The California Catholic Conference (CCC) has entered into a first-of-its-kind agreement with Communio, beginning a new chapter in strengthening Catholic marriage and family life throughout the state. Through this comprehensive partnership with all 12 bishops and dioceses, every parish in California will now have access to Communio’s relationship ministry model, which is credited with a 24% drop in the divorce rate in Jacksonville, FL.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) reminds us that our “Church mourns the terrible suffering of Christians and other innocent victims of violence in Gaza and surrounding areas who are struggling to survive, protect their children, and live with dignity in dire conditions.”

The Holy Father continues to call for a ceasefire and for humanitarian aid to reach those in need, lamenting with deep sorrow that “Gaza is starving.”

In solidarity, Bishop Jaime Soto offers this prayerful reflection:

“Our hearts are burdened by the prolonged cauldron of miseries in the lands of our Lord Jesus. The endless plight of hostages and mounting victims of violence compel us to unite more closely to the suffering and death of our Savior echoing in the sorrowful pleas of our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land.”

On Wednesday, July 30, the Pastoral Center was filled with hope and joyful purpose as Bishop Rey and Alejandro Barraza, Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, welcomed leaders from the Diocese of Sacramento’s Youth and Young Adult Apostolic Movements for their first-ever gathering.

In a spirit of communion and shared mission, participants prayed together, shared a meal, and spent time learning about one another’s apostolates and unique charisms. Represented at this inaugural meeting were leaders from Totus Tuus, CFC Singles for Christ, CFC Youth for Christ, Emmanuel Community, Renew-Encounter Christ (REC), the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement, SEARCH Sacramento, and Fiat.