By Marie Galetto-Dugoni
Queen of Apostles Parish has a vision that weaves together formation, engagement, and worship into a vibrant tapestry of faith. Through their application in the Catholic Community Foundation’s Living the Faith Grant Cycle, their commitment to spiritual formation and collaboration shone through. One exciting program is last year’s retreat for elect which they plan to expand into a deanery-wide event.
Since arriving as the pastor in July 2024, Fr. Anthony Uytingco has set a deliberate pace. “My two goals are to bring people closer to the Eucharist and devotion to the Blessed Mother—our patroness – and the blessing of the basics of our faith.” Fr. Anthony remains focused on direction over speed. “It’s not the 100-meter dash, but a marathon,” he said, trusting that thoughtful, collaborative shifts will bear lasting fruit.
Family Ministry: Igniting Communion Encounters
Queen of Apostles applied for a grant to host a First Holy Communion family retreat—a day of praise, crafts, age-specific formation, and shared Adoration, Reconciliation, and Mass. They aim to spark a domestic “encounter” with Christ that endures beyond catechetical sessions.
The parish also introduced family catechesis twice monthly to engage parents alongside their children. Kristie Manning, Director of Faith Formation, shared, “We ask kids, ‘What’s your favorite part?’ and they say, ‘Learning with my parents.’” Weekend workshops blend parent breakout sessions with joint community activities, supplemented by home-based projects like poster displays and chalice crafts that unite school and parish families.
Formation: From Solo Retreat to Deanery Movement
Last year marked Queen of Apostles’ inaugural retreat for the elect, held at Mercy Center. After nine-o’clock Mass they went to the retreat center and teams led faith sharing, reflection, and silent prayer. The success sparked conversations among neighboring pastors.
This year, they’ll transform that solo effort into a Deanery 5 retreat, co-hosting with St. Joseph of Cupertino, St. Mary’s Los Gatos, Sacred Heart Saratoga, and St. Thomas of Canterbury. Parish teams will share speaking roles, table facilitation, and logistics. It’s a tangible move toward shared stewardship and stronger ties among parishes.
Reflection on Collaboration and Impact
Queen of Apostles is just one example of the beautiful impact that will be achieved through partnership and collaboration. Parents and children engaging in scripture and prayer side-by-side will enhance the entire family’s relationship with God and each other. We look forward to witnessing how the deanery-wide retreat for the elect will bear new fruit across the Santa Clara Valley. These programs remind us that the bonds of grace deepen when we share our gifts, our stories, and our faith—together.
Collaboration is a key component to the Pastoral Plan, and so was an important emphasis in the Foundation’s newly restructured Living the Faith Grant Cycle. Previously known as the “Spring Grant Cycle,” this year the application was redesigned to simplify the application and focus on the pillars of the Pastoral Plan, which are already at the forefront for parishes. We are excited to see the seeds of these collaborative efforts being planted now which will bear great fruit in the not-too-distant future.