San Diego County Fire

Please keep in your prayers those affected by fire in our region and our firefighters and first responders.

5 Schools Closed
Due to Fire Danger

The safety of students and staff at our Catholic schools affected by the fires is our top priority. We are praying for their well-being and a quick return to normalcy.

Schools closed for 1/24/25:

  1. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, San Ysidro
  2. St. John of the Cross Catholic School, Lemon Grove
  3. St. Rose of Lima School, Chula Vista
  4. Mater Dei Catholic Elementary, Chula Vista
  5. Mater Dei Catholic High School, Chula Vista
PRAYER

United in Prayer for San Diego

Lord Jesus, today we surrender ourselves to Your care and seek Your protection from the fires in our county of San Diego. Have mercy on us all, and may we feel Your boundless love during these challenging times. We lift up all those who have been affected so far, and especially the brave first responders who are putting their lives on the line to fight these fires. Watch over them and bring them home safely to their families.

 

We ask all this in Your Holy Name, Amen.

Resources

Alert San Diego

The latest information about the fire, evacuation orders, and more from county and fire authorities.

City of Chula Vista

The City of Chula Vista is closely monitoring the Border 2 Fire. Get updates and information here.

About the Coat of Arms

Bishop Pulido’s coat of arms is divided into four quarters with wavy horizontal lines from top to bottom. The blue and white lines represent the Blessed Virgin Mary. They also suggest water, which alludes to Jesus washing the feet of His disciples and to the waters of baptism. The red and gold lines represent the Holy Spirit and fire. The colors also can be seen as referring to the Blood that (along with water) poured from Jesus’ side at His crucifixion, as well as to the bread (gold) and wine (red) transformed into the Eucharist. At the center is a roundel featuring a symbolic representation of the “mandatum” (washing of the feet), which he believes exemplifies service to all humanity. The roundel’s outer edge is a line composed of small humps; it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Diocese of Yakima, where Bishop Pulido served as a priest before being named a bishop.

About the Coat of Arms

Bishop Pham’s coat of arms depicts a red boat on a blue ocean, which is crisscrossed by diagonal lines suggesting a fisherman’s net. This symbolizes his ministry as a “fisher of men,” as well as how his own father had been a fisherman. The boat is also a symbol of the Church, which is often referred to as the “barque of Peter.” At the center of the sail is a red beehive (a symbol of the bishop’s baptismal patron saint, St. John Chrysostom, who was known as a “honey-tongued” preacher). The beehive is surrounded by two green palm branches (an ancient symbol of martyrdom; the bishop’s ancestors were among Vietnam’s first martyrs). The eight red tongues of fire around the boat are a symbol of the Holy Spirit and a representation of the diversity of ethnic and cultural communities. The red of the boat, the beehive and the tongues of fire allude to the blood of the martyrs.

About the Coat of Arms

The coat of arms combines symbols that reflect Bishop Bejarano’s spiritual life and priestly ministry. The main part of the shield shows four wavy vertical lines on a gold background. These represent flowing waters. This alludes to his chosen motto and also symbolizes the graces that come from the Divine life to quench our thirst for God. The upper third of the shield is red because it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Order of Mercy, of which the Bishop’s patron saint, Raymond Nonnatus, was a member. The central symbol resembles a monstrance because St. Raymond is often depicted holding one. The Eucharist is Bishop Bejarano’s inspiration for his vocation. It was through the Eucharist that he received his call to the priesthood at age seven and which keeps his faith and his ministry going. It represents the call to offer oneself as a living sacrifice. The monstrance is flanked on either side by an image of the Sacred Heart, alluding to the mercy of God and echoing the idea of a sacrificial offering of oneself united to the sacrifice of Christ, and of a rose for Our Lady. It is an allusion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and highlights the bishop’s Hispanic heritage.

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