COMMUNITY
tvc.dsj.org | May 23, 2017
Institute for Leadership in Ministry
holds Graduation at Cathedral Basilica
By Liz Sullivan
The Catholic Community in the Dio-
cese of San Jose came together on May 10
for the 18th graduation for the Institute
for Leadership in Ministry (ILM) at
the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph.
Bishop Patrick J. McGrath presided at
Evening Prayer where 31 graduates from
19 parishes in the Diocese celebrated the
completion of the three-year formation
journey with family, friends, parish
staff s, alumni and current students.
“We are very, very grateful for all of
you,” said the Bishop. “We thank and
congratulate the graduates. This is quite
an achievement and it took a lot of work.
Thank you for giving yourself to this
work.” The Bishop also mentioned his
gratitude for the vision and wisdom of
his predecessor Bishop Pierre DuMaine,
the fi rst bishop of San Jose, who estab-
lished the Institute and the important
work it does in the Diocese.
The ceremony, conducted in English
and Spanish, featured two student
speakers, Lee Campbell and Maria
Teresa Canales. They were selected by
their classmates to speak on behalf of
(l-r) Maria Teresa Canales, Bishop McGrath,
Lee Campbell, and Linda Cunha-Riccio.
the class about their collective experi-
ences. Anabella Estrada, Pastoral Asso-
ciate at Our Lady of Refuge Parish, also
an ILM graduate, gave the refl ection on
the Scripture reading.
The graduating class presented a
check to the Director of ILM, Linda
Cunha-Ricchio, for the ILM scholar-
ship fund. Their generous donation
will enable scholarships to be off ered
to students from parishes most in need
of assistance.
The Institute for Leadership in Min-
istry is currently accepting candidates
for the upcoming academic year begin-
ning in the fall. To learn more about the
ILM and the Admissions Process, visit
www.dsj.org/ILM.
5
Congratulations Class of 2017
Aucensio Alvarez, San Atanasio
Juan Antonio Barreiro, Sagrado Corazón de Jesus
Ernesto Bermúdez, Santa Lucía
Sister Mariann Bich Dam Le, Christ the King
Irma Yolanda Bravo Cordero, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Leland R. Campbell, Saint Frances Cabrini
María Teresa Canales M achuca, Catedral de San José
Patty Coronado, San Thomas Aquinas
Aubree Stela Garlit, Our Lady of Refuge
Marcy Golebiewski, Queen of Apostles
María González, Santa María Goretti
Miguel Guzmán, Saint Julie Billiart
John Huan Vu, Saint Julie Billiart
Wilma G. Jordán V., Santa Lucía
Stephanie Lomax Canfi eld, Sacred Heart, Saratoga
Francisco M. Lozano Jr., Most Holy Trinity
Maria de la Cruz Magallón Cervantes, Cristo Rey
Bibiana Marin, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Irma Yolanda Navarro Meza, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Phan Nguyen, Queen of Apostles
Anthony Ordona, Saint Thomas of Canterbury
Josefi na Ortiz, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Deepa Palamuttam, Saint Francis of Assisi
Dolores Perez, Nuestra Señora del Refugio
Rufo “Jun” Prado, Saint Victor
Fernando Rafael Ramirez, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Gregory Ripa, Saint Julie Billiart
Edith Ruiz, Santa Julia
Stella Shyamlal, Saint Martin of Tours
Jim Solchenberger, Queen of Apostles
Kenneth D. Wright, Saint Catherine of Alexandria
ILM Student Refl ection by Lee Campbell
The Institute for Leadership in
Ministry English Class of 2017 started
out as more than 30 students. We came
from various parishes here in the Dio-
cese of San Jose. From the beginning
we had to agree and sign a learning
covenant. Could we meet the chal-
lenges and live up to the covenant?
As we advanced through the various
courses we saw some of our classmates
leave the Institute for various reasons.
One of our classmates, Sharon Irving,
passed away suddenly in our second
year. She was a dedicated faithful
classmate and friend. Others have had
medical and physical problems. We
as a group have had our struggles yet
here we are today.
The ILM has a very comprehensive
curriculum and the best instructors
that are well prepared and challeng-
ing. In one of our recent courses the
instructor said to us, “We are not the
stars of the movie.” What a tremendous
insight. We are gathered here today
to be acknowledged for the work we
completed, but really the class of 2017
is here to say thank you to you the
Diocese of San Jose for supporting us in
so many ways. Financially, physically,
emotionally, and spiritually. And isn’t
this what our Catholic Community
is about? Without your generosity in
all these areas none of this would be
possible.
The Class of 2017 is already active in
many diff erent ways in their parishes.
Lectors, sacristans, home ministries,
liturgy committee, Rite of Christian
Initiation for Adults, scripture study,
religious education, youth ministry,
altar society, greeters, fi nance council,
social justice and the list goes on. You
can look at your own parish bulletin
and see what it takes to run a parish.
We are here to serve you so please uti-
lize us. We came unsure of what ILM
would mean to us, but we are leaving
here today ready, willing and desirous
to serve our community with love.
These past three years have helped
each one of us grow in knowledge
and faith. In addition to that, we have
made wonderful friends who have
been supportive to one another. We
would like to say a special thank you
to Bishop Patrick McGrath, Linda
Cunha-Ricchio and Zaira Martinez-
Robles. On behalf of the Class of 2017
from the Institute for Leadership in
Ministry, we are grateful for all your
support and we look forward to serv-
ing you for the greater glory of God.
May God Bless you.
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