tvc.dsj.org | May 22, 2018
COMMUNITY
5
Sems Edge Revs in Annual Hoops Matchup
By Liz Sullivan
On May 13, for the 12 th consecu-
tive year, the Revs vs. Sems Basketball
Challenge took place and for the fifth
straight time the Sems came away with
the victory, 44-41, at Archbishop Mitty
High School.
Mitty hosted the first game, where
the Sems beat the Revs in double
overtime. More recently the game had
been played at Santa Clara University’s
Leavey Center, but it is currently being
renovated. Also, diocesan officials felt
this was a great opportunity to connect
with local Catholic high school students.
In addition to seminarians from San
Jose, the contest featured those from the
Dioceses of Rockford, Ill., Wichita and
Sacramento.
This time, the near capacity crowd
saw a thrilling game. The Sems won
the opening time and jumped out to a
12-6 lead with six minutes left in the first
quarter, but the Revs came back and cut
the lead to 12-11 at the end of the quarter.
There were four lead changes in the
second quarter before the Sems claimed
the lead for good, 22-21 on a jumper by
Ryan Francisco, Sacramento, with six
minutes and 41 seconds left in the half.
The Revs cut the lead to one point,
36-35, on a shot by Father Larry Goode,
Pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish
in East Palo Alto, with 11 minutes left
in the game.
“This was a great game,” said Father
Joe Kim, DSJ Director of Vocations. “We
say it every year that we’ll get them
next year. This is more than basketball.
This was a wonderful way to promote
vocations in the Diocese. We have 8
new candidates whom we are very
excited about.”
For Kim it was his final game as
Vocations Director. This summer he
moves to Rome to finish his graduate
degree. Father Ritche Bueza, currently
the Pastor at Saint John the Baptist,
becomes Vocation Director.
Bishop Patrick J. McGrath presented
the Sems with the championship trophy
and also awarded the MVP trophies to
members of each team. For the Revs,
Father Sergio Ovando earned the award
and Alec Lyons, seminarian of the Dio-
cese of Rockford received the honor.
In addition, long-time DSJ Voca-
tions Coordinator Cecilia Kohlrust
was honored before the game with a
signed jersey in thanks for her service
to vocations in the Diocese. Kohlrust is
moving out of the Diocese this summer.
Next year’s game will take place at
Saint Francis High School on May 10.
To learn more about vocations in the
Diocese, visit www.dsj.org/vocations.
Sister Gemma Wilson Celebrates 60th Jubilee
A member of the Sisters of Presen-
tation, Sister Gemma Wilson, PBVM,
recently celebrated 60 years since her
first vows.
Sister Gemma (religious name Sister
Patricia) has a B.A. in Education from
the University of San Francisco. Sister
Gemma taught in Catholic schools for
13 years in San Jose, San Francisco, San
Lorenzo, Berkeley and San Pedro.
From 1959 to 1961, She taught at
Saint John the Baptist, San Lorenzo.
From 1961 to 1963, she taught at Most
Holy Trinity School in San Pedro in
Southern California. From 1964 to 1965,
She was an instructor at Saint Joseph El-
ementary, Berkeley. From 1968 to 1971,
Sister Gemma taught at Saint Patrick
School in San Jose.
In 1971, Sister Gemma attended San
Jose City College and she received an
A.A. degree in R.N. From 1973 to 1990,
Annual Jubilee Mass
By Justin Chung
The Jubilee Mass is an annual
celebration honoring brothers, sisters
and religious order priests of the diocese
on the occasion of their jubilee year (25,
50, 60, 70, or 75 years of profession).
Organized by Sister Rosalie Pizzo
of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur,
this year’s Mass was celebrated at
Bellarmine College Preparatory on
April 14, featuring a variety of nuns
and priests celebrating the milestones
in t heir lives. Bishop Patrick J. McGrath
was the celebrant.
Among the group was Father Mike
Moodie, SJ, a Jesuit at Bellarmine,
who has led a life dedicated to the
Society’s mission of the service of
faith and promotion of justice through
teaching religious and Latin classes.
The homilist was Father Paul Soukup,
SJ, who spoke about how religious
brothers and sisters live out their vows
of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Monsignor Francis Cilia, Vicar
General for the Diocese of San Jose, spoke
of the significance of the celebration and
his thoughts on the Mass.
“I find these annual celebrations
uplifting, and I am pleased to be able
to participate in them. The Religious
have given so much and deserve
recognition and thanks,” he said. “They
are wonderful signs of God’s presence
in our midst. They call us to live our
baptismal commitment [because] the
religious are such faithful witnesses
of God’s love.”
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Sister Gemma became a staff nurse
at San Jose Hospital. In 1990, she left
hospital work and became a nurse in a
doctor’s office in San Jose for ten years.
From 2002 to 2017, she was an in-
structional aide at Saint John Vianney
School, San Jose. For many years, Sister
Gemma trained guide and obedience
dogs.
Presently, Sister Gemma visits nurs-
ing homes with her therapy dog Finn.
Three Sisters celebrated sixty (60) years in
the Congregation. (l-r) Sister Gemma Wilson,
PBVM, Sister Giovanna Campanella, PBVM,
and Sister Antoinette Martinez, PBVM.
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