Priests from throughout the Diocese of Sacramento went to their first-ever convocation expecting to reflect on priestly life and ministry—past, present and future.

They did just that. But they also came away with a new sense of cohesion amid their diversity.

The convocation was “a new moment and a new experience for all of us,” according to Father Edward Lewis, pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Vallejo and chairman of the diocesan Council of Priests.

The four-day convening, held at the Konocti Resort Hotel in Clear Lake, included prayer and reflection, several presentations, discussion in small groups and time for social and recreational activities. About 140 diocesan, religious order and retired priests attended.

Priests serving in the diocese joined with Bishops William K. Weigand and Richard J. Garcia at Clear Lake for their first-ever convocation in October. Photo courtesy of Father Tom Tureman, SDS

Stepping aside from the daily demands and pressures of parish life “created a very different dynamic for us,” Father Lewis said. “For all the priests to be together in one place and to have time to share with one another was a great shot in the arm for priestly morale. We now have a greater sense of cohesion with each other and with our bishops.”

Priests in their small, multiethnic groups shared information about their vocations, their culturally diverse backgrounds and their pastoral experiences and concerns.

One evening during the event was devoted to “sharing talents,” with some priests engaging in music performance, poetry, storytelling and other entertainment representing their various cultural roots, including African, American, Asian, Latino, Indian and Irish.

Such experiences “brought home the message of how diverse our presbyterate has become,” said Father Lewis, “and how much the ethnic makeup of our priests has changed over time, just as the makeup of our parishioners has changed. There is so much we can learn from one another.”

Father Manuel Soria, pastor of St. Isidore Parish in Yuba City, called the convocation a success “simply because getting together with my brother priests refreshes and energizes me personally and spiritually,” he said.

“Being there with and for each other lets me know that I belong to the body of priests—that I’m not someone isolated. This is my community and I can share anything with them.”

Father Daniel Looney, pastor of St. James Parish in Davis and a member of the convocation planning committee headed by Auxiliary Bishop Richard Garcia, characterized the spirit of the gathering as “simply exhilarating.”

“Frankly, we didn’t have very high expectations, because this was our first convocation,” he noted. “But it exceeded our expectations, both in terms of the number of priests who attended and in the sense of affirmation felt between the priests.

“I don’t remember a gathering quite as large in my 29 years of attending priest gatherings,” Father Looney added. “And for the first time, it kind of crystallized the tremendous diversity in this diocese.”

In one presentation during the event, Father Steven Avella, professor of history at Marquette University, retraced the impact of “the power of the California myth” on the history of the more than 150 years of priesthood in the diocese.

While the realities of the local church shape and adapt the identity of priests in various places, California’s distinctive environment has shaped many features of Catholic life and identity and has provided a framework for the work of priestly ministry, Father Avella noted.

Since the 1950s in particular, he said, priests in Northern California have had to respond to the challenge of creating community and “a new kind of Catholic presence in suburbia.”

“It is important to accentuate the tremendous demands on (priests’) energy, time, ingenuity, political savvy and patience required to raise (parishes) in their suburban settings,” he said.

Franciscan Conventual Father Canice Connors, who served as facilitator for the convocation, in a concluding presentation urged priests to “use their imagination” in tackling the many concerns they face, such as an ever-increasing workload, maintaining morale, sharing resources and exploring methods of collaboration.

He told The Herald the gathering “came at exactly the right moment, as priests celebrated the identity of this local church and saw that diversity can be a blessing.”

Ongoing challenges for the diocese and its clergy are “the diminishing number of priests, how priests can collaborate more and use their resources better, and how they can help develop a five to 10-year pastoral plan,” he said.

He urged that a process be designed, discussed and approved for developing a pastoral vision for the diocese and that priests begin planning for the next convocation “built on the realizations and deficits of this one.”

“I left (the convocation) with the impression of the good will of the clergy, and how honest and open they were with each other about current morale problems and how they can deal with them,” Father Connors said.

Bishop William K. Weigand told The Herald the convocation “provided us with a good foundation upon which to build future gatherings, to strengthen the priestly fraternity, to dialogue on common concerns and to vision for the future.”

“I could not have been happier with the positive spirit of the gathering and the opportunity for me and Bishop Garcia to spend time with the priests,” he said.

Bishop Garcia said the planning committee has recommended that another convocation be held in three to five years. He added that the gathering helped to lay the groundwork for priests to be involved in the process of pastoral planning and decision-making. It may also lead, he said, to a diocesan synod including the laity, religious and permanent deacons.

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