Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008

Offerings

POPE HONORS 3 STOCKTON DIOCESE STAFFERS

Rosemarie Desjardins, former office manager at Our Lady of Fatima in Modesto, is one of three Stockton Diocese employees honored with the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice. The honor from Pope Benedict XVI is an award given for distinguished service to the church by lay people and clergy and is the highest medal given from the papacy to the laity.

Desjardins, who serves as benefits officer for the diocese, also worked as a volunteer in STARS, the Stanislaus County sheriff's program, before moving to the diocese office.

The two other people honored are Diane Taricco, executive assistant to Bishop Stephen Blaire, and Digna Ramirez Lopez, director of the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry.

NEW PASTORS

J. Brian Smith recently was installed as pastor at North Modesto Church of God.

Smith moved to Modesto from Florence, Ala., and replaces the former pastor, Dean Schield, who retired after 50 years in the ministry, 17 of them at North Modesto Church. The new pastor obtained his master of divinity degree from Anderson Theological Seminary in Anderson, Ind.

Smith and his wife, Sharon, have a 6-month-old son, Cameron.

The church is at 1918 Sherwood Ave. For more information, call 521-9148.

The Rev. Kevin DeHope, a recent graduate of Concordia Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind., is the pastor of Saints John and Luke Lutheran Church, a newly combined congregation of two churches from Oakdale and Valley Home.

DeHope, 28, replaces C. Earl Schack, who died in January 2006. Both churches have been without pastors for several years.

The new pastor grew up in San Diego and Pleasanton. He presides over Sunday services at 10 a.m. in the Valley Home church, 4606 Michigan Ave. The combined congregation is temporarily renting out its church facility in Oakdale.

For more information, call 847-0660.

The Rev. Molly Carlson was installed at First Christian Church of Modesto last month. She replaces the Rev. Ed Bishop, who moved to Tennessee in 2006 to be closer to his adult children.

Carlson graduated with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and worked in the business industry for several years before earning her master's of divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion. Her husband, Michael, also is an ordained minister and works as music director at another church. The couple have two sons, Simon and Adam.

The church, at 1038 McHenry Ave., has Sunday worship services at 11 a.m. For more information, call 524-5103.