March 05, 2005

Diocese has new voice in Oakland

CALIFORNIA
Contra Costa Times

• The Rev. Mark Wiesner is finding many ways to develop his speaking skills, and he enjoys all of them

• WHAT HE'S READING: Recently finished "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix;" now reading "Warrior of the Light" by Paulo Coelho and "Wildmen, Warriors and Kings" by Patrick M. Arnold

Speaking the Faith is a monthly conversation with an East Bay religious leader.

This month, Times staff writer Randy Myers speaks with the Rev. Mark Wiesner, priest at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Oakland. In January he became the communications director of the Oakland Diocese, which encompasses Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Wiesner was ordained in 1995 and took over at St. Augustine a year ago. He also heads up the Ruach Players, a traveling musical theater troupe that performs "Godspell" as well as a Christmas cabaret show in the Bay Area.

The last few weeks Wiesner's eight-hour-a-week job as diocesan spokesman has been especially busy. He's been answering inquiries about the Pope and about settlement talks in the Diocese's sexual abuse cases in advance of Monday's trial date in one case.

Posted by kshaw at March 5, 2005 08:50 AM