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July
2, 2007
VOL.
45, NO. 13Oakland,
CA
Diocesan Medal
of Merit bestowed on
six lay persons for outstanding service
 |
| Bishop Allen Vigneron stands with Chuck Siebenand
after giving him the diocesan medal at the ceremony in the lobby of
the diocesan offices. CAROL IZO PHOTO |
Bishop Allen
Vigneron has awarded the Diocesan Medal of Merit to several people for
decades of service in the Oakland Diocese.
They are:
Michel Calegari, the outgoing principal of School of
the Madeleine, Berkeley. Calegari spent 14 years at the school, distinguishing
himself as a strong advocate for the school’s Catholic identity.
Each morning he drew the students, faculty and staff together for prayer.
Then he delivered a brief reflection on the day’s Scripture. He
always concluded this with the admonition, “Let’s be good
to one another,” which has become the school motto.
Before joining the Berkeley school, Calegari was principal of St. Paschal
School in Oakland for two years.
Joseph Connell, retiring president of Moreau Catholic High School,
Hayward. Connell came to the school as principal in 1978 and became its
first president in 1985.
Under his leadership, Moreau was twice named an Exemplary Blue Ribbon
School. He developed the school’s governance structure, created
its first long-range strategic plan, led the expansion of the campus facilities,
and inaugurated its master site plan.
He was a member and chair of the diocesan School Board as well as the
board of directors of Carondelet High in Concord, Holy Names High in Oakland,
and the Eden Hospital Foundation in Castro Valley.
He also served numerous organizations in Hayward, including the Hayward
Education Fund, the city’s economic development and government relations
committees, and a planning task force for the Mission-Garin neighborhood.
He co-founded the Hayward Alliance and was a board member of the Hayward
Chamber of Commerce and the Hayward Rotary Club.
Gerald Marchi, retiring principal of St. Felicitas School
in San Leandro. He began his teaching career at St. Paschal Baylon School
in Oakland, then served as principal of St. Cornelius School in Richmond
for three years, and St. Mary’s School in Walnut Creek.
Among his attributes has been a commitment to tuition assistance for low-income
families and supporting students with academic and behavior challenges.
He is also known for his collaborative style of leadership with faculties
and school boards.
Marilyn Marchi, retiring principal of St. Philip Neri
School in Alameda. She also served as principal of All Saints School in
Hayward and taught at Holy Rosary School in Antioch and St. Agnes School
in Concord, for a total of 34 years of service to Catholic schools.
Dominican Sister Rose Marie Hennessy, former diocesan superintendent of
schools, praised her for her “faith in our God, love of service
in the Church, and major contributions to Catholic education.”
While a principal, she conveyed a quiet, respectful, and grateful heart
that called attention not to her but to the message she proclaimed in
her life.”
Sister Marie Myers is retiring after 40 years of service to Catholic
schools in the Oakland Diocese, most recently as principal of St. Barnabas
School in Alameda. She began her ministry as a teacher at St. Joachim
School in Hayward in 1967 and later served as principal. In 1986, she
became founding principal of St. Raymond School in Dublin and oversaw
the construction of a permanent school facility.
“Her extraordinary dedication to the community in which she serves
is her greatest asset,” said Armond Seishas, principal of St. Joachim
School and a former student of Sister Myers.
Chuck Siebenand is retiring as director of planning for the Oakland
Diocese, a position he held for 11years. During that time he organized
a new Diocesan Pastoral Council and helped with the formation of the first
Lay Ecclesial Ministers Council and the Deacon Council. He also developed
a diocesan planning board to explore the expansion or merger of parishes
His primary work, however, has been on the formation and functioning of
parish pastoral councils, particularly helping them develop pastoral plans.
He revised or published four booklets: Suggestions for Pastoral Councils,
Guidelines for Finance Councils, The Ten Essentials of Parish Life and
Becoming Good Stewards, a guidebook on how to create a parish profile.
Most recently he worked with the Diocesan Pastoral Council in revising
the diocesan pastoral plan. Prior to his diocesan post, he was a pastoral
associate at St. Columba Parish in Oakland for eight years.
