Bishop McGrath Will No Longer Live in $2.3M Willow Glen Home

Bishop McGrath Will No Longer Live in $2.3M Willow Glen Home
Willow Glen, San Jose, CA. (Map data @2018 Google).
8/31/2018
Updated:
8/31/2018

The bishop of the Diocese of San Jose will no longer live in a $2.3 million home in San Jose’s Willow Glen neighborhood when he retires, the bishop said in a statement August 28.

The Diocese purchased the real estate for retiring Bishop Patrick McGrath, but community members quickly began raising concerns over the expensive home.

McGrath said the home was purchased using funds from the sale of Bishop Pierre DuMaine’s condominium. DuMaine will be relocating due to failing health, according to McGrath.

McGrath will now live in a rectory at one the diocese’s parishes. He said he had initially hoped to live at a home owned by the diocese on graveyard property, but the retrofitting was too expensive.

The Diocesan Finance Council and the college of consultors then approved the purchase of the Willow Glen home.

“However, I erred in judgment in the purchase of a 5-bedroom home for $2.3 million,” McGrath said. “I failed to consider adequately the housing crisis in this valley and the struggles of so many families and communities in light of that crisis.”

He said the diocese will sell the Willow Glen home as soon as possible and any profit will be donated to Charities Housing, which is part of Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County.

“I assume full responsibility for this decision and I believe that the sale of the house is the appropriate action,” McGrath said. “I thank those who have advised me.

By Supriya Yelimeli.