Pastor's Corner

St. Brendan Mother’s Club Auction – The Mother’s Club Auction was held last Saturday at St. Mary’s Cathedral, courtesy of Msgr. John Talesfore, Rector of the Cathedral.  The hall spaces were beautifully decorated with a touch of Paris.  The Silent Auction was held in a side hall while the main hall, hosted the fancy dinner catered by Knight’s Catering whose owners are also St. Brendan’s parishioners, Adrian and Maureen Kelly.  The main dining hall was decorated like the city of lights.  The ambiance was exquisite as guests were dazzled by the lighting effects provided by one of our parents, John and Megan Woods.  Many people made this event possible, especially the donors who provided the items for auction.  There were over 35 items for the Live Auction and they included a keep-sake photo collage of each class, special dinners, room makeover, vacations at special destinations, a special pew and parking for Graduation, a 49er Tailgate party, and even a cruise around the Bay on a SFFD Fireboat.  Msgr. John Talesfore even made a generous $500 contribution to the school, if he was allowed to celebrate the next Christmas eve mass here at St. Brendan.  He is always welcome, whether he makes a contribution or not, but don’t tell him that. 

It was a wonderful evening with music, friendship, dancing and laughter.  Special thanks go to the Auction chairs, Lisa Ikeda, Karen Pierotti, Maureen Simpson and to Kevin Morrison, the coordinator from the Men’s Club.  To all who supported them and gave generously for this School’s fundraiser, a great big THANK YOU!!!

Praying for a Deeper Conversion – I would like to enlist you to join me in praying for a deeper conversion in our parish, in our Archdiocese and throughout the world.  As part of the Year of Faith (YOF), Pope Emeritus Benedict called us to have a deeper appreciation for the gift of our faith.  But there are many whose faiths have turned lukewarm or cold.  I think we all know family members or friends who were baptized Catholics but are no longer practicing the faith, or that would only do so on Christmas and Easter.  Mother Mary, in each of her many apparitions throughout the centuries, had one consistent message.  She called on her children to return back to God and she encouraged us to pray and fast for a deeper conversion, beginning with ourselves, and then for others.  The rosary is a special prayer she gave us, so we can join her in that endeavor, to pray for each other.  I’ve returned to the practice of praying the rosary, since October of 2012, at the beginning of the Year of Faith.  The Lord put in my heart a special desire to pray for you, the people of this parish and I invite you to join me to pray, in particular, for those who have fallen away from their faith, the teens at Juvenile Hall, the sick at home or at Laguna Honda Hospital.  Prayer, said a cloistered nun, is the most effective and efficient way of getting things done.  So pray with me, for a deeper conversion of our students, their parents, and for each other.  And if you are able to join me in a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, for these or for your personal intentions, visit www.trinitypilgrimage.com for more information.  Their contact person is Jim Benzow at 408-443-3912.  Or you can also contact our parishioner, who is coordinating this locally, Mrs. Zdenka Bodisco at zbodisco@sbcglobal.net or at 415-681-4100.  The pilgrimage will be from Sep 26 – Oct 5, 2013, departing from San Francisco, and it includes round trip air and ground transportation, 7 nights in Medjugorje, breakfast and early dinner daily, all taxes and tips included.  The cost is $2,650 per person. 

Peace,

Fr. Dan