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May 7, 2019 | The Valley Catholic
THANK YOU BISHOP MCGRATH
Reflection from Kathy Almazol, Former Superintendent of Schools
From Kathy Almazol, former Superin-
tendent of Schools for the Diocese of San
Jose, who retired in June 2018. Recalling
twenty years with Bishop McGrath
Since 1998, and until 2018. I had
the joy and privilege to work for and
with Bishop McGrath. In those twenty
years, Bishop was always willing to
come to the schools and engage with
the students. He always asked that
time be set-aside for him to ‘have a
cup of coffee” with the teachers. He
seemed to delight in the questions
of the students and the reaction they
might get from him. On two very
memorable occasions I watched him
carefully answer a middle school
student who had queried what to do
if your parents didn’t drive you to
church on Sunday. Was she in sin for
missing Mass? Bishop took a minute
to answer and then directed her to the
Bible and the scripture readings for
the days she missed. He supported
her desire to go to Mass, and reassured
her that Jesus was not disappointed in
her non-attendance. There was indeed
a look of relief on her face. Another
student asked why we don’t talk about
the life issues of abortion and capital
Kathy Amazol along with her family with Bishop McGrath last spring.
punishment together. Again, Bishop
took a moment and then explained
that these two issues are indeed on
the continuum of life concerns. He
reassured her that he personally did
not believe in capital punishment and
always included it in letters to his
priests when asking them to pray for
the unborn. Bishop never shied away
from the difficult questions. He wel-
comed them. He shared stories from
his own middle school years with the
students, and the struggle he encoun-
tered with his parents and siblings.
Younger students asked him if he
was married? Do you have any chil-
dren? And each time he would smile
that impish smile and explain over and
over that Catholic priests do not marry.
To the question of his children his
response was always, “all of you are
my children.” The students would all
smile at this reference not understand-
ing it! To cap off the visit to classrooms
he would take off his ring and pass it
around for the children to try on their
fingers. He always tried to make his
life real to the students.
Bishop McGrat h visited ever y
school that requested a visit every
year for these twenty years. Students,
teachers, principals and the entire
school staff looked forward to these
visits and always felt comfortable in
his presence. He often told us that
these school visits were the best part
of his job and he looked forward to
them every year. He never tired of
the questions and was always smiling
when he left the campus to return to
the Chancery and the business work
of the church.
Bishop McGrath loved the children
in his Diocese. He often reminded us
he was responsible for ALL the chil-
dren in the Diocese of San Jose, not
just those in Catholic school, but in
all schools and parish programs. His
presence celebrating with all these
children made him a real and rela-
tional person to each and every one
of them. Bishop’s sense of humor, his
gift for storytelling and his delight in
being with “his children” will remain
a highlight of our collective experience
with him. On behalf of many, many
children, Thank You, Bishop!
We thank you, Bishop
Patrick McGrath, for your
dedicated ministry and
service to our Diocese.
With Love from
St Victor Parish Community