The Legacy of Monsignor John Sandersfeld
Monsignor John Sandersfeld is remembered by those who knew him for his outgoing and welcoming personality and his passion for parish ministry. Along with the innumerable lives he touched through his kindness, generosity, and commitment to justice, Msgr. John’s legacy also includes the newly formed Monsignor John Sandersfeld Fund for Parish Mission Development. Msgr. John started this fund with a gift from his estate plan with the vision that it would help fund the development of a collaborative model of ministry for both priests and lay leaders.
Msgr. John, a Los Gatos native and Bellarmine graduate, served at parishes in San Jose and San Francisco after his ordination in 1966. He spent two years studying parishes across the nation in the late 1970s as the Associate Director of the Parish Project of the National Council of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Parish Life. After returning to the Diocese of San Jose, he was named pastor of Most Holy Trinity parish in East San Jose where he served for eight years. Bishop Dumaine named him vicar for clergy. In 1993 he became the founding pastor of St. Francis Assisi Parish.
Msgr. John’s image of priesthood is that the pastor is in the middle of a parade. The pastor is not leading the parade, he’s not pushing from the back. But rather he’s in this great pilgrimage of discipleship – animating, guiding, and caring for the community.
– Fr. Joseph Benedict, long-time friend and colleague of Msgr. Sandersfeld
Throughout his life, he maintained that parishes need to be “done differently,” with strong emphasis on relationships and engagement of the laity to propel the community forward. “Msgr. John’s image of priesthood is that the pastor is in the middle of a parade,” says long-time friend and colleague Fr. Joseph Benedict. “The pastor is not leading the parade, he’s not pushing from the back. But rather he’s in this great pilgrimage of discipleship – animating, guiding, and caring for the community.” Msgr. John’s goal was to empower people to minister so that community members could care for each other.
The new Monsignor John Sandersfeld Fund for Parish Mission Development will continue his legacy through funding workshops and trainings on a more collaborative model of ministry for both priests and lay leaders at local parishes. This model emphasizes the universal call to holiness, the equality we each have in baptism, and the common call to service within the community.
Fr. Joseph spent six years working with Msgr. John at St. Francis of Assisi and described his work style as “creative chaos.” He had an engineer’s mind with a charismatic, warm personality and great concern for others. “Msgr. Sandersfeld’s entrepreneurial spirit definitely formed and shaped me,” said Fr. Joseph. “I’m a better priest because of John. I’m a better person because of John.”
You can support this work and Msgr. John’s legacy through donations to the Monsignor John Sandersfeld Fund for Parish Mission Development.