News Around the Parish

Christmas Boutique – Needless to say, the Boutique last weekend was wonderful.  In spite of the rain, it did not dampen the spirits of those who came.  In fact, the children seemed to enjoy the challenge even more.  A few activities such as the zip line and bumper cars were wisely put off, but the children made the most of it anyway.  The climbing tower, the bull riding and pillow fight while straddling a pole was popular with the older kids, while the younger kids enjoyed the inflatable jumping houses and slides.  Karaoke, goldfish fishing, face painting, photos with Santa were also popular, and unique wine and crafts were available at the boutique for the adults.  It was a one stop shop for Christmas as the hall was beautifully transformed into Santa’s showroom, and where children were able to purchase gifts for their siblings, friends or parents, and adults were able to purchase unique gifts for their loved ones.  The Men’s Club also provided nourishment and refreshment for the day, as they filled the air with the wonderful flavors of grilled burgers, hot dogs & Philly cheese steak.  A great big thank you goes to the Boutique Chairs:  Kerry Riordan-Sykes, Jill Peterson, Deidre O’Bryen and Jenny Nelson.  And to all those who contributed time, talent and treasure to this event, you made it memorable and fun.  Thank you, Gracias, 谢谢 (Xie-Xie).

SVDP Giving Tree – St. Vincent de Paul has once again organized and put up the “Giving Tree.”  From the different organizations that serve the needy, such as Catholic Charities, Laguna Honda Hospital & SVDP, they collected the Christmas wish list for children and adults and hanged them on the giving tree.  If you’d like to be a secret Santa, simply take one of the “ornaments” with a wish on it and bring back the present no later than Sunday, 12/16.  This will give them time to sort and deliver the packages before Christmas. 

St. Brendan Day @ Habitat for Humanity – What can you do to give back to God for all that He has given you?  How about a day at Habitat for Humanity?  Yes, it’ll be on the Saturday before Christmas and will require a little sacrifice, but if your schedule allows you, the project is to help build an affordable housing condominium that will enable 36 hardworking families to realize their dream of homeownership.  When:  Sat., Dec 22, 2012 from 8:30 am – 4:30pm.  Where:  7555 Mission St. in Daly City.  Skills required:  None, but a generous & grateful heart.  SPACE IS LIMITED to those 16 and above.  Please contact Sr. Sharon to reserve your space, 415-681-4225 x 223 or srsharon@stbrendanparish.org.

 

Fr. Dan

 

How do We Celebrate

 

Advent?

 Advent is a time for celebration and preparation.  Pope John Paul II stated in 2001:

“Dearest Brothers and Sisters:

With today’s first Sunday of Advent, a new liturgical year begins.  The Church takes up her journey again, and invites us to reflect more intensely on the mystery of Christ, a mystery that is always new and that time cannot exhaust. Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Thanks to him, the history of humanity proceeds as a pilgrimage toward fulfillment of the kingdom which he inaugurated with his Incarnation and victory over sin and death.”

                      ( Pope John Paul II, Angeles, December 2, 2001)

Advent activities have seen a resurgence in recent years in houses of worship. Perhaps this is the way of the faithful to keep the presence of God within this season.  I was amazed that television commentators this  recent Thanksgiving holiday decried the commercialization of “even Thanksgiving” as more stores opened on that date to entice would-be shoppers.  “Black Friday “ through even “Black Monday”! Am I alone in wondering how this commercialization and increasingly secular approach to Christmas overshadows our expectation of the coming of Jesus the true light of the world?

I must confess that when I was employed at a local bus agency we experienced a Christmas problem. This was in 1991. We had two coaches painted in Christmas schemes. Both included Christmas trees, elves’ pictures and gifts. Someone complained that the Christmas trees were emblematic of a Christian Christmas and therefore offensive to non- Christians. The trees were painted out. Within the same year another complaint was that the elves were not of the ethnicity of the community in which the buses were routed. The buses were painted again and the elves came off. Another complaint came in that the gifts were signs of new birth and therefore smacked of Christianity and the birth of Christ. The buses were recalled and painted a fourth time, this time with blocks and the meaningless, innocuous phrase “Happy Holidays”, with the intent of celebrating nothing and not offending the sensitive. This worked!

During Advent, I invite all to enjoy:  the spirit of the season when people are more generous in their compassion to everyone else, Christmas music is upbeat and embracing, Christmas plays, and our own Christmas Boutique. I also enjoy the many special readings and figures we have in our liturgies during Advent.  I enjoy the lighting of the Lenten candles; the readings that ask a scared woman of faith named Mary to become the Mother of God and she assents; the figure of John the Baptist pleading with people to prepare to welcome the Lord of all Creation as he tries to purify himself of worldly values. Let’s prepare with new appreciation this season!

Fr. Mike