I answered her second question: "I live at Saint Leo.” Then, seeing the expectant look on her face, I continued, “I am working at the chancery [the administrative offices for the diocese] to best serve our diocese.”

“Oh, I thought you worked at the diocese!” she exclaimed, which was more of a question than a statement.

It is a common misconception that the diocese is an office building. This is to be expected since we sometimes refer to the building, the chancery, in that way—for instance, when someone says, “I have a meeting at ‘the diocese,'"—it is understood that they mean the office building. The diocese is not a building.

I tried my best to explain that all parishes, schools, various ministries, and, yes, even the chancery are parts of the greater diocese. Really, the whole body of Christ in our area makes up the diocese.  In that conversation, the door to a pastoral moment was opened. I was given the opportunity to explain not only the structure of the diocese but also the gift of structural renewal in our pastoral plan, which is built on a solid theological foundation upon which our rhetoric, understanding, and pastoral commitment to our local Church will be rooted.

The Body of Christ

There is a beautiful song by Dale Schultz, which is a staple in our diocesan liturgies. It is titled “Sumus Ecclesia!” which means, “We are the Church.” The refrain says:

Sumus ecclesia!

We are the Church, your holy people.

Sumus ecclesia!

We are the body of Christ.

Yes, we are your people

and you are our God.

As the Body of Christ, we, the Church, universally as well as locally, through the sacraments, are united in a hidden and real way to Christ, who suffered and was glorified (Lumen Gentium [LG], 7). Think of our various Catholic groups: everything we do to evangelize here in the diocese is possible only because the parts of that Body of Christ are varied, with disciples each sharing their different talents. We can, therefore, genuinely say, Sumus Ecclesia! This comes with a great invitation for pastoral engagement and participation in evangelization.

Embodying Christ in our Structure

As the Body of Christ, we are invited to actively renew ourselves and strengthen the effectiveness of our mission. This starts with the spiritual renewal of ourselves: clergy, religious, and laity alike. The Body of Christ must be conditioned, i.e., structured, like our physical body, to function effectively. We must understand that although members and the parts of the body may be reorganized differently, all the members, the whole body, Christ’s body (cf. 1 Cor. 12:12) may benefit, which ensures renewal in the Diocese of San Jose.

We must proceed in virtue of this catholicity: through the common sharing of gifts, to be further unified, since “between all the parts of the Church, there remains a bond of close communion whereby they share spiritual riches, apostolic workers, and temporal resources.” (LG, 13)

Structural Renewal

In renewing our structures, compensation, and financial models, we, through the synodal process, seek to thoughtfully design and responsibly operate a mission-enabling structure. We also strive to identify essential ministries and staff needed to fulfill these ministries. The plan will ultimately reorganize parishes, schools, and the chancery to better support the diocese's mission.

By so doing, we unfold our inner nature as a Church of many parts in one body. Just look at what one question by a mother after Mass has brought forth: an article that grew out of a pastoral encounter where I was challenged to converse about our pastoral plan in a way that was accessible and, hopefully, inspiring to a parishioner. These are the moments where mission happens: in one-on-one exchanges where hearts open to where the Holy Spirit leads. The Spirit is always setting us on a track where we may engage more deeply in mission together so that our entire valley, “joined more closely today by various social, technical and cultural ties, might also attain fuller unity in Christ.” (LG, 1)