your marriage? Many couples continue to struggle, but are not willing to give up on each other. There is hope.
Retrouvaille is a program designed to help struggling marriages regain their health. It assists a husband and a wife to re-awaken the love, trust and commitment that originally brought them together.
A Retrouvaille Weekend will be held from Friday evening, Sept. 26, to Sunday afternoon, Sept. 28. The location will be provided upon confirmation. The cost is $700 per couple.
For more information, visit helpourmarriage-sandiego.org. Register at (951) 259-9474 or 6016r@helpourmarriage.org.
Mass to be offered for suicide loss survivors
ESCONDIDO — To mark Suicide Prevention Month, which is observed every September, there will be a special Mass for those who have lost a loved one to suicide or want to accompany families who have faced this challenge.
The Mass for Survivors of Suicide Loss will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27, at St. Mary Parish in Escondido. The Mass will be in Spanish, with a bilingual homily and prayers of the faithful.
A Spanish-language presentation, titled “The Silent Scream: A Compassionate Look at Suicide,” will take place before Mass. There will be a reception after Mass, where resources will be provided.
Visit sdcatholic.org/event/mass-for-survivors-of-suicide-loss for more information or to provide the name of your loved ones who died by suicide to be included in the special intentions.
Mass in recognition of all migrants on Sept. 28
SAN DIEGO — National Migration Week, an annual observance in the United States, will be celebrated by the Catholic Church from Sept. 22 to 28.
It’s a time to raise awareness and encourage Catholics to welcome and support migrants, refugees, and those who are displaced from their homes.
The Diocese of San Diego will mark the occasion with special Mass in Recognition of All Immigrants on Sept. 28 at 11 a.m., to be celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Ramón Bejarano, at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Vista.
Widowed, divorced invited to healing weekend
OCEANSIDE — Beginning Experience, an international ministry that helps the widowed, divorced and separated move beyond grief, will hold its next weekend retreat Oct. 10 to 12.
The weekend, which will be held at Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, will offer participants a supportive and caring environment with others that are going through and have gone through the same experiences.
For more information, including the cost to attend, email beginningexperiencesd@gmail.com or call (858) 748-2273.
Ladies Guild holding lunch, craft/bake sale
SAN DIEGO — The Father Joe’s Ladies Guild will hold its annual membership luncheon in September and its fall craft and bake sale the following month.
The catered luncheon will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 8, at St. Gregory the Great Parish in Scripps Ranch. The event is free to new guests, if registered by Sunday, Aug. 31. For information or to register, contact Margie Mills at (619) 733-7410 or margie.r.mills@gmail.com.
The craft and bake sale will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Monday, Oct. 13, at Father Joe’s Villages (1501 Imperial Ave., San Diego 92101). An assortment of homemade treats, crafts and “white elephant” treasures will be on sale.
The Father Joe’s Ladies Guild is a service organization that provides funds for homeless children and provides “woman-power” to assist at events at Father Joe’s Villages, San Diego’s leading homeless services provider.
St. Jude Parish holding annual fiesta
SAN DIEGO — St. Jude Shrine of the West Parish will hold its annual fiesta in honor of its patron saint.
The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Oct. 25 and 26, at the parish. It will include Mass, a procession, food, live music and a raffle.
For more information, visit stjudesd.com, call (619) 264-2195 or email info@stjudesd.com.
ISP makes history with latest retreat
OCEANSIDE — The Ignatian Spirituality Project’s San Diego team has made history by holding ISP’s first-ever Spanish-language retreat.
Rooted in Ignatian spirituality and the 12-step program, ISP’s mission is to invite people recovering from homelessness and addiction to encounter God’s unconditional love, hope and healing.
The first ISP Spanish Women’s Retreat was held July 12 to 13 at Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside. There were seven participants from two different shelters in San Diego — Father Joe’s Villages and Rachel’s Women’s Center.
Organizers said that the Spanish-language content provided tools for individuals to rediscover the meaning of life, which is often lost during addiction and homelessness.
For more information, visit ispretreats.org.
Women invited to discern vocation
SAN DIEGO — Women ages 18 to 35 are invited to a discernment session to explore religious life.
The weekly meetings are held at 6:30 p.m., Mondays, at Mission San Diego.
Women are invited to come and share their experience and walk with other women in discernment.
For more information, contact Sister Katia Chavez, SJS, at (760) 562-2727.
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, visit youngcatholicprofessionals.org/chapter/san-diego.
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.
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 p.m. Confession will be available, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish at (858) 324-0490.
