Eighth Grade Graduation Mass – At this Sunday’s 9:30am Mass, we will be celebrating it with our 8th graders who will be graduating in 12 days, on June 3rd. How time flies? My oldest nephew is a year ahead of them, and I was surprised when he graduated. I can still recall the joy I felt when my brother told me they had their first child. How blessed we are to have such wonderful young men and women go through our school. Needless to say, they have been accepted to the finest high schools in the city, from Fr. Mike’s favorite, Riordan, to my Alma Mater, Lowell, to St. Ignatius, Convent, ICA and Sacred Heart. We need to acknowledge and congratulate their parents as well. Their talents, energies, sacrifices and hard work has not only blessed their own children, but they have been a blessing to our school and parish as well. Thank you! To our graduates, we know a wonderful future lays ahead for you, especially as you continue to follow the voice of the Good Shepherd in your life.
Our Fabulous Welcome Committee – For those of you who missed last Sunday’s 9:30am Mass, the Welcome Committee organized our semi-annual welcome for new parishioners that have registered at our parish since last November. At the Parish Dinner in November, we have a special invitation for new parishioners, and so 6 months later, on the eve of the feast of St. Brendan (May 16), we did another welcome. I want to thank the co-chairs Kathleen Darling and Jenny Nelson for planning this event, along with their members for all the work behind the scenes. They did the planning, the phone calls inviting the 20+ new parishioners, the design of the Welcome Booklet listing the Church’s history, the different organizations and their contacts, as well as an introduction to our patron saint, to making the copies available to our new parishioners and in the foyer of our church. Four new families were able to attend last Sunday’s 9:30am Mass, and they were invited to come forward to be recognized. They received 2 small gifts from the parish, the prayer of St. Brendan, and some seeds in the form of a cross. Our hope, of course, is that they will grow with us and make themselves comfortable in their new spiritual home.
Thanking and Praying for our Veterans – Next Monday, on Memorial Day (5/30), Archbishop George Niederauer will celebrate Mass at 11am, at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, commemorating our nation’s honored dead, and for the souls of all of our faithful departed. This annual event is sponsored by Holy Cross cemetery. If you have a member in our Armed Forces, I invite you to join me that day as we pray for them. (My brother is in the Army). Please see http://www.holycrosscemeteries.com/events/index.htm for more information.
Fr. Dan
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
May 15, 2011 - Fourth Sunday of Easter
Welcoming our New Parishioners – St. Brendan is blessed to have such a warm and welcoming community that it attracts many people to our Church. For those of you who are “old timers,” meaning if you’ve been here for a year or more, and you see a face you don’t recognize, please don’t hesitate to say “hello” and introduce yourself to them. I’m sure we’ve all been in a situation where we are the “new” person, and nothing makes us feel more comfortable than a friendly person with a warm smile and a kind heart. And if you are the “new” person, I find that if I extend myself and introduce myself to those around me, that others will kindly reciprocate. So don’t be afraid to say “hello” to us. We promise not to bite. I want to thank the Welcome Committee for helping us to welcome new parishioners at our 9:30am Sunday Mass today. We had talked about welcoming new parishioners not just in November, at our parish dinner, but semi-annually. So we thought it would also be appropriate for us to welcome new parishioners today, on the eve of the feast of St. Brendan, who was one who reached out to others with the love of Christ. So to all our new parishioners, a great big WELCOME!!!
Blessed John Paul II – I’ve been asked, whether John Paul is now a saint. And that is a good question. Technically, he’s not a saint yet, according to the Church’s official procedure for naming saints. The church follows 3 steps in designating someone a saint. The first step, the person must be nominated for sainthood. Typically, a bishop nominates a person after he finds evidence of heroic virtue. Then, the case is brought to the Vatican, to the Congregation for the Cause of Saints. After their evaluation and approval, then the Pope proclaims the candidate as “Venerable,” which means that the person is a role model of Catholic virtues. If the person is shown to be responsible for a posthumous miracle, then the person is “beatified.” So our former Pope is now known as Blessed John Paul. For a person to be considered a saint, the Church awaits a confirmation from heaven, by a second posthumous miracle. It is after this confirmation from heaven that a person is then canonized a saint. But remember, it is not the Church who makes a saint. It is the person’s own holiness, and God’s grace that makes a person a saint. The Church has its procedure simply to investigate and to ensure that all candidates are indeed models of holiness that we can learn and imitate.
Growing in the Spirit – According to our Parish Survey, respondents have expressed Spirituality to be the category that we should give our highest priority. As the Advisory Board and I are meeting to plan concrete steps by which we will work to help our parish grow in our spiritual life, in the meantime, I would like to highlight the upcoming Catholic Charismatic Renewal Convention. The Charismatic Renewal is a movement in the Catholic Church that strives to help everyday Catholics be attuned to the movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives. It was through the Renewal that I came back to the Catholic Church and I am grateful for its influence in my life, as I’ve learned to be more sensitive to the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. At this Memorial Day weekend, the seven northern California Dioceses will be hosting the 24th Annual Catholic Charismatic Convention at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The opening celebration will begin on Friday night, with praise and worship at 7pm, and Mass at 8pm, celebrated by our Auxiliary Bishop William Justice. Workshops will be available on Saturday and Sunday, with speakers like Fr. Chris Crotty coming to us from Kentucky, Ms. Martha Sardina from Texas, and Mr. Richard Lane from Missouri. See http://www.ncrcspirit.org/ for more information. Flyers are also available in the bookrack in the foyer. The closing Mass will be at the Santa Clara Convention center on Sunday, 5/29 with praise and worship beginning at 2:30pm and Mass beginning at about 3:30pm. Hope to see you there.
Peace,
Fr. Dan
Blessed John Paul II – I’ve been asked, whether John Paul is now a saint. And that is a good question. Technically, he’s not a saint yet, according to the Church’s official procedure for naming saints. The church follows 3 steps in designating someone a saint. The first step, the person must be nominated for sainthood. Typically, a bishop nominates a person after he finds evidence of heroic virtue. Then, the case is brought to the Vatican, to the Congregation for the Cause of Saints. After their evaluation and approval, then the Pope proclaims the candidate as “Venerable,” which means that the person is a role model of Catholic virtues. If the person is shown to be responsible for a posthumous miracle, then the person is “beatified.” So our former Pope is now known as Blessed John Paul. For a person to be considered a saint, the Church awaits a confirmation from heaven, by a second posthumous miracle. It is after this confirmation from heaven that a person is then canonized a saint. But remember, it is not the Church who makes a saint. It is the person’s own holiness, and God’s grace that makes a person a saint. The Church has its procedure simply to investigate and to ensure that all candidates are indeed models of holiness that we can learn and imitate.
Growing in the Spirit – According to our Parish Survey, respondents have expressed Spirituality to be the category that we should give our highest priority. As the Advisory Board and I are meeting to plan concrete steps by which we will work to help our parish grow in our spiritual life, in the meantime, I would like to highlight the upcoming Catholic Charismatic Renewal Convention. The Charismatic Renewal is a movement in the Catholic Church that strives to help everyday Catholics be attuned to the movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives. It was through the Renewal that I came back to the Catholic Church and I am grateful for its influence in my life, as I’ve learned to be more sensitive to the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. At this Memorial Day weekend, the seven northern California Dioceses will be hosting the 24th Annual Catholic Charismatic Convention at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The opening celebration will begin on Friday night, with praise and worship at 7pm, and Mass at 8pm, celebrated by our Auxiliary Bishop William Justice. Workshops will be available on Saturday and Sunday, with speakers like Fr. Chris Crotty coming to us from Kentucky, Ms. Martha Sardina from Texas, and Mr. Richard Lane from Missouri. See http://www.ncrcspirit.org/ for more information. Flyers are also available in the bookrack in the foyer. The closing Mass will be at the Santa Clara Convention center on Sunday, 5/29 with praise and worship beginning at 2:30pm and Mass beginning at about 3:30pm. Hope to see you there.
Peace,
Fr. Dan
May 8, 2011 - Third Sunday of Easter and Mothers' Day
Why God Made Moms
For those of you who don’t know the answer, here are some brilliant answers given by some 2nd graders, according to http://www.appleseeds.org/God-Made-Moms.htm. Enjoy!
Why did God make mothers?
She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
Mostly to clean the house.
To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers?
He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
Magic plus super powers, and a lot of stirring.
God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
What ingredients are mothers made of?
God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.
Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mom?
We're related.
God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's Moms like me.
What kind of little girl was your Mom?
My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.
I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
They say she used to be nice.
If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.
What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.
On the outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery. But on the inside, she's already perfect.
Well, I hope you all have the perfect mother and will be able to celebrate Mother’s Day with them. And for
those whose Mothers have gone ahead to prepare the way for us in heaven, blessings to you and your moms.
We will be remembering them in our Novena of Masses beginning today. Happy Mother’s Day!
Fr. Dan
For those of you who don’t know the answer, here are some brilliant answers given by some 2nd graders, according to http://www.appleseeds.org/God-Made-Moms.htm. Enjoy!
Why did God make mothers?
She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
Mostly to clean the house.
To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers?
He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
Magic plus super powers, and a lot of stirring.
God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
What ingredients are mothers made of?
God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.
Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mom?
We're related.
God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's Moms like me.
What kind of little girl was your Mom?
My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.
I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
They say she used to be nice.
If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.
What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.
On the outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery. But on the inside, she's already perfect.
Well, I hope you all have the perfect mother and will be able to celebrate Mother’s Day with them. And for
those whose Mothers have gone ahead to prepare the way for us in heaven, blessings to you and your moms.
We will be remembering them in our Novena of Masses beginning today. Happy Mother’s Day!
Fr. Dan
May 1, 2011 - Divine Mercy Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter
Parishioners Offer Reflection on the Last 7 Words of Jesus – Since the 16th century, reflecting on “The Last 7 Words of Christ” has been part of the Good Friday Liturgy. As Christ was on the cross from Noon to 3:00 pm, so our reflection began at noon with “The Last 7 Words.” Each parishioner offered a reflection on the Words of Christ in the context of their own lives. Merry Jean Chan Rees reflected on her mother’s forgiveness within the context of the 1st word, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Maureen Stoss reflected on her father’s strong faith as he neared death, in the 2nd word, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” Zdenka Bodisco reflected on how the Blessed Mother helped them, as she struggled to deal with her mother’s failing health in the 3rd word, “Behold your Son, behold your Mother.” Al Cavagnaro shared a powerful story of his 20 year-old daughter’s death from a car accident, as he reflected on “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me.” Paul Detweiller reflected on the thirsts of his life in Jesus’ 5th word, “I thirst.” Damian Cistaro reflected on the attitude we should have in life. We are here to do God’s will, so we should live in such a way that when our time comes, we too can confidently say as Jesus said, “It is finished.” We have accomplished His will for us. And last but not least, Maureen Kosewic reflected on learning to let go, from when her son was ill, to her mother’s lost of independence. “Into your hands I commend my Spirit” is a beautiful act of faith and trust. As Jesus modeled for us how to trust God in the darkness of our lives, in their reflection, we heard the power of Jesus’ words at work in their lives. I’m grateful for their courage to share their faith with us.
Youth Reenact the Stations of the Cross – Thanks to Mr. Gus Del Puerto, he coordinated about 34 youth in the dramatization of the Stations of the Cross. To accommodate those who were unable to take time off during the day to participate in the Good Friday liturgies, the Stations were scheduled on Good Friday evening at 7:00 pm. A good number of people turned out and were touched by 7th grader, Ben Martin’s performance as Christ. The music that accompanied the stations was also beautifully played by Lauren Muffareh (8th grade), Jesse Schoepp (7th grade) and Ms. Kristine Sinajon. I want to thank the students who came out on their break to enrich our worship on Good Friday evening.
Ten Adults Become Catholics – At the Easter Vigil, Fr. Mike celebrated the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist with our new Catholics. The Easter Vigil is the time we wait in anticipation for the dawning of Easter. As Christ was crucified on Good Friday, darkness entered the land. So the service began in darkness, with only the light from our Easter candle to light our way. After the liturgy of the Word, Fr. Mike celebrated baptism and confirmation with our new Catholics. At the same Mass, they also celebrated First Holy Communion with our Lord. It was a beautiful evening as many of their families and friends came to join them on this special occasion. Sr. Rita and previous years’ baptismal candidates hosted the hospitality after Mass. I want to thank Sr. Rita, Sr. Catherine, their team and sponsors for helping to prepare these candidates. And I also want to thank the newly initiated themselves, for being a witness to us, that God continues to transform lives.
Happy Easter to all of you!!!
Fr. Dan
Youth Reenact the Stations of the Cross – Thanks to Mr. Gus Del Puerto, he coordinated about 34 youth in the dramatization of the Stations of the Cross. To accommodate those who were unable to take time off during the day to participate in the Good Friday liturgies, the Stations were scheduled on Good Friday evening at 7:00 pm. A good number of people turned out and were touched by 7th grader, Ben Martin’s performance as Christ. The music that accompanied the stations was also beautifully played by Lauren Muffareh (8th grade), Jesse Schoepp (7th grade) and Ms. Kristine Sinajon. I want to thank the students who came out on their break to enrich our worship on Good Friday evening.
Ten Adults Become Catholics – At the Easter Vigil, Fr. Mike celebrated the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist with our new Catholics. The Easter Vigil is the time we wait in anticipation for the dawning of Easter. As Christ was crucified on Good Friday, darkness entered the land. So the service began in darkness, with only the light from our Easter candle to light our way. After the liturgy of the Word, Fr. Mike celebrated baptism and confirmation with our new Catholics. At the same Mass, they also celebrated First Holy Communion with our Lord. It was a beautiful evening as many of their families and friends came to join them on this special occasion. Sr. Rita and previous years’ baptismal candidates hosted the hospitality after Mass. I want to thank Sr. Rita, Sr. Catherine, their team and sponsors for helping to prepare these candidates. And I also want to thank the newly initiated themselves, for being a witness to us, that God continues to transform lives.
Happy Easter to all of you!!!
Fr. Dan
April 24, 2011 - Easter Sunday
Happy Easter!
Congratulations to our New Catholics – Last night at the Easter Vigil, 10 adults who have been in preparation all year, received the Sacraments of Initiation. Eric Kwan, Colette O’Brien, Francis Oppong, Arlene Pichotta, Doris Reyes and Jeffrey Wilson were baptized. Fisher Key, Mark Norrell and Susan Grady, who have been previously baptized in another Christian tradition, were received into the Church. And with Donaji Gutierrez, a baptized Catholic, they all received Confirmation and the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil celebration. I want to thank Sr. Rita Chen, Sr. Catherine Cappello, the RCIA team and their sponsors for teaching, modeling and accompanying them in their journey to faith. Congratulations to you all!!!
Auction Success – On April 9, the Mother’s Club put on a spectacular fundraising for the school at the Bently Reserve. Located on Battery and Sacramento Streets, this was the perfect venue for our auction for it allowed our parents to dress in their finest attire. Many men dressed in 1950s style attire, the narrow ties, the smart looking hats, and of course, the women looked exquisite in the beautiful dresses. The atmosphere was sophisticated, filled with music, laughter and friendship. Everyone looked great. Silent auction baskets were filled throughout the building on the first and second floors as parents enjoyed the cocktail hour and tried to outbid each other in a friendly competition to raise funds for our children. And the live auction, after a delicious filet mignon, salmon or vegetarian dinner accompanied by an abundance of wine, made the auction even more lively. I had my booklet with my number ready to place my bid; however, the starting bids always exceeded the cash I had in my checking. So I was content watching the giants battle out in the auction. Among the auction items were Principal for a day, Graduation pew, artwork done by each of the grades and a one-week stay at a Caribbean estate on St. John, US Virgin Islands. The evening would not have been complete without music and dancing. So after an exuberant live auction, couples danced into the wee hours of the night (or until they had to relieve their baby sitters). Fun was had by all and I would like to thank the Dynamic Duo Auction Chairs, Rita Cenni and Rita Maund. A great big thanks goes also to Glenn Fama and all the talented committees for putting on such a wonderful event. Our children and school have been very blessed by their hard work and dedication. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Welcome to Our Visitors – To all of you who have travelled home to celebrate Easter with your family at St. Brendan’s, we wish you a very warm welcome home. We have kept many of the rich traditions of faith like May crowning (May 12 @ 7pm) and have encouraged our youth to try new things like leading and acting out the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday night. Our bathrooms have been remodeled and this summer, we plan to renovate the remaining part of the hall. Our tentative schedule for this work will be from June 6 until the end of September. Exciting things are happening in our parish and if you live nearby, you are warmly welcomed to make St. Brendan your home parish for years to come. Happy Easter!!!
Fr. Dan
Congratulations to our New Catholics – Last night at the Easter Vigil, 10 adults who have been in preparation all year, received the Sacraments of Initiation. Eric Kwan, Colette O’Brien, Francis Oppong, Arlene Pichotta, Doris Reyes and Jeffrey Wilson were baptized. Fisher Key, Mark Norrell and Susan Grady, who have been previously baptized in another Christian tradition, were received into the Church. And with Donaji Gutierrez, a baptized Catholic, they all received Confirmation and the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil celebration. I want to thank Sr. Rita Chen, Sr. Catherine Cappello, the RCIA team and their sponsors for teaching, modeling and accompanying them in their journey to faith. Congratulations to you all!!!
Auction Success – On April 9, the Mother’s Club put on a spectacular fundraising for the school at the Bently Reserve. Located on Battery and Sacramento Streets, this was the perfect venue for our auction for it allowed our parents to dress in their finest attire. Many men dressed in 1950s style attire, the narrow ties, the smart looking hats, and of course, the women looked exquisite in the beautiful dresses. The atmosphere was sophisticated, filled with music, laughter and friendship. Everyone looked great. Silent auction baskets were filled throughout the building on the first and second floors as parents enjoyed the cocktail hour and tried to outbid each other in a friendly competition to raise funds for our children. And the live auction, after a delicious filet mignon, salmon or vegetarian dinner accompanied by an abundance of wine, made the auction even more lively. I had my booklet with my number ready to place my bid; however, the starting bids always exceeded the cash I had in my checking. So I was content watching the giants battle out in the auction. Among the auction items were Principal for a day, Graduation pew, artwork done by each of the grades and a one-week stay at a Caribbean estate on St. John, US Virgin Islands. The evening would not have been complete without music and dancing. So after an exuberant live auction, couples danced into the wee hours of the night (or until they had to relieve their baby sitters). Fun was had by all and I would like to thank the Dynamic Duo Auction Chairs, Rita Cenni and Rita Maund. A great big thanks goes also to Glenn Fama and all the talented committees for putting on such a wonderful event. Our children and school have been very blessed by their hard work and dedication. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Welcome to Our Visitors – To all of you who have travelled home to celebrate Easter with your family at St. Brendan’s, we wish you a very warm welcome home. We have kept many of the rich traditions of faith like May crowning (May 12 @ 7pm) and have encouraged our youth to try new things like leading and acting out the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday night. Our bathrooms have been remodeled and this summer, we plan to renovate the remaining part of the hall. Our tentative schedule for this work will be from June 6 until the end of September. Exciting things are happening in our parish and if you live nearby, you are warmly welcomed to make St. Brendan your home parish for years to come. Happy Easter!!!
Fr. Dan
April 17, 2011 - Palm Sunday
Holy Week - Palm Sunday marks the beginning of our Holy Week. As we recall Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem where He encountered His crucifixion and death, we are invited to make that journey with Him. In the crosses we bear, the loss of work, the illnesses, the broken relationships, we are invited to bring them all and journey with Him through death into new life.
Lenten Reconciliation Service – to prepare ourselves for this journey, you are invited to come to a Reconciliation Service on Wednesday April 20 at 7pm. With the Blessed Sacrament exposed, we are invited to spend quiet time with our Lord and to experience His loving mercy. Four priests will be available for this evening.
Holy Thursday – Then on April 21 at 7pm, we will celebrate Jesus’ last supper with his disciples where He washed His disciples’ feet, and instructed us to go and do likewise. In remembrance of what He taught us, the presiding priest will wash the feet of six parishioners and invite them to do the same with other parishioners. All in attendance are invited to have their foot washed and then to wash someone else’s foot. Our liturgy that evening will recall Jesus and the disciples going into Gethsemane garden to pray. So we will take the Blessed Sacrament and reposition it in the Hall, where we too are invited to pray with Him for strength to undergo the passion. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will end at 10pm.
Good Friday – As Jesus was on the cross from Noon until 3pm, our liturgy that day will also begin at Noon with the reflection on the Last 7 Words of Jesus. As we had favorable reviews last year, we will invite once again our own parishioners to reflect and share what each of those words mean to them. Then at 1:30pm, we will have the Liturgy of the Word with Veneration of the Cross. After this liturgy, from about 3-4pm, we will have confessions available again. Then in the evening, for those who were unable to take off from work, our youth will lead us in the Stations of the Cross. They will act out, through shadows, each of the stations.
Easter Vigil - With the death of our Lord, darkness has entered our world. So the Easter Vigil will begin in darkness at 8pm. It begins with the Service of Light, as each person processes in with a lit candle, and then we will hear the story of our salvation. Traditionally, seven Old Testament readings are used, then a New Testament and finally a Gospel. However, as we will be celebrating the sacraments of initiation for 10 adults, we will use only three Old Testament readings, 1 New Testament and the Gospel. Six adults will receive baptism. Three adults who have been baptized in another faith tradition will be received into the Church. And one other adult, who had been baptized Catholic, will celebrate Eucharist and Confirmation with the
other nine. It will be truly a special occasion as they have been preparing a while for this special day.
Easter Sunday - the journey of the cross does not end in death but in the resurrection of new life. Our Easter Sunday Masses will be at the same time but after the 9:30am mass, we will have an Easter egg hunt, hosted by our Youth Group. So I hope you will be able to join in one or all of these events of our salvation.
Fr. Dan
Lenten Reconciliation Service – to prepare ourselves for this journey, you are invited to come to a Reconciliation Service on Wednesday April 20 at 7pm. With the Blessed Sacrament exposed, we are invited to spend quiet time with our Lord and to experience His loving mercy. Four priests will be available for this evening.
Holy Thursday – Then on April 21 at 7pm, we will celebrate Jesus’ last supper with his disciples where He washed His disciples’ feet, and instructed us to go and do likewise. In remembrance of what He taught us, the presiding priest will wash the feet of six parishioners and invite them to do the same with other parishioners. All in attendance are invited to have their foot washed and then to wash someone else’s foot. Our liturgy that evening will recall Jesus and the disciples going into Gethsemane garden to pray. So we will take the Blessed Sacrament and reposition it in the Hall, where we too are invited to pray with Him for strength to undergo the passion. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will end at 10pm.
Good Friday – As Jesus was on the cross from Noon until 3pm, our liturgy that day will also begin at Noon with the reflection on the Last 7 Words of Jesus. As we had favorable reviews last year, we will invite once again our own parishioners to reflect and share what each of those words mean to them. Then at 1:30pm, we will have the Liturgy of the Word with Veneration of the Cross. After this liturgy, from about 3-4pm, we will have confessions available again. Then in the evening, for those who were unable to take off from work, our youth will lead us in the Stations of the Cross. They will act out, through shadows, each of the stations.
Easter Vigil - With the death of our Lord, darkness has entered our world. So the Easter Vigil will begin in darkness at 8pm. It begins with the Service of Light, as each person processes in with a lit candle, and then we will hear the story of our salvation. Traditionally, seven Old Testament readings are used, then a New Testament and finally a Gospel. However, as we will be celebrating the sacraments of initiation for 10 adults, we will use only three Old Testament readings, 1 New Testament and the Gospel. Six adults will receive baptism. Three adults who have been baptized in another faith tradition will be received into the Church. And one other adult, who had been baptized Catholic, will celebrate Eucharist and Confirmation with the
other nine. It will be truly a special occasion as they have been preparing a while for this special day.
Easter Sunday - the journey of the cross does not end in death but in the resurrection of new life. Our Easter Sunday Masses will be at the same time but after the 9:30am mass, we will have an Easter egg hunt, hosted by our Youth Group. So I hope you will be able to join in one or all of these events of our salvation.
Fr. Dan
April 10, 2011 - Fifth Sunday in Lent
One Thousand Cranes for Japan – The last couple of Sundays, parishioners were invited to fold origami cranes for the people of Japan. Parishioner, Mrs. Maureen Kosewic, is the one organizing this project. She is working with someone stationed with the U.S. military in Japan, and what we contribute, will be joined by the efforts of others to make up a thousand cranes. An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a special mystical crane. It is a popular gift at weddings and they symbolize the wish that the couple will experience a thousand years of happiness and prosperity. And that is certainly our wish for our brothers and sisters there. This Sunday’s second collection for Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the U.S. Bishop’s international relief organization, will help them in their disaster recovery.
Congratulations to the New Pastor of St. Stephen – Fr. Paul Warren was officially installed as Pastor of St. Stephen’s last Sunday, April 3 at the 9:30am Mass. Auxiliary Bishop Robert McElroy celebrated the installation and during the Mass, said that he was very happy to install Fr. Paul because he knew him when he was his Associate Pastor at St. Gregory in San Mateo. The Bishop also mentioned that because they took turns preaching on Sundays, he enjoyed hearing Fr. Paul’s homilies. Many parishioners came to celebrate this special day as the Church was filled to capacity. Members of the different ministries of the parish led the entrance procession and the choir, made up of youth and adults, lifted our hearts with their songs of praise. The occasion was all the more special, as St. Stephen Church celebrated their 60th anniversary on that same day. Fr. Paul, in his homily, recalled as a youth his parents and other adults gathering to discuss plans for a new parish that would eventually become St. Stephen Church. He also spoke about the journey we were all making, the journey of life, and laughed about how we all, as kids, asked whether “we’re there yet?” He concluded, reminding us that the journey is equally as important as arriving at our destination. He said it is a blessing to be in this journey with the great and the small alike of St. Stephen’s parish. With Fr. Paul as their new Pastor, they will not be people without a loving shepherd. They are blessed and we wish them many, many more blessings in the years to come.
Palm Sunday (4/17) – A reminder: Next Saturday night’s vigil and Sunday morning Masses (except the 7am mass) will begin at the main entrance of the Church. If you are able, you are invited to gather outside the main entrance of the Church and to pick up a palm for the celebration of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. With that, we begin the journey into the holiest week of our Church calendar. Please see the Holy Week Schedule so you can join us in the saving works of our Lord and friend, Jesus Christ.
Fr. Dan
Congratulations to the New Pastor of St. Stephen – Fr. Paul Warren was officially installed as Pastor of St. Stephen’s last Sunday, April 3 at the 9:30am Mass. Auxiliary Bishop Robert McElroy celebrated the installation and during the Mass, said that he was very happy to install Fr. Paul because he knew him when he was his Associate Pastor at St. Gregory in San Mateo. The Bishop also mentioned that because they took turns preaching on Sundays, he enjoyed hearing Fr. Paul’s homilies. Many parishioners came to celebrate this special day as the Church was filled to capacity. Members of the different ministries of the parish led the entrance procession and the choir, made up of youth and adults, lifted our hearts with their songs of praise. The occasion was all the more special, as St. Stephen Church celebrated their 60th anniversary on that same day. Fr. Paul, in his homily, recalled as a youth his parents and other adults gathering to discuss plans for a new parish that would eventually become St. Stephen Church. He also spoke about the journey we were all making, the journey of life, and laughed about how we all, as kids, asked whether “we’re there yet?” He concluded, reminding us that the journey is equally as important as arriving at our destination. He said it is a blessing to be in this journey with the great and the small alike of St. Stephen’s parish. With Fr. Paul as their new Pastor, they will not be people without a loving shepherd. They are blessed and we wish them many, many more blessings in the years to come.
Palm Sunday (4/17) – A reminder: Next Saturday night’s vigil and Sunday morning Masses (except the 7am mass) will begin at the main entrance of the Church. If you are able, you are invited to gather outside the main entrance of the Church and to pick up a palm for the celebration of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. With that, we begin the journey into the holiest week of our Church calendar. Please see the Holy Week Schedule so you can join us in the saving works of our Lord and friend, Jesus Christ.
Fr. Dan
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