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October 21, 2014
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The Valley Catholic
Bishop McGrath delivers
State of the Diocese remarks
By Liz Sullivan
Diocese of San Jose Bishop Patrick
J. McGrath held his annual State of the
Diocese talk during the Catholic Professional’s monthly breakfast at Three
Flames Restaurant, San Jose on October 9.
While he touched on the solid state of
affairs in the Diocese of San Jose, Bishop
McGrath also spoke about his experience
of meeting Pope Francis recently for the
first time. McGrath, who just returned
from a pilgrimage to Italy, was impressed
with his first encounter with the Pontiff.
“Pope Francis is different,” said McGrath, who was one of thousands on a
hot Italian day to hear the Pope say Mass
in St. Peter’s Square. “It is just like meeting another Bishop. You shake his hand
and not kiss his ring as you have done
with other Popes. He is also a Jesuit and
I forgive him for that. He is a true Jesuit
because he consults, consults, consults.”
Elected Pope in March, 2013, Pope
Francis has taken on the task of reforming the Roman Catholic Church and
helping it progress with the rest of the
world.
“The Pope is like a new CEO of a
company that has to be reformed,” said
McGrath, who said he has met every
Pope since Pope Paul VI except for the
short lived Pope John Paul I.
McGrath said the Pope and his advi-
‘The Diocese is strong
thanks to all of you.
There is no intent
to close any parishes.
We actually need to open
another church in Gilroy.
St. Mary’s is bursting
at the seams.’
-Bishop McGrath
sors are closely watching what transpires
at the Synod currently taking place in
Rome. The results of the Synod will be
announced in a year, when the second
phase of the Synod is complete. Of
course, Pope Francis will make his first
trip to America as Pope in September,
2015 when he is expected to attend the
World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.
“The Pope wants to hear the truth,”
said McGrath. “Not what people think he
wants to hear and I think that is a great
start. The Pope wants people to speak
their minds so he can hear the challenges
of the world and church and know what
we are facing.”
McGrath did have a message for the
Pope; the first Jesuit ever elected Pope
and who surprisingly doesn’t speak
English.
“People of all faiths love him,” said
McGrath. “He knows what he’s doing,
but he must act on what he hears and
sees, if not we will be in a much worse
situation that we already are. It was a
lovely experience meeting him. I pray for
him every day. He did ask me in English
to pray for him.”
McGrath did touch on the state of the
Diocese in San Jose, including whether
parishes will be closed.
“The Diocese is strong thanks to all of
you,” he said. “There is no intent to close
any parishes. We actually need to open
another church in Gilroy. St. Mary’s is
bursting at the seams.”
Michael Wentz, president of the
Catholic Professionals, said it is always
a treat to have Bishop McGrath give his
yearly speech to their organization.
“It is great that you visit us every
year,” said Wentz. “It is fascinating to
hear your dialogue and like you said,
hopefully it is fruitful.”
Faith Formation Conference is Priceless, Hugs are Free
By Joanna Thurmann
I see more smiling, laughing and
hugging at two days of Faith Formation
Conference than I do for the whole rest
of the year. Faith makes us authentically
joyful. As Christians, after all, we have
a lot to celebrate, and it readily shows.
Each year, I come for the free hugs.
We celebrate joyfully, but we also
toil in the vineyard. Outside conference halls, the obligations of balancing
family, career, and ministry tug at our
sleeves. We evangelize and catechize,
feed the hungry, tend the wounded, and
welcome the stranger. And we become
tired and weary. But inside conference
Are you connected with the Diocese of San Jose?
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www.dsj.org
Diocese of San Jose
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@DioceseSanJose
Information about parishes, schools, programs, events, jobs, ministries and more!
The
Valley Catholic
Vol. 33 | No. 5
•
October 21, 2014
Publisher
Bishop Patrick J. McGrath
Executive Editor & Communications Director
Liz Sullivan
[email protected]
Communications
Production Manager
Yesenia Cabrera Hall
[email protected]
Communications
Business Manager
Mario Peña
[email protected]
Advisory Board
Kelly Barbazette, Jeannine Leichner,
Father Brendan McGuire, Amy Pizarro,
Father Michael Russo, Sandra Torres, Penny Warne
www.valleycatholiconline.com
walls is a sanctuary; a safe haven to
rejuvenate and refuel our minds, hearts
and hugs for the year ahead. I seek its
refuge, too.
I also come to drink from a fire hose.
With over 100 workshops from over 50
speakers, it is hard to choose just a few.
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