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COMMUNITY
October 23, 2018 | The Valley Catholic
Bishop McGrath Delivers Annual State of the Diocese Report at Breakfast
By Liz Sullivan
On October 11, before more than
70 in attendance, Bishop Patrick J.
McGrath delivered his annual State of
the Diocese report at the Catholic Pro-
fessionals Breakfast at Three Flames
Restaurant in San Jose.
Speaking for more than an hour,
the bishop touched on a variety of
topics including the welcoming of
Coadjutor Bishop Oscar Cantú in
late September, the state of Catholic
education, Diocese of San Jose semi-
narians, Annual Diocesan Appeal
(ADA), clergy sexual abuse scandal
and the status of the South County
High School project among others.
Bishop McGrath came to the Dio-
cese in the fall of 1998 as coadjutor
bishop, working with founding Bish-
op Pierre DuMaine. On November 27,
1999 upon the retirement of Bishop
DuMaine, Bishop McGrath became
the second bishop of San Jose.
“Bishop Cantú is very
reflective and quiet and
he’s a good listener. I think
this will be an excellent
transition to the future.
I look forward to working
with him and helping him in
the years to come.”
Now Bishop McGrath has wel-
comed Bishop Cantú to San Jose.
There is no official date for Bishop
McGrath’s retirement. Once he and
Bishop Cantú have determined a date
that is acceptable to the Holy See,
Bishop McGrath will retire.
“Bishop Cantú will make a good
Bishop here,” said Bishop McGrath
about his successor, who was not in
attendance. “He is a perfect addition to
our community. Bishop Cantú is very
reflective and quiet and he’s a good lis-
tener. I think this will be an excellent
transition to the future. I look forward
to working with him and helping him
in the years to come.”
I n add it ion , Bi shop Mc Grat h
spent several minutes addressing the
clergy abuse scandal. On October 18,
the Diocese released the names of
clergy with credible allegations of
sexual abuse of children.
“We are doing our very best in
the Diocese to make sure it never
happens again,” he said.
Not shying away from another
sensitive topic Bishop McGrath ad-
dressed his decision to purchase and
then selling of the $2.3 million the
Diocese bought for his retirement.
“It was very myopic on my part
with the housing crisis in Silicon
valley,” he said. “I am sorry for do-
ing it.”
As the Bishop finished answer
questions after his report he turned
a little more reflective and smiled.
“I have been very blessed in my
life with my time spent here (San
Jose) and San Francisco,” he said.
“They have been really wonderful
years. We’ve had some tough times,
of course, that is to be expected. I
am very blessed with the priests I
have had the opportunity to work
with over the years. They have been
very supportive and active in things.
Together we have accomplished a lot
and I am grateful.”
Inaugural Society of Saint Joseph
Legacy Mass Held
By Liz Sullivan
The inaugural members of the Soci-
ety of Saint Joseph gathered on October
14 for the celebration of Mass and a
reception in their honor at Saint Chris-
topher Parish.
This society is managed by the Cath-
olic Community Foundation of Santa
Clara County in partnership with the
Office of Stewardship and Development
at the Diocese of San Jose.
Bishop Patrick J. McGrath was the
celebrant, with Coadjutor Bishop Oscar
Cantú concelebrating the Mass.
Named after a patron of the Diocese
of San Jose, the legacy society is com-
prised of Catholic men and women
who understand the call to proclaim
the Gospel, to build up the Church and
to serve our brothers and sisters in the
love of Christ. In doing so, they have
made a commitment to name their local
parish, a Catholic elementary school, the
Diocese of San Jose, or any ministry of
the Diocese as beneficiaries of a gift in
their will or trust, retirement account or
life insurance policy.
“The Society of Saint Joseph has one
simple aim,” said Bishop McGrath in his
homily. “It is to ensure that after we are
gone, and enjoying the riches of Heaven,
that our good works will continue in the
years and decades to come. Through it
we are pledging a legacy of faith. As we
know it is better to give than to receive.”
More than 50 founding members
of the Society attended the Mass. Ac-
cording to the Catholic Community
Foundation, there are about 70 founding
members.
“The greatest gift my parents gave
me was my faith,” said Catholic Com-
munity Foundation of Santa Clara
County Executive Director Mary Quilici
Aumack in her reflection. “Today is a
formal coming together of faith through
this legacy society. This venture is a
great team effort between the Catholic
Community Foundation and the Dio-
cese of San Jose.”
For more information, please visit
www.cfoscc.org/SocietyofSaintJoseph.