The Catholic Voice is on Facebook VOL. 57, NO. 11 DIOCESE OF OAKLAND JUNE 10, 2019 www.catholicvoiceoakland.org Serving the East Bay Catholic Community since 1963 Copyright 2019 Three priests ordained for the Diocese of Oakland By Michele Jurich Staff writer Addressing the three men before him, “Soon-to-be Father Mark, Father John and Father Javier,” Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ, told them, “you are called and chosen” and told them what serving means today. In front of a crowded Cathedral of Christ the Light Bishop Barber told them he was zeroing in on the third vow they would take shortly, to celebrate the Mass and administer the Sacrament of Confession worthily. “You will never violate the Seal of Confession,” Bishop Barber told the three new priests. “No state or government can oblige you to betray your penitents.” Legislation — SB 360 — has passed the state Senate and is moving to the Assembly. It will compel a priest to reveal to police some sins he hears in confession. The new priests, John Anthony Pietruszka, 32, Javier Ramirez, 43, and Mark Ruiz, 56, listened attentively. Father Pietruszka is from Fall River Massachusetts; Father Ramirez from Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico; and Mark Father Ruiz was born and raised in Oakland. They would not be alone, the bishop assured them. To show that support, more than 70 VOICE CATHOLIC PACCIORINI/THE C. ALBERT priests, mostly diocesan, were present to With Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ, at left, the trio of men prostrate themselves at the altar. This symbolizes each man’s offer blessings and the sign of peace to unworthiness for the office to be assumed and his dependence upon God and the prayers of the Christian community. their new brothers. The sacrament of Holy Orders was Rev. Ruben Morales, parochial admin- made special mention of the Oblate Sisters celebrated in a Mass that spanned more For more istrator of St. Mark Parish in Richmond, of Jesus the Priest, who nourish the semi- than two hours, with music from the cathe- where Father Ramirez has served as narians in body and spirit. dral choir, and wove in elements of Latin, Watch the Ordination: pastoral associate during his year as a Bishop Barber knelt before each of the Spanish and English. https://youtu.be/kXPbVG2TWnQ deacon, and Rev. Richard Mangini assisted new priests to receive their first blessings. The new priests received chalices, Father Ramirez. Revs. Matthew Murray and After Mass, there was a reception with Read Bishop Barber’s column, Page 3 which were carried to the altar by fam- Barrent Pease assisted Father Pietruszka. long lines of people waiting patiently to ily members or friends. John and Julie Photos on Page 10 and At the end of the liturgy, Bishop Barber receive first blessings from the new priests. Pietruszka carried the chalice that was at facebook.com/TheCatholicVoice thanked the families of the new priests, They will begin their assignments as paro- present at the altar when they were mar- and acknowledged the representatives of chial vicars on July 1: Father Pietruszka at ried in 1985. It belonged to the priest who the three seminaries where they finished St. Edward Parish in Newark, where he married them. Conventual Franciscan Rev. significant in their lives. their studies: Father Ruiz at Pope St. John had served as pastoral associate during Felician Plichta would later baptize their Father Ruiz received his from Msgr. XXIII National Seminary in Massachusetts; his diaconate year; Father Ramirez at St. son and inspire him in his discernment. Antonio Valdivia, who had been his pastor Father Ramirez at Mount Angel Seminary Bede Parish in Hayward; and Father Ruiz Each new priest received his stole and when he was a youth, and Rev. Kofi Bour in Oregon; and Father Pietruszka at St. at St. Joseph Parish/Old Mission San Jose chasuble from priests who have been Offeh, CSSP. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park. He in Fremont. KAREN GOODSHAW/SPECIAL TO THE CATHOLIC VOICE THE KAREN TO CATHOLIC GOODSHAW/SPECIAL St. Perpetua celebrates new center St. Perpetua Parish, Lafayette, celebrated the opening of its new On our cover $7 million Community Center May 18 with a gala dinner dance. Pastor Three men were ordained to the priesthood May 31 They are from left: Revs. Rev. John Kasper, OSFS, offered a 75-photo slide show of the 18-month Javier Ramirez and John Pietruszka, Most Rev. Michael C. Barber, SJ, and Rev. construction process on two large screens and two TV monitors. Mark Ruiz. More on this page and Page 3; photos on Page 10. Groundbreaking was in October 2017; the new 10,500 square foot structure replaced a much smaller hall that was connected to one side ATD . .7 News in Brief . .4 of the church building. A new façade unified the front elevation. A few Bishop’s Column . 3 Ordinations . 1, 3, 10 weeks later, the hall was used for an evening reception and a Knights Classified. .7 Seniors . .9 of Columbus breakfast, promising a steady flow of events. For more Datelines . 8 The Church. .2 information about St. Perpetua Parish, https://stperpetua.org. Forum . 11 Travel . 5, 6 Graduation Tribute . G1-G20 2 — THE CATHOLIC VOICE THE CHURCH JUNE 10, 2019 THE VATICAN OFFICIAL must be a way to make adoption easier Act on climate change and less costly, Pope Francis said. Meeting Bishop Barber’s Schedule If the world is to win the fight against May 24 with representatives of the Institute climate change, its leaders must stop of the Innocents from Florence, Italy, Pope June 10-13: US bishops’ June 20: Office meetings, profiting from fossil fuels that threaten Francis said he was struck by the idea that, Spring General Meeting, Chancery, Oakland, including the survival and well-being of the planet in the old days, when a baby was left at the Baltimore, Maryland Priests’ Personnel Board, and its inhabitants, Pope Francis said. institute, he or she would be given half of Presbyteral Council June 14: Office meetings, Addressing a Vatican climate change con- a medal, while the mother would be given Chancery, Oakland June 21: Office meetings, ference for finance ministers from around the other half. Chancery, Oakland, including the world May 27, the pope said that the Picnic with the Knights of Columbus, Oakland current crisis is “caused by a confusion of Presbyterate of the Chapter our moral ledger with our financial ledger.” diocese Denies Cardinal knowledge 6 p.m., Mass, Confirmation June 15: 10:30 a.m., Mass, Nearly a year later, Pope Francis for St. Cornelius Confirmandi, Confirmation, St. Barnabas, Alameda denied claims made by a former apostolic Cathedral of Christ the Light Fake charity nuncio to the United States who accused 7 p.m., Mass, Confirmation, St. June 22: Noon, Mass, Confirmation for Charity should be given freely and him and other church officials of failing to Catherine, Martinez St. Edward Parish, Newark, and Christ lived humbly with the poor, never letting act on accusations of abuse of conscience June 18: Office meetings, Chancery, the King Parish, Pleasant Hill, Cathedral it become hypocrisy, a slick business or and power by former Cardinal Theodore E. Oakland, including College of Consultors of Christ the Light, Oakland a way to soothe a troubled conscience, McCarrick. “I knew nothing, obviously, of Pope Francis said. “Not only does char- McCarrick. Nothing, nothing. I said several 6:30 p.m., Mass, Confirmation, 5 p.m., Solemn Corpus Christi Mass ity that doesn’t ‘reach the wallet’ end up times that I didn’t know, that I had no idea,” Queen of All Saints, Concord and procession, Corpus Christi being fake charity, so does charity that the pope said in an interview with Mexican Parish, Fremont June 19: Office meetings — Chancery doesn’t involve the heart, soul and our journalist Valentina Alazraki published by Offices, Oakland June 23: 10 a.m., Mass on the whole being,” he said May 27 during an Vatican News May 28. In an open letter Solemnity of Corpus Christi, Cathedral of audience at the Vatican with delegates published in August, Archbishop Carlo Benedict XVI Board Meeting, Christ the Light, Oakland attending the general assembly of Caritas Maria Vigano, who served as nuncio to Archdiocese of San Francisco Internationalis. the United States from 2011 to 2016, claimed he told the pope of the allegations in 2013. Appointments No excuse to kill Rev. Martin Ibarra, OFM, as interim “Abortion is never the answer” to parochial administrator of St. Elizabeth couples seeking a way to deal with a Young at heart Parish, Oakland, effective June 1. prenatal diagnosis of serious illness or The Holy Spirit keeps Christians young disability, Pope Francis said. “Human life at heart, supporting them in times of trial is sacred and inviolable and the use of and helping them praise God no mat- prenatal diagnosis for selective purposes ter what is going on, Pope Francis said. must be strongly discouraged because it Celebrating morning Mass May 28, the is the expression of an inhuman eugenic pope told the story of a priest who asked mentality, which deprives families of the a group of children who the Holy Spirit The 2019 Oakland Diocesan Directory possibility of welcoming, embracing and is. They answered, “The paralytic.” While loving their weakest children,” the pope their confusion with the word “paraclete” said May 25. is understandable, the pope said that too many Christians “think the Holy Spirit is a paralytic. The word ‘paraclete’ means one who is alongside me to support me so that Children deserve a home I don’t fall, so that I keep moving forward, With so many children in the world so that I preserve the youthfulness of the IS HERE needing a good home and so many Spirit,” the pope said.