Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving

Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving – I recently read that fasting has many health benefits.  The article explained that when the body is freed from the job of heavy food digestion, it could use its energy and resources to detoxify and heal the body.  Apparently, that is why when we are sick we do not have much of an appetite.  The body’s resources are shifted to fight whatever is making us sick.  Just as we take vacations to give our minds and bodies a rest, fasting or eating lightly can give our digestive system a rest as well.  In so doing, it can give the body more energy and make our minds feel clearer.  Perhaps that is why fasting has been used for thousands of years as a spiritual discipline, because it helps us clear our minds and strengthen our esolve.  Coupled with prayer, our fasting will have spiritual meaning.  Our hunger can help us feel compassion towards those who hunger daily.  It can lead us to good works, in gratitude for all the blessings we have received.  So the spiritual discipline of fasting and abstinence, are key components in the Season of Lent to help us develop a caring heart, a heart like Christ our Lord. 

St. Anthony de Sales taught that to grow in holiness, to be a saint, it is not an accident.  We can plan for it, just as we plan for our vacations, save for our kids’ college or our own retirement.  How we structure our lives can help us grow in holiness.  If we make time for daily prayer, make time for Sunday mass, set aside a portion of our time to serve others and to give back to God, these can be habits that lead us to holiness.  So I encourage you to make some time during Lent, to reflect on what practices you’d like to put into place in your life, so that they can become tools to help you toward sanctification.

Archbishop’s Annual Appeal (AAA) – We are beginning the AAA this Sunday to support the work of the Archdiocese.  As I am more involved with the different departments of the Archdiocese, I begin to see the complexity of their work and their dedication.  For example, the implementation of the New Roman Missal went smoothly, thanks in large part for the support and training they gave to the priests, musicians and lay pastoral staff.  When they do their job well, no one notices their efforts.  However, it is only when it is not done well, that we ask who’s in charge and why wasn’t it done better?  I think that their sense of service and dedication deserves our encouragement and support.  So please consider giving generously to this Appeal.  Fr. Mike and I both plan to give $400 each and we hope you’ll join us.  Our support for their work is a support for Excellence  in the Archdiocese.

On-Line Donation – Electronic bill pay has made life easier and easier.  If you’re comfortable with this modern convenience, consider donating to the parish on-line.  If you use your credit card, you can earn points while the parish benefits because your transaction will save us time.  It will be automatically deposited in our bank and recorded in our parish database.  To sign-up for On-Line donation, email Flora Sinajon, our Parish Manager at flora@stbrendanparish.org  and she will give you the necessary steps to complete it.  No matter whether you give by cash, check or electronically, know that I’m grateful for your ongoing support to our parish.

Fr. Dan

Parish Lenten Activities

We are already in February and Ash Wednesday (2/22) will soon be upon us.  Where did the time go?  But as we journey into Lent, best-selling author Matthew Kelly in his book “Rediscover Lent,” encourages us to reflect on the seven (7) pillars of Catholic Spirituality.  As he puts it, “these anchors of our faith combine 2,000 years of spiritual wisdom into a handful of spiritual exercises.  They may be ancient practices, but don’t let that fool you into believing that they are not relevant to your life in the modern world.  These practices are dynamic and ever fresh.  A tree with deep roots can weather any storm.  Sink these roots, the 7 pillars of Catholic spirituality, deep into your life, and you’ll weather any storm.”

The pillars are Confession, Daily Prayer, the Mass, the Bible, Fasting, Spiritual Reading and the Rosary.  Our parish will have the following activities available to help us deepen our spiritual lives during Lent:

Lenten Weekday Masses – Although we have Mass everyday at 6:30 and 7:30 a.m., during Lent, we will add an 8 a.m. Mass for our students and faculty.  They will begin their day with Mass at 8 a.m.  In order to accommodate them, our regular 7:30 a.m. mass will be moved to 7:15 a.m.  Saturday morning mass will remain at 7:30 a.m.

Wednesday Night Soup Suppers – It’s been a wonderful tradition for parishioners to get together on the Wednesdays of Lent for soup, provided by the different organizations of the parish.  The idea is to eat simply, leaving room for God, and to reflect on a spiritual topic.  This year, Sr. Catherine found a wonderful presentation on Pope John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body.”  We will begin on the Wednesday after Ash Wednesday, 2/29 @ 6 p.m. for soup, and 7 p.m. for the spiritual presentation.  At the last soup supper, Wed., 3/28, we will conclude with the Sacrament of Reconciliation at 7 p.m.

Lenten Retreat – from the last parish survey, the topic most respondents felt was needed in the parish was to grow spiritually.  The Advisory Board and the Pastoral Staff recommended we do a parish Lenten Retreat.  We found a dynamic, funny and inspiring speaker, Fr. David Pettingill to lead the retreat.  He is a priest of the Archdiocese, has served as faculty member and principal of Marin Catholic High School, has been professor of Homiletics, Liturgical Celebration and Scripture at St. Patrick’s Seminary, as well as Pastor of St. Gabriel’s Parish.  Our retreat will be on Saturday, 3/31 from 9 – 3pm in our parish hall.

Good Friday Meditation – the parish is also fortunate to have with us on Good Friday (4/6), San Francisco’s Auxiliary Bishop William Justice who will offer the meditation from 12 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.  He has been a friend and mentor and we look forward to his presence on that special day.

We hope you will be able to attend one or all of these Lenten activities and that they will be for you, an occasion to grow spiritually closer to our Lord.

Fr. Dan

News Around the Parish

Congratulations to our 2^nd Graders – On Saturday, February 11, our 2^nd graders celebrated their First Holy Communion.  For many of them, this has been a long awaited occasion and they now feel like the older kids and adults, able to receive the Lord themselves into their lives.  I remember my First Holy Communion and how my teacher, Sister Pia, made a special card for each of us.  It had a cut out of a gold chalice with a host above it.  On top of the host and chalice were the words, “I offer my all to you, Sacred Heart of Jesus.”  When I received the card, I certainly prayed that with all sincerity (as sincere as a 7 year old can be).  Later on in the Seminary, I learned that in the Church’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy states that “the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life” (#11).  When I first read that, I had to pause and think whether that was really true.  I asked myself, wouldn’t a missionary who gave his life in service of the Gospel, would that not be the high point of the Christian life, a person who learned to give himself/herself to the service of the Gospel?  Or what about a martyr, who died for the faith, wouldn’t that also be the high point of a life, who learned to give himself/herself to the Lord? 

But the Church in teaching that the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, or the Mass is the source and summit of the Christian life, is saying that it is the “sum and summary of our faith” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1322-1327).  It is from the Mass, as we hear God’s word, that we learn how to give ourselves as Jesus gave Himself to the Father.  And it is at the altar, or the Lord’s table, that we learn to offer ourselves as Jesus offered Himself when He broke the bread, to offer it as food for others.  So while Holy Communion can be an intimate experience of welcoming the Lord into our lives, but in having received the Lord, we are also called to imitate Him in serving each other.  It is certainly my hope and prayer for our little ones that they will grow in their love for God and learn to serve Him.  I want to thank Mrs. Nina Warda and Mrs. Sonia Ino for all the time and love they gave to prepare our children for this most special Sacrament.

Training Mentors – A couple of weeks back, St. Patrick’s Seminary put on a five (5)day training for Priests who can serve as mentors to priests who are either newly ordained, new to the country or who serve as new pastors.  Our Auxiliary Bishop, William Justice in charge of Priest Personnel, asked me to attend this first of a two-part training program.  There were 25 priests from different dioceses as close as San Jose to as far as Des Moines, Iowa.  I was impressed to see the quality, experience, wisdom and dedication of these priests.  One of the presenters, Fr. Jim Myers, spoke about the need for mentors because in many dioceses where the priest shortage is severe, newly ordained priests can become pastors in as little as a year or two.  Whereas in the past, a priest might not be expected to be a pastor for 25 years or more, and so can pick up wisdom along the way, the reality today has changed.  So this program, “Mantle of Elijah,” was put in place to help with this transition.  Being a recipient myself of a mentor’s wisdom and experience not too long ago, I hope to give back one day and share with others what has been so generously given to me.  I also want to thank you, who have supported the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal (AAA), for the funding for this program, $1,800 per priest and covers food and lodging, was paid from your generous contribution.

Fr. Dan

News Around the Parish

Catholic Schools Week – Catholic schools are known for its quality education but they also serve as a ministry of the parish community to teach the faith to our young people as Jesus taught us.  Last Sunday, at

the 9:30am mass, the 1^st graders prepared for the mass by being lectors and choir members.  I want to express my gratitude to the 1^st grade students and teachers who prepared for this mass, as well as all those who attended in uniform to show off our school colors.  We can take pride in our school, because not only do our graduates go on to the best high schools, but also because they grow up learning responsibility and service to God and His people.  In particular, I want to acknowledge and thank our Principal, Mrs. Carol Grewal, and the faculty and staff at our school.  For them, teaching is not just a job, but they see it as a vocation to open minds and hearts to the wonders that God has created.  We are blessed by them, because they see their successes as a partnership, a team effort between them, the parents and this community of faith.  It really does take a village to raise a child.  May God continue to bless our students, faculty and staff, for the great work they do here at St. Brendan’s.

Lights, Camera, Action – The plans to project the Mass down into the hall have been on my mind since I first experienced a Christmas Eve family Mass here at St. Brendan.  Parishioners Wil Bucoy and Bryan

Birmingham, in anticipating a large turnout for the Catholic Schools Week Mass last Sunday, set up a temporary audio-video system so it can do just that.  The camera was set up near the choir loft in the rear of the church, and the camera lens captures the entire sanctuary from the Presider’s chair to the Lectern. 

By all accounts, their work was a success.  Next on the agenda is to set up a more permanent system so that families, who have a restless child during Mass, can take the child down to the hall and still see and hear the liturgy upstairs.  A further possibility would be to project liturgies live on our website.  Family members who might not be able to participate in a First Holy Communion, a wedding or a funeral because of great distances or illness, will then be able to see it live on our website.  Currently, St. Cecilia’s in San Francisco is already set up to do live Church broadcast.  I want to thank Wil who has not only helped us with this project, but was also the one who helped us improve our audio-visual system in our hall.

San Dimas Ministry – When Jesus was crucified on the cross, the good thief crucified next to him is known as St. Dimas.  San Dimas ministry is not only to visit those in prison, but also to stay connected with them after prison, to help them stay out of trouble.  I am impressed by the members of this community who come from different parishes in San Francisco and Oakland Diocese, and from Interchange, a Christian Volunteer Organization.  They visit inmates in Juvenile Hall here in San Francisco, in San Mateo as well as San Leandro.  They have a love for our young people who get in trouble and a desire to help them lead a better life.  Former inmates, who are now free and lead a changed life, testify to the support this ministry has given them.  If you are interested, there will be an upcoming training here at St. Brendan’s.  The training dates are Saturday, February 25 & March 3, from 8am – 5pm.  Please call Fr. Mike or me at 415-681-4225, or Julio Escobar at 415-244-5594 for more information.

Fr. Dan

Reflections of Our Parochial Vicar

I was impressed at the St. Brendan’s planning and representation at the annual West Coast Walk for Life.  Two important members of our parish- Mary Ann Schwab and Dr. Lou Scheerer took an early interest and we were preparing for the Walk before Christmas!  Flyers were prepared and announcements timely made.  St. Brendan’s had a wonderful special Mass to support life at 10:00 am this past Saturday, and the attendance was quite encouraging. Even people who said they could not walk in the actual March downtown came to offer prayers- impressive!! 

 The route for the actual March for Life was “changed” due to an alleged counter protest group obtaining a permit for the route.  Curiously, there was no march using that permit.  The pro-abortion people reported in the newspapers that there must have been a “mix-up” and they thought their walk was for the following day.  (By the way, there was no march on Sunday either.)  They simply wanted to frustrate the West Coast Walk for Life.  Actually, the substitute route from the San Francisco Civic Center to the foot of Market Street was better as the streets were wide and as always, San Francisco’s finest kept good order.  I could not help but notice banners on every light pole on the route declaring San Francisco a “pro-choice” City, with more derogatory remarks meant for those who walked.  So much for the City that has budget problems and has codes prohibiting such banners. 

The day could not have had better weather, following a Friday storm with strong winds and heavy rain.  The air had a crispness that was quite simply invigorating.  Then watching the crowds of people come together at the Civic Center in front of the San Francisco City Hall was magnificent. Represented were high schools, parish groups, many seminarians including from our very own St. Patrick’s seminary, young couples, older couples, single people, retired people and members from almost every social grouping, all united in standing up for their faith and in particular for the value of God-given life.  The speeches beforehand were inspirational and one protester who leaned on his car horn for several minutes to disrupt the speeches was ushered away.  Inside the group as we marched down Market Street, there was singing, praying, happy banter among new and old friends.  Along the fringe every block or two would be a small group of counter-demonstrators who were angrily shouting at the pro-life marchers.  It is this that I would like to focus upon. I have come to believe that the devil will “make a scene” in conflict with people who claim allegiance to God.  God always prevails and His people share in His victory. I had that thought as I reflected upon the contrast of those who were marching, never complaining, though some had traveled from distant parts to attend.  In contrast, the counter-demonstrators, were loud and mostly older adults.  As they hurled insults, the crowd this year did something that has not been done in past years. The crowd let out a cheer that was like a wave running the length of the parade route.  It was like a home-run at a San Francisco Giants’ game in Pac Bell Park only greater.  The people were cheering each other and their mutual witness to God’s values. I had the happy impression every time I heard the loud cheering that God had made another home-run!  What an image!  People who I believed wanted to remain disinterested were drawn to that cheer and quietly looked on at the peaceful crowds.  I truly believe that God used that Walk to awaken conscience in some to the cause of life and the value of life.

 I returned back to St. Brendan’s with others on a crowded street car where there was no conflict as we happily recounted our impressions of the day.  As the day ended, I shared a bit of the impressive speaker’s comments at the 5:00pm Mass and filled with the fresh air of the day, enjoyed a comfortable night’s rest.  The next day, with the invigorating crowd gone, the weather seemed to return to rain as if Nature was disappointed that those supporting life had gone.

 Let every day be a “Support Life” day in our families and parish!

Fr. Mike

News Around the Parish

Celebrating our Parish Ministries – This weekend, to celebrate the richness of our parish ministries and to make better known the diversity of our parish activities, we invite you come and see what your fellow

parishioners are doing.  If you have the time or interest, feel free to attend one of their meetings or activities.  Otherwise, give them a pat on the back for their efforts and dedication.  A member of our Advisory Board,

Dr. Molly Magnano shared that she had attended a Ministry Fair at another parish and it was delightful because it had a festive atmosphere, so we will try to do the same here.  Another member of the Board, Mrs. Beth Powers suggested we do a raffle with prizes to be drawn after each mass, and for the grand prizes to be drawn after the last mass.  To get a raffle ticket, one only has to stop by to visit any of the ministry tables.  Besides gift cards, one of the grand prizes includes a lunch or dinner with the priests and sisters of our parish.  We’re looking forward to dining with you.  But all that aside, I want to acknowledge all the volunteers who make this parish strong and vibrant.  As I had shared with our volunteers in the New Year’s Eve Volunteer appreciation dinner, there is not one day out of the year that one volunteer or another is not helping us in parish ministry.  So I want to thank them again for their love for the Lord and His Church that they give of their time, talents and treasure in His Service.

Collapsed Parishioner Resurrects – Well, the title sounds more dramatic than what actually happened. Last Sunday at the 7 a.m. mass, someone coming up for communion experienced dizziness and began to collapse.  Fortunately, someone near him helped him into the pew and laid him down.  A couple of nurses and doctors that were attending that mass came to his aid, while someone else called 911.  The paramedics came in no time and he regained consciousness.  I checked on him after the last mass and he said they ran a battery of tests on him at Kaiser and they determined that he was okay.  The treating physician suspected that he had simply been dehydrated because he came down with the flu the day before and he had not eaten or drank anything before mass.  They released him that morning and he is safe back home.  He wishes to thank all you kind people for your help and prayers.  He said he is a parishioner at St. Phillips but that morning, he came here for mass.  That was indeed a wonderful Christian spirit that was present that morning as we reached out in our own way to help and pray for him.  Remember that the 1 hour fast before receiving communion does not apply if we are sick.  And if you are sick and miss mass, it is not a sin.  You can still keep the Sabbath holy by remembering the Lord in prayer at home.

Brother Dat Nguyen to attend a 30 day Retreat – As part of his formation, Bro. Dat will be attending a 30 day retreat at El Retiro beginning January 19 and he should be back with us next month.  Please hold him

in your prayers as he continues to discern and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit in his life.  Your support to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal provides him with this generous opportunity and please continue to support him with your love and prayers.

Fr. Dan