Reflections of our Parochial Vicar

You are My Beloved Son.

With You I Am Well Pleased!

We recently experienced the wonder of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, wherein we celebrate that we are loved so much that God sent His only Son into the world to teach us how to live and treat each other and He also sent His Son to die in expiation for our sins, thereby allowing us the chance to rise with Christ to eternal life in the Resurrection.  We celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany last week and we hopefully concentrated on its meaning that we suddenly realize how close our God is to us. In fact, He walks among us every day of our lives.  Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus, where our Lord, who had no need of the sacrament since he was God, submitted to Baptism by John the Baptist.  Why? Perhaps as with Jesus’ entire earthly ministry, He was baptized so that we might know that we are asked to be baptized as the first of the three sacraments of initiation into our faith. It is the initial “Yes” to the invitation to share life with Him. The other two sacraments of initiation draw us ever more closely into union with God.

 

The first of these is typically Eucharist, where we are invited to the banquet of the Lord where we are invited to participate in the death to the ways of the world and live in the hope of God and eternal life. At this stage we celebrate the love of God for us and the extent of that self-giving love. Our third sacrament of initiation is Confirmation, where the person affirms the choice of God in their life. We also recognize in this sacrament that we are to go forth and continue the  mission on earth of Jesus by first our own conversion to the ways of Christ and later to lead others to Christ . We recognize that this may involve sacrifice and it definitely will call for commitment. Typically, this is after the person to be confirmed has lived in the world and is of sufficient maturity to choose God – to choose life!

 

In all of these sacraments, indeed for all of our faith, we are called to commit! Our “Yes” should mean “Yes” and our “No” should mean “No”.  I believe that this is where the need for focus belongs. We have heard the word “Cafeteria Catholics”, which refers to Catholics who choose to believe in some aspects of their faith and reject others.  By being equivocal about the basics of our faith we are not saying a clear resounding “Yes!” to salvation through Jesus.  This equivocation is closer to rejection than assent in most cases. That is the hard truth.

 As Jesus was baptized, His “Yes” meant “Yes!”, and He knew that he would have to give his life in a most horrific death. THAT faith, THAT commitment is what I attribute the comment of being well-pleased by God the Father. Perhaps that is why the sacrifice of Jesus was so gruesome, that total self-giving.  Relatively few who have been baptized, throughout all of history, in all places have been/are  asked to be crucified for our faith. We ARE asked to die to the ways of the world so that we might share eternal life. Let us choose life with God every day!

Fr. Mike

 

From the Pastor

Resolutions? – Are you still making New Year’s resolutions.  If you were, and pondered what sorts of goals to set forth in this new year, I’d like to share a few quotes from one of my favorite inspirational writers. 

William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) is a scholar, author, editor, pastor and teacher.  He is one of America’s most quoted writers of inspirational maxims.  He has written the following that, I think, will be helpful as we set our sights for this year.

 “Flatter me, and I may not believe you.  Criticize me, and I may not like you.  Ignore me, and I may not forgive you.  Encourage me, and I will not forget you.  Love me and I may be forced to love you.”

 “Do more than belong: participate.  Do more than care: help.  Do more than believe: practice. 

 Do more than be fair: be kind.  Do more than forgive: forget.  Do more than dream: work.”

 

And lastly,

 

“Another fresh new year is here…  another year to live!  To banish worry, doubt, and fear, to love and laugh and give!  This bright new year is given me to live each day with zest… to daily grow and try to be my highest and my best!  I have the opportunity once more to right some wrongs, to pray for peace, to plant a tree, and sing more joyful songs!”

 

I think if we adopted even the simplest of the hints he’s given us, something doable, it will help us become better persons and lead us to a better year. 

Walk and Pray for Peace – Last year in San Francisco there were over 60 homicides.  As part of our work with Juvenile Hall and the Archdiocese’s Restorative Justice Ministry, Fr. Mike and I have gone to the places where victims were killed and prayed for them and their loved ones.  This Saturday, January 12, 2013 there will be a walk for peace.  With the victims’ families, neighbors, people of different faiths, we will carry a cross for each of the victims.  We want to make a statement to the shooters and gangs to stop the killing. 

Each life is valuable.  Amanda Rodriguez, the wife of a 36-year-old homicide victim, Angelo Rodriguez (d. Nov 26, 2012) shared, “I have already forgiven the person that killed my husband.  Now he has to deal with God and I will take care of my 3 children without my husband.”  She also said she and her 3 children will walk with us and she will carry her husband’s cross.  If you are free to join us, we will gather on Jan 12, 2013 at 10am at St. Anthony’s Church (3215 Cesar Chavez St.) and walk towards Mission Dolores Church (16^th & Dolores Sts), stopping along the way where some of the victims have fallen. 

We will conclude with a Mass at noon at Mission Dolores.  Bishop William Justice will also be joining us.

 

Walk for Life – Save the date.  Walk for Life West Coast will be on Saturday, January 26, 2012.  Mass at the Cathedral will be at 9:30am celebrated by Archbishop Cordileone.  The rally will be at Civic Center @ 12:30pm.  The walk will begin @ 1:30pm and will be along Market Street to Justine Herman Plaza in the Embarcadero.

 

Fr. Dan

 

 

Happy 102^nd Birthday! – How old is old?  Some 1^st and 2^nd graders answered 30 is old.  From a 50 year old, 30 of course, is not old at all.  So whatever age you are and however old you feel, to Mrs. Maria Carson, who turned 102 on the feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec 8), you are just a pup.  Although advanced in years, Mrs. Carson is young at heart.  She still sings at the 11:30am Sunday choir and is a Eucharistic Minister at that mass.  Although she may be a little slow distributing communion, however, she has a deep love for Jesus and her blessing to the little ones is not a simple matter of fact blessing, but a deliberate blessing from one who has seen the ups and downs of life and yet has kept the faith.  When I asked what wisdom she would like to share with us, she was quick to respond, “Stay close to Jesus.  He will never let you down!”  Her faith was deepened when as a teen, she and her family had to flee Mexico because of the government persecution of the Church.  Her father had the same name as their local priest, and was mistakenly hunted down. 

Starting her life here in her late teens, she is grateful for all the blessings God has given to her and her family, and all the opportunities she had as a new citizen.  She continues to come faithfully every week, courtesy of Mr. Mike Casazza, who not only serves with St. Vincent de Paul, but brings communion to the homebound on Sunday and chauffeurs seniors unable to drive to Mass.  God bless you Mrs. Carson, and God bless you Mike, for your kindness.

Thank you, Volunteers – An unknown author once wrote, “Volunteers are love in motion!” 

Seeing it first hand, I’d have to agree.  From serving and singing at mass, to preparing coffee and donuts, to teaching children, arranging flowers, washing linens, decorating the church, planning, organizing, counting, building, welcoming, visiting -- a host of angels turns this facility and buildings and spaces into a vibrant parish.  In your name, they and their guest have been invited to a New Year’s Eve party with mass, beginning at 5pm, offered for them and their intentions, followed with dinner and prizes.  Sherry Anderson wrote, “Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.”  And indeed they are.  Thank you volunteers for what you do to make St. Brendan’s the living and vibrant parish that it is.  You make us proud to be called a St. Brendan’s parishioner.

 

Quotes for the New Year

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~Oprah Winfrey

 Be at War with your Vices, at Peace with your Neighbours, and let every New-Year find you a better Man. ~ Quoted in Benjamin Franklin's 1755 Poor Richard's Almanac, December

A happy New Year!  Grant that I may bring no tear to any eye.  When this New Year in time shall end, let it be said I've played the friend, have lived and loved and labored here, and made of it a happy year.  ~ Edgar Guest

 

From the priests, sisters, and staff at St. Brendan’s

we wish you and your loved ones a Blessed New Year!

 

  Fr. Dan

 

From the Pastor

 Ever since Thanksgiving, I’ve been trying to focus on something that I’m grateful for each day.  That’s because according to an interview on National Public Radio (NPR), a researcher shared that if we spent as little as 45 seconds a day thinking of something we’re genuinely grateful for, that in the course of  2 weeks it changes our brain patterns and has a positive impact that lasts 2-3 months.  Other researchers have shown a correlation between gratitude and happiness.  And since I’ve been more mindful of the people and events that I am grateful for each day, I do concur with their findings.  I find I can easily zone in on problems or what needs attention and miss all the blessings.  Apparently, according to research, that seems to be a natural human tendency.  Focusing on gratitude then, changes that tendency. 

In this Holy Season, for some, it will be easy to count their blessings as they gather with family and friends, exchange gifts, the latest news and good food.  Others, may find it more difficult, as the absence of a loved one at this time will bring back memories and serve to deepen the absence they feel for their loved one.  As a teen, I used to enjoy the TV series, M*A*S*H.  One episode stuck with me through all these years.  In that episode, the doctor, Cpt. B.J. Hunnicutt, was complaining about missing his wife and kids while deployed in Korea.  The head nurse who was single, Maj. Margaret Houlihan, told him to stop feeling sorry for himself because they were all in the same boat.  His response to her was (slightly paraphrased), but you have no one to miss, since you don’t have your own family.  She responded saying (paraphrased), did you ever consider that your loss is greater than ours because you have more than us.

That idea stayed with me.  Anytime I feel a great loss, it is because I was greatly blessed. I’m certainly not saying to those who mourn or grieve the loss of a loved one, that they should stop their crying and count how richly blessed they were.  I too lost an older sister when I was younger.  But as time passes and our wounds are not as raw, we can come to appreciate how our loved ones have blessed us.  We have become better persons because they have been a part of our lives.  And it is precisely into the darkness of our lives, that our God came among us.  He came to teach us “God loves you… do not be afraid… I will never leave you orphans...   & I have prepared a place for you in my Father’s house.”

We have much to be grateful.  I am grateful that God called me to serve Him as a priest, as your pastor, and I am grateful for all the support and encouragement you have given me over the past 3 ½ years.  Because of your love and support, I feel like I am among all peoples, most richly blessed.  On behalf of my brother priests (Fr. Mike and Fr. Te), my sisters (Sr. Catherine, Sr. Herminia and Sr. Sharon), and the parish staff (Flora, Michele, Veronica & Orfa), we wish you all a Merry

Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

 

Fr. Dan

 

Reflections of Our Parochial Vicar

What is Gaudete Sunday and How did it Come about?

                      The third Sunday of Advent, is called Gaudete  Sunday.   Gaudete is Latin and means a command  “To Rejoice”). The season of Advent originated as a fast of forty days in preparation for Christmas, commencing on the day after the feast of St. Martin (12 November), whence it was often called "St. Martin's Lent"-- a name by which it was known as early as the fifth century. In the ninth century, the duration of Advent was reduced to four weeks, the first allusion to the shortened season being in a letter of St. Nicholas I (858-867) to the Bulgarians, and by the twelfth century the fast had been replaced by simple abstinence. St. Gregory the Great was the first to draw up an Office for the Advent season, and the Gregorian Sacramentary is the earliest to provide Masses for the Sundays of Advent. In both Office and Mass, provision is made for five Sundays, but by the tenth century four was the usual number, though some churches of France observed five as late as the thirteenth century. There are now universally four Sundays of Advent in the Roman Catholic church.

 Notwithstanding all these modifications, however, Advent still preserved most of the characteristics of a penitential season, which made it a kind of counterpart to Lent, the middle (or third) Sunday corresponding with Laetare or Mid-Lent Sunday. On it, as on Laetare Sunday, the organ and flowers, forbidden during the rest of the season, were, permitted to be used; rose-colored vestments were allowed instead of purple.  All these distinguishing marks have continued in use, and are the present discipline of the Latin Church.  Gaudete Sunday, therefore, makes a breaker like Laetare Sunday,( in Lent), , about midway through a season which is otherwise of a penitential character, and signifies the nearness of the Lord's coming.

The Church is no longer inviting the faithful to adore merely "The Lord who is to come", but calling upon them to worship and hail with joy "The Lord who is now nigh and close at hand In the opening antiphon , we are instructed to “Rejoice in the Lord always ; again, I say , rejoice. Indeed the Lord is near.”  In the  “The Second Reading,  we are   again incited to rejoicing, and  the message bids us prepare to meet the coming Savior with prayers and supplication and thanksgiving, while in the Gospel, the words of St. John Baptist, warns us that the Lamb of God is even now in our midst, though we appear to know Him not. The spirit of the Mass liturgy all through Advent is one of expectation and preparation for the Christmas feast as well as for the second coming of Christ, and the penitential exercises suitable to that spirit are encouraged.  But  on Gaudete

Sunday this penitential mood is suspended, for a Sunday in order to symbolize that joy and gladness in the Promised Redemption which should never be absent from the heart of the faithful.

Let us then Rejoice and be glad as we prepare a place for the Lord within our hearts!

 

Fr. Mike