February 11, 2005

Rev. Fr. Willie Manrique, JCL
Episcopal Vicar for Clergy
Diocese of San Jose

Dear Fr. Willie,

For several months now the parish leadership council, in concert with the pastor, clergy, lay leaders and professional staff of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Community developed a leadership (clergy) succession plan that anticipates the eventual retirement of Msgr. John Sandersfeld as pastor.

The parish considered multiple succession strategies and through consultative process involving significant parish participation, has determined that the best interests of the parish are served with Msgr. John remaining as Pastor until he retires and the assignment of a parochial vicar who can be mentored by Msgr. John and the community leaders.

The key to St. Francis’s growth and development has been collaboration between the clergy, a professional staff and engaged lay leaders working together to develop and implement plans, ministry and the liturgy which serve our parish, the community and the Diocese. This model has worked well at St. Francis, where the parish has been recognized on a diocesan and national level for its leadership contributions. For example, Marcos Herrera and Stan Fitzgerald serve on national Catholic boards and four of the five leaders of the Pastoral Plan work groups for the diocese, came from St. Francis.

As representatives of the parish, it is our observation that this successful, collaborative approach grows from the ecclesial communities of St. Francis, where plans and programs have been implemented to meet the pastoral needs of our community. It is our stated desire to maintain the culture and collaboration as St. Francis grows and enriches Christian life.

The parish has overwhelming interest to be involved with and provide input to the Diocese regarding the appointment of a parochial vicar and the eventual pastor transition at St. Francis.

The key leadership requirements we seek in a parochial vicar include the following:
• The ability to help parishioners advance their faith through prayer, worship and example on terms that relate to the life experiences of the parish members
• The capacity to act as an integral contributing member of the staff and leadership council
• The expertise and capability of organizing and building communities within and across a diverse multicultural environment
• The capability of building self-sustaining teams to implement parish plans and programs

Other important characteristics and considerations of our clergy include the following:
• Embrace the continuation and growth of small ecclesial communities of St. Francis. Parishioners like the close-knit relationships we have developed with one another both inside and among these communities.
• Achieve a consistent priest/lay community interaction
• Easily create and foster relationships as spiritual leaders among a diverse community of lay people.
• Openness to ideas and ethnic origins, but the ethnic backgrounds of priests are less important than the ability to serve the community as its spiritual leader. The parish is pleased to be a diverse yet an English speaking parish.
• A passion for clergy and staff leaders to know the communities they serve
• A desire to develop and sustain a model of pastoral leadership that is not solely pastor dependent
• To encourage and facilitate the way our parish makes room for individuals to contribute to the vision, empowerment and innovation of St. Francis
• To be able to deliver homilies that speak the word of God to us as individuals that are insightful and delivered in an adult, non-condescending manner
• To encourage the communities to continue to express influence over adapting liturgical delivery and shaping the culture of our ecclesial community

It is our desire to actively participate and engage with you in a discernment process that will lead to the identification of a suitable candidate for this important position, and who will help us in our journey to reach our joint vision with the Diocese. We seek your decisive leadership and responsiveness to this issue before April 15, 2005. Our timetable for action is driven by a desire to complete our staffing decisions, minimize the disruption to parish plans and programs and our passion and urgency to focus our joint energies on delivering a Catholic experience to the individuals in our communities.

Finally, we are committed individually and as a group to support the new priest. We believe the creative, collaborative, challenging and supportive environment at St. Francis is the best possible environment for developing and honing leadership skills which will serve as a fertile training ground for future priests.

We look forward to your earliest reply before April 15th.

Sincerely,
Willy Agbayani

Parish Council Chairman
St. Francis of Assisi Parish

cc: Bishop Patrick J. McGrath