Feb 05, 2004

Bishop fields questions such as “What’s the pope like?” at visit to Holy Spirit School

Bishop Patrick J. McGrath, Diocese of San Jose, paid his annual visit to Holy Spirit School Jan. 30 during Catholic Schools Week. The bishop visited with all K-8 students in the morning, taking the time to interface and let the students ask questions. He also met with Fr. Brendan McGuire, the new pastor at Holy Spirit Church and Eileen Beck, principal.

There were many queries about how he became a priest and later a bishop. The bishop was born and raised near Dublin, Ireland. McGrath replied, “He originally wanted to be an architect. One day, a priest asked had he ever thought about becoming a priest. After great thought and prayer, the young McGrath decided to enter the seminary instead of the university.” After many years of study in Ireland, he was ordained. McGrath studied in Italy and later moved to the United States, and speaks several languages including Gaelic, French, fluent Italian and is learning Spanish. Bishop McGrath was assigned to the Archdiocese of San Francisco prior to becoming the bishop of the Diocese of San Jose five years ago.

When asked if he had visited with the pope at the Vatican in Rome, Bishop McGrath stated, “Like other bishops, I see the pope every five years. I am scheduled to visit him this May for four days. Day one, the bishops have Mass with the pope; day two, several bishops lunch with the pope, day three, each bishop has a personal visit alone with the pope, and on the final day, we meet with the pope as a group.” Bishop McGrath spoke highly of the pope, expressing how hard the pope works, speaks eight or nine languages fluently with Christmas and Easter being the only times with no scheduled visitors.

A liturgy followed at Holy Spirit Church with the bishop, Fr. Brendan McGuire and Fr. George Mancha, pastor of St. Anthony’s Parish. Students prepared special prayers and hymns for the special Mass. Eileen Beck commented, “It is always a special time when the bishop comes to visit. For many of our students and parents, it is one of the highlights of the school year.”