The Valley Catholic January 21, 2020 | Page 4

4 January 21, 2020 | The Valley Catholic COMMUNITY Angelbert Chikere and Joseph Tran Ordained Transitional Deacons for the Diocese of San José By Liz Sullivan Angelbert Chikere and Joseph Tran answered the Call. Standing before Bishop Oscar Cantú and a church full of the faithful the two men were ordained Transi- tional Deacons for the Diocese of San José during a Mass at Holy Family Parish on January 4. “For Angelbert and Joseph, there is something to be said for standing for what you believe in,” said Bishop Cantú during his homily. “The journey says something about you. It began long ago when God tapped both of you on the shoulder and said follow By Gregory Kepferle Chief Executive Officer Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County and President, Charities Housing How many times have we heard the sentiment, “I just can’t understand them. How could they think that way? How could they act that way?” Maybe we experience that feeling ourselves about people we disagree with, people we don’t understand, people we don’t accept, or people we don’t know. Pun- me. That led you to this moment where you have said yes; yes, to God’s will to follow him.” The Ordination Mass, celebrated in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, featured the laying on of hands by the Bishop and the invocation of the Holy Spirit. As a nod to Chikere’s Igbo heritage, the Second Reading was read in the Igbo language. In addition, an Igbo choir sang during the preparation of the altar. Tran’s Vietnamese heritage was honored with song from a Vietnam- ese choir and the First Reading being spoken in Vietnamese. While the Diocese has some priests Photo by Jen Vazquez from Africa, when ordained Chikere will be the first from Igbo community. Bridging the Great Divide dits claim the polarization in America is the highest it’s been in over a century. It’s not just political polarization, but also economic polarization. Income inequality as measured by the Gini index is the highest since first tracked five decades ago, and in Silicon Val- ley it is getting worse. It’s also social polarization. Despite increased ethnic diversity in the Bay Area, today many of our neighborhoods and schools ap- pear as segregated as they were before the 1954 Brown vs. the Board of Education Supreme Court ruling. And the algo- rithms built into social media reinforce CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Our Lady of Santa Clara Retreat Center is now hiring for the following positions: Cook Part-Time (~ 19 hrs/wk) We are seeking a skilled and experienced Cook to prepare meals according to our menu. Must be able to cook and deliver well-prepared meals in a timely manner. Must possess deftness and an ability to multitask. Experience in using various ingredients and cooking techniques is crucial. The goal is to preserve and enhance our reputation so as to expand our clientele. Housekeeper/Assistant Cook Part-Time (~ 29 hrs/wk) We are seeking a Housekeeper to maintain the upkeep of all private and public areas of the retreat center, including the preparation of rooms for each round of guests. You would double as an Assistant Cook by helping to prepare and serve meals, as well as clean the dining and kitchen areas upon the conclusion of meals. For More Information Website: www.ourladyofsantaclara.org/career-opportunities Email: [email protected] Phone: [phone] Cupertino, CA the separation and isolation so that we tend to see mostly news and opinions that reinforce our own beliefs. Countering this trend are the bridge builders – the individuals and institu- tions that find ways of creating dia- log, of opening hearts and minds, of connecting unlikely allies. Whether through civic groups like American Leadership Forum or through church prayer and study groups, community organizing groups like PACT, service associations like Rotary, or interfaith al- liances addressing homelessness, many of us are quietly and steadily working at bridging society’s divides. Believing that all are made in the image and likeness of God, at Catho- lic Charities we work hard to create just and compassionate communities. Through our Responsible Landlord En- gagement Initiative, neighbors, tenants, landlords, nonprofits, and government officials find ways to reduce blight and neglect in neighborhoods in San José. Through the Franklin-McKinley Chil- dren’s Initiative, a coalition including The Igbo community are an ethnic group native to present day south- central and southeastern Nigeria. For these two men, one from the west coast of Africa and the other a small village in Vietnam, it was not hard to see the excitement and enthu- siasm from the faithful who filled Holy Family Church to capacity. “May you continue to say yes, every day of your life, said the Bishop speak- ing directly to Angelbert and Joseph at the conclusion of his homily. “May you continue to stand up to the call of God.” Learn more about vocations in the Diocese of San José, by visiting www.dsj.org/vocations. parents and neighbors, schools, local government, funders, and Catholic Charities works to prevent the cycle of generational poverty by strengthen- ing children’s education, families and neighborhoods. Through our Parish Engagement pilot at Our Lady of Ref- uge parishioners are helping fellow parishioners and neighbors with the support of a network of food, health, immigration, and social service provid- ers. Through our Bridges of Hope, we welcome back previously incarcerated individuals into society, connecting them with church, housing, jobs and a sense of purpose and belonging. When you are feeling discouraged by the polarization around you, come visit one of our sites at Catholic Chari- ties. As we start the new decade, please join us in building bridges. For more information please visit, www.CatholicCharitiesSCC.org.