October 31, 2008

Catholic san Francisco Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper

Cemeteries’ focus: corporal and spiritual works of mercy

By Rick DelVecchio

P

(PHOTOS BY RICK DELVECCHIO)

eople who come to work at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma tend to stay either for a year or for a very long time, says Kathy Atkinson, cemeteries director for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

Those who stay, she says, understand that working for a Catholic cemetery is not an ordinary service job – it is a ministry.

The idea of ministry came up time and again during a recent interview with Atkinson and a tour of the 300-acre cemetery, which is known for its serene Holy Cross Mausoleum built in 1921 and as the resting place of such luminaries as Joe DiMaggio.

“We’re here as a ministry,” said Atkinson, who also oversees the two other archdiocesan cemeteries, Holy Cross in Menlo Park and Mt. Olivet in San Rafael. “The corporal works of mercy – burial of the dead – and the spiritual works of mercy – praying for the dead: that’s what Catholic cemeteries are all about. We’re charged with that by Jesus.”

Atkinson works to make sure her ministry at the principal cemetery CEMETERIES’ FOCUS, page 11

Kathy Atkinson, archdiocesan cemeteries director, looks out over the spot where the remains of 40,000 persons were relocated from Mt. Calvary Cemetery after the city banned burials.

Prop 8 supporters call for last-minute help in ‘neck and neck’ race

By Rick DelVecchio Supporters of Proposition 8, the initiative to ban same-sex marriage in California, called for last-minute fundraising as a late surge by No on 8 erased a $10 million edge in campaign cash.

From Oct. 1-25, the No on 8 campaign reported more than 1,500 contributions of more than $1,000. Supporters include Hollywood notables Ellen DeGeneres, George Lucas and Barbara Streisand and Google’s president, Sergey Brin.

On Oct. 7, a fund-raising message from the No on 8 campaign called for financial help to turn back the Yes on 8 offensive and prevent “our worst nightmares from coming true.”

“They have caught up with us if not surpassed us,” Yes on 8 spokesman Chip White said. “We sent out an emergency appeal a few days ago, and people are responding.

It’s our hope that supporters of traditional marriage would continue to dig deep.”

State bishops ask ‘Yes on 8’ See statement, page 6 Prop 8 would overturn last May’s California Supreme Court ruling that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to designate their unions as marriage.

Yes on 8 has gained in the polls on an advertising blitz that began Sept. 29, White said. He said the race is essentially even.

“From everything I know, this race is neck and neck – an extremely tight race,” he said. “It could be decided by a just a few thousand votes.”

Both campaigns poured most of their cash into TV ads, with Yes on 8 continuing to make public school curriculum the main theme of its effort to reach undecided voters.

Yes on 8 maintains that the teaching of same-sex marriage will enter public school instruction and materials if the Supreme Court decision is not overturned. “Our campaign believes this is an issue parents should get to teach their kids about according to their own beliefs,” White said.

The controversy concerns the California Comprehensive PROP 8, page 8

New archdiocesan website sees steady stream of visitors

By Michael Vick An estimated 58,000 people have visited the redesigned website for the Archdiocese of San Francisco since its launch April 19, about 10,000 each month, according to Google analytics.

The redesign was an endeavor to make the site more appealing and userfriendly, said Maurice Healy, director of the Department of Communications and Outreach for the Archdiocese.

“The former website served its purpose well, but we recognized that our web presence needed to be revamped and revitalized to make it more inviting, interactive and useful,” Healy said.

Planning for the site – www.sfarchdiocese.org – began in early 2007 with

research into the diocesan websites around the country. Surveys of local users over an 18-month period also yielded suggestions later incorporated into the site, Healy said.

“Our new website – launched quietly six months ago – has had a wonderful reception, gaining praise even as we refined the site and corrected various glitches that are part of this kind of endeavor,” Healy said. “What we have in place now is a great web presence, which provides an accessible, attractive and easy to navigate website providing news and information about the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the universal Church.”

Among the most visited parts of the site are the interactive maps showing parishes and schools located in the Archdiocese. In ARCHDIOCESAN WEBSITE, page 8

The Archdiocese fielded a new website in April: www.sfarchdiocese.org.

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION Grief and Healing . . . . . 10-14 Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Scripture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 New papal film . . . . . . . . . . 20

World Synod on Bible ends ~ Pages 3 & 5 ~ October 31, 2008

First-person report on the Holy Land ~ Page 7 ~

Cancer support group seeks spiritual healing ~ Pages 12-13 ~

SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS

Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Classified ads . . . . . . . . 22-23

www.catholic-sf.org VOLUME 10

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No. 33

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Catholic San Francisco

October 31, 2008

On The PHOTO BY LOGAN LINK.

Where You Live

by Tom Burke Happy 90th birthday to Eleanor Giovanzana, “our longtime faithful and young-at-heart Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish office volunteer,” IHM operations manager, Gail Weber, said in a note to this column. “Eleanor not only volunteers in the office but is also mailing committee chair for the annual IHM auction,” she added. The new nonagenarian was recently honored at the Belmont parish with cake and all the trimmings….Good Shepherd Elementary School in Pacifica marked its 40th year with prayer, reminiscence, and fun Oct. 5. Father Piers Lahey, pastor, presided at an opening Mass with alumni and students from the school serving as ministers of the Mass. Deacon Ben Salvan assisted. “This is a moment of great thanksgiving to God to all the families who have believed in the value of our Catholic schools and wanted their children to receive a good education and wonderful introduction and growth in understanding Scripture and moral values geared to the defense of life,” Father Lahey told me. “It is, too, a time of great thanksgiving to God for all the people who have helped build up our school community over the last 40 years including our principal, Patricia Volan, and the current faculty who continue the mission of teaching as Jesus did.

As someone who has attended Catholic schools, I know how it formed and shaped me and had a role in my own vocation as a priest in the Church.” Patricia Volan is now in her 21st year as principal at Good Shepherd. “This has been a very exciting time for me,” she said. “It has been a privilege to witness the academic and spiritual growth of our students as well as the growth through

“Thank you Eleanor Giovanzana” was the theme of recent festivities Juliet Kvam, first grade, and Kylie Kvam, marking the Belmont volunteer’s 90th birthday. Among those wishing fifth grade, with grandma Pat Kvam her well were Betty Churchill, back left, Jan Von Tersch, Patrice at St. Hilary School Grandparents’ McDonagh, Marie Felix, Kate Moran, Betty Martin; Dana Gaffney, Day Oct. 3. Laura and Kurt are the middle left, Judy Needham, Nora Frei, Kathy O’Connor-Grosshauser; girls’ proud mom and dad.

Dede Waters-Masters, seated left, Eleanor, Gail Weber, Barbara Carmody.

the years in what we offer students.” Since 1989, the school has had additions including a new library and computer lab, classrooms, administration building and multi-purpose building. Rites at the anniversary celebration included dedication of a memorial garden remembering deceased students, faculty, staff, family members and friends…. Thanks again to this column’s youngest correspondent, Logan Link, an eighth grader at St. Hilary Elementary School in Tiburon. Logan, editor of the school yearbook, filled us in on Grandparents’ Day at St. Hilary’s where she said “students showed just how much they love and appreciate” their grandmothers and grandfathers. The day included “singing, sharing and praying together and fun was had by all,” Logan, who also sent in some great photos, noted. Logan told me the pix had more girls than boys in them not because St. Hilary’s is an all-girls school but because “girls just like to get their picture taken.”... Congrats to chancery colleague and uncle-again,

Robert O’Connor, on the birth of his nephew, Jack Edward O’Connor, born to Angela Grace O’Connor and Patrick Hugh O’Connor Aug. 28. Grandparents are Laura and Von Topoian, and Maurice and the late Connie O’Connor. Big sister is Natalie Grace. Robert has always been among the most thoughtful of us here at the ranch and recently sent an e-mail to everyone in the building asking prayers for employees of Mervyn’s, which is now in its final stages of existence and where he part-timed.

Please let me expand that request to include others so affected as well as those of us sending up the prayers as we walk these troubled times. Amen?…This is an empty space without you!

Send items and pictures via e-mail to burket@sfarchdiocese.org.

Mailed items should be sent to “Street,” One Peter Yorke Way, SF 94109. Pix should be hard copy or electronic jpeg at 300 dpi.

Don’t forget to include a follow-up phone number. Call me at (415) 614-5634 and I’ll walk you through it.

Good Shepherd School ambassadors welcomed family and supporters to 40th anniversary rites. Back from left: Jesse Kvarna, Emily Russell, Gina McGhee, John McGhee, Joseph Molloy. Front from left: Marissa Gimbal, Dominic Chartrand, Danielle Chartrand, Emily Daza, Dom Hauscarriaque, Nico Petrilli, Anthony Smith, Faith Conry, Jadyn Rozzano-Keefe, Nate Washington, Thomas Linker, Olivia Fee, Katherine Gubbins.

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Pope closes Bible synod; emphasizes ‘greatest commandment’ 55 synod propositions; include women’s role, focus on homiletics VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Benedict XVI closed the Synod of Bishops on the Bible by preaching a lesson on love of God and neighbor, saying the word of God must be put into practice through service to others.

The concluding liturgy came after the pope accepted 55 final synod propositions, including a proposal that women be admitted to the official ministry of lector, or Scripture reader, at Mass.

Joined by more than 250 bishops at a Mass Oct. 26 in St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope said the synod had highlighted a fundamental truth: that the Church’s missionary activity will fall flat unless it is nourished by scriptural reading and understanding.

Those who think they’ve understood Scripture but fail to implement its most important teachings – in particular, the double commandment to love God and neighbor – “show that they are still far from having grasped its profound meaning,” he said.

There is “a singular connection that exists between listening to God and unselfish service to one’s brothers and sisters,” he said.

The papal liturgy closed an intense three-week period of speech-giving, small-group discussion and elaboration of final recommendations by the 253 voting members of the synod and some 50 other observers and experts.

One of the synod’s strongest recommendations was to improve the scriptural aspect of homilies, and the pope seemed to offer a model at the closing Mass.

Examining St. Matthew’s account of Christ’s words on the “greatest commandment,” the pope began by looking at the historical context of Judaic law and the originality of what Christ was proposing.

Then he drew connections with the previous readings from the Book of Exodus and a letter of St. Paul to underscore a crucial point: “To be disciples of Christ is to put into practice his teachings, which are summarized in the first and greatest commandment of divine law, the commandment of love.”

The pope said the synod had helped the Church focus on the importance of Scripture, and he urged participants to return home and launch programs of scriptural renewal.

(CNS PHOTO/L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO, VIA REUTERS)

By John Thavis

Pope Benedict XVI presides at the closing Mass of the Synod of Bishops on the Bible in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 26.

He expressed his disappointment that bishops from mainland China were not allowed by their government to attend the synod.

On Oct. 25, the last working day of the synod, the pope lunched with participants, joking that he had probably violated international human rights principles by making them work late into the night and on Sundays during the assembly.

The synod’s propositions, all of which were approved overwhelmingly, were presented to the pope along with an invitation to prepare a document on the topics raised.

Proposition 17 asked that “the ministry of lector be opened also to women, so that their role as proclaimers of the word may be recognized in the Christian community.” Women already act as Scripture readers, but cannot be installed offi-

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cially in such a ministry, which is reserved to males.

It was unclear what the pope might do with the proposal, which would appear to require a derogation of canon law.

Some Vatican sources said that, if approved, it would have to be emphasized that the ministry of lector arises from baptism and not from connection to priestly ordination.

An issue that was the subject of four synod propositions was the need to strengthen the theological perspective in exegesis, or scriptural interpretation. Reflecting one of the pope’s expressed concerns, it said the study of Scripture cannot be reduced simply to a historical analysis of biblical texts.

In its propositions, the synod identified several areas needing further study or guidance: BIBLE SYNOD, page 9

Catholic San Francisco

NEWS

October 31, 2008 policy adviser, said, “Statistics show that students from poor urban neighborhoods who attend faith-based schools perform better academically than those who attend the public schools.

We can’t afford to lose any more of these schools.”

in brief

Catholics, Muslims to dialogue VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Vatican and Muslim representatives are set to open a new chapter of dialogue in an encounter that is expected to touch on common spiritual principles and perspectives on human rights. It will be the first meeting of the Catholic-Muslim Forum, formed in the wake of widespread Muslim indignation over Pope Benedict XVI’s speech in Regensburg, Germany, in 2006. The Nov. 4-5 sessions at the Vatican will take place behind closed doors, followed by a public session Nov. 6. The pope is expected to address the approximately 50 participants at some point.

Backs inner-city Catholic schools WASHINGTON (CNS) – In the waning days of the Bush administration, the White House is sounding the alarm on a six-year loss of about 1,200 faith-based schools in the U.S. and has issued a report it believes will help stop the closures.

The report – “Preserving a Critical National Asset: America’s Disadvantaged Students and the Crisis in Faith-Based Urban Schools” – shows about half of the faith-based schools that have closed since 2002 have been Catholic institutions and most are located in poor urban neighborhoods. Karl Zinsmeister, assistant to President George Bush and domestic

Global food crisis hits hard TOTONICAPAN, Guatemala (CNS) – The global food crisis is pushing millions of Central Americans, including those in Guatemala’s highlands, into deeper poverty.

Subsistence farmers who live in the hills populated primarily

by Mayans are finding it more difficult to find enough food for their families as the cost of basic food items continue rising. From July 2006 to July 2008, the price of the basic food basket – which consists of corn, beans, milk and 23 other products needed to feed a family of five – rose 26 percent, from $6.92 to $8.75 per day, according to the Guatemalan National Statistics Institute. Rising prices pose difficulties for the 2 million Guatemalans who live on less than $2 a day.

(CNS PH OTO/BENOIT TESSIER, REUTERS)

World development encouraged

A screen displays a transmission of the memorial Mass of Sister Emmanuelle outside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris Oct. 22. Sister Emmanuelle, who became well-known after battling poverty in the slums of Cairo, Egypt, died Oct. 20 at the age of 99.

(CNS PHOTO/RAMON ESPINOSA, REUTERS)

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WASHINGTON (CNS) – President George W. Bush and an Irish rock star urged Americans to continue fighting world poverty amid hard economic times. “During times of economic crisis, some may be tempted to turn inward – focusing on our problems here at home, while ignoring our interests around the world. This would be a serious mistake,” Bush said Oct. 21 at the White House Summit on International Development. Irish rocker and activist Bob Geldof told summit participants that funding alone is not enough for developing countries. “Aid is a benchmark, it is a floor” that can keep poverty at bay, but the Third World needs real development through trade, he said. Geldof emphasized America leading the way to reach the U.N. Millennium Development Goals in addressing hunger, education, inequality, child and maternal health, HIV/AIDS and the environment by 2015.

Asks Vatican to open archives WASHINGTON (CNS) – The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington Oct. 22 joined its voice with others calling for the Vatican to fully open its records concerning Pope Pius XII’s actions during World War II. On Oct. 21 a group of Christian and Jewish scholars from the U.S., Canada and Europe issued a statement asking the pope to put “a hold on a consideration of Pius XII’s beatification/canonization until all relevant archival material is made available and scrutinized.” Pope Pius headed the Church from 1939 to 1958. In its statement the Holocaust museum made a plea to the Vatican to open its archives for public scrutiny. The museum “views with concern recent indications that definitive conclusions are

A priest takes pictures during the dedication of a newly built Russian Orthodox cathedral in Havana Oct. 18. Cuban President Raul Castro attended the opening of the cathedral, the latest sign of improved relations between Havana and Moscow.

being drawn regarding the record of Pope Pius XII during the Holocaust,” said the statement. “Such pronouncements and any actions that might follow, can only be substantiated when the archives of the Vatican from this period are fully opened to the public for in-depth scholarly research.”

Exhorts Philippine government VATICAN CITY (CNS) – While calling for greater protection of Philippine migrant workers around the globe, Pope Benedict XVI also encouraged the Philippine government to do more to create jobs at home and to strengthen the country’s agrarian-reform program. “Conditions that foster increased work opportunities in peoples’ places of origin are to be promoted as far as possible,” the pope said in an Oct. 27 speech to the Philippines’ new ambassador to the Vatican, Cristina Castaner-Ponce Enrile.

Pope to visit Africa VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Benedict XVI announced he plans to make his first trip to Africa next March, visiting Cameroon and Angola. The pope will make the trip to help prepare for the Synod of Bishops on Africa, scheduled for October 2009, and to mark the 500th anniversary of the evangelization of Angola. He announced the trip Oct. 26.

Author Hillerman dies ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (CNS) – Author Tony Hillerman, who imbued his novels about Navajo detectives with elements of his own Catholic faith, died Oct. 26 at the age of 83 of pulmonary failure at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque.

He had had a long history of heart problems and previously had cancer. Funeral arrangements were pending.

Although he had stints as a newspaperman, farmer, soldier, truck driver and university professor, Hillerman was known most widely for his stories featuring Navajo Tribal Police officers Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn. He set 18 Navajo mysteries largely on the Navajo and Hopi reservation areas of New Mexico and Arizona. He also wrote two other novels, two children’s books NEWS IN BRIEF, page 5

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Arizona bishop welcomes idea of personal papal blog ROME (CNS) – Someone at the Synod of Bishops on the Bible suggested that Pope Benedict XVI start his own blog, and a blogging U.S. bishop thinks it’s a good idea.

Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, told Catholic News Service a papal blog might make the teaching pope more accessible to a wider audience.

Bishop Kicanas started blogging on the synod on his arrival in Rome Oct. 4.

His first post described the early arrival of his luggage as a “miracle” and included a picture of the view of St. Peter’s dome from his room.

Since then, he has offered colorful asides from his conversations with other bishops, reported on meetings with Catholics from back home and catalogued some of the synod’s bigger and lesser themes.

So when a Hong Kong synod observer, Agnes Kam Leng Lam, suggested that the pope open his own multilanguage blog, it struck a chord with Bishop Kicanas.

“I think it is a good idea. He has a way of inspiring young people,” Bishop Kicanas wrote at www.diocesetucson.

(CNS PHOTO)

By John Thavis

Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas

org/WorldSynodBlog.html. The pope did not give an answer, but he smiled at the notion, the bishop said.

In an interview, Bishop Kicanas said that, at the synod, Pope Benedict has been an attentive listener, taking notes throughout the speeches and smiling whimsically at occasional organizational problems.

“He’s obviously someone who, as a teacher, was aware of the contributions of each student,” Bishop Kicanas said. “He

News in brief . . .

■ Continued from page 4 and another dozen books. Hillerman was widely respected among Native Americans for portraying their culture respectfully. He is survived by his wife and their six children.

Truth commission head resigns OTTAWA (CNS) – The sudden resignation of the head of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which deals with past abuses at Indian residential schools, surprised and disappointed Catholic and aboriginal leaders, who fear it will slow the process. Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops president. Harry LaForme, a judge with the Court of Appeal for Ontario until his appointment in April, quit as commission chair Oct. 20, saying the body was “on the verge of paralysis,” and would fail if it continued on its current course. The commission was formed as a result of the 2006 Indian residential schools settlement agreement and has a five-year mandate to allow former students and others who participated in the schools to tell their stories. Fifty Catholic dioceses and religious orders signed the agreement, a $1.76 billion (U.S.) package.

creates a very powerful presence when he’s in the synod hall.”

Whether the pope would have time to do a blog is another question. Bishop Kicanas said blogging does take a chunk of time, but that it has helped him to collect his own thoughts at the end of each busy day.

“I told our communications man in Tucson, I hope it’s not too boring,” he said, but the feedback so far has been good.

What’s made his blog richer – and the demand on his time heavier – is that Bishop Kicanas was tapped to be a recording secretary, or relator, for one of three English-language discussion groups. His job included working out the wording of synod propositions in English, then coordinating them with the propositions of other language groups.

During the synod’s last week, he was putting the final touches on the Latin version of some of the 53 propositions, inserting amendments and preparing them for a final vote Oct. 25.

Bishop Kicanas said that so far the level of agreement in the synod has been amazing considering the variety of points of view and the language and cultural differences of the world’s bishops.

A synod’s final propositions generally do not include surprises, and the main themes of the synod on the Bible had

Classrooms, science labs and other facilities in St. Mary’s Hall will be renovated as well as access to the building, which was built in 1952. Earlier this year, NDNU received a $400,000 grant from the Fletcher Jones Foundation of Los Angeles in support of the first phase of the $1.7 million project to renovate St. Mary’s.

To release books of pope’s works VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Over the next eight years, the German publishing giant Herder and the Pope Benedict

become pretty familiar: better formation of priests and laity in Scripture, how to pray the Scriptures, homilies more focused on Scripture, the relationship between theology and scriptural interpretation, the role of Church teaching and tradition in understanding Scripture, Bible accessibility and translations.

Bishops Kicanas provided a more complete list of topics raised in synod speeches in his three-page Oct. 15 blog entry, which probably would have been useful as a handout in the synod hall.

One particular issue of discussion has been the possibility of making a formal ministry for “delegate of the Word,” which some bishops thought would be a fitting ministry for catechists.

Bishop Kicanas said there was wide agreement that catechists are important in promoting the word of God. But because the role of catechist is so different in various parts of the world, it was proving difficult to agree on a proposition on the question, he said.

In developed countries, catechists are essentially teachers of religion. But in many Third World communities, catechists also act as pastoral administrators – a ministry that would not be completely formalized, since it exists only because of a shortage of priests.

XVI Institute of Regensburg, Germany, will offer the public “The Complete Works of Joseph Ratzinger.” Presenting the first volume in the 16-tome series, Bishop Gerhard Muller of Regensburg told reporters Oct. 22 that Pope Benedict XVI personally approved the project and insisted that it carry his birth name. The bishop said the pope wants to make it clear that the works, almost all of which were completed before his election in 2005, reflect his personal theological thought and not the magisterial teaching of the Church.

Body disposal process alarms NEW ORLEANS (CNS) – The national Catholic Cemetery Conference is raising alarms about a potential option for disposing of human bodies in which a lye solution dissolves tissues into a sterile, syrupy substance that can be safely flushed down a drain. Although no funeral home in the U.S. currently uses the process, known as alkaline hydrolysis, two research medical centers – the University of Florida at Gainesville and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. – make use of it to dispose of cadavers. Proponents claim it is safe for the environment and potentially cheaper than cremation. It was developed in 1992 to dispose of animal carcasses. In the process, water and potassium hydroxide are mixed, heated and pressurized in a steel tank to dissolve body tissues. Deacon Glenn Tylutki, outreach coordinator of cemetery services for the Archdiocese of Chicago, said he issued the warning about chemical digestion of human remains at the recent meeting of the Catholic Cemetery Conference in Orlando, Fla., because of concerns it violates the Catholic Church’s reverence for the sacredness of the human body.

Chinese bishop dies at 97 QINGZHOU, China (CNS) – Papally approved and government-recognized Bishop Joseph Sun Zhibin of Yidu died Oct. 23 at age 97. The bishop was believed to be the oldest Catholic bishop in China. Father Anthony Sun Wenjun, who is in charge of diocesan affairs, told the Asian church news agency UCA News Oct. 24 that Bishop Sun had enjoyed good health and did not have any serious illness. He had been clear-minded and could take care of himself despite his age. Bishop Sun’s body was to be cremated after an Oct. 29 funeral rite and the ashes kept at the cathedral. The ashes will be buried at a new pilgrimage site 30 miles away when its construction is completed.

NDNU receives $150,000 grant Belmont – Notre Dame de Namur University recently received a $150,000 grant from the Bill Hannon Foundation of Los Angeles to help renovate and modernize one of the University’s main instructional buildings, St. Mary’s Hall.

Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns Archdiocese of San Francisco

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Catholic San Francisco

October 31, 2008

Statement of the Catholic Bishops of California in support of Proposition 8: A constitutional amendment to restore the definition of marriage (The following statement was released to Catholic media outlets July 29 by the California Catholic Conference in Sacramento.)

“Only the rock of complete and irrevocable love between man and woman is capable of acting as a foundation for a society that can be home to all human beings.”

— Pope Benedict XVI, addressing the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family, May 11, 2006 The issue before us with Proposition 8 is “marriage”— an ancient, yet modern, human institution which pre-exists both Church and government. Marriage, history shows us, is intrinsic to stable, flourishing and hospitable societies.

Although cultural differences have occurred, what has never changed is that marriage is the ideal relationship between a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation and the continuation of the human race.

On May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court ruled that the current law defining marriage as between a man and a woman is unconstitutional. This radical change in public policy will have many profound effects on our society, because it • Discounts the biological and organic reality of marriage—and how deeply embedded it is in our culture, our language and our laws and ignores the common understanding of the word marriage; and because it • Diminishes the word “marriage” to mean only a “partnership”—a purely adult contractual arrangement for individuals over the age of 18. Children—if there are any—are no longer a primary societal

rationale for the institution.

As teachers of the faith, we invite our faithful Catholics to carefully form their consciences. We do that by drawing on the revelation of Scripture, the wisdom of Tradition, the experience and insights of holy men and women as well as on what can be known by reason alone.

Crystallizing the teaching on marriage, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1603, 1604) proclaims: God himself is the author of marriage. The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator.

Marriage is not a purely human institution despite the many variations it may have undergone through the centuries in different cultures, social structures and spiritual attitudes. The well-being of the individual person and of both human and Christian society is closely bound up with the healthy state of conjugal and family life.

With all this in mind, we, as bishops, offer counsel to our Catholic people in California in their response to this radical change in California’s public policy regarding marriage.

First, same-sex unions are not the same as opposite-sex unions. The marriage of a man and a woman embraces not only their sexual complementarity as designed by nature but includes their ability to procreate. The ideal for the well being of children is to be born into a traditional marriage and to be raised by both a mother and a father.

We recognize that there are parents who are single and we laud them for the great sacrifices they make in raising their children.

Catholic Medical Assn. honors Wesley J. Smith with St. Luke Award On Oct. 18, the Feast of St. Luke, the San Francisco Guild of the Catholic Medical Association presented Wesley J. Smith its Fifth Annual St. Luke’s Award for outstanding contribution to Catholic Medical Ethics and Practice.

The St. Luke’s Mass and Banquet that hosted medical professionals from around the Bay Area took place at St. Cecilia Parish in San Francisco. Smith was the keynote speaker. The award was presented by Dr. George Maloof of San Francisco, who planned and emceed the evening’s program with the support of United for Life.

The attorney for the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, Smith is a prolific writer and popular speaker. No stranger to the Archdiocese of San Francisco. he has spoken here frequently and works with the Coalition Against Assisted Suicide which has been successful in blocking attempts at legalizing assisted

Attorney Wesley J. Smith, left, is presented the St. Luke’s Award by Dr. George Maloof.

suicide in California over the past four years.

Beginning with the question, “Does human life have intrinsic value simply by virtue of the fact it is human?” Smith expounded on the ways contemporary

Second, we need to recall that marriage mirrors God’s relationship with us—and that marriage completes, enriches and perpetuates humanity. When men and women consummate their marriage, they offer themselves to God as co-creators of a new human being. Any other pairing— while possibly offering security and companionship to the individuals involved—is not marriage. We must support traditional marriage as the source of our civilization, the foundation for a society that can be home to all human beings, and the reflection of our relationship with God. Third, we need to remember that we are all children of God possessed of human dignity and that each of us is created in God’s image. Protecting the traditional understanding of marriage should not in any way disparage our brothers and sisters—even if they disagree with us.

Fourth, we must pray and work for a just resolution of this issue which is so important to the well being of the human family.

Fifth, as citizens of California, we need to avail ourselves of the opportunity to overturn this ruling by the California Supreme Court. On the November general election ballot, there will be Proposition 8 which reads: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” That language simply affirms the historic, logical and reasonable definition of marriage—and does not remove any benefits from other contractual arrangements.

And finally, we strongly encourage Catholics to provide both the financial support and the volunteer efforts needed for the passage of Proposition 8. And—please exercise your citizenship and vote in November. society answers that question in the negative. Some of his examples: Spain recently extended “human rights” to apes, Equador has given “human rights” to “nature,” and in Switzerland plants now have rights. These actions are worthy of note because their underlying purpose is the destruction of Judeo-Christian moral culture, Smith said.

Society has jettisoned the Hippocratic Oath and doctors are becoming technocrats who now consult attorneys before treating patients, Smith argued.

“Society is advocating putting people to sleep with palliative sedation as we put animals to sleep when they become too old or too troublesome for us “ said Smith.

The most helpless patient who should have the greatest demand on treatment is instead at risk for organ harvesting or scientific experimentation, he added.

Catholic hospitals and Catholic doctors and nurses might have a choice between cooperating with the demands of a culture hostile to Catholic beliefs or stopping the practice of medicine altogether, Smith said. “Western civilization is teetering on the brink,” he warned. “We are undergoing a crisis of confidence in ourselves, a lack of love. There will be consequences and the question is whether we can accept the consequences or support those who are.”

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October 31, 2008

Catholic San Francisco

7

First person report A moment of reconciliation in a land dripping blood (George Wesolek, director of the archdiocesan Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns, took part in a fact-finding trip to the Middle East Sept. 21 to Oct. 6 sponsored by Catholic Relief Services, the overseas relief agency of U.S. Catholics.

Following is the first of three reports on that journey.)

We sat there staring (PHOTO BY PATTY SYMKOWICK)

at the reality of two

By George Wesolek We met in a dimly lit, sparsely furnished room in a suburb of Ramallah in the West Bank. The Palestinian, named Ibrahim, was a thin, spare man in his forties. He appeared grim, except when he smiled. Then it was as if his whole face radiated joy. It changed his demeanor completely.

His story was not full of joy. His story, told simply and factually, was about his four-year-old son who had been run over and killed by a Jewish settler close to his village.

I looked around me at our Catholic Relief Services delegation crowded around the simple table. All were riveted by his story and moved.

What made this so extraordinary was that sitting right next to him was an Israeli Jew, named Rami, listening intently.

When Ibrahim finished, he turned to Rami ready to listen to him. Rami seemed to be in his late forties, with medium build who had lived in Israel all his life. He told us about his daughter, about her talented, joyful young life, how she held so much promise and so much hope, especially for him, an obviously devoted father. He told us how she, 14 years old

Rami, left, and Ibrahim are members of Parents Circle – Families Forum.

and on the cusp of her adult life, was blown up by a suicide bomber at an outdoor café in the middle of Jerusalem.

He paused and the room was very quiet. Pain and tension filled the space. What kind of journey were we participating in with these two grieving parents? In this beautiful land, dripping with blood, every person, Jew or Palestinian, knows of some personal death, some personal atrocity, some painful memories. We sat there staring at the reality of two men – to the outside world enemies to the death – sharing their grief with each other.

(CNS PHOTO/MOHAMMED AMEEN, REUTERS)

Baghdad cardinal hopes Mosul Christians plight will awaken world

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Cardinal Emmanuel-Karim Delly of Baghdad, Iraq, said he hoped the tragedy of violence and threats against Christians in Mosul finally would spur world leaders to work together to bring peace to his country.

The Chaldean Catholic patriarch, who was attending the Oct. 5-26 Synod of Bishops on the Bible, said he was thankful for the increased attention and concern for the plight of his country’s Christians.

“But I would have liked this (concern) to be shown before the last minute,” he said in an interview with Catholic News Service.

Perhaps the recent events in Mosul were “divine providence in order to wake up people a bit from their deep sleep,” he said.

The cardinal expressed sadness over what he viewed as a chronic lack of concern and concrete action to stop the violence and protect all of Iraq’s citizens.

Saying he was referring to “not just the Americans, but the whole international community,” the cardinal said, “Up to now you have been silent and you have not spoken about us despite all of the sufferings we have had to bear the past three or four years and more than half a century.”

Iraq is one of the poorest countries in the Middle East, he said, despite being rich in natural resources such as water and petroleum. The cardinal called on people not to be “greedy toward their brothers and sisters who live in a foreign country like Iraq,” but for politicians and people of good will to band together for the good of all humanity.

The patriarch said what Iraq needs is not just material aid, but the concerted “moral support” of all world leaders to ensure peace and normality return as soon as possible.

Greater attention and pressure are needed so that the Iraqi government can “be just and fulfill its duty toward its citizens,” he said.

The rights of all Iraqis, including those of the Christian minority, must be protected, he said. “We Christians don’t want privileges. We want our rights in full, and our rights are to live in peace and tranquillity,” and to have the same rights as “our fellow Muslim, Arab, Kurdish brothers and sisters,” he said.

The Iraqi government “wants to do the right thing,” but it is weak and unable to carry out its promises, said Cardinal Delly. The government “must be supported,” not just by the United States, but by the whole world, he said Just as a building that is abandoned is more likely to be vandalized, Iraq needs to be kept on the world’s radar and its future at the top of the agenda, he said.

He said that, unfortunately, there are people in Iraq who do not have the country’s best interests at heart, but perhaps that would change “when they see the whole world loves Iraq and then they, too, will love their fellow brother and sisters with whom they have lived for many years.”

Cardinal Delly said Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met with his auxiliary, Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop Shlemon Warduni of Baghdad, and other Christian leaders for talks in Baghdad Oct. 22.

A displaced Christian woman receives humanitarian supplies from the Red Crescent at a church in Baghdad, Iraq, Oct. 23. The organization distributed relief goods to about 45 Christian families displaced by violence in the northern city of Mosul.

men – to the outside world enemies to the death – sharing their grief with each other.

Then, Ibrahim, with that celestial smile exploding through the grief and pain in his eyes, held out his arms to his friend Rami, and they embraced.

To have experienced this uncommon example of peace and reconciliation, forgiveness and mutual compassion was a gift one does not often receive. It was like watching the most amazing sunset over the ocean or the birth of my children.

One can only take it in with gratitude and praise on one’s lips for God and all that is holy.

Ibrahim and Rami are members of a group of about 500 Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost family members due to the conflict. The group is known as Parent’s Circle – Families Forum (www.theparentscircle.org). They have committed themselves to struggle for peace and for the reconciliation of their two peoples in a place where vengeance and hatred reign.

They are a face of this land that few of us in the U.S. ever see. They are the hope for this land, bonded together by common pain.

The face that we see through the lens of the media is that of hate and extremism, whether the Palestinian suicide bomber or the Jewish settler massacring a group of Muslims at prayer.

In reality, most Israelis and Palestinians are people just like us – people who want only peace and some economic security so they can raise their children to have a future.

The problem is that there is little or no future for Palestinian youth in their ancestral lands. As soon as they are educated, they leave for a place of opportunity.

More on this next week. I want to tell you about the Wall.

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Concerning the violence and mass emigration of Christians from Mosul, the prime minister promised the Christian delegation “he would do whatever was possible because he himself said Iraq cannot live without its Christians,” the cardinal said.

we believe...

SCRIPTURE SEARCH

age is an

By Patricia Kasten

Gospel for November 2, 2008 Matthew 11:25-30

honor.

Following is a word search based on a Gospel reading, appropriate for remembering the dead: Jesus’ promise to the small and weak who trust in him. The words can be found in all directions in the puzzle.

THAT TIME HIDDEN ALL THINGS THE SON REST HUMBLE EASY

FATHER THE WISE HANDED OVER ANYONE MY YOKE HEART BURDEN

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8

Catholic San Francisco

October 31, 2008

Prop 8 . . .

Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention Act, which is intended to provide a public school student with the knowledge necessary to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The law also is designed to encourage a pupil to develop healthy attitudes on adolescent growth and development, body image, gender roles, sexual orientation, dating and marriage.

The law states that “instruction and materials shall teach respect for marriage and committed relationships.”

Any instruction must be appropriate by age and must not reflect any bias or promote religious doctrine, according to the law.

No on 8 counters that the concerns raised by Yes on 8 are misleading, maintaining that parents can opt out if they disapprove of the instruction and that local school authorities have wide discretion over how to present sexual health education. In a No on 8 TV spot, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell said: “Prop 8 has nothing to do with schools or kids. Our schools aren’t required to teach anything about marriage, and using kids to lie about that is shameful.”

The Yes on 8 campaign sent a letter to O’Connell and Ted Mitchell, chairman of the California State Board of Education, “to correct their recent statement to media about Prop 8 and the teaching of gay marriage in public schools.”

Their statements do not “refute the assertion in Yes on 8 advertising that gay marriage will be taught in public schools,” the Yes on 8 campaign countered.

Carol Hogan, pastoral projects director for the California Catholic Conference, sent out the following clarification for media: “The ‘no’ side is claiming that the ‘yes’ is lying about children being taught about gay marriage in school. The ‘yes’ side is not lying and what the ‘no’ side is doing is sidestepping the issue — as ‘gay marriage isn’t necessarily going to be taught in health or sex ed classes (for which parents can opt-out their children) – but will be taught in ‘diversity’ lessons (we don’t discriminate against people with disabilities, people of different races, people who marry people of the same sex) starting with children in primary grades.

That has already happened in Massachusetts. Parents sued and were told they had no right to object.”

Last week, the No on 8 campaign also expressed outrage over a Yes on 8 fundraising letter targeting No on 8 contributors. The letter asked the donors to change sides and said the names of those who do not switch will be published.

“It is only fair for Proposition 8 supporters to know which companies and organizations oppose traditional marriage,” the letter stated.

In response, No on 8 executive committee member Geoff Kors said of the Yes on 8 campaign: “This outrageous attempt to raise money by using threats reveals their true agenda: permanently to harm the LGBT community, our organizations, our allies and our supporters.”

The letter was not a threat, as donor information is already public, the CCC’s Hogan said.

“In addition, it is also interesting that the press is concerned about this letter but did virtually no reporting on the widespread intimidation and harassment of countless Yes on 8 contributors who have been subjected to phone calls at home, calls to their place of employment and even boycotts of their businesses,” she said.

PROP 8, page 22

(PHOTO BY MICHAEL VICK/CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO)

■ Continued from cover

Members of the design team which executed the new website for the Archdiocese of San Francisco – www. sfarchdiocese.org – included, from left seated: Maurice Healy, director of the Department of Communications and Outreach; John Brust, director of product marketing for Oracle Database; and Marta Rebagliatti, communications manager in the Communications Office; standing, from left: Rob Valentine, technical implementation; David Little, support staff; and Julio Escobar, communications manager, Communications Office.

Archdiocesan website . . .

■ Continued from cover other than the home page, the map of San Francisco parishes is the most accessed portion of the site, with 2,000 visitors monthly. A similar map for San Mateo County records 900 visitors per month.

John Brust, project leader for the new website, said the goals were simple: make it rich in content, interactive and easy to navigate. To do this, the team reduced the number of links on the home page and made it more visually intuitive, and added content like the searchable map and a new calendar system.

Brust said one of the project’s major hurdles was its deadline.

“Redesigns can drag on for years,” said Brust, director of product marketing for Oracle Database. “We didn’t feel we had that kind of time. After completing the initial design mock-ups that combined users’ suggestions and other best practices, we set a goal to have the site built and running in 16 weeks. With the understanding that no website is ever complete, we were about 95 percent finished when we launched.”

The team continues to rely on users to improve on the website’s functionality. “We met our initial design goals, but it’s meant to be an ever-changing website,” Brust said. “We welcome feedback from users. We’ve already made dozens of changes thus far based on suggestions.”

Brust said Archbishop George Niederauer initially approached him about the archdiocesan website. Brust had spoken at national conferences about website design in ministry after working with a friend to redesign the website for St. Vincent de Paul Parish in San Francisco, where Brust is a parishioner. Brust later agreed to head the archdiocesan project and volunteered his services.

Marta Rebagliati, communications manager in the Communications Office and webmaster for the archdiocesan site, said the process of moving the site to its launch date was daunting.

“Transferring content with a looming deadline was challenging,” Rebagliati said.

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Ultimately, she said, the reward for that hard work is evident in the finished product.

As with all websites, technicians work behind the scenes to make sure the sites remain stable and operative. For the more complex parts of the coding process, the Archdiocese relied on Rob Valentine. Valentine told Catholic San Francisco the new site is not just more user-friendly, but also makes the uploading process easier for those not trained in code writing.

Website users can also sign up for an e-mail newsletter, which delivers announcements of major events in the Archdiocese.

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Catholic San Francisco

9

(PHOTOS BY PAUL LOSCAVIO

October 31, 2008

More than 3,000 take part in St. Jude Procession More than 3,000 faithful took part in the Oct. 25 annual St. Jude Novena Procession. The pilgrims walked from St. Paul of the Shipwreck Church in San Francisco over a route that took them seven miles to St. Dominic Parish which houses the St. Jude Shrine (above). The novena took place Oct. 20-28 at St. Dominic.

Bible synod . . .

(PHOTO BY MICHAEL VICK/CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO)

■ Continued from page 3 ● Proposition 12 suggested the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith clarify “the concepts of the inspiration and the truth of the Bible” to make more understandable the Second Vatican Council’s teaching on the question. ● Proposition 15 asked for a “homiletic directory” to help priests in preparing homilies. ● Proposition 47 asked the Vatican to conduct a study on “the phenomenon of the sects,” citing deep concerns over their growing popularity in traditionally Catholic countries. ● Proposition 16 asked for an examination of the Roman Lectionary, the book of Scripture readings for Mass, to see if “the current selection and ordering of readings

is truly adequate to the Church’s mission in this historical moment.”

On another liturgical question, the synod suggested that moments of silence be more universally adopted between the first and second readings at Mass and at the end of the homily.

It emphasized that scriptural readings never should be substituted with other “spiritual or literary texts,” which it said “can never attain the value and the richness contained in holy Scripture.”

The synod propositions thanked laypeople, in particular catechists and leaders of small communities, for their help in promoting scriptural understanding, especially in places where priests are absent.

On a point made by bishops from developing countries, Proposition 42 said many local communities lack Bibles translated into their own languages.

Archbishop: ‘Follow the Gospel in your life…’

Archbishop George Niederauer addresses a packed crowd of young adults at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in San Francisco Oct. 27. The Archbishop spoke at length about the upcoming election as seen through the lens of “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” a document released by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in November. Archbishop Niederauer covered topics ranging from abortion and euthanasia to immigration, the minimum wage and the death penalty. “To follow the Gospel in your life is to swim against the current,” Archbishop Niederauer said.

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10

Catholic San Francisco

October 31, 2008

Spirituality for Life

Life inside the Communion of Saints Not long ago I led a memorial service for a friend who wishes in an unmarked grave in small rural cemetery within had died four years ago. Everyone who came to this service which there were only one or two other graves, and we all had also been at his funeral. Why another memorial service went home. four years later? This is the background: In the years that followed we prayed daily for him and My friend had been diagnosed with a particularly aggressive then, after four years, some of us who had been at that original type of cancer and was told by his doctors his only chance for farewell decided to come together again in the same chapel survival was to undergo a bone-marrow transplant which given and the same restaurant. To do what? Why repeat a farewell his age, mid-50s, was a high risk. His chances, the doctors told we had already done? Why were we doing this?

Because basically all him, were one in three. But of us, either at some inchothat was his only real option. ate place in our hearts or at The day before he went ‘… basically all of us … believe in some more explicit place into the hospital to begin in our faith, believe in the the transplant procedure he the Communion of Saints, that our Communion of Saints, gathered a number of famnamely, that our loved ones ily and friends around him loved ones who have died are still who have died are still in to say goodbye, should this relationship to us and that indeed be the end. We gath- in relationship to us ….’ this relationship continues ered at noon, had a simple to change and grow even lunch, took a short walk with after we are separated by him, huddled together while he took a needed siesta to gather his strength, and then took death. And, given the truth of that, we realized too that, at a him to a chapel where we celebrated the Eucharist and gave time, a further kind of letting go was being asked of us. him the anointing of the sick.

In the late 1970s, Sheldon Vanauken wrote “A Severe Mercy.”

We then went to his favorite restaurant for a long supper, a It tells the story of love, of death, and of relating beyond death. “last supper.” He ate his favorite foods and was able to express As a man still in his early 20s, he was blessed to find his soul his gratitude and love for us. We were able to do the same for mate, a woman he affectionately calls Davey. Their love almost him. It was a great evening and we used every ritual we knew, overpowered them in its singularity and yet, through it, they found earthly and sacramental, to try to make this farewell special. God – and they also found C.S. Lewis (who became their spiritual The doctors were accurate. He didn’t make it. He died in director and mentor). But their earthly love was to be short-lived. recovery. Our meal with him was indeed a “last supper.”

Still in her mid-20s, Davey was stricken with cancer and died.

We had a large funeral, laid him to rest according to his Vanauken was disconsolate, beyond grief, in a darkness that had

Marian factoid: honoring Mary on stamps

him contemplating suicide.

Fortunately, he had C.S. Lewis as a guide.

After his wife’s death, he had her body cremated and kept the ashes. He carried her wedding ring in his pocket. One night, a couple of years after Father her death, he was on a Ron Rolheiser ship crossing the Atlantic.

He went outside at night, alone with her ashes and her wedding ring, to pray. In his prayer he got a clear signal from her that essentially said: “It’s time for something new. Scatter the ashes lovingly into the ocean. Drop the wedding ring into the sea.

Let go of the grief you are carrying! We will be together again in the future, but for now, on this earth, it’s time to move on.”

In essence, that’s the reason we gathered again in memorial for our friend. After four years, we were hearing him say (however we hear these things in our hearts) that it was time to further scatter his ashes, to drop the wedding ring in the ocean, to let go in a further way so that the mystery of a deeper love can continue to grow.

It was a joy-filled evening. We prayed, shared stories, drank wine, but mostly just laughed in gratitude because our lives had been so gifted by this man, William Manfield , whose warmth, love, humor, empathy, faith and love for the Eucharist, helped make our own lives more bearable, more understandable, more joyous, more faith-filled, and more complete.

Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser can be contacted through his website: www.ronrolheiser.com.

Within the religious philately category we include the area of Marian philately, the specific study and collection of stamps related to the Virgin Mary. An interesting and unusual expression of reverence for Mary in the culture of modern times is the portrayal of Mary on stamps.

The first stamp commemorating Christmas was a Canadian issue on Dec. 7, 1898. Throughout the 20th century many Christmas themes appeared on stamps in many countries.

The first stamp portraying Mary was issued in Bavaria on Feb. 14, 1920. That stamp featured the famous Marian column standing prominently on Munich’s Marienplatz (Mary’s Square). Later in 1920 Liechtenstein issued a stamp picturing Mary.

In 1936 Estonia printed the first stamp with a Nativity image. The United States printed its first Mary stamp for Christmas 1966. That stamp featured a classic painting by Hans Memling, the Madonna and Child. Since then the United States has issued every year for Christmas a classic image of Mary related to the Nativity, always featuring Mary with the baby Jesus.

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GR I E V I N G & HE A L I N G October 31, 2008

Catholic San Francisco

11

Cemeteries’ focus . . .

■ Continued from cover

(PHOTOS BY RICK DELVECCHIO)

in the Archdiocese is one of consistent quality. For example, she has a rule that bereaved families who come to the office asking about services must see a counselor within 10 minutes, regardless of what else the staff might be working on.

“Whoever comes in the door, they’re going to be told the same thing no matter who they talk with,” Atkinson said. “If there’s no counselor available, they get one of the supervisors, including me.”

Holy Cross does not charge a commission for its services.

“If somebody has no money, we bury them for free,” she says. “They have to be a Catholic or have some relationship with the Catholic community.”

Holy Cross does not charge interest on funds loaned to purchase products, which can cost up to $10,000 to $28,000 for a two-person crypt in All Saints Mausoleum, the newer of the cemeteries two mausoleums.

The revenues to support the cemetery come from two main sources: rents paid by flower growers and other tenants on the cemetery’s 100 acres of leased land, and payments by families for contracts spelling out their funeral and burial wishes in advance.

This year has been the toughest financially in Atkinson’s 23 years at the cemetery. The reason in part is that fewer families are buying pre-need contracts.

The squeeze is being felt industry-wide, with revenues down 10 percent across the country.

“With today’s economy people don’t want to deal with their burial arrangements ahead of time,” Atkinson said.

Atkinson climbed into the driver’s seat of one of the electric vehicles workers use for transportation around the grounds. She took off over the winding paths, casting her eye here and there for anything amiss in this neighborhood where 380,000 people have been laid to rest since 1887.

Arriving at one location where a service was about to begin, she removed a Halloween poster someone had put up.

Then, she wondered aloud to a mainte-

Kathy Atkinson in All Saints Mausoleum at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma.

nance worker about the decorative blue glass installed at the base of several trees.

And finally she pointed out two children’s drawings that had been taped to the marble front of one burial site.

The tape damages the surface, Atkinson said. She discourages families from leaving such mementoes, because too many can become a problem.

Leaving the area she waved at the lead car of an oncoming funeral procession and turned uphill. Her next step was a lawn marked in the center by three crosses.

Buried here are the remains of 40,000 San Franciscans the Archdiocese relocated

from Mt. Calvary Cemetery after burials were banned in the city.

Atkinson turned uphill and parked in front of the 1921 chapel. The chapel remains popular, and a few minutes inside its quiet, twilit, vaulting interior explain

why. Around the center are the crypts of the archbishops of San Francisco, and family burial vaults are set into the walls.

Driving downhill Atkinson passed an area dedicated to archdiocesan priests and CEMETERIES’ FOCUS, page 14

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Catholic San Francisco

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Seeking healing, not cure, motivates Cancer Prayer Support Group members come for the Wednesday morning sharing which is followed by Scripture reading and meditative prayer. Group members range in age from 30s to 70s, and are in various stages of their struggles. They are often able to give each other advice about dealing with chemotherapy, nausea and trial drugs. They have a time and place to voice fears and frustrations to people who understand.

They also have a place to view their often bleak problems with a sense of humor. On a Wednesday in September a young woman whose breast cancer was diagnosed seven years ago looked stylish with her hair piled in a blond swirl. “The doctor is giving me a new drug, and I don’t have to lose my hair,” she said. “And I’m tan.” She smiles.

“If I’m going to be sick, I’m also going to be tan.”

played bocce ball and regularly share a corned beef and cabbage feast. rain cancer patient Ted Burroughs struggled to Widows and widowers often come for support after speak one morning in a sunny parlor at Mercy their spouses die. “It’s a great comfort, “said Mary Center in Burlingame. In a few minutes he would Fabian, a cancer survivor whose husband Ed died last join the Cancer Prayer Support Group which has met year to the disease. She comes as a ministry to those weekly at the Center since 1994. in the midst of the illness. “It’s wonderful to be with The tall 45-year-old sat in a wheelchair as a result of like-minded people, to connect with others,” she said. the paralysis affecting both sides of his body. Burroughs’ Her practicality helps to ground the group. She listens head was swollen and scarred from surgeries, the signs attentively to others telling their stories at the beginning of his four-and-a-half year fight with the disease. When of the session. As a former nurse, she’s heard a lot of it he spoke, he spoke in paragraphs, like the Ph.D. in phibefore. “People say that cancer is a gift. That’s true, but losophy that he is. it comes in a very ugly package,” she said.

“I come to the prayer group because it gives me a The group began as a result of Mercy Sister Mary chance to quiet my mind,” he said finally.

Celeste Rouleau’s diagnosis of lymphoma “Through that self-emptying, I feel I in 1994. While she lay in intensive care in become most available to the presence of ‘The doctor is giving me a new drug, and I don’t Peninsula Hospital, Rev. Charles Kaldahl, the mystery of God. This, I believe, is as a Lutheran minister, came to visit. He close to transcendence as anything I can sat and prayed with her. As he left, he have to lose my hair. And I’m tan. If I’m going ever experience.” asked the nurse on duty if he could visit Several years ago, intrigued by what the next day. “Yes, but I doubt she’ll be Mercy Center had to offer, the former to be sick, I’m also going to be tan.’ here,” said the nurse. But Sister Mary teacher and technical writer began calling Celeste had drawn strength from Rev. Center director Suzanne Buckley to discuss Kaldahl and their prayer together. She the programs. One day his call was less theoretical. He Mercy Associate Cathy Collins, a spiritual director not only survived the night, she and Rev. Kaldahl began asked if he could come to the Cancer Prayer Group. He and retreat leader, has guided the group for a year, fol- the ecumenical prayer group to nourish others suffering had received his diagnosis. lowing staff members Sister Lorita Moffatt and Catherine with cancer. She continued leading the group until 2006, “Dealing with his cancer has become his faith journey,” Regan who took over the group from its founder, Mercy two years before she died. said Buckley, who values the prayer group so highly that Sister Mary Celeste Rouleau.

Sister Mary Celeste taught the group centering prayer Mercy Center offers the space and a leader without charge.

This particular morning after reading Mark’s Gospel – a pattern of sitting quietly, emptying the mind with “The group carries out the mission of Mercy Center by story of the healing of Jairus’ daughter, Collins led the the help of a focusing word, such as “Abba” or simply providing a place for people to touch the divine and then group through gentle prayer and into silence. After the “Jesus.” Ted Burroughs’ faith life gradually changed as be of service to others,” she explained. prayer concluded, the group went for lunch in the Mercy he adopted this practice. Three years ago, sponsored by SEEKING HEALING, page 13 The gathering is a source of reassurance for those who Center dining room. They have gone on retreats together,

By Liz Dossa

B

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Catholic San Francisco

13

has for us, we can forgive ourselves. We can heal. That is the big block.”

All the members both give and receive as their energies wax and wane. Adele Dunnigan, a nurse diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995, has fought her way through debilitating surgeries and drug trials with spirit, always managing to visit others, make phone calls and accompany fearful people to doctor’s visits armed with her knowledge. She recently had more surgery, and others in the group have turned to support her with prayers, calls and visits.

(PHOTO BY LIZ DOSSA)

‘Once we realize how much love God has for us, we can forgive ourselves. We can heal.

That is the big block.’

Mercy Associate Cathy Collins, left, the current leader of the Mercy Center Cancer Prayer Support Group, visits with cancer patient Cindy Smerdel, center, and Mary Fabian, a cancer survivor.

Seeking healing . . .

■ Continued from page 12 Sister Mary Celeste, he was confirmed a Catholic in the Mercy Motherhouse Chapel.

“What I have come to believe is that through the regular practice of centering prayer and meditation, if you can get the ego out of the way, God will do the work for you, and you will be transformed from within,” he said,

adding, “I never understood that before I came here and met Sister Celeste.”

Members don’t expect a cure from coming to the group, but they do look for healing. Cindy Smerdel, who was diagnosed with the rare adrenal carcinoma nine years ago, has had a number of surgeries and painful recoveries. “There are different kinds of healing,” she said. “ All of us want to be healed from our cancer, but we don’t all get that. Healing can be mental, spiritual, emotional and even physical. Once we realize how much love God

Collins has great respect for the courage of the members. “The group is a mix of people in remission and people just diagnosed. Cancer is the common thread.

Really, it is marvelous to behold. I’m uplifted each week.”

Ted Burroughs died on Oct. 9, a short time after he was interviewed for this story. His nephew, Sean Weaver, said, “Ted found a lot of peace with the prayer group and found a connection that he hadn’t found otherwise.

He talked about being able to meditate, to center himself and think about his life in a way he hadn’t been able to before. He reconciled a lot of relationships during this time.”

The Cancer Prayer Support Group is open to all.

Meetings are 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesdays at Mercy Center in Burlingame. Lunch follows. For information, call (650) 340-7474.

Liz Dossa directs communications for the Sisters of Mercy West Midwest, Burlingame office.

HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CEMETERY A Place to Grieve – A Place to Heal HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS FOR THE BEREAVED Marin County

Our Lady of Loretto, Novato Wednesday, December 3rd 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

San Francisco County St. Gabriel’s Parish Center Tuesday, December 2nd 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

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GR I E V I N G & HE A L I N G

14

Catholic San Francisco

October 31, 2008

Cemeteries’ focus . . .

Coming events at Holy Cross

■ Continued from page 11

(PHOTOS BY RICK DELVECCHIO)

their families, and another for priests who are veterans of military service. She paused at DiMaggio’s grave, its stone engraved with a rose twining around a cross and numerous baseballs and bats having been placed at the foot of the monument.

A thought Atkinson kept returning to was the necessity for a family to grieve and to place its loved one to rest in a manner that suits a family’s tradition. For the DiMaggio family it was a simply but beautifully engraved stone, and for others it is a crypt.

More than one in four burials at Holy Cross are of cremated remains. The Catholic Church has allowed cremation since Vatican II, but often there is confusion about how cremated remains should be treated.

The answer is that they should be treated as sacred, the same as uncremated remains. Cremation changes the body before burial, but when people confuse it with a disposition the results can be quite sad.

“We need to educate our people that cremation is OK,” Atkinson said. “To me the saddest ones are the cremated remains that come down with nobody. We call them delivery-only.”

Atkinson’s ideal in that situation would be a Mass and burial attended by loved ones, and a marker to preserve the memory.

“It’s important to know who your ancestors are,” she said. “It’s important to know you existed. It’s not only respect for the body as home to soul but respect for us as human beings.”

• Nov. 1, 11 a.m. Todos Los Santos. All Saints’ Day Celebration, All Souls’ Day Mass. Bishop Ignatius Wang, celebrant. All Saints Mausoleum Chapel.

• Nov. 11, 11 a.m. Veterans’ Day Service. Outdoor service, no Mass. Star of the Sea veterans section.

• Dec. 13, 11 a.m. Christmas Remembrance Service.

All Saints Mausoleum Chapel. Father John Talesfore, officiating.

• Monthly Mass, first Saturdays, 11 a.m. All Saints Mausoleum Chapel, 1500 Mission Rd., Colma.; (650) 756-2060; www.holycrosscemeteries.com.

One section of Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, is reserved for the burial of archdiocesan priests and their families.

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Th r o u g h o u t O u r L i v e s .

October 31, 2008

Catholic San Francisco

15

The Holy Spirit is “the one who puts the words in our mouth, the one who raises our hands.”

Intercessory prayer: Parishioners live out Jesus’ healing mission Jesus catches Peter and asks, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” he intercessory prayer group of the Archdiocese The members of the group are merely vessels through of San Francisco’s Hispanic charismatic movewhom God acts through the Holy Spirit, Poblete said ment re-enacts the after the Mass. spirit of Jesus’ journeys in “We ask for the Holy Galilee. Jesus healed the Spirit because it does everysick, cast out demons and thing,” she said. “It’s the one finally prepared his disciples who puts the words in our to carry on his ministry after mouth, the one who raises his death. The 70 members of our hands.” the intercessory group take At each member’s side Jesus’ charge to heart as they during prayer is an angel, draw on the all-healing power she said. of the Holy Spirit.

“We are two people who The group prays for pray for one — one is in everyone, but especially front, one is behind,” she for the sick, said member said. “We call these people Sonia Poblete, a parishioner who are behind angels, and at Corpus Christi in San the angel is supposed to pray Francisco. Their prayers go for the one who is giving the out not only to the physically prayer.” ill but to all those “sick from Prayer offered on behalf of the soul, sick from the heart,” another has a positive impact, she said.

Arizona State assistant proFather Jose Corral, liaifessor of social work David son to the Hispanic charR. Hodge concluded after ismatic movement in the reviewing 17 studies on the Archdiocese, blessed the effects of intercessory prayer. group during a charismaticAlthough prayer cannot be Intercessory prayer participants lay prostrate as Father Jose Corral and worshipers bless them. style liturgy in August at used as a therapy by itself, St. Finn Barr Church. The he said, it might help persons members prostrated themselves and then formed pairs, The Gospel reading was from Matthew 14: Jesus recover from psychological or medical problems. laying hands on and anointing their partners with oil walks on the water as the disciples are tossed in a storm.

“We have seen lots and lots of miracles — mentally, as they murmured prayers.

A frightened Peter walks toward him and begins to sink. physically and spiritually,” said Father Corral.

Story and photos by Rick DelVecchio

T

Worshippers in the pews sang, clapped and raised their hands. In the spirit of the moment, one worshiper lay on the floor in front of the altar with her arms folded across her chest.

16

Catholic San Francisco

October 31, 2008

Catholic san Francisco Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper

Guest Commentary What reduces abortions?

By Richard M. Doerflinger Sometimes election years produce more policy myths than good ideas.

This year one myth is about abortion. It goes like this: The Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision is here to stay, and that’s fine because laws against abortion don’t reduce abortions much anyway. Rather, “support for women and families” will greatly reduce abortions, without changing the law or continuing a “divisive” abortion debate.

Various false claims are used to bolster this myth. It is said that more than three-quarters of women having abortions cite expense as the most important factor in their decision. It is said that abortion rates declined dramatically (30 percent) during the Clinton years, but the decline stopped under the ostensibly pro-life Bush administration. Actually the abortion rate has dropped 30 percent from 1981 to 2005; the decline started 12 years before Clinton took office, and has continued fairly steadily to the present day.

The steepest decline is among minors. Is it plausible that economic factors reduced abortions for teens but not their older sisters, or their mothers who support them?

The reality is this: In 1980 the Supreme Court upheld the Hyde amendment, and federally funded abortions went from 200,000 a year to nearly zero. With its decisions in Webster (1989) and Casey (1992), the Court began to uphold other abortion laws previously invalidated under Roe. States passed hundreds of modest but effective laws: bans on use of public funds and facilities; informed consent laws; parental involvement when minors seek abortion, etc. Dr. Michael New’s rigorous research has shown that these laws significantly reduce abortions.

In the 1990s, debate on partial-birth abortion – kept in the public eye, ironically, by President Clinton’s repeated vetoes of a ban on this grisly late-term procedure – alerted many Americans to the violence of abortion and shifted public attitudes in a pro-life direction, just as growing concern over AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases was giving new force to the abstinence message for teens. Now the Court has upheld a partialbirth abortion ban, and signaled that other laws to save unborn children and their mothers from the horrors of abortion may be valid. If Roe is reversed outright, that will allow more laws that can further reduce abortions.

By contrast, a pending federal “Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA) would knock down current laws reducing abortions, and require public programs for pregnant women to fund abortion. No one supporting that bill can claim to favor reducing abortions.

[Note: FOCA was first proposed in 1989 and has been reintroduced from time to time by pro-abortion politicians, most recently in April 2007, one day following a U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold very modest limits on partial-birth abortion. Enactment of a federal Freedom of Choice Act would overturn hundreds of state laws that have come into being through legislation, statewide initiative or ballot referendums. If FOCA is passed, it automatically would overturn state abortion reporting requirements in all 50 states; 44 states’ laws concerning parental involvement; 40 states’ laws on restricting later-term abortions; 46 states’ conscience protection laws for individual health care providers; 27 states’ conscience protection laws for institutions; 33 states’ bans on partial-birth abortion; 33 states’ laws on requiring counseling before an abortion; 28 states’ laws requiring a waiting period before an abortion; and 16 states’ laws concerning ultrasounds before an abortion.]

Many women are pressured toward abortion, and they need our help.

The pressures are partly, but only partly, economic in nature. Women are influenced by husbands, boyfriends, parents and friends, and by a culture and legal system that tells them the child they carry has no rights and is of no consequence. Law cannot solve all problems, but it can tell us which solutions are unacceptable – and today Roe still teaches that killing the unborn child is an acceptable solution, even a “right.” Without ever forgetting the need to support pregnant women and their families, that tragic and unjust error must be corrected if we are to build a society that respects all human life.

Richard M. Doerflinger is associate director of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Visit www.usccb.org/prolife. For more on FOCA, see www.nchla.org/issues.asp?ID=50 and www.aul.org/FOCA.

Rosary Crusade From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank you for your help and for your great coverage of our Rosary Crusade 2008.

Helene Rosenthal San Francisco

Unsupportive report As principal of St. Elizabeth School, I am dealing with “damage control” as a result of the article in the Oct. 24 Catholic San Francisco which points out St. Elizabeth School as one of the three Alliance schools having to deal with low enrollment. Parents are now asking if they should be looking for a new school. My faculty and staff are quite upset with the fact that the article, in their estimation, took on a negative tone. Their question is, “Why did they have to mention the names of the three schools facing low enrollment?”

My faculty and staff, many of whom have been at St. Elizabeth School for more than 15 years, are aware of the reality of the situation.

But despite what might be staring us in the face, continue to go above and beyond the call of duty in regard to their teaching responsibilities as well as in their support of St. Elizabeth School. Working to maintain a positivity in our minds, as well as within the school community, is a challenge we face daily. Due to the article, this challenge has magnified ten-fold.

There has been a recent increase in the number of families who have toured the school and are considering enrolling their child in the fall of 2009. I now feel the article may change their way of thinking. It is like being kicked in the stomach, especially after trying hard to get the message out that St. Elizabeth School makes a positive difference by enhancing the minds of students who are eager to learn, builds on a foundation of respect, and provides a Catholic education for families looking for a value-based education.

I invite you to visit St. Elizabeth School, as well as the other Alliance schools facing the enrollment challenge, to get a sense of the individual school communities and help spread the “good news” of the schools which may help to increase enrollment.

Gene Dabdoub, principal St. Elizabeth School San Francisco

not the individual. The fundamental unit is the traditional family, with the union of a man and a woman as the nucleus. The propagation of the values and satisfaction of needs of a society as well as the progress of society have been and are best served by the traditional union of a man and a woman – marriage. As with all human institutions and endeavors, marriages among men and women are not perfect, if there be such an institution, but they are necessary for the stability and progress of society.

Prop 8 serves the stability of society in general and the individual in particular. A generation of children as well as adults has been misguided by the notion that individual whims, wants, desires and self-fulfillment are the things which give meaning to existence. In reality, the meaning of life is a process of self-discovery, a journey which begins with and is continued via the traditional commitment of a marriage between a man and a woman. Prop. 8 protects that commitment.

Mike McAdoo San Francisco

L E T T E R S

Fantastic report Rick DelVecchio did a fantastic job on the secular vocation article in the Oct. 10 edition of the Catholic San Francisco.

I don’t know how he put together all the information, but he did it. I am sure it will bear much fruit in terms of new vocations to the various secular orders.

Thank you very much!

Christine Morrison San Francisco

Self-centered view Over the past weeks, the airwaves have been bombarding Californians of every stripe with ads opining that to vote to preserve the integrity of the marital contract between a man and a woman as being bigoted, closeminded and detrimental to the concept of equal rights. These ads reflect the agenda of single minded, self-centered interest.

The fundamental unit of society is

Letters welcome Catholic San Francisco welcomes letters from its readers.

Please send your letters to: Catholic San Francisco One Peter Yorke Way San Francisco, CA 94109 Fax: (415) 614-5641 E-mail: morrisyoungd@sfarchdiocese.org

Out of touch I’ve been silent too long about the bishops’ stance on Prop 8. Their stance is mean and misguided. The bishops of California have decided that their mission in life is to protect marriage by denying civil rights to persons who choose to enter into a civil marriage.

No one has a gun to the heads of the bishops requiring them to witness and sanctify these unions in the Church, yet they are spending thousands of dollars to pass Prop 8.

The hierarchy is so out of touch with the realities of today’s society. They seem to forget about the “separation of church and state.”

Marriage is a civil contract. If we want it sanctified by the Church, we get married in a church with a priest/deacon officiating.

What about those who don’t want the blessing of the Church?

Are they to be denied the civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution? I think not. Vote for the civil rights of all Californians and do not allow Prop 8 to pass.

David Differding San Francisco

Pastor thanked As election day approaches we would like to publicly thank Msgr. Labib Kobti, pastor of St. Thomas More Church, for his generous support, assistance and hospitality extended to Teri Allen and myself in our drive to gather petition signatures for Sarah’s Law (Proposition 4) and for Proposition 8, marriage between a man and a woman.

No other church or priest seemed as willing to assist or support us to the extent to which Msgr. Kobti did. Msgr. Kobti even made a point of making special announcements to parishioners pertaining to the teaching of the magisterium.

It is my hope that bishops will instruct our priests and continue to remind them of their priestly duties and obligations on these two subjects.

Faye Wong San Francisco

Silence: irresponsible I am astounded by the number of Catholics who have just accepted that they have no moral right to support Proposition 8.

I hear it constantly: “It’s going to happen anyway.” To remain silent with family, friends and colleagues on this most important issue is irresponsible. To vote No on 8 is tragic.

The No on 8 movement is trying to legislate homosexual unions as a “marriage” in a religious context. If I hear their argument correctly, it goes like this: We don’t agree with a faith tradition that says a union of man and woman is a sacred covenant. We presume to redefine that covenant to suit our own need to validate our personal lifestyle. Now we want to take that human, politically redefined status and go into the very faith institutions we LETTERS, page 18

October 31, 2008

Catholic San Francisco

17

Guest Commentary

Moving from ‘just us’ to justice Years ago I interviewed a man who toured high schools, colleges and civic groups, presenting a one-man dramatizations on slavery in America. Mark Edwards, an African American and a Catholic, played each role himself.

He was a slave one moment, and then stepped aside to become the slave master, the overseer or abolitionist.

Why not engage a troupe of players? I asked him. Edwards replied that at one time he did engage other actors and actresses to play different parts. “But the audience gasped in horror or cheered along racial lines almost unconsciously,” he explained.

That’s how wedded they were to seeing themselves and their experiences – or fears – in the unfolding drama.

Edwards observed that people can become so caught up in relating to characters from their own racial backgrounds that it becomes a struggle to see beyond themselves. So, he returned to his one-man dramatizations, convinced that audiences stood a better chance of looking at the inhumanity of slavery more objectively – why it came about, who stood to gain or lose, its legacy even in the late 1970s when he was performing his dramatizations – and what people could do together to extinguish its vestiges.

I find myself thinking a lot about Edwards’ take on how people respond to others different from or like themselves. I believe Edwards would see the 2008 presidential campaign, for example, as one big stage where men and women are talking issues but are judged perhaps primarily along lines of race and gender.

Recently a radio talk-show host said that his wife, when she heard ABC’s Charles Gibson interviewing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, asked, “Have you ever heard him speak to a man like that?”

Political analysts who rarely ask if a white candidate is good for white America are now challenging blacks to scrutinize Sen. Barack Obama’s voting record, to ask themselves: “Would a President Barack Obama be good for black America?”

They urge blacks not to be swayed by their emotions and the heady coincidence of the first African American being named a major political party’s candidate for the presidency of the United States on the 45th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

I suspect Edwards would say that the gaze in the mirror at one of their own could be too mesmerizing for some.

But when we are mesmerized or complacent with the status quo, a jolt can snap us back into reality, help us see issues larger than ourselves and our special interests. The U.S. received such a jolt from the financial crisis that transcends concerns of race and gender.

Republicans and Democrats will blame each other for gargantuan losses affecting Wall Street and other global financial institutions. But self-interests have contributed to it, too.

Quoting Cassius in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” one Washington lobbyist wrote this about the nation’s financial woes:

“’The fault ... is not in our stars, but in ourselves.’ Near-trillion dollar failures involve the bad economic decisions of millions of people, including government officials, lobbyists, fund managers, and, yes, borrowers and Carole Greene investors. As Proverbs points out, ‘The borrower is servant to the lender,’ and our nation has seen far too much of living today on what has been borrowed from tomorrow.”

Why are we living today on what has been borrowed from tomorrow? Why do we tend to trust one of our own more than one who is different? We could use objective help to discern why we do what we do.

Perhaps a one-man dramatization?

Edwards wasn’t the first to use this technique effectively, for the Lord is always speaking eloquently in Scripture about how his people are to live in community. His God-Man dramatizations, which his Church interprets, can move us all from “just us” to justice.

Carole Norris Greene is the columnists editor for Catholic News Service.

Guest Commentary

Abortion and invincible ignorance No moral question has proved more divisive in the last generation than that of abortion. The debate is sharply polarized and does not tolerate any degree of compromise or common ground. Pro-life and pro-choice advocates stand at opposite ends of the field.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church treats abortion under the heading of the fifth commandment, “You shall not kill.” It teaches that “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.” (no. 2270) In his 1995 encyclical “The Gospel of Life,” John Paul II affirmed that the teaching of the Church on abortion is a “doctrine” and thus not open to dissent or disagreement. The Church teaches that every direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human being is always gravely immoral and constitutes a “grave moral disorder.” (no. 62) This teaching found a context in John Paul’s 1993 encyclical “The Splendor of Truth.” Citing the Church’s moral tradition, the

pope insisted that certain moral acts are “intrinsically evil” (no. 80), that is, certain human acts are always and everywhere wrong.

He cited Vatican Council II’s “The Church in the Modern World” which taught that certain acts are “hostile to life itself.”

They constitute evil. Along with abortion, other examples include genocide, physical and mental torture, subhuman living conditions, and arbitrary imprisonment. (no. 27) Most people acknowledge that there are human actions that debase human life and dignity, for example, genocide, torture, slavery and trafficking in women and children. These actions are dehumanizing to their victims and those who perpetrate them.

These acts devalue the very meaning of life itself.

A great divide exists, however, on whether or not direct and voluntary abortion is dehumanizing and hostile to life.

An Oct. 13 New York Times editorial is an example. Abortion is seen as a woman’s reproductive right. To limit this right in any way is interpreted as a violation of a woman’s privacy and a threat to her health. No mention is made about the health of the embryo or fetus.

Proposition 4 on the November California ballot requires a

doctor, except in the case of a medical emergency, to notify an un-emancipated minor’s parent or legal guardian at least 48 hours before performing an abortion. The juvenile court can issue a waiver if parental notification would Fr. Gerald not be in the best interest Coleman, SS of the minor.

The aim of this measure is to assist a minor girl to have support of a parent before and after she decides what to do with her pregnancy. The hope of Proposition 4 is to foster good communication in families.

The New York Times editorial vehemently opposes and satirizes this intent as “damaging” because parental notification would “inevitably drive some to attempt a self-induced abortion COLEMAN, page 19

The Catholic Difference

Praying for those to be elected There will be much to ponder, once this interminable electoral cycle comes to an end. Why has so much of the campaign seemed like a prolonged episode of “American Idol,” with candidates trying to sell their personal “narratives” rather than their ideas and policies?

Why did Pastor Rick Warren, rather than talented, veteran journalists, raise the questions that many Americans would like to explore in considering their new president: questions of the candidates’ character, compassion, intellectual roots, and moral depth? What does the non-stop cable news cycle do to our national ability to pause and think seriously?

Earlier this year, at the height of the primary season, a senior producer in the network news business told me that, while a political junkie, she was appalled by what she had experienced within many campaigns: the carefully crafted, poll- and focus group-driven manipulation of the electorate’s emotions, in what amounts to a variant on the sleazier forms of advertising. Isn’t there something more to running for president than appealing to consumer tastes? And then there’s the media’s own fixation with “gotcha,” which further fuels the vacuity of political conversation and debate.

Truth to tell, campaigns are rarely pretty, if you’re interested in ideas rather than spasms of feeling. 1960 is supposed to have been an exception – our age’s answer to Lincoln and Douglas – but few today remember that Kennedy and Nixon spent an inordinate amount of time during their debates arguing about two rocks off the China coast, Quemoy and Matsu. Still, these past two years seem, at the moment, to have been singularly devoid of a serious exchange of ideas, and singularly dominated by sound bites.

So, with the end in sight, let me suggest that it’s time to pray: to pray for the candidates, because whoever is inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2009, is facing a world of trouble; to pray for ourselves, that we refrain from tribal voting and make wise and prudent choices; and to pray for our country, that we grow up a bit more in the years ahead. With thanks to the Diocese of Wilmington, let me commend to everyone the “Litany of St. Thomas More, Martyr, and Patron of Statesmen, Politicians, and Lawyers”: V. Lord, have mercy.

R. Lord, have mercy.

V. Christ, have mercy.

R. Christ, have mercy.

V. Lord, have mercy.

R. Christ, have mercy.

V. Christ, hear us.

R. Christ, graciously hear us.

V. St. Thomas More, saint and martyr, R. Pray for us.

V. St. Thomas More, patron of statesmen, politicians, and lawyers, R. Pray for us.

V. St. Thomas More, patron of justices, judges, and magistrates, R. Pray for us.

V. St. Thomas More, model of integrity and virtue in public and private life, R. Pray for us.

V. St. Thomas More, servant of the Word of God and the Body and Blood of Christ, R. Pray for us.

V. St. Thomas More, model of holiness in the sacrament of marriage, R. Pray for us.

V. St. Thomas More, teacher of your children in the Catholic faith, R. Pray for us.

V. St. Thomas More, defender of the weak and the poor, R. Pray for us.

V. St. Thomas More, promoter of human life and dignity, R. Pray for us.

V. Lamb of God, you George Weigel take away the sin of the world, R. Spare us, O Lord.

V. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, R. Graciously hear us, O Lord.

V, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, R. Have mercy on us.

Let us pray: O glorious St. St. Thomas More, patron of statesmen, politicians, judges, and lawyers, your life of prayer and penance and your zeal for justice, integrity, and firm principle in public and family life led you to the path of martyrdom and sainthood. Intercede for our statesmen, politicians, judges and lawyers, that they may be courageous and effective in their defense and promotion of the sanctity of human life – the foundation of all other human rights.

We ask this through Christ, Our Lord.

R. Amen.

George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

18

Catholic San Francisco

October 31, 2008

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

Scripture reflection

Wisdoms 3:1-9; Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Romans 5:5-11; John 6:37-40 A READING FROM THE BOOK OF WISDOM WIS 3:1-9 The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with his elect.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM PS 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6 R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is

Letters . . .

■ Continued from page 16 disavow. Once there, we will force our view of morality onto all who practice a moral theology that is divinely inspired, based on natural law, and (when lived appropriately) has always been the foundation of every society.

So now this most sacred union will have been reduced to a common denominator: living in partnership with one who is greatly loved.

That common denominator, despite all the legislation or court decisions, can only be an imitation of the real thing. Just performing a wedding ritual does not make a human relationship “sacred”. A society that does not understand the appropriate distinction of its institutions and rituals destroys its own foundations and will ultimately render all rituals meaningless.

Lisa Andrews San Mateo

Call to chastity Christ, through his bride, the Church, has taught for 2000 years that sexual activity is only allowed between a man and a woman within the bonds of matrimony. Period.

Sexual activity of any kind outside the bonds of matrimony is intrinsically evil.

Christ calls all men and women who are in the single life to chastity, including those who suffer same-sex attraction. Christ promised us that he would never give anyone a cross too heavy to carry or a temptation too great to overcome, if we would but cooperate with God’s grace, especially through the

nothing I shall want.

Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

A READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS ROM 5:5-11 Brothers and sisters: Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his Blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN JN 6:37-40 Jesus said to the crowds: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

sacraments. To promote intrinsically evil behavior under the guise of equal rights as so many do today is a violation of the virtue of chastity to which all are called.

Stephen Firenze San Mateo

Fear FOCA If Barack Obama is elected, he has promised he would sign into law the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA ) which would lead to tax-payer supported, unlimited abortion on demand, infanticide, and no parental notification for teens.

With FOCA, an unrelenting surge will be unleashed that intentionally targets millions more of the most vulnerable and innocent, far beyond the unintended civilian victims of any ongoing land war. Remember “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”? The new politics of convenience seems to have it backwards – the pursuit of happiness at all costs, using liberty to deny life when it is most vulnerable Will a benumbed electorate, indoctrinated into believing that babies are a “punishment,” an inconvenience on society, realize that with their votes they could be signing the death warrant of many, many more unborn?

What if your own mother made that choice? Who will be the next victims: the elderly and disabled? The conscience challenge to Catholic voters is obvious. St Paul has it right: “Fight a good fight by having faith and a good conscience. Some, by rejecting conscience, have made a shipwreck of their faith.” (1 Tim 1: 18-19) Bill Applegate San Francisco

DEACON ED CUNNINGHAM

We have loved them in life; let us not forget them in death Even though it happened more than 60 years ago, I still remember it. One evening when I was in grammar school, my mother and father were going to attend a vigil service and did not want to leave me alone at home. Dragged along to the funeral parlor, I fidgeted during the service, noticed that my mother was holding a holy card, and plucked it out of her hand. What the picture was I don’t recall, but the prayer on the back I have never forgotten. “We have loved him in life.

Let us not forget him in death.”

This Sunday’s feast of “The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed” reminds us not to forget those who have died. Parents and grandparents, husbands and wives, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, friends and perhaps most sadly children – all those we have known and loved and mourned, we remember on this day. Though we perhaps sometimes think of them, the memory perhaps triggered by a photo, a letter, a special memento, this feast brings them to mind again.

This Sunday’s three readings emphasize our hope and belief and expectation of resurrection. In the first reading from Wisdom, the opening sentence reassures us that “The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace.”

St. Paul, in the second reading, reminds the community in Rome that “...we shall also be united with him in the resurrection ... we shall also live with him.”

And in very clear words, the Gospel from John leaves no doubt whatsoever about the theme of this special day: “For this is the will

of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day.”

Yes, today we commemorate the Faithful Departed, and whether that departure occurred recently or years ago, whether the loss still aches or has become numb with time, it is a celebration whose pervading message is one of joy and hope. Their journey is over, they have reached their goal, their fidelity has won for them the prize of life everlasting. They are now at peace with Christ in God. Their resurrection is assured.

And yet, as we remember them and pray for them, we also must pray for ourselves.

Still on the journey and often distracted by the unavoidable demands of daily life, we often lose sight of the fact that it is our hope that one day we will join their number. The completion of their faith journey challenges us to consider what progress we are making on our own journey. One way to gauge this progress is to go back to the Gospel for the Feast of All Saints, in which Matthew gives an account of Jesus teaching the crowds on the mountain, proclaiming the Beatitudes, those basic principles for living in this world and for attaining the Kingdom of Heaven.

Looking at our lives in the light of these, we can easily see if we are making any progress, if we are merely standing still, if we are going backwards. These feasts present an excellent opportunity to renew our efforts.

We have loved them in life. Let us not forget them in death. Let us not forget ourselves!

Content with this?

death including abortion, fetal stem cell research, gay adoption, assisted suicide, etc.

My beef is with U.S. bishops who fail by not insisting you may not vote for intrinsic evil, no matter what party pushes it. Racial issues and poverty are not the end-all and be-all. They come way down on the list of life.

Solutions can be found without killing babies. It is terrifying that people are so brainwashed by the media and the American Catholic Church by putting Caesar first, and God second.

If bishops excommunicated pro-abort politicians, would it enlighten people in the pews how serious the pro-life issue is?

Either way it needs to be done. Bishops must refuse Communion to pro-abort politicians.

St. Thomas More, pray for us; you who gave your life for the Church. Would only our present-day bishops be as brave.

Justine Nunan San Bruno

The strong Catholic opposition to Barack Obama that is based on his position on the abortion issue makes little sense to me.

The power to overturn Roe vs. Wade lies more with the legislative and judicial branches than simply the executive branch.

George W. Bush, our current president, who is Christian and pro-life, has yet to overturn Roe vs. Wade, even though he has been in office for eight years. Perhaps he has been too busy focusing more on what he has more power over: sending our citizens to war.

His hands are clean, but the blood from the tens of thousands of Afghans and Iraqi people is on the hands of the tens of thousands of young, working-class Americans.

And then there is the American blood spilt on those foreign battlegrounds.

I am left to wonder if the Church hierarchy is truly content with this.

Stefan Salinas San Francisco

Harsh, but true Now past obvious, good Catholics who vote Democrat are missing the primary pro-life issue. They believe they are doing good but are voting in a party whose platform includes homosexual “marriage” and murdering children. Sounds harsh? It’s true. Peace and justice are important, but are second, if you are knowledgeable in your faith.

I used to vote Democrat. I believed in the “common man,” but that party left me, I did not leave the party. Now it stands for

Deacon Ed Cunningham directs the archdiocesan permanent diaconate formation program.

Multiple issues I want to congratulate the Oct. 24 Catholic San Francisco editorial that gave balanced guidance for Catholic voters and their consciences in deciding who will be the next president of this nation.

The bishops’ narrow focus on the antiabortion issue is just a form of brain-washing in the wider context of the multiple issues facing this nation at this time and stage of development.

Ray Lew San Francisco

Catholic San Francisco

October 31, 2008

19

Vatican finishes work on seminarian psychological testing

By John Thavis VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The Vatican has finished work on a long-awaited document on the psychological testing of seminary candidates.

The document, titled “Guidelines for the Use of Psychology in the Admission and Formation of Candidates for the Priesthood,” was to be released at a Vatican press conference Oct. 30, the Vatican announced.

Prepared by the Congregation for Catholic Education, the text was being issued in several languages, including

Coleman . . .

■ Continued from page 17 or seek the procedure later in pregnancy.”

The use of the word “procedure” is telling.

Abortion is understood solely as a woman’s right over her own body. It is not seen as the destruction of a human being. Why is this?

The manuals of moral theology reasoned that it would be unlikely that a person would normally choose to do evil with full knowledge.

They proposed that subjective “ignorance” was usually the cause for an evil choice. If this ignorance was deemed “vincible,” the person was held morally accountable as he or she could have overcome their ignorance by sincere efforts.

On the other hand, if a person’s ignorance was considered “invincible,” the person was not held responsible or culpable for his or her moral actions, even though the action itself violated the objective moral order.

An example would be slavery. At one point in history the idea of slavery was acceptable.

Over time, this notion shifted. If someone today were to hold slavery as morally good, we would judge the person as culpably ignorant.

In the Catholic moral tradition, invincible ignorance describes an ignorance of which a person is not aware and which he or she is unable to overcome easily. The respected moral theologian, Father Bernard Haring, defined invincible ignorance as a person’s inability to “realize” a moral obligation. In other words, because of a person’s total experience and the

English. The congregation has worked on the document for at least six years.

In 2005, Pope John Paul II told the education congregation that a candidate’s ability to live a life of priestly celibacy must be “carefully verified” so that there is moral certainty about the candidate’s emotional and sexual maturity.

“In light of present-day social and cultural changes, it can be at times useful that educators turn to the work of competent specialists to help seminarians comprehend more thoroughly the requirements of the priesthood, recognizing celibacy as a gift whole context of his or her life, this person is unable to comprehend a moral imperative.

We live in a society that creates a type of moral retardation and ethical blind spot about the evil of abortion. Many people have internalized this cultural ethos and simply do not grasp the violence in abortion. This is an example of cultural invincible ignorance.

When Church leaders address the abortion question, terms such as “intrinsic evil” do not resonate with the vast majority of Catholics, especially those who were not carefully and properly catechized. The Church needs to focus its energy in changing the thinking of people to lead them not to choose abortion.

Condemnations and isolation will not accomplish this critical task.

We need to make our teaching more influential by helping people “comprehend” that abortion is the destruction of a human life and that there are viable alternatives to this choice.

While we have to keep working at creating a society in which the law does not support the willful and voluntary destruction of embryonic and fetal human life, it is probably more effective to work to change the thinking of people on how they approach and understand the dignity of human life in the womb.

Too many people seem invincibly ignorant in this regard, having been immersed in a culture that views unborn life too causally.

dates remains a controversial issue at the Vatican.

Scheduled to speak at the press conference were Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the education congregation; Archbishop Jean-Louis Brugues, secretary of the congregation; and Father Carlo Bresciani, a psychologist and a consultor to the congregation who has written on bioethics and sexual morality.

of love to the Lord and to one’s brothers,” Pope John Paul said.

Later in 2005, the congregation issued norms that ruled out the priestly ordination of homosexuals, but without spelling out who should determine whether a candidate for the priesthood had homosexual tendencies.

Sources have said one reason the document took so long to prepare was that the psychological testing of priesthood candi-

Catholic San Francisco invites you

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Father Gerald Coleman is vice president for ethics for the Daughters of Charity Health System.

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Catholic San Francisco

October 31, 2008

Music TV

Books RADIO Film stage

Poignant moments, some surprises in new film about late pope VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope John Paul II was lightly wounded by a knife-wielding priest in Portugal in 1982, one year after a gunman tried to kill him in St. Peter’s Square, according to one of the late pope’s closest aides.

The disclosure came in a biographical film screened for the first time at the Vatican on Oct. 16, the 30th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s election. Pope Benedict XVI and many of the world’s bishops were in attendance.

Titled “Testimony,” the film is based on a book of memoirs by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, Poland, who was the late pope’s personal secretary for 39 years, until the pope’s death in 2005.

In the film, Cardinal Dziwisz recalled that the pope went to the Marian sanctuary of Fatima, Portugal, in 1982 to thank Mary for saving his life in the 1981 shooting.

During an evening ceremony, a priest carrying a large knife lunged toward the pontiff.

At the time, Vatican officials said the pope was unharmed and was only informed about the incident the next day. In the film, Cardinal Dziwisz said the pope was in fact able to carry on with the prayer service and the rest of his schedule in Fatima.

“It was only when we returned to his room that I saw blood on his vestments,” the cardinal added. He did not elaborate, but other Vatican sources said the pope may have been superficially wounded in the attack.

The 90-minute film, narrated in English by the actor

(CNS PHOTO/TESTIMONY)

By John Thavis

Actor Michael York is seen in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican during the production of “Testimony,” a film about the life of Pope John Paul II.

Michael York but dubbed in Italian for the Vatican screening, used actors to depict scenes from the pope’s life along with historical video footage and still photographs.

Cardinal Dziwisz recounted how he and aides would spirit the pope out of the Vatican on secret outings to the mountains near Rome, sometimes hiding the pontiff behind an opened newspaper in the back of a car.

In one of the most dramatic re-enactments in the film, the pope performs an exorcism on a woman brought to him thrashing and screaming. Cardinal Dziwisz said the woman was possessed, and only when the pope told her he would celebrate a Mass for her did she suddenly become calm.

Some of the film’s most poignant moments came when Cardinal Dziwisz revealed simple facts about the pope’s day-to-day life in the Vatican: how each morning he read the prayer intentions that had been sent to him and placed on his kneeler, then spent a long time praying for them; how he was upset by the fact that homeless people were sleeping on the Vatican’s doorstep, and so asked Blessed Mother Teresa to open a charity shelter inside the Vatican; and how he brought Polish traditions to the Vatican, especially at Christmas.

The pope would sing aloud at least one Christmas song a day for several weeks, beginning Christmas Eve, he said.

The film drew the biggest round of applause when it showed then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger – now Pope Benedict – embracing the pope many years ago.

At the end of the screening, Pope Benedict addressed the several thousand people in the Vatican’s audience hall and told them the film had allowed them all to relive the moving story of Pope John Paul, who “from heaven is certainly with us.”

“The film reveals Pope John Paul’s human simplicity, his resolute courage and finally his suffering, faced right up to the end with the strength of a mountaineer and the patience of a humble servant of the Gospel,” he said.

‘God on Trial’ - film tackles problem of benevolent God in world of suffering vivors had convened a rabbinical court to try God for breaching his covenant. “God on Trial,” director Andy DeEmmony’s stark but profoundly compelling drama based on this premise, premieres on PBS as part of the “Masterpiece Contemporary” series Sunday, Nov. 9, 9-10:30 p.m. PST (KQED Channel 9).

Herded into dirty, ramshackle barracks, newly arrived prisoners, uncertain who among them have been selected for immediate death, begin to debate the meaning of their experience. To regulate their impassioned exchange, an impromptu court of three judges is formed in accordance with Jewish tradition.

Mordechai (Rupert Graves), a secularized Jew whose lifestyle has alienated his Orthodox father and fellow prisoner Kuhn (Jack Shepherd), organizes the prosecution. Schmidt (Stephen Dillane), a rabbi and translator of the Torah,

By John Mulderig NEW YORK (CNS) – The problem of theodicy – the effort to reconcile an all-powerful, benevolent God with the existence and pervasiveness of evil – is one of the most ancient issues in Western religious thought. One might say it’s the very first topic dealt with by the Bible, since it’s one of the central themes of the story of creation.

For European Jews, this apparent paradox naturally took on a searing significance as the Nazis’ monstrous Final Solution unfolded in the 1940s. Not only might they have asked how a good God could permit such barbarity but, more specifically, how the God of Israel could allow such a disaster to befall his chosen people.

Following the end of the Second World War, a story – never substantiated – began to circulate that a group of Auschwitz sur-

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heartfelt emotion. The scriptural quotations cited to highlight God’s mysterious sovereignty take on a special resonance in such debased surroundings.

Mature Catholic viewers will find “God on Trial” an unflinching exploration of what it costs, and what it means, to keep faith amid catastrophe.

The TV Parental Guidelines rating for this program is TV-14.

Mulderig is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies.

The Catholic Professional & Business Club Invites You to Attend our November 12th Breakfast Meeting with Susan Todaro The Topic: Stewardship: Animating Our Faith Stewardship is often thought of as simply volunteering or financially supporting our church and charities. This presentation will look at how our understanding of stewardship is key to how we live out our lives and our faith every day. Ms. Todaro hopes participants leave with a renewed sense of purpose and understanding of how we can demonstrate our beliefs and values in small and large ways every day.

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leads the defense. German law professor Baumgarten (Stellan Skarsgard), though not conversant with Scripture, offers to keep the procedure fair.

Akiba (Antony Sher), a rabbi from a small village in Poland who has memorized Scriptures, serves as the court’s required copy of the Torah. Though treated with great respect by most, he seems too traumatized to contribute.

As written by Frank Cottrell Boyce, the arguments put forward on each side are far-reaching and eloquent and the high-powered ensemble cast – including Dominic Cooper and Eddie Marsan – lends them the weight of credibly

Susan Todaro has worked in Stewardship and Development for 15 years—13 at St. Ignatius Church in San Francisco and two at Saint Raphael Church in San Rafael. In both parishes, she introduced stewardship initiatives, educating and encouraging parishioners to answer their individual call to serve God by serving others. She has a master’s degree in Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco and a B.S. degree in Marketing from San Francisco State University. She, her husband and two children live in San Rafael.

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Mark Your Calendars - Upcoming CPBC Programs: December 10 – CPBC Merry Christmas! Happy Hour- Free to Members!

January 14, 2009 – Connecting to our Community

October 31, 2008

St. Mary’s Cathedral Gough and Geary St. in San Francisco. Call (415) 567-2020. Ample parking is available free of charge in the Cathedral lot for most events.

Nov. 2, 3:30 p.m.: Festival of Harps featuring the Celtic Harp Trio and harpist, Diana Rowan. Sponsored

by Multi-Cultural Music Fellowship. Contact Christoph Tietze at (415) 567-2020, ext. 213. Free admission.

Nov. 5, 5:30 p.m.: Pueri Cantores Festival featuring voices of 300 children. Contact Christoph Tietze at (415) 567-2020, ext. 213.

Nov. 7, 8:30 a.m.: Monthly First Friday Adoration begins after 8 a.m. Mass continuing through 7:30 a.m.

Saturday. Mass is also celebrated at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Contact Mary Ann Eiler at (650) 355-7528.

Nov. 16, 2 p.m.: Friends of the Archives will host a slide show of vintage photos illustrating the rich history of the Church in San Francisco by authors of the recent book “Catholics of San Francisco,” Bernadette Hooper and Rayna Garibaldi. The event will also honor Deacon Jeffrey Burns, Ph.D., on the silver jubilee of his work at archdiocesan archivist.

Datebook

National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi Vallejo at Columbus St. in San Francisco’s historic North Beach. Visit www.shrinerenewal. org or call (415) 983-0405.

The shrine is anxious to maintain and increase the enthusiasm of the Sept. 27 opening of its Porziuncola.

Volunteers to serve in hospitality and as eyes of the new space are needed. If you have a few hours a month to dedicate to this work, contact Stephen Baccari at stephenkosf@yahoo.com or Virginia Munoz at virginiakosf@yahoo.com, or call (415) 983-0213.

Special Liturgies Nov. 1, 11 a.m.: Annual Todos Los Santos Mass at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, All Saints Mausoleum Chapel. Bishop Ignatius Wang will preside. Reception follows. Call (650) 756-2060 or visit www.holycrosscemeteries.com.

Tridentine Mass The traditional Latin Mass according to texts and rubrics from before Vatican II is celebrated at locations and times below.

Sundays at 12:15 p.m.: Holy Rosary Chapel at St. Vincent School for Boys. For more information, call St. Isabella Parish at (415) 479-1560.

First Friday: Latin High Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1425 Bay Road at Glen Way, East Palo Alto. Mass is followed by the Litany of the Sacred Heart and Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament until midnight. Confessions are heard before Mass. Low Mass in Latin is also offered every Friday evening at 6 p.m. For further information, call (650) 322-2152.

Taize/Chanted Prayer 1st Friday at 8 p.m.: Mercy Center, 2300 Adeline Dr., Burlingame with Mercy Sister Suzanne Toolan.

Call (650) 340-7452; young adults are invited each first Friday of the month to attend a social at 6 p.m. prior to Taize prayer at 8 p.m. The social provides light refreshments and networking with other young adults. Convenient parking is available. For information contact mercyyoungadults@sbcglobal.net.

Tuesdays at 6 p.m.: Notre Dame Des Victoires Church, 566 Bush at Stockton, San Francisco with Rob Grant. Call (415) 397-0113.

Arts & Entertainment Nov. 9, 7 p.m.: “Liebeslieder in the Ballroom” at Notre Dame de Namur University’s Ralston Hall Mansion, 1500 Ralston Ave. in Belmont. Professional vocalists from the school’s faculty perform works of Mahler, Schumann, Brahms and others. Tickets are $20/$10 students and seniors. Call (650) 508-3729.

Dec. 12, 13, 7:30 p.m.: Mater Dolorosa Parish, 307 Willow Ave. at Miller in South San Francisco, presents the renowned Hallelujah Choir and the Cherubim Children’s Choir in a Christmas choral presentation of “Good Tidings of Great Joy,” directed by Angelita Pasamba. Tickets are $10 in advance, and $15 at the door. Call (650) 583-4131 for more information or e-mail Frances@mdssf.org.

Food & Fun Nov. 7, 7 a.m.: Catholic Marin Breakfast Club meets first Fridays at St. Sebastian Church, Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and Bon Air Rd. in Greenbrae for Mass with breakfast and talk following. Nov. 7 speaker is Richard B. Madden who will speak about the “Order of Malta and Its Relevance in Today’s World.” Madden is a 20-year member of the ancient order and currently serves as president of its Western Association.

Members breakfast $7/visitors $10.. Call (415) 461-0704 weekdays or e-mail sugaremy@aol.com.

Speaker Dec. 5 is San Francisco Auxiliary Bishop Ignatius Wang. All are invited to help replenish the St. Sebastian St. Vincent de Paul pantry now in need of items including paper towels, bar soap, toothpaste and non-perishable food items.

Nov. 8, 9, 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.: Craft Fair at All Souls Parish Hall, Miller and Walnut Ave. in South San Francisco. Lunch in school café Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

Breakfast with Santa, Sunday after 9 a.m. Mass. Call Dolores at (650) 588-0810.

Nov. 8, 6 p.m.: “Annual Bal de Paris” benefiting Ecole Notre Dame des Victoires in San Francisco.

Evening includes dinner dance, silent and live auctions, live music. Black tie optional. Tickets are $125. For more information, call (415) 421-0069 or visit www.ndvsf.org.

Nov. 8, 9, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.: Dominican Contemplative Nuns Benefit Art Show at Corpus Christi Monastery, 215 Oak Grove Ave. in Menlo Park. Meet Sister artists and help a good cause.

Nov. 2, 3 – 6 p.m.: Anniversary Prayer Liturgy and Celebration for Alma Via of San Francisco Residence 1300 Junipero Serra Blvd. at Brotherhood Way in San Francisco, now in its fifth year. Prayer of Thanksgiving at 3 p.m. at neighboring St. Thomas More Church with reception following. The public, residents, families and friends are invited to attend the celebration. Registration is requested. Call (415) 3371339. Working daily on behalf of the Alma Via senior community are Sisters of Mercy Charlene Dazols, left, and Barbara Moran who help facilitate everyday spirituality programs, and Mercy Sister Joan O’Donnell, a full-time chaplain and staff member at Alma Via of San Francisco since its opening in November 2003.

Proceeds benefit renovation of congregation’s novitiate dormitory. Call (650) 322-1801 or visit www. nunsmenlo.org Nov. 12, 7 a.m.: Catholic Professional and Business Club meets for Mass, breakfast and presentation on theme of stewardship as a “key to our faith and lives” at Palio D’Asti Restaurant, 640 Sacramento St. in San Francisco. Susan Todaro, who has worked in stewardship at the parish level for 15 years and holds a graduate degree in nonprofit administration, is guest speaker. Tickets are $20 for members and $30 for non-members. Those attending for first time are admitted free. Annual membership dues are $45. For more information, visit www. cpbc-sf.org. Next meeting is Dec. 10.

Nov. 14: Twelfth Annual Vincenzo Wine tasting and Auction at San Francisco’s Bently Reserve benefiting Catholic Charities CYO’s St. Vincent School for Boys. Event includes gourmet dinner, select wines and an auction. For ticket information call (415) 9721233 or visit www.vincenzo.org.

Nov. 15, 6 p.m.: St. Paul Parish in Noe Valley presents “Una Bella Serata Piazza San Paolo,” the annual dinner dance and auction benefiting St. Paul’s Preservation Fund. Evening takes guests to a piazza in Italy, sipping wine and enjoying music and several-course meal. The event will include silent and live auctions, dinner and dancing. Tickets are $65. For more information, contact Katy O’Shea at (415) 648-7538.

Nov. 15, 8 p.m. – midnight: “Oldies but Goodies Jazz and Blues Dance” at St. Paul of the Shipwreck School gymnasium, 1122 Jamestown at 3rd St. in San Francisco. No host bar and food. Tickets on sale after weekend Masses or call (415) 468-3434.

Tickets are $20 in advance/$25 at door.

Nov. 18, 19, 20: Holiday Boutique with silent and live auctions sponsored by St. Mary’s Medical Center Auxiliary in main lobby of hospital on Stanyan St. in San Francisco. Tuesday is preview from 4 – 7 p.m.; $10 admission includes refreshments and free parking. Wednesday and Thursday; hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. with free admission. Proceeds benefit hospital’s cancer services. Call Mary Perata at (415) 239-5936 for more information.

Nov. 21, 22, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Sisters of Mercy at Marian Convent Holiday Boutique features numerous holiday items for sale including; homemade jams and jellies, gift baskets, crocheted items, all occasion handmade cards, baked goods, candies, fudge and plants. Marian Convent, 2300 Adeline Dr., Bldg. D, Burlingame. Follow Lower Road on Mercy Campus to Marian Convent. For information, call Debbie Halleran at (650) 340-7426.

Nov. 22, 6 p.m.: Crab Bash Family Dinner benefiting Holy Name of Jesus Parish and School in Ryan Hall, 40th Ave. and Lawton in San Francisco. Menu includes marinated cracked Dungeness crab, pasta, cheesecake, wine, beer or punch. Tickets are $35 with tables of eight for $260. Tickets for children ages 6 – 12 are $10. Call (415) 664-8590.

Nov. 22, 11 a.m.: “Sunset Style” is the theme of the St. Stephen Women’s Guild fashion show at the Olympic Club. Tickets are $75 and include a catered lunch. Raffles for prizes including a pink

sapphire ring. For more information, contact Annette Rocca at (415) 239-8926 or sswg_sunset_style@ yahoo.com.

Nov. 22: “Journey of Hope Red Kite Gala” honors oncologist Dr. Jordan Wilbur. The physician has been involved in pediatric cancer treatment for more than 50 years. The evening is sponsored by the Joanne Pang Foundation, which was founded in the name of a St. Cecilia Elementary School child who died from leukemia. Tickets are $150. Evening includes dinner, dancing, auctions, and entertainment by Shades of Green music group and takes place at the United Irish Cultural Center, 45th Ave. at Sloat in San Francisco. Proceeds will go toward establishing a Northern California Umbilical Cord Blood Bank at UCSF Children’s Hospital. Contact Sally Brien Holper at (415) 845-5795 or sally@joannepang.org.

Nov. 23, 1 – 4 p.m.: “Home for the Holidays” benefits the preservation and restoration of Ralston Hall Mansion, a registered national landmark, on the campus of Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont. Afternoon at the historic site includes buffet lunch, desserts, spirits of the season, entertainment and a boutique marketplace featuring designer holiday decorations. Adult tickets are $35 before Nov. 7 and $40 after that date. Youth tickets (11-17) are $20. Call (650) 508-3645.

Dec, 2,3 12:30 p.m.; Dec. 4, 6:15 p.m.: 25th Christmas at Ralston benefiting Notre Dame Elementary School. Holiday Teas will be served Tuesday and Wednesday with a Gala including silent and live auctions on Thursday. Contact Jodie Penner at (650) 591-2209 or jpenner@nde.org for ticket and additional information.

TV/Radio Sunday, 6 a.m., WB Channel 20/Cable 13 and KTSF Channel 26/Cable 8: TV Mass with Msgr. Harry Schlitt presiding.

Saturday, 4 p.m.: Religious programming in Cantonese over KVTO 1400 AM, co-sponsored by the Chinese Ministry and Chinese Young Adults of the Archdiocese.

1st Sunday, 5 a.m., CBS Channel 5: “Mosaic,” featuring conversations on current Catholic issues.

3rd Sunday, 5:30 a.m., KRON Channel 4: “For Heaven’s Sake,” featuring conversations about Catholic spirituality.

KSFB Catholic Radio 1260 AM offers daily Mass, rosary and talk on the faith – visit www.ihradio.org EWTN Catholic Television: Comcast Channel 229; Astound Channel 80; San Bruno Cable Channel 143; DISH Satellite Channel 261; Direct TV Channel 370.

For programming details, visit www.ewtn.com.

Catholic Charismatic Renewal The Catholic Charismatic Renewal plans events throughout the year. Information about the group’s activities can usually be found in Datebook and always at their Web site: www. sfspirit.com. First Fridays of the month are commemorated with rosary and Mass at selected churches throughout the Archdiocese usually beginning at 7 p.m. For more information, e-mail John Murphy at exmorte@aol.com.

Nov. 7, rosary 7 p.m. and Mass 7:30 p.m.: First Friday liturgy at Mater Dolorosa Church, 307 Willow at Miller in South San Francisco. For information, call John at (415) 564-7729.

Nov. 22, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Healing Ministry Seminar at St. Veronica Church, 435 Alida Way in South San Francisco. Father Peter Sanders will facilitate. Lunch provided. Bring a Bible. Call John at (415) 564-7729.

Catholic San Francisco

21

Trainings/Lectures/ Respect Life/Social Justice First Saturdays: San Mateo Pro-Life prays the rosary at Planned Parenthood, 2211 Palm Ave. in San Mateo at 9 a.m. and invites others to join them. The group is also open to new membership. Meetings are held the second Thursday of the month at St. Gregory Parish’s Worner Center, 138 28th Ave. in San Mateo at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, call Jessica at (650) 572-1468.

Nov. 1, 7 p.m.: The Academy of American Franciscan History will host the Second Annual Antonine Tibesar, OFM Lecture featuring Clara Bargellini speaking on “Franciscan Missionary Art in Colonial New Spain in the 17th and 18th Centuries.” The free address will take place at the Franciscan School of Theology, 1712 Euclid Ave., Berkeley. Reception follows.

Nov. 1, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: At Old St. Mary’s Paulist Book Store in Chinatown, Paulist Father Terry Ryan will deliver an Advent talk on British mystic Caryll Houselander–prolific artist, writer, poet, woodcarver and multifaceted in her spirituality. Houselander is especially relevant during Advent, when with the compassion of Mary, the mother of Jesus, she calls all “to bear Christ into the world.” Also see Dec. 6. Freewill offering accepted. Bring brown-bag lunch.

Nov. 18, 5 – 7 p.m.: NetAid Oxfam Hunger Banquet at Notre Dame de Namur University’s Ralston Hall Mansion, 1500 Ralston Ave. in Belmont. Free admission but registration is required at cmcknight@ndnu. edu. Evening focuses on the 1.3 billion people living in poverty in the world today.

Nov. 20, 11:30 a.m.: Lunch with actor, Martin Sheen at Notre Dame de Namur University, 1500 Ralston Ave. in Belmont. Proceeds benefit The Dorothy Stang Center for Social Justice and Community Engagement, named for slain Notre Dame Sister Dorothy Stang who was killed in Brazil in 2005 for her advocacy efforts on behalf of the country’s poor. Tickets are $100 per person. Sheen, known for the television series “West Wing” as well as films and guest TV roles, served as narrator on the documentary film “They Killed Sister Dorothy” and attended a Notre Dame Sisters school in Dayton, Ohio as a boy. Call (650) 508-4120 or e-mail dsc@ndnu.edu.

Dec. 6, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Paulist Father Terry Ryan will follow-up on his Nov. 1 talk with a presentation on Rowan Williams’ book, “Where God Happens” at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1668 Bush St., San Francisco; $25 suggested donation or freewill offering.

Coffee, tea, snacks provided. Bring bag lunch.

Jan. 24, 11 a.m.: Fifth Annual Walk for Life West Coast begins at San Francisco’s Justin Herman Plaza lawn at the Embarcadero. To organize groups or get further information e-mail info@walkforlifewc.com or call (415) 586-1576.

Pauline Books and Media Daughters of St. Paul, 2640 Broadway, Redwood City (650) 369-4230 - Visit paulineredwood. blogspot.com.

Nov. 13, 7 p.m.: Pauline Books and Media continues to celebrate the Year of St. Paul by hosting Father Kevin Kennedy who will reflect on the Damascus experience, what that meant for St. Paul and how the relationship with Christ which ensued shaped Paul’s understanding of Christian discipleship.

Vocations Third Fridays, 8 p.m.: Refresh your soul with a moment of peace and quiet away from the busyness of life. Listen to beautiful music and join others in prayer and song around the cross at Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, Motherhouse Chapel, 43326 Mission Blvd., Fremont. For further information, contact Maria Shao, (408) 839-2068, or maria49830@ aol.com or Sister Beth Quire, OP (510) 449-7554 or beth@msjdominicans.

Reunions Class of ’59 from San Francisco’s Star of the Sea Academy is planning its 50th reunion. Contact Maria Elena Keizer at (415) 924-9756 or Keizerm@ sutterhealth.org.

San Francisco’s Holy Name of Jesus Elementary School is ramping up to an all-school reunion in 2011. Alumni, former students, friends should visit www.holyname-sf.org or www.holynamesf.com. Holy Name’s class of ’83 will hold a reunion in December.

Classmates should contact Julie at Julie_popovic@ yahoo.com or Anne at annecarew@yahoo.com. The class of ’72 is also planning an event. Contact Donna at smardypants@comcast.net.

Nov. 2, 2 p.m.: Mass and reception honoring the 130year history of San Francisco’s St. Peter school, 24th and Alabama St., and the service there of the Sisters of Mercy, the Christian Brothers, and lay faculty and staff.

San Francisco Auxiliary Bishop William J. Justice will preside. Call (415) 647-8662 for more information.

Datebook is a free listing for parishes, schools and non-profit groups. Please include event name, time, date, place, address and an information phone number. Listing must reach Catholic San Francisco at least two weeks before the Friday publication date desired. Mail your notice to: Datebook, Catholic San Francisco, One Peter Yorke Way, S.F. 94109, or fax it to (415) 614-5633, or e-mail burket@sfarchdiocese.org.

22

Catholic San Francisco

October 31, 2008

Prop 8 . . .

The electorate also is divided on Prop 4, the pre-abortion parental notification measure for pregnant girls under 18, a poll by the Public Policy Institute of California found.

Likely voters are strongly divided along party lines, with Republicans in favor (61% to 28%) and Democrats opposed (35% to 54%). Half of independents are opposed (51% to 43%). Regionally, a majority of Bay Area likely voters (56%) are opposed, while about half of those in Los Angeles (52%), the Central Valley (52%), and the “Other Southern California” region (51%) are in favor.

However, a separate poll by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, found a 19-point lead for Prop 4 among likely voters.

Under Prop 4, doctors would be required to alert a pregnant minor’s parent or legal guardian at least 48 hours before performing an abortion. If the minor fears she would be abused by a parent for the disclosure, the law would allow another adult relative to be notified.

Father John Corapi of Catholic Radio called upon Catholics to make a novena and pray the Rosary to Our Lady of Victory between Oct. 27 and Election Day. “Pray that God’s will be done and the most innocent

■ Continued from page 8 “Of course, the California Catholic Conference has no intention of encouraging any boycott or other action that would in any way suppress the free expression of individuals on the issue of Proposition 8,” she said. “At this time, passions are running high in the campaign which has such major implications for society and for the children in California.”

Prop 8 “remains a fierce fight that could be decided either way by a handful of voters,” A SurveyUSA poll of 800 likely voters found. The organization said the measure has been effectively even in three separate surveys over the past month, and voters are divided geographically.

“What remains clear today: those in the Inland Empire and the Central Valley continue to want the law changed,” SurveyUSA said. “Those in the Bay Area continue to want the law left alone. Those in greater LA remain split. Men, seniors, gun owners, the less well- educated and the more religious support 8. Women, Democrats, liberals and prochoice voters oppose. Young voters, upper-income voters, white voters, moderates and independents split.”

and utterly vulnerable of our brothers and sisters will be protected from this barbaric and grossly sinful blight on society that is abortion,” he said.

A third initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot, Proposition 6, is opposed by the California bishops. The measure would require a minimum of $965 million a year to be allocated from the state general fund for police, sheriffs, district attorneys, adult probation, jails and juvenile probation facilities. It would toughen criminal laws dealing with gang-related offenses and felons carrying guns under certain conditions.

In a statement, the California bishops said: “Although Proposition 6 was introduced in good faith by those with legitimate concerns about ‘safe neighborhoods,’ it offers more of the same criminal justice policies which have failed in the past — and it will cost Californians billions of dollars without increasing public safety. We encourage those who deal with criminal justice issues in California to join with each other to craft a wise, humane and effective policy for dealing with crime in our state. We as bishops in the state of California will continue to work toward a true spirit of restorative justice, believing that only by addressing the issue from the perspective of ‘restoration’ can our neighborhoods truly be safe.”

SERVICE DIRECTORY

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●

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NOTICE TO READERS Licensed contractors are required by law to list their license numbers in advertisments. The law also state that contractors performing work totaling $500 or more must be statelicensed. Advertisments appearing in this newspaper without a license number indicate that the contractor is not licensed.

For more information, contact:

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October 31, 2008

Catholic San Francisco

23

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place a Help Wanted Ad in Room for Rent SanCatholic Francisco

1-bedroom available in a 2 BR/1 Bath Apt. in Larkspur. $850/mo+ UT. Seeking non-smoker female roommate in her 20’s. Please email: seekingroommate08@yahoo.com

LAKE TAHOE heaven can’t wait RENTAL Serra for Priestly Vocations Please call Archdiocese of San Francisco Fr. Tom Daly (415) 614-5683 PUBLISH A NOVENA Pre-payment required Mastercard or Visa accepted

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If you wish to publish a Novena in the Catholic San Francisco You may use the form below or call 415-614-5640 Your prayer will be published in our newspaper

Name Adress Phone MC/VISA # Exp. Select One Prayer: ❑ St. Jude Novena to SH ❑ Prayer to St. Jude

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Please return form with check or money order for $26 Payable to: Catholic San Francisco Advertising Dept., Catholic San Francisco 1 Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin never known to fail.

Most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel Blessed Mother of the Son of God, assistme in my need. Help me and show me you are my mother.

Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth. I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to help me in this need.

Oh Mary, conceived without sin. Pray for us (3X).

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Say prayers 3 days. A.F.L.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin never known to fail.

Most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel Blessed Mother of the Son of God, assistme in my need. Help me and show me you are my mother.

Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth. I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to help me in this need.

Oh Mary, conceived without sin. Pray for us (3X).

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Event: 5th Annual Oldies but Goodies Jazz & Blues Dance

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24

Catholic San Francisco

October 31, 2008

In Remembrance of the Faithful Departed Interred In Our Catholic Cemeteries During the Month of September HOLY CROSS COLMA Matilde B. Agasid Donald Carl Anderson Margarita B. Baluyot Daniel Berrios, Jr. Bradley Bidegain Kenneth Bird Patricia A. Blea Linda A. Borsella Lorraine M. Bush Julieta Bustos Nancy D. Butte Carlos B. Cable, Sr. Justo Cesar Caronan, Jr. Kenneth W. “Red” Carter Joanne Cassanego Helen Frances Ceccacci Shirley J. Celli Ken Chase Angelo Paul Chetcuti Genoveva M. C. Roliz Clark Geraldine F. Collins Niceta C. Connolly Librada T. Cosico James C. D’Arcy (August) Lois De Martini Coco de Reyes Angelica Garcia De Saldana Juan A. Delgado Mary Ellen Denson John R. Devine Matilde Diaz Stanley Disher Verna B. Doherty Cecilia Dowd Mercedes C. Echon William Leo Fahey Teresa C. Fisicaro Michael J. Franco Rachel M. Frese Romeo Musni Gantan

Peter R. Gomez Aurora Gonzales Charles “Chuck” Graziani Evelyn C. Grossmann Lisa J. Guglielmino Robert B. Guibert Barbara J. Gwilliam Teresa Mary Hickey Bryan M. Holl Maria T. Jovick Frederic D. Kabasinskas Pearl M. Kelleher Lerminda Suguitan Kerr Mildred King Marie Louise Knutson Carl H. Kramer Adele LaFerrera Barbara Fitzell Lafferty Dwight A. Laverdure Frank Lawson, Sr. Nora K. Leishman Mary T. Lesser Annetta T. Machi Pedro E. Manalac Robert R. Matza John Neylan McBaine William F. McCarthy Robert J. McCarthy Robert J. McCarthy Reginald J. McGrath Sr. Nancy McLaughlin, PBVM Bonnet J. Meihoefer Jean Gaub Melendez Jaime H. Mendez Douglas Mendoza Lorraine M. Merz Emmanuel Y. Mirabel Orlina Miron Teresa L. Mock Isolina M. Moreno Joseph C. Musso Audrey G. Neumann

Mazie Cecilia McDermott Nevin Shane J. O’Neill Rosalie W. Orozco Josefa Osas Bette A. Packer Sr. Maria Felix Padilla, AP Joyce M. Pahl Grace Patterson-Mastrangelo Helen Paukstys Vincent J. Pera Reynaldo B. Peralta Edmundo D. Phee Maria Cristina Pineda William C. Poka, Jr. James E. Purcell Joan L. Quirarte Robert J. Reilly Alice F. Renner Catherine M. Reveler Al Richardson Evelyn Robinson Mary F. Rocco Inez M. Rodriques Fosca Rossi Lena M. Rovetti David B. Saari James Michael Saghi Lana Scatena Amelia V. Schmidt Christine A. Schwegel John Patrick Shannon Nobuo Shimamoto Valerie I. Smith Alfred Souza Marie L. Stark John Lawrence Sullivan, Jr. Richard T. Sutton Mary Ann Sweeney Manita M. Tatton Alexander B. Thomas Marjorie Todd Tillie Tognetti

Delmira A. Torres Eva R. Varela Mercedes T. Venegas Benjamin S. Viz Amalia Castillo Wagner William Watrous Gary A. Wood Lillian M. Zucchelli

HOLY CROSS MENLO PARK Leonard Charles Boos Dino Canessa John Richard Hart Willis Knapp Francesca Rosso Mehner Marilou Elizabeth Rhein Solomone Hausia Zarate

MT. OLIVET SAN RAFAEL Lena Albertoni Maria T. Amaral Irma C. Buel Rose Corda Zezette Rose Coscia Yang S. Han Robert J. Kotala Shirley C. Temen Kenneth Turnage Thomas J. Walsh, Jr.

Calendar of Events – Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Colma Todos Los Santos All Saints’ Day Celebration – All Souls’ Day Mass – First Saturday Mass November 1, 2008, 11:00 a.m. All Saints Mausoleum Chapel Most Reverend Ignatius C. Wang, Principal Celebrant – Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco Refreshments in the courtyard following Mass

Veterans’ Day Service Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 11:00 a.m. – Outdoor Service – No Mass Star of the Sea Veterans’ Section

The Catholic Cemeteries Archdiocese of San Francisco www.holycrosscemeteries.com Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery 1500 Mission Road, Colma, CA 94014 650-756-2060

Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery Intersection of Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025 650-323-6375

Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery 270 Los Ranchitos Road, San Rafael, CA 94903 415-479-9020

A Tradition of Faith Throughout Our Lives.