Verbum Dei Community Father Rodolfo Llamas, left, and Father Jesus Soriano recite a profession of faith and oath of fidelity during an installation Mass at All Hallows Church Oct. 13. The priests are co-pastors of All Hallows and St. Peter Parishes in Sacramento. Cathy Joyce/Herald photo

Two neighboring Sacramento parishes enjoy proud traditions and are gifted with culturally diverse memberships. Both were faced with vacancies recently left by departed pastors.

At the end of June, Father Sidney Hall, longtime pastor of St. Peter Parish in Sacramento, retired from ministry. Less than two months later, just a few miles away, Father Polycarpo Gumapo, pastor of All Hallows Parish, was appointed parochial administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln.

To best serve the needs of the people of both parishes, the diocese looked to a collaborative approach to ministry.

On Oct. 4, Verbum Dei Community Father Rodolfo Llamas and Father Jesus Soriano were appointed co-pastors of All Hallows Parish and St. Peter Parish, Both priests will reside at All Hallows rectory.

ìThe plan envisages both pastors living together in a mutually enabling setting, sharing a prayer life and staff support,î said Bishop William K. Weigand of the pairing of the parishes. ìWith the combined language skills of both pastors, more people will be reached in a culturally diverse population.î

Benefits of co-pastoring to both church communities include more effective use of parish facilities and sharing various aspects of parish life, such as baptisms, marriages and youth ministries.

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Father Llamas has previously served as parochial vicar of Holy Rosary Parish in Woodland and St. John the Baptist Parish in Chico.

Father Soriano, born in the city of Manooag in the Philippines, has served as parochial vicar of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Basil parishes in Vallejo and St. Joseph Parish in Redding.

Father Llamas said that while he is just becoming acquainted with his new neighborhood, all signs point toward pastors and people sharing together as one parish community.

ìThe two churches are only a five minute commute apart,î he said. ìAll Hallows Church is bigger and we have a lot of people. Gradually we expect some Masses to move from St. Peter to All Hallows.î

He sees collaboration among the neighboring parishes as an opportunity to live out a Gospel message.

ìWe would like to be able to give some testimony about sharing responsibilities in the name of Christ,î Father Llamas said. ìTo love each otherÖand share with one another should be a natural Christian response.î

To discuss the new team approach to ministry and possible ways to share resources at the two parishes, three town hall meetings with parishioners took place Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.

Nearly 150 people attended the Oct. 2 meeting, including Auxiliary Bishop Richard J. Garcia, Father Michael Kiernan, diocesan director of social service ministry, and Father Thomas Bland, priestsí personnel director.

Parishioners met in small groups to discuss aspects of parish life they want to keep, change or remove, and their vision for the future.

A diocesan report of the meeting indicates members of both parishes value their Masses, ministries and schools, and are most open to collaboration on social activities and fund-raising between their pastors and among parish leaders.

ìWeíre exploring what are the gifts the two parishes can share,î Father Bland told The Herald.

While consolidation of Masses and resources is expected, the diocese has no plans to close the churches.

ìEvery effort will be made to preserve the unique identity, history and special charisms of both communities,î Bishop Weigand said.

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