Parishes Find Alpha Key Part of 'Divine Renovation' Plans
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Envelope support inside, see ad on Page 3 VOL. 57, NO. 9 DIOCESE OF OAKLAND MAY 13, 2019 www.catholicvoiceoakland.org Serving the East Bay Catholic Community since 1963 Copyright 2019 With fewer refugees, CCEB resettlement program ends By Michele Jurich Staff writer With the U.S. government continuing to severely limit the number of refugees who enter the country under its auspices, Catholic Charities of the East Bay has ended its resettlement program. While the agen- cy was scheduled to receive 100 refugees in fiscal year 2019, which began Oct. 1, 2018, the agency received just eight. The last arrived Feb. 7. The 90-day service contract with Martinez the government ended May 8. The numbers had been reduced over the last two years. DOMINIQUE GHEKIERE-MINTZ/SPECIAL TO THE CATHOLIC VOICE DOMINIQUE THE GHEKIERE-MINTZ/SPECIAL TO CATHOLIC The previous year, CCEB was projected Alpha participants met at St. Joan of Arc parish in San Ramon in March. to receive 145; 100 were received. Nationally, accord- ing to Refugee Council Sister Lang Parishes find Alpha key part USA, the Trump administration has admitted only 12,151 refugees, which is less than 40 percent of the historically low 30,000 refugee admis- sions goal. of ‘Divine Renovation’ plans Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay in Berkeley and the International By Michele Jurich Rescue Committee in Oakland will con- Staff writer tinue to resettle refugees in the East Bay. As parishes throughout the Diocese What is Alpha? Those who have received assistance of Oakland embark on ambitious “Divine from Catholic Charities in the past can still Renovation” plans, they find that Alpha Alpha is a series of sessions request assistance in legal and housing courses are a key component. exploring the Christian faith, matters. “Any family, if they need support, Leaders of more than a dozen parishes typically run over 11weeks. Each can always reach Catholic Charities,” attended “Run Alpha” training at a March talk looks at a different question said Christopher Martinez, chief program workshop hosted by St. Michael Parish around faith and is designed officer. in Livermore; most went home with plans to create conversation. Alpha This effectively ends the involvement to introduce the program to their parish- sessions include the sharing of a of about 40 parishes in setting up apart- ioners. meal, a talk, often by video and ments, driving newcomers to appoint- One parish appears to have a head discussion. ments and helping them feel at home in start on the Alpha experience. their new land. Over the past three years, At the time of “Run Alpha,” St. Joan these parishes have been actively involved of Arc Parish was in the midst of run- in co-sponsoring refugee families. Many ning its “lucky 13th” Alpha program, said the chance.” with a vibrant youth program such as the of those refugees had worked for the U.S. Rosemarie McKenney, adult faith forma- Alpha is in its fifth year in her parish. one at St. Joan may find itself competing government in Iraq and Afghanistan. tion director of the San Ramon parish. In January, the parish’s annual GIFT — for space. A popular time, McKenney has “We want to build on that legacy,” McKenney, a self-described “cradle Growing in Faith Together — program found, is Sunday brunch, following the Martinez said. CCEB is exploring how Catholic,” was invited to Alpha by a dove-tailed with the beginning of its 13th 10:30 a.m. Mass. the parishes might work with the agency’s Protestant friend about 20 years ago. Her Alpha, which has drawn 150 participants. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday assistance to asylum seekers and unac- first thought: “I have a strong faith. I don’t Her recommendations for parishes new nights have not been as popular, and the companied minors. need it.” to Alpha: Follow the plan. Play to your parish is considering offering a Saturday The decision also closes a chapter in But she went and found that her “per- strengths. Trust the Holy Spirit. morning Alpha in the future. the ministry of Sister Elisabeth Lang, OP, sonal relationship with Jesus” grew. The logistics of finding time and space Another key, she said, is scheduling who helped resettle three generations of When her parish decided to offer to offer Alpha, which centers around the the next Alpha to begin as its predecessor refugees in the East Bay. Some of those Alpha, McKenney said, she “jumped at sharing of a meal, come into play. A parish (Continued on Page 11.) (Continued on Page 11.) On our cover Help Support Catholic Communications At St. Joan of Arc Parish in San Ramon, people participate in the Alpha program, a key Staff report As Pope Francis has said, “If our hearts and component of parishes implementing ambitious Please be generous in supporting the second collec- actions are inspired by charity, by divine love, then “Divine Renovation” plans to rebuild themselves. tion for the Catholic Communication Campaign, to be held our communication will be touched by God’s own More on this page. in most parishes in the Oakland diocese the weekend of power.” June 1 and 2. Here in the Oakland diocese, these funds sup- Around the Diocese . 14 The campaign works to bring the message of the port websites and social media for the diocese and Classified. .12 Gospel into the public square, a task that is often chal- the cathedral, as well as The Catholic Voice and El Datelines . 13 lenging. Heraldo Católico newspapers and websites. We are Forum . 15 This campaign helps connect people with Christ active on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. The diocesan News in Brief . 4 through the print media, the internet, television and Facebook account has more than 16,000 followers. More Obituaries . 12 radio. Fifty percent of the funds we collect remain than 225,000 people see each issue of The Catholic Seniors . .11 in the Diocese of Oakland to support local com- Voice — about half the registered parishioners in The Church. 2 munications projects. The other 50 percent funds the diocese. Travel . 6-7 national communications efforts as well as projects in Your support of this collection helps to enrich society Volunteer Tribute . 8-9 developing countries. and to invite all to encounter the love of God. 2 — THE CATHOLIC VOICE THE CHURCH MAY 13, 2019 OFFICIAL THE DIOCESE Bishop Barber’s Schedule Mormon Temple tour May 13-15: US bishops’ Spring prayer and dialogue After an extensive renovation, Committee on International with group of diocesan the Church of Jesus Christ of Justice and Peace, clergy, Cathedral of Christ Latter-day Saints’ Oakland Washington, DC the Light, Oakland California Temple, 4770 Lincoln Ave., Oakland, built in 1964, May 16: Deanery 11, clergy, May 22: Catholic Telemedia will be open for public tours parish staff meeting, Network board, Menlo Park from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 11 to St. Raymond Parish, Dublin 6:30 p.m., Mass, June 1. Tickets must be reserved Office meetings, Confirmation, St. Leander online at www.oaklandtemple. Chancery, Oakland Parish, San Leandro org. It will be rededicated on June 16. Oakland Bishop Michael May 17: Office meetings, Chancery, May 23: Office meetings, Chancery, C. Barber, SJ, Very Rev. George Oakland Oakland, including Presbyteral Council Mockel and Archbishop Salvatore Dinner with parish priests, St. May 24: 10:30 a.m., Latino diocesan J. Cordileone of San Francisco Bonaventure, Concord clergy, St. Peter Martyr Parish, Pittsburg were given a pre-opening tour on May 7. May 18: 11 a.m., Mass, Confirmation 7 p.m., Mary Help of Christians (Group 1), St. Isidore, Danville celebration, St. Anthony-Mary Help VOICE THE CATHOLIC TO GEORGE MOCKEL/SPECIAL REV. VERY of Christians Parish, Oakland 2 p.m., Mass, Confirmation (Group 2), St. Isidore, Danville May 25: 5:30 p.m., Mass, Confirmation, children who face pervasive violence at Good Shepherd Parish, Pittsburg Help Catholic Charities school, home, or on the streets; families or Cristo Rey De La Salle High School Catholic Charities Special Collection seniors facing homelessness; and people benefactor dinner, Cathedral of May 26: 10:30 a.m., Mass, Confirmation, is May 18 and 19. Every year, Catholic fleeing violence in their homelands. Christ the Light, Oakland Corpus Christi Parish, Piedmont Charities of the East Bay invites us to Please give generously to this appeal May 19: 11:30 a.m., Mass, Confirmation, 2:30 p.m., Dominican Sisters help people facing difficult circumstances on May 18-19. For more information, visit St. Charles Borromeo, Livermore Jubilee Mass, celebration, move forward in life. This includes helping cceb.org. St. Joseph Church, Fremont 5 p.m., Mass, Confirmation — St. Agnes, Concord 5:30 p.m., Mass, Confirmation, St. Joseph Church, Fremont THE VATICAN May 21: Office meetings, Chancery, Oakland Pope criticizes nationalism Migrants are not a threat to a nation’s culture, traditions and values, Pope Francis said. Every nation is a product of immigration and the integration of diverse peoples, united by specific values, cultures and “healthy tra- ditions,” he said. That is why any nation that “stirs up nationalistic sentiments in its people against other nations or groups of people would betray their mission,” the pope said May 2. Pope Francis gave a lengthy speech to members of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, who were holding a plenary meeting May 1-3 at the Vatican on the nature HARING/CNS PAUL and role of the nation-state, the development of international cooperation and today’s Bulgaria visit resurgence of nationalism. The Catholic Pope Francis gives the homily as Church, the pope said, has always pro- he celebrates Mass in Battenberg moted love and respect for one’s nation and Square in Sofia, Bulgaria, May 5.