tvc.dsj.org | March 19, 2019
COMMUNITY
5
Bishop’s New Endowment will Strengthen Church Leaders and Families
By Marie Galetto-Dugoni
When Bishop McGrath arrived in
1998 as Coadjutor Bishop of San Jose,
we celebrated a Mass of welcome. In
his homily, he said, “It is my promise
and pledge to you that in all things and
above all things I will open my life to
the transforming love of God, in order
to carry this same love to all the people
of this valley.”
And that he has done! Over the past
twenty years, ministry in our Catholic
community has grown, including
the opening of a new parish. He has
challenged us to be inclusive in our
outreach to our neighbors in need,
regardless of their background, creed,
or circumstance. In good times and
tough times, he enveloped us with his
love and commitment.
Under the leadership of this joyful
shepherd, we have thrived in ministry
and works, growing sacraments, reach-
ing out to our neighbors, and living our
Gospel values as the Body of Christ.
The Bishop Patrick J. McGrath
Endowment has been established to
benefi t the Diocese of San Jose as part
of his legacy as leader and shepherd
of the diocese for twenty years. Bishop
McGrath has been a constant source of
love and support for lay leaders, clergy,
and families. His legacy of support will
continue forever through the grants
from the new endowment, named in
his honor.
“I believe strongly in the importance
of endowment to invigorate and sustain
ministry,” said Bishop McGrath. “As
we grow our local Church, key to our
vibrancy will be the strength and con-
tribution of lay leaders, families, and
clergy. Through this fund we will be
able to support them forever.”
The leadership of the Diocese, in
partnership with the Catholic Commu-
nity Foundation of Santa Clara County,
asks anyone who would like to honor
Bishop McGrath’s twenty-year legacy of
service to make a gift of any amount to
this fund in lieu of other gifts.
The newly established Bishop Pat-
rick J. McGrath Endowment will pro-
vide grants to programs throughout the
Diocese of San Jose in three key areas of
ministry: Lay Leadership, Family Life,
and Clergy Leadership. Eff ective and
inspired lay leaders are the cornerstone
of healthy, vibrant parish life. The role
and importance of lay leaders in our
community is only growing. These
leaders impact all aspects of our Catho-
lic experience – liturgy, sacraments,
parish finance and administration,
prayer life, outreach and more.
Grants from the endowment will
support business managers, fi nance
council members, women religious,
liturgical ministers, key volunteers and
other lay leaders in our community as
they develop fi nancial skills, confl ict
resolution, strategic planning, and
other expertise necessary to run and
grow our faith communities. Provid-
ing our leaders with trainings and skill
development is essential as we seek
to invigorate our communities and
strengthen the relationships between
lay and clergy.
Families are at the heart of our
Catholic community and the pass-
ing on of our faith. Grants from this
endowment will fund programs that
will serve the sacramental, educational,
spiritual, and community life needs
of Catholic families throughout the
Diocese and strengthen the domestic
Church. These needs begin with pro-
life advocacy, change with the diff erent
seasons of life, and ultimately lead to
education about the Church’s stance on
euthanasia.
Guido and Adele Persicone, are
parishioners at Holy Family Parish;
their two children attended the Family
Camp organized by the parish last year.
The Family Camp invited families from
all over the Diocese to come, “unplug,”
and spend time together for a weekend.
“We thought - there are men’s re-
treats and women’s retreats, so why not
a retreat that serves the whole family?”
CAREGIVER-ELDERCARE
Campers from the Holy Family Family
gather for a photo. The Family Camp in-
vited families from all over the Diocese of
San Jose to come, unplug, and spend time
together for a weekend.
said Guido who worked on the idea
for this program with Faith Formation
Director, Christina Fenn. At the camp,
families came together and focused
on their relationships with each other
and with God in an environment, free
of the distractions of day-to-day life.
“We love the idea that these funds will
encourage parishes to think of more
programs like this one,” said Adele.
“We are always looking for new ways
to engage with our kids in our faith.”
In times of sorrow and celebration,
diocesan priests provide comfort and
the joy of the sacraments. They are a
friend to all, a shepherd for their com-
munities, and a leader for their staff
and volunteers. They wear many hats,
from hearing confessions to making
decisions with the finance council.
The roles of diocesan priests are many,
and it is essential that we support their
spiritual, intellectual and professional
needs so that they can become better
leaders for our communities.
“We all desire to strengthen the
Church through our vocation,” said
Monsignor Francisco Rios, parochial
vicar at Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Parish. “Any opportunity to improve
my skills as a leader so I can better
serve this community is welcome and
appreciated!” These funds will sup-
port all clergy as they seek to develop
professional skills, renew themselves
spiritually, and pilot new ideas for their
communities.
The Bishop Patrick J. McGrath En-
dowment is a permanent fund which
means that grants to these three areas
of ministry will continue forever. Con-
tributing to this endowment allows us
all to become part of Bishop McGrath’s
legacy of love and support for laity,
families, and clergy.
In closing his homily at the Welcome
Mass in 1998, Bishop McGrath said,
In the service of God’s message of love,
and to bring that message to the world, each
and every one of you – no exception – is
vital. In cooperation with one another as
Church, in dependence on the Holy Spirit
living within us, together we must carry to
the world, to OUR world, the message and
assurance of God’s love.
Through the strength of the Bishop
Patrick J. McGrath Endowment, we can
bring FOREVER VALUE to our com-
munity by strengthening lay leaders,
families and clergy in living the joy of
the Gospel.
Visit cfoscc.org/bishop-mcgrath-
endowment for more information and
to make a gift to the endowment online.
The Catholic Community Foundation
of Santa Clara County is managing this
endowment and future grantmaking.
Are you connected with the Diocese of San Jose?
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