February 26, 1999

hrough the imposition of hands (ri ght) and the Ordination Prayer of the Church (top ri ght), Archbishop William J .

Levada ordains Kevin Kenned y to the priesthood Feb . 20 at St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral.

Following ordination and investiture , Father Kenned y joins Archbishop Levada (above) and the many other priests present in continued celebration of the eucharistic liturgy.

At bottom right, Father Kenned y 's mother, Patricia , listens during the Archbishop 's homily in which he noted Father Kennedy is likely to be the last person ordained for the Archdiocese of San Francisco this century. Archbishop Levada underscored the role of priests as spiritual leaders "as we inaugurate a new age , a new millennium."

Kevin Kennedy Ordination 3

Immaculate Conceptio n Academy students conf ront politicians

10

St Josep h's Village helps families build solid futu res

On The_

Sorry Ma 'am, "younger than springtime ' won tf lt on the application: Those of us who like to keep the world guessing about our age might want to 'fess up during this International Year of Older Persons. In June , a symposium for diocesan officials , Redefining Communities, will focus on how to "commit new energies " to care of the elderl y," said Archbishop John Vlasny of Portland , Ore. where the conference will take p lace. Father Michael Maslowsky is organizing the event. He can be reached at (503) 774-7072.

Thank you very much ! St. Hilary Parish, Tiburon said thanks to John Afrado, Edward Slisky, and John Mallon for taking up most of the cost of new collection baskets there.

Half Moon Bay 's Our Lady of the Pillar Parish says "grats" to Eda Adrevino for her long service as parish flower arranger and to Linda Hanson for continuing the good work.

Looking for you! St. Vincent de Paul Elementary

In this issue ... [STREET |

11

j Green lig ht

Dominicans given go-ahead on Rose Court

9

Gratitude

Actor thanks local teachers for success

13

Persp ective

Synod for America impact to be felt

China conference:

6

Christianity offers hope

f? Fami ly lif e: |

I *l Finding 'Lent' in lentil soup

l £ Scriptu re:

1U Readings 'rally for our spirits '

i n At the movies:

II

Catholic Conference ratings Cover Photos

by Chris Duffey

_ JCATHOLIC

SAN FRANCISCO

Official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Sew Francisco Most Reverend William J. Levada, publisher Maurice E. Hcaly, associate publisher Dan Morris-Young, manag ing editor Joseph Pena , advertising director Enrico Risano , production manager ' feature editor Evelyn Zapp ax, Tom Burke , "On the Street " and Datebook Kenneth Barroga , assistant edito r Julie Benbow, graphic consultant Sharon Abercrombie , staff writer Editorial offices are located at 441 Church St „ San Francisco. CA 94114 Telephone: (415) 565-3699 News fax: (415) 565-3631 Circulation; 1-800-828-1252. Advertising fax : (415) 565-3681 Catholic Sun Francisco is published weekly except the last Friday in December and bi-weekl y during June , July and August by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco , 1595 Mission Rd „ South San Francisco , CA 94080-1218. Annual subscri ption rates are S10 within California . S20 all other stales, and $40 internat ionall y. Application to mail at periodical rales is pending at South San Francisco and at additional post offices. .

Post master: Send address changes to Catholic Sun Francisco, ¦1595 Mission Rd.. South San Francisco. CA 940S0-1218 * Corrections II ' there is m error in the mailing Lihd affixed to this newspaper, call ' the QitlkilicSaltFractal at 1-800^828:1253. Refer lu the airraii nijiluig label.

B Also, please lot us know if the household is receiving duplicate copies Thank you.

i

_

ST

i_

3

Where You Live

b y Tom Burke

Gone but not f o rgotten: Menlo Park' s Nativity Elementary School lias bid farewell to its longstand ing Women of Nativity organization. The grou p was established 42 years ago as a support for the then-new parish grade school , remembers Anne Riley, one of the first Women of Nativity who has been secretary at the parish for the last 15 years and a parishioner for more than 40 years.

The late Evelyn Armstrong, who also taught at Nativity, was the group 's first president. Recent officers include Kim Walker and Debbie Ramos. "They did wonderful work ," said Mrs. Riley, whose four daug hters , Maureen , Cathleen, Arleen and Joanne , are all Nativity grads. Mr. Riley (Joseph) is a retired court reporter. The couple has been married 52 years. The generous club shared its final funds with several parish organizations.

Mu ch deserved: Mercy Sister Mary Waskowiak has been named a 1999 Catholic Elementary School Distinguished Graduate. The 1962 graduate of San Bruno 's St. Robert Elementary received the award for her contributions as a teacher and administrator. Sister Mary is also a former president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and served as an auditor at the recent Synod of America in Rome where she spoke on "Women in the United States." Sister Mary 's parents are Trudy and the late Al Waskowiak. Mr. Waskowiak was builder of St. Robert 's post-Vatican FI altar which continues to be "just beautiful" says St. Robert principal Patricia Bordin. Sister St. Robert Principal Patricia Bordin (left) and Mercy Mary 's niece, Katie, is now a sixth grader at St. Robert 's.

Sister Mary Waskowiak.

Her nephew, Christopher, is a St. Robert 's grad now studying at St. Ignatius College Preparatory . Sister 's sis- School is searching for graduates. This year is the 75th ter, Debbie Caughman, and husband , Andy, are the lad anniversary for the Marina District school and fun is planned. and lass's parents. Sister's brother Mike, like his siblings a If you fit the bill, call Mary Lovely at (415) 440-7046. Patty Fama of Redwood City 's St. Pius Parish is leading a camSt. Robert's alum, lives in Napa .

Father Anthony Chung, parochial vicar, St. Pius paign to establish an alumni/ae group for the elementary Parish , Redwood City, and chaplain at that town's Sequoia school there. If this is you, call Patty at (650) 364-9427.

Right before our eyes : Msgr. Charles Durkin , pastor and Kaiser hospitals, has written a book. Whom Do You Seek ? follows Father Chung 's faith journey with a con- of Star of the Sea Parish encouraged his community to demned man on death think along these lines row and then his own recentl y, "Our famil y life , epiphanies during a subour work life, our social sequent pil grimage to the life are so many opportuHol y Land. For your nities for trust. God copy, send a check or chooses to show us the money order for $15 to rest of the world as the Whom Do You Seek?, 441 expression of his mercy, Church St., SF 94114. his compassion and his More ou-hoards : St. justice. He entrusts others John the Evangelist to our care so that we can Parish welcomes new enrich them in God." music director Sheila Y2K bug at VSF: An Bernstein. She joins outside consulting firm Sulpician Father James has told University of Myers, pastor, and staff San Francisco officials Father Anthony Chung and cover of his new book including Ann Lyons, that 24 of the school' s Jessy Lira , Anelita Keyes, Colleen Lewetzow, 141 computer systems and components are not Y2K comGuillermo Guillen, Luisa Campo and Notre Dame Sister pliant , according to the USFnews. However, Information Louise O'Reilly. St. John 's turns 106 years old this year. Technology Services also says it will have those systems Hats off to the good work of former music director Ellen prepared to handle the Jan. 1, 2000 calendar change when Voight, now enjoying life in warmer climes with husband it is feared more than a handful of computers around the Bernie, a retired SFO customs officer. San Anselmo' s San g lobe, won't know how to interpret the "99" of 1999 Domenico School has announced that Father Flordito becoming the "00" of 2000.

Redulla has joined them as new campus minister. Father Dhoy, as he is known , is here from southern California "On the Street Where You Live " is about you. Please where he served as a military chap lain and parish priest. send items to On the Street Where You Live , Catholic Toodle-loo rah loo ral: Burlingame ' s Mercy Center is San Francisco, 441 Church St., SF 94114 or f a x to booking travelers for its late May tri p to Ireland. Scheduled (415) 565-3633. Please include contact p hone number stops on the i-tipperary include Galway, Sligo and Dublin. for possible foll ow-up or story expansion.

Call (650) 340-7474 for information.

AUTOMATIC GARAGE DOOR

2501 Cesar Chavez ( A r m y St.),

Son F r a n c i s c o 91124

• Garage Doors

S

• Commercial & Residential

o« franco*. «*,«-¦«-

Mark G r i f f i n Owner & Graduate St. Finn Barr & Riordan High School

( 4 1 5 )

*=

JUJ«IIIOI»

*

Large Show Room Licensed & Bonded L c#

'

6 7 1] ] 6

6 4 8 - 6 41 3

Kaufer 's

Religious

S upplies

Your comp lete sourcefor holiday goods, articlesand books for church, home or gifts 55 Beverl y Street' San Francisco , CA 94132 For excellent service in the Kaufe r TRADITION.

Call (415) 333-4494 or FAX: (41 5) 333-0402

w. o

A

\—

I

RENEW 2000:

y

^j

Some observations on Season One from RENEW Office

In photo at left, ICA sophomores Nicole Espinoza (left) and Priscilla Cabezas who have been victims of MUNI violence are pictured with Sister Janice Therese Wellington, principal.

At right, jun ior Julie Newton, chairperson of meeting with government officials , talks to the press.

ICA students lobby politicians for safer buses

On Feb. 19, 300 Immaculate Conception Academy students challenged San Francisco Mayor Willie Brow n, California Senator Jackie Speier, California Assemblyman Kevin Shelly and San Francisco Supervisor Alicia Becerril to support their demands to making all MUNI buses safer for youth .

In April 1998, San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP), a grassroots community organization in the Archdiocese of San Francisco partially funded by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, helped 200 San Franciscans, including 150 ICA students travel to Sacramento to lobby state and assembly representatives.

The students requested the public officials place $5 million in the state bud get to be used solely for safer MUNI buses. The proposal was accepted. Then-Governor Pete Wilson , however, vetoed the measure.

Students are optimistic their proposal will pass with the election of new California Governor Gray Davis. The Feb. 19 meeting with public officials was to reiterate their position and convey they will not give up their campaign, the students told the politicians as well as the representatives of many of the area 's major media outlets.

ICA princi pal , Mission San Jose Dominican Sister Janice Therese Wellington pointed out that after the Sacramento lobbying tri p MUNI installed monitoring cameras on eight of its buses.

"I believe it was, in par t, largely because the students demonstrated their concerns.

They didn 't get all they wanted , but they saw the process can work, and they made a difference," she said.

Some of the students involved with the campaign have friends who have been victimized while riding MUNI. Julie Newton,

Class of 2000 and chairperson of the meeting, told those present , "Our students seem to be targeted because of our uniforms.

People think because we attend a private school, we have money."

Two student victims, sophomore Nicole Espinoza and senior Priscilla Cabezas, admit it can be frightening to ride the MUNI. Students asked each public official present if he or she would be willing to take

the governor s office. Brown , joking ly, answered , "You don't want to take MUNI do you ? I mean you do want to get there ."

He said that his office would provide transportation for the potential trip.

Speier also told the students she was impressed with their involvement and their awareness of the legislative process. "It's a fact that same-sex schools produce a high percentage of leaders," she said. "I expect

¥

I

I From left, California Assemblyman Kevin Shelly, San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, and California Senator Jackie Speier listen to ICA student concerns. their message to the Governor and support their request to obtain $5 million in state funds to procure safer MUNI transportation. Each official agreed.

Speier 's answer broug ht thunderous shouts and applause when she answered, "Yes, and I invite all of you to come to Sacramento and go straig ht to the governor's office with me."

Sister Wellington also took the opportunity to ask Mayor Brown if he would supply MUNI buses for the Sacramento trip to

to see a lot of future leaders from this assembly."

Last on the agenda," meeting organizers asked senior students to stand . They were told to remember the day because they would be voting soon and they could follow-up on the commitments made at the assembly by casting their votes. The seniors responded by waving their voter registration cards for the public officials to see.

Now that RENEW 2000 Season Two has begun , it is time to let you know how Season One worked out in the Archdiocese. Eighty-four parishes participated with more than 1,200 small faith communities and nearly 14,000 individuals taking part.

The general consensus was that Season One was an experience of spiritu al growth and enrichment. A large number of small faith communities were so happy with the process that they did not want to stop meeting at the end of the first six-week season.

For many people thi s was the first time they felt they reall y "belonged" to a Church-related group.

Almost every participant from Season One signed up for Season Two. Following are some quotes from partici pants who shared abou t their experiences of Season One: "The sense of community and friendshi p that we built among us was truly empowering and revitalizing."

(St. James parishioner).

"Our community was a vibrant sign of God for me. They are open, loving, seeking people on the journey to bring the reign of God to earth."

(St. John of God parishioner) "A chance to get to know people from the parish on a more than superficial level." (St. John of God parishioner) "Everyone was friendly. It felt like a family gathering." (Corpus Christi parishioner) "By allowing myself the gift of time, reflection and prayer, I see my life differently and I am aware of possibilities that I might not have seen before. RENEW is a wonderful gift that we all deserve to have." (St. Brendan parishioner)

Catholic population tops one billion VATICAN CITY (CNS) — It's official — for the first time, the world's Catholic population has surpassed 1 billion.

The Vatican announced the event when it unveiled its 1999 annual yearbook Feb. 20, in a presentation to Pope John Paul II. The latest statistics show that while the Catholic population continues to increase, the number of priests is holding about steady and the number of religious is slowly dropping.

According to the statistics, dated Dec. 31, 1997, there were about 1,005,000,000 Catholics registered in the world's dioceses, representing 17.3 percent of the global population.

By regions, Catholics represented 62.9 percent in the Americas, 41.4 percent in Europe, 27.5 percent in Oceania, 14.9 percent in Africa and three percent in Asia.

They were served by more than 219,000

parishes and more than 115,000 missionary stations across the world.

While the number of Catholics per priest continues to increase, the yearbook noted that the number of seminarians was rising about 2.5 percent from the previous year.

It said the Church's pastoral workforce totaled nearly 3.4 million — more than 4,400 bishops; more than 404,000 priests , of which nearly 264,000 were diocesan clergy; more than 24,400 permanent deacons, which increased four percent; more than 58,000 male reli gious who were not priests; more than 819,000 female religious; more than 31,000 members of secular institutes; more than 26,000 lay missionaries; more than two million catechists.

According to the yearbook , the Vatican maintains diplomatic relations with 168 states, also a record.

Mj|5l 1^(3^1=1

f^^ZT: ..,

^^ WFj S^ S p:roww«ag»E^^ '[' ¦ " ""Bfl^ ^

MARINA • BAR & GRILL • CABINS RO. Box 994205, Redding, CA 96099 www.silverthornresort.com

1-800-332-3044

'A

mHj ilwbrief Sacramento native new Jesuit p rovincial

occurred at the Marian shrine here 12 years ago.

Bishop Claude Dagens of Angouleme announced the Church's official recognition of the healing in a statement earlier this month which stated: "In the name of the Church, I hereby recognize publicl y the genuine character of the healing of which Mr. Jean-Pierre Bely was the beneficiary at Lourdes on Friday, Oct. 9 , 1987. This healing, which was sudden and complete, is a personal gift of God for this man and an effective sign of God who is savior, and which was accomplished through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes."

Bely, 63, who lives in the Diocese of Angouleme, was not present at the press conference held to announced the authentication. However, remarks he made in an earlier interview were made available.

"At Lourdes ," he said, "I had the distinct impression of complete forgiveness, filled with gentleness. It is as if God winked at me," Bely was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1984 and three years later was completely paralyzed.

Jesuit Father Thomas H. Smolich, 43, has been named provinci al of the California Province of the Society of Jesus effective Jul y 31 and will succeed Jesuit Father John A. Privett , according to a report in the Catholic Herald of Sacramento.

A Sacramento nati ve, Father Smolich will oversee Jesuit priests , schools, univer' sities and parishes in California , Nevada , Arizona , Utah and Hawaii.

Not long after earning a master 's degree in business administra- Father Thomas Smolich, SJ tion from Stanford University in 1994, Father Smolich became project manager of the Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition which develops affordable housing for San WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. Francisco Bay Area families.

He was personally involved in projects bishops ' Subcommittee on the Third in Redwood City, Scotts Valley, San Jose, Millennium is offering its second book of readings in preparation for the celebration Fremont , and Mountain View.

Ordained in 1986, Father Smolich has of the jubilee year 2000.

The 52-page resource, Book of Readings studied at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Fordham University in the on Reconciliation , includes 11 essays on recBronx , NY, and at the Jesuit School of onciliation , forgiveness and the sacrament of penance. Among the authors are Mercy Theology, Berkeley.

After a year of Spanish studies in Sister Marie Chin and Norbertine Father Bolivia , he was appointed associate pastor Andrew Cifern i , both keynote speakers at of East Los Angeles ' Mission Dolores the National Lay Forum in Denver in 1998.

In an introduction to the booklet , Bishop Parish which serves a largely Latino popu lation. While there he also became executive Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville , 111., subdirector of "Proyecto Pastoral ," a non-profit committee chairman , said that during the jubilee year 2000, "we are invited to sweep community development organization.

In 1990 he appeared on the television aside the many reasons we have for putting program "Jeopardy " and won $30,000 , off reconciliation with God, our families , which was app lied to construction expenses communities , friends and colleagues. As of Dolores Mission Women's Cooperative we look around our world today we see Child Care Center signs of the need for reconciliation and healing, but also evident are signs for the individual and communal acts of healing LOURDES (France) — Church author- and reconciliation." ities have declared a "sudden and comCopies may be purchased for $6 by callplete " healing of a paral yzed man ing the Millennium Office at (202) 541-3244.

Jubilee office issues book on reconciliation

Miracle is off icial

A Vatican Internet site dedicated to the year 2000 celebrations went on line Feb. 22 The web site offers practical information including directions and event dates for Rome and the Vatican plus information such as a papal biography and "virtual rosary. " The site address is www.Jubil2000.org.

TV ignores sex risks

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The risks and responsibilities of engaging in sexual activity are rarely mentioned on television , according to a stud y issued Feb. 9.

Of all shows with sexual content, only nine percent include any mention of the risks or responsibilities that go along with sex, said the study, released by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation in Menlo Park, CA. The survey looked at a typical week of programming on 10 channels between October 1997 and March 1998.

Jesuit scholar sees electronic revolution

CINCINNATI (CNS) — By his own admission, Jesuit Father Avery Dulles rarel y watches television or goes to the movies and has no experience with the World Wide Web. But desp ite his statu s as "a survivor of the print generation," the 80-year-old theolog ian told Catholic communicators that "electronic transmission is dominant " in today 's society.

Speaking on "Catholics in the World of Mass Media" at the annual gathering of the Salesian Guild last month at Xavier University in Cincinnati , Father Dulles warned the electronic revolution "is producing a new mentality that we cannot

afford to neglect. My own impression is that the enormous power and impact of productions tend to engender a rather passive _^.„___ _____ consumer who is content to be a spectator rather than an actor — a follower rather than a leader," he said. mm

Father

Dulles , who has held the Father Avery Dulles, SJ F a t h e r Laurence McGinley chair in reli gion and society at New York City 's Fordham University since 1988, said difficulties the Churc h faces in its duty to evangelize is "to find out how the dominant media can be used for transmitting the Christian message, and secondly, to overcome the limitations that tend to distort or screen out that message."

Commenting on how the Church is presented by contemporary media , Father Dulles said it is portrayed as odd and suspect. He encouraged Catholic communicators to call the media to task when they misrepresent Catholic teaching or practice.

Survey reports Catholics' attachment to Church has weakened in decade CHICAGO (CNS) — Although the percentage of Americans identifying themselves as Catholic has remained constant at 26 percent over the past 30 years, the percentage who describe their attachment to the Church as "strong " is dropping, according to survey results released by the National Opinion Research Center.

The center at the University of Chicago said that in its 1998 General Social Survey, 37 percent said they were "strong" Catholics and 29 percent said they attended church each week. In the 1970s, 46 percent said they had a strong attachment to the Church and 48 percent reported attending Mass weekly.

"While Catholics have maintained their numbers, today they are less attached and less active in the Church than they used to be," said Tom W. Smith, director of NORC's General Social Survey.

The survey also showed that 54 per-

cent of Americans identified themselves as Protestants in 1998, compared to 64 percent in the late 1970s. During the same period , the number of peop le who expressed no reli gious preference increased from seven to 14 percent. The survey also asked respondents what kind of Catholics they were: 26 percent called themselves traditionalists , 32 percent said they were moderates, 27 percent defined themselves as liberals , and 14.5 percent said none of the descriptions fit.

Smith speculated that one reason for the decline in strong Church attachment among Catholics could be "disagreements the laity have with Church doctrine on many important issues."

The General Social Survey said Catholic attitudes on abortion, capital punishment, premarital sex and birth control diverged from the official Catholic stand on those issues.

Among the findings: — 51 percent of Catholics approved of abortion in some circumstances, while 18 percent opposed abortion for any reason.

—- 67 percent favored capital punishment for murderers.

— 48 percent said premarital sex is "not wrong at all" and only 21 percent said it was "always wrong."

— 57 percent said birth control should be available to teen-agers even if their parents do not approve.

O RDINARY T IME

Lent and Year of the Father The whole Church has just begun the celebration of the liturgical season of Lent for the last time in this century — and in this second millennium of Christianity.

Our Holy Father has invited the Church to a threeyear period of immediate preparation for the great Jubilee of the Year 2000, marking the 2,000th anniversary of the incarnation and birth of the Son of God , Jesus — and the beginning of the third millennium of Christianity.

The fundamental theme proposed

by Pope John Paul II for these three years was Trinitarian. The first of the three years (1997) was devoted to God the Son, Jesus Christ, and to a deepening of the virtue of faith and a greater understanding of the sacrament of baptism. The second year (1998) focused attention on God the Hol y Spirit , on the virtue of hope, and on the sacrament of confirmation. This third year directs the Church s reflection to a deeper understanding of and union with God as Father, to a more active place in our lives for the virtue of charity, and to a deepened awareness of the need and value of the sacrament of penance and reconciliation.

A couple of months ago I was browsing through the shelves at the Pauline Books and Media center of the Daughters of St. Paul , down where Geary meets Market.

I came across the third in a series of excellent catechetical texts prepared by the Vatican's Theological-Historical Commission for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, this one entitled God, the Father of Mercy. All three volumes can be a rich source of meditation and reflec tion.

On the cover of this latest 100-plus page paperback is a color reproduction of the famous Rembrandt painting of the prodigal son being embraced by his forgiving father, based on the parable in Chapter 15 of the Gospel of Luke. How beautifully this painting captures the essence of that story Jesus told to let his audience see in his word picture an image of the God he called his Father.

Like the father who longed to see the face of his wayward son again , this image is of a father who loves and forg ives his son the wrong he has done. This is the image of the one whom the Old Testament reveals as the "Lord God who is gracious and merciful" -whom the New Testament reveals as the loving Father who sends his own beloved

Son to bring a sinful , wayward humanity back to his embrace like a lost sheep — or a prodigal son.

In the sacrament of penance and reconciliation , Jesus makes the mercy and forgiving love of God reach out to touch us personall y, just as surely as he did on the occasion he healed the paralyzed man and forgave his sins (Mark 2: 1-12) . Jesus knew that even more than needing the physical healing which would let him walk again, this man needed the spiritual healing which would forgive his sins, overcome his separation from God' s embracing love, and reconcile him with the One who created him and calls him to eternal life.

Many people in that house in Capernaum thought Jesus was blaspheming when he forgave the man 's sins: "Who but God alone can forgive sins?" But Jesus included their thoughts in his dram atic lesson: "Which is easier to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven ,' or to say, 'Rise , p ick up your mat and walk,?' But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth," he said to the paralytic , "1 say to you , rise, pick up your mat, and go home."

Can you and I really say that there is no place in our lives where we are not still separated from our loving Father? Where sin does not hold sway? In the sacrament of penance — our confession of sins — Jesus offers each one of us the grace of his personal touch, of the mercy and forgiveness of the almighty God. If ours has been a journey of many years, like the prodigal son, keeping God and his commandments and his will at arm 's length , then we should take the prodigal son 's example seriously: he "came to his senses," the Gospel says, and began the long road back to his father 's loving embrace. Of course he was worrying about what he would say to his father, much as we worry about what to say in confession , or what the priest will think — like the prodigal son, hardl y daring to remember how much his father loves him. But the father 's touch — his

In the sacrament

of penance — our confession of sins

— Jesus offers each one of us the grace of his

p ersonal touch . . .

Archbishop William J. Levada

embrace — overcame all worry and looked beyond his words into his heart .

If ours is the situation of the older brother, who pouted that he who was faithful and loyal now had to take a back seat to this renegade, we too need to ask ourselves not "Do I have any sins to confess"? but "Is there something, some hidden area of life, for Christ to heal in me, for the merciful love of God to soften and strengthen like bal m"? In the sacrament of penance, Jesu s' embrace is what we need to grow in our call to holiness , the fundamental vocation God has given to every one of us.

A "jubilee" year is called "a year of the Lord 's favor." It presupposes that we are one with the Lord oui God. I hat is why each year the season of Lent reminds us in particular of our need for conversion to and reconciliation with our God. This is why Christ has continued his ministry of forgiving sins through his Church, in the sacrament of penance and reconciliation. As Pope John Paul wrote so insightfull y in his apostolic letter On the Coming of the Third Millennium , "the joy of every jubilee is above all a joy based upon the forg iveness of sins, the joy of conversion."

May this Lent bring for all of us a deeper awareness of the amazing love of God our Father, and help us to experience that love in a fruitful and regular celebration of the sacrament of penance and reconciliation.

Can you and I really say there is no p lace in our lives where we are not

still separated from our loving Father?

: 4- UtiLa^S^ (^s *-J-«

.

Most Rev. William J. Levada Archbishop of San Francisco

What is the California Catholic Conference — and its function?

The following was prepared by the staff of the California Catholic Conference at the request of Catholic San Francisco to outline the scope and work of the Conference.

What is the California Catholic Conference?

The California Catholic Conference (CCC) is the staff office of the California Catholic Conference of Bishops.

The CCC acts as official voice of the Catholic community in California 's public policy arena.

Who is the Catholic community in California?

There are nearl y eight million Catholics in California , nearl y one-quarter of the state population. They belong to 1,064 parishes located in 12 dioceses. They are served by 3,700 priests and 26 bishops (two of whom are archbishops, of whom one is a Cardinal — that is, Archbishop William J. Levada of San Francisco and CardinalArchbishop Roger Mahony of Los Angeles). .

The Catholic community also includes 50 hospital s, which annuall y assist four million patients ; 13 colleges and universities, which enroll more than 40,000 students ; 113 Catholic hi gh schools , which serve 78,000 students ; 605 Catholic elementary schools, which enroll 176,000 children ; and 12 diocesan Catholic Charities agencies, which annuall y serve more than 1.3 million people of various ethnicity, social status and religion.

What do Catholics have to say about public policy?

We as Catholics seek the common good. The moral convictions , personal virtue, and active commitment of every person shape the common good. The shaping of public pol-

icy is not simply a task for others, but for each of us. CCC is dedicated to bringing Catholic virtues and values into the public arena, to strengthening public life and society. Our values are based on the princip les of Catholic social teaching. Those principles, when followed , will result in enhancing the common good.

What are the principles of Catholic social teaching?

Over 100 years ago, Pope Leo XIII in his encyclical Rerum Novarum introduced Catholics to these principles.

They are based on the life and dignity of the human person: Each person possesses a basic dignity that comes from God, not from any human quality or accomplishment, not from race or gender, age or economic status. In more recent times the "preferential option for the poor" has often been underscored in articulating these values.

What does the CCC do in speaking for the Catholic community?

The CCC follows legislation and lobbies for Catholic interests in the California State Senate and Assembly.

In the course of any given session there are approximately 5,000 bills introduced into the Legislature of which about 900 are deemed to be of some concern to the institutional Catholic community. Because of this volume, the tracking of these bills b y the CCC operates on a defined set of priorities , the result of consultation with the bishops and Church representatives from a variety of ministries.

What is this set of priorities?

Priorities for the 1999-2000 legislative session, all

drawn from the principles of Catholic social teachings, deal with reverence for life , human and civil rig hts, family life , economic rights and education.

• Reverence for life issues include supporting the removal of tax-payer funding of abortion , requiring parental consent for abortion, banning partial birth abortion as well as opposing the legalization of assisted suicide and advocating against the use of the death penalty.

• Human and civil rights issues include opposition to'discrimination, support for protection of religious freedom , and advocacy for "restorative" justice in treating criminals, especially juveniles.

• Family life issues include defending and supporting the institution of maniage, opposing the legalization of same sex marriage, and advocating tor adequate childcare.

• Economic rights issues include support for raising the minimum wage, advocacy for improved access to job training and health coverage for those in need and the promotion of affordable housing availability.

In the education arena the CCC will advocate for equitable access for childre n in Catholic schools to federal programs already guaranteed by the government, and for improved quality in government-sponsored schools , which the majority of Catholic children attend . It will also support parenta l choice in education which may include charter schools and vouchers. ' ' CONFERENCE! Page 18

Ripe for Christianity jt

_

:#

China said to be suff eri ng cultura l and values crisis

By Sharon Abercrombie

China is suffering both a crisis oi values and ti "loss of soul" which make it ri pe for the Christian message of peace and justice , two speakers said during a Bay Area conference the weekend of Feb. 12-14.

Rev. Phili p Wickeri and Jesuit Father Benoit Vermander presented keynote addresses at the 17th National Catholic China Conference , held at both Mercy Center in Burlingame and at the University of San Francisco.

Sponsored by the U.S. Catholic China Bureau in conjunction with the Ricci Institute at the University of San Francisco, the sessions explored ways in which Christianity can contribute to peace building and social justice efforts in China. The China Bureau is a collaborative project between the Maryknoll and Jesuit communities to raise public awareness in the U.S. about the Church in China.

Since the 1970s, when China 's leadership initiated changes to undo the damage done by the Cultural Revolution , both good and bad news have been in the making, said Wickeri. A former overseas coordinator for the Amity Foundation in Nanjing, a Christian publication firm , Wickeri is currentl y a professor of mission and evangelism at San Francisco Theolog ical School in San Anselmo.

The good news, he said, is "much greatei freedom now and the dail y lives of most Chinese people have improved considerably." The bad news is that modernization and globalization have contributed to increasing ecological degradation, corruption , failing state enterprises, drug ttafficking, a rise in prostitution, ethnic tensions and growing human rights abuses, he told participants.

Wickeri said the most obvious effect of globalization and market reform is a grow-

ing disparity between rich and poor. Today there are more than 70 million poor peop le and more than 120 million "floating workers ," primarily in the factories of southeast China, he said. * As a result of the up heaval , the Chinese people now face a multifaceted sense of loss, he said: loss of faith in socialism; loss of a traditional sense of shame; loss of "the g lue " which holds a culture together, Almost "a loss of soul ," he noted.

Wickeri said the descri ption is not just his own , but also the assessment of Chinese intellectuals and government officials.

Despite societal upheaval , however, the Bible has become somelhing of a best seller in China. Next month , Amity will celebrate the publication of 20 million Bibles, he noted .

Wickeri said one Chinese bishop told him interest in Christianity is hi gher than it has been in the last 1200 years. "It is experienced among peasants in the countryside and intellectuals in the cities; among young people excited by China 's opening to the world , among older retirees and national minorities ," said the speaker.

In his Saturday ni ght address at the Ricci Institute at USF, Jesuit Father Benoit Vermander examined the pursuit of peace and justice in China from a philosophical perspective.

Father Vermander, a philosopher and poet who serves on the staff of the Ricci Institute in Taiwan, said that "justice is not only about the sharing of goods. It is also about the sharing of words. Doing justice to someone means , among other

Ricci Institute promotes East-West scholarship

The Ricci Institute at the University of San Francisco is internationall y recognized for its study of Chinese-Western cultural history and known as a global force in promoting scholarship on China and the West.

It was co-founded in 1984 by Jesuit Fathers Edward Malatesta and Francis Rouleau under the ausp ices of the California Province of the Society of Jesus.

Named for Jesuit Father Matteo Ricci (1552-1610), one of the first of the western missionaries to China , the Institute contains over 75,000 books on that country.

Most of them were collected by Jesuit Father Albert Chan, who joined the institu te as senior research fellow in 1985.

At (he time of his death in Hong Kong last year, Father Malatesta had been a Jesuit for 50 years. He first gained a reputation as a biblical scholar and tau ght in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University from 1966-77.

In the late 1970s, Father Malatesta made a career change to pursue a lifelong ambition to learn Chinese and to conduct research on the Jesuits and Christianity in China. He dedicated the rest of his life and scholarship to the reemerging Church in China.

In October the institute will sponsor an international Conference on "China and Christianity: Burdened Past, Hopeful Future."Scheduled Oct. 14-16, the conference will bring in leading scholars from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, western and eastern Europe and North America to discuss Christianity in China.

things , to enter into his or her beliefs and convictions."

For peace making, it is necessary to actively engage in listening , he said.

"As God did on the seventh day, we create a lime and a space for others just by limiting our creative power, our initiative. " Drawing on Taoist thoug ht, he reminded his audience, "We also have to create an empty space, a void , and we can only do so by non-action."

This empty space enables one to listen closely when the 45- year-old laid off worker shares his sense of loss, the priest cited as an example. "We feel the sense of helplessness of villagers who have seen the waters of the nearby river entirel y polluted by a chemical factory, to the extent that many of their children were born handicapped."

Joy, however, can also abound through open listening, the Jesuit added. "We take time to rejoice, because even in the midst of a ferocious competition that seemingly deprives human relationships of all flavor and meaning, the miracle of the sharing of goods and words happens eveiy day in China."

He compared ongoing occurrences of peace and violence, equality and inequality, to the Biblical parable of weeds and wheat.

"When you root out the weeds you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both grow till the harvest," he said.

About 80 individuals from the U.S. and abroad attended the conference. Many of them were clergy and lay leaders from China currently in graduate studies in the U.S. At Saturday night 's session, participants paid a special tribute to the late Jesuit Father Edward J. Malatesta , the Ricci Institute 's founding director. He died in January 1998.

Oakland Catholic Bishop John Cummins presided at a Sunday morning eucharistic liturgy. Bishop Cummins is the National Council of Catholic Bishops ' liaison to the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences.

San Franciscan 'fills in' at SOAs front door

By Sharon Abercrombie

Last spring, when Maryknoll Father Roy Bourgeois began serving six months in • federal prison for trespassing during a 1997 protest of the School of the Americas in Fort Benning, Ga., the Fort's base security personnel probabl y sighed relief.

Perhaps they 'd have peace and quiet for a while — no pesky protestor nagging to close down the SOA. They were wrong. On both counts. A guy from San Francisco took the priest 's place.

But "a few gave me a thumbs up," Liteky said in a recent interview.

Back in the City last month , Liteky said he plans to .return to Georgia this spring.

Two bills are being introduced this month to close down the SOA, but the process could lake a while , said Liteky.

Meanwhile , "it's important to have a citizen on the scene who knows about the SOA and objects to it , because Congress doesn 't always do its job ," said Liteky, a former Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit priest.

Liteky collects a small Veterans Administratio n pension for " post traumatic stress syndrome. The condition developed after he witnessed a massacre during a tour in Vietnam as a chaplain. When he is in San Francisco , Liteky works as a house painter and carpenter.

His wife, Judy, a member of St". John of God Parish, where the couple was married in 1983, works as a math instructor at Canada Community College in Redwood City. She has long been active in the sanctuary movement in support of Central American refugees.

While Charlie Liteky vigiled in Georgia, Judy helped organized the prayer vi gil at St. Mary 's Cathedral last Nov. 22, to commemorate the murders of six Jesuit priests

:

He admits his activism is not always comfortable . . . , 'but J esus never said it would be easy. ' Charlie Liteky, 68, began his own daily protest ¦vigil. He spent mornings outside Fort Benning's main gate holding a red-letter sign: "Ongoing Vigil to Close the School of the Americas."

The SOA trains Central American military. It has been at Fort Benning since 1984. In recent years, many graduates have been implicated in widespread human rights violations.

Most people ignored the lone vigiler.

i

D.

a

-!

•U

5

1t Judy and Charlie Liteky (white T-shirts) played host to Maryknoll Father Roy Bourgeois (center) during the priest 's recent Bay Area speaking 'tour.

and their two housekeepers in San Salvador. A UN Truth Commission investigation revealed 19 of the 26 officers involved in the murders were SOA trained.

Judy Liteky is at peace with her husband's commitment, even though there has been pain along the way. She said she does not feel called to serve a six-month sentence for pouring blood on a display case filled with pictures of SOA graduates as her

husband did in 1990. Or to go on a 47-day hunger strike to protest military involvement in Central America.

"Hopefull y, we 're each making some difference . I don't expect Judy to be where I'm at politically and spiritually," says Liteky. He admits his activism is not always comfortable for either of them, "but Jesus never said it would be easy."

FRANCISCAN, Next page

Pizza fortune

Billionaire Catholic making plan s to die broke

MIAMI (CNS) — He wants to die broke.

That 's not such a stretch for. most people. But for Tom Monaghan , founder of Domino's Pizza, it means getting rid of about $1.5 billion.

That's a lot of dough, even for the king of delivered pizza.

But Monaghan didn 't start out rich. His earl y life in Michigan was formed in orphanages and foster homes where he was often hungry. Yet he came out filled with compassion and the desire to do good.

And he onl y got into the pizza business to make money to get through college.

He almost lost his faith as a young man, but built a cathedral as an adult. He didn 't make it through college, but has over a dozen honorary degrees. He had to borrow $500 for his first pizza place, but now every year he visits Rome to give the pope money. And he has won a World Series as owner of the Detroit Tigers.

"The pope says, 'Good man, good man!' But my wife (Marjorie) says, 'That doesn't cut any ice with me.' Her role is to keep me in my place ," he said with a laugh during an interview with The Florida Catholic, Miami archdiocesan newspaper.

Monaghan was in Miami to address the local chapter of Legatus, an organization he founded for Catholic heads of large companies, whom he sees as a potential powerhouse of Catholic values worldwide.

Now he is selling Domino's so he can work full time giving away money through his Mater Christi Foundation . He spends it on Catholic education, missions in Central America, pro-life causes, a radio station and newspaper, and Legatus.

Monaghan , subject of the book Pizza Tiger, was only four when his father died in 1941. He was in a Catholic orphanage from age six to 12. "That was very strict but very spiritual. These nuns treated us like we were members of the order. We prayed all day," he said.

From age 12 on — except for one year in the seminary in 10th grade — he lived in foster homes. He was mostly treated well, though there were times when he didn 't have enough to eat.

After serving in the Marines he entered the University of Michigan in 1960 and ran out of money. He and his

Franciscan

M Continued from the previous page Son of a career Navy officer, Liteky says it took from 1965 to 1984 to transform from a military hawk into a pacifist dove.

A nudge came in 1965, when Jesuit priests Dan and Phil Berrigan poured blood on draft records in the Catonsville, Md. Selective Service Office. At the time, Liteky was a chap lain in Vietnam. He remembers being annoyed. "But it did make me think."

A second turning point came in 1967. Liteky accepted a Catholic college 's invitation to defend the morality of the Vietnam War." "I had to rethink who I was — a chauvinistic male priest with a military background." He left the priesthood in 1975.

When Liteky met his future wife in 1981, he discovered a kindred spirit. A former Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister, she, too, was delving deeply into social justice issues.

In 1986, when St. John of God Parish became a sanctuary church , "It became part of my worship to reach out to refugees ," Judy Liteky said.

The refugee question tore at Charlie Liteky 's heart as well. He traveled Central America in 1985. He said he saw how oppressive U.S. foreign policy was to the poor. In El Salvador, he learned that people who raised objections about unjust government policies — union leaders or teachers — were often eliminated.

When Liteky came home, he joined a small band of veterans like himself who went to Washington, D.C, to protest U.S. policies in Central America. There he met Father Roy Bourgeois.

Today, Liteky accepts the fact the institutional Church does not move as quickly as or where he 'd prefer. "Look at how long it took for me," he chuckles.

Liteky says peop le are often puzzled by activists like himself who deliberately break laws and go to jail.

His response: "They are dramatic ways of calling attention to what a person sees as a grave evil. If we limit ourselves to just demonstrations without civil disobedience, people tend to slough off crucial issues as 'just one more protest'" "It amazes me that people are so willing to go to war, but are so reticent to go after peace," Liteky reflected.

brother borrowed $500 to open a pizza store to get th rough college. He soon dropped out of school and tried to make a living.

He bought out his brother and eventually became legendary as an innovator and marketer in the field, developing dough trays, corrugated pizza boxes, insulated pizza bags, screens, conveyor ovens , and a unique way of franchising to managers.

"One of the motivations for being successful was so I could do what I'm trying to do now," he said. Part of that is Legatus, which he believes was inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Monaghan said Legatus is limited to the Catholic CEOs of large companies because "they can get the most done CEOs are the ones who can do the most for the Church, because that's what they do for a living. If they see a need in the Church, they not only have the management and leadership ability to do it, they have the resources and more control of their time."

In the 1980s he had an experience that made him realize he could reach people spiritually.

Monaghan once had to overcome his own spiritual doubts. For a six-month period when he was in the Marine Corps, he began to miss Mass frequentl y.

But then he picked up a book in the base library called Rebuilding a Lost Faith, written by John L. Stoddard in the 1920s. "Since then I've never had a doubt."

Monaghan said the high point of his life, from a secular standpoint , was "winning the World Series in 1984."

On the spiritual level, his high point is the establishment of Catholic elementary schools called Espiritu Sanctus , for kindergarten through eighth grade.

"They are small schools and we plan to put about 15 oi 20 all around Ann Arbor, and then franchise them all around the world ," he said.

The schools will be ran by former Dominican nuns,

whom he invited to come in fro m New York and found a new order for this purpose, called Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. He is building a motherhouse for them.

There are about 21 sisters so far.

3

5

A

5 Tom Monaghan baked his way to billionaire status.

Fight to find killer 'converts' wealthy Salvadorans

SAN SALVADOR (CNS) — Wealthy coffee growers Mauricio and Gloria Garci a Prieto's battle to find their son 's murderer has turned the two former government functionaries into critics of the system.

"This is no democracy . . . . It stinks," said Gloria, a former mayor of one of El Salvador's principal provincial towns.

For almost five years the Garcia Prietos have tried unsuccessfully to persuade authorities of the guilt of those they claim were responsible for their son's murder: among them, a retired army general and several expolice officers.

"The whole system has failed them, totally," said Benjamin Cuellar, head of Jesuit-run Central American University 's human rights institute, IDHUCA. Cuellar, who has been helping the family, said their story Reflects a continued lack of justice in EI Salvador six years after the end of the 12-year civil war. It illustrated "the monster of impunity . . . still wields more power" than prominent families like the Garcia Prietos.

The family 's ordeal began June 10, 1994, when

Ramon Garcia Prieto, a U.S.-educated architect, was returning home with his young wife, Carmen, and their baby son. A group of armed men, apparently waiting for them, approached. They hit Ramon several times, took his money and personal belongings, then shot him.

The killing appeared to be one more act of wanton violence in a rising post-war crime wave.

"We believed in the justice system, we believed in the police, in the laws," Mauricio, a former ambassador to Colombia, said. Mauricio said he began to think some police were trying to stall the investigations. The family began receiving threatening phone calls. Unmarked cars followed them.

Mauricio said his suspicions mounted. Some months after the murder, a detective approached him in the police station, put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Don't worry, you 've got clout here, Don Mauricio."

Mauricio saw stumps of three missing fingers on the officer's hand, exactly like an eyewitness description of the hand of one of Ramon Garcia Prieto's assassins.

"It sent shivers down my spine," Mauricio said.

ABORTION IS NOT THE ANSWER

"PrQcured abortion is the deliberate and direct killing, by whatever means it must be carried out, of a human being in the initial phase of his or her existence, extending from conception to birth." Pope John Paul II Every human life is created in the image of God, and has rights as a person. The first of these is the right to life, therefore; human life must be respected fro m the first moment of existence. ABORTION must never be the answer to problems.

For the poor, the troubled, ill, or single parents, there are services that offer help and support. For the future happiness of both mother and child, my sincere and humble advise is to take advantage of these services: Counselling, Spiritual Care, Prenatal Care, Housing Adoption, Child Care.

For Information about these services call the Archdiocesan RESPECT LIFE COMMISSION (415) 565-3672 Written & Paid for by Anton Seravaseiyar, San Francisco H

For quarter century

School stage p repares studen ts fo r d rama of life

By Evelyn Zappia ' m shy," admitted Jordan Patrick £ 4TI Valera with his head down as he

JLspoke. Then he announced proudly, "I've been in four school plays. In the fifth grade I found out a littl e person was needed so I tried out and got the part."

Valera, now an eighth grader at Mater Dolorosa in South San Francisco, is one of hundreds of students Bill Kovacich and Stephen Borchelt have helped learn that life 's tough only if you don 't reach out and try.

"Drama brings out great changes in kids," said Kovacich, Mater Dolorosa principal.

"Kids deserve to know what's inside them.

When they find out, it's such a joy to see."

For a quarter century the educator has been writing, directing and producing plays for his students. In 1974, Kovacich and teacher-colleague Borchelt decided to offer

known actor portraying a Frenchman years later on the TV sitcom, "Cheers."

Kovacich and Borchelt wrote 11 more original p lays, and over the years they have rewritten the scripts to keep them current.

Each production becomes a major extravaganza. Every nuance and detail is scrutinized by the students through roles as stagehands, set designers, prompters and performers. Students are responsible and accountable for the success of the productions.

Costumes, curtains , make-up, audio , lighting and sets are all studied and planned with the students, Kovacich said. Broadway couldn 't be more prepared. When necessary, they had stages built.

"Diamond" Dan Casino, a professional technician, designs the lighting. Casino is a former Epiphany student and a loyal member of "BORKOV Productions " since 1975.

Why the name "Diamond"? "It's too long of a story, but I've had the nickname since 1974," he smiled.

"It's amazing the patience Bill has with

The production "Ducktails and Bobbysox" featured (leftto right) Christine Abalos , Dan Rosaia , Rosemary Callejas , and Michael Corte sitting in the " malt shop."

an extra-curricular activity for the students at Epiphany School in San Francisco.

Realizing not everyone is a natural achiever, good in sports , or outgoing, they decided the activity should be something all students could participate in. The decision was easy since both Kovacich and Borchelt love the theater. They began searching for the right play for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students. However, the men could not find a play they thought appropriate for students so young.

So, they decided to write one. With the full support of their wives, Roxanne Kovacich and Holly Borchelt, tiie fledgling playwrights took off to a quiet place away from distractions. They wrote night and day the entire summer of 1974.

In 1975, Epiphany's sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders performed the firs t BORKOV — (Bor)chelt and (Kovjacich — Productions' play, a Shakespearean spoof titled "Hold Your Tongue, Knave."

Little did they know that the eighth grade boy, Anthony Cistaro, playing the part of a Frenchman would become a well-

these kids," Casino said. "At first , they're just a rag-tag group of kids collected on stage not knowing why they 're up there. As the weeks go by the kids' skills begin to show and they start expressing themselves.

When the lights go up, the discipline and hard work show. They even recover from unforeseen problems on stage. Someone can miss a line or trip over a prop and they ease out of the problems smoothly. I don't know how Bill does it."

Kovacich does it because he loves kids, he admitted. "I'm jealous of teachers. I like interaction with kids. That 's why I teach a daily English class and I still coach. The administrative duties leave little time to do much more."

Parents, students, teachers, school staff and alumni participate in the six-month preparation of a play that culminates in three spring performances. Two rehearsals are held per week. One is in the evening so working parents and volunteers can take part.

To do a production of this quality, time is not the only price. Casino and others have invested hundreds of dollars of their

Bill Kovacich

own money over the years. Casino's lighting is sophisticated and professional. Each year he designs new lighting schemes to complement the current production.

Kovacich also credits Tom Pisani , Pat Duggan and Dan Dowrick, all of whom now possess green satin jackets embroidered with "BORKOV Productions" on the back. Kovacich and Borchelt decided anyone staying with the productions for 10 years should receive some reward so they had the jackets made. "I tell them it's the only pay they'll ever get," Kovacich said.

"New volunteers working with us think 10 years is too long to wait for a jacket. I tell them , the time goes by quickl y."

To keep things even, Kovacich and Borchelt gave their wives jackets , too.

"They 've continuously contributed behind the scenes all these years," Kovacich said.

In the last few years, Casino has been able to acquire donations toward the productions from United Parcel Service.

Roxan ne Kovacich, business manager at Archbishop Riordan High School, pulled a few strings and rummages through the school's wardrobe department to offset costume expenses.

Kovacich has offered this extracurricular learning experience at two other schools, St. Timothy in San Mateo and St.

Raymond in Menlo Park.

Although the partnership of Kovacich and Borchelt split several years ago, when Borchelt decided to take a teaching position at St. Timoth y School in San Mateo , Kovacich continued to keep the BORKOV Productions name.

Kovacich's awards throug h the years include seeing the shy blossom, the softspoken learn to shout , and the inhibited build relationshi ps. He also receives piles of invitations to hi gh school and college p lays. Kovacich says he doesn 't know how many times he 's seen "Guys and Dolls " or "Oklahoma." Some of the BORKOV Productions alumni have even gone on to professional stage, television and motion pictures.

"Drama helps the kids to believe in themselves," stresses Kovacich. Given a gentle push, they fly, he explains.

Eighth-grader Rosemary Callejas' observation is typical. "I'm not as afraid to make friends with others now," she discovered.

Fellow eighth-grader Jose Budino , another BORKOV veteran, uncovered a talent he did not know he had. "I always thought I couldn 't sing, but I sang on stage last year and found out I have a good voice."

The next BORKOV Productions play scheduled this spring is titled "Show Biz." Kovacich explained in one breath , "It's about politicians and comedians."

Raquel Aifaro is made up by Dan Dowrick , another volunteer member of the 10-Year Club

Today's eighth-grade theatrical performers at Mater Dolorosa , South San Francisco: (left to right) Rosemary Callejas, Jordan Patrick Valera , Hazel Uy and Jose Budino.

MerCV Center

A Quiet Place for Renewal...

Holy Week Centering Prayer Retreat—An opportunity through group meditative practice to open to powerful liturgies of Holy Week. April 1-4, 1999. Marguerite Buchanan, RSM, A Retreat For the Heart—To open the spiritual heart we will pray with the heart imagery of Christian scriptures and use the rich Prayer of the Heart practice. April 23-25. Marguerite Buchanan, RSM, and Olga Luchakov, M.D. Ph.D. Women's Retreat: Living Questions of Jesus—We focus on our life in God as we ponder Jesus' questions: Who do you say that I am?

What are you seeking? Aug 30-Sept 5, 1999. Marguerite Buchanan, RSM.

Call for app lications and brochures

BORKOV Productions 10-Year Club: (left to right) Tom Pisani, "Diamond" Dan Casino , Bill Kovacich, Steve Borchelt, Patrick Duggan.

650 340-7474 wvFW.mercy-center.org 2300 Adeline Drive Burlingame, CA 94010-5599

f titeb.

sj K Zm? Mr3XyCenter

Accomplished actor credits elementary school experience

P

o aa.

By Evel yn Zappia

'All I had to do was hear the name Kovacich on my answering machine and I had to return the call immediatel y," said actor Anthony Cistaro, a native San Franciscan and 1981 graduate of Saint Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco.

The oldest of five children , all of whom attended Epiphany Elementary School in San Francisco, was deli ghted to talk about his first stage experience and his first director. "I' m proud to have been in the first BORKOV Productions play. I give Bill credit for my success." Cistaro's success, lists television shows, Cheers, Seinfield , The Nanny and Bob (Bob Newhart Show).

In eighth grade at Epiphany he played a Frenchman "Too-Chez" and drew from that experience to form the character of the Frenchman on TV sitcom Cheers. He explained, "I tried to steal Woody 's girlfriend and compete with Sam for the babes."

Cistaro is grateful for what he learned at Epiphany. He's always wished to be on a talk show so he could tell people how much Bill Kovacich and Stephen Borchelt have done for him. "My love for stage began with them," he said.

Anthony Cistaro onstage at Epiphany School in 1977 For Cistaro, no one could have prepared him more for his future career. The opportunity to perform original play s he described as "tremendous ". Looking back , he recalled , "Bill showed great attention to every aspect of each play. The costumes , make-up, sets and lighting, all accomplished like a professional repertory company." Cistaro had a fencing part in a Shakespearean spoof and Kovacich had a friend teach him the proper

Respect life essay contest is announced

The ninth annual essay contest sponsored by the Archdiocesan Respect Life Commission is now underway. Open to all high school students in the Archdiocese, the contest offers them an opportunity to reflect upon and share their understanding of the value and dignity of human life, Commission official s said.

a:

< u

Io

ยง

I o s

J

< 55 O

5 z

< 5

I1 Christian Brother Superior General Brother John Johnston (center) shared insights from his global travels with Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory students Feb. 11. He gathers above with a group of juniors and seniors who hold varied student leadership positions at the school.

Anthony Cistaro style to pull off the scene. "He made me fearless on stage," Cistaro said.

The 1985 graduate of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles first pursued Communications as his major. But he could never forget his stage experience at Epiphany with Kovacich . A few acting parts came his way and he went for them.

"Kovacich created spectacular dance scenes to get as many students as possible in the play. The soundtrack was incredible.

'Diamond' Dan Casino designed elaborate and complex lighting designs. He worked continuously until opening night. When opening night got close. Bill and Steve would start acting like major Broadway impresarios, rehearsals got intense. I remember the whole experience was serious," Cistaro said.

Married and living in Southern California , he spoke of his wife, Melissa , and the many sacrifices she faces for his acting career. They have two childre n , Dominic , three and one-half years , and Bella Rose, nine months. He announced proudl y, "Dominic was baptized at St".

Dominic Church in San Francisco."

In his latest work , Cistaro once again portrayed a French (Canadian) boy friend in a play made for the Carol Leaver Show titled Alri ght , Already. "It seems I can 't get away from portray ing Frenchmen or boyfriends ," he said.

On a return visit to San Francisco he saw one of Kovacich's play s performed. He said, "Bill's still giving the kids 150%. He continues to encourage creativity and sacrifices endless hours of devotion to them. He reminds me of the character Richard Dreyfuss played in 'Mr. Holland' s Opus. ' He 's all heart and willing to share all that he knows with his students."

Cistaro recently completed two years at Harvard University 's American Repertory Theater . Institute in order to teach, when he can. "Bill's the reason I want to pass on the torch," he said.

Contest theme is "Toward a Culture of Life," the subject matter of a recent publication with the same title that is an interpretation of Pope John Paul IPs 1995 encyclical , Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life). It explains Catholic teaching on respect for human life, and summarizes doctrine in four areas: sanctity of human life, abortion , euthanasia and assisted suicide, and capital punishment.

This year 's contest challenges students to discuss this publication and-to examine the pope 's encyclical in-depth. Literature accompany ing the contest packet points out that certain lives in late-20th century

Superior general gives students global perspective on life, education

dents. But "if we had the will to do it, we could solve these problems."

He emphasized the students ' responsibilities to improve their communities, and shared Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San die hope that Christian Brothers schools serve Francisco welcomed Brother John Johnston, as a place where "young people can receive a the superior general of the de LaSalle solid education , develop their talents, develop Christian Brothers, to its campus Feb. 11. themselves as human persons, and learn to Senior Stacie Solt and Brother live as loyal sons and daughters of God in Christopher Brady, principal , introduced community with each other."

Brother John to the assembled students. It He referred to the school's annual clothes was his first address before the Sacred drive for the less fortunate of San Francisco Heart Cathedral students in nine years. as a prime example of the volunteer and Brother John , who next year will be cel- service aspects which are "the essential ebrating 50 years as a Christian Brother, dimensions of the LaSallian tradition of spoke to the nearly 1,200 students on the making an effort to be brothers and sisters to values and responsibilities of a Catholic others and to be outgoing to others."

Finall y, he challenged the students to education, and the meaning of the Christian Brothers ' tradition. take advantage of their education at Sacred "Children of the world are the same ," Heart Cathedral and "make a commitment Brother John explained. "Differences are to make a contributi on to the world of justrue and important , but secondarily impor- tice , harmony, and peace."

Responding to Brother John 's remarks . tant. Childre n share the same dreams , hopes, aspirations , problems, and major Bill Corkery, chair of the guidance department, said the presentation "allowed the questions about life."

Brother John had been visiting schools Sacred Heart Cathedral community to see its in Africa , Asia, South and Central America role and place within the LaSallian family. and Europe, and he uses his vast experience He put flesh and blood into the LaSallian in relating to young peop le as a backdrop to p hrase 'Enter to Learn , Leave to Serve.'"

English teacher Christine Buell stated , sharing his insights into the similarities of "It is valuable for our students to hear who the young throughout the world.

Though many in Christian Brothers we are within the whole scope of LaSallian schools hold different ideas about God, education."

There are LaSallian schools in 86 nations Brother John said, "We are all daughters and sons of the same God , but we have not in which the Christian Brothers teach and serve. Each school contains students of varlearned to live with each other."

The "desperately poor " of India and ied cultural traditions , races, religions, and Haiti learn the same LaSallian ideals, as do political beliefs taught by those who share the children in war-torn and politically the same rich diversity. Brotiier John guides unstable nations such as Ethiop ia and the 6,500 Christian Brothers around the Vietnam. Injustice , oppression, and vio- world along with the 60,000 lay partners lence come from selfishness and a need to who help spread the values and ideals of the dominate others , Brother John told the stu- order's founder, John Baptiste de LaSalle.

By Matthew Doherty

culture "have become expendable to solve personal and social problems." These lives span the spectrum from the unborn and incarcerated to the sick and elderly.

The contest packet includes excerpts of the publication , essay rules and instructi ons, and application forms for grades nine through 12. Grand prize is a $200 savings bond. In addition, two $100 savings bonds will be awarded. The contest will run until May 1. Winners will be noti fied by May 15.

Essays will be judged by Respect Life Commission members including Gloria Gillogley of St. Gregory Parish in San Mateo , Cathy Mibach of Hol y Name Parish

in San Francisco, and Penny Labourdette of Our Lady of Loretto Parish in Novato, According to Maiy Ann Schwab, archdiocesan Respect Life coordinator, there will also be an essay contest for elementary grade students , and details will be issued soon.

Contest packets and applications have been sent to school princi pals and teachers, religious education personnel , youth ministry and confirmation directors , and campus ministers. Additional packets and app lications can be obtained by contacting the Respect Life Commission at (415) 565-3672.

ST.JOSEPH'S VI LLAQE

¦Families and Futures -

Kaylynn

"I like it here because it doesn ' t have rats," says nine-year-old Kaylynn, comparing St. Joseph's Village to another San Francisco homeless shelter.

Sitting nearby, Kaylynn 's 15-year-old brother, Andre, affirmed the disconcerting stories about another homeless shelter they had lived in before St. Josep h's Village .

St. Joseph 's, established in April 1997, is a program of Catholic Charities in collaboration with the City and County of San Francisco. The once 25-bed emergency housing shelter has expanded to 50 beds in less than two years. It plans to open a multi-phase facility in stages over the next several years. On site services with a child care center accommodating up to 121 children, job training, case management, mental health support and other needed services are planned.

Howard Kaplan, director of St. Joseph's Village since last August, defines his primary role as assuring residents are provided a quality living environment with services they need for "a harmonious transition from homelessness."

Inside St. Joseph s, young Kaylynn, did not want to change the subject of how her stay in the other homeless shelter had affected her. She talked of rats living in the walls. Of babies playing on the floor surrounded by dead rats. Of rats on her bed as she slept.

During cold weather wind blew through the holes in the walls," she said. When she showered, she feared strangers would peak through the flimsy curtain that promised marginal privacy. "I hated it. They should close that place," Kaylynn said.

"Any family that gets to move into St. Joseph's Village is lucky," said Andre.

He spoke of clean rooms, many blankets, privacy, and better rest. "I feel safe here."

With enthusiasm, Andre explained he looks forward to outings, playing games with his peers, and library trips where he can read for hours. The only thing he enjoys more than going to the library is snack time, when staff members read to the children.

"Mom and dad are happy now," said Kaylynn with a huge smile. "They both have jobs. Mom is going back to school , and we'll be moving to our own apartment soon ."

"St. Joseph's Village is Archbishop (William J.) Levada 's idea," said Lou Coloia, director of public

policy and media relations at Catholic Charities.

Kaplan backed Coloia 's statement. "It's my understanding, the Archbishop had the idea to convert the property into a viable community for poor people. It was his vision . He leased it to us for $1 a year and maintains an interest in what we do."

When Archbishop Levada asked Catholic Charities to begin the program at St. Josep h' s Village, it was his personal hope Catholics , parish groups , and especially the young adults of the Archdiocese, would be inspired to generate a community-wide outreach and address the difficult issue of homelessness in the City," an Archdiocesan official noted.

"I'd like to see the young adults use some of their idealism to work in a concrete way in serving the needs of the less fortunate ," said Archbishop Levada.

St. Joseph's Village is on the former site of St. Joseph Parish. Under the recommendation of the Pastoral Planning Comission , the parish was closed in 1994 because it had suffere d a one-th ird decline in parishioners since 1985, and had a $5 million estimate to retrofit the unreinforced masonry church building.

"You don 't have to travel around San Francisco long to see that the City has a disproportionately Andre large homeless problem," said Archbishop Levada. "St. Joseph's Village provides much needed services for homeless families in a city where the population has the fewest resources available to them."

St. Joseph's Village offers 24-hour shelter and three meals a day to homeless families with minor children and to homeless pregnant women. Its thorough and integrated approach to solving the problem of homelessness begins with recognizing the cause and dealing with it, according to Stephanie Doucette, assistant to Kaplan .

Families l t m i l M L . l may at the Village for up to six U l c lJ reside i ^i months while they improve job skills, search for permanent housing, and focus on permanently ending homelessness.

Services of a medical doctor and health worker provided by the Department of Health are available on site two times a week. The department also provides access to a therapist.

Kaplan believes homelessness continues because it is given "a short-term Band-Aid solution with too narrow a focus" - providing shelter without addressing root causes.

"It 's too simplistic to blame homelessness on the government or the selfishness of the rich people," said Kaplan .

"We must acknowledge, for many people, substance abuse and mental illness are a substantial part of homelessness," he said. "Treating those, however, remains only the beginning to eliminating homelessness."

"We must be willing to make a commitment to these people. We must be honest and let them know it will be hard work, and we are willing to work with them to the nth degree."

After personal evaluation , a resident 's work expejiw^

u.v

i.i iv.-

viiiiii., 1.

I U I

VILV

i.v»

rience is screened. Emp loyment can quickl y help mobilize the person out of homelessness. If job training is needed , that process is started.

The children ' s basic needs including, health , school and child care are examined.

Faith , a mother of seven, has taken full advantage of the program offered at St. Josep h' s.

Faith brought to the shelter five of her children.

One was pregnant. "She came in with a very serious history of substance abuse and failed relationshi ps.

She maintained her sobriety, got into a training program for Certified Nurses Assistants , graduated and is now employed full time ," said Kaplan.

The soft-spoken woman talked of what things were like when she first came to the Village. She became homeless instantly when the kitchen floor in her apartment collapsed. She didn 't have a job. She had children to feed and a grandchild on the way. She could not afford clothes for job interviews.

"I think if I was in any other program," said Faith, "I'd probably be sitting there now doing nothing. St. Joseph's gave me the courage to go to school when I thought I was too old. " Each morning she rushed off to school at 5:30 while the St. Joseph staff helped make sure her children were up, dressed , fed , and ready for school.

When Faith 's grandchild was born, St. Joseph s Village helped find a baby-sitter so her mother could continue school. She interviewed candidates and felt comfortable with her decision. Catholic Charities paid for the services.

"Graduation day was one of the proudest days of

'I'd like to see the young adults use some of their idealism to work in a concrete way in serving the needs of the less fortunate/ said Archbishop Levada

iii/Y

'Any family that gets to move into St. Joseph 's Village is lucky... I feel safe here '

* i_ _

, i

_ ...

Dominican Sisters ' Rose Court ok 'd

Story and Photos

By Evelyn Zappia

• _ .

Howard Kaplan, St. Joseph's Village director

By Sharon Abercrombie

Proud lather, Da 'oud Mercer pauses to allow his youngest daughter some time to investigate her surroundings. He and his family occasional ly drop by St. Joseph's Village and commend its work.

my life," said Faith . "If it wasn't for St. Josep h' s I don 't think I would have made it."

"St. Joseph's Village was my grandbaby ' s first home," said Faith. The baby 's second home will be a spacious three-bedroom apartment where Faith and her family intend to move soon. Catholic Charities helped her find the apartment and assisted in finding beds.

Faith works full-time in a hospital caring for the elderly. She loves her work. She is thinking about starting a part-time business to care for the homebound. "I haven ' t been happy like this in a long time.

I have a future , and it looks good. Catholic Charities cared about me and I will never forget it."

Kaplan says the 60 hours a week he invests in his job is worth it. "We try to pull peop le up to the hi ghest denominator. We succeed in getting residents bona fide housing over 65 percent of the time. We're working on getting it as close to 100 percent as we can. It means commitment and supporting peop le until they can get back on their feet. " Residents are referred to St. Joseph's through Connecting Point , a city-run referral service for homeless families. When thei r names reach the top of the waiting list of approximately 100 registered families , they qualify for St. Josep h's Village.

"Many families do not register for help so the actual number of homeless families in San Francisco is unknown.

It 's believed many unreg istered families are living on the streets , doubledup with relatives in apartments or living in cars," said Doucette.

During a walk throug h the facilities, one sees a comfortable community living room with a young boy watching TV, while another is reading a book. In the hallway, two older boys discuss who is responsible for a basketball. In the kitchen occasional visitors to St. Josep h's, Da 'oud Mercer and wife Cleopatra , are feeding their two baby girls. Da ' oud states, " It's important that peop le know the good work being done here." The laundry room is ceaselessly busy. In the backyard, children ride bikes, play basketball and shout to one another.

"St. Joseph's has a long way to go," said Kaplan, referring to future

p lans. Three family centers accommodating up to 100 family members at any one time is under consideration.

The Village recently opened the gymnasium as a temporary shelter through June 30, 1999. It provides an additional 50 beds, and has the possibility of becoming a permanent shelter.

Also, the child-care center will include care for residents of St. Joseph's, as well as for members of the larger community. Initially, the center will accommodate children 18 months to five years of age and will later expand services to include infant care.

The Tenth and Howard site will include j ob training in cottage industries, case management, mental health support , and other fields.

"What really keeps me going here is the village concept ," said Kaplan . "It will, I think, create more linkages between the peop le here and the broader community."

Volunteers needed Guest speakers are needed at St. Joseph's Village for weekly workshops on • Money management • Anger management • Parenting skills • Budgeting skills • Cop ing with stress •Writing a resume • Health and nutrition , . . .and other topics helpful families.

Adopt a tree at St. Joseph's Village San Francisco's "Friends of the Urban Forest" are .planning to p lant over 80 trees at Tenth and Howard Streets alongside St. Joseph's Village. A number of fruit trees will be p lanted within the grounds. These will form part of a long-term community garden for the' Village. Cost of sponsoring a tree is $25.

For information, contact Kristen Rauda at (415) 575-4920, ext. 223.

The Dominican Sisters of San Rafael have received the go-ahead from the San Francisco Planning Commission to develop Rose Court , a ministry project which includes housing for low-income families , an infant and toddler care facility, and two small convents.

The Rose Court Project will be located in the Western Addition at Pine and Pierce Streets near the former St. Rose Academy, a girls ' high school destroyed in the 1989 Loma Prieta earth quake.

St. Rose had stood in the Western Addition for 85 years. Despite its demise, the Dominican Sisters have continued their 125-year presence there. Five pre sently work in parish ministry at St. Dominic Parish .

Last fall , the Sisters were awarded $3 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a result of the quake.

The FEMA funds will be used to finance the housing and day care. The Sisters ate now involved in a campaign to raise an additional $2.6 million to complete the day-care facility and the two eight-person convents, said Kate Martin, development director.

Groundbreaking on the convents is planned for this spring, with construction work on the housing and child-care facility scheduled for late summer or fall. The convents are expected to be occupied by early 2000. The housing and child-care structures are scheduled for completion in the fall of 2000.

The housing will include studio as well as onethrough-four-bedroom units and a manager's apartment.

The Sisters intend to make the units at Rose Court Community available to low-income of all ages, and will keep the rents as low as possible. "The rates will depend on construction costs and the success of our fund raising efforts ," said Martin.

The day-care facility will provide extended hours for 49 tiny tots, making it somewhat uni que in the city. Only one percent of licensed child-care centers provide extended hours, said Martin.

Rose Court will also include gardens, a chapel, a patio, family space and children 's play structures. A "discovery center " will offer residents an opportunity to develop computer skills.

Approval from the city planning commission last November "went very smoothly," said Martin. The Sisters had been in communication for some time with residents of the area so that "everyone who was interested in the proposal ... had an opportunity to voice any concerns."

During her presentation to the commission , Dominican Sister Cathryn DeBack , project representative for her community, noted that "quality affordable housing is the right of every person, and it is all too obvious it is disappearing at an alarming rate . Our p lans for Rose Court offer the possibility for lowincome people, including the Sisters, to create a community which is based on the belief that all have gifts and talents that contribute to our shared well being."

She told the commission quality, affordable housing is one of "the greatest needs of this city."

Contributions to the Rose Court Project may be made by contacting the Development Office ai 1520 Grand Ave., San Rafael , CA 94901; or call (415) 456-1544.

CATHOLIC

SAN FRANCISCO Pop e say s Lenten conversion is key to jubilee preparation

Lenten reflection , repentance and conversion are not only important parts of preparing for Easter but also will help Catholics prepare for the celebration of the Hol y Year 2000.

This was the message Pope John Paul II delivere d at his midday Angelus address last Sunday â&#x20AC;&#x201D; his last public appointment before beginning a week-long Lenten retreat.

"Do not let this favorable time pass in vain ," the pope said.

There are those among us who might be tempted to nod our heads in agreement, but somewhere deep inside whisper, "Easy for you to say." The Holy Father does not have tuition payments due, does not have job security to worry about, does not have to spend a large percentage of his life commuting. He doesn 't even have to paint his house, wash his car, or drive kids to practice.

On the other hand, he is not guilty of letting important things blind him to the essential ones. And the essential ones have to do with our relationship to the Creator and his son 's pretty clear admonitions about love, forgiveness, conversion and service.

How do we know we need this Lenten time-out, even if these are only mini time-outs? Hint : is the closest you 've been to prayer in recently blessing someone after they 've sneezed? Is the only thing you remember from last Sunday 's liturgy is sitting on some toddler 's soggy Cherrios? Has the spiritual highlight of your week been watching a Frasier re-run without the phone ringing? Is the last time you talked to someone about the importance of God in your life when you won the beer drinking contest at your class reunion?

The pope is right. 'It is necessary to be freed from indifference and from the distractions of the world and to listen to the voice of God that echoes in the Church and , even before , in the ~conscience of each person. " Dedicating time and serious attention to examining one' s conscience is an important part of Christian life, he said. It reveals the truth about one 's life and helps people see the distance between their actions or attitudes and the ideals they hold.

If one needs a little divine guidance in this latter area , John Paul tells us, seek the li ght of the sacrament of penance. "In the frequent practice of this sacrament , the Christian experiences divine mercy and becomes , in turn , able to pardon and to love ," he said.

He said he hoped final preparations for celebrating the year 2000 would awaken in more peop le a desire to receive the sacrament and would stimulate priests to make more time available for hearing confessions.

Let ' s keep them busy. And let 's keep ourselves a little less so. And , indeed, let us "not let this favorable time pass in vain."

DMY

Programsf or seniors

I was reading your first , issue and stopped at the "Journey of Hope " article when I saw the quote from Robin Greene saying, "We need to focus on what the people really need. For example, there is really very little done for the elderly."

As I am the director of Aging Services for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese, her comment caught my attention. I read through the whole article but couldn 't find any other reference to this or her. She 's right. The need isn 't nearly being met as our elderly population continues to grow and wants to remain independent. However, Catholic Charities does provide several very affordable programs designed to help our elders remain in their homes where they want to be. Perhaps your readers would find the information helpful.

At the San Francisco OMI Senior Center we offer activities , hot lunch and an extensive information and referral program called Senior Central with a professional staff to help people find and maintain the services they need. Nearby we have adult day care so families can continue working or get respite from 24hour care. We also provide referrals for home care workers.

In San Mateo we provide adult day care, deliver Meals on Wheels and offer ombudsman services for those who have entered long-term care facilities.

I hope you 'll help us spread the word . I can be reached at (415) 844-4836. .

Ish Mendonsa Director of Aging Services, CCASF San Francisco

Keep up good work

Memories washed over me as I opened and read the Catholic San Francisco this week. As a child growing up in St. Phili p Parish in San Francisco, I remember references to The Monitor spoken around the kitchen table. Usually the conversation was in the context of a deadline to be met with words such as "tonight, urgent, midnight , Rincon Annex." I can still hear the echoes of the night sounds of my mother's manual Underwood typewriter as she wrote articles for the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women to appear in the next issue of The Monitor: Upon completion of her writing at about 11 p.m. the 1952 green Pontiac would

tetters welcome

Catholic San Francisco welcomes letters from its readers. Please: *- Include your name, address and daytime phone number. >- Sign your letter. > Limit submissions to 250 words. > Note that the newspaper reserves the right to edit for clarity and length.

Send your letters to: Catholic San Francisco 441 Church St jSan Francisco, CA 94114 Fax: (415) 565-3631 E-mail: dyoung@catholic-sf.org

Place for things to 'j el V

I received Catholic San Francisco at home last Friday and I want to congratulate you , to thank all of you who made it possible, and to send you my very best words of encouragement.

It is just wonderful to have a Catholic paper in San Francisco. I' m looking forward to reading the news from a Catholic perspective and to hear about all the varied parishes within the Bay Area.

There is a lot going on within the Catholic community, but it's all kind of scattered in little parcels out there and I believe this paper could help it all "jell" together.

Here are a couple of suggestions: would it be possible to have a directory of all religion classes, retreats or prayer groups going on?

Or where to find such information? I heard about the SPL (School of Pastoral Leadership) through word of mouth, and I am currently taking the Prayer and Spirituality class there (which is extremely informative).

What about listing also Internet sites, the ones with the best Catholic resources?

Michele Szekely San Francisco

L E T T E E S

Congratu lations on the inaugural issue of the new Catholic San I Francisco. Please tell the publisher, editor and staff that it 's a job well done. Keep up the good work .

John Kaufer Foster City

Treasured memories

sequester the prized prose and my dad would deposit same in the Rincon Annex post office by the stroke of midni ght.

My mother, Jane Thain , would be so leased with the inauguration of the p Catholic San Francisco and I just bet she would find a way to have her Monitor voice re-heard in this new Catholic paper.

Janet Thain Schroder South San Francico

Congratulations

It is a personal joy to write and to offer my congratulations to Archbishop William J. Levada and to all of you for inaugurating Catholic San Francisco to serve the peop le of the San Francisco Archdiocese.

Since the closure of The Monitor there has been a great void in Catholic - news, information, and evangelization resources for the great Archdiocese of San Francisco.

I am so pleased that this void has been filled with a new Catholic newspaper for our sister Archdiocese to the north , and I found the very firs t issue to illustrate a refreshing new look and spirit.

Over the years we have all learned that no archdiocese or diocese can long endure without a quality Catholic newspaper to inform , form, and evangelize our Catholic community. We cannot rely upon the secular media to tell the entire Catholic story accurately and adequatel y, nor to have the same pastoral priorities that are ours. We must have Catholic newspapers to interpret today 's popular headlines from a faith and ethical perspective.

Asking the Lord' s abundant blessings upon this new Catholic publishing venture in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, and with kindest personal regards, I am: Sincerely yours in Christ , His Eminence Cardinal Roger Mahony Archbishop of Los Angeles

Congratulations, b u t . . .

Congratulations on the inaugural issue of Catholic San Francisco. I was impressed with the range and depth of coverage.

In pag ing through it , 1 was hoping to find the Reli gious Education Institute sponsored by the Archdiocese on Jan. 30 highLETTERS, Page 14

Vatican Letter.

Pope challenges 'Church in America'

John Thavis JLn a final document on the Synod of Bishops for America, Pope John Paul II urged a fresh program of evangelization in the Western Hemisphere, built on twin pillars of conversion to Christ and solidarity with the suffering.

The Church must keep reaching out to the poor with spiritual and material programs, the pope said. But it must also evangelize the rich and powerful — a group often pastorally neglected, he added.

The pope 's guidelines, in the form of an "apostolic exhortation," addressed to all Catholics in North and South America, endorsed virtually all the proposals made at the close of the synod, held at the Vatican in late 1997.

The pontiff signed the letter shortly after his arrival in Mexico City last month , and celebrated its publication with a Mass in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.The pope entrusted the future of evangelization to Mary and declared Dec. 12 as an Americas-wide feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The 139-page document, "The Church in America,"

The Catholic Diff erence

George Weigel \^/n the night of Nov. 19, 1997, my 20-year friendship with Richard John Neuhaus was under severe strain.

We were in Rome. Father Neuhaus had been named a member of the Synod for America by Pope John Paul II and I was working on the pope 's biography. Seventytwo hours into the synod, though, Father Neuhaus was a most unhappy camper. Orotund speeches, the public declaiming of lengthy documents he had already read, and attendance checks that reminded him of the third grade had sent him across the Neuhausian threshold for boredom , never high to begin with.

Thus on Nov. 19, for the third night in a row, I was sitting with my friend, listening to his lamentations with the aid of an adult beverage, and wondering how I — let alone Neuhaus — was going to survive the Synod for America.

Then, toward midnight, Father Neuhaus said, "I think I'll write a book about it." Not without a twinge of conscience over the blatant self-interest involved in endorsing such a remedy for synod hall tedium and its attendant psychic distress, I said, "That 's a terrific idea."

The next day, Richard John Neuhaus, busily taking notes and sketching themes, was his usual, chipper self again.

covers a wide range of issues, from the value of prayer to the relationshi p between the Church and politics.

Its strong call to economic justice was framed in an equally forceful reminder that the heart of the Church' s mission is evangelization — proclaiming Christ — and that the Church's social activities stem from personal conversion.

"For service to the poor to be both evangelical and evangelizing, it must faithfully reflect the attitude of Jesus, who came to proclaim the Good News to the poor," the pope said.

The letter touched on several themes the pope has emphasized in talks to U.S. and other bishops in recent years: • An emerging "cultu re of death" threatens the family and society, evidenced by growing acceptance of abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty. It is a model of society, he warned, in which the powerful predominate and even eliminate the powerless.

• The "Christian identity '" of the Americas, including its heritage of basic moral values, is put at risk by those who see majority rule as the answer to all questions.

• The proselytizing success of religious sects challenges pastors to ask why Catholics are leaving the Church and to renew parish life.The Church must reinvigorate the faith life of its members, so the gap between faith and daily life can be bridged. "Where this gap exists, Christians are such only in name," he said.

The most detailed section of the letter tackled the issue of poverty and social suffering throughout the Americas, especially as a result of economic globalization. These are "social sins which cry to heaven " and too often are the consequence of an "unbridled greed for wealth and power," it said.

The pope sharply criticized forms of economic "neoliberalism " in which the profit motive and market

mechanisms are exalted to the point society 's weakest are pushed further to the margins.

Yet the Church cannot be exclusivel y occupied with the poor, the pope added. "The pastoral care for the leading sectors of society has been neglected," he said, in key areas such as politics, the military, unions and other social environments. Evangelization of these leaders is the best antidote to corruption , he said.

The pope repeated his call for easing or outright cancellation of foreign debt , saying the burden was "suffocating" many countries. At the same time, he said, corruption in borrowing has also helped fuel the debt crisis.

Corruption and the illegal drug trade end up hurting the poor the most, he said.

The letter condemned discrimination against indigenous peoples in the Americas and called for respect for their territories and any agreements made with such native groups. The Church must also be sensitive to ongoing ethnic prejudice against African-Americans, it said.

A strongly worded section on the environment said believers have a responsibility to protect God's creation from increasing abuse in the Americas, including harmful gas emissions, deliberate burning of forests, desertification and other forms of devastation, especially in the Amazon region.

The pope highli ghted the plight of many women in the Americas, repeating the synod's description of a "feminine side of poverty " and denouncing "discrimination , sexual abuse and male domination as actions contrary to God's plan." He deplored the sterilization of women, which he said was carried out in some countries without women realizing it, as part of programs to meet conditions for economic aid.

John Thavis is chief of Catholic News Service 's Rome bureau.

Inside the Synod for America Now he 's published the best book ever written on a Synod of Bishops.

The Synod for America was one of a series of regional meetings convened by John Paul II to prepare for the Great Jubilee of 2000. Its announcement was met with barely repressed yawns by more than a few bishops.

Wh at was the point of it all? Then there was the question of title: Why did the pope insist on a synod "for America," rather th an for "the Americas?"

Latin American bishops feared that, in any synod for "America," their concerns would be overwhelmed by the Colossus of the North. Silicon Valley, Sun Belt, and American .League Hast Disnops wondered what on earth their situations had in common with the villages of Central America and the favelas of Rio de Janeiro.

As Father Neuhaus demonstrates with vivid detail in Appointment in Rome: The Church in America Awakening (Herder and Herder), the richness of human interaction at the Synod for America was one of the meeting's major accomplishments. John Paul, who constantly talks about his debt to the experience of Vatican II, imagines synods on that model. Synods, he hopes, will be Utile Pentecosts at which the bishops, experiencing the universality of the Church as a daily reality rather than an abstract idea, will be re-energized for their basic task, which is evangelical, not managerial.

It would be an exaggeration to claim that this papal expectation was fully met at the Synod for America. But as Father Neuhaus makes clear, there was a sense of the Holy Spirit's presence in the air, if primarily in the bishops ' extramural conversations.

Father Neuhaus himself made perhaps the boldest

formal intervention at the synod, suggesting that "evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics can evangelize and re-evangelize" the Western Hemisp here "with one another rather than against one another." To Latin American bishops used to dismissing all evangelical and pentecostalist Protestants as "the sects," this was challenging stuff indeed — as it was to North American prelates who had not yet realized that the ecumenism of the 21st century will be far more Catholic and evangelical Protestant than Catholic and mainline/oldline Protestant.

Father Neuhaus frankly acknowledged many evangelical Protestants "do not view us as brothers and sisters in LJinsr. uut catnoncs are obliged, he insisted, to view them as brothers and sisters in Christ, according to Vatican II. Thinking about the re-evangelization of the Western Hemisphere together with evangelical Protestants is an imperative, even if it is also a call to courage. But , Father Neuhaus concluded , hadn 't the pope been steadily urging us, "Be not afraid!"?

No one knows whether the 21st century will witness a springtime of evangelization in North, Central, and South America. But we can know, now, a lot of what happened as the Synod for America pondered that possibility in November and December 1997. An insider's account written with wit and verve and an important proposal about the ecumenical future, Appointment in Rome makes clear that no one has a keener insight into the worlds-within-worlds of Christianity in the Americas than Richard John Neuhaus.

•

>—M

¦ . 11

TT*

SI

il

T

The none hopes synods might he 'little Pentecosts at which the bishops . . . will be re-energized fo r their basic task, which is evangelical, not managerial.'

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

On BeingCatholic

Father's unconditional love

Father Milton T. Walsh .L/uring this year of preparation for the millennium, Pope John Paul II invites us to reflect on God the father, and above all on his mercy. Emblematic of these themes is one of the most beloved parables in all the Gospels, the one popularly known as "the Prodigal Son" (Luke 15: 11-32). In subsequent columns I will reflect on the figures of the two sons, but this week let us contemplate the father. It is only human that the pace with which we walk down the path of repentance will be determined in part by the reception we expect at the other end — and the good news of Jesus is that the God who awaits us is far more prodigal with his mercy than we are with our sins. He is, in fact , generous to the point of folly.

The parable begins with the younger son asking for his inheritance. I suspect any parent would get a little nervous when a son or daughter begins making specific inquiries regarding the estate. In the traditional culture of Palestine, such an inquiry would be unheard of, but this son goes further: he asks for it before his father has

Letters...

¦ Continued from Page 12 lighted. This coverage would have been especially meaningful to the families and youth of our parish since a number of our teen-agers participated in the liturgical celebration. It would also have been a source of encouragement for all who are involved in the catechetical ministryistry of the Archdiocese.

I look forward to the next issue and pray that St. Francis de Sales (patron of journ alism) will bless this new endeavor.

May it be an effective tool in touching hearts and minds, for the reign of God. Sister Teresa Walsh, CSJ School of Religion Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Half Moon Bay

Sensitivity lacking

Next year at this time please include a substantial amount of coverage of the important event in our Archdiocese called the Religious Education Institute.

Considering all the work that the archdiocesan staff put into making it a success , and its impact on the development of volunteer teachers who serve thousands, it 's baffling how it could have been neglected by your editorial staff. Perhaps next year we may see more sensitivity while at the same time honoring the importance of Catholic School Week.

Tom Kavanagh Director, School of Religion St. Anselm Parish San Anselmo

REI neglected

A word of congratulations on the inaugural issue of Catholic San Francisco. I was very impressed by the breadth of coverage in the articles from the local/national

even died. In effect , he has told his father "drop dead !

The father hands over the inheritance, and endures the pain of seeing his own child choose selfish gain over the bonds of love. Is this not what we do when we sin? Sin is not the breaking of a law, but of a relationship. And yet , so great is the father 's love that he is willing to accept the son 's departure because he knows that at the core of their relationship must be freedom. He will not compel the son to stay with him. We can guess that such behavior might be construed as weakness by the villagers; we shall see that it certainly provokes resentment in the heart of the older brother.

When the younger son comes to his senses, he finally realizes how precious was his bond with his father, and that by his selfishness he has destroyed that bond; the most he can hope for is to be taken on as a hired hand. Preoccupied by his thoughts of repentance , he is almost bowled over on the road by the father who has run out to greet him. Such behavior would be unheard of in a traditional society: it is beneath the dignity of a patriarch to run. The father has humiliated himself in the eyes of the village, and has taken the shame of the wayward son on himself. The delinquent son, far from being punished , is given the best robe and a ring. The fatted calf is killed and the whole village is invited to the feast of the father 's foolishness.

And all but one accept the invitation . The father 's rejoicing causes bitterness in the older brother 's heart.

He stands out in the courtyard, pointedly refusing to come in. Once again, the father is insulted by a son, this time by the one who had seemed to be so devoted. And once again, the old man humiliates himself before all the

Church perspective as well as the world Church, a tru ly catholic perspective.

I was disappointed, though, that there seemed to be little mention of the Religious Education Institute. It was well attended and gave much food for thought and reflection for people of the Church of San Francisco. Sister Celeste Arbuckle and her team did a stellar job at keep the day running smoothly. The Archbishop's homily at the closing liturgy was very moving, his personal sharing on the difficulty of sometimes living our the life of the Beatitudes was very inspirational .

Please know I support your tremendous efforts at producing this much needed tool, which helps enrich the faith lives of San Francisco Catholics.

Doug Benbow, Liturgy director Cathedral of St. Mary San Francisco

Perhaps next time}

Congratulations on our new Catholic San Francisco. However, I did regret that

village as he again leaves his house to meet his son. He will not compel this man to come in , just as he would not forbi d his brother to leave. Their relationship must be freely embraced by both , and it is part of the dramatic power of the story that it ends on a note of suspense: will the older son come in , or not?

We cannot read the older son 's heart, but Jesus surely intends to reveal the heart of the father — for it is His Father. God is revealed as one whose love is unconditional , and whose desire to forgive is generous to the point of folly. The forg iveness comes without cost to the two sons, but at great expense to the father, for it is the fruit of a self-emptying humiliation which will go to any lengths, excepting alone the violation of our freedom , to call us back. It is the foll y of the cross. This is the divine folly we celebrate in every Eucharist, the feast of forgiveness at which God offers , not simply a calf, but his own son as the sacrament of limitless mercy.

So, let us not drag our feet on the road of repentance. As one ancient pastor had it, "I have squandered the marks of a son; he has not lost the characteristics of a father."

'Sin is not the breaking of a law, but of a relationship '

Rector of the Archdiocese of San Francisco 's St. Mary 's Cathedral from 1989-97, Father Milton T. Walsh is currently dean of students and an assistant professor of systematic theology at St. Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park. He holds both licentiate and doctoral degrees in sacred theology from Rome 's Gregorian University.

our Religious Education Institute did not receive the coverage it deserved. Perhaps next time !

Sister Bernard Joseph, PBVM Coordinator, School of Religion Mater Dolorosa Parish South San Francisco

Salute to your staff

Congratulations and a salute to all the staff for launching a great newspaper. I enjoyed the inaugural issue (great to see all those advertisers) and look forward to future issues. The "News Briefs" column is especially good, capsuling events around the world for busy people.

It was not an easy task to get capable people together, plus those who could write. So, may you have many successful years ahead.

Kan Scanlan San Francisco

Magazineformat better

Congratulations on the Catholic San Francisco newspaper. As a Catholic, I wish you success, but only regret you opted for a newspaper format.

A newspaper is to be browsed, then discarded. One considers a newspaper "old" and disposable two minutes after one has read it. Does anyone bind newspapers for future reference?

You could and, I believe, should have gone to a magazine format. One rereads and often saves magazines. Moreover, a magazine allows a publisher to focus sharply on a cover story thereby making a forceful weekly statement. A newspaper, by contrast, needs to clutter its front page. In its inside pages, a magazine allows again for editorial focusing by departmentalizing stories rather than cluttering diversified stories.

Finally, for advertising appeal, an

advertiser's page or half page does not compete with the clutter of other ads on the same page. Also, the weekly magazine provides an advertising agency a better rationale for seasonal peaks a campaign may require. Then, too, an advertiser sometimes wishes for the opportunity to either sponsor or be relevant to an editorial subject.

I admit I am speaking from the bias of having been associated with Time Magazine for 30 years and am now retired in San Francisco. Just the same, I wish you well and success.

Ricardo Taylor San Francisco

'Silly movie' revisited

I thoroughly enjoyed "Waking Ned Devine ". It was a fun , silly movie. I assumed it was set in Ireland because of the beautiful countryside and because of the warm heartedness, fun, humor and good story telling of the Irish.

As for the crabby, stingy woman, I don't think God gives you many points for doing the ri ght thing when your motivation is greed , meanness and hatefulness.

The young woman in the stoiy was a real beauty and soulful (a poetess) and as such men of different backgrounds and temperaments were naturall y drawn to her.

At the end of the film she could have claimed the entire prize money for her son, and therefore herself, but she chose a loving father for her son instead.

How many parents both widowed and unmarried in today's society would have exercised such wisdom including the "Three Mothers & a Father" (Feb. 19 Catholic San Francisco movie review)?

"Of course , it is only a movie " — a silly movie, make believe, Hennie Wisniewski San Francisco

Family Lif e

Who put the Tent 5 in lentil burgers

Vivian W. Dudro IVA

y children bluntl y admit they "hate " Lent. My husband and I try to tell them that some unpleasant and difficult tasks are good for us and that they will understand it all better when they are grown. But secretly we sympathize with them. Like taking out the garbage and flossing one 's teeth , Lent is not fun.

It 's not fun for the children and me, because between Ash Wednesday and Easter morning there are no candies , cookies or other treats in the house.

It 's not fun for my husband , a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy, because during Lent 1 cook a lot more vegetarian dishes. Once when I made lentil burgers and asked cheerily how he liked them , he stated flatl y,

"Promise me you 'll never make these again."

These are minor deprivations , I know. Yet that is precisely the reason Lent is so hard for me to bear. As soon as I make my resolves to eat a little less, pray a little more and love a little better , I fall Hat on my face. And it is humiliating to be defeated by such smal l challenges.

During the rest of the year, I find it so much easier to be content with myself and to find fault with others. I have thing s pretty well under control , it seems to me. It 's other people who mess them up. But when Lent rolls around and I try merely to wake up 15 minutes earlier or to pass up dessert or to refrain from nagging my husband , I am forced to face the truth: I am a weak unit.

Yes, there 's no denying my weakness when , after shooing the children out of the kitchen without allowing them a sweet ' smackeral' ot something, I sneak into the baking chocolate, or fix myself a cup of hot cocoa while murmuring, "Liquids don 't count."

It is not until many such failures, that the purpose of Lent finally begins to sink in. This is not the spiritual Olympics. This is an opportunity to remember who I am, to realize who I am not, and to follow more closely the only One who can make up the difference.

Perhaps one of the best Lents I ever had was back

when I. was drinking coffee around the clock and foolishly gave it up. During the next few days, 1 suffered from debilitating fati gue and a throbbing headache . Had 1 know n that I was a caffeine addict in the throes of withdrawal , I would have been sorel y templed to make a pot of coffee and find something else to go without. But thinking I was coming down with the flu I went to bed , and while there, throug h no merit of my own, I conquered a bad habit.

This success through failure taught me a priceless lesson. While I made the sacrifice with my own free will, it was something more than my "will power " that made it efficacious.

In giving us Lent , the Church is giving us a great gift - a chance to reclaim a bit of our freedom. It is painful to admit that we are enslaved to our whims and : appetites. But that humility is a freeing tiling - it gives us permission to stop striving on our own and to embrace Christ 's suffering and death .

Heck, if it were all up to me to make up for my sins, I would have given up many Lents ago.

A ' s soon as I make my resolves to eat a little less, pray a little more and love a little better, I fall f lat on my face '

Vivian Dudro is the mother of four (ages three to 11) and a member of St. Mary 's Cathedral Parish.

Are statues still covered during Lent? \l- Our parish liturgy committe e is now preparing some details for Holy Week, with our pastor.

For many years we have not covered the statues in church during the last two weeks of Lent. I remember when that was done regularly, but liturgy documents we have read and studied suggest this should not be done, for reasons which seem to us very sound, in light of what Holy Week is supposed to mean and how it is observed.

One of our newer members , however, says she was in a church last year when all the statues were covered, not only during Holy Week but all<< during Lent.

Has there been a change in the rules : Or are we correct in continuing what we have been doing ? (Florida)

cally covered with purple cloths during what was then called Passiontide, the last two weeks of Lent.

This revised missal notes , just before the text of the fifth Sunday of Lent , "The practice of covering crosses and images in the church may be observed, if the episcopal conference decides. The crosses are to be covered until the end of the celebration of the Lord 's passion on Good Friday. The images are to remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil. " The most significant part of that rubric is that the practice may be continued if the episcopal conference so decides. That same condition was repeated in 1988 in a Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts," from the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship (No. 26).

The usual procedure in liturgical law requires bishops to vote to abolish a practice or make it optional. The bishops voted some years ago, for example, to make the anointing with the oil of catechumens optional at the baptism of infants .

QUESTION , CORNER

A. I, too, have seen statues covered in some places in recent years, but there is no foundation today for this practice in the Church's liturgical instructions or policies.

Before the revised edition of the Sacramentary (Roman Missal) in 1970, statues in churches were typ i-

M OUNT ALVERNO CONFERENCE CENTER

sitfSi—_—_

THE PENINSULA RECENT ¦ . .

*"9? ^"S-!s *'

fr

' .

#*¦

Ifffcfl B'Si

As the U.S. bishops ' Commitee on the Liturgy explains, however, in this case the bishops must vote to continue the practice. Otherwise it ceases.

"The National Conference of Catholic Bishop s has never voted to continue the practice of covenng crosses and images, and so the practice, in accord with the rubric of the Sacramentary, has not been permissible for the past 25 years. Individual parishes are not free to reinstate the practice on their own. " (BCL Newsletter, April 1995)

Father John Dietzen

(Questions for Father Dietzen may be sent to him at Box 325, Peoria, IL 61651. This column is copyri g hted by Catholic New Service.)

L. PRESENTATION CENTER __ ; 9480 Bear Creek Hood j ^l vSlk *^" ^ A* 95033 j P nm% rM ^fl iu9fI ¦ ^ flHJL, fc - ?¦ ¦*~3H-PJK-_

^^

1999 RETREATS April 1-4 Holy Week Triduum

Fr. Jack Bonsor, celebrant and Maril yn Morgan . RSM liturg ist

-^ ;, ,^ -^> r sv >v; J J >;&;>**?' ^ ^ N e s t l e d in the Emerald Hills o v e r l o o k i n g San F r a n c i s c o Bay, M o u n t A l v e r n o o ffers 26 acres of s e c l u d e d t r a n qu i l i t y j u s t 30 m i n u t e s f r o m San F r a n c i s c o and San Jose.

For more inf ormation about Mount Alverno - write, call or f a x : 3910 Bret Harte Drive Redwood City, CA 94061-1147 Plume; 650/369-0798 Fax: 650/369-9358 E-mail: iiifo@mountalvernD.com

THE GIFT OF TIME At The Peninsula Regent you have the freedom to do things you 've always wanted to do — but never had the time. Our residents, freed from the chores of maintaining large homes, now can travel, play more golf, read more, see more of their friends , or just dawdle in any way that pleases them.

See Tor y o u r s e i r . Call for a s p e c i a l t o u r

The Peninsula Regent

One Baldwin Avenue, San Mateo, CA 9440 1 (650) 579 - 5500 RCFE #410508359

**************** June 16-20 Come to the Water, for caregivers and single parents Fr. Ed Murray, Helen Bunje and team

**************** July 5-11 The Passion of Jesus: Our call to Discipleship Ft. Dave Pettingill

**************** August 2-8 In the Stillness: A guided/directed retreat experience Patricia Galli, RSM and team

****************

For more information call (408) 354 - 2346, Ext. 354

LITURGY & SCRIPTURE 'To listen to Jesus 'Do not be afraid': Christ's forgiving embrace and to share his destinv...'

This column marks the second of five on the sacrament of penance. For those celebrating the sacrament this Lent and for those less sure of how to celebrate it, these words are offered.

The Christ we encounter in Sunday 's Gospel , transfigured in glory, lays his hands on his disci ples and calms their fears : Do not be afraid. This is the same Christ whom we encounter now in confession. Christ himself welcomes us, calms our fears , and says in every aspect of the sacrament: Do not be afraid. Last week's column brought us through the fi rst part of individual confession: Welcome and greeting. The sacrament begins with the kind welcome by the p riest and his opening words of prayer, reminding us that our confidence is in Jesus himself. It is his compassion which surrounds us.

Word. A Scripture passage we choose ahead of time (from Sunday 's readings, perhaps, or a favorite Psalm) can be a great help in preparing for the sacrament.

Sharing this reading with the priest or choosing one with him brings us again into Christ 's own presence in the Word.

God's unfailing mercy is proclaimed in the Bible reading; the tender invitation to conversion , to contrition is offered us. Insights we received from the Word of God guide our hearts and minds to see our sinfulness, to see broken love relationships in our lives. In the light of the Word of God, then, we make our confession.

Confession. Taking heart from the Word of God and encouraged by the presence of Christ in our midst, we come to the confession of sins with heartfelt sorrow. We begin any way we want: with a familiar formula, with a list of sins, with one or two sins that most trouble us , with a request for the l' uw" a while. priest f 11^ 's help if l muK~ Sister Sharon McMillan, SND ° "*** " it s° been We may be encouraged to focus on the three relationships at the heart of our Christian lives: with God, with others, and with our self. Or the priest may ask us about the area where we most want to be forgiven by God. The priest is a trustworthy guide here and a sure support for faint hearts.

Penance. After our confession of sins, the priest gives us an act of penance. Often this penance directly relates to what we 've confessed. It may be an act of service, selfdenial, or prayer to begin the healing process; it may be an action to begin reconciling those broken relationships we 've mentioned. Acceptance of the penance is followed by our prayer.

Act of contrition. Praying an act of contrition that is known by heart can give assurance. But what prayer to use? The choice of the prayer is ours. Perhaps an act of contrition familiar from years past: 0 my God , 1 am heartily sorry or one from a prayer book or missalette. One I especially like, based on Scripture, is this: Lord Jesus, you chose to be called the f riend of sinners. By your saving death and resurrection, free me from my sins. May your peace take root in my heart and bring forth a harvest of love, holiness and truth. Or simply: Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

If it's helpful to bring a copy of the prayer, please do so. Here again, if we feel unsure as to what to pray, the priest will be a sure guide.

Next week's column: absolution and praise. (Thanks to Father Tom, Father John, and Father Jim who contributed to this column.)

Notre Dame Sister Sharon McMillan is an assistant professsor of sacramental theology and liturgy at St. Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park.

Lenten observation ¦:- ¦- -<

¦

if

In order that our love for Christ and identification with him may be deepened , I earnestl y exhort all Catholics during the period of Lent and the Easter season to attend daily Mass, to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance, to receive Holy Communion often , to participate in the devotional life of the Church, to give generousl y to the religious and charitable works of the Church, to assist the sick, the aged and the poor, to practice voluntary fast, penance and self-denial, and to pray more fervently, particularly for the intention of the Holy Father and the mission of the Church.

As Canon 1249 of the Code of Canon Law indicates, "AH members of the Christian faithful in their own way are bound to do penance in virtue of divine law ; in order that all may be joined in a common observance of penance, penitential days are prescribed in which ihe Christian faithful in a special way pray, exercise works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their responsibilities more faithfull y and especially by observing fast and abstinence," in accord with the norms of Church law for the United States: Abstinence: Everyone 14 years of age and older is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, the Fridays of Lent and Good Friday.

Fast: Everyone 18 years of age and older bul under the age of 60 is also bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The Easter fast should also be observed on Hol y Saturday until the Easier Vigil if possible.

On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, the law of fast allows onl y one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking some food during the d ay, so long as this does not constitute another full meal . Drinking liquids during the day is permitted.

When heallh or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige. In doubt concerning fast or abstinence, a priest assigned to pastoral ministry or confessor should be consulted. In the spirit of penance, the faithful should not lightly excuse themselves from this obligation.

Most Reverend William J. Levada Archbishop of San Francisco

j

The Word of God, chosen for this Sunday ' s liturgy, provides a rall y for our sp irits: for those who have embarked on the final stage of preparation for initiation into the Church at the Easter Vigil; and for those alread y initiated who prepare to renew their baptismal commitment to Church life at Easter. To hear what is actually play ing out in our lives is to be encouraged to move on in our journey.

Genesis 12: 1 -4a In Sunday 's Gospel, Matthew once Sunday Second Timothy 1:8b-10 again describes Jesus as a new Moses.

O Ma tthew 17:1-9 The author has already used the approach in the infancy narrative where Jesus escapes the clutches of Herod who has ordered the slaug hter of all male children two years old and under, just as the child Moses was rescued from Pharaoh who decreed the death of all male Hebrew children (Matthe w 2:13-23). The author again asks us to think of Moses when Jesus "went up Dn the mountain " (5:1), to deliver the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7), in which again, Jesus and Moses are compared: " ' You have heard it said (Moses) . . . but I say to you ' ."

(Matthew 5:21, 27, 31, 33, 38, 43) Now once again, Matthew asks us to see Jesus ' ministry in the li ght of Moses ' ministry.

Like Moses, Jesus leads his disciples, Peter, James and John, "up a high mountain by themselves;" like Moses, whose face was changed by God's glory, Jesus is transformed: "his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light."

Like Moses, Jesus experiences God' s presence signified by the "cloud" and the "voice." Moses indeed appears along with Elijah conversing with Jesus. These two ' prophets both had extraordinary experiences of God on the mountain (Exodus 34:5Father David M. Pettingill 9 and I Kings 19:1-18). Peter 's suggestion to build three tents also reinforces the Moses parallel: The feast of tents or tabernacles in Israel's liturgical year commemorated the giving of the law on Sinai .

From the cumulation of details in this Gospel, Matthew asks us to embrace Jesus as both law giver (" 'listen to him' ") and the law accomplished (" 'Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead' ").

To listen to Jesus (liturgy of the Word) and to share his destiny (liturgy of the Eucharist) bring us a share in his glory and victory. We begin to realize that playing out in our lives is the same displacement that enabled Abraham and Sarah to know the new God who called them; that enabled a weary Moses, constantly telling God that Israel is your people, to be transformed by a searing God-experience on Sinai; that enabled an embattered Elijah, persecuted by Ahab and Jezebel, to revive and resume his ministry.

During this Season, we discover the glory of self-donation, the victory of living other-centered lives. As Genesis rightly observes, for Abram (Abraham 's name before it was changed) and Sarai (Sarah's name before it was changed) to experience the God who called them, they had to abandon the security of kin, home, and land; they had to believe in the impossible : children (they were beyond the child-bearing years), progeny, and blessing for "all the communities of the earth."

There is a power at work in us, which can "accomplish immeasurably more than we ask or imagine" (Ep hesians 3:21), a power that enables us to give away and not be depleted, that enables us to go up the mountain only to find that we cannot stay and that our journey calls us to move on.

Second f Lent

Father David Pettingill directs the Archdiocese of San Francisco 's Office of Parish Life. He and Sulp ician Father Gerald D. Coleman recently co-authored Following in the Footsteps of Jesus, part of the Illumination Books series published by Paulist Press.

ATHOLIC Become a patron of = ^C , ,. „ SAM FRANCISCO * n ,

.i..I.,11...i..,..¦ ..¦mi.j .jiiin

Cawoltc ban rranasco

Catholic San Francisco invites you to be part of this exciting new endeavor by becoming a patron of the newspaper.- If you believe that a Catholic p resence and Catholic perspectives are important in today's society, p lease j oin Father Anthony Chung, Ada Duner, Father Francis K. Murray, San Francisco District of the Young Ladies Institute , Seton Provincialate , Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and other patrons of Catholic San Francisco. Send your check for any amount to Catholic San Francisco, 1595 Mission Rd., South San Francisco, CA 94080-1218.

Conversion , reconciliation key to 'Central Station Reviewed by Kenneth Weare, Ph.D.

The story begins outside the central train station in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian film star Fernanda Montenegro plays Dora, a retired school teacher who sits at a smal l desk writing letters for illiterate passers-by. She charges a fee, but pockets the letters. She is a worn woman, cynical , mean-spirited , and condescending- toward the simp le people (played by local non-professionals) eager to communicate with their distant loved ones.

One letter is from a woman to her far away alcoholic husband. When she suddenl y dies in the street, her nine-year-old takes refuge with destitutes on the station floor-. He is Josue ' , played by Vinicius de Oliveira , a real-life shoeshine boy discovered by director Walter Salles.

Dora must decide whether or not to ignore his pli ght. Josue ' wants to find his father, and something inside Dora pushes her to hel p him. But not before she "sells" him to an "adoption agency " specializing in the underground trade of human organs.

While watching her newl y purchased color TV, Dora is confronted by her good friend (Marilia Pera). She steals back the boy,

USCC Film Ratings

Best Pictu re, and just received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Film.

"Central Station" is one of those rare films that transports the viewer from futility and desperation to a realistic hopefulness. It is far more profound than any of Holl ywood's recent crop of emotion-eliciting "triumph s of the human spirit". The film is sagacious yet subtle, intelligent yet moving.

In perhaps the most intri guing experience in the film , Dora and Josue ' find themselves in the midst of a reli gious procession in a tiny rural village. They become separated and Dora ends up in a House of Miracles inundated with burning incense and lit candles, and walls covered with famil y photos and prayer notes. She collapses and then awakes a changed woman. The rest of the film becomes a journey of prayer.

Central Station " is an exceptional film , especial ly worthwhile seeing during Lent. It is about self-knowledge and honesty, fri endship and love, sin and reconciliation , and moral consciousness. Most importantly, it is a film about conversion.

'Central Station' is one of those rare films that transports the viewer from futility and desperation to . . . hopefulness. and they head out of town. It is the start of her conversion. Thoug h irreverent and irritable toward each other, the two bus from town to town, outpost to outpost , encountering all sorts of problems.

In time, they become friends. The impoverished but beautiful rural countryside is exquisitely photographed by cinematographer Walter Carvalho. Fern anda Montenegro gives a stunning performance. A brilliant , versatile actress in the line of Betty Davis, she previousl y starred in "Eles nao usarn black-tie" ("They Don 't Wear Black Tie," 1981), "Tudo bern" ("Everything's Fine," 1978), and "A hora da estrela "("The Hour of the Star," 1985).

For "Central Station " she just received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress. "Central Station " was voted Best Picture at the 1998 Berlin Film Festival , earned the covetous Golden Globe Award for

(Central Station; 115 minutes, in Portuguese with English subtitles).

Mosaic' continues on KPIX

I Crt

a.

O

a

|

"Mosaic," a public affairs program produced by the Archdiocese in cooperation with CBS, can be seen Sundays at 6 a.m. on KPIX-Channel 5. Programs with a Catholic perspective air approximately 17 times per year. The half-hour production has beer on the air for more than two decades. Among those who have hosted the program are Father Tom Moran, pastor, St. Charles Parish, San Carlos and the late Father Cyril Leach. Above left, "Mosaic " producer Marta Rebagliati in the KPIX control room oversees a recent taping. On the "Mosaic " set at right, host Tom Burke (left) interviews Bryan Cahill, recently named the Archdiocese 's new executive director of the Catholic Youth Organization. The segment will be repeated this Sunday.

Faith is broadcast focus in several languages Following is a partial listing of Bay Area radio and television programs that feature Church topics and a focus on religious values.

In English Mosaic , a 30-minute public affairs program produced by the Archdiocese with CBS; airs Sunday mornings at 6 a.m. on KPIX Channel 5. Shows with a Catholic perspective air approximately 17 times per year.

Information about Mosaic is available from the Catholic Communications Office at (415) 565-3630.

For Hea ven 's Sake , a 30-minute public affairs program produced by the Archdiocese with KRON - Channel 4, airs every other Sunday at 5 a.m. Information about For Heaven 's Sake is available from Father Miles Riley at 441 Church St., San Francisco, 94114.

The TV Mass airs every Sunday on KTSF Channel 26 from 6 to 6:30 a.m. Presider is Father Miles O'Brien Riley. Consult cable providers for additional airings in your area.

Information about the TV Mass is avail-

able from the Catholic Communications Office at (415) 565-3630.

The Radio Mass airs Sunday s from noon to 1p.m. on KFAX, 1100 AM. Catholic Faith, a 30-minute program exploring the Church today, airs Wednesdays at 9 a.m. on KTSF Channel 26. Consult cable providers for KTSF's channel number in your area.

Information about the Radio Mass and Catholic Faith is available from Franciscan Father Efrem Trettel at (415) 282-8366.

In Italian A Mass in Italian airs Sundays from 4 to 5 p.m. on KTSF Channel 26. Presider is Franciscan Father Efrem Trettel. Consult your cable provider for KTSF's channel number in your area. Information about the TV Mass in Italian is available from Father Trettel at (415) 282-8366.

In Cantonese Radio Rosary is broadcast Saturdays at 9 a.m. on KUSFFM, 90.3.

God's People on the Air, a homily by Jesuit Father Robert Ng on the Sunday Gospel is

broadcast Saturdays at 1 p.m. on KUSF FM 90.3. The 30-minu te program includes discussion and applications to everyday life.

Information about these programs is available from Canossian Sister Mari a Hsu , Archdiocesan Office Of Ethnic Ministries , (415) 565-3683.

In Spanish Biettvenidosa Casa, a 30-minute mix of dialogue, news and prayer, is broadcast Sundays at 8:30 a.m. on Radio Unica 1010 AM. Information about this program is available from St. Anthony of Padua Parish , San Francisco at (415) 647-2704.

In Polish St. Wojciech Pastoral Miss ion Polish Program, 30-minutes of Scripture, news from the Church in Poland, and music with Society of Christ Father Czeslaw Rybacki, pastor, Church of the Nativity, San Francisco. Airs Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. on KUSF FM, 90.3.

Check local listings and communicate with local cable providers or broadcast outlets to confirm air times of these programs.

NEW YORK (CNS) — Here is a list of recent films the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for Film and Broadcasting has rated on the basis of moral suitability. The first symbol after each title is the USCC classification. The second symbol is the rat ing of the Motion Picture Association of America.

USCC classifications: A-l — general patronage; A-1I - adults and adolescents; AIII — adults ; A-1V — adults , with reservations (this indicates films that , while not morally offensive in themselves , are not for casual viewing because they require some anal ysis and explanation in order to avoid false impressions and interpretations); 0 — morall y offensive.

MPAA ratings: 0 — general audiences, all ages admitted; PG — parental guidance suggested , some material may not be suitable for children ; PG-13 — parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13; R — restricted , u nder 17 requires accompany ing parent or adult guardian ; NC -17 — no one 17 or under admitted.

A Affliction , A-III (R) Another Day in Paradise, O (R) Antz, A-II (PG) At First Sight , A-III (PG-13) B Babe: Pig in the City, A-I (G) A Bug 's Life, A-II (G) C The Celebration , A-IV (R) Central Station , A-lll (R) The Children of Heaven, A-II (PG) A Civil Action , A-II (PG-13) D Dancing at Lughnusa , A-III (PG) Down in the Delta, A-II (PG-13) E Elizabeth , A-IV (R) The Emperor's Shadow, A-I1T (no rating) Enemy of the State, A-III (R) F The Faculty, 0 (R) G The General , A-IV (R) Gloria , A-IV (R) Gods and Monsters , A-IV (R) H Happ iness, A-IV (no rating) Hilary and lackie, A-IV (R) The Hi-Lo Country, A-III (R) Home Fries, A-III (PG-13) Hurl yburl y, 0 (R) I I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, 0 (R) In Dream s, A-IV (R) J lack Frost, A-II (PG) L Life Is Beautiful , A-II (PG- 13) Little Voice, A-III (R) M Meet Joe Black , A-III (PG-13) Mighty Joe Young, A-II (PG) My Name Is Joe, A-III (R) P Patch Adams , A-III (PG-13) Playing by Heart, A-1U (R) Pleasantville , A-IV (PG-13) The Prince of Egypt, A-II (PG) Psycho, A-III (R) R Ringmaster, 0 (R) The Rugrats Movie, A-I (G) Rushmore , A-III (R) , S Saving Private Ryan, A-III (R) Shakespeare in Love, A-III (R) The Siege, A-III (R) A Simple Plan, A-III (R) Star Trek: Insurrection , A-II (PG) Stepmom , A-III (PG-13) The Swindle , A-III (no rating) T The Theory of Flight, A-IV (R) There 's Something About Mary, A-PV (R) The Thin Red Line, A-UI (R) U Urban Legend, O (R) V Varsity Blues, O (R) Virus, A-III (R) W Waking Ned Devine, A-III (PG) The Waterboy; A-III (PG-13) Y You've Got Mail, A-UI(PG)

Retreats/Days of Recollection VALLOMBROSA CENTER 250 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park. For fees and times, call (650) 325-5614 March 1 2 - 1 4 : "Washed in the Blood of the Lamb," a retreat for women with Father Jim Franck and Sister Toni Longo.

March 26 - 28: "Passion for Life ," Contemplative weekend for women and men with Father Greg Cornelia and Sister Toni Longo.

April 9 - 11: "Making Our Lives Into Best Sellers - But First the Basics." Empowering the authentic self with Sharon Carberry, MFCC and Kate McNichols, M.Div. April 22: "Healing with Humor" facilitated by Bereavement Specialist Connie Marcellino, LCSW and Kate McNichols, M.Div. April 24: "A Secret Garden" with Carol Kaplan, MFCC. Marc h 6: "Turn to Me," a St. Paul Parish retreat with Jesuit Father Bernie Bush.This day of prayer, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will focus on Lent as an opportunity for conversion and deepening one's relationship with God. The day begins at 9 a.m. and closes with Eucharist at 5 p.m. St. Paul Parish is at Church and Valley St. in San Francisco. For more "information or to register, call (415) 648-7538.

DutinQ Lent

f

March 2, 9, 23: Re-membering Church 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in St. Michael's Hall at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, 1040 Alameda de las Pulgas ( at Ralston Ave.), Belmont. For information, call (650) 593-6157.

Thursdays During Lent: "Justice Is Who We Are and What We Believe" is the principle guiding Soup Supper presentations and dialogue at St. Luke Parish, 1111 Beach Blvd., Foster City.

For information, call (650) 345-6660

Vocations March 12-14: Vocation retreat sponsored by Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Epiphany Convent, SF. Register

by March 5 with Sister Monica Miller, PBVM at (415) 751-0406, ext. 22.

Datebook Pray for vocations every Friday during Lent at St. Francis of Assisi Shrine, 610 Vallejo St., at Columbus, SF. Mass at 12:15 p.m., exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until benediction at 5:15 p.m. A talk on a Franciscan Lenten theme by one of the Shrine's Conventual Franciscan Friars begins at 6 p.m., [415) 983-0407.

Take Prayer Around the Cross Second Friday of the month at 8 p.m. at Presentation Sisters Motherhouse Chapel, Turk and Masonic , SF. For information, call Sister Monica Miller, PBVM at (415) 751-0406.

St. Sebastian Church, corner of Bon Air Rd. and Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Greenbrae, Mon. - Fri. 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Adoration Chapel, (415) 461-0704. Sf. Agnes Church, 1025 Masonic (near Page), Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., (415) 4878560. Our Lady of Angels Church, 1721 Hillside Dr., Burlingame, Mon.- Fri. after 8 a.m.

Mass until 7 p.m.

Music

Pilgrimages June 1999 in Turkey and Rome , visiting churches mentioned in Books of Acts and Revelation and place of St. Paul's marty rdom.

Led by Jesuit Father John Endres. For information , contact Steve Phelps at St. Ignatius College Preparatory at (415) 731-7500, ext. 268.

August 1999: To the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC with ArchbishopWilliam J. Levada. For information, call the Office of Ethnic Ministries at (415) 565-3622.

Feb. 28: Sunday recitals at 4 p.m. following sung Vespers at 3:15 p.m., St. Francis of Assisi Shrine, Vallejo St. at Columbus, SF. For information, call (415) 983-0405.

Exhibitions

Classes/ Workshops/Lectures

Third Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at Vallombrosa Center, 250 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park. For information, call Sister Toni Longo, ASC at (650) 325-5614

Through Feb. 28: Photographs of the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya by Mercy Sister Marilyn Lacey are on display at the Art Gallery at Mercy Center, 2300 Adeline Dr., Burlingame. The gallery is open free to the public from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For information, call (650) 340-7480.

C

Volunteer Opportunities

Second Friday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at St. Luke Parish, 1111 Beach Park Blvd., Foster City,. For information, call (650) 345-6660.

AS C

Feb. 27- 28: Flea Market, St. Kevin Parish Hall, 704 Cortland St., SF, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., (415) 648-4441.

March 6. Auction and Dinner Dance benefiting Notre Dame High School, Belmont, at the SF Airport Westin Hotel. Call (650) 595-1913, Ext.305.

March 25: Annual elementary school choral festival at Archbishop Riordan High School, 10 -11:30 a.m. and 1- 2:30 p.m. For more information, contact Holy Names Sister Marianne Viani, associate superintendent of schools, at (415) 565-3660.

Catholic Charities' St. Joseph Village can use donations of clothing, shoes, accessories , kitchen supplies, diapers, linens etc .To volunteer in this program that helps homeless families become self-sufficient , call Kristen Rauda at (415) 575.4920, ext. 223.

San Francisco's' St. Anthony Foundation invites you to volunteer in one of its many outreach programs to the poor. Call (415) 241.2600.

March 26 - 27: Schools of the Sacred Heart celebrate spring this weekend with a Garden Party, Live! On Broadway and Family Festival.

For ticket information , call (415) 563-2900.

San Mateo County's Volunteer Center welcomes your call at (650) 342-0801.

March 27: Dancing, gourmet dining, live ands silent auctions highlight "An Evening of Dreams" benefiting Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Belmont at Redwood City's Hotel Sofitel. For information or reservations, call (650) 593-6157.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament:

Worship Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park, 24 hours everyday, (650) 322-3013.

March 6, 20, 27: Self defense classes for women with physical or developmental disabilities by San Francisco Women Against Rape. For information , call (415) 861-2024, ext. 304.

March 13 - 14: Robert Grant, Ph.D., a trauma specialist who has taught in countries around the world, will facilitate a workshop titled "The Psychological and Spiritual Impact of Trauma" at Mercy Center, 2300 Adeline Dr., Burlingame.

Registration deadline is Feb. 27. Call (650) 3407474 for fees and more information.

Datebook is a free listing for parishes, schools and non-profit groups. Notice must include event name, time, date, p lace, address and an information p hone number.

Listing must reach the newspaper two weeks before the desired Friday publication date.

Mail your notice to: Datebook, Catholic San Francisco, 44] Church St., S.F. 94114, or fax it to (415) 565-3633.

Parish Profile

C-HURCH

1040 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont In September 1997, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Belmont celebrated its 50th anniversary. Plans for the modern church structure were approved by the Archdiocese in 1957. During its first decade, the community had worshipped in two locations: the mission church on Ralston Avenue, now an arts building serving the College of Notre Dame, and St. Michael Chapel which sits behind the present church and is now used as a parish hall and meeting room.

Construction of the new church and rectory began in 1957 from a design by architect George J. Steuer overs overseen by now pastor emeritus, Msgr. John J. Kenny. The church is wood frari framed and its especially steep roof was required because of the way the building fit in among the property 's many trees. The first Mass was celebrated in the church on June 22, 1958.

More than 2,200 families are currently registered. Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish is a friendly place with an excellent music program, including four children , adolescent and adult choirs. The parish mission statement calls parishioners to "proclaim the living presence of Jesus Christ." The parish elementary school has 309 students in nine grades. Parish ministries include Bible study, sacrament preparation , RENEW, reli gious education, young adult and youth ministry, liturgical ministry, health and bereavement ministry, a St. Vincent de Paul Society conference , a senior transportation group and a welcoming committee.

Pastor: Father James H. MacDonald Masses: Saturdays at 5 p.m. / Sundays at 7:30, 9:30, 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Seating capacity : 750 Founding dates: as mission 1928; as parish 1947 Phone: (650) 593-6 157

OF THE I MMACULATE , H EART OF M ARY

Conf erence

¦ Continued from Page 5 How does the CCC communicate Catholic principles and the concerns of the Catholic community to the Legislature?

The CCC staff actively lobbies legislators on bills that have been identified as priority items. Lobbying entails "taking a position" which is accomplished by personal contact with legislators and their staffs, sending letters of support or opposition, and offering testimony. The CCC will support those bills that mirror the Church 's teaching on social, economic and criminal justice and life issues. The CCC will have an "oppose position" on other bills that could be destructive to the common good. And the CCC will negotiate for a "conscience clause" exception in those

proposed laws that would negatively impact Church institutions. In addition, in an attempt to be "proactive ," the CCC will approach certain legislators to author bills on our targeted issues.

What can a concerned Catholic individual do?

Concerned individuals who wish to follow California state legislation may find information in the variety of media outlets. In addition, an individual may obtain a single copy of a bill by writing to the Bill Room, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. (There is a yearly limit of 100 bills to each requesting individual.)

The CCC has "how to" publications regarding communicating a position either by writing or visiting a legislator, facts on the efficacy of individuals becoming involved in advocating for bills, and visuals on "how a bill becomes a law." In the spring of the first year of each two-year leg-

islative session the CCC prepares an updated "legislative directory " for distribution to interested individuals.

What does the CCC do for the Catholic community in California?

Due to the sheer volume and the intricacy of the language found in proposed laws, the CCC will provide information in lay term s on a select few bills that are of major concern. This will be done through alerts and backgrounders to targeted diocesan ministers—respect life, social action , family life, Hispanic affairs , Catholic Charities—and through op-ed pieces submitted to various publications.

All or any of these items are available from the CCC by calling (916) 443-4851; Faxing (916) 443-5629 or emailing cacathcon@aol.com.

~ "SNSEISCO

f H {41 5 99 £B™

CI A ^91FIF D ^ Coordinator of

Director of Reli g ious Education

Campus Ministry/ Community Service

A large palish on the San Francisco p eninsula seeks a qualified candidate with three years exp erience in f - catechetical formation for Director of outReli g ious E d u a c at i o n p r o gr a m . The position entails programs for ca techetical and leadersh ip formation (RCIA , CCD , sacramental program , adult education). M i n i m u m qualifications include MA in Reli gious Education , Theology, Pastoral M i n i s t ry or equivalent; strong organizational , management , communication and training skills; and aprofessional temp erament.

Serve as Full-time (10 month) Campus Ministry /Community Service Coordinator in a K-12 Catholic , Independent School of 850 students. Previous experience needed.

Masters Degree in related fields preferred. Please contact: Chair , Search Committee for Campus Ministry Coordinator , Schools of the Sacred Heart , 2222 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94115.

FAX (415) 563-3005.

Send letter of app lication , resume, salary histo ry and references to St. Pius Church , I I 0 0 Woodside Road , Redwood City, CA 9406 1 .

Or fax to (650) 369-3641

UNION BAY ZZ]

I >^v U

PainUn§ & Decorating

B/_ X\. ^ ^vv

.QUALITY

_/^ Com in ere hi I • Residential %r

l

Interior • Exterior ¦Wall Covering Wood Work • Great Prep Work

WORK .THEE ESTIMATts

• Carpet • Vinyl • Laminate Materials „ Installation

(Ctiliu %jg Ivetllu

l

(650)" 245-3740

Steve B a l c sl r i er i

This Ad Is Only $20* Per Week

_ E________ _^_____ _i _J^__P v4 _ |

Call

Cottrell's Moving and Storage Exchange, Inc.

(415) 751-2827

(510) 537-7391

K18S01

' ONE YEAR AGREEMENT

Since 1905

JC-^X

Carpel it Linoleum ( _ >.

Reflnlshed t'nmnu'iTiai ft Residential

(650) 991 - 9486

IMI »

Advertising Sales For Catholic Church Bulletins

lunllu harMtmnh fltmrs (ARMSTRONG lusiiidrd • SiindwJ * .Stained

I ED EH C R E D I T U N I O N rlVLL M E M B E R S H I P II you worship in San Francisco, or live or work in one of the 16 Bay Area cities we serve , you can join Ruelco Credit Union.

USED

W.- oiler .i complete range <> [ financial products including; • No-fee Checking no mminttimbalance,no monthly f e e s • New & Used Auto Uans .is low .is 7.23%

"Hel p Yourself While Hel ping Others "

"

• Visj Cards witli fixed rates as low as I L4% APR; tin _mm.il lc and mii-li, much morel

EARN AS HIGH AS 6 . 7 4 % ON OUR SPRING SPECIAL CERTIFICATE

• Full Training Provided

thrtwj{h March 31, 1909

iM& \

• Flexible Hours

N _ _LJf

For more i n f o r m a t i o n visit our website at www.patelco.or g <>r call ( 415 ) 442 - 7 105

* Generou s Commissions

1 S Paluch Co

150 VALENCIA STREET (near Market) San Francisco, CA 94103

Serving the Catholic Community Since 1913

• Benefit Package \ 401 K

I This size ad j&jjj $40 Week* fP$

^

/ ^\ ^s. "' ' & ^'4 <* 'S__"3

(415) 431-1000

^^^

/_fc___r / (Zl€lC0 %J&^ / cRtorf U N I O N

|

NEED A CHANGE?

You can Change Vour Ad As Often as Ukel

Your Me.sa 3 e MAILED To 110 ,000 Households

£j Jfe-HHa? > ¥t \*\ ¦K .>--_... " -' .

"Tl'.t^ft

¦One year Agreement " 5 •" CALL 51 0 - 537-7391

Smmtmmammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ^tmaammmmmmmimsB

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO CLASSIFIED AD FORM PRIVATE PARTY RATE: 4 lino minimum: S20.00. Each additional line: $4.00 Applies to individual selling items, garage sains , wanted ads , shared housing ads , autos , vans , trucks , boats. Private Party Ads are payable in advance by credit card, money order.

W _ _ _ _ _ _ _T Y__ W ^BMHBWWIHMpr" _M__ri_ H0HM__ >_ ^ __ M-_MMH_fl . :'ki._ __j

COMMERCIAL RATE: 5 line minimum: $25.00. Each additional line: $5.00.

Applies to business ads, services offered , real estate and rental ads, buying and FOR MORE INFORMATION GALL (415) 565-3699 ¦ CATEGORIES 100 Announcements

Fy

Enter your ad here. Be sure to include spaces and punctuation: I

1

,

1

1

1

T

1

1

|

[

I

~]

[

I

j

I

I

I

H PWBB H H R l * ¦ __¦ mvi ¥ *v \ W EPQ^|)*PVlP(fl U UAVm R

^

^

W^M

^^____________

EUfiH I J_ fll f l UHPH HPHH |T|L __|

jl|AjjjURfllk^Jslj^SffiSj_J

^^^^^^

Childre n's , Misc

Counseling Education/Lessons Electronics Employment Financial Services For Sale

____

_

~~"~*" .

I

BU^TH v_U31 _ _T I

i

—

'

'

'

[FCTWPHWWW

'

"

^jy tlUjfl

400 Garage Sales

425 Health & Fitness 475 Miscellaneous SOU Office Equipment 525 Pet Supplies 550 Professional Services Religious Articles 580 Travel / Entertainment 600 Wanted to Buy 625 Real Estate 650 Automotive

S

HI H___________S HJ

225 Collectibles

250 275 300 325 350 375

S

T_ff99 _f_ i^ff_ Pl__ P_ Rfffl

150 Business Opportunities

¦

_ M_fflm_1

___

¦

.

"

BSNKV H _, I

1

NAME:

1

1

>

1

'

¦

_ _

J

[_

J

|_

—' [

I

ADDRESS:

:

— ZIP:

CITY/STATE:

CLASSIFIED CATEGORY #:

pHONE:

CHECK ?

CRED IT CARD ?

WM Bj

"

Visa ?

CREDIT CARD NUMBER:

Mastercard LI —

EXP DATE: -

Catholic San Francisco: 441 Church Street , San Francisco , CA, 94114

;

_ ¦_ £_

IMfl

HUJIB __ i MHH__L! _______ _ 9

Cruise Europe for less.

And fly roundtrip for $199.

I I _ _^J*^__ .

¦cnROPEJ wOfc^p I

NEVER BEEN

A BETTER TIME TO GO TO

H|

HERE

E UROPE .

I

j| M

iW _ l _ l

\ f r o n^ A .,j

can revel airfare! - you ;

T T7 APRIL 7 LISBON TO V E N I C E p or ^g]^ idyllic days, sail from Lisbon to Venice exploring

in the Height or year 's lowest prices.

TT

reveals Europe as y ou V( nev er seen 1 .

H| No hotel bills , no car

ancient cities in North Africa like

imagine glidin g into

The offers you see , 1 . ' liGxc 3.r<_ 1LIS t. ,. ci . ScLinpie ¦ of the substantial discounts available on ¦ 26 Europ e itineraries through Fall '99.

D_n3T«

*-^

Then, visit the Rock of

I 3-DAY/ I 2-NIGHT

J

Emp ires of the Black Sea

________S_ i I I j^3r r^l I DEPARTS

,, M AY

I

,, VENICE

f iorrT ^i,

J_ _

/ » _/

T

TO I STANBUL

Enjoy a thrilling odyssey through the Black Sea. Tour picture-perfect L I and Dubrovnik, with its medieval chapels cathedrals;

_«__ *« _ J J_Yalta ?^*-4«"«^ N«se_r . 1

vl,^,

'"

Master 's Pal ace in Malta; and medieval Dubrovnik; on your

*****J V . f \. \ ruins of E p hesus await and p laces in V _y*-—«^ ««^«i the Ukraine , Romania , and Bulgaria

way to Venice, city of intrigue and art

brimming with history and culture .

^y^J £ _n_ieC~ Vallcna _L /^^--^ (/ Gibraltar CMWUI-

Gibraltar, ¦ Sardinia and Sicily; 7 ' exotic Tunisia; the Grand

«« —

Kusadasi , where the ancient

^_|B___[ A _P__ v f i l _i a m^l^m___t > _?K__L H_»_B1 _ __ _I _'I_ WuSWl^^^^_Wa^ff»»«_WB ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ K m m B B ^ ^ ^S ms y Ay W^affl| ^B II _n_ ^^^ _lllilE_BI * __*" V_ P— a I^L___k1 «——MS —— _ > - MB«_g ^_l&_WAlt _ ^alKmy ^— —

T

^ ^

/;-<;//)

5aB™

^

_ /iI/ ^/ -a_.

JL ,iv— ?

DEPARTS A PRIL

___MM„H_W_E«I

.,froHi

__

_D

_/ _/ __J ,_L ?

M AY 13 I STANBUL TO LONDON

19 VENICE ROUNDTRIP Roundtri p from Venice glide back throug h history to medieval,

DEPARTS

walled Dubrovnik; the

cruise this spring. Along the way visit classical Athens,

magnificently-restored ruins b 7 of E p hesus; Turkish Istanbul ,

/ .^Venice v \ ^-< _.Dubrovnik V \ ^*~***"4

with its Grand Bazaar and Moorish mosques; classical Athens and the

. /P * * * ( \ VTtt-)~~ \ V**

/

VfJ^ly Parthenon; and Olympia, birth p lace of the Olympics.

Hit the highlights from Istanbul to London on an unforgettable u"viM Olympia, the isle of Malta , sunny J X"~*"p-S , , spots along the coasts of Spain /

and Portugal, and your choice of day in or on the Paris a beaches of Normandy.

/«,. *

»*}/ ^

Palmade

tf

(^^<£^«**£_^ Vallet,a

Catholic Legacy Tours _t _

I

MB

M m m S m m m m^ ^ ^ ^ ^K ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ a S m m u K l^ ^ ^___j__| ^a ^ ^m m U mw ^ f^B ^"^ ____________¦

¦ 17 1lecture, . andj ¦ Forum ¦ unp acking onl y once.

Venice *.

Casablanca and Marrakech .

£",i_ ^^:i*"'|i

\J y J

DEPARTS

rentals , no tipping

required. Instead , I

Intrig ue of Iberia and Northern Af rica

jj___j|_H _

And cruising with „ , . .

Holland America

_t

Jfigr

$155 a d ay -p lus $199

¦ civilization , at the

Wm

_ f V*

I 3-DAY/ I _ -NIGHT

I I

I

Call toll-free (877) 874-4445 or visit us at www.legacy-tours.com Celebrate Daily Mass with our onboard priest Guaranteed lowest rates available

¦

._ ___ _S^^^^^^!_> _.^.

VHMlMHM iiSM RS«

Holland America Alumni Discounts honored Open 7 days a week

Holland®America X—^

A T R A D I T I O N Or E X C E L L E N C E

"Prices are per person , double occupancy, cruise only, based on-Muasdam , category N , and Include port charges and taxes. Space is limited. Offer valid for residents of CA, WA and CO. $199 airfare is additional and available from Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle gateways only. Passenge r Facility Charges of up to $12 and Segment Fees of $2 -$15 are additional. Please reference promo codes: 5001 and 5009. Some restrictions app ly. Shi p 's Registry: Netherl ands

I