Published: September 12, 2011
And the winner is…
From more than 200 suggestions, Diocese of San Jose chooses ‘Our Lady of Refuge’ as name for new parish
San Jose Bishop Patrick McGrath, after receiving more than 200 suggestions for the name of the first new parish in the diocese in over a decade, has made his choice: Our Lady of Refuge, Nuestra Señora del Refugio.
As reported in California Catholic Daily on Aug. 31, the diocese actively sought suggestions from the faithful in naming the new parish, asking those who made submissions to “include a brief explanation why you believe it would be a good name for this multi-ethnic community.”
“Our Lady of Refuge is Patroness of the Californias (Alta and Baja),” notes an entry on the diocesan website announcing the name for the new parish. “Franciscan missionary, Francisco Diego Garcia y Moreno, was the first Bishop of the Californias; it was he who proclaimed Nuestra Señora del Refugio, Patrona de las Californias. The official proclamation was made on January 4, 1843, at Mission Santa Clara. After citing the practice and spiritual benefits of naming patron saints, Bishop Garcia made this declaration: ‘We make known to you that we hereby name the great Mother of God in her most precious title, del Refugio, the principal patroness of our diocese …If through the centuries this most worthy Mother of God has shown goodness and compassion to all peoples and nations… will she not do likewise for those peoples who bind themselves to her as their refuge and special patroness?"
The new Catholic parish in located on the site of a former interdenominational Protestant church at 2165 Lucretia Avenue in San Jose. In earlier communications, Bishop McGrath said he is hopeful the parish will be operational “at the beginning of 2012.”
“It has been over a decade since we established a parish in the Diocese,” said Bishop McGrath in a letter published on the diocesan website. “Demographic studies and the 2010 Census confirm that the anticipated population increase that was foreseen in our Pastoral Plan continues. Our parishes on the East Side are at capacity -- with ten to fourteen weekend Masses at each location. The area for the new parish has been served for 20 years by the Santee Mission and supported by Saint Maria Goretti Parish. Most recently they have been renting a school auditorium for a single mass on Sunday that is able to serve just 350 people in this densely populated area.”
“Normally,” said the bishop, “it takes at least five years to establish a new parish, but we anticipate accomplishing this task in six months.”
Bravisssimo; in this case the Bishop of SJ shows a rare aptness for history, the make-up of the parish to be and honoring Our Lady ( one parish had feminists place a small statue of a knarled old woman as the statue for Our Blessed Mother--the newage chrone--as the last of the stages of a woman,UNTIL DEVOUT PARISHIONERS BROUGHT IN O.L. of Fatima and took away the blasphemous piece. SO THIS NEW PARISHES PATRONESS IS A REAL REVERSAL AND SHOWS PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE.
Posted Monday, September 12, 2011 12:43 PM By Bill
In England, thanks to Henry VIII, Catholic churches were taken over and turned into Protestant churches. Now we have just the opposite happening in California. I applaud Bishop McGrath for making room for the faithful without spending a zillion dollars on building a new church!
Posted Monday, September 12, 2011 2:15 PM By FrMichael
Excellent choice for a patron saint!
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