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COMMUNITY
November 5, 2019 | The Valley Catholic
California Catholic Ministry Conference Set for early December in San José
By Liz Sullivan
New Name.
New Venue.
Same enriching experience.
The California Catholic Ministry
Conference (CaCMC), formerly known
as the Santa Clara Faith Formation
Conference, will take place December
5-7 at the San José Convention Center.
This year’s theme is “Growing in Faith
… Living with Hope.”
In addition to the new name, the
conference has moved its location from
Santa Clara to the more accessible San
José Convention Center. The confer-
ence is a collaboration effort between
the Dioceses of San José and Monterey,
along with the Archdiocese of San
Francisco and the Dioceses of Oakland
and Stockton.
The Conference, in addition to Cat-
echetical Formation, is also focusing
on Social Justice, liturgy and leader-
ship development. Region XI Liturgy
Directors are leading a liturgical track,
and liturgical publishers and artists
are joining for liturgical formation.
Clergy formation is now a key part of
the Conference this year focusing on
preaching and presiding, with Clergy
formators being contacted across Re-
gion XI.
In 2018, an additional day, Thurs-
day, was added to the schedule for
day-long workshops sponsored by our
partners in ministry. This year, the
number of day-long workshops will
increase from four to six.
“Our theme this year is Growing
in Faith, Living with Hope. There
are many challenges confronting our
world, our nation, and our church.
And at times, these challenges may
make us feel powerless to change
the course of events,” said Bishop
Oscar Cantú Bishop of San José, and
Diocese of Monterey Bishop Daniel E.
García in a welcome letter to attend-
ees. “However, for us as Catholics,
our faith empowers us to infuse these
challenges with the light of faith which
can bring about profound hope in our
times. This Conference is a time for
us to remember the words of Isaiah,
“The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light; upon those
who dwelt in the land of gloom, a light
has shone.”
There also will be several night
time events this year, after the regular
conference sessions have ended for
the day.
On Friday, December 6 the Assyr-
ian Women’s Chorus will perform at
the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph.
A day later, Presentation High School
will perform a concert at the Cathe-
dral. Both are open to the public.
In addition, the Diocese will cel-
ebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guada-
lupe with celebrations at Our Lady of
Guadalupe Parish in San José. (Check
out CaCMC.net for more information).
This year’s conference features
more than 120 workshops, 80 speakers,
sponsors and prayer opportunities.
Bishop Cantú and Bishop Garcia will
celebrate Mass on December 7.
Regular registration rates for the
second and third days of the confer-
ence will increase $10 on November 18
“It is our hope that this year’s Con-
ference will enrich our local churches
and each one of us in this Advent, a
joyous season of hope!,” Bishop Cantú
and Bishop Garcia added.
For more information, and to regis-
ter: www.cacmc.net.
Catholic Campaign for Human Development Awards Grants
The Diocese of San José celebrated
six non-profit organizations in Santa
Clara County who received grants
from Catholic Campaign for Human
Development (CCHD) this year. Each
organization addresses one or more of
the root causes of poverty.
Once a year, our Diocese has a col-
lection to support the efforts of local
groups who are working to empower
the poor and the marginalized to
break the cycle of poverty. The CCHD
offers a hand up, not a hand out. In
addition to utilizing all the funds
from this collection, the Diocese is
grateful to receive $30,000 to sup-
port local non-profits furthering the
mission of the Catholic Church. The
total amount of money the diocese
collected for CCHD was $134,700. Of
that total, 25% or $32,945 is returned
to the Diocese to assist local orga-
nizations working with low income
communities.
Among recipients this year is the
Day Worker Center of Mountain View.
While providing job training and
opportunities, English language and
technology classes, the center also
trains members for leadership in the
community by speaking out on issues
such as rent increases, tenant rights,
and the need for safe spaces for those
living in motorhomes and cars.
Director, Office of Life, Justice and Peace Marcus Cabrera (standing second from left)
joins honorees who received grants from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
Service, Immigrant Rights & Educa-
tion (SIREN) works extensively with
young immigrants developing leaders
for the future. They learn their rights
and how to responsibly advocate for
themselves and their communities.
SIREN provides free legal services
to those threatened with deporta-
tion. They have registered 15,000 new
voters and encouraged participation
in local elections. Civic engagement
workshops have been offered in sev-
eral parishes
The Bay Area Organizing Com-
mittee (BAOC) also has been active in
several parishes, including Saint Lucy;
Saint Clare; and Saint Mary, Los Gatos.
As a broad-based community orga-
nization, BAOC mentors community
members to identify local problems
and plan for community action to
bring about change.
The grant presented to Latinos
United for a New America (LUNA)
will support their efforts to empower
citizens in two San José neighborhoods
as they address immigrants’ rights,
tenants’ rights, homelessness, census
education, safety, and cleanliness of
their street. LUNA is in negotiations
with the city to build a neighborhood
park. Leadership training and civic
engagement are goals for LUNA.
Teamworks & Development Insti-
tute has provided employment and
ongoing training for 20 immigrant
women who are the owners and work-
ers in their housecleaning cooperative.
Through grants from CCHD, these
worker/owners have received leader-
ship training and technical skills to
run a successful business. Teamworks
Institute provides training for Startup
cooperatives nationally.
For 25 years, the Learning and Lov-
ing Educational Center has provided
a loving community for immigrant
women. Currently serving 161 women
from 26 countries, the center is a safe
place to receive English and math
education, nutrition and computer
skills, career and legal counseling and
parenting classes. Childcare is pro-
vided, so the women are free to grow
and become active in their children’s
schools and the community. Currently,
20 of the women are enrolled in classes
at Gavilan College while others are
proudly awarded their GED.
Your contribution to the CCHD col-
lection makes a difference in the lives
of so many in the Diocese of San José!