tvc.dsj.org | August 20, 2019
COMMUNITY
7
What is the Institute for Leadership in Ministry?
By Joanna Thurmann
Since its beginnings in 1998, the
Institute for Leadership in Ministry
(ILM) has endeavored to form passion-
ate disciples in the Diocese of San José.
That work has borne abundant fruit.
Over 1,000 have graduated from the
Institute since then. Through classes in
scripture, church history, sacraments,
spirituality, Catholic Social Teaching,
and more, the ILM prepared them to
become more effective ministers in
the variety of lay leadership roles they
serve in their parishes, schools, and
communities.
At the end of each academic year,
graduates express their heartfelt grati-
tude not only for the knowledge they
have acquired, but also for the love they
have shared and the renewed passion
they have felt to work alongside each
other in the vineyard. We share the
stories of two graduates, on how the
ILM has shaped their ministry since
completing the program.
We are now accepting applica-
tions for the fall and encourage you to
consider the program. For additional
information visit, www.dsj.org/ilm or
contact us at (408) 983-0110.
By Paul Dominic, Class of 2019
Since immigrating to the U.S. and
being a good Sunday Christian and
doing pretty much nothing else, I was
pulled into becoming an active partici-
pant in the parish Community Service
Ministry, Saint Vincent de Paul, parish
council, school council, eucharistic
minister, small prayer group leader
and Cursillista. I’ve generally been a
busybody with lots of questions and
not many answers.
After resisting 7 years of invitations
from my parish priest (mostly Father
Michael Carson), largely because I did
not know what it took to do the ILM
course, I finally decided to jump into
the course in 2016 after being asked
by Father Thuc Si Ho just once. At
every step of moving from someone
uninterested in the Catholic commu-
nity to feeling connected to it, I made
a conscious decision, with the help
Holy Family’s Wheelchair Drive Exceeds Goal
The Saint Ignatius of Loyola Coun-
cil #12853 at Holy Family Church in
San José, sponsored its second an-
nual Wheelchair Sunday at all parish
Masses. On one weekend, parishioners
contributed over $18,650 to the Global
Wheelchair Mission – enough to pur-
chase almost 124 wheelchairs. This
exceeded the previous year by over 40%
and for the first-time provided funds
for more than 100 wheelchairs.
At each Mass, the Knights explained
the goals of the Mission and that since
the program began in 2003, wheelchairs
have been delivered to men, women
and children unable to purchase them
in the United States, Argentina, Co-
lombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jordan,
Mexico, Morocco, Oman, Panama, the
Philippines, Poland, Canada, and Viet-
nam. U.S. military Veterans also have
received chairs under this Knights of
Columbus effort.
Alpha Is Coming to Saint Frances Cabrini Parish
Alpha is a series of fifteen interac-
tive sessions, held over eleven weeks,
where anyone can explore life and the
Christian faith in a friendly, open, and
informal environment.
The Alpha Course begins with an
introductory dinner on September 11
at 6:30 p.m., at the Saint Francis Cabrini
Parish Center, 15333 Woodard Rd., San
José. Participants will meet weekly
thereafter on Wednesday evenings.
Midway through the course, there will
be an on-grounds weekend retreat.
Each session includes a simple meal
and a presentation, followed by a dis-
cussion of the evening’s topic. Partici-
pation is free, and all that is asked is a
small donation towards meals.
Alpha pertains to Jesus. He is the
beginning and the end of our lives.
Alpha is designed to deepen our faith
and develop a personal relationship
with Jesus. It clarifies what we believe
about our Trinitarian God and equips us
with how to share it. The Alpha Course
has been presented at various parishes
throughout the years in the Diocese of
San José, and Saint Frances Cabrini will
be hosting its 4th Annual Alpha.
You are encouraged to bring fam-
ily and friends. If you would like to
attend, please contact Alicia Morales
at [email protected] or
(408) 857-0523.
of the Holy Spirit, to step-up and do
something.
The San José Diocese’s 3-year forma-
tion program, the Institute for Leader-
ship in Ministry, was one of the best
things that happened to me, both on a
personal and spiritual level. The sur-
prising amount of knowledge imparted
by lay people who were highly quali-
fied kept me grounded and excited. The
friends and network that we created
for ourselves to support each other
was amazing and still is, even after
completion. The depth of spirituality
among my classmates was a constant
source of strength.
The foremost question that I am
always asked about the ILM is – “Was
it difficult to study?” This question, I
could not understand completely (per-
haps it is my immigrant background).
For me, any worthwhile achievement
is a little difficult; everything difficult
becomes easy with prayer and faith. If
you trust, this is the easiest course in
the world, and the best part is the ILM
team and the course content makes it
happen - all you need to do is listen.
And my journey continues... Amen.
By Claus Dahm, Class of 2019
The Institute for Leadership in
Ministry (ILM) has been a tremendous
boost for me, spiritually, intellectually
and pastorally. I am able to apply what
I have learned in my primary ministry,
RCIA. In addition, the ILM has given
me a deeper understanding of my faith
and a stronger faith vocabulary. I am
able to better articulate my faith and
Catholic teachings.