Children Religious Education Program – Thanks to Sr. Catherine, in September 2011 we began a Religious Education Program for public school children here in our parish. Prior to that, because there were an insufficient number of children to form a class, St. Brendan partnered with St. Cecilia and our public school children attended Religious Education there. But since 2011, Sr. Catherine found enough students to form a class and its going strong. We now have 3 classes from 1st – 3rd grades. If this continues, we’ll be able to provide religious education all the way up to Confirmation in 8th grade. Sometimes, parents think of enrolling their children just prior to a Sacrament, like Eucharist and Confirmation. However, that is insufficient time to form a child in the faith. Because what we’re trying to teach is not just intellectual knowledge about the faith, instead, we’re trying to form a child to be a disciple of Christ. A child needs both the intellectual knowledge and the discipline to practice their faith. That’s why we’re called disciples, from the word discipline. On Saturday, September 14 at 4pm in the Church Hall, there is an Orientation & Registration meeting for parents who wish to enroll their children in Religious Ed. If you missed this meeting or would like to find out more information, please contact Sr. Catherine at 415-681-4225 x 205 or at srcatherine@stbrendanparish.org.
Pancake Breakfast Success – Congratulations to Mr. Kevin Morrison, President of the Men’s Club, for running a successful Pancake Breakfast last week. This was the 1st fundraiser exclusively for the parish in recent memory. And thanks to many of you who responded with early registration, it helped them prepare for this event. There were approximately 150 sign-ups for the 10:30 a.m. seating, and another 30 for the 11 a.m. They began food preparation even before the 9:30 a.m. mass began. One could smell the coffee brewing and the sausages cooking below as mass began upstairs. And when mass ended, a wonderful breakfast awaited us all. The tables were beautifully decorated with real checkered table cloths and bright flowers, reminiscent of a picnic. Real plates and silverware were used. Pancakes and hot sausages were set up in a buffet style, so diners could be served and return for more. Over 200 meals were served that day, and the teens from our Junior High Youth Ministry helped not only to serve but to clean up as well. A little over $1,000 was raised for the parish. I want to thank all who helped make this breakfast a success: the Anderer’s (Jim, Shameran & Kate), Doug Barry, The Finnegan’s (Tom, Lynn, Molly & Lauren), Kevin Kosewic, Patrick McFarlane, The Morrison’s (Margot, Cora & Elsa), the Youth Ministry Coordinators: Stacey Simpson, Gus Del Puerto & Marie Detweiller and our super Jr. High Youths. Thank you teens for serving both at the Youth Mass and afterwards in the breakfast! It was great! And thank you all for supporting this event.
Parish Picnic – Please join us for our yearly parish picnic on Sunday, September 29 at Blackberry Farm in Cupertino. Mass at the picnic will begin at 11am with lunch following immediately at noon. There are other games besides swimming at the grounds. But if you do enjoy swimming, there is both a children’s pool with a slide and an adult pool. Locker and changing rooms are also conveniently located. Come and enjoy the Sun and each other’s company as we begin another school year.
Fr. Dan
