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Funeral Mass was held July 1 at the San Fernando Mission chapel in Mission Hills for Father James Rothe, 82, retired pastor of St. Sebastian Church in Santa Paula, who died June 22. Born in Burbank, Father Rothe attended St. Robert Bellarmine School and graduated from Cathedral High School in 1948. His junior seminary studies were made in Los Angeles, and he completed his seminary training at St. Patrick’s in Menlo Park. He was ordained on April 25, 1956 by Cardinal James Francis McIntyre.Father Rothe’s first assignment was at St. Anthony, Long Beach, where he also taught high school for four years. Later, he served as an associate pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City; St. Mark, Venice; St. Francis de Sales, Sherman Oaks; and St. Christopher, West Covina. From 1973 to 1987, he ministered as chaplain of Citrus Valley Medical Center/Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina. He was named pastor of St. Sebastian in Santa Paula in 1987, serving there for 13 years, during which time he oversaw the reopening of the parish school. He retired in 2000 and became pastor emeritus. Condolences may be sent to the Reverend James Rothe Family, c/o San Fernando Mission Cemetery and Mission Hills Catholic Mortuary, 11160 Stranwood Ave., Mission Hills, CA 91345.Barbara Mary Bernard McBrideFuneral Mass was held June 18 at St. Barnabas Church in Long Beach for Barbara Mary Bernard McBride, 74, who died suddenly on June 8. The first lay principal of St. Barnabas School, she also taught archdiocesan marriage preparation classes.McBride earned her teaching credential from Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles, and taught in public schools in Chicago, where her husband, Richard, earned his dental degree from Loyola University. Returning to Long Beach permanently in 1964, McBride was a stay at home mom until the last of her five children entered school.In 1972, Barbara and Dick became very involved in Marriage Encounter, eventually becoming the executive team leaders of the United States (1976-1978) and the executive team leaders of World Wide Marriage Encounter (1978-1980). In 1980, they were invited to attend the Synod of Bishops in Rome, one of only 12 lay couples from around the world. During the late ’70s and ’80s, Barbara opened up their home to over 60 unwed pregnant women without a place to stay.In 1983, The McBrides were appointed by Pope John Paul II to the Pontifical Council on the Family representing the U.S., speaking and attending conferences in Rome for five years on issues facing the modern family and married couples. During the ’80s, the couple taught marriage preparation classes for the archdiocese and were members of the U.S. Catholic Commission on Marriage and Family. Barbara taught for one year at St. Joseph School in Long Beach, then began her career at St. Barnabas teaching a variety of grades, finding her calling in the 8th grade. She became principal at St. Barnabas in 1994, continuing there through her retirement in 1999. In retirement, Barbara and her husband were members of St. Bartholomew Church in Long Beach, where a funeral vigil service was held June 16. Surviving family members include her husband of almost 53 years, Dr. Richard McBride; children: Timothy (Chantal), Patrick, Mary Jo (Steve Rockenbach), Michael and Katie; 11 grandchildren; and her brother Thomas (Denise) Bernard. Memorial donations may be made to New Life Beginnings, 835 E. 6th St., Long Beach, CA 90802, attn. Rebecca Younger.