CSF June 2023: Fellowship

By Rod Linhares

Director of Mission Advancement for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

Members of the Archbishop’s Circle gathered on Saturday, March 25, for their annual Lenten Day of Reflection. Held at St. Mark Church in Belmont, the retreat helped deepen the attendees’ Lenten experience and provided the opportunity for socializing and fellowship.

The Archbishop’s Circle is comprised of people who donate funds to programs and initiatives identified by Archbishop Cordileone. These projects are generally outside the regular archdiocesan budget, so the Circle members’ support is especially critical.

The Circle currently consists of nearly 90 households (representing approximately 130 individuals) from throughout the Archdiocese and beyond. Circle members range in age from their 20s to more than 90 and come from a wide variety of backgrounds and professions, including law, technology, business and education. They meet a few times each year for retreats, social events and educational gatherings. “I travel more than 250 miles to attend the Archbishop’s Circle events for spiritual nourishment and to meet all the great people,” said Circle member Marcia Jervis.

At the March 25 retreat, Father Michael Mahoney, OFM Cap., pastor of Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame, and Father Cameron Faller, vocation director for the Archdiocese, offered thought-provoking reflections. Archbishop Cordileone provided an update on several initiatives, and Father Nicholas Case, who is leading the Eucharistic Revival in our Archdiocese, and Peter Marlow, the archdiocesan director of communications and media relations, highlighted the scope and significance of the revival. Attendees also learned more about the Restorative Justice ministry from its leader, Julio Escobar. Restorative Justice is one of the Circle’s areas of emphasis.

As Father Patrick Summerhays, vicar general and moderator of the Curia, notes, “The Circle projects are always a combination of ongoing efforts and new initiatives. Archbishop Cordileone is able to combine his long-term priorities and emphasize items that are more urgent at a particular time. Together, they advance the interests of the Archdiocese and evangelize within it. The Circle members’ support is instrumental in our ability to fund these vital endeavors.”

This year, the Circle has retained its ongoing focus on seminarians, marriage and family life, the Walk for Life and Rosary Rally, and it has added support for Restorative Justice, the Eucharistic Revival, a mental health ministry, the Life-Giving Wounds ministry (for adults with divorced parents) and several others.

Now in its sixth year, the Archbishop’s Circle has proven to be an excellent way to advance the priorities of Archbishop Cordileone, the Archdiocese and parishioners from throughout the Archdiocese to come together and make a difference. As Good Shepherd parishioners (Pacifica) Keith D’Souza and Leswin Dcunha stated, “We want to be part of having an impact on the Catholic Church in our community. We can do so through the Circle.” ■

To learn more about the Archbishop’s Circle, contact Rod Linhares at the Mission Advancement Office, (415) 614-5581 or linharesr@sfarch.org.