St. Martin of Tours Parish - San Jose, CA

Emmaus Community Components

Spiritual

• Retreats which allow time for deeper reflection and renewal are offered from time, both locally and in the wider area.

Social

• One Saturday each month, people gather informally after Mass for dinner at a restaurant determined by the group. There are also occasional potlucks and other special gatherings for holidays, etc.

Intellectual

• Workshops on issues of interest to this group and others are offered for enrichment, information and discussion.

Connection with the Wider Community

• Announcements about various events of concern to this community are made each week.

The members of the Emmaus Community serve as liturgical ministers for the Mass. We are currently in need of liturgical musicians who would be willing to accompany our celebrations. If you might be interested in this ministry, or know of someone who might be able to help us in this way, please contact us.

The Emmaus Mass is under the auspices of the Diocesan Pastoral Resources Committee.

Diocesan Pastoral Resource Committee The Pastoral Resource Committee, or P.R.C., is a committee under the Diocesan Office of Pastoral Ministry (special services).

The principal tasks of the committee are:

• (a) to inform and advise the bishop on all aspects of this ministry;
• (b) to enlist the interest and cooperation of diocesan agencies in implementing these guidelines;
• (c) to recommend, promote, or provide, in consultation with these agencies, programs of education and information.

The Pastoral Resource Committee evaluates and recommends publications to support these education programs or the personal study resources for pastoral ministers. The Pastoral Resource Committee also evaluates organizations to be served, consulted, or enlisted in this ministry.

To contact Members of the Committee, to volunteer service on its sub-committees and to seek assistance relative to this ministry, please contact the Office of Pastoral Ministry (408) 983-0122.

"Always Our Children" - from the U.S. Bishops

"Always Our Children: A Pastoral Message to Parents of Homosexual Children and Suggestions for Pastoral Ministers" is a statement that was issued in 1997 by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Marriage and Family.

In the Preface it describes the statement as "an outstretched hand ... to parents and other family members, offering them a fresh look at the grace present in family life and the unfailing mercy of Christ our Lord."

Copies are available in English and Spanish from the Diocesan Office for Pastoral Ministry through Terri Iacino at 408.983.0122. (Cost is $1.25 each) Or you can contact the National Council of Catholic Bishops/United States Catholic Conference offices in Washington, D.C. by calling 202.722.8716 or through their website at www.usccb.org/laity/always.shtml . A Spanish version is available at http://www.usccb.org/laity/alwaysp.shtml

Diocesan Guidelines for Ministry to Homosexuals

In 1986, the first Bishop of San Jose, Bishop Pierre DuMaine, issued "Pastoral Guidelines for Ministry to Homosexuals in the Diocese of San José". These guidelines are available from the diocese in both English and Spanish from the diocesan website.

• Pastoral Guidelines for Ministry to Homosexuals
• Pautas Pastorales para el Ministerio a Homosexuales

These are .pdf documents and require Adobe Acrobat to view. If you do not have Acrobat installed on your computer you may click here to download.

National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries

N.A.C.D.L.G.M. is a network encouraging Pastoral Care with Lesbian and Gay Catholics and their families. In 2005, the Diocese of San Jose sponsored a N.A.C.D.L.G.M. convention in San Jose*. For more information, visit their website at http://www.nacdlgm.org/ . The goals of N.A.C.D.L.G.M. are as follows:

• Fosters ministry with lesbian and gay Catholics, their families and friends
• Serves as a network of communication regarding Catholic lesbian and gay ministry
• Provides educational resources and models of ministry
• Encourages the participation of lesbian and gay Catholics within the Church
• Communicates with other Catholic organizations, especially the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

* For an article about the conference in the Valley Catholic, click here. (pdf file)

For more information about these ministries, please contact the Office of Pastoral Ministry at (408) 983-0122.

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