The Valley Catholic November 5, 2013 | Page 2

2 in our diocese November 5, 2013 T he Valley Catholic ‘Catholic on Purpose’ launched in DSJ to recommit to Jesus Christ By Roberta Ward It began two years ago when the Council of Priests of the Diocese of San Jose discussed concerns of local pastors concerning what they saw as a significant decline in the presence of youth and young adults in their parishes. The Council studied the issue for two years, worked with directors of diocesan ministry offices, and this year “Catholic on Purpose: Committed to Christ” has been launched as a pilot plan for evangelization in the diocese. From 2011-2012, the Council of Priests studied data, primarily using the National Study on Youth and Religion which interviewed 3,300 American youth. The priests came to realize (1) the religiosity of youth largely reflects their parents’ religious devotion (or the lack); (2) most teenagers believe in a God who teaches the importance of being nice, feeling good about oneself, and saving God for emergencies. Father Joe Kim, parochial vicar at Holy Spirit Parish, San Jose, chairs the five-year initiative which will proceed through 2018. Father Kim noted, “Our clergy’s realizations exposed a significant problem—the failed interpretation of our following of Jesus Christ.” “The God that most teenagers believe in is not the God we ministers believe in or teach,” Father Kim said. “Rather, it is the God young people are interpreting from the adult witnesses close to them. If we form adult Christian disciples who know Jesus Christ in a personal way, the youth will follow. “If we form followers of Jesus Christ who understand, live and articulate their relationship with Him, studies ‘Each parish will determine a specific area that will focus on the goal of forming disciples.’ Father Joe Kim chairs “Catholic on Purpose,” which aims at forming intentional disciples. have said we can expect the youth to follow. Primary adult witnesses of our youth are their parents or guardians,” Father Kim said. He said young people have picked up rules, and the preaching and teaching of the Church, and they work for the poor, but “they have not developed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We want to bring that back – to help them become intentional about Jesus.” From 2012-2013, the DSJ Council of Priests worked in close collaboration with the diocesan directors of Youth and Youth Adults, Catechetical Ministry, and the Hispanic Apostolate to develop a pilot plan called “Catholic on Purpose: Committed to Christ, a Plan for Evangelization for the Diocese of San Jose.” The plan originally targeted parents but has expanded to include all adult faithful. Its aim is to form disciples of Jesus Christ through integrated focus on Word, worship, community and service. In March 2013, Bishop Patrick McGrath approved the plan, Father Kim explained. “Catholic on Purpose” refocuses all parish ministry on Jesus Christ. Father Kim said, “It is making intentional the primary purpose of all ministry as stated in our Diocesan Pastoral Plan”-Christ and Christ alone is at the center (“Renewing the Church: A Pastoral Plan for the Diocese of San Jose,” 2002, page 6). “Catholic on Purpose is less about programs and more about the intention behind our existing ministries and programs,” he said. It targets and supports six pilot parishes in diverse parts of the diocese: St. Elizabeth, Milpitas; St. Catherine of Alexandria, Morgan Hill; St. Francis of Assisi, San Jose; St. Lucy, Campbell; Holy Spirit, San Jose; and Our Lady Star of the Sea, Alviso. Each parish will determine a specific area within their ministries that will focus on the goal of forming disciples. They will meet together to dialogue on progress, challenges and successes, Father Kim said. “Their collaboration is a vital part of the plan.” In addition, a COP Support Team will provide tools and resources along with trainings for parish staffs, the latter open to other parishes. Support Team members include Father Kim, Linda Batton, Linda Cunha-Ricchio, Row David, Steve Do, Deepu Kochuparambil, Diana Macalintal, Wendy Scherbart, Sandra Torres and Lupita Vital. Appointments of Bishop Patrick J. McGrath november 5 Tues, 9:30 a.m., Pastors Meeting, Saint William Parish, Los Altos 6 Wed, 9 a.m., School Visit, Saint Clare School, Santa Clara Wed, 2 p.m., ADA Filming, San Jose 7 Thurs, 9:30 a.m., Council of Priests Meeting, Diocesan Offices, San Jose Thurs, 1 p.m., Meeting of the Bishop’s Cabinet, Diocesan Offices, San Jose Thurs, 3:30 p.m., Catholic Charities Board meeting, San Jose Thurs, 7 p.m., Real Options Event, Club Auto Sport, San Jose 8 Fri, 10 a.m., Meeting with Men Religious Superiors, Diocesan Offices, San Jose 9 Sat, 10 a.m., Ordination to the Diaconate, Saint Pius X Church, Redwood City 10 Sun, 11:30 a.m., Mass, 50th Anniversary of Parish, Church of the Resurrection, Sunnyvale 11 Mon-Sunday, Nov. 17, USCCB Meeting, Baltimore 19 Tues, 11:30 a.m., WorkDay Celebration Luncheon, Maggiano’s Restaurant, San Jose 20 Wed, 7:30 p.m., Institute for Leadership in Ministry, Five Wounds Parish, San Jose 21 Thurs, 4 p.m., Diocesan Finance Council Meeting, Diocesan Offices, San Jose Thurs, 6 p.m., Cathedral Foundation Dinner Meeting, St. Joseph Cathedral Rectory, San Jose ‘Catholic on Purpose’ training session… There will be a special “Catholic on Purpose” training session, Thurs., Nov. 21, 9 am to 5 pm at Our Lady of Peace Parish hall, Santa Clara, featuring guest presenter Sherry Weddell who has written a book on forming intentional disciples. Registration link for training is www.dsj.org/FIT-Training. For additional information visit www.dsj.org/catholic-on-purpose or email [email protected]. KCs donate to DSJ Special Needs Knights of Columbus, San Jose Chapter, recently presented two checks to Bishop Patrick J. McGrath, one for Vocations and one for the Special Needs Ministry of the Diocese of San Jose which serves people with disabilities. In photo (l-r) Steve Duffy, KC San Jose Chapter President, KC State Treasurer Ed Huestas, Bishop McGrath, Father John Poncini, DSJ Director of Vocations, and Mike Seixas, Chapter Vocations Chairman. The Valley Catholic Vol. 31 | No. 14 • November 5, 2013 Publisher Bishop Patrick J. McGrath Director of Communications Bernadette Luongo-Hoye [email protected] Executive Editor Roberta M. Ward [email protected] Communications Business Manager Racquel Brown [email protected] Communications Production Manager Yesenia Cabrera Hall [email protected] Advisory Board Kelly Barbazette, Jeannine Leichner, Father Brendan McGuire, Amy Pizarro, Father Michael Russo, Sandra Torres, Penny Warne www.valleycatholiconline.com Wendy Scherbart, DSJ Director of Catechetical Ministry, said, “We are grateful for the generous service of the San Jose Chapter of the Knights of Columbus and for their continued financial support of diocesan special needs projects. Their dedication to serve those with disabilities enables various diocesan services. This donation (photo) given to Bishop McGrath supports the American Sign Language Masses at St. Lawrence Church and the sign language interpreted Spanish 1150 N. First Street, Suite 100, San Jose, CA 95112-4966 [phone] PHONE | [phone] FAX [email protected] | www.valleycatholiconline.com The Valley Catholic (ISSN 8750-6238) is published 19 times a year: semi-monthly in September, October, November, February, March, April, May, June and monthly in August, December, and January. The Valley Catholic is not published in July. Diocese of San José, 1150 North First Street, Suite 100, San Jose, CA 951124966. Annual subscription rates are $25 per year within Santa Clara County; $35 per year outside Santa Clara County. Periodical postage paid at San Jose, CA and additional mailing offices. The Valley Catholic is dated and mailed to all registered households in the Diocese of San Jose. Opinions, quotes, and views appearing in The Valley Catholic do not necessarily reflect those of The Valley Catholic and do not represent an endorsement by The Valley Catholic. Acceptance of advertising for publication in The Valley Catholic does not constitute approval or endorsement by The Valley Catholic. All advertising submitted for publication is subject to review and approval for acceptance. Address all letters, news releases, advertising inquiries, circulation, and/or subscription requests to The Valley Catholic at the address listed above, or e-mail at [email protected]. Masses at St. Joseph Cathedral Basilica. The KC donation funded creation of a Mass booklet in pictures for families who attended the recent Mass to Celebrate Special Needs. The Knight’s funds also sponsor special needs workshops at the Faith Formation Conference. This year, Kurt Olfs from Pacific Autism Center for Education will help catechists prepare children with autism for the sacraments. These very special partners in ministry are invaluable contributors to the mission of the Church.” The Office for the Protection of Children & Vulnerable Adults Complaints or allegations of sexual misconduct may be initiated in writing to the Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults, 1150 N. First St., Ste. 100, San Jose, CA 95112. Phone [phone]; fax [phone]; emergency line [phone]; e-mail: [email protected]. Address Corrections To make corrections to your subscription, cut out and mail to The Valley Catholic 1150 N. First Street, Suite 100 San Jose, Ca 95112 Questions? Call [phone] Please correct my name Please correct my address We are receiving two copies. Please cancel this subscription. Please cancel this subscription.