Fr. Juan Gonzalez, s.m.
Fr. Juan González, s.m., who spent a number of years in ministry at Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods and Notre Dame Prep in Pontiac, began a new assignment this month at another Notre Dame: a Marist-run parish in San Francisco, Calif., called Notre Dame des Victoires parish. He bacame pastor on July 1, succeeding Fr. René Iturbi, s.m.
In a post published recently in the Marist City Centre Churches Network Blog, which is hosted by the Marist regional office in Dublin, Ireland, González talks about his recent journeys as a Marist culminating in his new ministry in California.
By Fr. Juan González, s.m.
In 2016 I left St. Francis of Assisi-St. Blaise Parish in Brooklyn, New York, handing over the parish to the Archdiocese of New York after eleven years of ministry there. We Marists had been working in this parish for thirty-two years.
I’m grateful to my provincial, Father Paul Frechette, s.m., for giving me the opportunity to benefit from an extended period of preparation for my next assignment as pastor of Notre Dame des Victoires parish in San Francisco, in succession to Father René Iturbi, s.m.
After a holiday and a visit to the city centre mission at Notre Dame de France in London, I had a very productive month in La Neylière, France, under the mentorship of Fr. Bernd Kordes s.m. I explored anew our Marist history and spirituality. The highlight was visiting the Marist Places. My stay at La Neyliere broadened my appreciation of being a member of an international effort of evangelization with a Colinian vision.
Gonzalez is with parishioners at St. Francis of Assisi-St. Blaise, his former parish in Brooklyn, New York.
Gonzalez speaks during a pep rally at Notre Dame (Harper Woods) in 2000. He served at NDHS in Harper Woods in 1977-79, 1981-85 and from 1999-2005. He also was on staff at NDPMA in Pontiac from 1994 to 1999.
Later on, I came to the last ingredient in my sabbatical, the Marist City Centre Mission Seminar and Leadership Conference in London, May 1 – 5, 2017.
The Leadership Conference came first. Prior to the conference I read Fr. James Mallon’s book, “Divine Renovation.” The speakers I appreciated the most were Cardinal Tagle, Jean Vanier, and Fr. Mallon. I am still processing which aspects of the Alpha Program would best bear fruit at Notre Dame des Victoires.
What I appreciated most in London were the last two days devoted to our Marist charism and the New Evangelization. Sharing our experiences from the various international City Centre ministries widened my knowledge of the day-to-day application of a grounded evangelization in a non-traditional parish setting. It was good to be able to listen to personal stories of ministry in challenging urban settings.
I took up my new appointment on July 1. We would be grateful for prayers for our team at NDV.
The Notre Dame des Victoires parish is located near San Francisco’s Embarcadero waterfront area.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.