(CNS PHOTO/MOHAMED ABD EL-GHANY, REUTERS)
Egypt’s grief A Christian woman mourns on the coffin of Mina Demian at a funeral at Abassaiya Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo Oct. 10. At least 26 people, mostly Christians, were killed Oct. 9 when troops broke up a peaceful protest against an attack on a church in southern Egypt. At the Vatican Oct. 12 a “profoundly saddened” Pope Benedict XVI condemned the attack, saying Egypt has been “lacerated” by attempts to undermine peaceful coexistence among its communities. Christians in Egypt, Iraq, Syria and Yemen “live under an atmosphere of continuous tension,” said Bishop Camillo Ballin, apostolic vicar of Northern Arabia.
Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper
Rural coast pastor taking Christ to the beach By George Raine It’s not yet listed in any visitor activity guides, but one of these next Sunday evenings there’s going to be a spontaneous celebration at Dillon Beach in Marin County: It will be Father Shouraiah Pudota saying Mass. The beach is just three miles from the town of Tomales and the Church of the Assumption of Mary, northernmost church in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, and where Father Pudota, the pastor since July 1, seeks to grow the parish. The Sunday evening Mass is just one exercise in evangelization that Father Pudota is launching, but it reflects
his missionary zeal: With a large number of vacation homes along the beach – people who are not attending Mass at the Church of the Assumption – he’s going after the weekend crowd. “That is the best place where I can get people and let them know that something is going on and it is a celebration of the Eucharist, of Mass, of importance,” said the 59-year-old Indian born priest. “If I get five people coming off the beach, I’m going to do that. I’m going to reach them. The mountain doesn’t come to you. You go the mountain.” Father Pudota, who spent the last four years at Church CHRIST TO THE BEACH, page 23
By Dana Perrigan It was the hands of those who gathered at San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza to take part in Family Rosary Crusade 2011 that told the story. Gnarled and work-worn, smooth and supple, middleaged and of every color and complexion, nearly all clutched rosaries as they basked in the bright Saturday afternoon sun or huddled in the shade of the sycamores across the street from the gold-trimmed dome of City Hall. Others raised banners that read, “Praying the Rosary for America,” and “The Family that Prays Together Stays Together.” ROSARY, page 7
(PHOTOS BY JOSE LUIS AGUIRRE/CSF)
Catholic san Francisco
At Civic Center rally, faithful pray rosary in ‘great spiritual battle’
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION On the Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Grief retreat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 George Weigel. . . . . . . . . . . 17 Missal series . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Father Rolheiser . . . . . . . . . 20
Judge Kelly receives Thomas More Award ~ Page 8 ~ October 21, 2011
‘Historic’: St. Hilary School adopts iPads ~ Page 12 ~
Pilgrimage film treats religion with respect ~ Page 24 ~
ONE DOLLAR
Datebook of Events . . . . . . . 25 Service Directory . . . . . . . . 26
www.catholic-sf.org VOLUME 13
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No. 33