Have You Lost a Loved One Due to Violence?

Have you lost a loved one due to any type of violence such as suicide or homicide? The San Salvador Catholic Church honored those members in the church who have lost loved ones under these circumstances that occur every day. The Office of the Restorative Justice organized the event. This event, held on March 20th, is one of a series of Masses and prayers that are taking place this Lent season. For the event, there were a significant amount of candles that were lit. Each of the candles represented a person who has lost a loved one due to a tragedy. The candlelight represents eternity and that the spirit of the person will live on. “We want to accompany the people during their time of grief,” said Bishop Rutillo J. del Riego, who joined the Fraternity of Diocesan Laborer Priests in 1961. He studied Theology at the Pontifical University of Salamanca, in Salamanca, Spain and at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. The San Salvador Catholic Church is one many parishes that have been built throughout San Bernardino and Riverside Counties and has been open since 1893. The saying that the members of the church goes by is “our lives Rise like incense to God.” As the population in Southern California continues to grow, more Catholic churches have been developed. As the Bishop was giving his sermon, he explained that in this time of hardship, we should find peace and be able to help others get through this pain. Bishop Riego shares, "let this be a day to remember and to accompany and honor those who have lost loved ones due to violence."