“Filled with the holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry.” (Lk 4:1-2)

People ask me many times this question: Why do always go to prayer? The very simple response is this is where Jesus is and this is what Jesus did…so maybe I should be there and do this too. I write this because of the question and anger that has come in the wake of the continued scandal of sexual abuse of our young people. I too share many of the same questions and anger as I work my way through the troubling and horrific news. It is a great sadness, a heaviness and a sense of helplessness and despair invading my relationship with God and this is why I go back to the simple response above.
When I was a young adult and began to take my faith a little more seriously than I had before I was attending a day of prayer when the spiritual director for this day brought forward this small piece of Sacred Scripture quoted above. She reminded us of the need to follow Jesus in all things and first and foremost in his example of prayer. Engaging the Father in conversation for both the strength and direction in doing God’s will. This was a profound and life changing moment and has been at the practice of my spiritual life from that moment forward. Have I practiced it completely and without flaw…of course not…but when I remember to practice it I am a better person, a better child of God.
In this moment I know the only path forward is to unite my life closer to Jesus. It is the first and only answer. I do understand and believe in the processes, the need to find within civil, criminal and canonical tools but always united with our Lord’s call for justice and not simply retribution. So, I would invite us all during this time of pain and doubt to unite our lives more closely with Jesus…through prayer and Eucharist.
One of my goals is to seek ways to renew once more my priesthood, as we should all look to renew our proper vocation as husband or wife, as son and daughter, as single or religious, we are all called to holiness and to speak courageously the call to holiness in our world and especially within our Church.
St. Pope John Paul II in his call to holiness reminded bishops and priests, “Priestly spirituality requires a climate of proximity to the Lord Jesus Christ, of friendship and personal encounter with him, of “shred” ministerial mission, of love for the service to his Person in the “person of his Body and Spouse, which is the Church. To live the Church and give oneself to her ministerial service implies a profound love for the Lord Jesus Christ.” (#13)
In rereading the quote above the words that strike me deeply are “To live the Church” our faith is not something we put on for a moment and take off the next but is truly the call “to live the Church” in all moments and in all times because the Church is the Body of Christ and we are each in our vocations called to become more and more like Jesus in our lives.
Jesus offers us his life in the Eucharist and St. Pope John Paul II continues, “For the priest, the Eucharist must occupy “the truly central place both in his ministry and in his spiritual life, because all of the Church’s spiritual good derives from theEucharist which per se is the source and summit of all evangelization.” (#13) It is a question, “Is the Eucharist central to my faith?” I hope we can all answer in the affirmative because if we can then the doubts, anger and despair that come with crisis in faith finds the peace only Jesus can offer to us as to salve and medicine to heal our hearts.
I have attached our Bishop Patrick’s statement on this awful crisis below and would ask you to pray for good and holy bishops, priests who place Jesus at the heart of their lives before all else.

God Bless
Fr. Mark

Declaraciones del Obispo Patrick J. McGrath
Diócesis de San José en California

La noticia de esta semana sobre el histórico abuso sexual de menores en seis diócesis de Pennsylvania es realmente horrorosa. La confianza fue lo primero que se traicionó a través de estos ataques a inocentes; sin embargo, el encubrimiento sistemático y la reasignación de esos sacerdotes llevada a cavo por sus obispos y superiores religiosos es simplemente imperdonable.

Como he dicho en varias ocasiones, nosotros – la Iglesia y sus ministros – debemos atenernos a un estándar más alto. Estamos llamados a proteger y mantener a salvo los niños, los jóvenes, y todas las personas vulnerables. No puede haber atajos, nada puede excusar estos actos inmorales y pecaminosos.

La Diócesis de San José permanece comprometida a la protección de los hijos e hijas de Dios y a fomentar ambientes más seguros para alabar, aprender y vivir.

Me hago eco de los obispos de Pennsylvania, quienes han pedido perdón. Aunque bien sabemos que el perdón no absuelve a los perpetradores de las consecuencias de estas graves transgresiones contra los indefensos.

Finalmente, les pido rezar por las víctimas y sus familias. Al mismo tiempo les pido también rezar por la vasta mayoría de los sacerdotes – del presente y del pasado – que han sido fieles a su ministerio. Ellos, también se afligen por la terrible mancha de este pecado que a perjudicado a tantos.

Que Dios los bendiga a todos

Agosto 15, 2018

Statement of Bishop Patrick J. McGrath
Diocese of San Jose

The news this week of the historic sexual abuse of minors in six Pennsylvania dioceses is truly horrific. Trust was first betrayed by these attacks on the innocent; however, the systematic cover-up and reassigning of these priests by their bishops and superiors is just as unforgivable.

As I have stated on many occasions, we – the Church and its ministers – must abide by a higher standard. We are called to protect and keep safe children, the young and all vulnerable persons. There can be no short-cuts, nothing that can excuse immoral and sinful acts.

The Diocese of San Jose remains committed to protecting God’s children and to fostering the safest of environments in which to worship, learn and live.

I echo the bishops in Pennsylvania who have asked for forgiveness. Yet we know that forgiveness does not absolve perpetrators of the consequences of these grave transgressions against the defenseless.

Finally, I ask you to pray for the victims and their families. I would also request that you pray for the vast majority of priests – present and past – who have been faithful in their ministry. They, too, grieve for the terrible stain of this sin that has harmed so many.

May God bless you all.

August 15, 2018