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May 7, 2019 | The Valley Catholic
THANK YOU BISHOP MCGRATH
Bishop McGrath Reflects on His Service to the Diocese of San Jose
By Liz Sullivan
“Together in Christ.”
That is the Episcopal Motto of
Bishop Patrick J. McGrath, second and
now retired Bishop of San Jose. (When
priests are ordained bishops they select
a motto).
For 20 years, that has been a focus of
the Bishop’s work in the Valley of Saint
Clare. It is a theme the Bishop now
takes into retirement as he formally
stepped down from leading the faith-
ful of the faithful of the Diocese since
November of 1998 when he replaced
founding Bishop Pierre DuMaine.
Bishop McGrath’s retirement was
made public on May 1 by the Holy See.
Every Bishop of the Catholic Church
must submit a request for retirement
to the Vatican as they approach their
75 th birthday. Bishop McGrath will turn
74 in June.
Taking over as the leader of the
Diocese is Bishop Oscar Cantú, 52, who
has spent the last 10 months becoming
familiar with the Diocese of San Jose.
Bishop Cantú had previously been the
Bishop of Las Cruces, N.M.
“I have a lot of gratitude towards
God for the ministry I have and for
putting into my life people who love
the Church,” said Bishop McGrath
about a month before his retirement.
“They have been a great comfort to me.
We have had many good days amid
the challenges and we have done it
‘Together in Christ.’ There are a lot of
emotions involved for me right now.”
Ordained a priest in 1970 for the
Archdiocese of San Francisco, Bishop
McGrath became the second bishop of
San Jose on November 27, 1999 upon
the retirement of DuMaine, who led the
Diocese since its founding in 1981. Just
as Bishop Cantú did, Bishop McGrath
spent about 10 months serving as Co-
adjutor Bishop in San Jose.
“When I was appointed (Auxiliary)
Bishop (in San Francisco in 1989) I said
to Archbishop (John) Quinn I won’t
have a parish anymore and I will miss
that interaction with the people. He told
me not to worry, a Bishop always has
people to pray with.”
Bishop McGrath credits the late
Archbishop Quinn and William Cardi-
nal Levada, also from the Archdiocese
of San Francisco, as serving as mentors
to him.
“I learned a great deal from both
of them,” said Bishop McGrath. “I
watched them and saw how they ran
the Archdiocese of San Francisco. They
were inclusive of all people, including,
and especially, lay people.”
As he steps back from working full-
time for the first time in his adult life,
Bishop McGrath hasn’t decided defi-
nitely on what he’ll do in retirement.
“I have been given this gift (of re-
tirement), he said. “I think I will step
back from active ministry for the first
six months. I might audit some classes
in architecture or travel. I was very
close with Mother Teresa and I have
never been to India, so I might go and
see her tomb.”
Bishop McGrath does know how
fortunate he’s been.
“I have been lucky as I have al-
ways been surrounded by supportive
people,” the Bishop said. “I have never
felt like an outsider. I have felt really
welcomed as Bishop, just as the people
are now welcoming Bishop Cantú.”
Bishop McGrath is at peace as he
leaves as head of the Roman Catholic
Church in Santa Clara County.
“I was concerned about the tran-
sition at first for the people and the
clergy,” he said. “Bishop Cantú is an
excellent choice. He’s a reflective man,
who is kind and compassionate. He’s
not a pushover. He will be a good
shepherd.”
Thank you Bishop McGrath
...for creating the Foundation & Society of Saint Joseph
...for your twenty years of support and leadership
...for all the good you have done for our community
We wish you much joy
in your retirement!
Sincerely your friends at
If you would like to thank the Bishop with a donation in his honor, visit:
cfoscc.org/bishop-mcgrath-endowment