Congregation still split over priest

Deirdre Newman

While some members of the Latino community at St. Joachim’s church

still have concerns about the Rev. Joseph Robillard, other Latino

members are showing an outpouring of support for him after a meeting

with a county bishop.

Robillard came under fire last month when close to 100 members of

the church’s Latino community protested against him, mainly because

they feel they are mistreated during various church services.

On Thursday, a bishop of the Diocese of Orange came to address the

ongoing conflict and Friday, Grupo de Oracion -- the church’s Spanish

prayer group -- hosted a prayer vigil for Robillard and for unity

among the parish’s Latino community.

Robillard was not available for comment.

Those who attended the prayer vigil said it demonstrated the

reverence they have for Robillard.

“It was tremendous,” said Anastasia Desautels, identifying herself

as one of the few whites at the vigil. “The majority of the [church]

community -- older, younger, people of all ages -- even young people

were in there praying and hugging his hands.”

The protest in September was to express the Latino parishioners’

dissatisfaction with the way they say Robillard treats them during

sacraments, confessions and other Catholic rites. Protest organizers

also claimed that Robillard had fired four employees of the Vida

Familiar, the Family Life group run by the parish, for what they

perceived as no real reason. Robillard has said three of the four

employees were fired because of budgetary constraints and that the

new employees he hired have different responsibilities.

On Thursday, Bishop Jaime Soto came to hear the Latino

parishioners’ concerns. While it was helpful for the aggrieved

parishioners to express themselves, it didn’t solve anything, said

Hugo Espinoza, one of the protest organizers.

There are still many issues that need to be resolved, including

two main ones, Espinoza said.

First, many want Robillard to remove the new director he hired for

the Vida Familiar. The director is not doing a satisfactory job of

controlling the kids during their catechism lessons, Espinoza said.

Many also want Robillard to reinstate the Spanish council, which

represents all the ministers, Espinoza added.

“Right now, we don’t have any Spanish representation,” Espinoza

said.

While Robillard heard a barrage of criticism against him on

Thursday, he was enveloped in a cocoon of warmth and support by the

Spanish prayer group on Friday. Hundreds of people came to

demonstrate their commitment to St. Joachim’s and pray for strength

for Robillard, Desautels said.

As Robillard knelt with his arms outstretched in adoration before

the Blessed Sacrament, Grupo de Oracion and other prayer participants

surrounded him, Desautels said. The participants took turns holding

his arms outstretched for nearly two hours, while they prayed and

sang, she added. Others held his hands to symbolize that he is not

isolated. Then all the participants embraced Robillard.

“He was totally overwhelmed,” Desautels said. “He had no idea this

was going to happen, either. There were points when he cried, as

well. He knows there are a lot of people who support him.”

Those unhappy with Robillard will be having another meeting with

him and a representative from the bishop’s office on Thursday,

Espinoza said.