The Valley Catholic
commentary
Meeting a ‘saint’ can change
a career, a life
May 27, 2014
17
Multiple ministry connections
between SCU and DSJ
By Gary Macy
By Bob Rucker
are coming back to ask you what that
their local parishes. LaMotte works at St.
Connections beSome handmoment with the pope meant to you.”
Joseph Parish, Mountain View, and Hong
tween Santa Clara
shakes you never
Now, I felt scared. I was being asked
is Director of Music at Sacred Heart ParUniversity and the
forget, but the late
to do something reporters should not
ish, Saratoga. Cavera, their fellow CounDiocese of San Jose
Pop e Joh n Pau l
do--share personal feelings while
cil member, is also Pastoral Associate at
run deep, but one of
II had one of the
reporting. I balked but my producer
St. Athanasius Parish, Mountain View.
the most direct ways in which the two
warmest. Combine that with gentle
insisted.
Many other graduates also serve in
are connected is through work done
but probing eyes, and his ability to
I said that “was a very powerful
parishes, to name only a few: Dorothy
by graduates of Santa Clara’s Graduate
empower while putting people at ease
moment for me because most Catholics
Carlson, an early graduate of the proProgram in Pastoral Ministries (GPPM).
was uncanny. On April 27 I thought
never go to Rome or actually meet the
gram, has served in various roles in the
GPPM graduates are leaders in many
fondly about this newly canonized
head of their Church. I certainly never
diocese for many years and is presently
ministries in the diocese especially in
saint who profoundly changed my
expected to feel such warmth, calm
Minister of Parish Life at St. Justin Parish,
the schools. In this article I would like
future.
and peace with someone in the center
Santa Clara.
to highlight a few of the graduates who
My chance encounter came while
of great noise and strong emotions.”
Janet Ang is Catechetical Director at
serve in diocesan offices and in parishes.
I was broadcasting on
When I returned to
St. Lucy Parish, Campbell, Raul Mendoza
We appreciate all that GPPM gradulive television in Philaour newsroom, I was
is a Permanent Deacon and Director of
ate Linda Batton has offered as Director
delphia. In 1979, I was ‘Pope John Paul ll’s stunned to get a standMusic at St. John Vianney Parish, San
of Social Ministries and the wonderful
a local reporter for the
ing ovation. One camJose, and Carol Thornton ministers as
work that graduate Lupita Vital accomNBC station and I asked
conservative
eraman asked, “Which
Director of Pastoral Care, Community
plishes as Director of Hispanic Ministry.
to cover some part of
hand touched t he
and Social Justice Ministries at St. Mary
views empowered
Director of Catechetical Ministry Wendy
the Pope’s first visit to
Pope?” When I held it
of the Immaculate Conception Parish,
Scherbart is another successful and valAmerica for both proout, he put his Rosary
Los Gatos..
Christians like me
ued graduate.
fessional and personal
in it, smiled and said
I would like to mention the excellent
to come back.’
Working with them are graduates
reasons.
“thank you.”
work our graduates and students are
Kevin Grimes as Scholarship CommitIn journalism, t he
Ironically, Pope John
doing in campus ministry. Teresa Pleins,
tee Chair for the diocese’s Institute for
chance to cover a major
Paul Il’s conservative
Chaplain and Director of Liturgy and
Leadership in Ministry. Michael Cavera
world figure is a memorable assignviews and policies actually empowMusic at Catholic Community at Stanis Vice Chair of the Council for Lay Ecclement. You’re on the front lines of
ered Christians like me to come back,
ford, works there with John Kerrigan
sial Ministers and works with graduates
history. Truth be told, my biggest
offer my gifts to the Church, and push
and Lourdes Alonso. All are graduates
Janice LaMotte and Lucia Hong who also
motivation came from the fact that I
or students of the GPPM. One of our
for more non-judgmental and welcomserve on the Council.
was baptized and raised as a Roman
graduates, Lulu Santana, was recently
ing approaches like Jesus.
Three graduates are priests serving
Catholic.
appointed Director of Campus Ministry
I will celebrate Saint John Paul II,
parishes in the diocese. Father George
When you grow up in America,
at Santa Clara University.
and be a strong supporter of our curAranha is pastor at St. Clare Parish, Faespecially in the ghetto and poor
This sampling gives an idea of how
rent Holy Father. When Pope Francis
ther Warwick James is pastor at St. Simon
neighborhoods on the Southside of
the university and the diocese labor todeclared, “Who am I to judge?” he
Parish and Father Paul Duong serves at
Chicago, you never imagine meeting
gether in the work of the Church.
created a global sensation that spoke
Christ the King Parish. Dr. Grimes minthe Holy Father. So, on a beautiful fall
• Gary Macy is John Nobili, SJ Chair
to hearts and minds across the earth.
isters with Father James while Mary Park
day in October, I browbeat my TV staof Theology, Chair of the Religious Studies
• Professor Bob Rucker is Director of
works with Father Aranha as Admintion manager to get that assignment.
Department, and Director of the Graduate
the San Jose State University School of
istrative Director at Saint Clare Parish.
John Paul II made several stops
Program in Pastoral Ministries at Santa
Journalism and Mass Communications,
Some Diocesan officials also serve
that day in the City of Brotherly Love.
Clara University.
and a former CNN correspondent.
Eventually he would attend a neighborhood church service. The energetic
Pope, a true people-person, walked
over to shake hands and hug children
on one side. I was on the opposite side
with a group of children who felt left
out.
I’m reporting the