The California Province of the Society of Jesus is the first religious community to institute this model of parish leadership described in Cardinal Roger Mahony’s 2006 pastoral letter, “Serving Shoulder to Shoulder,” a document which continued the emphasis on collaborative parish leadership introduced in three previous pastoral letters: “As I Have Done For You” (2000), “Gathered and Sent” (2003) and “As One Who Serves” (2005).“Serving Shoulder to Shoulder” outlined the process by which parish life directors are selected, trained and assigned, and explained the roles of priest minister and priest moderator who work collaboratively with the PLD as he/she assumes pastoral responsibilities of parish administration and coordination of parish ministries. At Blessed Sacrament, Brown will work in concert with three priest ministers — Jesuit Fathers Wayne Negrette, Joseph Spieler and Leo Pregnaman — as well as Jesuit Father Scott Santarosa, who will serve as Priest Moderator. The Province’s parish leadership model proposal and recommendation of Brown as the PLD was affirmed by Bishop Clark and Katherine Enright, archdiocesan Office of Parish Life director, and approved by Archbishop José Gomez, Cardinal Mahony and the Office of the Vicar for Clergy. Father McGarry concluded the Mass with an announcement that as PLD Brown would also serve as director of this Jesuit Apostolate. “We are graced by Our Father in celebrating this manifestation of a vision of collaborative parish leadership,” Brown said in her reflection at the installation Mass. “Because it is you, dear Blessed Sacrament Parish Community, whom we celebrate — the Church, Jesuits, school, social services, food pantry and the entire community including those outside the walls of this Church. We are grace-filled with the diversity of people, cultures, experiences, dreams, leadership and contributions to our community, creating a beautiful quilt of Catholic family life. We belong to one another.” A former bank executive, Brown is a recipient of a Doctor of Ministry at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and holds a Masters in Business Administration as well as a Masters in Theology from Loyola Marymount University. She was recently named “Pioneer Woman of the Year” by Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti. Yolanda and her spouse Leon have seven adult children. {gallery width=100 height=100}gallery/2011/0812/pld/{/gallery}