4
May 7, 2019 | The Valley Catholic
THANK YOU BISHOP MCGRATH
From the Editor:
Welcome to this special edition of The
Valley Catholic as we celebrate Bishop
Patrick J. McGrath and his ministry in
the Diocese of San Jose.
I have had the honor and the privi-
lege of working at the Chancery in the
Diocese since August of 2014 when I
became the Director of Communica-
tions and Executive Editor of The Valley
Catholic.
Normally, as my friends, family and
co-workers can attest, I am usually never
at a loss for words. With this issue of the
newspaper, I am. For it is not good-bye
that we say to “Bishop P.J.” it is more like
“Thank you,” Bishop, for your service to
God and his people in the Valley of Saint
Clare for 20 years.
20 years in one job! How many
people can say that?
We are all better people, and better
Christians, a word not often used in
Catholicism, because of the example
given by Bishop McGrath. Yes, he is first
a priest, then a bishop, but he is also a
human being.
Anyone who has ever spent any time
with the Bishop will most likely tell you
a personal story about the Bishop. These
are stories that we all treasure.
Mine was three years ago.
I decided to sneak away on a week’s
vacation to Ireland after Easter. I had
never been to the homeland of my
ancestors, who came to America in the
1890s. I mentioned my upcoming trip
to the Bishop when I saw him the halls
of the Chancery, never thinking he’d
remember it.
Well … shortly after I got back I
was attending a Mass the Bishop was
celebrating at the Cathedral Basilica of
Saint Joseph. And I was standing on
the aisle when Bishop PJ was process-
ing in, clad in full vestments. As soon
as he saw me, with processional music
playing, the Bishop stopped, acted like
we were the only two people in the
room, and asked me how my trip to
Ireland was.
I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t be-
lieve he remembered and wanted to
know how it went; especially right
then.
I smiled and said it went great and
that I would share details with him
later because I thought he was wanted
at the front of the church. To him, the
fact that this was at the beginning of
the Mass didn’t matter. He cared about
me. I will carry that memory with me
forever.
Yes, he is a bishop and a priest, but
Bishop McGrath is also a very good
man.
So this is not good-bye. It is more
like see you later.
Thank you Bishop McGrath. It has
been an honor and a privilege.
Special Thanks
There are many people to thank for the production of this special issue of The
Valley Catholic.
First and foremost Bishop McGrath, for serving as Publisher of this newspaper
and for his ministry to those of us in the Diocese of San Jose. We have been blessed.
The Office of Communications/The Valley Catholic, who always amaze me with
the quality of their work:
• Yesenia Cabrera Hall, Production Manager
• Rosie Zepeda, Communications Business Manager
• Ricci Lam, Communications Specialist
• Clarisse Balistreri, Content Communications Business Manager
In addition:
• Bishop Oscar Cantú
• Monsignor Francis Cilia, Vicar General
• Linda Tully, Chancellor
• Jen Vazquez, for her amazing photography
• Everyone who contributed something to this edition, I truly appreciate it.
May God continue to bless the Diocese of San Jose