Irish-British Province

HAYWARD/USA
New Parish in California

The US Western Province has decided to take up the St. Joachim parish in Hayward. St. Joachim’s is a well established parish in the diocese of Oakland with a strong Catholic community and all the necessary facilities.

Three confreres will be assigned to the new parish along with a CTP student. Rev. Sergio Mora, the present pastor will stay on for sometime to introduce the SVDs in the running of the new parish.

The Provincial Council had met the priests at Hayward along with Fr. Ray from the diocesan office and heads of the various parish departments. The meeting offered a chance to exchange the mutual concerns of the parishioners and the SVDs.

The parish is totally multicultural. A vast majority of the community are migrants from Mexico and the Philippines. There are also Portuguese and Asian members in the community.

There is real unity in this diversity. Liturgy is the core of all their activity and all parishioners are invited to actively participate with the celebrating community and honor each other’s cultural diversity with festivals, food, music and dancing.

They value the pastoral leadership that animates the community to full, conscious and active participation in the life of the Church and in its mission.

Source: Arnoldus Nota