The Valley Catholic March 19, 2019 | Page 4

4 COMMUNITY March 19, 2019 | The Valley Catholic On a Firm Foundation: Refl ections on Friendship with a Bishop Mary Quilici Aumack Executive Director Catholic Community Foundation of Santa Clara County, [email protected] When I met Bishop Patrick McGrath, it was fall of 1998 and he had taken a wrong turn. My husband Doug and I were on our way to the annual Caritas reception for Catholic Charities at La Rinconada in Los Gatos. We recognized Bishop McGrath in front of us, and real- ized he was about to go the wrong way. We followed and flashed our lights. What must he have thought of us! We did get his attention, helped with course correction, and started a friendship that has enriched my life for more than two decades. You’ll read in another part of this issue that we are introducing the Bishop Patrick J. McGrath Endowment for Ministry. What a fi tting tribute to him! Think about the ways that he has impacted our community, and please considered saying “thank you” with a gift of any size to the endowment. Here are my own thoughts. We have worked together: For 13 years I chaired the annual donor recog- nition Mass and reception for Catholic Charities. All of those years, my favor- ite part was the Mass, and each time I worked with Bishop McGrath on themes and ideas. Doug and I were founding members of the Bishop’s Circle of Excellence. For many years, I have worked to grow the Circle, introducing friends and col- leagues to this opportunity to support the bishop’s charity. In 2008, I joined the board of the Catholic Community Foundation. Two years later, when the Executive Director left, I stepped in to keep things going and fell in love with the work. The Foundation is separate from the Diocese. This was Bishop McGrath’s vision - to provide a repository for philanthropy that is separate and distinct, giving donors comfort that the funds will only ever be used for that which they intended. Bishop McGrath is strongly supportive of our work as we build fi nancial strength for ministry. We have socialized: We have a group of fi ve couples that host the bish- op every year just to share great food, good stories, and some down time. We all cherish this time. I think of the bishop’s home as really “our home,” open to the people of the Diocese to gather, celebrate, recognize contributions, and be renewed. We are grateful for the receptions to which we’ve been invited, and the truly count- less gatherings that the bishop has hosted to raise money for ministry, or just say “thank you.” We have prayed together: Every year I attend the Circle of Excellence Afternoon of Refl ection during Holy Week. This is a time of renewal, perfect for the season. Bishop McGrath, red sweater, joins Mary Aumack, front row center, at an annual din- ner of friends and fellowship. How many Masses have I attended with Bishop McGrath? I can’t count, but I know four that stand out. In 2015 we gathered to celebrate the broad contributions of our Catholic Community: Parishes, elementary & high schools, Catholic Charities, the religious, and Santa Clara University. Once again, the Mass was my favorite part. We prayed and sang in thanksgiv- ing for the “why” of us, the gratitude that fuels our works Last year we had the very fi rst Mass for the Society of Saint Joseph, recog- nizing and thanking those who have remembered “Church” in their estate plans. It was a beautiful celebration of these important gifts, and a great start to this important ministry. In 2008, we lost my dad, and in 2017 we lost my mom. Both times the bishop was there at Saint Justin Parish to sup- port me. Both times he listened deeply and told a few sweet jokes that indicated how he had gotten to know my parents just through our anecdotes and remem- brances. Both times, he provided great comfort in the fi nal blessing. I think my mom is still up in heaven bragging about it! In times of great joy and great sor- row, to rejoice, to remember and to say “thank you,” we gathered around the Eucharist. At the end of the day, who we are and what we want to BE in the world is fueled by deep and compelling gratitude for this “WHY” of us - shared faith and deep comfort from the real presence of Jesus in our lives. My gratitude extends strongly to Bishop McGrath. I am grateful for his inclusive and loving leadership, for his self-deprecating humor. At the Foundation we talk a lot about legacy, thinking of how we would like to be remembered, the contributions that will defi ne us. This is how I think of Bishop McGrath’s legacy: He has been a joyful shepherd, an avid “cheerleader” for us as we develop our own personal friendship with Jesus the Christ. He welcomes us, literally and fi guratively, to enter into deeper relationship with God, to worship together, and then to boldly go out and BE the Body of Christ, ministering joyfully to our neighbors. Dear Bishop McGrath, Your impact on my life is ineff able. My gratitude is deep. My faith and actions are stronger because of you. I love you, Mary For more information regarding the Catholic Community Foundation, please visit, www.cfoscc.org. Knights of Columbus Basketball Free-throwmbus The Knights of Columbus La Trini- dad Council #9718, recently completed the Basketball Free-throw contest at Most Holy Trinity School (MHT). The contest was held just after Catholic Schools Week. The Spirited MHT students broke a participation record with a total of 46 students. All of the students received participation awards, and the age group winners won a win- ners award.