frequently every sunday a group with of my cousins nearby so we had a pretty close-knit family growing up. church was a regular part of life and school basics of the growing up but i always felt my face was important to me and i was have a sense of wanted to live my life for something greta the myself although train my school years and wasn't contemplating the priesthood. although i never give up on my face there was practiced my faith but it wasn't true tilt toward the end of high-school math first year of college and started to think more seriously abouit. like as my life for the call and make a difference and why did god put me here and what ultimately is important and i could think of nothing > serving god by helping people work out their salvation and crew and their faith. and the increase appears parrish was an inspiration to me.

i have to ask you how is it when you get the call to be asked to join the episcopate, how is it to be a bishop 0. he get a phone call from a my cases a little different i had been working in rome at the time and i was on vacation so i have surmised that they did know exactly where to track me down so they called my bishop. it would found missing her letter. the bishop of the diocese contacted me to give me the news. d.u.i. anticipated at all to think that might be the case? so it's a surprise and the same time how fulfilling is it? all the things go through your mind.

like the realization of that into a high-visibility role and what ever a bishop does is greater ramifications for good and the more serious the responsibility from that standpoint came to my mind and to call such as this, who was the has the export and about myself no one is really equal to the call so having to rely on the grace of god to make up for what's lacking in ourselves to respond when you get the calling of the other yes of some point i guess even literally the bishop past are read a letter of exceptions to the holy father which i did the only thing available at the moment was an electric typewriter second

posted at the typewriter and mail the then. you had time and san diego for a while out of the warm you up to your seat now as an ordinary in my experience was a great help to have that experience as an auxiliary bishop to work closely with the bishop in san diego anticipate in this the way he ministered to and also having my own particular niche as an gain to the diocese involved in a wide range of ministries and the same parishes it helped me to get a little more comfortable in the role as bishop so was a good preparation it is a big jump going from auxiliary into ordinary diocese. reported talk about that when we come back.

welcome back. we are here today with the bishop of the roman catholic diocese of oakland and wellcome could you tell us about this though no this is the fault of the mausoleum below our news cathedral of christ the light edges ticket you're going this time and below is this mausoleum where people can in to the loved ones is an aging tradition in the church to enter the loved ones and a church facility because it is a sacred space. will make this available for the people letter diocese.

and this is especially meant was an they're moving of the cast casket of the first bishop of oakland and there's a section in the mausoleum for the bishops of the diocese to be interest so his remains were transferred into that's correct. you're beginning to oakland how has it been in just a few months there now. i officially took over in may 5th so it's been about for five months now. what inspires him but the people of oakland? they're very alive and very committed to to putting their faith into action. and working for the common good and social justice and a sense a lot of energy in the diocese. we have problems to there's lots of inner-city in violence the one problem we don't have as lethargy.

and no you coming in as the shepherd as the head of that and it's a large catholic population nearing 600,000 that's a great news to begin with boat when you come to be the shepherd do you see yourself with the vision or do you see yourself sitting in? i would give the typical catholic answers both hand. but i try to clarify it's not so much that the come in addition to imposing the diocese it's that we have to come to a vision together and have to take the lead in that and the bishops have in the government governments of the entire audience is the broader perspective but it also has to your from all different elements of the diocese. together we can form a commission.

there already is a vision emplace but we need to continually reassess our we need to act this extra resources and energies. people have been very welcoming and the priest organizing opportunities for me to get to know them. tell us about the clarity and tells how wonderful these men are. they're very dedicated to the people they work hard and the love the people and they're really trying to serve the community and they serve beyond the confines of their parishes they're very involved in the community in the city. how is it to be surrounded by people who loved you from the moment they see you. its awesome especially in that setting and the beautiful new cathedral it speaks so much

of them the map of the essence of christ and the like with which he eliminates us with the truth. it is awesome. out here you are happening here in the new cathedral so tell us about the cathedral qualities of purpose it's all premised on the title christ all premised on christ is being are light and uc their 764 louvre's allowing shafts of light and the light shifts throughout the day and a different use in different directions of the light and it changes throughout the year eliminating the great figure of christ the king in the universe above the altar to speak to us of his majesty in transcends as to which she calls us go cathedral speaks of transcendence the finis up into the light of heaven. is an interesting part

switch diversity there in the cathedral in the been in touch with the clinic there i have not made an official visit to the clinic to have been in touch with them and they've spoken to leave the ministry there. let's keep plugging for health-care reform. just about everyone agrees that we do need some reform of the system there are too many people sleeping through the cracks 13 million without insurance and when to be sure that the health care reform that respects human dignity from conception to natural death their respects rights of conscience for fifth base groups such as our own to minister to the needy and conformity with their own moral beliefs and principles of what to make sure that nothing can be slipped and or by way of interpretation to take it away. were going to take a break and will be back.

comeback. we're here with a very special guest the bishop of the roman catholic diocese of oakland thanks for being with us. and they must be busier you hit the ground running greta they wouldn't allow me to slow down even if i wanted to. they've been in oakland for

several months since march 23rd and you were appointed and do you feel at home? yes and i was made to feel a home run away i love living in the bay area because there's much to offer here in culture and education and active duty and it's a wonderful place. how was it when you received the call to become the bishop of oakland? that was kind of a funny way i was actually at a meeting at one of the high schools in san diego and during the meeting my cellphone went off and it was on vibrate i didn't disturb the meeting and that went off again a few minutes later and the to the number and a bus a 202 area code but i can remember bennett is back east so when i left the meeting got the message and it was the apostolic telling me to call him.

i didn't call him on the road. when i got home he gave me the news. so how did you feel? because the equipment toy get the message from washington and comes from the pope benedict the 16th so how does that winfield f a humbled by the trust that the holy father would place in me and i have rather humble beginnings and for responsibility like this that i'm so grateful for that trust but humbled by it as well. is there an official response required for this you feel at home in oakland and the people novio and loving them what goes on? had the sad what to do first when you come to a new diocese. a lot of it is sort of

triage from all the requests that come in because there's so much happening. from community organizing groups to the institutions of higher education which there are many in oakland including public ones that give a lot of vibrancy to the diocese of specially evans in parishes in the cathedral for different groups and ministries so there's sort of a lot to sort out. but my approach in the first several months is too except as many invitations as possible to get to know the dioceses' quickly as possible. and then after that to be little more methodical about it to start a program of visitation in the parishes for weekends is required but also very practical to do. so i'm going to try to split my weekends between being in the parishes and then present at the cathedral. now let's talk a minute

about how to deal with people's expectations. the half to meet expectations of the bishops and how to deal with the and how do learn of them. i let them by trying to get to know the people of maine with as many as possible and to can't do everything people would like to do so it is a matter of prioritizing. so what are the events warm the points of connection that are most important and there are so many different groups and agencies doing so much great work in the diocese that want them to know that i support them and to feel that support so where is it most important for them than a manifest that and the present at some event or activity. me ask you to things what is the one thing that you want people to know about the human dimension of corleone in.

that the love god and that of the church and i love the people of the church and i hope to lead them to the exact where mission statement is to the diocese to make them better known and that means. they can depend on me to listen. will be back.

welcome back to date a very special guest the oakland bishop and again for joining us.

american talk a little bit about the catholic voice the newspaper of the basis of the oakland with a photograph of it and how unimportant is it communications communication is the essential people have to and see with the church is like with the church is doing and it's going to be a priority before, a ministry in the diocese. people might want to know the previous pastoral experience i was ordained a priest in 1982 met first assignment as an associate pastor and a pair shrek close to where i grew up had a very happy experience there in a very good pastor mentored me in the priesthood and and then returned to rome to study canon law from 1985 to 1989 received a doctoral degree in the new law returned the aces

became a pastor from 91 to 95 of the parish in the town of calexico and the mexican border across from the imperial valley. the church is four blocks from the border so that was fascinating. the turnaround to work for seven years before return to the diocese. there is a one woman in san diego who probably miss you more than most your mother. baddish she feel about your payments she is happy about it and she's very active and a lot of groups and the whole extended family is there so she has a lot of company. southwest is pretty good. people like to know to you have hobbies? i've always loved music and have played in bands to lot the

school classic in opera and jazz. with your favorite movie? the moving elegist cannot few years ago which i think is well named to its a very beautiful movie. whole about your favorite book? one of that's always inspired me to read and of a seminarian is walter with scott and russia his experience of imprisonment and the horrible treatment he received for the sake of trying to spread the faith. it's so it's been an inspiration to me. at the by favorite food is easy to figure out. italian. whitaker exhibition on st. joseph's day my family has a sicilian devotion to st. joseph lewis made special recipes at that time hostile with

breadcrumbs and anchovies and pasta with sardines and raisins and donald creed of recipes in the sicilian cuisine. i mention st. joseph another one that's been an inspiration to me in st. peter claver who i don't think it's enough recognition. he dedicates himself to serving the slaves were brought over those horrendous conditions in the slave ships and the voice and a great inspiration to me. he got to become theleeve of the slave serving them. know who dupree to? i pray to are blessed mother most of all and intentions for people and the divine mercy and i prayed to my predecessors in

place deceased ancestors had some of us favorite st. joseph. i prefer a loss of people my family my former parishioners to my co-workers and former co- workers and are seminarians put me on that list which you. here we are were people of god struggling economy and all kinds of things what can we do we have all kinds of temporal and spiritual challenges and the stage and in this place but i want to encourage our people to stay strong and faith the face is still strong and vibrant despite what might seem like some challenges to us so stay strong in the fifth and don't use to open be true to god and " god completely in every way and god will pulled you into the plus. thanks for being with us today was a blessing. and thank you for joining us

come back again.

welcome to bay sunday i'm your host it's good to have you with us. we're all about books today with three incredible authors and chatting with the red cross about blood donation. if you want to connect with us we would love to hear from you at cbs san francisco dot com click on connect with of the information to get to links and e-mails and our first guest is an award winning journalist and author of two self published tunnels discovered her passion for his second book while walking 1,500 km from room to israel with% while he was on the

pillow pilgrimage. she recounts the landscapes and the people and the emotion she experienced discovering how to love herself in the process. here to talk about her book my pilgrims heart please welcome stephanie. so you're in the back end of the u.s. tour and i take it you didn't walk. but you did walk an awful long way. at the train around the u.s.. let's talk about your but an amazing tale bonding with your son why all the sudden did you decide your son was gone for a while in his late 20s and use during a pilgrimage and use it can i come along i didn't even ask really it was just he was walking and i started to romance about walking across italy and that blew out the more i thought about that and i thought