June 24, 2014
2
in the diocese
Looking back…and forward…
As I conclude 29 years as Executive Editor of The
Valley Catholic, I recall covering many wonderful events
and developments here in the Church in Santa Clara
County, as well as previously, as Associate Editor of The
Monitor in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, when the
new Diocese of San Jose was announced.
Little did I realize on that day in January of 1981, as
I took notes at a press conference in St. Patrick ProtoCathedral, that I would become editor here, in 1985, and
chronicle the Good News of the young diocese, still the youngest in California.
It has been a busy and challenging time to be reporting Church history -near and far--and most rewarding to record the development of lay ministry,
especially noteworthy in the Diocese of San José, as it has developed the ILM
(Institute for Leadership in Ministry) which trains lay people for a multiplicity
of parish and community ministries.
I recall the elevation of the oldest church in San Jose, St. Joseph’s, after massive restoration -- 1987-1990, to become the cathedral church of the diocese.
Indeed, it is a landmark of beautiful “brick and mortar” in the downtown area
of an increasingly huge city, but that’s not all.
In the shadow of “Silicon Valley,” in what used to be called the “Valley of
the Heart’s Delight,” the cathedral church/parish serves the homeless, the
hungry, people seeking work and a better life. That really IS the Good News.
So many of our other parishes do that, as well.
It has been a joy to cover the good works of the People of God and the
many ministers to youths and young adults, students in Catholic schools and
parish religious education programs, and those who serve the needs of the
poor with special programs, collections, and opportunities to interface with
those less fortunate.
That really opens the Gospel message in practical ways, such as the youth
group at Santa Teresa Parish which is engaged with serving immigrants in
Watsonville, all of which has these young people in touch with real immigrants
in fields not too far from San Jose. The teens are looking deeper into the immigration issue in the U.S. now.
I thank the first bishop of the Diocese of San Jose, Pierre DuMaine, for his
foresight as Publisher in inaugurating The Valley Catholic in 1982, and Tom
Gradowski, the first editor, for the challenging job of getting it up and running. I am especially grateful to the late Jim Clark, who served as Business
Manager -- and so much more -- in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
I thank the second Publisher and Bishop of San Jose, Patrick J. McGrath,
for his continued support of Journalism in this diocese, especially in a time
when some dioceses are scrapping their newspapers and the profession of
Journalism in general is facing monstrous challenges to report facts with
clarity, candor and accuracy.
Looking to the future, I know I will miss doing coverage of this diocese,
where I was born long before it became a diocese, and which is a special place.
In the bigger picture of Church, I think we are in an exciting time now. Pope
Francis leads the way in his humble manner in calling us to increasing awareness of Jesus Christ in our lives and communities. Let us follow.
-- Roberta Ward, Executive Editor
The Valley Catholic
A message from Bishop McGrath
As I prepare to bid farewell to Roberta Ward in her
roles as Executive Editor of this newspaper and Director
of Media Relations for the Diocese of San Jose, I cannot
help but think that this is a seismic moment in the life of
our local Church.
Roberta has been with us “from the beginning.” In
the years before she came to work for our local Church,
she worked in our local Church, covering the stories that
comprise the life and history of our parishes and our
people. It is no secret that there was a Church in Santa
Clara County before 1981, and Roberta was here, doing what she has done, and
doing it with love.
The imminent departure of Roberta will mark the end of an era; she is the last
of those who served in the Chancery in our almost-new Church, back in the early
1980s. All of the others – including Bishop Pierre DuMaine, Monsignor Norman
Allen, Monsignor Michael Mitchell, Monsignor Joseph Milani, Sister Claude
Power, Sister Patricia Marie Mulpeters, Maureen Ariente, Father Maurice Shea –
all of these have moved on, or moved to the Lord. Yet their legacy remains in our
midst, their work continues to inform