Bishop Barber Announces Formation Of Oakland Diocese Racial Justice Task Force

For Immediate Release
Contact: Helen Osman
Diocese of Oakland
[email protected]
512.785.3006

BISHOP BARBER ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF
OAKLAND DIOCESE RACIAL JUSTICE TASK FORCE

(OAKLAND CA, September 9, 2020) - The Most Reverend Michael Barber, S.J., Bishop of the Diocese of Oakland, today announced the formation of the Diocese of Oakland Task Force for Racial Justice, which he has charged with examining the many ways the sin of racism afflicts the People of God in the Diocese. After prayer, study, interviews and discussion, the Task Force will offer recommendations to Bishop Barber outlining tangible steps that will help address the scourge of racism. This group will also discuss the feasibility of reestablishing the Black Pastoral Center, and the engagement of the community in activities, spiritual and corporal, to help combat racism.

The Task Force will be led by Fr Leo Edgerly Jr., Pastor of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Piedmont. Task Force members include Dr. Chiquita Tuttle: St. Benedict Parish, Oakland, Dionne Cola: St. Benedict Parish, Oakland, Julie Hadnot: St. Benedict Parish, Oakland, Larry Hancock: St. Columba Parish, Oakland, Joyce Scotlan: St. Columba Parish, Oakland, Maurice Harper: St. Columba Parish, Oakland, Vernon Whitmore: St. Columba Parish, Oakland, Marc Paulino: Holy Rosary Parish, Union City, Michael Foster: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Oakland, Magdalena Harper: Corpus Christi Parish, Piedmont, Andrew Armanino: St. Isidore Parish, Danville, Kathy Gannon-Briggs: Christ the King, Pleasant Hill, Patrick Shandonay: St. Joan of Arc, San Ramon, Fr. Steven Bell, CSP: Holy Spirit Parish-Newman Hall, Berkeley, Fr. Jesus Nieto-Ruiz: Pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary, Union City, Fr. Aidan McAleenan: Pastor of St. Columba Parish, Oakland, Fr. Jayson Landeza: Pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Oakland, Fr. Paulson Mundanmani: Pastor of Christ the King Parish, Pleasant Hill and Fr. Kwame Assenyoh: SVD: Administrator of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Livermore.

Bishop Barber also noted that today marks the memorial of St. Peter Claver, who ministered to enslaved Africans and is the patron saint of African-Americans as well as enslaved people everywhere. Accordingly, Bishop Barber will offer the Sacrifice of the Mass in reparation for sins based upon race at 12:10 P.M. (outdoors) at the Cathedral of the Christ The Light Plaza, 2121 Harrison Street, Oakland. The Mass will also be livestreamed at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCehwpNEivFAXKwPOnEUcpnw .

In the coming days, the Diocese of Oakland will create a resource center on the Diocese website, which will be regularly reviewed and updated. Visit www.oakdiocese.org.

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