The Valley Catholic December 13, 2016 | Page 6

6 commuNity December 13, 2016 | The Valley Catholic San Jose Homeless Benefit From Saint Ignatius of Loyola Knights of Columbus 12853 Our Lady of La Vang Church Breaks Ground On New Church More than 1,600 parishioners and guests joined Bishop Patrick J. McGrath as Our Lady of La Vang Church broke ground on November 27 for a new house of worship. The new church will replace the old building, which was heavily damaged by fi re in August of 2012. At a cost of more than $50 million, there will be a 1,500-seat church as well as a multi-purpose hall with gymnasium and four state-of-the-art classrooms to be shared with Saint Patrick School on weekdays and the church on evenings and weekends. Founded in 1872 as Saint Patrick Parish, it was the second Roman Catholic parish established in the City of San Jose following what is now the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph. From 1981, when the Diocese of San Jose was founded, to 1990, Saint Patrick served as the cathedral for the Diocese. On July 1, 1999, the parish became the personal parish for the Vietnamese Catholics in the Diocese, while also remaining as a territorial parish for the Spanish and English speaking communities that surround it. On April 28, 2013, t he Bishop signed a decree renaming the parish in honor of Our Lady of La Vang, which refers to a Marian apparition at a time when Catholics were persecuted and killed in Vietnam. The Saint Ignatius of Loyola Council #12853 at Holy Family Parish donated over 230 coats to Sacred Heart Community Services, a Catholic organization in San Jose that addresses poverty in the heart of Silicon Valley. Holy Family parishioners donated 185 coats for men, women and children and the Knights added 48 brand new coats for boys and girls through their national “Coats for Kids” program. Sacred Heart began distribution during Thanksgiving week to those most in need in the valley. In the four years the parish and Council have supported these efforts 1,000 coats have been provided to those in need, including 170 new children’s coats. Catholic Charities + You 40,000 Lives Changed By You Last Year! Create pathways out of poverty for the children and families who need our help. Every new or increased dollar you give during this year’s Christmas Appeal will be matched 2 to 1 through a challenge grant from the Sobrato Family Foundation, to help the poor in our valley. “Wherever there are dreams, there is joy...” – POPE FRANCIS www.catholiccharitiesscc.org/christmasappeal2016 Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County @CatholicCharSCC @GregKepferle Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County CatholicCharitiesTV 2625 Zanker Road San Jose, CA 95134 • (408) 325-5125 CCSCC_Christmas2016_VC.indd 1 11/28/16 5:00 PM