From the Pastor
Walk for Peace – Last Saturday, Jan 12, with Bishop Justice and ministers from different congregations, there was a walk for peace in the Mission district to try to stop the gun violence in our city. There were 68 homicides in San Francisco in 2012. We gathered at St. Anthony’s Church on Cesar Chavez at 10am, and with family members of the victims, their friends, neighbors and concerned citizens, we prayed before setting out for a walk through the Mission to plead for peace in our streets. Led by Julio Escobar, coordinator for Restorative Justice in the Archdiocese, more than a hundred participants took part in this walk, imploring our fellow citizens to stop the violence. We stopped at 2 places, 24th & Mission & 16th & Mission, and allowed family members to share the loss they felt and their desire for the violence to stop so that other families would not have to experience the grief they felt. Especially moving, was to hear family members who were quick to forgive, in order to break the cycle of violence. 68 crosses, representing the victims, were carried throughout the walk and a memorial service was held for them at Mission Dolores, as their names were read aloud and we prayed for them and their loved ones. We’re grateful for the police who escorted us throughout the walk and helped us arrive safely to our destination.
Thank YOU, Secret Santas – Tad Tassone, coordinator for St. Brendan’s St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) reported that through your generosity, they collected:
Over 100 toiletry sets for clients at SVDP’s Multi-Service Center (a place where homeless men and women can drop-in for showers, clothing, laundry, case management, dinner and sleep).
100 personalized gifts, from radios to pads of legal-size paper, for the patients at Laguna Honda Hospital.
27 hat/glove/scarf sets for the mothers and 15 educational toys for their children at Daughters of Charity & SVDP’s Epiphany Center, where they serve at risk families.
36 personalized gifts for clients at SF’s Adult Day Services – a Catholic Charities CYO day care resource center for Alzheimer patients.
In addition, thanks to your generosity, over 300 sandwiches were made in December for guests at their Multi-Service center. With the volunteers of SVDP, we thank you for your generosity and support that helped bring a little light to those who have experienced so much darkness in their lives.
Faith Sharing Book Club – As part of our Year of Faith, the parish began last Fall a faith sharing Book Club. It was a great success as over 30 people gathered together on 3 different days and times to go over Christine Watkins’ “Full of Grace.” The conversations in each of these groups were rich as we shared with each other what impressed us, what made us pause and think, and our own experiences of faith that helped us not only to know each other better but also to see our own lives in a different light. This week, we’ll begin our 2nd book with Matthew Kelly’s “Rediscovering Catholicism.” At a time when we hear so much of what’s wrong with the Church, it’s nice and refreshing to hear the goodness and beauty of the Church that Christ left us. While not ignoring our failures and the necessity of conversion, nonetheless Kelly also helps us to see the good and inspires us to become our better selves (aka – to be holy). The Book Club will meet in Convent’s conference room for 4 weeks. Group 1 will meet on Thurs, 1/24 @ 9:30 – 11am, group 2 on Thurs 7:30 – 9pm & group 3 on Sat., 1/26 @ 10-11:30am. You’re welcome to drop-in and join us, or you may sign-up and pick-up a book after mass for $10. And if you’re unable to join us but would like to read the book yourself, you can also purchase one after each of the masses this weekend.
Fr. Dan
