February 29, 2008

Catholic san Francisco Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper

California high court to hear marriage cases

By Rick DelVecchio dvocates of repealing California’s ban on samesex marriage will argue their cases before the state Supreme Court on March 4, with opponents countering that making same-sex marriage a right would jeopardize families and children.

The opponents include two Catholic organizations, the California Catholic Conference and the Knights and Columbus. These groups are not parties in the marriage cases but have filed written arguments for the court to weigh before rendering its decision. The opponents are lining up behind the State of California, which is defending the constitutionality of Proposition 22, the marriage exclusion passed by voters in 2000.

“The Catholic Church and Catholic faith community oppose any policy or law that would undermine the fundamental importance of marriage as the bedrock upon which a just a moral culture is built,” the California Catholic Conference states in its brief, which was written in concert with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the National Association of Evangelicals and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America.

If the marriage exclusion is overturned, “lost will be the traditional meaning that male-female marriage is a special institution that society highly values because of the children it nearly always generates and because it provides those children with the mother and father they need for optimal development,” the brief states.

MARRIAGE CASES, page 7

(CNS PHOTO/REUTERS)

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The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, right, talks to a bishop during the dedication of a memorial to Pope John Paul II in Santa Clara, Cuba, Feb. 23. Cardinal Bertone is the highest-ranking Church official to visit Cuba since 1998, when the late pope was there. The cardinal said he had asked Cuban leaders for “gestures of reconciliation” and confirmed he would be the first foreign official to be received by the island-nation’s new president, Raul Castro. Cardinal Bertone called the U.S. embargo against Cuba “ethically unacceptable” and said the Vatican is trying “to push the United States to eliminate it.” See story on Page 5.

By Tom Burke Just what is the story with Catholics and singing at Mass? Do they or don’t they?

How can it be encouraged? What might hamper it?

Music directors from around the Archdiocese of San Francisco as well as a worship expert weighed in on the topic.

“The short answer to ‘Do Catholic assemblies sing?’ is yes, and the long answer is, well, long,” said Kevin McGee, music and liturgy director at St. Patrick Parish in Larkspur.

“It is not a yes or no question,” he noted posing what he sees as a “more interesting question:When do Catholic assemblies sing?”

Getting there is a process, McGee said. “The key is to establish a trust relationship between the music and liturgy leaders and the assembly. This is easier said than done given the web of tastes, expectations, history, tempo, attitude and wall clock time that exists at a liturgy.”

St. Patrick has an adult choir, four

cantors, a children’s choir and a guitar group. All of the parish’s four weekend Masses “have some sort of music and singing,” McGee said.

About the “quiet Mass,” McGee said, “They are certainly necessary given typical parish restraints on resources and budgets. I don’t think they are necessarily inferior or superior to music-laden liturgies – just different. Any musician knows that the spaces – quiet – are as important as the sounds – the music.”

For McGee it is not effective to make “someone feel wrong for not singing or not singing correctly.” He feels the use of “skilled musicians and singers” should be an imperative, while at the same time song leaders should not “perform.”

How far is the Church from achieving congregations’ full participation? “I find that part of the problem seems to be in seeking one absolute question and answer in this regard,” McGee said, noting that at some Masses he hears “tremendous” assembly singing and others not so much.

SINGING, page 20

(PHOTO BY TOM BURKE)

What is the story with Catholics and singing at Mass?

Cantor Annie Hong leads an entrance song at St. Veronica Church in South San Francisco.

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Marriage and wedding section Global poverty battle expanding

Event to mark Iraq War’s fifth anniversary

~ Page 3 ~

~ Page 10 ~

February 29, 2008

~ Pages 11-17 ~

Scripture . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Ballet review . . . . . . . . . . 25 Slaying tragedy. . . . . . . . . 26 Classified ads . . . . . . . 26-27

www.catholic-sf.org SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS

VOLUME 10

•

No. 7

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Catholic San Francisco

February 29, 2008

On The Where You Live

by Tom Burke

San Rafael Knights of Columbus, from left, Joe Tassone, Milton Crockett, Richard Katerndahl, Romeo Quevedo, Willy Villasica, Frank Pulice, Tom Keaney Bradley Rojas, George Yen.

Just received a blast from the past from grade school classmate Rich Smith and his wife, Eileen. It’s almost 30 of the best dance songs from my growing up years. Mostly Motown, the CD has a hearty presence of Martha and the Vandellas – “Jimmy Mac� and “Heat Wave� plus the not-sowell-known “Third Finger Left Hand,� a slow cha-cha that barely made it out of Philly or off the East coast, methinks.

Also singing me back to the 60s is Mel Carter with “Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me,� The Four Tops and many more.

Listening to it was like being back at a Saturday night Holy Cross Dance – boys in jackets and ties, don’t you know – shoulder to shoulder with the more than a thousand teens who attended the event weekly. Now if I can only find an English Leather and Ambush air freshener the ambiance will be complete. Does anybody remember “Hai Karate?â€?‌ Congratulations and thanks to Stuart MacKenzie who is retiring after 10 years of volunteer work with the Archdiocesan Archives and St. Patrick’s Seminary and University in Menlo Park. “Stuart is more than a volunteer,â€? said Jeffrey Burns, archivist. “He comes in daily just like every other employee. Stuart has just finished processing a major collection – the C. Albert Shumate collection of Western Americana containing more than 5,000 volumes. We will miss Stuart very

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much.â€?‌Whoopin’ it up on the occasion of its 100th anniversary were Knights of Columbus Council 1292 in San Rafael. Not only that, it all took place in the group’s “new updated hall,â€? said Joe Tassone. “We have experienced a rebirth.â€? The Knights were at the helm of a Marin County Respect Life Dinner and raise “thousands of dollarsâ€? for causes including St. Raphael Parish, Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese, Boy Scouts and the Walk for Life – West Coast‌.

Happy 66 years married Feb. 7 to Ann and Henry Bohner of St. Dunstan Parish in Millbrae. The couple took their vows threescore and six years ago at St. Boniface Church in San Francisco. Thanks to Pauline Bertolini for the good news‌. Hats off to new members of Mercy High School, San Francisco’s Mercy Society inducted Jan. 18 in ceremonies at the school. All have shown “significant and exceptionally devoted service to Mercy in work, wisdom, wealth,â€? the school said. Congrats to Mercy Sister Ann Rooney; Mercy Sisters Students at Epiphany Elementary School marked Catholic Schools Week Judy Cannon and Carolyn Krohn, by collecting six barrels of canned goods for the San Francisco Food Bank. both Mercy alumnae; Mary Fadhl, Among those helping gather the staples were, seated from left: Sherissa Go, Georgina Jones and Stephanie Arianna Aralar, Tatiana Semien; standing from left: Amber Shiu, Nia Johnson, Mazely, also Mercy grads; former Luis Alfaro, Matthew Bonilla, Kristy Duong, Noel Hernandez, Diego Blandino. board members, Anne Farrah, Karen Hall and Jack McGlynn; St. Joseph Sister Joan Gloistein, Hugo Romero and Geri Timms; Suzie and Michael Moylan, parents of Mercy alumnae, Jennifer, Jacqueline and Christina; and Maryann and Jeffrey Milla, whose daughters Carlyn and Taylor are also Mercy Congrats to Teresa and James graduates..‌. This is an Hampton of Our Lady of Mercy Parish empty space without ya’! in Westlake on the occasion of their The e-mail address for 66th wedding anniversary Jan. 26.

Suzie and Michael Moylan Street is burket@sfarchdiocese.org. Mailed items should be sent to “Street,� One Peter Yorke Way, SF dpi. Don’t forget to include a follow-up phone number.

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Catholic San Francisco

February 29, 2008

3

Interfaith effort to end global poverty gathers force Eliminating much of the world’s worst poverty within a decade would become a principle of U.S. foreign policy for the first time under a Catholic-led legislative push gathering force with a growing interfaith alliance.

Nearly 40 faith representatives from Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths as well as the Shinto and Wiccan religions, met at the University of San Francisco on Feb. 20 in an effort to broaden the ranks of faith community members involved in the campaign. Leaders said they are trying to build the campaign to full strength by May in a bid to secure summer Senate passage of the Global Poverty Act of 2007.

The meeting was organized by USF’s Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought and the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns. It was hosted by Archbishop George Niederauer, USF President Father Stephen Privett, SJ, and Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus, the Episcopal bishop of California.

The bill, if signed into law, would require the president to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to promote elimination of global poverty as a foreign policy goal. Backers say it would combine the nation’s 15 piecemeal and sometimes contradictory international poverty relief programs into one force built on the ethic of relieving the worst human suffering caused by lack of access to proper nutrition, clean water, health care and adequate income. “If we preach the Gospel to all peoples of all nations, then we must care about the welfare of all those people, and do something about it,� Archbishop Niederauer told Catholic San Francisco, adding, “�It’s appropriate for this country to do a kind of tithing for the sake of the poorest of the poor, and 7/10 of one percent is certainly reasonable.�

The proposed legislation “would make poverty and hunger the lens through which foreign policy is being made,� David Gist, legislative advocate for Bread for the World, said in a presentation to the group.

Gist said the reforms would give U.S. anti-poverty policy new focus and more funding as well as more accountability.

The bill would require the Secretary of State to report to Congress within a year on progress on eight health care and economic objectives.

Gist said the added accountability would help prevent policy mistakes, citing as an example U.S. subsidies for domestic cotton growers which he said cost the economy of the West African nation of Mali $43 million in 2001; that is $7 million less than the United States spent on relief there that year.

The new bill, S-2433, also would commit the United States to a role in meeting the U.N. Millennium Development Goals set by 180 members of the world body in 2000.

Those goals call for developed nations to invest more wealth in improving the lives of the world’s poor by 2015. They include reducing by half the billion-plus people who live on less than $1 a day, cutting in half the proportion of people suffering from hunger and lacking access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and reducing child mortality by two-thirds.

Growing frustration that the goals would not be met without urgent reforms in U.S. trade and foreign policy led the Archdiocese of San Francisco and other Catholic organizations to mobilize the Catholic faithful in 2006. At the Point7Now! conference at St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Catholic groups demanded that the United States dramatically boost spending to relieve the world’s most dire human suffering.

A follow-up conference last year set legislative goals, and further efforts by Archbishop Niederauer enlisted the sup-

(PHOTO BY RICK DELVECCHIO/CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISC0)

By Rick DelVecchio

Sharing views after last week's interfaith meeting on global poverty are, from left: Archbishop George Niederauer; George Wesolek, director of the archdiocesan Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns; Camilla Smith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and Mercy Sister Marilyn Lacey, director of Mercy Beyond Borders.

port of Sen. Dianne Feinstein. The Archbishop and George Wesolek, director of the archdiocesan Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns, met with Feinstein in San Francisco on Jan. 7 and asked her to co-sponsor the bill, Wesolek said.

Two weeks later, Feinstein wrote Sen. Patrick Leahy, an influential subcommittee chair, to urge his support for increasing the foreign aid budget by 5 percent a year leading to 2015. In the first year, the increase would translate to an additional $1.8 billion.

Campaign leaders now are working to line up California Sen. Barbara Boxer and other senators as additional co-sponsors as they organize an interfaith delegation to meet with Leahy in Washington.

Archbishop Niederauer, Father Privett and Bishop Andrus will lead the delegation, which will include 10 other faith representatives who signed up to join after the Feb. 20 meeting.

The faith leaders, who plan to hold their first organizing meeting at the Presidio Interfaith Chapel in April, are stressing the need to build on bipartisan support that has been secured in the House and Senate. “One of the things we find positive in this campaign is that it really is a bipartisan issue,� Wesolek said. “It cuts across party lines, but it also cuts across other kinds of party lines, like conservative and liberal.�

Wesolek predicted the measure will reach President George Bush and that the president will sign it, noting the president’s record on aid to Africa.

Faith leaders said the success of the campaign since 2006 is due to constituent

pressure on lawmakers. Wesolek said Catholic constituents played a crucial role in House passage of its version of the global poverty bill last year.

Faith leaders at the USF meeting predicted the pressure on lawmakers will grow broader and more intense. “One of the strengths we have is that now we’re getting together and organizing enough where we can hold them accountable,� said Sarah Nolan of the staff of the Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns. “Without it, they’re going to be slippery. They’re going to find ways to undermine it.�

Faith leaders at the meeting included members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the board chairman of the Council for a Parliament of World Religions and the national interfaith representative for Covenant of the Goddess, a Wiccan organization with 250 congregations in the United States.

Elder Donald H. Frew, the Covenant representative, said members of his faith are interested in joining the campaign because of their passion for environmental sustainability. He said it is crucial to preserve the environment as nations develop economically.

For further information on the initiative, contact the Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns at (415) 614-5572 or publicpolicy@sfarchdiocese.org The OPPSC website is www.sflifeandjustice.org . The text of the statement to end global poverty may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.sflifeandjustice.org/Documents/ INTERFAITH%20STATEMENT.htm.

Additional background information on global poverty is available online at the following sites: www.bread.org, www.un.org/millenniumgoals, www.endpoverty2015.org.

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Catholic San Francisco

NEWS

February 29, 2008

in brief

Cardinal talks at DSPT

By Maria Rosario P. Aguirre, OPL Cardinal Christoph SchĂśnborn, Archbishop of Vienna, discussed his latest book, “Chance or Purpose: Evolution and a Rational Faith,â€? at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley on Feb. 15.

The Dominican cardinal recounted that in 2005, he wrote an article, “Finding design in nature,� for the New York Times, which was met with much criticism from neo-Darwinists.

After devoting 20 years to the study of the issue of evolution and faith, Cardinal SchĂśnborn intensified his efforts in the last two years to respond to his critics by writing a book.

In his book, which is published by Ignatius Cardinal Christoph Press, he argues that the SchÜnborn Church is not opposed to science but rather to an ideology of creationism and evolutionism which fundamentally reduces creation to a senseless reality. Cardinal SchÜnborn’s presentation was also broadcast on C-SPAN.

Bishops decry corruption QUEZON CITY, Philippines (CNS) — Several Philippine bishops said they want genuine solutions to corruption whether or not they support calls for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “We really do not want any more of this corruption,� Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon told the Asian church news agency UCA News Feb. 22. In the bishop’s view, however, removing Arroyo is “not the solution.� “The whole system has to be overhauled, because she is just one of the whole web of corruption,� he said. The situation will not improve “without change of mind, change of heart of everybody.� His diocesan social action center scheduled a “prayer rally for truth� in Sorsogon Feb. 26.

Other groups, including student and religious groups, have been calling for the president to step down amid Senate hearings on the alleged overpricing of a government broadband contract to fund kickbacks for officials.

‘Catholics, Muslims must learn’ VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholics and Muslims must learn more about each other’s religions if they want to get along better, said the Vatican ambassador in Egypt and former

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president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.�Rather than just knowing persons, we must know their religion more deeply in order to understand the people,�

Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald told Vatican Radio on Feb. 24.

Asks break with Komen for Cure LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (CNS) — Following the practice of some other dioceses, the Diocese of Little Rock is discouraging its parishes and schools from supporting fundraising activities for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The international organization raises millions annually for the detection, treatment and research of breast cancer. A portion of the money nationally is given to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings. Planned Parenthood is also the largest provider of abortions in the United States.

ing.� He said, “Christians in Syria — like people everywhere — want to be citizens of the world with freedom, democracy, well-being and happiness.�

Welcomes Kosovo independence OXFORD, England (CNS) — A Catholic official in Kosovo welcomed its declaration of independence, adding that the rights of all people would be guaranteed in the new country. “We are fully behind independence. It’s a great joy that it has come so quickly,� said Msgr. Shan Zefi, chancellor of Kosovo’s Catholic apostolic administration in Prizren. “The Catholic faithful are celebrating throughout Kosovo. We are optimistic about the future, and we expect great things for the Catholic Church,� he said Feb. 19, two days after Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia.

Pope addresses Jesuits VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI asked the Jesuits to continue to be pioneers in dialogue, theological research and work for justice, but insisted they also must make clear their faith and their acceptance of the teachings of the Catholic Church. “The church needs you, counts on you and continues to turn to you with trust,� the pope told more than 200 Jesuits chosen to represent the almost 20,000 members of the Society of Jesus for the order’s General Congregation. Led by Spanish Father Adolfo Nicolas, elected superior general of the order Jan. 19, the congregation delegates met Feb. 21 with the pope. Father Nicolas told the pope, “In communion with the Church and guided by the magisterium, we are seeking to dedicate ourselves deeply to service, discernment and research.�

Discuss doctrine, Bible, preaching MISHAWAKA, Ind. (CNS) — Continuing a discussion begun at the Second Vatican Council, about 40 U.S. bishops gathered at the convent of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration in Mishawaka for a Feb. 11-13 seminar exploring the relationship between doctrine and Scripture in Catholic teaching, especially in homilies. In his keynote presentation, U.S. Cardinal William J. Levada noted that the trend to eliminate catechetical homilies after Vatican II was not really in the spirit of Dei Verbum, the council document on divine revelation. He said the Scripture commentary aspect of the homily was emphasized because it had been so lacking prior to the council. The cardinal, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said the Church should now seek to integrate these two aspects.

Middle East exodus feared ROME (CNS) — The disappearance of Christian communities from the Middle East threatens hope for finding a way to preserve traditional Arab values while also recognizing individual human rights, said two of the region’s Catholic bishops. In Iraq, “all minorities are threatened with extinction,� said Latin-rite Archbishop Jean Sleiman of Baghdad. “The drama of Christians is the drama of Iraq.

The flight of Christians is leading to a cultural and religious homogenization, which will weaken and impoverish Iraq,� the archbishop said Feb. 20 at a conference in Rome.

Chaldean Bishop Antoine Audo of Aleppo, Syria, told the conference that while things are much better for Christians in Syria than in Iraq “many young Christians think of mov-

(CNS PHOTO/REUTERS)

4

A flooded neighborhood is pictured in Babahoyo, Ecuador, Feb. 23. Torrential rains caused severe flooding in several coastal cities in the country.

Pope Benedict XVI sent words of encouragement and called for international relief.

‘Support families of terminally ill’ VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Society and labor laws should give concrete support to family members so they can attend to terminally ill loved ones, Pope Benedict XVI said. While guarantees must be made for all people to receive necessary medical care, special provisions also must be put into place for the patient's family members, he said. The pope made his comments during a Feb. 25 audience with more than 300 participants in a Vatican-sponsored congress on the pastoral needs of and ethical obligations toward the terminally ill.

Homily plagiarism criticized WARSAW, Poland (CNS) -- A prominent Polish priest said young priests are using the Internet to plagiarize homilies for Masses. "If a priest takes another person's text and presents it as his own from the pulpit, without pointing out where he got it, this is unethical and against the law protecting authorship," said Father Wieslaw Przyczyna, co-author of the book "To Pinch or Not to Pinch." "Unfortunately, the practice has become common here," he said. Father Przyczyna is chair of the Polish Homiletics Group.

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February 29, 2008

Catholic San Francisco

5

HAVANA (CNS) — At a meeting with Cuban bishops and an open-air Mass, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state and the highest-ranking Catholic Church representative to visit Cuba in the past 10 years, said he hoped his visit would help advance church-state relations.

Cardinal Bertone conveyed to the bishops and Cuban Catholics a message from Pope Benedict XVI, expressing the pontiff’s “ardent goal of renewing the true evangelizing impulse” that Pope John Paul II left “deeply ingrained in the hearts of all” in January 1998.

He also expressed the pope’s “esteem ... for your tireless pastoral efforts, as well as my closeness to the aspirations and concerns of all Cubans.”

Cardinal Bertone arrived in Cuba Feb. 20, a day after President Fidel Castro announced his resignation. On Feb. 21, the

cardinal celebrated the outdoor Mass and met with the bishops, the first item on an itinerary that was to keep him in Cuba until Feb. 26.

After the cardinal’s meeting with the bishops, Havana Auxiliary Bishop Juan Hernandez Ruiz told reporters the cardinal’s words were marked by “solidarity, affection and closeness,” and that the cardinal had explained that “his visit was a way of accompanying us on this new stage of life for the country, the Church and for us, too.”

The bishop said there was an open dialogue during which the Cuban bishops expressed concerns to which Cardinal Bertone responded “clearly and comprehensively.”

“He is a very cordial person, with an enormous ability to understand the questions and the context in which they are being asked,” Bishop Hernandez said.

(CNS PHOTO/ENRIQUE DE LA OSA, REUTERS)

Tells Cubans of pope’s hope for evangelization

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, greets the crowd while entering the square before celebrating Mass at Havana’s cathedral Feb. 21.

CRS program in Congo eases plight of female victims

By Bronwen Dahcs CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) — A church-run training program for rural doctors in the Democratic Republic of Congo has helped ease the plight of women in the war-torn eastern region where sexual violence is common, an aid worker said.

Because of the program, run by the U.S. bishops’ Catholic Relief Services, doctors are able to help the seriously wounded, mostly rape victims, at village hospitals, said Lane Hartill, regional information officer for CRS in West Africa.

Otherwise, doctors would have to tell patients to walk long distances to bigger centers “on almost impassable roads in atrocious condition,” he told Catholic News Service in a mid-February telephone interview from Dakar, Senegal.

Dr. Freddy Mubuto, 32, whom Hartill met on a recent visit to Congo from Dakar, where he is based, worked alone for two years at Nyamibungu Hospital in South Kivu province before another doctor joined him this year.

Mubuto found it heartbreaking to refer his patients to Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, eastern Congo’s top medical facility, knowing that most of them would have to walk the 135 miles or be carried through the mud on “what resembles a goat track more than a road,” Hartill said.

After a training course at Panzi Hospital provided to rural doctors in South Kivu last year by CRS, Mubuto is now able to perform simple operations to repair damage to women who have been raped.

Mubuto’s Nyamibungu Hospital serves a population of more than 100,000 people. Nyamibungu is close to a jungle that serves as a hiding place for Rwandan Hutu rebels who

fled rather than face prosecution for their involvement in the 1994 genocide against Tutsis, Hartill told CNS. These men are notorious for their violence, and villagers told him they “come into the village at night and rape women and steal crops.”

Warring rebels and militias signed a cease-fire in late January in eastern Congo, where conflict has raged for years despite the formal end of the country’s 1998-2003 war. Some 800,000 people were forced to flee their homes in the past year and sexual violence in the region has escalated, reported the British news agency Reuters.

Mubuto and other eastern Congolese doctors “see the results of brutal rapes where women are violated with guns and sticks,” Hartill said.

(The CRS website is www.crs.org. The annual CRS collection in the Archdiocese of San Francisco is scheduled March 2.)

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Catholic San Francisco

February 29, 2008

St. Veronica student wins national contest Shelby Miguel, a seventh grade student at St. Veronica Elementary School, is this year’s national winner of the Bishop Francis X. Ford Award in the 2007 Maryknoll Student Essay contest.

Shelby’s essay on the Philippines’ “People Power” revolution of 1986 was chosen from among 3,000 entries. She was awarded her $1,000 prize in ceremonies at St. Veronica Church Feb. 6.

The theme for the contest was “Put Away Your Sword.” Youngsters competed in two categories – grades 6, 7, and 8 and high school. Patrick Wallace, a high school senior from New Mexico, won in the high school division.

“For some students, the sword was physical aggression, such as bullying,” said Margaret Gaughan, managing editor of Maryknoll magazine and a contest judge.

“For others it was gossip and verbal abuse.”

Each of winning essays will be reprinted in the May/June issue of Maryknoll magazine.

Celebrating Shelby Miguel’s first-place finish in the national Maryknoll essay contest are, front from left: Terri Pallitto, principal, St. Veronica School; Shelby Miguel and her mother, Gwen Miguel; and Marie Wren of Maryknoll. Back from left: Jeff Harper, St. Veronica School faculty; Shelby’s father, Mike Miguel; Father Mark Taheny, administrator, St. Veronica Parish; Maryknoll Father Joe Kowalczyk, and Terry Kreutzmann, Shelby’s English teacher.

Winning essay: ‘People Power’ and the path to peace Following is the text of Shelby Miguel’s award-win- start shooting the crowd. Then the priests and nuns asked away the sword by promoting love to everyone around me ning essay. The seventh grader’s work earned first place everyone to kneel before the tanks and pray the Rosary. at home, in school, and in my community. In my own little in the national Maryknoll essay competition.

No shots were fired. Finally, the tanks turned around and way, I can be a peacemaker just like the people of People For summer vacation this year, my family visited the moved out as the crowd cheered. The Filipinos continued Power who showed the world that peace begins with a lovPhilippines, the country where my mom grew up. I have their peaceful rebellion for four days while the whole ing heart. When Jesus tells us to put away the sword, he is always been curious about the Philippines after listening to world watched. Marcos was forced to resign, and he fled not only referring to the one made of steel. He wants us to my mom’s growing-up stories. She told me many good the country. Through the power of prayer, the Filipinos’ put away any weapon that can bring harm and hurt to othand happy stories, but she also told me sad stories of how dream to be free was now a -reality. They achieved free- ers like hatred, cruelty, gossip, or discrimination. I can be a Filipinos lived in fear under the rule of the dictator dom without a single gunshot being fired or a single drop peacemaker by loving my enemies, doing good to those who hate me, praying for those who speak bad about me, Marcos. For more than 20 years, he and his military had of blood being shed. never judging others, stopping rumors, and been killing and torturing people who disforgiving others for their mistakes. agreed with the government. That all ended We all have the power to put away the in 1986, when the Filipinos could not take ‘I am just a kid, but I can follow Jesus’ command….’ sword and save the world with love. his tyranny any longer and started a brave revolution to gain their freedom back.

– Shelby Miguel Instead of shooting finger guns at each other in the playground, we should turn I got to stand at the very location where them into hugs. We should respect that it all began in front of a gigantic bronze statue of the Virgin Mary called “The Shrine of Mary, The People Power of 1986 is a great example of Jesus’ everyone is different and treat everyone with kindness Queen of Peace.” This shrine was built by the Filipinos to teaching in the Gospel of John, where he told Peter to “put and fairness. We should always try to find peaceful ways honor that peaceful revolution now known all over the away your sword,” when soldiers confronted them. to work out our conflicts without using hurtful words or world as the People Power of 1986. As I stood before the Through these words, Jesus asks us to always walk the actions. We can do it! The path to peace begins with shrine, I remembered my mom’s story when she joined path of peace. He calls on us to lay down any weapon that small steps and starts in our hearts. But if we all take hundreds and thousands of Filipinos who went out to the leads to violence, war or death. Just like the Filipinos of these small steps together, we will have enough People streets in a peaceful protest against their country’s dicta- the People Power revolution showed us, there is an alter- Power to transform the world into a better and more tor. For four days, the protesters came together in the native to violence. LOVE. By showing love to the soldiers peaceful place, one day at a time. streets in prayer led by Church leaders, demanding that driving the tanks, the protestors were able to change these Independent Living | Assisted Living Marcos resign. Marcos immediately sent military tanks to soldiers’ hearts to achieve the peace that they desired, attack the protestors, but the people sat down peacefully I am just a kid, but I can follow Jesus’ command to put Memory Care | Skilled Nursing on the road to block the tanks. They were all scared of getting run over and killed, but they bravely joined hands and prayed. The tanks stopped. My mom, along with other women, offered the soldiers candy and doughnuts, and asked them to join in the peaceful rebellion against Marcos. One of the military commanders threatened to

we believe...

SCRIPTURE SEARCH

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By Patricia Kasten

Gospel for March 2, 2008 John 9:1-41

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Following is a word search based on the Gospel reading for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Cycle A: the story of the man born blind, who becomes a believer. The words can be found in all directions in the puzzle.

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© 2008 Tri-C-A Publications

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February 29, 2008

Catholic San Francisco

7

New cathedral to be described

Court to be televised

Father Paul Minnihan, provost of the Oakland Diocese’s new Cathedral of Christ the Light, will offer a presentation on the cathedral Sunday, March 2, at 12:30 p.m. in St. Francis Hall of St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1111 Gough St., San Francisco.

Being completed on the shores of Lake Merritt, the cathedral is scheduled to be dedicated Sept. 25.

“Given the unique relationship between two sister cathedrals, it is hoped that our two communities will be able to establish and nurture a long and fruitful relationship in the months and years to come,” said Father John Talesfore, St. Mary’s rector.

Oral argument in the marriage cases will be held March 4 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Supreme Court’s courtroom in the Earl Warren Building, 350 McAllister St. in San Francisco. Seating is limited.

Public viewing will be available on closed-circuit television in the Milton Marks Conference Center in the Hiram Johnson State Office Building, lower level, 455 Golden Gate Ave. The event will be televised live on the California Channel and webcast at www.calchannel.com.

Marriage cases . . .

■ Continued from cover The Knights of Columbus, in its brief, argues: “As the solemn union of one man and one woman, marriage is the foundation of society and promotes the common good.”

Catholic teaching on marriage is based in Scripture, which begins with the creation of man and woman and ends with the vision of “the wedding feast of the Lamb,” according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The sacrament of matrimony is based on the lifelong partnership of a baptized man and woman and is ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children, according to the catechism.

“God himself is the author of matrimony,” Pope Paul VI wrote in 1965 in a document citied by the California Catholic Conference in the marriage cases.

The plaintiffs, including the city of San Francisco and 15 same-sex couples, say Proposition 22 is unconstitutional. Their effort is the culmination of a challenge to the law first made in 2004 when San Francisco issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples. A ruling is expected within 90 days of the hearings.

The plaintiffs want the high court to overturn an October 2006 appellate court decision that California’s historical definition of marriage does not deprive individuals of a fundamental right or discriminate against anyone because of their identity.

In a written brief, the plaintiffs maintain that the marriage exclusion is based on historical discrimination against gays and lesbians. The brief connects “bloody state-sponsored persecution” in pre-modern Europe, repression in colonial America and the high rate of suicide and homelessness among gay and bisexual youth today.

The plaintiffs also argue that civil marriage has evolved throughout history to become more inclusive and that including same-sex couples would be in line with the trend.

A second group of faith organizations is siding with the plaintiffs. In its filing with the Supreme Court, the group argues that the marriage exclusion is based on the discriminatory views of some religious traditions and goes against the more open views of others.

The group also argues that the goal of preserving marriage as an institution designed to support parenting would be advanced by ending the exclusion. It notes that many gay couples procreate and raise children but many heterosexual couples are childless.

They and supporters say same-sex couples reiterate the values of monogamy.

A third group, California Ethnic Religious Organizations for Marriage, maintains that all societies have recognized marriage as an opposite-sex institution. Claims that some cultures in history have recognized same-sex unions are overstated, according to the group.

Beyond the legal issues, the arguments in the marriage cases show two views of how children fare in same-sex households.

Those who argue to overturn the exclusion say the quality of parenting matters more than the form of the marriage. A July 2006 article in the journal Pediatrics reviewed 25 years of data and found “no risk to children as a result of growing up in a family with one or more gay parents.”

Children do better in traditional families, according to the brief by faith groups in favor of the exclusion, which cites long experience with counseling and ministry. “We have also witnessed the substantial adverse consequences for children that often flow from alternative household arrangements,” according to the brief.

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8

Catholic San Francisco

February 29, 2008

Spiritual movement’s U.S. leader tells listeners Jesus’ attraction ‘overwhelming’

By Rick DelVecchio An attentive silence filled the meeting room at St. Mary’s Cathedral as the speaker, Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete, cut to the point.

Is it possible, the visiting scientist and theologian asked the audience, for the lay Catholic to surrender himself or herself fully to Christ?

Religious men and women take vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, but are these constraints reasonable for the lay believer?

‘Reason is struck by reality and off it goes to find the truth.’

– Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete The apostles followed the Lamb of God unquestioningly before they had the slightest clue what Christ expected them to do, but is it reasonable to ask the modern believer to quiet all doubt and walk in the footsteps of John and Andrew?

The secular culture answers no to all such questions when it validates them at all.

But Msgr. Albacete argued that logic leads only to yes answers.

Experience teaches not only that faith is reasonable but also that there can be no reason without faith, Msgr. Albacete said. Thus, the apostles followed Christ despite their almost complete lack of understanding of

the man and his teachings, surrendering to the truth of the teacher’s beauty and grace.

Only after they committed did they begin to figure out what it all meant. In his talk, titled “Reason, Experience and the Search for Happiness,” Msgr. Albacete explained that they had been shown the truth in the person of Christ and their questions, their exercise of reason, would direct them to its fulfillment on their life journey.

“Reason is now running behind Christ, trying to figure out what just happened,” Msgr. Albacete said. “Who is this man?

What is this cry of reason that has been struck by grace? Reason is struck by reality and off it goes to find the truth.”

Msgr. Albacete’s message was that nothing has changed. Now, as ever, any person has the opportunity to be struck by the completeness of revealed truth and to organize his or her life to fulfill it in word and deed.

The New York-based Msgr. Albacete gave a public talk at the Cathedral during a trip to the San Francisco Bay Area to meet with fellow members of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation. He is responsible for the movement in the United States and Canada.

The pontifically recognized ecclesial movement began in 1954 at a high school in Milan. Members seek a more intense experience of the incarnation. Their weekly catechesis is to read the works of the movement’s founder, Father Luigi Giussani, and apply the priest’s teachings to their lives.

Msgr. Albacete’s visit marked the third anniversary of Father Giussani’s death.

Anniversary Masses were celebrated by ordinaries in the archdioceses of San

Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete

Francisco and Los Angeles and the dioceses of Stockton and Oakland.

Msgr. Albacete’s trip also corresponded to the coming release of the English edition of Father Giussani’s book, “Is It Possible to Live Like This?”

The book is a transcript of dialogues the founder had with students in the 1980s over the reasonableness of unquestioning faith in the mystery of Christ. After much backand-forth, teacher and disciples found that reason points the modern believer to the path of John and Andrew.

Some of Father Giussani’s followers take the secular equivalent of vows of poverty, virginity and obedience. Most have families and jobs and try to honor these ideals in spirit.

“It is not necessary to live them visibly, but each one of us in our marriages, in our work, in our distribution of the resources we have at our disposal, our participating in society, live in the heart this three-fold life

Annual Divine Mercy Adult & Youth Congress

:

“Mankind will not have peace until they turn with trust to My Mercy”

Archbishop to offer a Lenten reflection for AlmaVia March 8 Officials of AlmaVia of San Francisco are inviting the public to attend a Lenten Morning of Reflection with Archbishop George Niederauer on Saturday, March 8, at :: St. Thomas More Church, 1300 Junipero Serra Blvd.

The event will begin with refreshments at 9:30 a.m., followed by a reflection by the Archbishop and celebration of Mass. A lunch buffet will then take place at nearby AlmaVia at 1 Thomas More Way. Space is limited. For reservations call (415) 337-1339.

AlmaVia of San Francisco is an assisted living retirement community, co-sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Regional Community of Burlingame and the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. For more information, visit www.almavia.org.

of virginity, poverty and obedience,” Msgr.

Albacete said.

Damian Bacich, an assistant professor of Spanish at San Jose State University, is a leader of the 50 members of the Father Giussani movement in the Bay Area.

“Within the experience of a greater love, everything else becomes an event within it,” he said. “You don’t necessarily become a better person or more efficient worker but the way you see everything changes. When you’re in love, everything you do is somehow a little bit different.”

In his talk, Msgr. Albacete said the apostles’ experience of truth in the person of Jesus predated all theology and ceremony.

The challenge he posed to moderns is to reclaim the moment when the first followers set aside their questions and embraced the grace of Christ as the ultimate reality.

“There’s not the slightest evidence they understood, but they stayed,” Msgr. Albacete said. “His attraction was overwhelming.”

The Three-Day Conference Schedule Friday, March 14, 2008 Saturday, March 15, 2008 Sunday, March 16, 2008

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Form Registration Registration Form

FORM REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION Annual Divine Mercy Family Congress 2FORM 008

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Bishop Ignatius Wang

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Fr. Michael Barry, SS CC

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Salvatore Caruso, AIA

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Fr. Kaz Chwalek, MIC

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Fr. Stan Fortuna, CFR

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Rev. Msgr. Henry Posluszny

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Marie Romagnano, RN

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Fr. Mark Wiesner

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Priests, Brothers, Deacons and Nuns are invited as guests admittancec) Priests, Brother, and Nuns are invited as guests (free(free admittance) Pre-registration is required.

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February 29, 2008

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Catholic San Francisco

February 29, 2008

Event to mark 5th anniversary of Iraq invasion To mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq, members of Grace Cathedral Episcopal Church in San Francisco will team with First Congregational Church of Berkeley to hold an interfaith prayer vigil on Wednesday, March 19, at 6 p.m.

To be held on the steps of Grace Cathedral, the event will include placement of combat boots representing California’s military casualties as well as thousands of shoes representing the estimated tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians killed since the U.S. invasion in March 2003.

As of press time, the number of Californians killed in action in Iraq stands at 425, according to military sources.

The number of Iraqi civilian dead is difficult to pin down. Various reports cite different figures based on varying methods.

The Pentagon itself does not officially keep statistics of civilian casualties. The Bush administration has been critical of estimates of independent investigations.

According to the research group Iraq Body Count, documented Iraqi civilian death totals since the start of the war range from 81,525 to 88,991. The variance depends on the reliability of the documented source and the chaotic nature of wartime casualty counts.

Those numbers include only reported, violent deaths. In 2006, a team of

(CNS PHOTO)

By Michael Vick

Empty combat boots will occupy the labyrinth of San Francisco’s Grace Episcopal Cathedral March 19 representing the more than 400 California military personnel who have died in the Iraq conflict.

American and Iraqi epidemiologists concluded that as many as 655,000 people had died as a result of the conflict.

The display of street shoes in remembrance of the civilian deaths will appear on the church’s outdoor steps, while the combat boots will occupy the Cathedral’s indoor labyrinth and will remain there for Holy Week, planners said.

The symbolic gesture is part of the American Friends Service Committee’s Eyes Wide Open exhibit. Similar displays of empty shoes have become common at peace vigils across the country.

Father John Talesfore, rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral, will be among representatives of the Archdiocese of San Francisco in attendance.

Rev. Will Scott, associate pastor at Grace Cathedral, said the war was an issue of concern for Grace Cathedral since before it even began.

“As an Episcopal church, we joined many Christian denominations to urge caution about the war for many of the same reasons that we are now bogged down there,” Rev. Scott told Catholic San Francisco. “We continue to be an advocate and a voice for nonviolence.”

While many protests will be held marking the fifth anniversary of the war, Rev. Scott said the vigil is meant to be a more somber and reflective occasion.

“The vigil is not in opposition to those types of events,” said Rev. Scott of war protests. “It will have a different feeling and tone. I hope that it draws not only the faith community, but all those who take part in demonstrations for peace.”

The event is free and open to the public.

Following the vigil at 7 p.m. will be a Tenebrae service, a religious ceremony held on the last three days of Holy Week that features the gradual extinguishing of candles. Prior to the Second Vatican Council, it was observed by the Catholic Church and continues to be observed by some Episcopal and Anglican churches.

The organizers encourage religious leaders to wear religious attire from their traditions. Faith leaders can contact Rev. Scott at (415) 749-6356 or wills@gracecathedral.org before if they plan to participate.

Weekly Tridentine Mass begins March 2 in San Rafael

By Dan Morris-Young A weekly, public, Latin-language Mass celebrated according to the 1962 Missal of Blessed John XXIII will take place in the Archdiocese of San Francisco for the first time since the late 1960s beginning this Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 2, at 11:30 a.m. at the Chapel of the Most Holy Rosary on the campus of St. Vincent School for Boys in San Rafael.

The weekly Latin liturgy will continue to be celebrated at the chapel for the immediate future, according to Father Michael Padazinski, archdiocesan chancellor who has been overseeing implementation of norms developed locally for last year’s instruction by Pope Benedict XVI which expanded Catholics’ access to what is commonly known as the Tridentine Mass.

Most Holy Rosary Chapel was selected, Father Padazinski said, because it was “a con-

venient and available church that provides for the requirements of the traditional Mass.”

Permission to use the chapel for the Mass was granted by Archbishop George Niederauer and supported by Father Toan Nguyen, administrator of St. Isabella in San Rafael. Holy Rosary Chapel is a mission church of the parish. Permission of the local pastor is required for the traditional Mass’s celebration, according to stipulations of Pope Benedict’s motu proprio (on his own initiative) titled Summorum Pontificum. Issued last July, the instruction took effect Sept. 14.

Consequent norms specific to the Archdiocese were promulgated Dec. 8 and took effect Jan. 8.

Mass celebrant will be Father William W. Young, a retired archdiocesan priest residing at Most Holy Redeemer Parish, San Francisco. Father Young has been presiding at a weekly Tridentine Mass in Petaluma with the authorization of Santa

THE SISTERS OF PERPETUAL ADORATION INVITE YOU TO ATTEND THE SOLEMN NOVENA IN HONOR OF

Rosa Bishop Daniel Walsh.

With the advent of the San Rafael traditional liturgy, the Petaluma Mass will be discontinued, Father Young told Catholic San Francisco, noting that many of the congregation attending the Petaluma Mass will now attend Mass at Most Holy Rosary Chapel.

“We hope that we will gather more people from the Archdiocese as well,” he said.

Father Young said holy days of obligation will also be celebrated in the Tridentine form at Most Holy Rosary.

The homilies will be in English, he said, quipping that “it would take me one heck of a long time to write one in Latin.” In addition to presiding at the traditional Mass, Father Young has volunteered at Laguna Honda Hospital for many years.

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February 29, 2008

Catholic San Francisco

11

Wedding Guide Couples invest in weekend for the journey of a lifetime

By Michael Vick Marriage may be a joyful sacrament, but for some couples the amount of work involved in getting to the altar might seem like penance. Once they have successfully negotiated the emotional hurdles of deciding they want to spend their lives together, couples then ride the roller coaster of actually making it happen.

The bride needs her dress and her bridesmaids. The groom needs his tuxedo and his best man. The state must be satisfied, so the couple obtains blood tests and a marriage license. The bride and groom meet the new in-laws, if they have not already, then pick a date and book a venue.

Weddings, festive occasions in any society, have spawned their own industry – from caterers and clothiers to coordinators and consultants, at times looking to make the event as elaborate as possible.

The couple can sometimes become lost in the storm of activity, not taking the time to work on the spiritual and emotional aspects of their coming lives together.

For this reason, nearly every Catholic diocese worldwide has guidelines about marriage preparation for engaged couples.

One option for couples looking to fulfill those requirements in the Archdiocese of San Francisco and many other locations is Catholic Engaged Encounter.

Founded in 1967 by Jesuit Father Chuck Gallagher, the program pairs both young and experienced married couples with engaged couples for a weekend retreat. The married couples, who coordinate the weekend along with men and women religious, teach the soon-to-be married couples techniques to achieve intimacy and deal with inevitable conflict.

CEE chapters exist in nearly every diocese in the nation and in 30 other countries. The Archdiocese of San Francisco chapter hosts weekends throughout the year. The number of weekends varies from year to year based on how many couples sign up. Last year, nine took place. Eight are calendared for 2008.

Luis and Carol Aguilar have been involved in CEE for 10 years, often serving as weekend coordinators.

The experience has enriched their marriage and the

marriages of other couples involved as well, they said.

“I still get thank you notes four or five years down the road from couples,” Carol Aguilar said.

They started as coordinators for individual weekends when they lived in Foster City and attended St. Timothy Parish. They worked their way up to coordinating all the local retreats for the entire archdiocese.

Although they have since moved to Los Gatos and attend St. Mary Parish, they remain the coordinating couple for the San Francisco chapter of CEE. Along the way, they gained friends and, they hope, changed lives.

Nina Ramos of St. Timothy Parish in San Mateo, who attended a CEE retreat in April 2006 with then-

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“We had no idea what to expect, but when we left, we realized how much we really got out of the weekend,” said Ramos. “My husband and I had been dating for nine years and one would think we knew everything about each other. This weekend brought us closer and made us appreciate each other and our relationship more.”

Ramos said after that weekend, she and Carlos felt the same newness and excitement they knew when they had just started dating.

It is just that type of experience the national executive couple, John and Mary Saxman, hope to cultivate in every diocese and in their own marriage. Married in 1962, the Saxmans said they wish CEE had been around when they were engaged.

“It doesn’t matter how long you’re married, you still get mad at each other,” John Saxman told Catholic San Francisco in a telephone interview. “Certain parts of married life are more difficult to talk about, more so maybe for one person than the other.”

Mary Saxman agreed. Part of the trick, she said, is not allowing the differences to fester.

“It’s easy to take each other for granted,” she said.

“We use tools we’ve learned to prevent that.”

The tools include not just actively listening to one’s loved one, but also writing down concerns and sharing them with each other. John Saxman said the act of putting thoughts onto paper can help prevent misunderstandings that are inevitable from moving from a disagreement into an argument.

“Sit down and write each other in a loving way,” he said. “That’s one of the good things about writing.”

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Catholic San Francisco

February 29, 2008

Wedding Guide Couples weekend . . .

Engaged Encounter Weekend schedule:

■ Continued from page 11 mostly one-on-one writing and sharing time they have.

The length of time means they’re forced to open up through repetition and writing. It’s easier for them to be more vulnerable, and the tool of writing is something they will use throughout their whole marriage.”

Ultimately, it is their love for each other and the sacrament of marriage that keeps the Saxmans coming back to CEE. That, coupled with anecdotal data they have collected over the years that shows them the difference between couples who have had marriage preparation and those who have not.

“Most people who get divorced don’t need to,” Saxman said. “Young people tend to think, ‘That’s not me. I don’t have to worry about those things,’ but they’ll find out.”

The Saxmans said while CEE weekends are not the only option available to couples, they believe the weekends provide an in-depth program.

Other marriage preparation programs offered by dioceses around the country vary, but generally involve classes that last a few hours per day, perhaps but not necessarily spread out over more than one day.

The Saxmans hope couples see that the in-depth weekend’s benefits far outweigh its cost. They noted that nearly every chapter with which they are familiar has ways to assist couples who cannot afford the price tag.

Such is the case in the San Francisco chapter. If couples cannot afford the fee, they can request a scholar-

According to the local Catholic Engaged Encounter website, www.sfcee.org, upcoming dates for CEE weekends at Vallombrosa Center in Menlo Park are April 4-6, April 2527, May 23-25, June 20-22, Sept. 19-21 and Nov. 7-9.

‘We had no idea what to expect, but when we left, we realized how much we really got out of the weekend.’

— Nina Ramos ship from their priest. Local coordinator Aguilar said the group receives donations at the end of the weekend from participant couples, many of whom sponsor the entire cost of another couple attending the retreat. She said no couple is ever turned away.

CEE retreats held at Vallombrosa retreat and conference center in Menlo Park run around $450 per weekend, including meals and lodging.

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February 29, 2008

Catholic San Francisco

13

Wedding Guide Several marriage prep options now available

Upon becoming engaged, Catholic couples should check with their parishes first about required preparation for receiving the sacrament of marriage. The preparation, on average, takes six months and begins with a meeting with a priest at the wedding parish.

It can also include meetings with mentor couples in the parish or completion of certificate programs outside the parish. In addition to parish-based programs, four non-parishbased programs are approved by the Archdiocese: ● Catholic Engaged Encounter Weekend, Vallombrosa Retreat Center in Menlo Park or Mercy Center in Burlingame. $450 for $2008. Website http://www.sfcee.org. E-mail catholicsfee@aol.com. ● Commuter Weekend Marriage Preparation Class, St. Vincent School in San Rafael, one all-day Saturday session. Website http://sfcatholic.com. Phone (707) 552-3394. Email prep@sfcatholic.com. ● Marriage for Life, St. Mary’s Cathedral, two weekend half-day sessions. Contact Joe and Connie D’Aura, (415) 664-8108; $185. E-mail marriage@ccwear.com. ● Saturdays for Engaged Couples, Paulist Center at Old St. Mary’s Cathedral, one all-day session. Cost: $200. Website http://www.oldsaintmarys.org/html/marriage/engaged.htm.

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Catholic San Francisco

February 29, 2008

Wedding Guide Marital communication: learn, practice and refine

By Lisa M. Petsche With Valentine’s Day fresh in our minds, it is clear our culture devotes heightened attention to romantic love. Hollywood-type depictions of destined encounters, instantaneous connections and overwhelming passion are common.

Although appealing, such portrayals are misleading, placing too much emphasis on finding the right person and falling in love, and not enough on being a good partner and staying in love. The reality is, successful marriages don’t just happen. Rather, they require an ongoing investment of time and effort.

Communication plays a critical role: sharing leads to increased understanding of each other, which in turn results in greater intimacy.

Messages conveyed may be verbal or non-verbal; the latter include volume and tone of voice, eye movements, facial expressions, posture and body movements. Studies have found that the majority of interpersonal communication is non-verbal in nature.

Every exchange, of course, involves a transmitter (sender) and a receiver (listener). A skilled transmitter reflects before speaking; communicates in a timely manner; expresses himself clearly; owns his feelings and thoughts by using “I” statements; shares good news in addition to problems; pays attention to the receiver’s reaction; and asks for feedback. His verbal and nonverbal messages complement rather than contradict each other.

Listening to a message, meanwhile, is far from passive – much more than merely hearing words. A skilled receiver makes herself available; gives full attention; is openminded and non-judgmental; avoids assumptions; demonstrates interest and empathy; doesn’t interrupt or change the subject; asks questions for clarification; summarizes to check if she understood the message correctly; and refrains from offering unsolicited opinions or advice.

Both parties are responsible for ensuring effective communication. Listening, however, is arguably more difficult than speaking, because a) it requires patience, since we’re able to process information faster than it can be transmitted, and b) we must relinquish self-focus – not an easy task in this age of egocentrism.

Communication is further enhanced through eliminating distractions; maintaining eye contact; demonstrating respect, sensitivity and acceptance; offering encouragement; being honest; and tuning in to body language (ours and our spouse’s). Timing is also important.

Obstacles include trying to be a mind reader or expecting our partner to be one; allowing our attention to wander; monopolizing the conversation; interrupting; sidetracking; blaming; needing to be right; dismissing our partner’s feelings or opinions; declaring important subjects off limits; withholding our thoughts and feelings; and prematurely ending a conversation.

Clearly, communication is complicated, with many opportunities for breakdown along the way. Like any skill, it needs to be learned, practiced and continually refined.

While clichéd conversation and information exchange may sustain casual relationships, marital communication calls for self-disclosure – that is, sharing our innermost thoughts and feelings.

Risking vulnerability and addressing sensitive issues calls for courage, as well as trust in our spouse, but the payoff is big, in terms of the intimacy generated.

Unfortunately – and all too easily – our lives can become so busy that we no longer spend much time communicating on an intimate level. To prevent this from happening, it’s imperative that we establish daily sharing time, to ensure we really connect with our spouse. It can be as simple as sitting down together to talk about our day after the kids go to bed, instead of automatically turning on the television or computer or dashing off to do chores.

Communication needn’t always be serious. It’s equally important to express affection and appreciation and to have fun together, including going out on regular dates, similar to when we were courting.

Keeping the lines of communication open will ensure that we grow together, rather than apart.

While we may think we know each other well, both of us are continually, subtly changing in response to new experiences. The only way to stay current and ensure we’re there for one another through life’s inevitable ups and downs is to make a habit of sharing.

Spending quality time together also keeps us rediscovering the things we enjoy about our spouse that initially drew us to him or her.

Given all we stand to gain, honing those communication skills is well worth the effort.

Lisa M. Petsche is a clinical social worker and a freelance writer specializing in spirituality and family life.

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February 29, 2008

Catholic San Francisco

15

Wedding Guide Five wedding prep suggestions from a pastoral musician be married. You may have chosen to have a church wedding for any number of good reasons: the sacramental Undoubtedly, if you are engaged, you have already nature of your upcoming marriage; you want to celereceived more advice than you ever asked for! In the spir- brate surrounded by your parish community; you want it of piling on (but in a loving way), here are five sug- your marriage to be blessed by God. Parishioners and gestions from one pastoral musician that might help your ministers will be grateful when you and your guests wedding be that beautiful sacramental celebration that treat the sacred space respectfully, especially during your wedding rehearsal. both you and the Church dream of: 4. Help wedding guests be partici1. After meeting with the priest or deapants, not merely spectators. The nature con who will counsel you as you prepare of a liturgical wedding includes active for marriage, make your next consultation participation of the community. With the with your parish music director. Many of help of your parish musician, choose the pastoral musicians at your church, and acclamations and songs familiar to your certainly your parish’s music director, guests. If you expect to have a signifiwill have experience preparing music for cant number who will not be familiar weddings. They will listen to your ideas, with the Catholic Mass, take extra steps and they will have suggestions of their to see that prayers and responses are own. They will probably be very honest included in your wedding program with you about what will or will not be booklet. The more you orient your wedpermitted at the parish where you will be Patrick Vallez-Kelly ding to be a communal event, the more married. Plan to coordinate music choices and the possible participation of any non-parish musi- the joy on your wedding day will be magnified.

5. In the midst of all of the details of your wedding, cians with your parish music director.

When listing your preferences for music for your remember to prepare yourselves spiritually. This spirituwedding, think of songs of faith that might go well with al preparation could happen in many different ways, but the Christian significance of marriage. Within the wed- here are examples: ● Spend some quiet time in prayer and meditation to ding liturgy, we always seek to keep the expressions of love within the context of the mystery of Jesus Christ help you be centered and mindful on your wedding day. loving his Church. Often popular romantic songs will Focus on the love Christ and your spouse have for you fall short of this ideal even though they may be beauti- and on the love you have for them, your family and ful and express sentiments of love. As a general rule, friends. Especially on that important day of your wedcouples are encouraged to choose religious songs for ding, live in and celebrate that love. ● Spend time with your future spouse reflecting on the wedding liturgy and popular songs for the wedding the Scripture readings, your vows and other prayer texts reception.

3. Be models for your wedding party and family in that will be proclaimed during your wedding Mass. ● Celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation before respecting the sacredness of the church where you will

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Share these thoughts with your future spouse.

Besides the ever-present advice and suggestions that always seem to be a given for a couple preparing for marriage, there is another thing beyond a doubt: the love of Jesus Christ for you.

Patrick Vallez-Kelly directs the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s Office of Worship.

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Catholic San Francisco

February 29, 2008

Wedding Guide U.S. bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; website touts healthy marriage

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WASHINGTONâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Putting a modern image on traditional values, the U.S. Catholic bishops recently launched a website designed to promote healthy marriages â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for Catholics and couples of all faiths.

Located at www.foryourmarriage.org, the website offers everything from daily marriage tips to statistics on divorce and cohabitation.

The â&#x20AC;&#x153;For Your Marriageâ&#x20AC;? website includes resources for everyone, including engaged and married couples, and facts about Catholic marriage. The website is designed for a wide and varied audience and is part of larger campaign which includes television public service messages which can be viewed on the site. In just one month, the site received nearly 500,000 hits with the average visitor viewing 6-12 pages.

The site offers daily marriage tips that suggest simple ways to cultivate a healthy marriage. A monthly marriage quiz can serve as a conversation starter on sensitive issues.

Information on conflict resolution, communication and financial concerns is posted throughout the site. Topics such as intimacy and parenting also are featured. Visitors also can view stories and advice from married couples. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Internet has become a crucial means for evangelizing, especially among younger people,â&#x20AC;? said Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, chairman of the bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Marriage and Family Life Committee. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope youth especially will find inspiration and hope at the stroke of a key.â&#x20AC;?

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Catholic San Francisco

February 29, 2008

17

Wedding Guide Feast day March 15 (Ed. note: The Solemnity of St. Joseph, normally celebrated March 19, has been transferred to Saturday, March 15, this year.)

By Brother John M. Samaha, SM How much do we know about and appreciate the man who was the husband of the Mother of Jesus and the guardian of our Redeemer? How do we honor him? St. Joseph is often overlooked. Scripture says little of him. We seem to give him scant attention.

Yet devotion to St. Joseph has deep roots in Christian tradition.

Joseph is often the overlooked member of the Holy Family. Do you remember as children when we wrote “J.M.J.” for “Jesus, Mary and Joseph” at the top of our papers in Catholic school? We pictured the members of the Holy Family side by side.

Remember that Mary and Joseph are a couple. And Jesus is their child. They belong together. When separated, their significance in God’s plan of salvation is clouded, because their importance lies in their relationship to each other. While honoring the perpetual virginity of Mary, we cannot disregard

Joseph’s privilege and happiness of being Mary’s husband.

In past centuries many works of art depicted Joseph as an old man. Most likely this was done to disallow any threat to Mary’s virginity. This tended to undervalue the loving relationship of Mary and Joseph as husband and wife. Despite the tendencies of her times, St. Teresa of Avila always insisted Joseph was a young man when he married Mary. The Divine Liturgy reinforces this positive approach regarding Joseph: “With a husband’s love he cherished Mary, the Virgin Mother of God.” Since Joseph is the husband of Mary, he is also father to Jesus. We know that he was not the physical father of Jesus.

But in the Gospel account about Jesus being lost in the temple, Luke has Mary saying to Jesus: “Son, your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow.” And the Divine Liturgy testifies: “With fatherly care he watched over Jesus Christ your son, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

If one might think that Joseph’s fatherhood was not quite real or effective because he did not physically procreate Jesus, let that person speak with adoptive parents, especially those who have conceived a child of their own and adopted others.

They will let you know how real Joseph’s fatherhood is.

Joseph played a very important role as Jesus “grew in wisFEAST DAY, page 23

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Catholic San Francisco

February 29, 2008

Catholic san Francisco Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper

Part III Marriage and the family Justices of the California Supreme Court on Tuesday, March 4, will hear three hours of oral arguments from lawyers representing two views regarding the appropriate definition of marriage. Some lawyers will argue for what is “right” for individuals; others will argue for what is “best” for society.

Under federal law, the United States government recognizes the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. In 2000, more than 61 percent of California voters approved a similar state law. In recent years, 19 other states have amended their constitutions to ban same-sex marriage. Currently, Massachusetts is the only state that recognizes marriage between two people of the same sex.

In February 2004, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom abruptly allowed marriage licenses to be issued in the city to same-sex couples, but later that year the California Supreme Court ruled that Newsom was wrong and declared the licenses invalid.

Two years later, a California appeals court ruled that state laws limiting marriage to a man and a woman are indeed constitutional and do not deprive rights to gays or lesbians. In the 2 to 1 majority opinion, Justice William McGuiness said that because same-sex marriage has never been recognized as a right in California, “courts simply do not have the authority to create new rights, especially when doing so involves changing the definition of so fundamental an institution as marriage.”

This appeals court decision, which rejected a lower court ruling in San Francisco, is the subject of the March 4 Supreme Court hearing. Justices will review the 2006 ruling through six lawsuits, four of which were brought by the City of San Francisco and same-sex couples. Two other groups, the Campaign for California Families (CCF) and the Proposition 22 Legal Defense and Education Fund, filed lawsuits in defense of the current definition of marriage. Close to 50 “friend-of-the-court” briefs also have been filed with the court.

In court briefs favoring marriage as a union between a man and a woman, Kenneth Starr, former U.S. Solicitor and federal judge, states that his clients’ argument is not based on religious doctrine, but on “historical and sociological facts about what marriage has always been across time and cultures.”

Starr said the denominations he represents have gained their knowledge about marriage in “millions of hours of counseling and ministry.”

“We have seen at close range the enormous benefits that traditional male-female marriage imparts,” he wrote. “We have also witnessed the substantial adverse consequences for children that often flow from alternative household arrangements.”

The “inescapable truth,” he said, is that “children need their mothers and fathers, and that society needs mothers and fathers to raise their children.”

Starr noted that the current marriage law, enacted in 1977 and reaffirmed by the voters in 2000, is based on a cultural decision about parents and children that “reflects no animosity toward gays and lesbians.”

The pressure by some gay and lesbian advocates to redefine the definition of marriage has been escalating in recent years. Despite the expressed wish of California voters who overwhelmingly approved Proposition 22 in 2000, the state legislature has twice passed gay marriage bills – subsequently vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Last year, gay advocacy groups launched a major promotional campaign to generate popular support for gay marriage.

The central purpose of government is to promote the general welfare; it is not to advance individual desires. Likewise, a focus on “the common good” requires consideration of what is best for the whole of society, rather than following the dictates of particular interests. This process requires society to make prudential judgments, for example restrictions on access to driving or drinking or other activities.

Some people label these prudential decisions “discrimination,” but discriminating in such matters promotes the general welfare. The unique affirmation of heterosexual marriage operates under the same principle.

Traditional matrimony is the foundation of society, as has been noted by a long line of popes.

Last year, Pope Benedict XVI said marriage is not “a casual sociological construction,” but a reflection of truth about the human person, the meaning of life and the relationship of human beings with the God who created them out of love and for love.

In recent generations, the overriding purpose of marriage has evolved to be the spouses’ mutual pleasure. This view differs from what every culture in history has recognized as the heart of marriage: the birth, welfare and education of children. The happiness of a couple is vital, certainly, but this is not the only or primary purpose of marriage. The Catholic Church has consistently recognized that society owes its continued survival to the family, founded on marriage between a man and a woman.

MEH

Porziuncola pride Thanks to Rick DelVecchio for his wonderful Feb. 8 article, “Replica of holy Franciscan chapel taking shape here”.

We who volunteer at the gift shop in the Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi have shared the excitement of seeing the Porziuncola take shape, a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.This beautiful little chapel rises, just as its predecessor did over 800 years ago, under the care and scrutiny of St. Francis himself. It feels like an honor to be there at this momentous time.

Patricia Cady San Francisco

Report disappoints I am writing to express profound disappointment with the Feb. 15 front-page article regarding the stem cell conference at Dominican College.

First, the article itself is ideologically biased from the perspective of embryonic stem cell advocates. Frankly, it read like a promotion of the Institute of Regenerative Medicine; the Institute was put in place by Proposition 71, against which the California Catholic Conference of Bishops (including the San Francisco Archdiocese) campaigned tirelessly in the 2004 election.

Second, it was devoid of the Church’s well reasoned moral argument against destroying nascent human life for the purpose of furthering scientific technology.

In short, we oppose feeding off of (i.e. killing) our young to prolong our own existence. The existence ordained by God to new life is not ours for the foraging. The unborn, regardless of their point in the gestational path, are not fodder for the petri dishes of scientists who want to be their own gods. (Interestingly, the article was revealing about the real objective of scientists who are obsessed with embryonic stem cell research; they want to be able to create life, to be their own gods; cures are ancillary to the process.)

Third, the article was also devoid of scientific facts about embryonic stem cell research, namely that this research holds no promise for anyone who is alive today. The research is so problematic and unpromising that no venture capitalists will fund it, thus the push for taxpayer funding. Also, over 73 diseases are being treated with adult stem cell therapies. Adult stem cell research is wildly successful yet does not require the destruction of human life.

In fact, every time we hear about a success in stem cell research, it is an adult stem cell therapy. Where was this fact in the article?

Finally, where was the Church’s counterpoint in this article? Why was Vicki Evans, respect life doordinator for the Archdiocese, who is very well versed on the topic, not interviewed? As a person who has worked hard (as a volunteer on behalf of the Church) to dispel the propaganda put forth by scientism and the mainstream media about the scientifically inaccurate “virtues” of embryonic stem cell research, this article was a slap in the face. I look forward to a correction in the upcoming Catholic San Francisco.

Dolores Meehan San Francisco

ing of it in Catholic San Francisco (Feb. 15).

The article unwittingly makes a case for continued destruction of human life in its most vulnerable stage – a stage of life that every human person goes through without exception.

At one point, seven paragraphs in a row supported the need for experimentation and destruction of human embryonic life followed by a weak mention of Catholic teaching about human life qualified by “Catholic natural law thinking argues . . .” and “Catholic thinkers urge scientists to use adult sources . . ..” There is nothing to think about. It is a matter of understanding the magisterium.

It is a scientific fact that from the moment of conception, there is a unique unrepeatable human life, genetically different from his or her parents – yes, “his” or “her”, not “its”. Every human life has equal value and dignity whether strong or weak, able or disabled, conscious or unconscious, embryo or elderly. Why? Because God creates each in his image and likeness.

In addition, there was the unanswered quote from a secular “bioethicist” who said, “You have big people who are here with their diseases, and then you have . . . embryos”. “. . . [The embryo] is not self-conscious.” It might have been nice to mention it is a matter of social justice that “big people” take care of little people. They don’t kill them for private interests because they are weak and are not conscious. Domination of the poor, weak and vulnerable by the wealthy, strong and powerful is always wrong.

The article wrongly leaves the impression that stem cells generated from human eggs are ethical as long as embryos are not involved. Harvesting human eggs is a dangerous and painful process. It is an assault on the dignity of women, particularly poor women, too easily coerced into selling their eggs and jeopardizing their health.

Women in the third world would be the most vulnerable, but then we have these “big people” – rich and powerful.

It is sad that some of the bestinformed people in the country on this subject sit right down the hall from Catholic San Francisco in the chancery office, and were apparently not consulted. In addition, there are many competent and well-informed laity, religious and clergy in our Archdiocese who could have contributed a rebuttal from a Catholic perspective.

The misunderstandings in the article demonstrate how complex the issues are regarding ethical and unethical stem cell research. Ethical alternatives have provided cures and treatments for almost 80 diseases compared to none from the unethical research. Catholic citizens who want to do the right thing are desperate for help in understanding the truth and what is at stake.

This article did not help fill that need.

Bill May Chairman, Catholics for the Common Good San Francisco

L E T T E R S

No time for neutrality I don’t know if I am more disappointed with Dominican University of California (self-described as a “university of Catholic heritage” in San Rafael) that held a conference showcasing people involved with destruction of human life and cloning for scientific research, or with the ethically neutral report-

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

Trajectory of hope I felt your Feb. 15 story on stem cell research captured the conference flavor with such breadth and balanced viewpoints. I think the story put Catholic San Francisco in the lead for topical California Catholic issues.

The coverage of such highly acclaimed scientists in California from the leading institutions, including Stanford, CIRM, Lawrence Lab and UCSD, allows readers to keep abreast of what progress is being made with so much intellectual capital and hope. I am a life-long Catholic and I think when we stop learning and healing, we risk losing so much.

The knowledge shared was enlightening. All Catholics should continue learning.

It is complex with a long trajectory of hope.

I applaud Catholic San Francisco and hope to see more of this type of coverage.

I am a board member of Zero Breast Cancer, a community-based organization that co-sponsored the conference.

Maureen Cronan Kentfield

Jesus vote?

The Feb. 8 article by guest commentator Jane Spears was excellent. “How would LETTERS, page 21

February 29, 2008

Catholic San Francisco

19

Spirituality for Life

Light behind dark nights of the soul God made us in his image and likeness and we have never stopped returning the favor.

We are forever creating God in our own image and likeness. We picture God, what we believe God to be and stand for, according to what we imagine God should be like. Sometimes that speaks for what’s best in us and sometimes it does the opposite. In either case, we are usually a long way from the God who Jesus revealed. That is why we often believe in and preach a God who, like us, is jealous, arbitrary, legalistic, unfair, fearful, consumed with protecting himself, vengeful, unforgiving and violent.

It is no accident that in every age, including our own, the worst violence, bigotry and murder are often justified in the name of God, even when this is done in the name of atheism or secularity. Today we see this in Islamic extremists who explicitly invoke the name and the cause of God as they randomly unleash murder, but, in subtler ways, we see this in every religion and secular ideology. At some point, somewhere, invariably there is divine justification for something that is unjust based upon a “god” who has been shaped according to human imagination, with its very real limits.

Fortunately, we have innate mechanisms for health.

When we go wrong, something inside reacts. That isn’t just true for our bodies, but for our souls. Faith has its own

immune system. We want God on our own terms, but ultimately it doesn’t work. Divine love and divine revelation are pure gifts and the inner dynamics of faith insure that they have to be received as pure gifts or not received at all.

That is why, as we see from Scripture, real revelation, a true in-breaking of God into our lives, always comes as a surprise, as something we could not have anticipated, programmed for ourselves, or even imagined. Thus Scripture tells us to make a special place in our lives for the unfamiliar, the stranger, the foreigner, the person who is utterly different from us. What’s unfamiliar is what brings God’s revelation. One of the marks of true revelation is that it stretches us, takes us into new territory.

That is why we sometimes experience dark nights of the soul. Our religious securities, including our imaginative sense of God’s existence, disappear and we are left not just with a new and surprising (to us) insecurity in terms of our religious belief but, more painfully still, the incapacity to imagine with any certainty the existence and nature of God. Inner powers to imagine and sense God’s existence dry up and leave us in a certain “agnosticism”.

Mystics call this a dark night of the soul and assure us of two things: First, that God doesn’t disappear, but rather what disappears is our former (self-interested) way of

knowing God. Second, that our religious securities need to disappear precisely because they have us too wrapped inside them. The agnosticism we feel is a healthy unknowing, an unknowing that opens Father us to a purer and deeper Ron Rolheiser way of experiencing God. A dark night of the soul does clears away false debris, false securities and manipulative images of God that we created for ourselves.

When C.S. Lewis was struggling with his decision to become a Christian, one of his major hesitancies came from not being able to imagine for himself the mystery of redemption, how Jesus’ death could have a saving effect upon others.

One of the turning points came as the result of challenge from J.R.R. Tolkien, author of “Lord of the Rings.” Hearing Lewis express his doubt, Tolkien simply said: “That is a poverty of imagination on your part!” Nothing could be more true. God, ROLHEISER, page 23

Guest Commentary

Can a dog teach us trust in God? On a sunny day not too long ago, while I watched a ures matter. Our pet is content to know that we are its persimple box being lowered into the fresh burial plot between son — the person it was born to love. my bed of white petunias and scarlet impatiens, my heart Being totally vulnerable, our animal relies on our was constricted with grief, painfully intense grief. beneficence in the same way we should hope in, and depend As I said a final goodbye to my canine on, God for our every need. Yet, too often companion of 14 years, I wondered if othwe ignore or forget to even give the time of ers like me had been foolish not to heed the day via s small prayer to the One who never admonition of entering into a love fest fated ceases to bless us or to answer our prayers. to leave us in bleak loneliness. Had we not Upon reflection, it’s disturbing to find been forewarned of the inevitably of this that the love of a pet for its person is more sadness by Rudyard Kipling who wrote: constant than its person’s for God. “Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware of Compared to an animal’s inherent humiligiving your heart to a dog to tear?” ty, our pride often insists that it’s our Yet who considers the future ravages strength, instead of God’s grace, that preof parting and death when the lively, warm vails. If an animal can trust in the certainball of fur that’s a young animal delights ty that its needs are known and guaranteed our hearts and brings joy and gladness to to be met by a mere mortal, finite and our days? We adjust our routines to care flawed, can we expect less from our for and nurture our new friend who repays omniscient and infinite God? us by asking nothing in return for its unbriTreading into the tender territory of dled love. We are its reason for being, and bittersweet memories, when our feeling of Parley the center of its attention, an attention fineloss is made more raw by the uncertainty ly tuned to every cadence of our voice or even the silence of where our pet has gone, we should take comfort in of our presence.

Christ’s claim that a huddle of feathers on the ground was Neither our weakness nor strengths, successes or fail- not unregarded by the Father of Mankind. God’s concern

for all of his creation, including the animals, has been addressed by saints and theologians throughout the ages, notably St. Francis of Assisi, Greek Father St. Isaac the Syrian and the Russian writer Vladimir Jane L. Sears Lossky who observes, “In his way to union with God, man in no way leaves creatures aside, but gathers together in his love the whole cosmos disordered by sin, that it may at last be transfigured by grace.”

Though for a time we are left bereft by our loss, we’re also left richer by our animal’s lesson of unrestrained trust and love. With the same dependency our animal had on us, we rely totally on God. For in taking a lesson from our canine friend, we know with certainty that the One we were created to love will never let us down, but will be faithful and true to the last beat of our hearts. And thereafter for all eternity.

Jane L. Sears is a freelance writer and a member of Our Lady of Angels Parish in Burlingame.

The Catholic Difference

Lourdes and the modern world On Feb. 11, 1858, an illiterate, impoverished 14–yearold girl received the first of 18 visions of Mary, who eventually revealed herself to Bernadette Soubirous as “the Immaculate Conception.” In mid-19th century Europe, Lourdes, a small town in the French Pyrenees, was about as backwater as backwater gets. Today, as for the past century and a half, Lourdes is one of the world’s great pilgrimage sites, a place of decency, fellowship and spiritual healing where inexplicable physical cures have also taken place.

In “Lourdes: Font of Faith, Hope, and Charity” (Paulist Press), Elizabeth Ficocelli tells the story of the shrine of Lourdes through the prism of the three theological virtues. Her description of Bernadette – whom the Church recognizes as a saint, “not because she saw visions, but because of her heroic virtue in responding to God’s mysterious call” – is a powerful reminder that sanctity is for everyone, and that the extraordinary enters the ordinary to call us to our true vocations.

Genuine conversion, not spectacle, is what visions are for.

So if you want a good introduction to the history and spirit of Lourdes, Elizabeth Ficocelli’s book is for you. For those interested in examining the phenomenon of Lourdes through the eyes of a sympathetic secular scholar, there is “Lourdes: Body and Spirit in the Secular Age” (Penguin Books), by the Oxford-based British historian Ruth Harris.

Professor Harris’s scholarship is impeccable, but it’s neither detached nor dessicated: as few secular academics do, she

went to Lourdes as a volunteer aide to the sick and found herself caught up in a web of human solidarity, open-mindedness, and “spiritual generosity” (as she puts it in a fine phrase). That experience, coupled with the discovery that modern medicine had no diagnosis (let alone a cure) for a condition then plaguing her, led Ruth Harris to question the modern mythology of scientific progress, according to which phenomena like Lourdes are mindless and reactionary. Breaking with the chief unexamined assumption of secular modernity – that humanity, tutored by the scientific method, will outgrow its “need” for religion – Professor Harris found her scholar’s interest piqued by aspects of the story of Lourdes that skeptics typically miss.

Like the fact that Lourdes became one focal point for a new Christian feminism in 19th century France, as the pilgrimage to the Pyrenees “offered [women] a world of opportunity” for service and leadership. “The hundreds of thousands of Catholic women in the religious orders, mainly working in nursing and teaching, and the untold legions of lay women active in fundraising and charity” demonstrated by contrast how small and ineffectual were the initiatives on behalf of women taken by the hyper-secularist French Third Republic.

Or the fact that Lourdes became a place of social solidarity immune from the class divisions and rancors that had riven French society for centuries. As Harris puts it, Lourdes “brought different ranks of society together... [in] the seemingly spontaneous creation of a Christian collectivity that erased class and

status.” What Marx imagined and Lenin tried to ramrod into history by mass murder, Bernadette effected by summoning others to faith, hope, and charity.

Without making a big point of it, Ruth Harris’s George Weigel richly textured book is a devastating critique of the human emptiness of the secular city, which can’t deal with pain and tries to push it offstage or eliminate it by scientific advance. Medical pain-relief is, to be sure, a worthy cause. But it becomes a false quest – an ultimately inhuman, even demonic, quest – when it seeks to eliminate suffering from the human condition. It can’t, because physical pain is not the only pain, or even the worse pain.

Animals feel pain; only humans suffer. At Lourdes, you can’t help but recognize that suffering is an integral part of the human experience, and that while suffering can’t be eliminated, it can be transformed and transcended – by faith, hope and love.

Lourdes is a Marian shrine. Like all true devotion to Mary, it points us toward her Son and his cross.

George Weigel is a senior fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

20

Catholic San Francisco

February 29, 2008

Singing . . .

■ Continued from cover “All in all,” he said, “most would agree that compared to other faiths, we have quite a ways to go; so, we’ll keep at it.”

Sister Anne Marie McKenna, a Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and music and liturgy director at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Burlingame, oversees a music program that includes four choirs, three cantors and four weekend Masses with music. Sister McKenna has been at St. Catherine’s for five years but in the liturgical music arena for much longer.

“I played my first verse of ‘At the Cross’ for Friday Stations of the Cross at St. Paul’s when I was in the fourth grade,” she said. “So, counting from then, it’s 50 years.”

Methods Sister McKenna has implemented for increasing assembly interest and desire to sing have included using mid-range keys as much as possible; using well-known parts of the Mass – the Holy, Holy, for example – for about eight weeks in a row or for a whole season; introducing new music before Mass, and repeating new music several times within the span of a month or two.

“I hunt constantly for singable, memorable, hummable Psalm refrains so people can sing from the heart on those,” Sister McKenna said. “I try to put life and energy into the accompaniment. I encourage the presiders to sing, and thank them for their leadership. On familiar songs, especially when Cantors at St. Isabella Parish are, from left, Dolores O’Halloran, there is a choir supporting the assembly, I try to move the canErin Hurley, Sean O’Brien, Clarence Mamaril and Megan Mize. tor off the microphone so the people can hear themselves.”

Singing familiar songs helps, she said, as does having “cantors, accompanists, choirs who love singing God’s of the assembly are not music lovers. Music does not move also thinks “community singing is undervalued.” praises and show it.”

Another factor, he said, “is that in societies where relithem as it does me, and I have to respect that.”

Communication with those served is also a must. “Accept A local music director who has been in the music busi- gion is free, legal and available, the over-all enthusiasm and complaints as graciously as compliments,” Sister McKenna ness “forever” and at his current assignment for almost three devotion of worshippers wanes. I think places where peosaid, “and really try to listen to what people are telling you.” years asked to remain anonymous. The program includes ple are deprived of the sacraments or suffer persecution Sister McKenna puts the distance from “full participation” four weekend Masses with music, one choir and six cantors. because of religion tend to be more appreciative of what at “as far as heaven from earth, perhaps.” She has seen Methods of encouraging singing at the site have includ- they have and give more of themselves in worship.” “glimpses” of it, especially at Thanksgiving and Holy ed teaching new music before Mass, choosing familiar Practical elements also play a part in moving a quiet Thursday Masses. “I generally attribute that to the fact that music, choir members sitting among the assembly, as well assembly to a singing assembly, Murphy said. “Better there is no sense of ‘obligation,’ people come sheerly because as “the highest quality possible in cantors or choral singing acoustics and good cantors and accompanists are helpful, they want to be there.” but only part of the equation. Another part is a lot of coupled with an inviting approach with the assembly.”

Linda Myers has served as music and patience while our worshiping communities liturgy director at St. Isabella Parish in San come to better understand the important Rafael for her entire 30-year music ministry place singing holds in the liturgy.” career. Four of St. Isabella’s five weekend “The Church’s instructions are clear that Masses have music. The roster of particisinging is an integral element of Catholic pants includes five accompanists, two guiliturgy,” said Patrick Vallez-Kelly, director of tarists, two violins, a flute player, three worship for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. choirs, a hand bell choir and five cantors.

“It is part of our longstanding liturgical tradi“When I introduce new music, I always tion. Thus, the Church gives us unambiguous teach it before Mass and sing it for at least a statements such as, `Singing by the gathered month,” Myers said about effective methods assembly and ministers is important at all celof encouraging the assembly to sing. “A ebrations’, and `every care should be taken welcoming, smiling eye-contacting cantor is that singing by the ministers and the people is always a plus.” not absent in celebrations that occur on Sundays and on holy days of obligation’.”

Go with what you know, Myers said. “The “While I think that these instructions give assembly seems to love the tried-and-true serious challenge to Sunday Masses without music.” Musicians, she said, have to remember singing, I also don’t think it means we must that “even if we are tired of a song, the assemhave an accompanist, cantor and four hymns bly doesn’t sing it as often as we do and we at every Mass,” Vallez-Kelly said. “In fact, as need to keep that in mind.” When new music the most fundamental order of musical busiis introduced, Myers always adds a few of the ness, the Church directs us simply to sing the “best loved songs at the parish to the Mass.” dialogues between the ministers and the peoSelecting music that is too difficult for Sister Anne Marie McKenna, BVM, accompanies and directs ple and the acclamations before the Gospel non-musicians or too far out of the average the children’s choir of St. Catherine of Siena Parish. and during the Eucharistic Prayer. This should range of a congregation hampers the effort of encouraging people to sing, Myers said.

Singing priests are very important to a singing assembly, the be arranged for even in our most simple Sunday masses.”

Vallez-Kelly said he agrees with “two points made by “Unfortunately, I feel we are very far from the `full and music director added. “If the priest engages in singing, I believe active’ participation the Church calls us to,” Myers said. the parishioners will as well.” Repertoire that connects with the our music directors.”

“First,” he explained, “the acoustics of the worship “Interestingly, whenever a group of Catholics is part of a small people also helps, the music director said, noting the choice of gathering outside of Mass, they sing their hearts out, so I know unfamiliar music tops the list of ways to dampen participation. space matter. If the singing of the assembly is the primary they are capable of it. But when they come to Mass, those same Joseph Murphy had probably the most varied assignment of musical expression of the Church, then our churches’ floors people seem to become more introspective and sing less.” music leaders Catholic San Francisco interviewed. As music and walls and pews and ceilings are the assemblies’ soundWith regard to the “quiet Mass,” Myers said, “From a coordinator at the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi in ing boards. The assembly’s collective voice needs to resliturgical point of view, I feel there should indeed be music North Beach and cantor at St. James Church in San Francisco, onate, and most individuals need to hear themselves blendat every Mass and I do schedule music at the 7:30 a.m. he oversees programs that include the hymns of today and yes- ing in with the community’s singing in order to have the confidence to sing with a fuller voice. Acoustics affect both Mass on Christmas, Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. But terday, not to mention Latin chant and four-part singing. over the years, I have come to realize that some members “The music at both places is very different, as you can realities. The bad acoustic design of some of our churches has hurt us, musically. In see,” Murphy said, noting he any new renovation projects sings with three others at the or church constructions, we shrine. “We form an SATB ‘The Church’s instructions are are challenging parishes (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and pastors to invest in quartet or schola,” he said. clear that singing is an integral good acoustic design and Worship aids with the chants materials. It makes a world of the Mass are printed for element of Catholic liturgy.’ of difference in our worthe assembly. “My tenor is also an organist and between – Patrick Vallez-Kelly ship.”

“Second,” he continued, the two of us, we add some “our best singing parishes instrumental music and supAccording to a recent survey by the National port when needed, although most of our music is sung a cap- have not become so by accident. We could look at any Association of Pastoral Musicians, “both musicians parish or assembly that sings well and trace its musical pella.” and non-musicians thought that congregational “The music at St. James is a blend of traditional and con- development to specific persons — cantors, music directors singing was better in their own community than it temporary,” Murphy said. “In both places, participation is and/or pastors — who understood the importance of the is in most U.S. parishes.” `not bad’ to `pretty good.’ At St. James people do attempt to singing assembly in Christian worship and who invested a According to survey results, both musicians and sing and most do not bolt for the exit during the recessional lot of time, energy, prayer, skill and catechesis into leading non-musicians had negative opinions about the hymn, and we usually sing all the verses. At the shrine, the their people in song. Responses given by our music direcstate of congregational singing in the United States. regulars are pretty comfortable singing the Credo (Creed) tors show that pastoral music can be a complex, nuanced Only 39 percent of musicians and 27 percent of and the Pater Noster (Our Father) and they are coming along field of ministry. I simply want to affirm those priests, non-musicians found it to be above par. About 75 music directors, cantors and other lay leaders who continnicely singing the other parts of the Mass.” percent of those responding to the survey were Murphy thinks teaching music and singing as a regular ue to invest themselves and resources in the efforts to involved in some sort of music ministry. part of school curriculum will help singing all around. He improve our assemblies’ singing.”

National survey reveals mixed results on singing

February 29, 2008

Catholic San Francisco

21

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Scripture reflection

1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 A READING FROM THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL 1 SM 16:1B, 6-7, 10-13A The Lord said to Samuel: “Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”

As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is here before him.”

But the Lord said to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.”

In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any one of these.”

Then Samuel asked Jesse,“Are these all the sons you have?”

Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.” Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance.

The Lord said, “There—anoint him, for this is the one!” Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David.

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 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.

Letters . . .

■ Continued from page 18 Jesus vote?” is the question all Christians should ask before casting their ballot.

When reading about the Latino voters electing Hillary Clinton, I was extremely disappointed. One Hispanic woman who was interviewed on television praised Hillary for being articulate. Hitler was articulate yet caused the massacre of thousands of innocents.

Do voters realize that Hillary was opposed to the “Ban on Partial Birth Abortion,” the horrible practice of killing babies in the third trimester of pregnancy? Barack Obama also voted not to ban that grotesque practice.

It seems to me that the best way to judge a candidate is by checking their voting record. The Internet makes this easy.

Jesus would never vote for liberal stances opposed by our Church: gay marriage, embryonic stem cell research, euthanasia, cloning and legalized abortion.

We must understand the great miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and how she

A READING FROM THE LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS EPH 5:8-14 Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light.

Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN JN 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” — which means Sent —.So he went and washed, and came back able to see. His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”

Some said, “It is,” but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”

He said, “I am.”

They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”

So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.”

But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?”

He said, “He is a prophet.”

They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”

Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.”

He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him. appeared to stop the practice of pagan killing in Mexico. Abortion is murder and in the eyes of God this is a blight on our nation. How can Americans vote for anyone who does not protect our most vulnerable citizens, the unborn?

I am grateful for candidates John McCain and Mike Huckabee, we who are pro-life do have a voice.

Claire Rogus San Mateo

Jesus wouldn’t vote In regard to the Feb. 8 column, “How would Jesus vote?” — He wouldn’t. He lived in an occupied Imperial Roman territory. Rather, my discernment is: “How would Jesus have me vote?”, given his abundant graces to me as a 21st century Catholic woman living in a democracy with the opportunity and the responsibility to vote.

Truly I am blessed in this responsibility and opportunity, remembering the billions of other human beings living now who can’t.

Mary Margaret Flynn, MD San Carlos

ROB GRANT

Was blind, but now I see… or do I? When former slave-trader John Newton wrote his hymn “Amazing Grace,” little did he know that nearly 250 years later, these vulnerable words recounting his lifelong struggle with faith would live on to become not only the indisputably best-known hymn in Christian history, but one of the most soul-inspiring as well.

In this week’s Gospel of the man “steeped in sin,” born blind, and given sight by Jesus, we hear similar stories of people’s movement, often with reluctance and surprise, from a place of being clueless, to that of being in the light.

In Newton’s story, we have a man who begins his adult life with neither faith, nor vision, nor, as he spends his maritime career at the helm of various slave ships, any apparent awareness of the disparity between the “spiritual awakening” he’d had when facing death on the open seas, and his continuing to deal in the buying and selling of human beings as a slave trader. It is in his mature life that he has yet another conversion, this one reaching deep into his consciousness, where he realizes that it is impossible for him to justify slavery as the institution deemed “acceptable” by religious leaders, and considered “necessary” for the survival of England’s economy.

His conversion becomes a major force in the abolitionist movement in two ways. First, as the discussion of England’s participation in the slave trade was introduced in the British Parliament, it was the publication of Newton’s “Thoughts on the African Slave Trade” that opened the minds of many statesmen to the cause of abolition. Secondly, when Parliament Minister William Wilberforce, convinced the abolition movement was beyond his reach, was poised to leave Parliament “to serve God as a vicar in a parsonage,” it was Newton’s counsel that Wilberforce “serve God where he was” that convinced the young Parliament Minister to take full on the task of championing the abolitionist cause.

Serve God in Parliament Wilberforce did. In 1807, after a 23-year campaign, he convinced fellow legislators to finally sign his Abolition of Slave Trade Act. Newton moved along a challenging path from a blindness about his own worth to a vision of his intimate connection to the love of God, and, if circuitously, from there to an understanding of the inherent connection of all creation to that love — a connection that trumps

the “necessary pragmatism” of economics, and that transcends even the “acceptable practice” of religion, a truth that compels him to speak up for what is just, even facing personal loss.

As John’s Gospel narrative begins, the disciples of Jesus (who have presumably heard Jesus’ teachings, and, even more palpably seen who he is), look upon a blind man and, reflecting the conventional religious belief that illness is God’s punishment for sin, ask, “Lord, was it his sin, or his parents’ that caused his blindness?”

Jesus, ever the defier of convention, recognizes his own need to rise above his wellintentioned but erroneous Jewish assumptions, quickly retorts, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God may be made visible through him.” Jesus reminds himself, and his somewhat dense disciples (not to mention us, somewhat dense 21st century followers), that the blind man is not the only one with limited, distorted vision. We all, in our blind acceptance of a doctrine of God as a vindictive punisher, are unable to see the creator of all as having nothing but creation’s flourishing and nourishment at his heart.

Jesus continues his defiance of convention by challenging not only his followers, but the religious leaders, the Pharisees, to see their own blind spots, their clinging to unexamined and unjust assumptions of all people’s inherent worth and dignity.

And so, the questions for this week’s Lenten self-inventory: What blindness, what distortion of the all-embracing, all empowering love of God do we as individuals cling to?

And what limitation to the limitless expression of God’s love in every man, every woman and every child do we as Church place?

Jesus boycott vote?

issues in the context of our larger society.

I respect Ms. Spears’ apparent expertise in biblical methodology. But, I wish she could invite us to share her insights without all the “duty bound, we cannot deny, we have to admit, we should not dare, etc.” As to how Jesus would vote, I’m not sure there is a singular answer.

Maybe he would boycott the whole process.

Jack Hitchcock San Mateo

Jane Spears’ thoughts on how we should approach voting (Guest commentary, “How would Jesus vote?” Feb 8) reminded me of how some nuns long ago directed my preparation for First Communion — from a provided list of specific forbidden acts; select those that apply, segregate mortal from venial and then prioritize according to severity, repetition, etc (impure thoughts at the top).

Can the moral approach to selecting a president be so formulaic? The issues debated may not be the ones assigned the highest priority by Ms. Spears. Perhaps the choice might be based on how the candidate identifies with those issues in play that touch humanity’s most vulnerable and that will open for more consideration the connectedness (regarding a respect for life) of the unborn, the ill, the impoverished, victims of war and genocide, etc.

The morality that is engendered by our faith has been subject to some evolving in our understanding and application to specific circumstances. It seems to me this can help us remain open in how we engage these moral

Rob Grant is a 30-year veteran of parish work in San Francisco where he currently serves as music director at Corpus Christi Parish, cantor/guitarist at St. Gabriel and Notre Dame des Victoires, and teacher of music and liturgy at St. Paul.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of San Francisco and a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from Holy Names University.

Has my vote What a pleasure it was to read the Feb. 8 column by Jane Sears, “How Would Jesus Vote?” It brought into perspective all the issues we ponder in these troubling times. At the same time it was written in an interesting and intelligent manner. Catholics need to be reminded that our vote must not go to a candidate who opposes God-given moral principles.

I congratulate you on your wonderful publication and look forward to more columns from Jane Sears.

Joan Kolakowski San Jose

22

Catholic San Francisco

February 29, 2008

obituary

Sister Bernadette – ‘timeless advocate for rights’ Remembered as a “tireless advocate for master’s in sociology and economics from civil rights” and honored during a moment Gonzaga University, Spokane, Wash. From of silence during the Feb. 25 Paul Wattson 1934 to 1941, Sister Bernadette taught in Lecture at the University of San Francisco, Catholic elementary schools.

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sister Bernadette was a pioneer in the Sister Bernadette Giles was buried yesterday, work of parish Sisters. In 1943, she began Feb. 28, at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, folher 30 years of working in St. Agnes lowing a funeral Mass celebrated at her comParish, San Francisco, making home visits munity’s motherhouse in San Francisco. to parishioners – an unheard of activity for women religious in the 1940s. During those A native of San Francisco, Sister years, she also taught at Presentation High Bernadette (baptismal name Anne Patricia School, San Francisco.

Giles) was born in 1914, and was a Sister of Sister Bernadette was appointed to the the Presentation for 76 years. Sister Bernadette San Francisco Human Rights Commission leaves loving Presentation Sisters, and numerSister Bernadette Giles,

by Mayor John Shelly and served on that ous cousins in Ireland, including Nancy, Irene, PBVM commission for 16 years. Her particular Marie, Hugh, Paul and Fintina Giles.

Sister Bernadette earned a bachelor’s degree in sociolo- interest was segregation in the public schools and discrimgy from Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles, and a ination in housing. She also was active in other community groups including The Catholic Professional Women’s Club, the Women’s Interfaith Dialogue on the Middle East, and the Archdiocesan Ecumenical Group.

In 2001, Sister Bernadette was honored by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in their awards for Women ● In the Feb. 8 story on the 50th anniversary of the Making History for her long service as a teacher and Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate activist for human rights.

Conception in San Francisco, it was noted that the In recent years, Sister Bernadette has been engaged in Ukrainian Catholic Major Archbishop resides in Lviv, the ministry of prayer.

Ukraine; the residence has been moved to Kyiv, A vigil service was held Feb. 27 at the Presentation Ukraine.

Motherhouse, 2340 Turk Blvd. ● On page one of Feb. 15, a headline referring to a Memorial contributions to the Sisters of the story on basketball standout Rob Jones should have Presentation can be sent to Sisters of the Presentation, stated, “Riordan’s Rob Jones overcomes Jonestown Development Office, 281 Masonic Ave., San Francisco, tragedy.”

94118.

Correction, clarification

Sister Constance Welch ‘everyone’s favorite’ A funeral Mass for Sacred Heart Sister Constance Welch was celebrated Jan. 26 at the congregation’s retirement facility, Oakwood, in Atherton. Sister Welch was 99 years old and a religious for more than 75 years.

Born in Portola Valley, Sister Welch met the Sacred Heart community in San Francisco where she attended their schools and later in their boarding school in Menlo Park. It was a relationship that would last for the rest of her life.

“Connie was everyone’s favorite,” said a note about her from the Sacred Heart Sisters. “She was Sister Constance Welch, RSCJ the same with everyone – positive, kind, always willing to help.” As a student, she excelled, graduating with honors.

Sister served for 30 years at her alma mater. During that time, she earned a doctorate from Stanford University and served as head of the Education Department at Lone Mountain College in San Francisco. When the college closed in 1978, Sister Welch moved to Oakwood where she cooked, worked in the garden, served at liturgy. “She has left a rich legacy of devotedness, childlike simplicity, hard word and beautiful religious spirit,” her congregation said.

Interment was in the Sisters cemetery on the Oakwood grounds. Remembrances may be made to the Religious of the Sacred Heart, 140 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton 94027.

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Feast day . . .

■ Continued from page 17 dom, age, and grace before God and men.” In the Jewish tradition children were, until the age of five or so, in the special care and tutelage of their mothers. But beyond that age children came under the special guidance of their fathers. Joseph by duty and privilege was the rabbi of the Holy Family to teach Jesus the Jewish faith and practices. Joseph led his family in the worship of God in their home at Nazareth.

At meal times both Mary and Jesus looked to Joseph at the head of the table to offer the prayer of blessing. Each year when the great evening of the Passover was celebrated, the youngster Jesus played his role and addressed the ritual question to Joseph: “Father, why is this night different from every other night?” Then he listened with his mother to Joseph’s narration of the glorious events of the Exodus and the explanation of the meaning of the paschal lamb.

Later Jesus would hear John the Baptizer proclaim him,

Rolheiser . . .

■ Continued from page 19 and the great mysteries, are indeed beyond our imaginations and sometimes when we try to imagine them we experience an agnosticism precisely because we end up meeting ourselves rather than God. And we shouldn’t believe in ourselves!

Paul Tillich once defined real religion as what we attain when we attune ourselves to a reality and a consciousness that is beyond our own, as opposed to touching what is high-

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his life, abba.

His deep affection for Joseph is evident in the circumstances of the gospel. Joseph made a profound impression on Jesus.

Has Joseph made an impression on us? How do we think of St. Joseph, honor him, and pray to him? Do we appreciate the special place he has in Christian spirituality and in our own heritage? Let us revere wholeheartedly the husband of Mary, the foster father of Jesus, the patron of the universal Church. After all, he is the man who is closest to Christ.

A retired educator, Marianist Brother John Samaha resides at the Marianist Care Center in Cupertino, Calif.

est inside ourselves or highest within the collective ideals of humanity. In real religion we meet God, not ourselves.

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the Son of Joseph and Mary, the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.

When Jesus was of age, Joseph introduced him to synagogue worship. Jesus was faithful to the synagogue rituals throughout his life. Joseph also taught Jesus the skills of a carpenter. Through the practice of this trade Jesus supported himself and his mother after Joseph’s death.

Jesus’ human experience of fatherhood was drawn from his relationship with Joseph, his own earthly father. When Jesus said, “What father would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf, or a poisonous snake when he asks for a fish,” surely he had in mind how kind and gentle Joseph was to him as he was growing.

When Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son, Joseph must have been the model of that loving father. As Jesus described how the father hugged and kissed the son who had been lost, perhaps he was recalling how Joseph hugged and kissed him after he had been lost in the temple for three days.

When Jesus taught us how to pray, he began with the same loving title with which he had addressed Joseph all

invites you

Travel Directory

Catholic San Francisco

Sorrento

HOLY MEXICO October 11 – 18, 2008 Departs San Francisco 8-Day Pilgrimage

only

1,799

$

($1,899 after February July 4, 2008)

Fr. Donald Eder, Spiritual Director Visit: Mexico City, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Ocotlan, Cuernavaca

Our Lady of Ocotlan

For a FREE brochure on these pilgrimages contact: Catholic San Francisco

(415) 614-5640 Please leave your name, mailing address and your phone number California Registered Seller of Travel Registration Number CST-2037190-40 (Registration as a Seller of Travel does not constitute approval by the State of California)

HOLY LAND & EGYPT with Fr. Rolando Petronio, Fr. Edwin Musico & Fr. Jorge Arboleda November 13 – 24, 2008 Cost of tour: From SFO $2,690. Plus air taxes.

Catholic San Francisco

Lenten Opportunities Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m.: Noontime Concerts at Old St. Mary’s Cathedral, 660 California St. at Grant in San Francisco. The 45-minute program follows the 12:05 p.m. Mass. Visit www.noontimeconcerts.org for schedule of performers.

Wednesdays through March 19, 7:30 p.m.: Scripture Faith Sharing/Lectio Divina at Motherhouse of Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, 43326 Mission Blvd. in Fremont.

Contact Sister Beth Quire at (510) 657-2468 or beth@msjdominicans.org.

Tuesdays of Lent, 7:30 p.m.: The Psalms: Model and Guide to Prayer, a Lenten Series with Franciscan Father Michael Guinan, retired professor from the Franciscan Graduate School of Theology in Berkeley at St. Emydius Church, Ashton and Demontfort St. in San Francisco.

Cost is $25. Contact Peggy and Joe Koman at (415) 585-8260.

Tuesdays of Lent: Join the St. Rita community for “The Call of the Prophets,” exploring the unique nature of the prophetic voice found in Hosea and Amos, Micah, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel. Each evening will begin with a light soup supper at 6:15 p.m.in the Hall followed by lecture and discussion at 7 p.m..by pastor, Father Kenneth Weare, and Noele Kostelic. For more information, call (415) 456-4815.

Tuesdays of Lent: St. Raphael Church in San Rafael is sponsoring a series of Soup Suppers. The theme is “Building a Community of Faith”. Prayer service takes place at 6:30 p.m. followed by supper and discussion. Call (415) 4548141.

Feb. 29, 7:30 p.m., March 1, 2 p.m.: “The Song of Bernadette” at St. Boniface Theater, Golden Gate Ave. at Leavenworth in San Francisco. Benefits Living Room Senior Center.

Call (415) 592-2872.

March 2, 6:30 p.m.: Concert at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 666 Filbert on Washington Square by Sonoma Valley Chamber Ensemble Chorale. The program is “Songs of Peace” and will include “Dona Nobis Pacem” from Bach’s B Minor Mass. Admission is free; donations gratefully accepted.

March 5, 6:15 p.m.: “Pathways to Authentic Intimacy,” a discussion led by Paulist Father Charles Kullmann at Old St. Mary’s Bookstore, 614 Grant Ave. in San Francisco. The book “Your Sexual Self,” available for purchase at the bookstore, will be used as a reference. Call (415) 2883800.

March 8, 9: Soli Deo Gloria chorus will present the U.S. premiere of composer Allan Bevan’s Nou Goth Sonne Wode – a meditation on Christ’s crucifixion - Saturday at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1111 O’Farrell, San Francisco at 5 p.m. and Sunday at St. Joseph Basilica, 1109 Chestnut St. in Alameda at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 general and $20 student/senior and will be available at the door. Discounted advance tickets are available online at www.sdgloria.org.

Tuesdays through April 1, 7:30 p.m.: Catholic Studies S e r i e s : Understanding the Creed with Mark B r u m l e y , publisher/CEO Ignatius Press. Cost: $60. Takes place at St. Finn Barr Church, 415 Edna St., San Francisco. Contact Nellie Hizon at nelliehizon@yahoo.com or at (415) 699-7927 or Mary McCurry at Mark Brumley McCurryM@sbcglobal.net or (650) 738-2571.

Soup Suppers with presentations on social topics of local and global interest at St. Dominic Church, 2390 Bush St. at Steiner in San Francisco at 6:30 p.m. - March 7: Homelessness in San Francisco, Dominican Sister Anne Bertain of St. Dominic’s Lima Center and Jeff Faes of Larkin Street Youth Services. March 14: Human Trafficking, Norma Hotaling, Standing Against Exploitation. Call (415) 567-7824.

March 5, 6,7, 7 p.m.: Lenten Retreat at Our Lady of Mercy Parish, 5 Elmwood Dr. in Daly City’s Westlake District with Father David Pettingill. Free parking. Everyone is welcome.

Light refreshments follow in church hall.

March 6, April 3, May 1, 7:30 p.m.: Bioethics seminars on advance health directives at Heart of Mary Center, 2580 McAllister St. in San Francisco. Donation is $30. Refreshments served. Professor Raymond Dennehy will facilitate. Call (415) 219-8719.

March 7, 4:30 p.m.: Outdoor Stations of the Cross at St. Anne’s Home, 300 Lake St. in San Francisco with Lenten supper of soup, bread, cheese and fruit following. Please respond to (415) 751-6510.

March 13, 7 p.m.: “Praying with Icons: Windows into Heaven” at Pauline Books and Media, 2640 Broadway, Redwood City. Father James Graham, a Melkite Greek Catholic priest, and Dr. Ruth Ohm, professor at St. Patrick’s Seminary will lead the presentation on sacred icons. Call (650) 369-4230.

March 15, 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Day of Recollection sponsored by San Francisco Guild of the Catholic Medical Association at St. Mary’s Hospital chapel and cafeteria, 2250 Hayes St., 6th floor, San Francisco. Donation is $35. Lunch and light breakfast included. Presenters are Father John Jimenez and Nello Prato on the rosary. Father Mark Taheny, chaplain will preside at Mass. Call (415) 219-8719.

February 29, 2008 Sundays: Concerts at 3:30 p.m. Call (415) 567-2020, ext. 213. Open to the public.

Admission free. March 2: Wabash College Glee Club; March 9: David Hatt, organist; March 16, Russell Hancock, piano.

Datebook

Food & Fun

(PHOTO BY VINCE PARATORE)

24

Stefania Pierucci is Lili and Greg Schwartz is the puppeteer in the Archbishop Riordan High School production of “Carnival,” in the school’s Lindland Theater April 11, 12, 18, 19 at 8 p.m. and April 20 at 2 p.m. Almost 60 other students complete the ensemble of cast, crew and orchestra. The school is located at 175 Phelan St. across from San Francisco City College. Tickets are available on-line at www.riordanhs.org.

March 15, 9:30 am to 4:45 p.m.: The Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences presents “Twenty Years After The New View From Rome: Pope John Paul II On Science and Religion,” a conference featuring Jesuit Father George Coyne, former director of the Vatican Observatory. Held at the Graduate Jesuit Father Theological Union Board Room, 2400 George Coyne Ridge Rd., Berkeley.

Registration (including lunch if registered by March 5): $45 or $35 for seniors/students. Visit www.ctns.org/jkr_fellow.html or call (510) 8488152.

March 18, 7 – 9 p.m.: The Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences offers a public lecture, “The Dance Of The Fertile Universe: Did God Do It?” by Dr. George Coyne, S.J., former director of the Vatican Observatory. Held at Gesu Chapel, 1735 Le Roy Ave., Berkeley. Free and open to the public.

For more information, visit www.ctns.org/jkr_fellow.html or contact CTNS at (510) 848-8152.

March 18: Emerging Alliance of Religion and Ecology, San Domenico School’s Spring Spirituality Evening featuring Mary Evelyn Tucker, a scholar, author and lecturer on religion and ecology.

She is the co-founder and co-director of the Forum on Religion Mary Evelyn and Ecology and is a Tucker member of the Interfaith Partnership for the Environment at the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Evening begins with dessert reception at 7 p.m. and talk at 7:30 p.m. at San Domenico School, Hall of the Arts, 1500 Butterfield Rd., San Anselmo. Contact Beth O’Hara at (415) 258-1931. Reservations necessary. Tickets at $35 include dessert.

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 available. For information contact, mercyyoungadults@sbcglobal.net.

1st Friday at 7:30 p.m.: Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park at 7:30 p.m. Call Deacon Dominic Peloso at (650) 322-3013.

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

2nd Friday at 8 p.m.: Our Lady of the Pillar, 400 Church St. in Half Moon Bay. Call Cheryl Fuller at (650) 726-2249.

3rd Friday, 8 p.m.: Woodside Priory Chapel, 302 Portola Rd., Portola Valley. Contact Benedictine Father Martin at (650) 851-6133 for directions or information.

Catholic Charismatic Renewal March 7: The Charismatic Renewal Board invites all to the celebration of the First Friday Mass at 7:30 p.m., St. Catherine of Siena Church, Bayswater and Primrose, Burlingame preceded by rosary at 7 p.m. For further information, contact John Murphy at exmorte@aol.com or call (415) 665-1600, ext. 22.

St. Mary’s Cathedral The following events are taking place at or are coordinated by the cathedral of the Archdiocese located at Gough and Geary St. in San Francisco. Call (415) 567-2020 for more information.

Fridays at 12:40 p.m.: immediately following 12:10 Mass - Stations of the Cross.

Fridays, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.: Soup Supper in Event Center, followed at 7 p.m. with a bilingual Stations of the Crossl.

March 2, 12:30 p.m.: An introduction to Christ the Light Cathedral by Father Paul Minnihan, provost of Oakland’s Cathedral of Christ the Light, the new cathedral being built on the shore of Lake Merritt. All are invited.

March 12, 10:30 a.m.: A free grief support workshop, “Taking Care of Yourself in Grief and Loss” in the Event Center, led by Msgr. Bowe Room with Barbara Elordi, MFT, director of Archdiocesan Grief Care Ministry. For further details, call Sister Esther at (415) 567-2020, ext.

218.

March 2, 5 – 7 p.m.: “Wine and Roses,” taste wines from seven wineries and taste appetizers from several restaurants by candlelight and soft music at a Woodside estate. Proceeds benefit St. Francis Center, a Redwood City facility providing food, clothing and education to the poor. Tickets are $75. Contact Lynda Connolly at (650) 5927714 or llconnolly@gmail.com.

March 8: Shamrock Shenanigans, benefiting works of Catholic Professional Women’s Club including a partial scholarship program for Catholic high school students, at United Irish Cultural Center, 45th Ave. at Sloat Blvd. in San Francisco. Silent auction and no-host social at 11:30 p.m. with lunch at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $35. Call Joan Higgins at (415) 333-2422 or jhigg2390@aol.com.

March 8: Mercy High School, Burlingame’s annual auction and dinner, “Mercy…Beaucoup” at Kohl Mansion with guest emcees KTVU Channel 2 News Team Sal Castenada and Pam Cook. Tickets are $70. Contact the Mercy Development Department for ticket/auction information at (650) 762-1190.

March 8: St. Monica School and Parish auction dinner and fundraiser, “It’s a Small World.” An evening of food and fun in the St. Monica Parish Hall, 23rd Ave and Geary Blvd, San Francisco.

Event starts at 6 p.m. with a silent auction, continues with a crab Cioppino dinner, and concludes with a live auction of student-created art items. Tickets are $45 per adult and $15 per child ages 5 to 17. For more information, call the school office at (415) 751-9564 or look for the “It’s a Small World” link on the school website: www.stmonicasf.org.

March 8, 6 p.m.: St. Stephen Women’s Guild’s silent and live auction dinner dance, “Baubles and Bubbles,” at the Marine’s Memorial Club and Hotel, San Francisco. The event honors St. Stephen “anchor parishioners” Cecelia Prete and Ed Reidy. Bob Sarlatte is master of ceremonies. Dance music by the Cheeseballs.

Tickets are $120. Call Suzi Desmond at (415) 260-3080, or Katherine Moser at (415) 3077729. Information is also available at http:\\www.st-stephen.org. Raffle tickets are available. Free drawing ticket available at school office upon request.

March 8, 9: Estate sale benefiting works of St. Elizabeth Parish Women’s Club, Saturday, 9 a.m.

– 4 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Shop for art, jewelry, glassware, tools, collectibles and more with 45 vendors. Takes place in Cantwell Hall, Wayland and Goettingen St., San Francisco. Call (415) 244-0506.

Arts & Entertainment March 7, 6 p.m.: Cinema Vita Film Festival at Delancey Street Theater, 600 Embarcadero in San Francisco, featuring “After the Truth,” a German film portraying a moot trial of nefarious Nazi Joseph Mengele. The event is sponsored by the Respect Life Ministry of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and other church groups and is dedicated to encouraging emerging filmmakers and showcasing movies about contemporary issues concerning life. Contact Vicki Evans at (415) 614-5533.

Catholic Charities CYO Centennial Events Visit www.cccyo.org/events or call (415) 972-1252 March 7, 6:30 p.m.: CYO Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Dinner honoring longtime CYO official Ben Legere, CYO player and coach Bob Drucker and San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White.

Single, Divorced, Separated Information about Bay Area single, divorced and separated programs are available from Jesuit Father Al Grosskopf at (415) 422-6698.

Ongoing support groups for the divorced and separated take place at St. Bartholomew Parish, 300 Columbia Dr. at Alameda de las Pulgas, first and third Tuesdays of the months at 7 p.m. in parish Media Center and first and third Wednesdays at St. Stephen Parish hall, Eucalyptus and 23rd Ave. in San Francisco next to Stonestown Mall at 7:30 p.m. Call Gail at (650) 591-8452 or Joanne at (650) 347-0701.

Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.: Catholic Singles Club – 50s, 60s, 70s — at Starbucks at corner of Jackson and Davis Streets, San Francisco, for chat and possible plans for weekend activities.

Come to table with CSC sign. More information: Maria (415) 391-8579.

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.

February 29, 2008

Music TV

Catholic San Francisco

Books RADIO Film

25

Stage

San Francisco Ballet at 75 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; alive and very well Dance in San Francisco has a long and illustrious history.

Even in the far off days when the founding Christensen brothers had to use the Commerce High School auditorium as their performing space, it was clear that this company would excel in the whole spectrum of dance, from the most familiar classics to works that came out of contemporary American culture.

Not only that, but it would also attract artists of the finest caliber worldwide, and continue to nourish new talent through the Ballet School.

As the company celebrates its 75th birthday in its permanent home at the War Memorial Opera House it continues to fulfill its early promise.

The first two programs of this anniversary season were remarkable for the highest standards, consonant with the international reputation the troupe now boasts. I saw Program Two first. It went from strength to strength, beginning with Balanchineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s familiar â&#x20AC;&#x153;Divertimento No. 15â&#x20AC;? to Mozartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music and continuing with Mark Morrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes,â&#x20AC;? an example of modern dance that reaps large benefits from small means: few dancers and solo piano that combine to produce vigorous and harmonious movement.

The evening ended with Stravinskyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Firebird,â&#x20AC;? one of the seminal works of modern ballet. Lily Rogers was brilliant in the title role, and the staging was appropriately colorful, although the finale did not visually match the tremendous impact of the music. The orchestra played very well under George Cleveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s direction but with its limited numbers could hardly convey the grandeur of this matchless symphonic score. Still, the whole piece made its impact as a fitting conclusion to a fine evening.

Program 1 was of the highest quality all the way through. It opened with Lew Christensenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rollicking â&#x20AC;&#x153;Filling Station,â&#x20AC;? a piece of hearty Americana where humor and athleticism were at the service of technically demand-

(PHOTO BY ERIK TOMASSON)

By Father Basil DePinto

The San Francisco Ballet performs Balanchineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s "Diamonds."

ing dance. Make no mistake, high art can be great fun.

Next came director Helgi Tomassonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s superb â&#x20AC;&#x153;7 for Eightâ&#x20AC;? (variations for dancers). This ballet is an object lesson in the concept of dance flowing out of music. On a darkened but carefully lighted stage, the dancers in black, music from Bach keyboard concertos provide the focus for seven sets of intense movement. What we see is not only expressiveness in bodily motion, but the way the dancers actually sculpt the space around them. Above all, they seem to give visual form to the sound of the music to produce a perfect fusion of both. A stirring, even revelatory display.

To top it all off there was the Diamonds section from

Balanchineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s masterful â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jewels.â&#x20AC;? Set to Tchaikovskyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Third Symphony, Diamonds gathers the corps of dancers in round after round of brilliant maneuvers, with glittering solo and ensemble work. The central couple were all one could ask for: the exquisitely graceful Rachel Viselli, partnered by the stalwart charm of Ruben Martin, a danseur noble if there ever was one. The stirring finale was surely the crown of the work.

Balanchine said that with this ballet he wanted Americans to have a sense of the great dance tradition of imperial Russia.

Well, I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t there but having seen the San Francisco version, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m willing to bet that imperial Russia never had it so good.

Father Basil De Pinto is a frequent contributor on the arts.

Several new series scheduled to premiere on EWTN Eternal Word Television Network will oral tradition to bring the teachings and stolaunch a full slate of new, half-hour series ries of the Bible to life, Mondays at 2:30 in March. Among them is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Answering the p.m. and Thursdays at 11:30 p.m.

Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Callâ&#x20AC;? which features priests, nuns On Mondays at 8 a.m. and Wednesdays and religious sharing how they responded at 2:30 a.m., â&#x20AC;&#x153;Catholic Irelandâ&#x20AC;? presents to their vocational call and what it has various facets of the faith within the meant for them. The program is scheduled Emerald Isle.Included are shrines, new and Sundays at 3 a.m. and Thursdays at 11:30 existing lay movements, and diverse a.m. expressions of Catholic culture.

Also debuting in March is â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Catholic â&#x20AC;&#x153;Discovering the Vaticanâ&#x20AC;? offers details Church: Builder of Civilization.â&#x20AC;? Series of the Vaticanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history, provides a glimpse host Dr. Thomas Woods â&#x20AC;&#x153;takes viewers of modern daily life there, and includes beyond pseudo-historical attempts to mini- observations by Church leaders and jourmize the Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contributions to society,â&#x20AC;? nalists; Sundays at 8 a.m. and Wednesdays an ETWN spokesman said. The scholar at 8:30 p.m. demonstrates how the Church has played an inteLiving Miracle Productions presents gral role in the sciences, the university system, Western â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Song of Bernadetteâ&#x20AC;? moral principles, law, ecoat St. Boniface Theatre as a fundraiser nomics and more. The for the Living Room Senior Center. series airs Wednesdays at 3 p.m. and 11 p.m.

It is at 7:30 pm on Friday Feb. 29 and New in March will be also 2:00 pm on Saturday March 1. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Family Hearth.â&#x20AC;? It The theatre is located at features Brother Bob Fishman, a convert from 175 Golden Gate Ave. & Leavenworth.

Judaism, who uses the For info call 415.592.2872 unique method of Jewish

A Lenten Retreat!

Facilitated by Monica Brown and Hilary Musgrave We are very pleased to announce Monica Brown (from Australia) and Hilary Musgrave (from Ireland) will provide through scripture story-telling and imagery, music, ritual and sacred clowning, a SUD\HUIXO VSDFH WR UHĂ HFW RQ WKH 3DVFKDO P\VWHU\ LQ RXU RZQ OLYHV as we prepare to celebrate the Easter. Come join us!

Where: 6W %UHQGDQ 3DULVK

When

: March 10, 11, 12 & 13, 7:00-8:30pm (Monday through Thursday)

Look them up at www.emmausproductions.com!

In a series titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Man and Woman: A Divine Invention,â&#x20AC;? Father Benedict Groeschel and Dr. Alice von Hildebrand team up for an in-depth look at Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supreme creation: man and woman, Fridays at 11:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 1 a.m.

EWTN is carried on Comcast Digital

Channel 229; Astound Channel 80; San Bruno Cable Channel 143;DISH Satellite Channel 261; and Direct TV Channel 370.

Comcast airs EWTN on Channel 70 in Half Moon Bay and on Channel 74 in southern San Mateo County. Visit www.ewtn.com for more programming information.

The Catholic Professional and Business Club WEDNESDAY, PALIO Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ASTI, 640 SACRAMENTO ST. in the heart of the Financial District MARCH 12, 2008 7:00 AM Mass, 7:30 meeting

REAL ESTATE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s More Than a Home

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A home can easily be the single most personal acquisition a family or individual can make, and in doing so, affect a multitude of factors in our immediate neighborhoods, our cities, and our country. Join us for a fresh perspective on the benefits of home ownership as well as the opportunity of building a stronger community â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Cathy Scharetg Cathy Scharetg is past president of CPBC and is a Realtor with Pacific Union GMCA as Vice President and Branch Manager of the Opera Plaza office on Van Ness Avenue. She has an impressive track record for success. Cathy is an active member of several professional associations, including the San Francisco and California Associations of REALTORSÂŽ as a board director for both, and the Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Council of REALTORSÂŽ (WCR). She is past president of the San Francisco chapter of the WCR and past governor at the national level. Cathy holds an impressive list of industry credentials in training, leadership and development. Cathy and her husband Brendan are parishioners of St. Philipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church, along with their three children.

Palio dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Asti Restaurant (Mass and meeting location) located at 640 Sacramento Street (between Kearny and Montgomery) San Francisco, CA 94111.

Inexspensive parking at St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Square Garage, 433 Kearny.

Enclosed is my check made payable to â&#x20AC;&#x153;CPBC_ADSFâ&#x20AC;? for: ___ Annual Membership (s) at $45.00 each $ __________ ___ Breakfast (s) on Feb. 13, 2008 at $15 per member, $20 per non-member $ __________ TOTAL: $ __________ NAME: ____________________________________________ ADDRESS: ________________________________________ Pleae send form and payment to: __________________________________________________ CPBC, Attn: Mike Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Leary CITY, STATE, ZIP ___________________________________ One Peter Yorke Way PHONE: ___________________________________________ E-Mail: ___________________________________________ San Francisco, CA 94109

26

Catholic San Francisco

February 29, 2008

Slain professor had been discerning vocation

By Sharon Abercrombie OAKLAND, Calif. (CNS) — Just a week before he was shot to death, John Alfred Pierre Dennis, a professor at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, had attended his second class in a pastoral ministry program for the Diocese of Oakland.

Dennis, 59, had enrolled in the program to discern whether he was called to become an ordained deacon, said Father Jay Matthews, Dennis’ pastor at St. Benedict Parish in Oakland.

“He wanted to serve the Church even more than he was already doing,” the priest told The Catholic Voice, diocesan newspaper of Oakland.

Dennis was found shot to death in his car near a San Mateo County beach late in the evening of Feb. 9. Troy Thomas, 43, a recent parolee who had once been in a student outreach program run by Dennis, was arrested in connection with the crime when police discovered Dennis’ body in the back seat of a car Thomas was driving.

Oakland police said evidence at Dennis’ home indicated he was shot there during a violent confrontation.

The professor’s murder is the second violent tragedy to strike a St. Benedict parishioner in less than a year. Chauncey

SERVICE DIRECTORY For Advertising Information Call 415-614-5642 Fax: 415-614-5641 E-mail: penaj@sfarchdiocese.org

Bailey, an Oakland investigative journalist, was murdered in Oakland during the summer.

Both events came as terrible shocks, said Father Matthews. “Even when there is all this violence going on around us, we never think that it is going to touch us. This is just too close to home.”

Dennis had been a parishioner at St. Benedict’s for the past 18 years, serving as a lector, an extraordinary minister of Communion and a choir member. “He brought a wonderful spirit to everything he did,” said Father Matthews, adding,. “He was very much a minister, helping kids to get out of their environments of violence and hopelessness.”

Dennis was a mentor in the high potential program at St. Mary’s College, a project he founded 35 years ago for students who were the first generation in their family to attend college. He also lectured at the college’s School of Liberal Arts, served on the faculty of City College of San Francisco and taught at the Edward Sands Adult School in East Oakland.

Dennis died on the second anniversary of the death of his father.

Grief and shock over his murder also rippled throughout the St. Mary’s College community in Moraga. Christian Brother Michael Sandrel, dean for mission and ministry, said the stu-

dents and faculty spontaneously began gathering in the college chapel Feb. 10 as word spread of Dennis’ murder.

“That they should come to the chapel is one of those organic happenings, which says a lot about our campus culture,” said Brother Sandrel.

He said students were standing outside the chapel John Alfred Pierre Dennis in the evening cold, talking on cell phones to their friends. As the crowd continued to grow, he and staff members opened up the ministry center for the mourners, where they stayed until midnight.

Students and faculty filled the chapel Feb. 11 for a prayer service. They wept as they remembered the beloved teacher, affectionately known at “Dr. D.” A memorial Mass for Dennis was celebrated Feb. 20 in the St. Mary’s College chapel. A funeral Mass took place Feb. 18 at St. Benedict Church in Oakland. Survivors include his stepmother, Florence Dennis of Battle Creek, Mich., and his nephew, Josh Dennis of Sacramento.

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Inner Child Healing Offers a deep spiritual and psychological approach to counseling: ❖ 30 years experience with individuals, couples and groups ❖ Directed, effective and results-oriented ❖ Compassionate and Intuitive ❖ Supports 12-step ❖ Enneagram Personality Transformation

• Relationships • Addictions

Dr. Daniel J. Kugler Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Over 25 years experience

Confidential • Compassionate • Practical (415) 921-1619 1537 Franklin Street • San Francisco, CA 94109

WWW.ABBEYRENTSSF.COM

HOLLAND Plumbing Works San Francisco ALL PLUMBING WORK PAT HOLLAND

San Francisco: 415.337.9474 Complimentary phone consultation www.InnerChildHealing.com

• Family • Work • Depression • Anxiety

411 ALLAN STREET DALY CITY, CA 94014 FAX 415-715-6914 TEL 415-715-6900

PLUMBING

Lila Caffery, MA, CCHT

When Life Hurts It Helps To Talk

1- 800-717-PARTY

CA LIC #817607

SPECIALIZING IN SAN MATEO COUNTY REAL ESTATE If I can be of service to you, or if you know of anyone who is interested in buying or selling a home, please do not hesitate to call me . . . * Parishioner of St. Gregory’s Church, San Mateo

Today

MIKE TEIJEIRO Realtor (650) 523-5815 m.teijeiro@remax.net

Income Tax ● Notary Public Alan J. Cortes 3750 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94110

Ph: (415) 641-4292 (415) 641-4296 Fax: (415) 839-8501

BOOKS IN BALANCE ACCOUNTANCY

Accounting & Tax Preparation Individual & Business Small Business Start-ups & Restructuring

Service, Quality, Respect

www.booksinbalance.net

TAX MATTERS LLC

General Repairs Clean Drains & Sewers Water Heaters ●

●

SANTI PLUMBING & HEATING

FAMILY OWNED Lic. # 663641

24 HR

BEST PLUMBING, INC. Your Payless Plumbing

REAL ESTATE

T AXMAN CORTES TAX SERVICE

(415) 979-070 979-0706

Expert Plumbing Repairs

415-661-3707

(650) 589-9225

BONDED & INSURED

415-205-1235 ●

MCRCPA.COM

LET US SORT IT OUT 1748 MARKET STREET, SUITE 204 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102 PHONE (415) 934-0377 ● FAX (415) 934-0378 info@tax-mattersllc.com ● www.tax-mattersllc.com

Lic. # 872560

Discount

Garage Door

Repair

(650) 557-1263 EMAIL:

bestplumbinginc@comcast.net Member: Better Business Bureau

Lic #376353

Plumbing • Fire Protection • Certified Backflow

Phone: 415.468.1877 Fax: 415.468.1875 100 North Hill Drive, Unit 18 • Brisbane, CA 94005 Lic. No. 390254

W EDDING S ERVICES

capturing the most important moments in life Ph: (650) 991-2972 EMAIL: CupidsCamera@yahoo.com

Demolition METAL, STEEL, WOOD, ETC. . .

Variety of jobs / repairs also, hauling.

(415) 517-5977 (650) 757-1946

Construction MORROW CONTRUCTION Specializing In Wood Fences

(650) 994-6892 lic. 343633

GARAGE DOOR REPAIR

➤ Drain-Sewer Cleaning Service ➤ Water Heaters ➤ Gas Pipes ➤ Toilets ➤ Faucets ➤ Garbage Disposals ➤ Copper Repiping ➤ Sewer Replacement ➤ Video Camera & Line locate ➤ Air Duct Cleaning PROMPT AND UNPARALLELED SERVICE

John Bianchi

Cupid’s Camera

Broken Spring/Cable?

Operator Problems?

Lifetime Warranty All New Doors/Motors

One Price 24 /7

Maine Man Construction Chris Morris Decks, Patios, Deck repair, Remodeling, Small odd jobs, No job too big, or small Local References

415-931-1540

Marin County (415) 895-1264 Unlicensed

0% Financing Available

chrismorris324@comcast.net

contractors are required by law to list their license numbers in advertisments. The law also state that contractors performing work totaling NOTICE TO Licensed $500 or more must be state-licensed. Advertisments appearing in this newspaper without a license number indicate that the contractor is not licensed READERS For more information, contact: Contractors State License Board 800-321-2752

February 29, 2008

Catholic San Francisco

classifieds PUBLISH A NOVENA Pre-payment required Mastercard or Visa accepted

Cost $26

If you wish to publish a Novena in the Catholic San Francisco You may use the form below or call 415-614-5640

By Kimberly Ira – 2-9-08

Your prayer will be published in our newspaper

Prayer to St. Jude

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

❑ Prayer to the Blessed Virgin ❑ Prayer to the Holy Spirit

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

Oh, Holy St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near Kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return I promise to make you be invoked.

Say three our Fathers, three Hail Marys and Glorias. St. Jude pray for us all who invoke your aid. Amen.

This Novena has never been known to fail. This Novena must be said 9 consecutive days. Thanks.

A.M.S.P.B.

Help Wanted heaven can’t wait

Serra for Priestly Vocations Please call Archdiocese of San Francisco Fr. Tom Daly (415) 614-5683

ADVERTISING SALES For The Largest Publisher of Catholic Church Bulletins This is a Career Opportunity!

• Generous Commissions

PRINCIPAL Holy Trinity Catholic School (K-8) in El Dorado Hills, California is seeking a dynamic leader with exemplary leadership skills and a strong commitment to Catholic values to serve as principal for 300 students in an actively involved and growing community. The salary range is $53,059 – 88,874 plus benefits.

Elderly Care Care Available Personal care companion, Help with daily activities; driving, shopping, appointments.

27 years experience, references, bonded.

(415) 713-1366

27

For Advertising Information Call: 415-614-5642 Fax: 415-614-5641 Email: penaj@sfarchdiocese.org

A Lent Poem

It is now Ash Wednesday, The first day of Lent, And up the road to Calvary, Our dear Lord Jesus went, The heavy cross He carried, Though he did nothing wrong, Will remind us of the walk, That was truly very long, They spat at him and cursed him, To him farewell they bid, He said, “Father forgive them,” “They know not what they did” So we should carry our cross, up the road that Jesus went, Until it is Easter Sunday, The very last day of Lent.

Catholic San Francisco

CERTIFIED GERIATRIC HOME AIDE, native San Franciscan, 19 yrs. exp. seeks employment with elderly woman exc. ref.

415-730-4091

Hall for Rent HALL FOR RENT

Retreat JESUIT SUMMER RETREAT: 3 to 30 days.

Anchorage.

Knights of Columbus San Rafael #1292 Dining and dancing rooms for up to 120. Kitchen facility. Ideal for Baptisms, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. tassonejoe@hotmail.com

Panoramic setting.

Then Tour Alaska’s Grandeur.

(907) 346-2343, ext. 215

415.215.8571

holyspiritcenterak.org

Help Wanted Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy

HIGH SCHOOL President - Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy High School, a Catholic independent co-ed high school of 600 students in Everett, Washington, is seeking qualified persons for the position of president beginning July 1, 2008. A candidate for the position must be a practicing Catholic, have secondary school administrative experience, and hold at least a Master’s Degree. Information about the position and about the school, as well as application materials are available at the school website: www.archbishopmurphyhs.org.

The application deadline for the president is February 29, 2008.

Interviews will take place soon after. Interested individuals may also contact AMHS at info@am-hs.org or sconderman@am-hs.org to obtain materials.

• Excellent Benefit Package • Minimal Travel • Stong Office Support • Work in Your Community

Call 1-800-675-5051 Fax resume: 925-926-0799

Inquires can be made through Vince Anaclerio, Search Consultant, at (916) 663-2514 or vince_anaclerio@yahoo.com

JOB OPENING

State Policy Director Catholic Charities of California The 12 Catholic Charities agencies in the California seek a State Policy Director to advocate on public policy issues impacting the poor and vulnerable. The successful candidate will build on the strong local relationships of each agency as he or she works with coalitions and lawmakers in Sacramento.

Catholic Charities of California is a statewide association of social service agencies. The Sacramento based State Policy Director is responsible for leading legislative advocacy, preparing analysis and supporting directors and staff in public policy. The director also facilitates collaboration, information sharing, and capacity building opportunities among agencies.

The position requires strong experience in political advocacy, an understanding of Catholic social teaching, knowledge of Catholic Charities organization and familiarity with diocesan structures. The position requires self-direction and a commitment to serving member agencies. Competitve salary.

For additional information, visit www.cccalifornia.org. Send cover letter and resume to Donna Gutierrez at Catholic Charities of California, 1119 K Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814, or email to dgutierrez@cacatholic.org Fax: 916-443-4731

We are looking for full or part time

RNs, LVNs, CNAs, Caregivers In-home care in San Francisco, Marin County, peninsula Nursing care for children in San Francisco schools If you are generous, honest, compassionate, respectful, and want to make a difference, send us your resume: Jeannie McCullough Stiles, RN Fax: 415-435-0421 Email: info@snsllc.com Voice: 415-435-1262

PRINCIPAL Junipero Serra High School is a Roman Catholic, college-preparatory that serves 1000 young men. Founded in 1944 by the Archdiocese of San Francisco, the campus is located in San Mateo, California, 20 miles south of San Francisco. A graduate of Serra is a man of faith, wisdom and service who seeks to make a difference for the good in the lives of others.

Candidates for principal must be 21st century instructional leaders who are able to assume responsibility for day-to-day administration of the school, as well as implementing longterm goals and plans for continuous curricular and co-curricular improvement. Excellent leadership and communications skills along with the capacity for maintaining high quality across all school programs is a must. The Principal reports to the President.

QUALIFICATIONS: • • • •

A practicing Roman Catholic in good standing with the Church A Master’s degree in educational leadership (or a related field) A valid California teaching/administrative credential (or equivalent) Five years successful teaching/administrative experience at the secondary level

Salary is commensurate with credentials and experience.

LETTERS OF INTEREST AND A RESUME SHOULD BE SENT TO: Maureen Huntington, Superintendent of Catholic Schools One Peter Yorke Way San Francisco, CA 94109 Email: mhuntington@sfarchdiocese.org FAX: (415) 614-5664

Deadline: March 7, 2008

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Catholic San Francisco

February 29, 2008

In Remembrance of the Faithful Departed Interred In Our Catholic Cemeteries During the Month of January Nita Stuber Roseline Markiewitch Jesus C. Domingo HOLY CROSS Niels R. Terjesen Felipe Martinez Eulogio F. Drapiza Thomas Tindall Ann M. McCabe Paul Andrew Ducousso COLMA Phillip C. Trujillo Kenneth R. McMillen William M. Duffy Antoinette Abbey Frank X. Agius Maria de los Angeles Aguilar Josephine Alba Eusebio G. Ancheta Adriana Degala Aniel Mario S. Anselmo Joe Armenta Gladys E. Averkamp Louisa V. Baciocco Maria Ip Baptista Robert J. Baranzelli Maria N. Barbieri Philip B. Barbieri Armando R. Barri Rena M. Beck Nanita J. Bengco Theresa O. Bernaldez Elizabeth A. Berrum Mariko Biel Maria S. Blake Afro Bomben Mary Anne Botsford Mateo Quinn Brito Rosario Cabatas Bronson Virginia T. Brooks James H. Broussard Janice Buschiazzo George F. Cammas Laura M. Cammas Raphael Ernesto Canenguez Conrad D. Canlas Aura Marina Cano Joseph H Caruso Julia L. Caruso Pacita Catudan Richard Chase Kim Hing Chew Arthur M. Cornejo Theresa A. Corsiglia Jose Santos Cruz Lucille E. Cruz Emilio L. Cubillo Marina N. Damante Nicasio L. De Guzman Jose del Rosario Lorraine Delucchi Inez J. Devincenzi

Mary J. Dunne Araceli O. Edesan Violet M. Edwinson Patricia M. Elliott Martin Alain Falxa Grace A. Ferry Magda Myriam Flores Thelma Somoza Fontanilla Maria Freschet William H. Funke William B. Garcia Edgardo G. Garcia Frederick Garcia, Sr. Thomas F. Garin Giovanna De Ross Gatt Eugene P. Gilsdorf Mary Gregor Rita A. Gretter Bridget “Bea” Grogan Lupe Gutierrez Charles C. Hackett Louis Hemmingway Jean Iacono Irene Jojola Juana L. Jon Henry August Juri Herman W. Jurkovich Francis J. Keane Earle L. Kilian Maurice A. Lamoure Ching Fong Lee Lorraine Lehane John Fermin Leon Aurora Lopez Andrea Gloria Lopez Elena Davila Lopez Carolina Reyes Santiago Lozada Lygia Soto Harrison Lucas Gerald P. Lucey Maria Dilia Luna Josephine L. Lund Constantino D. Madayag Alice Majoulet Florence M. Manick Blanca Alicia Manzo Filipina T. Mariano

Bert A. Medar Maria Del Carmen Miranda Vailolo Morales Nonette R. Murray Joseph A. Musetti Onofrio J. Natale Elias H. Nazzal David L. Newsom John G. O’Donnell Thelma M. O’Keefe Rev. Joseph P. O’Reilly Isaida S. Obando Joan B. Oborn Celestino O. “Tino” Ocfemia Alejandro Osorio Barbara A. Pagan Ricardo Anthony Paredes Rosauro R. Pascual Georgette Lynch Patterson Raymond F. Peppars Benjamin L. Pera Radovan Pesusic Elena Quijano Mary F. Quinlin Mariana Alexandra Quinonez Marian Frances Ragona Estella Maria Ramirez Evelyn Rasmussen Nieves V. Rebolledo Marion G. Regan Christine Rivera Joseph C. Robertson Irene Meehleib Roca Sotero Gonzalez Rodriguez Herbert M. Romasanta Sherwin R. Root Ruth I. Roza Maria (Yvonne) DeJesus Salazar John A. Sanna Gabriel T. Santana Florencio A. Santos Rita Sciutti Hong Hee Shum Donald T. Sorbi Jasper Starkie Lawrence Starr

Emmanuel L. Valbuena, Jr. Zelmira Vargas Margarita Velasco Yolanda Villanueva Virginia M. Vinci Thelma Viray Perica P. Vovk

HOLY CROSS MENLO PARK Joseph Etienne Robert Carrier Javad “Babashi” Hashemi Juan Carlos Jimenez Elias Buenrostro Juarez James H. Nicholes Elva Patricia (Pat) Pennoyer Robert A. Schaefer Marcello John Tudoni Aloisio Uhatafe Mary Jane Walsh

MT. OLIVET SAN RAFAEL Catherine Amato Joseph B. Brucia M. Jennie Camara Marguerite M. Camilleri Mary K. Estes George E. Flanders Theresa Haag Virginia P. Hendrickson James W. Lopez Italo Manfredi Irene E. Nyhoff Glory Ann Rhoads Alfred J. Robello Bari Ann Kelleher Williams Ernie Zappettini

HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CEMETERY, COLMA FIRST SATURDAY MASS All Saints Mausoleum Chapel Saturday, March 1, 2008 – 11:00 a.m.

Rev. John Glogowski, Celebrant – St. Matthias Parish

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.