Apr 3, 2026
English | Spanish
Kính gửi quý anh chị em trong Chúa Ki-tô,
Trong thần thoại Hy Lạp, vị thần titan Prometheus đã đánh cắp lửa từ các vị thần để ban cho loài người, giúp con người xây dựng nền văn minh, phát triển công nghệ và tri thức. Prometheus đã bị Zeus trừng phạt vì Zeus cố tình không cho loài người sử dụng lửa để giữ con người trong trạng thái bất lực, phụ thuộc vào các vị thần. Đối với người Hy Lạp cổ đại, lửa tượng trưng cho sự phát triển, công nghệ và văn minh vì lửa cho phép loài người sưởi ấm, nấu nướng và chế tạo công cụ. Lửa là biểu tượng nền móng của văn minh nhân loại.
Trái lại, trong Lễ Vọng Phục Sinh, lễ mừng thiêng liêng nhất trong năm phụng vụ Công Giáo, phụng vụ bắt đầu bên ngoài nhà thờ với nghi thức làm phép lửa. Sau đây là lời nguyện làm phép: “Lạy Chúa, Chúa đã sai Con Một đến giãi ánh vinh quang rực rỡ của Chúa vào lòng tín hữu, xin thánh + hóa ngọn lửa mới này, và trong suốt thời gian mừng Lễ Vượt Qua, xin cho niềm khao khát Nước Trời cũng bừng lên thiêu đốt lòng chúng con, và thanh tẩy muôn ngàn tội lỗi, để mai sau chúng con xứng đáng vào thiên quốc tham dự lễ ánh sáng muôn đời.” Nói đơn giản là: Thiên Chúa thắp sáng ngọn lửa trong lòng chúng ta để chúng ta có thể khao khát thiên đàng và sống trong ánh sáng của Ngài. Không giống như Zeus, Thiên Chúa chia sẻ ngọn lửa với chúng ta, không phải để kiểm soát chúng ta mà để dẫn dắt chúng ta đến với vinh quang của Ngài trên thiên đàng.
Nhân loại có một mục tiêu vinh quang. Theo truyền thống Kinh Thánh, Thiên Chúa tạo dựng con người theo hình ảnh và tương đồng với Ngài (Gn. 1:27), mời gọi chúng ta sống trong tình bạn hòa hợp và hiệp thông với Thiên Chúa ngay từ lúc ban đầu. Thiên Chúa ban cho loài người trí tuệ và sự tự do ý chí, đồng thời đặt ra những ranh giới rõ ràng mà chúng ta không được vượt qua (tượng trưng bởi “cây biết điều thiện và điều ác”, xem. Gn. 2:17). Do vậy, mặc dù Thiên Chúa tạo dựng con người theo hình ảnh và tương đồng với Ngài, chúng ta không phải là các vị thần – tuy nhiên chúng ta vẫn được mời gọi chia sẻ vinh quang huy hoàng của Ngài.
Vị thánh thế kỷ thứ hai, Irênê, có câu nói nổi tiếng rằng: “vinh quang của Thiên Chúa là [con người] được sống viên mãn và sự sống của [con người] là chiêm ngắm vinh quang Thiên Chúa”. Đây là mối tương giao diệu kỳ: Thiên Chúa vui mừng khi chúng ta trưởng thành, và chúng ta đạt trọn vẹn tiềm năng khi sống trong tình bạn với Ngài. Như vậy, Thiên Chúa trong Kinh Thánh không nhỏ nhen và ghen tị như Zeus trong thần thoại Hy Lạp, giữ lại những ân huệ chỉ để khiến con người bất lực và phụ thuộc. Thay vì thế, Thiên Chúa trong Kinh Thánh tạo dựng con người với trí tuệ và tự do ý chí, mong muốn con người phát triển. Nhân loại đạt đến đỉnh cao khi chúng ta sống trong tình bạn và hiệp thông với Đấng Tạo Hóa, Thiên Chúa gần gũi và đầy yêu thương. Thiên Chúa mong muốn điều tốt nhất cho chúng ta và ban cho chúng ta những phương tiện để nhờ ân sủng Ngài mà đạt được vinh quang.
Đức Thánh Cha Lêo đã nhắc nhở chúng ta về sự hiểu biết khôn ngoan và lòng thành kính của Thánh Augustinô khi ngài nói: “Lạy Chúa, Chúa đã dựng nên chúng con cho Chúa, nên lòng chúng con khắc khoải cho đến khi nghỉ yên trong Chúa”. Thực vậy, Thiên Chúa giúp chúng ta tìm thấy sự viên mãn nơi Ngài, và vì vậy, niềm hạnh phúc tột đỉnh chỉ có thể tìm thấy trong Thiên Chúa của vinh quang. Không điều gì khác có thể thỏa mãn trọn vẹn lòng khát khao của chúng ta.
Thiên Chúa gieo trong lòng chúng ta ngọn lửa tình yêu, ngọn lửa khát khao hướng đến điều thiêng liêng, điều siêu việt, điều gì đó vĩ đại hơn chính bản thân mình. Chúng ta thắp sáng ngọn lửa ấy bằng cách yêu thương Thiên Chúa và người lân cận. Chúng ta không cần mang theo “ngọn lửa bị đánh cắp”, bởi Thiên Chúa đã gieo trong trái tim và linh hồn chúng ta ngọn lửa từ thuở ban đầu, để chúng ta được sống trong tình bạn và hiệp thông với Đấng Tạo Hóa đầy yêu thương. Do đó, nhờ ngọn lửa đức tin, chúng ta cùng với Thiên Chúa xây dựng nền văn minh tràn đầy tình yêu – Nước Thiên Chúa. Đặc biệt trong Mùa Phục Sinh này, khi chúng ta chiêm ngắm Nến Phục Sinh trong các nhà thờ của chúng ta, được thắp sáng từ ngọn lửa Phục Sinh, nguyện chúng ta được vinh quang trong Thiên Chúa, Đấng chia sẻ với chúng ta ngọn lửa tình yêu của Ngài. Chúc Mừng Lễ Phục Sinh!
Giám Mục Oscar Cantú
Giám Mục Giáo Phận San José
Apr 1, 2026
The following is a statement on the newly minted Farmworkers’ Day by the California Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Our hearts are deeply grieved by the stories of women who suffered abuse at the hands of Cesar Chavez, some at a very young age. Their voices carry a pain that must be received with reverence—heard, believed, and honored. The suffering they have borne, often in silence for many years, is a profound injustice, and we stand with them in sorrow, in solidarity, and in prayer.
As California marks the newly established Farmworkers Day, we are reminded that this moment must be not only one of remembrance but also of renewal. It is an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the dignity, safety, and well-being of the men and women whose labor sustains us all. The work of farmworker advocacy—protecting workers, supporting families, and upholding human dignity—must continue with clarity, integrity, and vigilance.
In this moment of reflection, confronting these difficult truths does not diminish the mission of farmworker advocacy. Rather, it calls us to pursue it with even greater humility, honesty, and care. We look to honor the legacy of farmworker contributions, provide justice and support today, and safeguard their future.
On this Farmworkers Day, we renew our commitment to ensure that farmworkers are protected, respected, and provided with just salaries, benefits, and working conditions. We pray for the courage of all survivors to share their stories, and for all of us to listen with open hearts. May our Blessed Mother, Santa Maria de Guadalupe, wrap all her wounded and suffering children in her maternal embrace.
Mar 23, 2026
The Diocese of San José is deeply troubled by the serious and credible allegations of sexual abuse that have come to light against Cesar Chavez. We stand first and foremost with those who have been harmed, including those who have shown courage in coming forward publicly.
Listening to Those Who Come Forward
Having walked through our own reckoning as a Church with the harm done to victims/survivors of sexual abuse, we know that our response must begin with the victims/survivors. We stand with them. This is not a political stance. It is a pastoral one, rooted in the Catholic conviction that the dignity of every human person demands we take seriously the harm done to them. As Catholics, we are called to uphold the dignity of every human person, to listen to those who have been hurt, and to seek justice rooted in truth.
The Farm Worker Movement
In this difficult moment, we must remain anchored in the truth that the allegations against one individual do not diminish the vital and ongoing work of farm workers and those who advocate for them. The men and women who labor in our fields — often unseen, often unprotected — deserve dignified working conditions, fair wages, and the full protection of their rights. That cause is just. It was just before Cesar Chavez, and it remains just today. The movement was built by many hands and many hearts, and it will continue. Our solidarity with farm workers is unwavering.
Our Actions
Bishop Cantu has asked that all statues, plaques, wall hangings, artwork, or other visual representations of Cesar Chavez be removed from parish properties, school buildings, and all diocesan facilities as is feasible. We do this not as an act against the farm worker movement but as a response to his own actions, which have made it untenable for us to continue honoring his image in our buildings. We do not remove these items to diminish the farm worker movement, but to be faithful to the survivors.
Additionally, the Diocese of San José will observe March 31 as Farm Workers Day — a day dedicated to honoring the dignity, sacrifice, and essential contributions of the men and women whose labor sustains our communities and provides food for our tables. We encourage our parishes, schools, and ministries to mark Farm Workers Day with prayer, education, and acts of support for farm workers and their families.
Upholding Our Principles
The Diocese of San José reaffirms these principles:
- WE ACKNOWLEDGE… the pain of those in our community, particularly our Latino brothers and sisters, for whom the farm worker movement is deeply personal.
- WE STAND… in solidarity with victim/survivors. The Church’s concern, first and foremost, is for those who were harmed.
- We SUPPORT… the broader movement and those who continue to advocate with courage and integrity for the dignity of all who labor.
- WE PRAY… for the survivors, for our community, and for the wisdom to hold both the grief of this moment and our enduring commitment to the dignity of every worker, every woman, and every child.
Reporting Abuse
The Diocese of San José strictly adheres to a zero-tolerance policy and promptly notifies law enforcement and child protective services when abuse is reported, in accordance with mandated reporter laws. If an adult victim/survivor is looking to report a case of Clergy Abuse or sexual abuse involving Church personnel, we encourage them to first contact their local civil authorities (law enforcement). Once a report is filed with the local civil authorities, individuals are encouraged to contact the Diocesan Office for the Protection of Children & Vulnerable Adults at (408) 983-0113. All reports are confidential to protect the rights of the victim.
Reports to the Diocese are accepted either by online submission or by phone. For online submission, please use the following URL to access our secure third-party reporting server designated for this purpose: https://opcva.ethicspoint.com/ or contact our toll-free 24-hour reporting hotline at 844-372-1691.
Media Inquiries
Please direct all media inquiries to Cynthia Shaw at the Diocesan Office of Communications at (408) 983-0228 or cynthia.shaw@dsj.org.
Mar 6, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I write to share the sad news of the passing of Dominick Galicia, a discerner with our Vocations Office, who died on March 2, 2026. He was 28 years old. I ask that we keep his parents, his family in the Philippines, and his loved ones in our prayers.
While Dominick was born in the U.S., he grew up in the Philippines. He returned to San Jose in January 2025. He was in the process of applying to become a seminarian for the Diocese of San Jose. While he was here, he was involved in parish life, both at Most Holy Trinity and St. Christopher. He worked at St. Christopher Parish, assisting as the sacrament coordinator; was active in the young adult community at Most Holy Trinity Parish; helped with youth ministry and catechism; and served during Mass. He also volunteered with our Vocations Office and attended many diocesan events.
“He was a very hardworking, humble, and prayerful person. In the short time he was here, he touched many lives.”
— Father Eric Piczon, Director of Vocations
Many of you were part of the prayerful effort to find Dominick after he was reported missing this week, and I am grateful for the outpouring of love and concern from across our Diocese. That same care must now be directed toward his family as they grieve this loss from so far away.
The Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, March 17, at 2:00 p.m. at Most Holy Trinity Parish in San Jose. Burial will be in the Philippines.
May Dominick’s soul find eternal rest in the arms of the Lord who called him, and may the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding be with his family in the days ahead.
Most Reverend Oscar Cantú
Bishop of San José
Mar 6, 2026
Please remember in your prayers Monsignor J. Patrick Browne, who died this morning following a brief illness at the age of 84.
Pat was born on July 31, 1941, in Castroville, California to Patrick and Bridget (née McCarthy) Browne, both natives of County Kerry, Ireland. He spent his formative years in Sunnyvale, California, before entering St. Patrick’s Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 1967, and served the people of God faithfully for nearly fifty-eight years.
Pat was ordained for the Archdiocese of San Francisco and was released for ministry with the Society of San Sulpice. As a Sulpician, he taught at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, and later served as both faculty and graduate student at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned his Ph.D. in sociology. He then served as Vice Rector and faculty at St. Patrick’s Seminary in San Francisco.
In the Diocese of San Jose, he first served the faithful at Santa Teresa Parish in San Jose as Associate Pastor and later as Pastor. He went on to serve as Pastor at St. Lucy Parish in Campbell, St. Patrick Proto-Cathedral, and the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph in downtown San Jose. In recognition of his dedicated service, Saint John Paul II honored him with the title of Monsignor, Prelate of Honor, on June 3, 2000.
Pat was a deeply intelligent man who recognized and appreciated that quality in others, though he never required it. A master conversationalist, he relished spirited discussion, a thoughtfully prepared meal, an irreverent joke and a fine glass of bourbon. It would be nearly impossible to find someone more well-read than Pat and he could contribute with equal ease to subjects as varied as the political climate and the San Francisco Giants’ pitching deficiencies.
He became an excellent chef and was happy to share techniques and recipes, even with those more interested in the results than the process. A talented baseball player in his youth, he carried his passion for sports throughout his life, faithfully cheering on Bay Area professional teams and closely following the PGA Tour. In his later decades, he was rarely without the steady companionship of a devoted succession of German Shepherds, whose watchful loyalty matched his own.
Pat was many things in his lifetime — son, student, teacher, cousin, and friend — but at his core he was, fundamentally, a priest. He was a man called and called again to place his considerable gifts in service of others, drawing them nearer to God and to the sacred work of social justice.
Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on March 28, 2026 at 12:00 pm at Saint Simon Parish in Los Altos, CA followed by a reception. Burial to follow at 2:30 pm at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen.
