tvc.dsj.org | October 8, 2019
IN THE DIOCESE
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Diocese to Hold Mass of Healing and Reconciliation
By Liz Sullivan
As the Diocese of San José looks
to engage in more ways to support
victims/survivors of Clergy Sexual
Abuse and their families, a Mass of
Healing and Reconciliation will be held
on October 21 at 7 p.m. at Saint Martin
of Tours Church. All are welcome to
attend and join in prayer.
Bishop Oscar Cantú will be the
celebrant.
This will be an annual Mass spon-
sored by the Diocese’s Office for the
Protection of Children and Vulnerable
Adults (OPCVA). Another Mass of
Healing and Reconciliation is expected
to be held in Spring of 2020.
“We look forward to joining in
prayer with our Catholic brothers and
sisters, as we gather to reconcile our
Church’s past transgressions against
the innocent, and to support victim/
survivors and their families, in asking
the Lord to heal those who have been
affected by clergy abuse,” said Anthony
Gonzalez, Director for the Office of the
Protection of Children and Vulnerable
Adults.
The Diocese strictly adheres to a
zero-tolerance policy and promptly
notifies law enforcement and child
protective services, in accordance with
mandated reporter laws, when abuse is
reported. The Diocese cooperates with
law enforcement during any necessary
investigation.
These efforts are led by the Di-
ocesan Office for the Protection of
Children and Vulnerable Adults. For
more information, visit www.dsj.org/
protecting-gods-children/reporting-
abuse-misconduct.
Victims are encouraged to report
to local law enforcement. Reports to
the diocese are accepted either online
or by phone. For online submission,
please use the following link to access
the secure third-part y reporting
server designated for this purpose:
htt ps://opcva.et hicspoint.com or
contact the toll-free 24-hour reporting
hotline at (844) 372-1691. All reports
are confidential to protect the rights of
the victim.
40 Days for Life
Opening Mass
On September 20, the Diocese of
San José celebrated the start of the
Fall 40 Days for Life Campaign with
an Opening Mass and Reception at
the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph.
Bishop Oscar Cantú was the celebrant.
For more information about Re-
spect Life in the Diocese, please visit
www.dsj.org/evangelization/social-
ministries/respect-life.
Two Seminarians Continuing Education in Diocesan Tribunal
Two seminarians from Saint Patrick
Seminary are spending the school year
working in the Tribunal Office for the
Diocese of San José, under the guid-
ance of Father Andy Ligot, JCD, Judicial
Vicar and Judge.
John Hwang and William Maman-
gun are spending the academic year
doing their Field Education learning.
Here the seminarians are in their
own words.
Beomjung ‘John’ Hwang
I am Beomjung ‘John’ Hwang, a
seminarian from Saint Patrick Seminary
in Menlo Park. I am studying for the
Diocese of Suwon, South Korea. I was
born and raised in a devout Catholic
family, and my aunt is a Religious sister.
My family has been amazing sup-
porters for my vocation to the priest-
hood. My parents presented me to God
at a shrine in Korea when I was in my
mother’s womb, which I happened to
know later, after I became a seminarian
in 2011. I discerned my vocation to the
priesthood when I was in the military
service for two years to fulfill my duty
as a Korean man; after I finished my
second year at the Koren seminary.
God’s love guided me to respond with
my free, yes, to his gentle and faithful
calling. It was an unforgettable moment
that I felt the interior freedom.
Now, I am in my third year of
Theology, which means that I have
two more years before the priesthood.
I’m looking forward to my diaconate
ordination, next April. As I am getting
close to the priesthood, my studies and
interests are focused more directly on
my future priestly ministries such as
Sacramental Theology, Catholic Social
Ethics, Historical Theology, and Spiri-
tual Encounter of East & West. Among
these classes, my favorite one is on the
Sacraments, which are necessary for
our salvation. Also, the Sacraments ac-
company us from birth to death.
As a future minister of Sacraments, I
want to become a priest who promotes
and encourages people to enjoy sacra-
mental life as devout Catholics. Thank-
fully, I have a great privilege to learn and
experience it at the Tribunal Office of
the Diocese of San José throughout this
academic year. I’m sure it will be a pre-
cious opportunity for me to learn how
to promote and support happy marriage
and family life for the people of God.
William Mamangun
My name is William Mamangun.
I was born and raised in the Philip-
pines and moved to Guam in 2005. I
am studying for the Archdiocese of
Agana, Guam and currently am in my
third year of Theology at Saint Patrick
John Hwang and William Mamangun.
Seminary. I want to become a priest
because I want to love and serve God
and minister to His people, especially
through the celebration of the sacra-
ments. I know that it is only through
God’s grace that I will be able to accom-
plish this. However, I am determined
to do my part in my formation, part
of which is studying Theology. I am
blessed to have the opportunity to learn
more about God and the Catholic faith,
which helps me in my spiritual life and
will be vital in my future ministry. This
semester, I am taking the following
courses: Theology of the Eucharist,
Theology of Marriage, Catholic Social
Ethics, Historical Theology, Ecclesiol-
ogy, and Field Education.
My Field Education assignment is
at the Tribunal Office of the Diocese of
San José. I believe that this assignment
will provide me with a better under-
standing of the judicial processes that
take place in the Tribunal Office espe-
cially that of Annulment. It is my hope
that my exposure to this process and
learning about what parties go through
during this time, will give me ideas that
will aid me, in the future, in counseling
those who undergo the painful process
of Annulment. Most importantly, my
goal is to have a deeper knowledge
of the Church’s understanding of the
Sacrament of Marriage, and learn about
the areas that couples should focus
and try to work more on during their
marriage preparation, and especially
during their married life, which will
hopefully allow me to minister to them
in the best way possible.
I am thankful to our Supervisors,
Father Andy Ligot and Mrs. Zaira
Martinez-Robles, and all the personnel
at the Tribunal Office for their warm
welcome and their willingness to
accommodate and support us in our
field education. I am confident that their
guidance will greatly help in preparing
me for my future ministry.
Finally, I am truly grateful to be on
the journey towards priesthood. Please
pray for me, and all my brother semi-
narians at Saint Patrick Seminary. May
God give us the grace to grow in holi-
ness so we may minister to His people
in holiness, and truth. Thank you.