-- SPECIAL MEMO --
DATE: May 10, 2023
TO: All Parishioners and Staff of Saint Charles Borromeo
FROM: Fr. Kwame Assenyoh, Parochial Administrator
SUBJECT: Diocese of Oakland Chapter 11 Filing and its Impact on the Outcome of the Mission Alignment Process
Dear Parishioners and Staff of Saint Charles Borromeo:
Greetings! In the State of the Parish Address a couple of weeks ago, I informed you that a meeting of all priests and the bishop of our Diocese would take place on May 9, 2023, to discuss the alignment of resources and the missionary tasks of our Diocese. However, on May 8, 2023, our Diocese filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in order to fairly address the harm caused to 300+ victims of clergy sexual abuse of minors. This development has impacted the outcome of MAP.
Therefore, I hereby present to you a summary of our meeting yesterday and refer you to sources where you can find in-depth information about both issues and their impact on our diocese and parishes.
CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY OF THE RCBO:
Recently, when the statute of limitation was reopened, the number of new claims of clergy sexual abuse of minors rose to over 300. The Diocese resolved to focus on addressing the harm caused to all the victims.
The Diocese of Oakland which is (also known as) the Roman Catholic Bishop of Oakland (RCBO) includes all parishes as one corporation sole. Therefore Chapter 11 filing helps the Church to address harm to victims while protecting parishes from stalling under court rulings: There are liabilities and protections. As of Monday, May 8, 2023, our Church is under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This will go on for months or years but there will be a determined point of exit.
Effects on Parishes:
- Parishes will function normally except that we will not undertake major buildings and capital campaigns.
- Not affected: All parish-restricted funds, Bishop Appeal, Sunday plate collections
- Later, the Bankruptcy Court will determine what sources of funds may be exposed to the settlements, e.g., Diocesan insurance, unutilized properties, and unrestricted funds.
- Parish employees and their benefits will not be affected.
- Diocesan employees and operations will be affected.
EXIT: After exiting Chapter 11 and RCBO is released, the Diocese will not be liable for claims of incidents that occurred prior to May 8, 2023, when the Diocese filed for bankruptcy.
MISSION ALIGNMENT PROCESS (MAP) - PHASE 1:
Bishop Michael Barber has decided upon the following changes in the Diocese for Phase 1 based on the following factors:
- MAP was initiated two years ago to mitigate a dire financial need of the Diocese. Since that time, however, the finances were addressed thanks to improvements in the stock market and our nation’s economy.
- After Covid-19, some parishes in eastern Alameda and Contra Costa Counties have seen an increase in participation and vibrancy while others in the inner cities have suffered a downward trend.
- The need to file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy has accelerated the implementation of the MAP proposals.
MERGERS:
The following parishes will be merging:
- Christ the King + Saint Stephen in Pleasant Hill
- Saint Barnabas + Saint Joseph in Alameda
- Saint Benedict + Divine Mercy (already a merger of Lawrence O’Toole + Saint Paschal Baylon) in Oakland
CLUSTERS:
The following parishes will be clustered:
- Corpus Christi & Our Lady of Lourdes in Oakland
- Saint Ambrose & Saint Joseph, the Worker in Berkeley
- Saint Leo the Great & Christ Our Light Cathedral in Oakland
- Transfiguration & Our Lady of Grace in Castro Valley
- Saint Mary & Saint John Vianney in Walnut Creek
- Saint Patrick & Christ Our Light Cathedral in Oakland
- Saint Augustine (Oakland) is in pre-cluster negotiation with Newman Center in Berkeley
CLOSURES: So far in this Phase 1, none of the parishes within the Diocese of Oakland are set to close.
Regarding Saint Charles Borromeo Church in Livermore and the other parishes in our Deanery, NO CHANGES have been made by the Bishop regarding mergers, clusters, and closures. The only changes Bishop Barber announced are as follows: Fr. Luke Ssemakula, who is currently Associate Pastor at CCOP, is transferred to be Pastor of Saint Agnes Church in Concord; Fr. Carl Arcosa’s duties as Director of Vocations are lessened as responsibilities for seminarians is now given to Fr. Matthew Murray as the new Director of Seminarians.
Please note: Our Church wishes all parishioners to educate themselves on the facts and realities of the clergy sexual abuse of minors, its impact on the bankruptcy filing, and its impact on our MAP process. Therefore, we provide you with further sources to find in-depth answers to your questions. May God bless our efforts to help all victims; and also, may the Spirit show us the way to address the moral, theological, and spiritual roots of clergy sexual abuse in our Church.
Additional information:
Toll-Free Calls: (888)733-1425 (US/Canada)
(310)751-2631 (International)
For more information, please contact our office manager
Mary Hengl at (925) 922-6131
Blessings,
- Fr. Kwame
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Community
1315 Lomitas Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550
"Eucharist: Linking Faith and Action"
