In Their Own Words: Synod Delegate Reflections

After ten months of preparation, 100 consultation sessions, and an online survey sent to all diocesan faithful, the Diocese of San José Diocesan Synod General Assembly was held during the weekend of January 27-29, 2023. Nearly 200 pastor-selected delegates representing parishes, schools, and local Catholic organizations gathered in a spirit of prayer and discernment to prioritize the many recommendations that resulted from the preparation efforts. During the final hours of the Synod, delegates openly and honestly shared their reflections and takeaways from the weekend.  Below are only a few selections. These are presented in more depth alongside a detailed summary of the weekend on our website, dsj.org/diocesan-synod.

Ryan Bao

from St. Clare Parish serves as the parish youth minister and is an employee of a Catholic non-profit (NFCYM) and recently began teaching at a Catholic High School

Full Testimonial

Therie Velasco-Gonzales

from Saint Lawrence the Martyr Parish, serves as a Music Minister, Lector, Adult Confirmation Coordinator, and Sacramental Preparation Catechist

Full Testimonial

Msgr. Gene O’Donnell

a retired priest of the diocese who continues to minister in a few parishes in San Jose

Full Testimonial

Kevin Bernaga

from St. Francis of Assisi Parish as Director of Liturgy and Director of Youth, Young Adult, and Confirmation

Full Testimonial

Esmeralda Heredia

from St. John Vianney serves as Alpha youth leader, altar server, and commentator.

Full Testimonial

Arlene H. Quiogue

from Church of the Ascension and St. Joseph (Mountain View) serves as RCIA/OCIA Catechist, Lector, and choir member and is a graduate of ILM.

Full Testimonial

Dcn. Chu Quang Dinh

from Our Lady of La Vang Parish serves as a parish deacon

Full Testimonial

Claire Lin

from the San Jose Chinese Catholic Mission (SJCCM) serves as a catechist, high school youth minister, and liturgical minister.

Full Testimonial

Roberto Tapia

from Our Lady of Guadalupe serves as a Eucharistic Minister and a Mass Coordinator

Full Testimonial

Esmeralda Heredia

from St. John Vianney serves as Alpha youth leader, altar server, and commentator.

This year, I was privileged to represent my parish and all young adults in the Dioceses of San Jose at the 2023 Synod. Being a young adult in this generation has exposed me to various spiritual, emotional, and bodily hardships young adults face, and this has given me insight into what we need from our churches, families, and communities.

Being chosen as a delegate by my pastor, Fr. Joe Kim, to be a part of this revolutionary and historical assembly known as the 2023 Synod of San Jose was a profound gift from God. Being a delegate to me was a huge responsibility because, for this process, I had to put myself aside to accurately and wholly represent the people in my community and the youth whose needs I embodied. I was truly honored to be trusted with this responsibility to voice and advocate through my vote and insight. Working with many experienced, diverse, and dedicated parishioners, leaders, laymen/women, and clergy here gave me hope of being heard, cared for, and truly cherished. Every second of our evaluations of petitions, thoughts, and criticisms contributed tremendously to the creation, formation, healing, demonstration, and sharing of the faith that we strive to protect and grow through this -process.

The Holy Spirit was clearly present throughout this entire process, as I’m sure it was for many others. There was a pure and heavenly beauty present in the minds of every person that God positioned to be a part of this event; all the distinctive ideas, perspectives, concerns, and more truly reminded me that we are all a part of Christ’s body. This Synod reaffirmed to me the reality that no brother or sister, parish, or community can be left without aid, support, inclusion, and love.

That is what I took away from being a part of this Synod: that we all matter to God and to the Catholic Church, that no matter what time we are in, the values and support for faith formation and preservation still remain under the Holy Blood of Christ, which flows through every member of His Body, and that this is why we must remember that every voice, and person matters to God and thus to His Church. The Synod was, however, only the beginning. The real work and execution of petitions and advocacy from all of you will come next. I pray that we will all continue to strive to cooperate with this Church and live our faith through action daily so that the Church of God will stand strong until the end of time. May God bless you all!

Roberto Tapia

from Our Lady of Guadalupe serves as a Eucharistic Minister and a Mass Coordinator.

I was part of the Spanish small group since Spanish speakers can comment more openly and clearly on the proposals. While we were together at our table, we paid close attention to what each person shared. We noticed that we were developing a friendship during the hours together and how the presence of the Holy Spirit was present in those 10 minutes of silent discernment before voting. We opened ourselves to the presence and voice of the Lord so that the Holy Spirit could lead our minds to decide what our Churches and Catholic Schools need for the good of the whole community. We thank God for the opportunity to be present and participate in this synodal process.

That is what I took away from being a part of this Synod: that we all matter to God and to the Catholic Church, that no matter what time we are in, the values and support for faith formation and preservation still remain under the Holy Blood of Christ, which flows through every member of His Body, and that this is why we must remember that every voice, and person matters to God and thus to His Church. The Synod was, however, only the beginning. The real work and execution of petitions and advocacy from all of you will come next.  I pray that we will all continue to strive to cooperate with this Church and live our faith through action daily so that the Church of God will stand strong until the end of time. May God bless you all!

Claire Lin

from the San Jose Chinese Catholic Mission (SJCCM) serves as a catechist, high school youth minister, and liturgical minister.

Serving as a Diocesan Synod General Assembly Weekend delegate was an honor. As a young adult lay Catholic woman, I feel strongly about participating in the synodal process of envisioning and prioritizing future diocesan endeavors. SJCCM is a special community of mostly first- and second-generation Chinese Catholics in the Bay Area, with Masses and ministries offered in English and Chinese. It is also a hub connecting other Asian American Catholic communities. During the Synod’s preparatory phase, I felt called by the Holy Spirit to facilitate the SJCCM English-speaking community’s consultation session. There was a collaborative spirit among fellow parishioners and our pastor Fr Olivera. Seeing similar and different suggestions from SJCCM’s English and Chinese communities was interesting, further emphasizing these two populations’ unique pastoral experiences and needs. Being a delegate for the Diocesan Synod gave me energy and motivation. During this weekend, listening to and learning about each delegate’s different experiences was exciting. People were honest and curious. I appreciate that all the parishes and schools were consulted and involved in this journey. Seeing all of us gathered helped me realize we have such a supportive network, but we need to remember to reach out to each other.  I genuinely felt like the diocese is listening, with thoughtful people prayerfully discerning what our community really needs. For me, this was a very tangible experience of feeling part of the greater Catholic Church. Seeing us all together reminded me of how special and strong we are as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

Arlene H. Quiogue

from Church of the Ascension and St Joseph (Mountain View) serves as RCIA/OCIA Catechist, Lector, and choir member and is a graduate of ILM.

As a delegate, I witnessed and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit at work among members of my particular group. We did not know one another personally before this weekend. Coming together to discuss and work efficiently on what we were tasked with, I can speak for many of us when I say surrendering and trusting in the Holy Spirit is how our work was done. Among members of my diverse and talented group, we are a Catholic preschool teacher and the parish Mass liturgical coordinator, a full-time volunteer/minister serving across several parishes, an extraordinary minister to the sick and homebound, a wife/mother and parish catechist of children, a medical doctor who’s the chair of her Parish Council, and a beloved diocesan priest/parish pastor. By the fruits of the Holy Spirit, we actively listened, engaged in meaningful dialogue, and even expressed ourselves in joyful laughter at times.

I give thanks to our Triune God for each of them and for all the ways we surrendered to the Holy Spirit to assist us, prepare us, and accompany us throughout our participation in this first-ever diocesan Synod. But as we continue to invoke the Holy Spirit in our prayers, let us remain united and mindful of one another, as well as for the Planning and Steering Committees and for Bishop Cantu, that the Holy Spirit rest upon their continued works, upon the leadership and ministers of our faith communities, and for the implementation of a spirit-led diocesan Pastoral Plan.

Msgr. Gene O'Donnell

a retired priest of the diocese who continues to minister in a few parishes in San Jose

It is great to see and experience so much love for our Church shown by the people in this assembly. It has been an opportunity for all of us to listen. I am aware that I often have the mike and am expected to speak, and how different it is to listen. I am listening to you, the people in the pews, the offices, the schools, the playgrounds, the classrooms, the choirs, and liturgies. I look around and see many women: grandmothers, mothers, single women, young adult women, and maybe some teens.

All of you are involved in shaping the future of our local Church. You are a voice for the many women who make up most of the churchgoers, workers, and ministers in our diocese. This gathering is a microcosm of the diocese and reflects our diversity. Some of us are from here, but many of us have come from other places and countries. Our task is to know and listen to each other and build a community of faith around our common baptism. Listening to people speak ensures that our Church will respond to the real needs of our people who long for a church that supports them in their struggles and accompanies them in their lives. We are meant to be a community of love, support, and compassion, following the example of Jesus, who gave his life for us and calls us to do the same. We have something good, vital, and valuable to offer the people of Santa Clara County and Silicon Valley. I agree with the Deacon from La Vang Church who spoke earlier. He said that we can speak to all people and not just Catholics.

If we can be credible witnesses here, we can be an example for the Church throughout the country. I believe that we felt the presence of the Spirit this weekend. We have lots of challenges ahead of us. But with our gifts, the support of each other, and the guidance of the Spirit, we can go forward with confidence and hope. Let us keep moving.

Dcn. Chu Quang Dinh

serves as a deacon at the Our Lady of La Vang Parish

My personal experience as a delegate of this weekend’s Synod Assembly has really reinforced the four pillars of our local Church: One, Holy, Apostolic, and Catholic! Despite our delegates’ diverse backgrounds, culturally, ethnically, linguistically, generationally, etc. (you name it), I have experienced that, in all of my group discussions and even the large assembly meetings, we were able to share our own ideas and values, as well as to listen to each other with respect and understanding.

In many ways, I felt we genuinely have lived out the Spirit of unity in holiness as a community of faithful Christians. Yes, indeed, we walked the talk! This experience gave us hope that we actually could motivate our local Church, at all levels and settings, to live out this unity in diversity.

Moreover, moving beyond our local church boundaries, we can serve as a model to inspire Santa Clara County residents to be hopeful in everyone’s ability and willingness  to share and to listen to each other, despite all the turmoil and divisiveness in our current society.

Therie Velasco-Gonzales

M.A. from Saint Lawrence the Martyr Parish, serves as a Music Minister, Lector, Adult Confirmation Coordinator, and Sacramental Preparation Catechist and is a graduate of ILM, Santa Clara University – Master's in Pastoral Ministries Graduate and 2022 Advance Lay Leadership Graduate

I came to the Synod weekend with much optimism that it would bring hope for the needs of the Diocese of San José.

 

Looking around the room that Friday evening (January 27) with delegates, volunteers, and the steering committee, there must have been at least 250 people. I started calculating that for that weekend alone, we would spend around 4,000 hours. Then I added to the equation all the Parish-level Synod meetings, whether in-person or via Zoom, the number of suggestions that were submitted and streamlined into categories to be discussed. What an amazing participation of the faithful.

Indeed, having been invited to be a delegate for the Synod is a blessing. It allowed me to discern God’s will, share my voice and insights, and make a difference for the greater good of the diocese.

I am grateful to Bishop Cantu and the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Commission for their vision, planning, and execution of the first-ever Diocesan Synod. Thank you to all the delegates who actively participated in the process, the volunteers, and everyone who answered the call, and the invitation, for lovingly and respectfully giving their time, talent, and treasure – all for the Glory of GOD.

Truly a legacy we can experience now and in the generations, to come; together, we can look forward to the implementation of quick wins, short-term objectives, and long-term goals.

Let us continue to pray for all of us, including the success of the planning process, implementation of the proposals, and the results of the Synod weekend – ALL FOR HIS GLORY.

Ryan Bao

from St. Clare Parish serves as the parish youth minister and is an employee of a Catholic non-profit (NFCYM) and recently began teaching at a Catholic High School

This year, I was privileged to represent my parish and all young adults in the Dioceses of San Jose at the 2023 Synod. Being a young adult in this generation has exposed me to various spiritual, emotional, and bodily hardships young adults face, and this has given me insight into what we need from our churches, families, and communities.

Have you ever felt like you were thinking too much, and the harder you thought, the more you realized that you didn’t know all that much? Well, taking on the proposals and outcomes of the Synod has placed me in a similar dilemma.  This sentiment is like the life of a young adult, a popular topic talked about in synodal groups this weekend. Many times, I find myself like St. Paul, a man who was blinded and fell off his horse. As a young adult, it isn’t easy to discern and know what is best for your life. Is what I am doing sustainable? Is this the will that God has set out for me? Even more practically, how can I afford rent? What is my next job going to be? How am I going to make enough money to raise a family? Can I afford to get married? Am I going to be able to afford dinner tonight? With these in mind, it is challenging to call Silicon Valley my home let alone the Diocese of San José.

In my hour of blindness, the Synod has brought me to see like St. Paul. I can see the beauty of the Church and how I fit into the life of the Church. I have walked away with this: Many people would think we should pay young people so they can work in the Church, but I want to get paid to fulfill my vocation of working for the Church. I am excited about the work of the Synod and hope that I can be part of our Church’s future.

Kevin Bernaga

Director of Liturgy and Director of Youth, Young Adult, and Confirmation at St. Francis of Assisi Parish

This year, I was privileged to represent my parish and all young adults in the Dioceses of San Jose at the 2023 Synod. Being a young adult in this generation has exposed me to various spiritual, emotional, and bodily hardships young adults face, and this has given me insight into what we need from our churches, families, and communities.

Being chosen as a delegate by my pastor, Fr. Joe Kim, to be a part of this revolutionary and historical assembly known as the 2023 Synod of San Jose was a profound gift from God. Being a delegate to me was a huge responsibility because, for this process, I had to put myself aside to accurately and wholly represent the people in my community and the youth whose needs I embodied. I was truly honored to be trusted with this responsibility to voice and advocate through my vote and insight. Working with many experienced, diverse, and dedicated parishioners, leaders, laymen/women, and clergy here gave me hope of being heard, cared for, and truly cherished. Every second of our evaluations of petitions, thoughts, and criticisms contributed tremendously to the creation, formation, healing, demonstration, and sharing of the faith that we strive to protect and grow through this -process.

The Holy Spirit was clearly present throughout this entire process, as I’m sure it was for many others. There was a pure and heavenly beauty present in the minds of every person that God positioned to be a part of this event; all the distinctive ideas, perspectives, concerns, and more truly reminded me that we are all a part of Christ’s body. This Synod reaffirmed to me the reality that no brother or sister, parish, or community can be left without aid, support, inclusion, and love.

That is what I took away from being a part of this Synod: that we all matter to God and to the Catholic Church, that no matter what time we are in, the values and support for faith formation and preservation still remain under the Holy Blood of Christ, which flows through every member of His Body, and that this is why we must remember that every voice, and person matters to God and thus to His Church. The Synod was, however, only the beginning. The real work and execution of petitions and advocacy from all of you will come next. I pray that we will all continue to strive to cooperate with this Church and live our faith through action daily so that the Church of God will stand strong until the end of time. May God bless you all!