More than 125 parishioners from parishes throughout the San Gabriel Region attended the day-long Building Inclusive Communities program June 7. Hosted by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Rowland Heights, the focus of the day was the formation of parish lay ministers for a diverse church community.

Participants acquired skills in intercultural communication, conflict management and spirituality for inclusive leadership. The day emphasized how to communicate with respect for others' dignity and to make them feel welcome.

The group also explored the challenge of evangelization from an intercultural perspective. Lunch and a tour of the Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple was part of the program. The day ended with Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala.

This adult formation event was sponsored by the Office of Religious Education, coordinated by the Adult Faith Formation Team of the San Gabriel Region in collaboration with Aspire Groups and Kaleidoscope Institute.

Mayfield celebrates altruistic young leaders
Mayfield Senior School welcomed 1,000 family and friends of 76 graduating seniors to graduation ceremonies on the north lawn of the Pasadena campus June 8. Head of School Rita McBride praised the 2008 graduates for their compassion and leadership, predicting they would be at the forefront of a more altruistic generation of young leaders.

"You began a Model UN, worked on the British Petroleum Energy Grant and led outreach efforts for Mission Haiti and Nigeria," said McBride. "Because you are already highly in touch with the plight of those in need, I see you in the years ahead as well-traveled alumnae making a difference by placing your gifts at the disposal of others."

The commencement speaker, Dr. Dynse Crunkleton (Mayfield class of 1980), an Arizona-based physician who has traveled abroad as a medical missionary to developing countries with her husband and three children, spoke to the graduates about the role of faith in their life journey.

"You want to make sure you use your God-given intellectual gifts to their fullest but be sure you remember to measure your life against what God considers a success. Your Catholic faith through the sacraments and your Christian faith through community and prayer are there to help you stay connected to the blessings that really matter," said Crunkleton, who has volunteered in Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Thailand and the West Indies.

Jeania Ree Moore, who will attend Yale University in the fall, received the Cornelia Connelly Award, Mayfield's highest honor given to a graduating senior for scholarship, leadership, loyalty and service to the school. Senior class president Alissa Costello, headed for Harvard University, received the peer-nominated and faculty-selected Mayfield Award.

Pomona Catholic HS earns top yearbook honor
The staff of the Pomona Catholic High School yearbook was cited by Taylor Publishing with an award of excellence honoring its accomplishments in yearbook design and coverage.

The publication is among those featured in Taylor's 2008 Yearbook Yearbook, a compilation of the "best of the best" in school yearbook publishing, said editor Marilyn Scoggins of Taylor Publishing. Patricia Vandenberg is advisor for the Pomona Catholic yearbook.