Pope calls for path to peace in Libya; bishop urges U.S. forces to limit harm
Catholic san Francisco
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Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper
Elementary school children’s bags are seen gathered at the site of Okawa Elementary School in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, Japan, March 28. About 80 percent of the students and teachers were killed or are missing after the school was devastated by a tsunami following the March 11 earthquake. Japan’s National Police Agency confirmed 11,004 people dead and 17,339 missing in the disaster. As of March 27, there were nearly 181,000 survivors in shelters and more than 177,000 had fled an evacuation zone around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex. The zone was expanded March 27 as highly radioactive water was found for the first time outside one of the reactor buildings at the quake-damaged plant.
VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI appealed for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Libya, saying peaceful means should be tried to support “even the weakest signs” of openness to reconcile on both sides. Following the Angelus prayer March 27, the pope also noted recent incidents of violence in the Middle East and urged all parties in the region to follow the path of dialogue “in the search for a just and brotherly coexistence.” Ongoing clashes between pro- and anti-government crowds in Syria have resulted in dozens of deaths in the southern town of Daraa, with an additional 12 fatalities reported Sunday in the port city of Latakia. In Washington, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., chairman of the U.S. bishops’ international justice and peace committee. urged the Obama administration to use force in Libya that is “proportionate to the goal of protecting civilians.” In a March 24 letter to National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon, Bishop Hubbard said the use of military force must be continually evaluated in light of these questions: “Is it producing evils graver than the evil it hopes to address?” and “What are the implications of the use of force for the future welfare of the Libyan people and the stability of the region?” “We know these are difficult questions to which there are few easy answers, but it is our moral responsibility as a nation to rigorously examine the use of military force in light of the need to protect human life and dignity,” he said. – Compiled by Catholic San Francisco
Long war’s moral risk America needs a sustained national dialogue about the war Afghanistan, not only because the conflict is a decade old but also because of the chilling prospect that warfare has become routine, Auxiliary Bishop Robert W. McElroy says in an essay reprinted from America magazine (Page 12).
By Valerie Schmalz Carl Wilkens stayed behind during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the only American known to have remained during the entire 100 days. “It’s a great thing to do, to pray for people, but I could do more than pray - I could stay,” said Wilkens, a Seventh Day Adventist missionary. On the first night of the genocide the Wilkens’ neighbors, a Tutsi banker and his wife, were killed by machete-wielding Hutu paramilitary gangs. “They draped her lifeless body over the fence,” Wilkens told Mercy San Francisco students March 24, adding that the slain couple had saved their children by boosting them over a fence. Wilkens stopped at the high school on his travels across the U.S. to share his experiences in Rwanda. His goal: To teach young people in particular about the importance of trying to understand how other people think and thus to move away from the mindset that sees others as so much trouble that they would be better off eliminated. The way to break the cycle of dehumanization is “to learn people’s stories, understand how they feel and think
and act,” Wilkens said. “You can’t change the feeling without looking at the thinking.” Wilkens was the head of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency and had been living for four years in Rwanda with his wife and three small children when the killing began. The second night of the genocide, the gangs came to get the Wilkens. “Unbeknownst to us that Thursday night, they came to our house,” Wilkens said during the presentation organized by Mercy religious studies teacher Jim McGarry as part of a year-long module on the World War II Jewish Holocaust and modern-day genocides. “They came to our gate. Our neighbors who came out to help were not a bunch of men; they were a bunch of ladies. They did not come out with machetes, they came out with stories,” Wilkens said. The neighbors’ accounts of how the Wilkens children played with their children, about how Wilkens and his wife Teresa brought neighbors to the hospital and performed “small acts of kindness” were what saved the family that night. “These ladies re-humanized us,” Wilkens said. “We didn’t know about it until the next morning.”
(PHOTO COURTESY CARL WILKENS)
Lessons in Christian witness from man who stayed behind in Rwanda
Carl Wilkens with Tabithe during a recent reunion in Rwanda. Wilkens stayed behind to try to protect Tabithe from the genocide against Tutsis. The genocide occurred after years of rivalry between the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi population and was worsened by favoritism toward the Tutsis during Belgium’s colonial rule. The horror of 800,000 killed RWANDA, page 6
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION On the Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Local students fight poverty . 7 Seton development plan . . . . 8
Sts. Peter and Paul tower restoration ~ Page 10 ~ Tim Navone’s vision for Marin Catholic ~ Page 3 ~ April 1, 2011
Remembering my father, cathedral architect ~ Page 9 ~
How populated is hell? . . . . 13 Fr. Serra’s ‘heroic virtue’ . . . 10 Afghan war’s civilian cost . . 16 Service directory . . . . . . . . . 18
www.catholic-sf.org ONE DOLLAR
VOLUME 13
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No. 12
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Catholic San Francisco
April 1, 2011
On The
The Student Council at St. Thomas the Apostle School declared it “Spirit Week” with a variety of dress options including Pajama Day or Crazy Hair Day. Pictured from left enjoying the free-dress allowance are Oceana Tavasieff, Alicia Hall, Audrey Neri, Sonya Ni, Chiyoko Weinman, Isabella Diaz, Sophia Tavasieff.
Where You Live By Tom Burke Thanks to Msgr. James Tarantino for this exhortation and banister along the steps of Lent. “Life is not a flight from sin,” the vicar for administration of the Archdiocese of San Francisco said. “It is a journey toward holiness.”…. Had the pleasure to chat with Tony Marvier, a 1946 graduate of Corpus Christi School and mighty sad about its closing at the end of the school year. Tony went on to St. Ignatius College Preparatory for high school and when I asked if university had also been in his path he said with a loud laugh, “No sir, I peaked in grade school.” Tony went on to a career in sales with the Santa Fe Railroad and is now retired and a happy member of All Souls Parish in South San Francisco. Tony said all graduates and friends of Corpus Christi are invited to an 80th anniversary celebration of the school April 9 from 1 – 4 p.m. Call Barbara Giusti Murphy at (415) 586-4242 for more information or if you want to help. And that’s not all. Tony’s class of ’46 is holding a 65th year reunion in May or June - “It’ll be a luncheon,” he said – and Tony and Marge Hoey Baker are the contacts. Call him at (650) 589-3155 or Marge at (650) 756-5406. Tony and his wife, Joan, were married at Church of the Epiphany and celebrate their 55th anniversary Oct. 2…. While we’re at it, St. Matthias Parish in
The Burlingame Lion’s Club sponsored a citywide spelling bee and Saint Catherine of Siena School swept the contest. Alessandro Franco took the word “feudalism” to his first place finish winning $450 for St. Catherine’s. Sophia Robles, left, and Jasmine Ang took second and third place. Fourth grade teacher, Sister Amy, congratulated the champs!
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Redwood City is looking for graduates of the elementary school that was open there from 1966 -71. Thanks to Mary Mylod Dickinson for the update. Mary went to the school from fourth through seventh grade going on to graduate from Our Lady of Mount Carmel just a few blocks away. “There must have been 150 or so kids who attended St. Matthias when it was open,” Mary told me. “In celebration of the parish’s 50th anniversary, there will be Masses held to welcome our alumni during the weekend of May 7. We are trying to locate alumni to attend Mass and a reunion celebration.” Contact Mary at marymys@comast.net or (650) 365-8514 for details. Happy anniversary March 31 to Mary and her husband Cam who took their vows at St. Matthias Church in 1984…. Prayerful best wishes certainly follow Father Tom Daly – now- Bishop-elect – as he continues his selfless and wonderful work for us all. The new auxiliary bishop of San Jose has long been chaplain and advocate for the work of St. Vincent School for Boys in San Rafael. A campaign to restore student living facilities at St. Vincent’s continues and it has been Bishop-elect Daly with Kent Eagleson, St. Vincent’s executive director, who has spearheaded the drive. Donations to the repairs and rebuilding may be made to Residence Rebuilding Effort, St. Vincent’s School for Boys, One St. Vincent Drive, San Rafael 94903…. “Danger Will Robinson” just about wraps-up my knowledge on robots. Not the same for Team Genesis students at San Domenico School in San Anselmo. The all-girls tech squad took home an Inspire Award and a Think Award from robot-building competitions in November and January. Building the robot took 260 hours. “The process of building a robot with a team that is qualified to compete amongst so many other amazing teams across the state was a life-changing experience, inspiring confidence and self-respect,” the team said in a group statement… “Young Adult Praise Night” is April 7 at 8 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Seminary chapel, 320 Middlefield Road in Menlo Park. “This `Praise Night’ will be the first of its
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kind at the seminary,” said seminarian JR Jaldon, who is on track for ordination in 2015. “We hope this would be a very prayerful experience for young adults during Lent and a wonderful opportunity for them to see our seminary and be part of our prayer life.” Contact Tim Donovan at tdonovan06@gmail.com Sounds like a wonderful Lenten opp. As I’m many years out of the young adult phase of my life, I might swab in some of the ol’ “gray away” and try my luck at getting in. …. This is an empty space without you. E-mail items and electronic pictures – jpegs at no less than 300 dpi – to burket@sfarchdiocese.org or mail them to Street, One Peter Yorke Way, SF 94109. Don’t forget to add a follow-up phone number. Thank you. My phone number is (415) 614-5634.
San Domenico Schools’ robot building team! Pictured standing from left are Tammy Swanson, coach and mathematics teacher, and team members Kim Lin, Joanna Lu, Sandra Liu, Erica Wang, and Jody Wung. Sitting from left with “Robot AE2” are Sherry Hung, Rita Hu and Janice Cho.
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April 1, 2011
Catholic San Francisco
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Fundraising, faith key to Marin Catholic leader’s vision for school Tim Navone has set a high bar for himself as president of Marin Catholic High School: He will be launching an effort to, over the coming years, secure a $20 million endowment, compared with the less than $1.5 million currently in the account. At the same time, he will celebrate all that is Catholic about Marin Catholic. A growing treasury will enable the Kentfield school to continue to meet tuition assistance needs of some $1 million per year, “to make sure we can offer a Catholic education to all those who are seeking it,” and serve the county’s diverse Catholic population in a challenging economy. Underscoring Catholicism will be to put the faith “again in the forefront of the school,” said Navone. Navone, 42, is a 15-year veteran of the Marin Catholic staff who, hired as communications director, has worn many hats at the institution, most notably director of advancement as well as, for 14 years, golf coach. He is known for his passion for Catholic education and the school’s mission. On March 18, Navone was named Marin Catholic’s fourth president, to succeed Bishop-elect Thomas Daly, who two days earlier was appointed auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of San Jose by Pope Benedict XVI. Bishop-elect Daly, a 19-year veteran administrator, teacher and chaplain at Marin Catholic who is also the director of vocations for the Archdiocese of San Francisco, will be ordained to the episcopate May 25. “In my first couple of years my intention is absolutely to work on the endowment, which will sustain us for the future,” said Navone, taking over a school that has had the good fortune of maintaining enrollment, now at 710, while other high schools in the archdiocese and across the country have experienced declines. Marin Catholic’s enrollment has held steady in large part because of its tuition assistance program, said the incoming president. Just a few years ago, approximately 22
percent of student families received assistance – the maximum given a family is $10,500 – and it’s currently 26 percent, a reflection of the economic downturn that began in 2008.
see my role solely to protect everything that Msgr. Tarantino and Msgr. Otellini and Bishop-elect Daly put in place here.” He added, “Nobody is more invested in protecting what Bishop-elect Daly did than I.”
‘You have to have your faith on your sleeve, and as a Catholic school that is something we need to have at the forefront.’ – Tim Navone “We give away roughly $1 million a year in tuition assistance to make sure that we can offer a Catholic education to all those who are seeking it,” said Navone. “We want to serve the Catholic population of Marin and that population is economically diverse.” Meantime, he’ll also be concentrating on the school’s annual fund drive “and making sure we are running a balanced budget,” while building a reserve “in times of need.” Msgr. James Tarantino, the first president of Marin Catholic, in the early 1990s, who is the vicar for administration at the Archdiocese, announced Navone’s appointment. He knows Navone well, as he hired him 15 year ago at Marin Catholic. “He is articulate, bright, well mannered and passionate about the mission for Catholic education,” said Msgr. Tarantino. “You have to have your faith on your sleeve, and as a Catholic school that is something we need to have at the forefront,” said Navone. “The ‘Catholic’ should be larger than the ‘Marin’ or the ‘high school,’” said Navone, “and that should be our mission.” In his view, “nobody did that better than Bishop-elect Daly,” the third Marin Catholic president after Mgsr. Tarantino and Msgr. Steven Otellini, who is now the pastor of Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park. “I
wanted Special Needs Faith Formation Students
Indeed, a Bishop-elect Daly bobblehead doll is placed prominently in Navone’s office, and he can laugh now about the phone calls he received from friends – hours before it was announced he is the new president – who asked, ‘Who could possibly follow Father Daly?” Navone and Daly collaborated on the
largest undertaking since the school’s founding in 1949, the $13.3 million Pope John Paul II Student Center, that opened for the 2009-10 school year. The facility is the anchor and center of community for the campus – cafeteria, classrooms, music room and more – and for this and every other fundraising effort for the school Bishop-elect Daly focused on “needs for the school, not wants,” said Navone. The facility helps serve a mission, said Navone: “Our kids can now pursue their academics in the finest educational setting, from a technology standpoint to a gathering place to a feeling like a college campus, not like a 1949 shell.” He added, “We want to make sure that we put our students in a spot where they can excel in every area and be excellent without being elite. We do not want to be an elitist school. We don’t want to be the wealthy kids’ school. We want to serve the Catholic population of Marin County, period, and that means keeping tuition at the lowest possible amount so we have the greatest number of Catholics who can attend this school.”
(PHOTO BY RICK DELVECCHIO/CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO)
By George Raine
Blessing of the Pastoral Center Archbishop George Niederauer blessed the Pastoral Center of the Archdiocese of San Francisco on the 10th anniversary of the archdiocese moving its offices into the building at One Peter Yorke Way in San Francisco. About 50 archdiocesan employees gathered in a light rain for the brief March 22 ceremony as Archbishop Niederauer noted the chancery’s role was to serve the people of the church, particularly the parishes. The ceremony included Scripture readings and a blessing of employees by the archbishop.
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Catholic San Francisco
NEWS
April 1, 2011
Muslim group wants to use empty churches for Friday prayers
in brief
ROME – A Muslim group wants church authorities in France to place at Muslims’ disposal “empty churches for Friday prayers,” asianews.it reported. A March 11 proposal from Hassan M. Ben Barek, a spokesman for the Banlieuses Respect Collective, said the measure would “prevent Muslims from having to pray on the streets” and being “politicians’ hostages.” The practice of worshipers spreading mats on the streets to pray outside mosques every Friday has become a reality in many French cities as the Muslim population has grown.
Damaged rare books ‘sin against human patrimony’
Confession a teaching moment for priest, penitent, says pope (CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING)
ROME – Rome’s freezing winters, stifling summers and general wear and tear are threatening rare books at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, which has the world’s best general collection on Eastern Christianity. Among the endangered treasures is an extremely rare 1581 edition of the Ostrog Bible – the first complete Bible printed in Slavic and considered the equal of the U.S. Jesuit Father Robert Gutenberg Bible in that Taft holds a rare book in language. Climate control the library of the Pontifical is the only long-term hope Oriental Institute in Rome but for now, “Thank God March 16. for Scotch tape,” said U.S. Jesuit Father Robert Taft, former prefect of the library and former vice rector of the institute. The priest said the sorry state of the rare books is “a sin against the patrimony of the human race.”
VATICAN CITY – The sacrament of confession can be a teaching moment for both priest and penitent, Pope Benedict XVI said. While penitents can discover grace and hope from God’s love and forgiveness, priests hearing confession can be inspired to be more honest, humble and transparent about their own sins, he said March 25. “We can learn great lessons about humility and faith,” he said. The pope said confessors can learn so much from “exemplary penitents about their spiritual life, the seriousness with which they examine their conscience, about their transparency in recognizing their own sins and their docility toward church teaching and recommendations from the confessor.”
Papal preacher: Separating types of love can lead to ‘deviations’ VATICAN CITY – Human love and divine love go hand in hand, and separating the two creates alienation within and outside the church, said the papal preacher. Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa said that the mistaken belief that the love people have toward one another and for God is incompatible with the unconditional love God shows for man
has contributed to the West’s secularization and deviations among consecrated people. The two expressions of love can be reconciled by putting love of Jesus Christ before everything, Father Cantalamessa said in the first meditation for Lent delivered to the pope and Vatican officials March 25.
Armless woman who flies gives pope world-record medal VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI greeted Jessica Cox, the first woman to fly an airplane using only her feet. At the pope’s general audience March 23, Cox gave the pontiff a medal – with her feet. Born without arms, the 28-year-old Arizona woman is also the first person without arms to get a black belt in American Tae Kwon-Do Association. She presented her 2008 Guinness Book of World Records aviation medal as a witness “to the value of life always and everywhere, in every condition.” “I am convinced that how we react has a greater impact on our lives than our physical constraints,” she says on her website.
40-year-old prelate to head Ukrainian Catholic Church KIEV, Ukraine – Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, 40, was installed March 27 as the youngest man to head the Ukranian Catholic Church. He pledged to honor the legacy of the thousands of Ukrainian Catholics who died for their faith under communism. “In the 20th century, our church stayed by our savior to the very end,” Archbishop Shevchuk, a moral theologian, said during his installation liturgy in the Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection of Christ. For more than 40 years, the Ukrainian Catholic Church was illegal in the Soviet Union; officially it did not exist at all. “The death of hundreds of thousands of our laity, priests, NEWS IN BRIEF, page 5
Maurice Healy to leave posts at Archdiocese of San Francisco Maurice E. Healy, director of the Department of Communications and Outreach for the Archdiocese of San Francisco for the past 14 years, has announced his intention to retire. Healy joined the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1997. The San Francisco Archdiocese’s Department of Communications and Outreach includes the Office of Communications, the Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns and Catholic San Francisco newspaper. In addition to heading the Department of Communications and Outreach, Healy has served concurrently as director of the Office of Communications. Early in his tenure, he led efforts to start Catholic San Francisco newspaper, and he has served as associate
publisher, general manager and executive editor of the newspaper since it was founded in February 1999. During several tenures, he also has served as editor of Catholic San Francisco for a total of five years. San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer commented, “I wish to express my own deep gratitude to Maury Healy for his zealous and generous ministry within the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The many fine accomplishments of the Communications Department and Catholic San Francisco are in large part owing to his leadership and service.” George Wesolek, 67, director of the Archdiocese’s Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns, will take Healy’s place as director of the Department of
Communications and Outreach, and hold both positions concurrently. Wesolek has been with the archdiocese for more than 25 years. Rick DelVecchio, editor of Catholic San Francisco, will assume the general management responsibilities of the newspaper. DelVecchio, who will be 56 in April, joined Catholic San Francisco as assistant editor in 2007. Healy, who will be 67 in August, plans to work a reduced schedule in April and then take leave until his official retirement in July. Before joining the archdiocese, he was founder and chief executive officer of an organizational communications firm headquartered in San Francisco, and a vice president in corporate communications for Bank of America.
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Dolan: Bishops’ commitment to address clergy abuse remains firm WASHINGTON (CNS) – The U.S. bishops’ procedures for addressing child sex abuse remain “strongly in place” and the bishops remain “especially firm” in their commitment “to remove permanently from public ministry any priest who committed such an intolerable offense,” said the president of the U.S. bishops’ conference. “This painful issue continues to receive our careful attention,” said Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York. “The protection of our children and young people is of highest priority,” the archbishop said in a statement released March 24. He added that the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” approved by the bishops in 2002 “remains strongly in place.”
He said the bishops who met in Washington for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Administrative Committee meeting March 22-23 asked him to offer reassurances about the church’s resolve to address sexual abuse and deal firmly with clergy who abuse children. He said the bishops are to take up a “long-planned review” of the charter during their June meeting. “We want to learn from our mistakes and we welcome constructive criticism,” the archbishop added. His statement referred to “recent disclosures about the church’s response to the sexual abuse of minors by priests” but did not mention the recent clergy sex abuse crisis in the Philadelphia Archdiocese.
Two priests, a former priest, a former Catholic school teacher and a monsignor will be arraigned in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia on April 15 and are expected to plead not guilty to sexual abuse and conspiracy charges. The priests and the former teacher are accused of rape. Msgr. William Lynn, the highest-ranking church official to be charged with a crime in the lengthy priestly abuse scandal in the United States, is accused of covering up rape by the priests and is facing child endangerment charges. In addition, 21 priests in the Philadelphia archdiocese have been placed on administrative leave while any allegations made against them are reviewed.
News in brief . . . ■ Continued from page 4 monks and nuns – led by our bishops – was a death on the cross and, therefore, a giver of life,” said the new archbishop. The Ukrainian martyrs and the millions who kept their faith despite the risk and passed it on to their children and grandchildren demonstrated the strength and power of the cross, he said. The Ukrainian Catholic Church is the largest of the Eastern churches in full communion with Rome, and it is pivotal in ecumenical relations. (CNS PHOTO/ARND WIEGMANN, REUTERS)
Myanmar quake kills 74 YANGON, Myanmar – New quakes have hit eastern Myanmar, on the Thai border, where a 6.8-magnitude earthquake March 25 killed 74 people, injured 120 and damaged many public and religious buildings. Many areas remain inaccessible to rescue workers. Catholic sources in the country told asiannews. it that churches have been destroyed and many Christians killed, especially in Monglin, the first mission set up by Father Clemente Vismara, a PIME missionary, the news service reported.
Church group says extremist alliance plots to harm Christians MUMBAI, India – An alliance between various leaders of the army and the Hindu extremist militia is behind the anti-Christian violence that has occurred in recent years in the states of Orissa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the Catholic Secular Forum alleged in a complaint to the church missionary news agency Fides March 28. The forum, a non-governmental organization that brings together Christians of all denominations, called on the National Investigation Agency and India’s special anti-terrorism teams to investigate the alleged relationship.
Philippine Catholics rally against reproductive health legislation MANILA, Philippines – Thousands of Philippine Catholics rallied in Manila against the government’s proposed reproduc-
Miners hold a statue of St. Barbara, patron saint of miners, March 23 as fireworks explode after a giant drill machine broke through the rock at the final section of the 35-mile-long NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world’s longest train tunnel, under the Swiss Alps. The tunnel should become operational at the end of 2016.
tive health law. The Archdiocese of Manila and various pro-life groups led the prayer rally, and Mass was celebrated by Manila Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News. The March 25 rally had the theme “Filipinos! Unite Under God for Life” and coincided with the feast of the Annunciation, which the activists have declared as the Day of Unborn Children. Hours before the rally, sponsors of the House version of the bill withdrew several provisions, including a section that encouraged limiting families to two children.
No sexual-orientation rule in housing policy, bishops say WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is objecting to proposal that would add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories for nondiscrimination in federal housing programs. Such a rule has no support in any act of Congress and appears to be at odds with the Defense of Marriage Act, the bishops’ legal staff said in comments filed March 25 with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The rule may force faith-based groups to go against their religious beliefs to house unmarried people, the bishops said. No one should be denied housing but questions of shared housing NEWS IN BRIEF, page 20 are another matter, they said. Bilingual Staff Information and Referrals ● Care Coordination
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April 1, 2011
Rwanda . . .
(PHOTO COURTESY CARL WILKENS)
two were priests who tried - eventually unsuccessfully - to shelter Tutsis in their church, and there was another Catholic. “That’s something ■ Continued from cover to be proud of,” Wilkens said. He added that among all the institutional churches there were in three months was magnified by state-run also failures to stand up against the killing. radio broadcasts that incited neighbor-againstCarl Wilkens’ decision to stay behind was neighbor betrayals and killings. made because of one young woman, a house As United Nations forces stood by, ordered girl, who had worked for the Wilkens for three not to intervene, relief and church organizations years, and because of a young man who worked sent their workers home. Within days of the for the family. Tabithe, a Tutsi, would be killed genocide’s onset, Teresa Wilkens and the three if she were left behind, he told the students at children drove out in a camper, joining a convoy Mercy. Fortunately, he said, his wife felt the a mile away at the U.S. ambassador’s home in same way, that they could not leave Tabithe a frightening experience that included chanting to her own devices. As it was, everyone in Hutus hammering on the outside of the camper, Tabithe’s family was killed except a brother Teresa Wilkens said. Teresa, her mother-in-law who was out of the country during the genocide, and the children stayed hidden in the back of Wilkens said. the camper while Carl Wilkens’ father drove. Today Tabithe is happily married to a Hutu, Once in Nairobi, Kenya, Teresa Wilkens comAlbert, with several children, Wilkens said. municated daily with her husband via short-wave When he realized that her husband was Hutu on radio, she said. A separation that they thought his last visit to Rwanda, Wilkens said he tried would be two weeks lasted three months. to ask her about that. She couldn’t understand “We had come to Rwanda because we The Wilkens family reunited after the Rwandan genocide ended in 1994. the question at first, and then said, “But we’re believed that God brought us there to make a Pictured are Carl and Teresa Wilkens, children Mindy, Lisa and Shaun. all children of God.” difference,” and their agreement that he stay Wilkens was featured on PBS’s Frontline behind was a continuation of their faith, said Wilkens, who gave his wife a handwritten note that said he Hutu paramilitary leaders. Those contacts meant he was documentary “Ghosts of Rwanda” and “The Few Who had been ordered to evacuate by the U.S. embassy and had able to help hundreds of orphans with food and water and Stayed: Defying Genocide,” an American Radio Works chosen, as a private citizen, to remain. “In my heart and other supplies, as well as receive a guarantee of their safety. documentary. The Simon Wiesenthal Center awarded him fortunately in Teresa’s heart, we had peace with the decision In the face of rumors that all were to be massacred, the the 2005 Medal of Valor. Wilkens’ non-profit, World Outside My Shoes, is “committed to inspiring and equipping people to stay,” he said. guarantee was upheld. For the first three weeks, Wilkens did not venture out of Among the 10 visibly foreign people who remained to enter the world of ‘The Other.’ ‘The Other’ may be under his house. After that he traveled around Kigali, Rwanda’s behind in Kigali during the killing spree, eight were our own roof or on the other side of the globe,” according capital, and helped as he could, including working with Catholics, Wilkens said. Five were Spanish religious sisters, to worldoutsidemyshoes.org.
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April 1, 2011
Catholic San Francisco
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Archdiocesan students dig deep to fight hunger and poverty By Tom Burke Lenten fundraising efforts to assist in fighting hunger and poverty here and around the world are a staple of abiding the season of prayer, penance, fasting and almsgiving at parishes and schools in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Star of the Sea School sponsors what they call “Pennies for Patients” for leukemia research. Second grade teacher Cindy Conway coordinates the campaign. “The first year that we did it, I thought it would be a miracle if we raised $500, and unbelievably we raised $1,000,” Conway told Catholic San Francisco, noting that in five years almost $10,000 has been raised. Conway said students are asked to raid family “coin jars” – with their families’ permission of course – to help fill the charity coffers as well as donate their own money from allowances and such. Conway said Terry Hanley, school principal, has spent many an hour at a nearby Coinstar redeeming the contributions. The class raising the most money is rewarded with a pizza party. “At the beginning the competition was a big deal, but as the years have gone by it has become more about the cause,” Conway said. “I’ve seen children give me everything in their piggy bank, and their entire allowances.” Each year children have the opportunity to learn about a child in the Bay Area who has leukemia. In addition to raising money, the students send cards, pictures and posters to their new friend. “Last year we were thrilled to have our honoree patient Mina come and visit
Lenten resources Information on prayer, celebration, almsgiving, fasting and charity is available from the U.S. bishops at http://www.usccb.org/lent. Lent ends with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on April 21, Holy Thursday. Easter Sunday is April 24. Catholics are encouraged to make a good confession before Easter, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez said March 8.
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the students and spend a morning at our school,” Conway said. “Pennies for Patients means a lot to me and to the children,” she continued. “We are called as Catholics to work together for the common good. When we each bring in our bag or box of coins it adds up to something that really makes a difference in someone’s life.” Operation Rice Bowl, a Catholic Relief Services Lenten program started in 1975, is another way young and older Catholics here are walking the Lenten path. At St. Matthew School in San Mateo, librarian aide Joyce Conciatori and third grade teacher Barbara Rapoport are coordinators. The activity opens discussions among children and school staff about poverty and hunger, according to Conciatori, who speaks weekly during Lent at school assemblies about Operation Rice Bowl. “We talk about having many needy people right here in San Mateo,” she said. A tenet of the Operation Rice Bowl campaign keeps 25 percent of what is collected for helping those in the local church. At St. Matthew students have been encouraged to do extra chores at home to raise money for their “rice bowls” which are cardboard receptacles reminiscent of earlier days’ “miter boxes” where the coins for the poor were kept. “We all are reminded that we are disciples of Christ and called to help people in need,” Conciatori said. Operation Rice Bowl is also on the good works schedule of Notre Dame des Victoires School in San Francisco. Vice Principal Sharon Hupf directs the campaign, which also involves parishioners at Notre Dame des Victories Church. Last year, Rice Bowl raised $6,700. “The Rice Bowl program helps our students learn more about those in need and their responsibility toward them,” Hupf said. The themes of Catholic Social Teaching including life and dignity of the human person, the call to family, community and participation, and care for God’s creation, are a focus during Lent, she said. Classroom lessons include information about the people helped by Operation Rice Bowl and where they live. Students at Junipero Serra High School are also participating in the Rice Bowl program. “We always introduce the Rice Bowl project at our Ash Wednesday prayer service,” said Kyle Lierk, director of campus ministry. “Every single member of our community receives
a rice bowl and is encouraged to use it during the Lenten season. Then everyone brings their rice bowls (hopefully full!) to our all-school Mass before Easter break.” In addition, the school is sponsoring what Lierk called “a new or lightly used jean drive to be donated to St. Anthony Foundation in the Tenderloin and a new sock drive to be donated to the Catholic Worker House in San Bruno.” St. Rita School in Fairfax is an Operation Rice Bowl school, said Rita Heard, St. Rita computer teacher and student council moderator. “They are a good crop of kids and very generous,” she said, pointing out that the work of ORB is talked about often during Lent. St. Rita Parish has been recognized many times for their outreach to the poor of Guatemala and that cause stays alive during Lent at the school, Heard said, with students bringing chewable vitamins for shipment to youngsters in Guatemala. St. Dunstan School in Millbrae raises money during Lent for the Holy Childhood Association, an arm of the Propagation of the Faith, said Bruce Colville, principal. The Holy Childhood Association with special focus on mission projects in Southern Sudan also benefits from the generosity of students at Our Lady of Loretto School in Novato, said Annette Bonanno, principal. “We hope to raise about $2,000,” Bonanno said. “The students are encouraged to sacrifice their own money or earn money by doing chores,” Bonanno said. “It gives them a very personal connection and a sense of value that this contribution will have for the less fortunate.” St. Thomas More School in San Francisco donates half of student giving, usually about $1,000, to Holy Childhood Association and the other half to the charitable works of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, said Sister Patricia Rogers, BVM, vice principal.
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Catholic San Francisco
April 1, 2011
Daly City’s Seton Medical Center plans $350 million development By George Raine Seton Medical Center is facing a seemingly daunting challenge: Construct an inpatient care building to high seismic standards and make other improvements at the Daly City campus at a cost of perhaps $350 million without a nickel of government support. Plus, there is a series of deadlines to be met along the way, with an opening set for Jan. 1, 2020. There are four potential sources of money. First and foremost is fundraising and philanthropy, along with hospital operations, borrowing and whatever grants may yield. “This is our challenge,” said Lorraine Auerbach, the president and chief executive officer of Seton, a member of the Daughters of Charity Health System. “If you want major seismic upgrades in your facilities, someone has to help pay for them. So I think that is probably our biggest challenge,” since no help is being offered, she said. Seton, as well as 425 other acute-care hospitals in California, is struggling with an unfunded mandate imposed by the California Legislature in 1994. The legislation, coming in the same year that the Northridge earthquake in the San Fernando Valley caused damage at several hospitals, requires the retrofit or replacement of hospitals so that they meet a uniform standard of seismic safety. If they can’t, they close shop, and some, particularly in rural California, with fewer resources, surely will. There’s an upside, of course. Seton will create a state-ofthe-art facility, more efficient by leaps and bounds than the 10-story tower that opened on the hill in Daly City in 1965 and is looking its age. A new tower, offering the private rooms that patients insist upon, with specialized nursing units to be the norm, will help Seton draw patients and doctors in a highly competitive industry even while it continues to provide millions of dollars in community benefits, said Auerbach. The most current cost estimate for hospital seismic compliance statewide is $110 billion (RAND Corp., 2007), making the law the most expensive unfunded mandate in the history of California, said Jan Emerson-Shea, vice president of external affairs at the California Hospital Association, the industry trade association. “Given the state’s fiscal crisis, there is no hope in at least the foreseeable future for any state financial assistance,” said Emerson-Shea.
Nevertheless, Seton’s 10-story tower replacement plans will be on schedule, said Auerbach. The new facility will have 220 beds, compared with the current 357, but there will also be what is known as “shelled space” – open areas on two or maybe three floors where beds can be added as needed. New medical office space will be added on the campus and nothing will be torn down. The Daughters of Charity history runs deep in the Bay Area. The sisters – the religious order was founded by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac in 17th-century France – arrived in San Francisco in 1852. The sisters operated a school for orphaned boys and girls at a site where the Palace Hotel now stands. In 1889, Kate Johnson, a wealthy widow, made a gift to the Archdiocese of San Francisco for a hospital for women and children – only if the Daughters of Charity managed the facility. The new building was completed in 1906, but was destroyed by the earthquake and fire on April 18 before it was occupied. Six years later, on July 12, 1912, the Daughters’ Mary’s Help Hospital opened on Guerrero Street in San Francisco. It was damaged in a 1957 earthquake, outgrew its space and, in 1965, the hospital was relocated to Daly City.
In 1983, it was renamed in honor St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the American founder of the Daughters of Charity. The mission of the Daughters of Charity is to serve the sick and poor, and while Seton is not a public or county hospital it sees more Medi-Cal patients than other facilities in the county. Its New Life Center provides parental care and nutrition counseling and other support to young families, mothers or mothers-to-be so that they become successful parents. The Seton Coastside facility in Moss Beach sees many Alzheimer’s patients and the frail elderly. “Many have no other place to go,” said Auerbach. “They have no means. They have no place to go. They need care so we take care of them.” At the same time, Auerbach added, “It is our intention to take care of these folks, but it is also our intention to try and survive and be viable so that we can continue our mission.” The unfunded mandate makes that a challenge, said Auerbach. “We are hoping that we can raise a reasonable amount of money and we are hoping that we can get some other dollars to support this, but short of that we’ve got a problem. And the government, we would hope, would have some relief plan in mind, particularly given what just happened in Japan.”
Alzheimer’s in America: Number of caregivers, stress levels, cost of care rising rapidly By George Raine Nearly 15 million Americans care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia, providing 17 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $202.6 billion, according to a new report from the Alzheimer’s Association. The number of caregivers is far more than was previously believed – some 37 percent more than reported last year, according to the 2011 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report from the Chicago-based association, released on March 15. If all the caregivers lived in one U.S. state, it would be the nation’s fifth-largest, the association said. The numbers
are jarring because they show the magnitude of the toll taken on family members of people with a disease that cannot be prevented. “Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t just affect those with it,” said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. “It invades families and the lives of everyone around them. It is stressful and heartbreaking to see someone you love trapped in a present where their past is fading and their future too frightening to contemplate.” Studies show that people 65 and older survive an average of four to eight years after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, and some live as long as 20 years. The prolonged ALZHEIMER’S IN AMERICA, page 20
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Catholic San Francisco
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Remembering my father, cathedral architect By Pat Bohm
Archbishop Joseph McGucken and architect, Paul A. Ryan, with model of the proposed Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. Groundbreaking for the historic church took place on Aug. 26, 1965.
Catholic San Francisco is inviting readers to contribute their first-person Cathedral Memories to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the dedication of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. The paper will collect the articles, including the following one, in a special anniversary issue planned for April. A Mass to celebrate the anniversary will be held May 5. My father was architect Paul A. Ryan, one of the primary architects of St. Mary’s Cathedral, along with Angus McSweeney and John M. Lee. (Design consultants were Pietro Belluschi of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Italian engineer Pier Luigi Nervi.) ATHEDRAL I was only 12 when the old St. Mary’s Cathedral on EMORIES Van Ness Avenue burned. We were vacationing in Carmel when it happened. I remember my father saying, “Maybe I will have an opportunity to build a cathedral.” He submitted his portfolio of work to the archdiocese and was chosen as architect. However, since my father had a small firm, with him being the only principal, the archdiocese wanted my father to partner with a couple of well known architects, Angus McSweeney and John M. Lee, known as Jack Lee. The firm McSweeney, Ryan and Lee was formed. My dad and Jack had earlier worked together as the Ryan and Lee Architectural firm. They did a lot of work for the archdiocese, designing churches, and schools, including Archbishop Riordan High School, and the Carmelite Sisters’ Monastery of Cristo Rey on Parker Avenue in San Francisco. My father was educated in Paris, and his background was
C M
classical. In the early 1960s, however, the Council of Vatican II was occurring in Rome and many changes were taking place. This prompted the archdiocese to build a cathedral with a modern approach. I feel so proud that my father played such an important role in St. Mary’s Cathedral,
Share your St. Mary’s Cathedral Memories The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption celebrates the 40th year of its dedication May 5, 2011. Catholic San Francisco looks forward to commemorating the milestone with stories and pictures of the cathedral and its history. Do you have a special memory of St. Mary’s Cathedral? Were you baptized or married, there? Was it a refuge of prayer for you during a trying time in your life? Is it special to you for other reasons? Please let us know what St. Mary’s Cathedral has meant to you. If you have a picture of an event at the cathedral, we’d like to see those, too. Please e-mail the information to burket@sfarchdiocese.org. Please include the data of the event, a picture as applicable, your name and a phone number where you can be reached. You may also mail the data and picture to Cathedral Memories, One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco 94109. St. Mary’s Cathedral has blessed the Archdiocese of San Francisco for four decades. Let us know what the mother church has meant to you.
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Catholic San Francisco
April 1, 2011
Serra freshmen study namesake friar as model of ‘heroic virtue’ name to “St. Junipero Serra High School,” the teachers said. The teachers at Junipero Serra High Father Serra is a controversial figure in School in San Mateo view the school’s California history and the missions themnamesake as a hero – and that’s what they selves as religious entities lasted only about teach their students. 65 years before Mexican government secu“You can’t let anything get you down. larized them after Spain relinquished its hold He never did,” says senior Bradley on its colonies. The school course addresses Robbins of Blessed Father Junipero Serra. the troubles that befell the California Native The Franciscan professor, who began his Americans, including epidemics of measles work establishing the California missions and other diseases of European origin, as in his 40s, suffered a leg injury early on in well as slow conversion of the tribes known his journey en route to San Diego where he at the time as Mission Indians. The coursefounded the first mission. He continued on work focuses on Father Serra “as a tireless despite persistent pain that lasted his entire worker with an unshakeable faith in his life, said theology chairman Gary Meegan. apostolic mission of saving souls, which he “When we look at what it means regarded as more important than ‘civilizing’ to be a man, we look at Father Serra,” the natives to make them good subjects of Meegan said. The 5-foot-2-inch friar was the King of Spain,” according to an essay by a professor of philosophy in Spain, with a Albert Greenstein used as a class handout. Junipero Serra High School pictured on their fall 2010 pilgrimage to Carmel Mission, doctorate in sacred theology, when he was A timeline used in the history course where they learned about Blessed Father Junipero Serra, founder of commissioned to life as a missionary in notes that in 1773, Father Serra traveled to the California missions, and lit candles and prayed at his gravesite. the Spanish colonies, arriving in Mexico Mexico City to lay out a Bill of Rights for City at 36. Native Americans to the viceroy, or Spanish Father Serra traveled to San Diego in 1769 with Gaspar a visit to Father Serra’s gravesite where students place candles colonial ruler of the colonies. “He has become frustrated with de Portola when he was 43, an age considered old in that around the edge of the grave and pray. the abuse and corruption of the soldiers and the poor leadership era, to establish the California missions, theology teacher “He displayed heroic virtue,” said Cody, theology teacher in Monterey,” the timeline states. Patrick Cody said. who helped craft the school’s annual freshman pilgrimage to the “He stopped a lot of the rape, he stopped a lot of the soldiers The school’s prayer to Father Serra is taught to the boys Mission San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel. Father Serra’s mottos hurting the indigenous people,” said Meegan. Some mission very soon after their arrival and the student body says it each were “Always forward, never back,” and “Even if I should die practices that seem authoritarian and abusive to us were “what Friday. Each day the morning prayer includes another prayer, along the way, I shall not turn back!” Cody said. Father Serra they thought was best at the time. We address that head-on,” “Father Serra, pray for us,” Meegan said. walked the 700-mile El Camino Real, and established nine of Meegan said, noting that it was a different time and culture. Learning about Father Serra is the first module of the the 21 missions. He is buried at the Carmel Mission, where he The goal of the freshman course is to imbue the freshmen religion course for entering freshmen, Meegan said. The died in his sleep of tuberculosis at age 70 on Aug. 28, 1784. with a lifetime understanding and respect for the school’s intensive two-week course includes a scavenger hunt through Father Junipero Serra, whose feast day is July 1, was beati- patron. Theology classes always add an intention, “Father Serra the school to find references to Father Serra, PowerPoint fied by Pope John Paul II on Sept. 25, 1988. Father Serra is pray for us,” Meegan said. Father Serra and the patron saint presentations, a movie, quizzes and writing a reflection. The now one verified miracle away from being declared a saint and founder of the Franciscans, St. Francis, are the models culmination is a trip to the mission at Carmel where Father and while the school does not focus overly much on the idea, that the school looks to. “That becomes a lot of who we are,” Serra is buried. More a pilgrimage than a field trip, it includes the boys do look forward to the day the school will change its Meegan said. (PHOTO COURTESY JUNIPERO SERRA HIGH SCHOOL)
By Valerie Schmalz
Mission curator hopeful as Serra sainthood cause just one miracle away By Michelle Jurich The Oakland Voice
Galvan returned to the Vatican for the beatification on Sept. 25, 1988. The man whose ancestry includes Ohlone, Bay Miwok, Plains Miwok, Coast Miwok and Patwin is a scholar of the missions, and notes that in many ways, the image of Serra’s work with the Indians changes with scholarship. For example, he points out how the availability of documents online and modern science helped refute one long-running contention that Serra did not have the Indians’ best interests at heart. Serra’s papers show he asked what was done in Spain when children were not thriving. Give them more milk to build them up, the answer came. Still, children died. Later, science would show that the native coastal people were lactose-intolerant, something Serra could hardly have known three centuries ago.
(PHOTOS COURTESY GIBBONS COONEY)
It’s going to take a miracle for Blessed Father Junipero Serra, founder of the California missions, to become a saint. And, if it were up to Andrew Galvan, curator of Old Mission Dolores, that miracle would take place right there in San Francisco. Within the walls of the mission church would be just fine. Serra, who lived from 1713 to 1784, founded the first nine of the 21 California missions. He is buried at Mission San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel. For Galvan, a member of the board of directors of the Junipero Serra Cause for Canonization, the journey to saint-
hood for the Franciscan friar has been a long one. And, for some, the fact that Galvan, who traces his heritage to a pair of native people who were baptized by missionaries and are buried in the cemetery grounds for which he is now responsible, is on Serra’s side is a bit of a miracle in itself. Galvan has assisted in the cause for sainthood since meeting the now late Father Noel Francis Moholy at Mission San Jose in 1978. Galvan was at the Vatican alongside Father Moholy in July 1987, as the miracle attributed to Serra – the cure of a nun suffering from lupus – was being investigated. Galvan said when people would ask, “Isn’t there a controversy about how Father Serra treated Indians?” Father Moholy would say, “Would you like to talk to my Indian adjutant?”
Upon this rock The twin towers of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco are undergoing renovation and seismic strengthening. The images above show the original blueprints, the church under construction, 200-foot-high scaffolding covering the facade during the current project and engineers inspecting the base of the cross of the east tower, which is rusting. The North Beach landmark was built in 1912 on rock and to the highest standards of the day but an upgrade to current earthquake standards was necessary, pastor Salesian Father John Itzaina said in a note on the parish’s website. The parish has begun a capital campaign with a goal of raising $2.5 million toward the cost of the project.
April 1, 2011
Catholic San Francisco
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Parish youth groups from St. Charles in San Carlos and Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame attended the 2011 Religious Education Congress in Anaheim March 17-20. Tami Palladino, youth minister at St. Charles, summed up the experience: “We had the blessing of sitting on the floor during the Mass directly behind all the priests that
Pictured in the Our Lady of Angels parish group are, from left, Capuchin Brother Christopher Iwancio, Colin McCracken, Nicole Stachniuk, Madison Schneider, Madison Del Pape, Elliot Dobson, Teresita Santiago.
were inspired by Archbishop Gomez’ words: “We are the ones who must tell the world of God’s plan of blessing, his plan of love. This is what the new evangelization of America – the great continental mission – is all about. And you, as teachers of the faith, have a great part to play in this mission.”
came to celebrate. It was a very inspiring celebration of Eucharist with personal testimony by two teens, the new archbishop (Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez) who was so endearing, the music that lifted our spirits, the sung prayers of all the priests in front of us and then the singing and liturgical dancing after Communion.” The youth
Most Holy Redeemer Parish (PHOTO BY RAY O’CONNOR)
Chinese young adult concert Stuart Hall High School
Prism, the Chinese young adult band, performed an evangelization concert Feb. 27 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. More than 500 people attended, including honored guest retired San Francisco Bishop Ignatius Wang and guest speaker Jesuit Father Lucas Chan, a fellow at Yale and Georgetown universities.
St. Matthew Parish
A delegation from Stuart Hall High School, part of the Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco, traveled to Mexico for a service immersion experience Feb. 17-24. Eight students and two adult chaperones – service coordinator and theology teacher Ray O’Connor and staff member Devin DeMartini – helped to build a school multi-purpose room and put the finishing touches on an ecological bathroom in Tecuanípan, Mexico. Pictured standing in the back row, from left, are Jono Otero-Caldwell ‘13, Marco Lancieri ‘11, Brandan La ‘12, Trenton Lowe ‘13, Thomas Egan ‘14, Jordan Mandel ‘14, Nick Lukito ‘13, and sitting in the front is Donovan Van ‘12.
Notre Dame High School Eighth grade girls varsity basketball prevailed in Peninsula Parish Sports League competition after good battles with Our Lady of Angels (39-37 in overtime) and St. Veronica (28-25) to get to the finals. St. Matthew beat Church of the Nativity 33-19 for the North-South championship March 12. Pictured from left Alexa Fotinos, Emrianne Canaya, Jennifer Donahue, leni Giotinis, Emma Fitzpatrick; middle, Tasia Tsiplakos, Marissa Randle, Ashley Pretorius, 2008-09 and 2010-11 coaches Greg Boesch and Mark Fitzpatrick.
St. Matthew Parish, St. Vincent de Paul Society Baha’i Family School in Belmont and Baha’i Junior Youth Groups of the Peninsula packed 107 bags of food and helped organize and fill the pantry for the needy kept by the St. Vincent de Paul Conference of St. Matthew Parish in San Mateo. This is the second year the teamwork has taken place, the parish said. SVDP at St. Matthew helps 400 families a month from the pantry and other resources they keep available.
The Belmont school hosted a “French Luncheon” Feb. 16 that included a menu prepared by students studying the language. Recipes, techniques and the history and customs of French food were discussed in class. Invited to chow down were students from the host school as well as Junipero Serra High School and Notre Dame Elementary School plus faculty, staff, parents and friends. The meal was also shared with guests of San Mateo’s Samaritan House.
San Domenico School
The San Anselmo school was recognized for its leadership, service and activities with a 2011 National Council of Excellence Award by the National Association of Student Councils. Student council members pictured front from left are Nina Pak, Crystal Shan, Rita Hu, Elle Koagedal, Kita Gayle, Lauren Huff , Natasha McKeown, Cameron Mine. Pictured back from left are Ashley Kim, Alessandra Jonick, Abigail Costello, Christina Crittenden, Cailin Dornbush and Tara Kelly.
James Scott, Auxiliary Bishop Robert W. McElroy and Ian Lipanovich are pictured at the San Francisco church, where Scott and Lipanovich were confirmed Feb. 20. While the parish regularly confirms adults on Holy Saturday, this is the first time in five years that a child or young adult has been confirmed, spokesman Jim Stockholm said. Both teens had been educated at St. Philip the Apostle School, but along with their parents they continued as active parishioners at Most Holy Redeemer. They contributed to service projects at the parish, in particular serving meals at the Wednesday Night Suppers for the Homeless, as part of their preparation to be confirmed. The picture was taken at a reception to celebrate the confirmations, Bishop McElroy’s visit and the distributing of $60,000 in tuition aid to seven Archdiocese of San Francisco Catholic schools.
Good Shepherd School
Meals on Wheels sent a big thank you to third and fourth graders at the Pacifica school made Valentine’s Day cards for clients. Faculty members Leanne Chapman, and Stephanie Quinlan, assisted. Kathy Holly, music and performing arts teacher at the school, and pictured here with some of the students, coordinated the work and its music theme.
Youth Advocacy Day Members of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and students at Archbishop Riordan High School traveled to Sacramento for Youth Advocacy Day March 22. Pictured top from left are Riordan’s Andrew O’Connor, Christopher Kees, John Ahlbach, Jacob Monger; second row from left, Danny Patino and Trevor Peralta. Front from left, OLMC’s Naomi Cornejo; group member Colleen Sammons; Vivian Clausing, of youth ministry office.
(PHOTO COURTESY NAOMI CORNEJO)
Pictured in the St. Charles group are, far left, young adult chaperone J.T. Logsdon ; front from left, Maeve Keegan, Anne Marie Palladino, Emily Wilson, Irena Haghighi, Mackenzie Kelly; back from left, Brooke Fenwick, Sean O’Rourke.
(PHOTO COURTESY TERESITA SANTIAGO)
(PHOTO COURTESY ST. CHARLES YOUTH GROUP)
LOCAL NEWS Parish youth groups attend Religious Education Congress
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Catholic San Francisco
April 1, 2011
Guest Commentary
War without end The conflict in Afghanistan now stands as the longest war in American history. For this reason alone, as the United States approaches a decade of major warfare in a conflict that has shown little lasting progress, there should be a public debate that does not proceed from a blind commitment to “stay the course.” On an even deeper level, a sustained national dialogue about the war in Afghanistan is vital to the future of the United States because it touches upon a chilling prospect: The danger that major warfare has become not an exceptional necessity but an ongoing way of life. The United States has now achieved the capacity to wage major warfare over many years without greatly burdening its economy or its general citizenry. Three factors have made this possible: 1) the sheer immensity of the American economy and its ability to float credit, What’s your view? E-mail comments on this article to the editor at delvecchior@sfarchdiocese.org. Put “War Without End” in the subject line. We will publish comments in a future issue.
which has made the costs of major wars like Afghanistan and Iraq a relatively small blip in overall government expenditures; 2) the creation of instruments of war through modern technology that minimize American casualties in warfare and greatly enhance American tactical superiority; and 3) the existence of a professional army, which limits the layers of American society that absorb the terrible trauma of casualties in war, in contrast to a general draft like that utilized in prior wars. The result has been, as the historian David Kennedy of Stanford University notes, a situation in which “the army is at war but the country is not. We have managed to create and field an armed force that is very lethal without the society in whose name it fights breaking a sweat.” On a more ominous level, Kennedy warns, this achievement of a sustainable war-fighting capacity by the United States has created “a moral hazard for the political leadership to resort to force in the knowledge that civil society will not be deeply disturbed.” This moral hazard has become realized in a decade-long conflagration in Afghanistan and in an independent, elective major war in Iraq that lasted six years. Because the fractious commonwealth we have attempted to forge is fragile, the war in Iraq could re-erupt at any moment.
Catholic san Francisco Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper
‘Seamless garment’ view of pro-life issues is flawed
dollars. That’s certainly the gravest sin of the federal budget. Robert Graffio San Rafael
With the mention of the issues of capital punishment, war and the “sins of the federal budget” in the March 18, 2011, Catholic San Francisco (Making a Difference, Tony Magliano), it’s important to note that the flawed “seamless garment” approach to pro-life issues has caused much confusion among the faithful. Read what Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger wrote to the U.S. bishops in 2004, one year before he became pope: “Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion. While the church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment. There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.” The point is: Let’s not make gray matters into black and white ones, and black and white matters into gray ones. Thus, we can answer the question, “What evil has the federal government done?” by saying: They continue to fund abortion with taxpayer
Scientist responds to stem-cell research charge
Letters welcome Catholic San Francisco welcomes letters from its readers. Please send your letters to: Catholic San Francisco One Peter Yorke Way San Francisco, CA 94109 Fax: (415) 614-5641 E-mail: delvecchior@sfarchdiocese.org, include “Letters” in the subject line.
Re “Embryonic research defense goes too far,” Robert Jimenez, Letters, March 18. I am not, nor have I ever been in the “business of harvesting human babies,” nor any business close to working on embryonic stem cells. Here is a quick resume, since there seems a need to know: Forty years ago I left a teaching position at Stanford Medical School to work in the medical diagnostic laboratory industry. I developed “first on the market” blood tests for three of the major corporations in the field. At a guess, more than half of those who read this letter will have had a test on their blood that I originally developed (or competitors that followed). Prolonging life and enabling difficult treatments, like cancer, has been my lifelong goal. Since I retired 10 years ago I have consulted in the same field. (On one occasion I advised, without pay, a scientist friend who worked on adult stem cell research.) If you need to know more, please read my autobiography, “To Our Credit,” published by Trafford Press. Robert, we Catholics should not generalize a technology as evil. We should focus on the known evil act, killing the human individual. You could read the scientific literature as freely as I, and could discover for yourself that preserving viable embryos at the same time as taking cells for research, diagnosis or therapy is true. Now Catholic San Francisco has done you the favor of publishing Richard Mutero’s letter about his company’s work (“Says science and dignity of life can advance as one,” March 18). Moral support for that work is as important as supporting work on adult stem cells, which is easier to understand. I truly expected Father Tad Pacholczyk to have known about that work before writing his article. I expect that he will include it in articles he writes in the future. Alex M. Saunders, M.D. San Carlos
Invasion as transformation The moral hazard posed by America’s vast capacity to wage war is compounded by its idealistic tendency to cast war aims in transformational terms. The Bishop Robert United States seeks to W. McElroy establish as the goal of war, for example, a stable democracy no matter how inhospitable to democracy the history, institutions and culture of the country in which it intervenes. In Afghanistan the original goal of intervention was clear and circumscribed: al-Qaida was to be rooted out from its safe havens and destroyed, and the repressive Taliban government that had given protection to al-Qaida was to be punished and removed. In Iraq, by contrast, the goals of war were from the outset extensive and ill-defined: the removal of Saddam Hussein, the destruction of Iraq’s BISHOP MCELROY, page 16
Seminarian praises Bishop-elect Tom Daly As Bishop-elect Tom Daly moves on to begin his ministry in San Jose, I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his service to me and to the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Father Daly has been an integral part of my and many of the other seminarians’ vocational journeys. Not only has he set a great example of holiness for us to follow, but he has also continually been there to offer guidance and assistance to us during our formation process. I was also privileged to attend Marin Catholic and to have Father Daly as a teacher, both of which helped to foster and develop my faith so that I could be open to hear the Lord’s calling to the priesthood. Finally, as I mentioned in a previous article, I had the opportunity to attend a pilgrimage with Father Daly to Lourdes, France, which led to my decision to enter the seminary. Father Daly has led this pilgrimage on four occasions, giving numerous young adults in the Archdiocese, three of whom are now in the seminary, the opportunity to deepen and strengthen their faiths. In his service of Marin Catholic, St. Vincent’s School for Boys, and vocations, Father Daly has continually followed the Lord’s call to completely give of himself for the sake of others. We have been blessed to have Father Daly in the Archdiocese, and I know he will continue to do great things for the church as the auxiliary bishop of San Jose. Cameron Faller The writer is a seminarian for the Archdiocese of San Francisco at St. Patrick’s Seminary & University in Menlo Park.
helping others.” Somehow her ongoing promotion of the killing of the unborn does not fit that misleading description. Contributions to both the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Mercy nuns will not be forthcoming ever again from this household. Not only have they dismissed the guidelines of the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops stating that the Catholic community should not honor those who act in defiance of fundamental moral principles, but the ignorance and/or apathy of the Mercy nuns and St.Vincent de Paul is inexcusable. Bruce Levandoski Tiburon Lawrence P. Nejasmich, president of Society of St. Vincent de Paul District Council of San Mateo, responds: Mr. Levandoski asks why would a Catholic organization such as SVdP San Mateo promote such an event (“In Conversation” with Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, and Susan Sarandon, March 14). The answer is because “Dead Man Walking” promotes a lesson of repentance, love, forgiveness and faith. While I am a conservative Catholic and disagree with many of Susan and Sister Helen’s beliefs, this program was to support SVdP’s Catherine Center, a program for women recently released from incarceration, whose mission any Catholic or socially conscious person should be able to support. The 500 who attended heard nothing of the issues Mr. Levandoski addresses in his letter. The message of love, repentance, forgiveness, faith and hope which came out of the conversation between Sister Helen, Susan and Christina (a graduate of SVdP’s Catherine Center) had the conservative, moderate and liberal Catholics united in a message they could all share. A very positive thing in today’s polarized society. Catholic bishops worldwide would have gladly endorsed the lesson of the day. Susan was not honored, paid, or in any way compensated for her appearance; she was there to honor the women and works of SVdP’s Catherine Center. While I may be ignorant, I am not apathetic or defiant. I respect Mr. Levandoski’s opinion but think the Catholic community would be better served if we all spent our time in shared conversation with those we disagree with, rather than preparing swords of righteousness for the next holy war. If we at SVdP have offended Mr. Levandoski or anyone else with our program we are sorry and would hope for forgiveness, for our mission is truly to serve those in need in our communities.
L E T T E R S
Questions choice of Susan Sarandon at Catholic event Why would a Catholic organization such as St.Vincent de Paul, in conjunction with an order of Mercy nuns, promote a fundraising venue featuring a fallen-away Catholic, proabortion movie star? I am referring to the highly publicized appearance of Susan Sarandon, long-time supporter of Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the country. Despite her murky anti-life activities, the announcement of her appearance at a Catholic college in Belmont, Notre Dame de Namur University, praises featured speaker Sarandon as someone “committed to
April 1, 2011
Catholic San Francisco
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Guest Commentary
Is hell crowded or empty? An Internet controversy is percolating around a soon-to-bepublished book by well-known evangelical preacher Rob Bell. In “Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived,” Bell advocates the “universalist” position on salvation, which holds that everyone in the end is saved and that hell, accordingly, is empty. Many of his evangelical coreligionists are arguing that this doctrine runs counter to classical biblical Christianity and is designed to appeal to a postmodern audience for whom the only unforgivable sin is to be “exclusive.” This dustup over hell made the main page of the CNN website the other day and has prompted tens of thousands of responses. Obviously hell is still (forgive the pun) a burning question among both believers and nonbelievers. There is nothing new about this controversy. It has raged on and off for almost the whole of Christian history. Though many find this distasteful even to contemplate, the biblical figure who speaks most often of hell and damnation is none other than Jesus himself. Time and again in the Gospels, Jesus warns about “Gehenna” and its everlasting fire; he also tells the parable of Dives and Lazarus in which the rich man is forever separated from the bosom of Abraham; and, in Matthew 25, he warns that those who neglect the needs of the poor will go off “to eternal punishment.” In the third century, Origen of Alexandria, one of the most remarkable and influential theologians in the entire tradition, formulated a teaching he termed apokatastasis (restoration). According to this doctrine, all sinners – and indeed all of the fallen angels, including Satan himself – would be, through Christ’s grace, brought to salvation in the end. There might be hellfire, Origen thought, but it cannot be everlasting, for if it were, sin would prove more powerful than grace. Well, the official church reacted
against Origen’s universalism, for she saw it as insufficiently respectful of freedom, both human and angelic. If God’s grace is simply irresistible, then the real freedom to reject God’s love appears compromised. Now in the wake of this condemnation, other theologians moved practically to the other extreme. St. Augustine, fifth-century bishop of Hippo, held that original sin had produced a “massa damnata” (a damned mass) of human beings, out of which God, in his inscrutable grace, has deigned to pick a few privileged souls. Thus, Augustine clearly believed that the vast majority of the human race would be damned to hell. And though it makes me uncomfortable to admit it, my hero, St. Thomas Aquinas, followed Augustine in holding that a very large number of people are hellbound; he even taught that among the pleasures that the saints in heaven enjoy is the contemplation of the suffering of the damned! In the 20th century, the Protestant theologian Karl Barth moved back in Origen’s direction and articulated a more or less universalist position on salvation. He maintained that the cross of Jesus had saved the world and that the church’s task was to announce this joyful truth to everyone. The Catholic theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar was a friend of Barth’s and a fellow Swiss, and he presented a somewhat Barthian teaching on this score, though he pulled back from complete universalism. Balthasar argued that, given what God has accomplished in Christ, we may reasonably hope that all people will be saved. The condemnation of apokatastasis compelled him to draw back from saying that we know all will be saved, but his keen sensitivity to the dramatic power of the cross convinced him that we may entertain the lively and realistic hope that all people will eventually be drawn into the divine love.
My own conviction is that Balthasar has this more or less right. Catholic doctrine is that hell exists, but yet the church has never claimed to know if any human being is actually in hell. When the church says Father that hell exists, it means that the definitive rejection Robert Barron of God’s love is a real possibility. “Hell” or “Gehenna” are spatial metaphors for the lonely and sad condition of having definitively refused the offer of the divine life. But is there anyone in this state of being? We don’t know for sure. We are in fact permitted to hope and to pray that all people will finally surrender to the alluring beauty of God’s grace. As C.S. Lewis put it so memorably: The door that closes one into hell (if there is anyone there) is locked from the inside not from the outside. The existence of hell as a real possibility is a corollary of two more fundamental convictions, namely, that God is love and that human beings are free. The divine love, freely rejected, results in suffering. And yet, we may, indeed we should, hope that God’s grace will, in the end, wear down even the most recalcitrant sinner. Father Robert Barron is the founder of the global ministry Word on Fire and the Francis Cardinal George Professor of Faith and Culture at University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill.
Making a Difference
Afghanistan, Iraq and now Libya Having recently participated in the March for Life in Washington, I felt inspired to connect two essential dots of the church’s consistent ethic of life teaching: the pro-life dot and the pro-peace dot. So again I hit the road to the nation’s capital, this time to participate in an anti-war rally on March 19, which marked the eighth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Directly in front of the White House in Lafayette Park, I joined up with several hundred members of Veterans for Peace, an organization of veterans from World War II and the Korean, Vietnam, Gulf and Iraq wars. Having been honorably discharged from the U.S. Army as a conscientious objector 30 years ago, I felt at home with these peaceful veterans. On their website (www.veteransforpeace. org), they state: “Our collective experience tells us wars are easy to start and hard to stop, and that those hurt are often the innocent. Thus, other means of problem solving are necessary.” Here, Veterans for Peace seems to have taken a line right out of Pope John Paul II’s sermon in Ireland, where he said that “violence is unacceptable as a solution to problems.” During the peace rally, Ryan Endicott, an Iraq war veteran, said, “We know firsthand that our enemy is not the people of Iraq, who for eight years have been struggling to survive a brutal occupation. It is not the people of Afghanistan, who
for over a decade have been struggling to survive a brutal occupation. “The biggest threat to the people of the United States is not thousands of miles away, but hundreds of yards away, right here in the White House, in the Pentagon, on Wall Street. It’s the bankers that take our homes, the CEOs that lay (us) off from our jobs only to take million-dollar bonuses.” Now, if two wars aren’t bad enough, the United States has initiated a third. As with Afghanistan and Iraq, the attack upon Libya was not for humanitarian reasons. If humanitarianism was the driving military motivation, why hasn’t the United States intervened in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where war has killed 5.4 million mostly innocent people? It’s because places such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo are not perceived to be essential to America’s geopolitical interests. And what about the American government’s silence concerning the sending of 1,000 Saudi Arabian troops to help Bahrain’s monarchy brutalize its peaceful protesting citizens, and done with the help of U.S. military aid? There’s a double standard here that benefits American oil and military strategy. On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Richard Haass, president
of the Council on Foreign Relations, summed up America’s attack on Libya: “This is not a humanitarian intervention, this is U.S. political, military intervention in a civil conflict which, by the way, history Tony Magliano suggests, often prolongs the civil conflict.” Pope Paul VI was crystal clear on this. In his apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Nuntiandi” (“On Evangelization in the Modern World”), he taught that “the church cannot accept violence, especially the force of arms – which is uncontrollable once it is let loose – and indiscriminate death as the path to liberation, because she knows that violence always provokes violence.” Lent is the most appropriate time for the U.S. president, Congress, the Pentagon, the military industrial complex and all who claim allegiance to the Prince of Peace to begin fasting from violence and “the force of arms” (“Evangelii Nuntiandi,” No. 37). Tony Magliano writes a column on social justice issues for Catholic News Service.
Guest Commentary
Falling off the (Lenten) wagon It used to be that during Lent my broken resolutions settled on me like an irritating drizzle. After being positioned by the spiritual anchors of strict fast and abstinence, I could depend on the sad fact that I would still fall off the Lenten wagon. Unlike some of the ancient saints who managed to thrive on tree bark and grass beneath a sizzling desert sun, I was sure to bite into that stashed-away Hershey bar or tipple a glass of before-dinner Merlot. That’s not to say a little self-indulgence is not allowable on Lenten Sundays, but my bouts of longing for chocolate and wine assaulted me every day. So much for my efforts to fast and be good. Good resolutions to pray the rosary, to attend daily Mass and say extra morning prayers, also floated away in a flood of selfindulgence. I wondered if there would ever come a time when on Easter Sunday I could review the past 40 days and assure myself that this time I had really made a good and holy Lent? At best my Lenten resolutions were as scattered as confetti in the wind. I decided it wasn’t time to give up but to ask God for guidance – guidance that took me to those notables with the common sense and spiritual expertise necessary to get me back on track.
First, I ran across the quote du jour of C.S .Lewis who reminded me that, “We should not think God loves us because we are good, but that God will make us good because he loves us.” Those pithy words inspired me to pick myself up and go back to the starting gate for another run through the labyrinthine ways of Lent. Finally, it was the writer of inspirational maxims, William Arthur Ward, who put Lent into perspective with a clearer idea of what fasting should be. As C.S. Lewis pointed out it is not our puny efforts but “God’s love that makes us good.” “Lent should be more than a time of fasting. It is a time to fast from certain things and to feast on others. Fast from judging others, feast on the faith dwelling in them Fast from thought of illness, feast on the healing power of care Fast from words that pollute, feast on the phrases that purify Fast from anger, feast on patience Fast from self-concern, feast on compassion for others Fast from discouragement, feast on hope Fast from suspicion, feast on truth Fast from thoughts that weaken, feast on promises that inspire
Fast from complaining, feast on appreciation Fast from discontent, feast on gratitude Fast from emphasis on differences, feast on the unity of all life Fast from pessimism, Jane L. Sears feast on optimism Fast from worry, feast on hope Fast from negatives, feast on affirmatives Fast from bitterness, feast on forgiveness” At last, with the help of God who guided me to those spiritual logicians, I am back on the Lenten wagon and rolling toward Easter. Jane L. Sears is a freelance writer and a member of Our Lady of Angels Parish in Burlingame.
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Catholic San Francisco
A READING FROM THE BOOK OF SAMUEL 1 SM 16:1B, 6-7, 10-13A The Lord said to Samuel: “Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.” As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is here before him.” But the LORD said to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.” In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any one of these.” Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.” Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance. The Lord said, “There — anoint him, for this is the one!” Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David. RESPONSORIAL PSALM PS 23: 1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6 R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage. R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. You spread the table before me
April 1, 2011
Fourth Sunday of Lent 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. A READING FROM THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS EPH 5:8-14 Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” A READING FROM THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN JN 9:1-41 As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent
me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” — which means Sent — So he went and washed, and came back able to see. His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is, “but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” He replied, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went there and washed and was able to see.” And they said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I don’t know.” They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God,because he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. They asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?” His parents answered and
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any years ago, when I was about 8 years old, I went over to a friend’s house for a visit. His house was great, especially his huge backyard. We spent hours out there, climbing trees and having all sorts of fun adventures. One day, bored after watching TV in his room, we decided to go out back and play. As many kids might, we raced to see who could get there first. After a few steps, without any warning, we both smashed face first into a large, sliding screen door that was blocking our way. Knocked it clear off its rollers. I remember it like it was yesterday. I learned two important life lessons that day. First, don’t run in the house! But more importantly, I also came to realize that while I might be seeing the world one way, it might in reality be quite a bit different. I may have believed that there was nothing in my way as I ran into the yard, but the scratches on my forehead and the rip in the screen door said otherwise. It was quite literally an eyeopening experience! Yet while normally not so dramatic, I think this sort of thing occurs all the time. We often see the world through a variety of subjective lenses, some designed to make our lives more comfortable, others designed to make our lives more manageable, more palatable. We become blind to the reality of the world in hopes of creating a safe place where we’re in charge, where we’re in control. In attempting to deal with the complicated universe in which we find ourselves, this is very understandable, but it’s certainly not very honest. In our Gospel this week, John addresses this crucial question of how people view the world, and the ways in which their relationship with Jesus can radically change and affect that view. Our Lord comes into the life of the man born blind and turns his world upside down. The blind man had always been blind, had known no other way. He even made his living off the fact
Scripture reflection DEACON MIKE MURPHY
Seeing with fresh eyes that he couldn’t see. Yet Jesus, recognizing the man’s blindness, intervenes and gives him sight, both physically and spiritually. He touches his life, and the man responds in faith, allowing him to see the world as it actually is, the world where God’s healing power reigns, where his mercy, peace, and justice surround us all.
for themselves. In the end, they were so unwilling to risk change, so unable to see the possibilities that now existed, that they threw the blind man out. It was only this poor abused man, this man born blind, who chose to open his life to God’s transforming love. We face similar choices every day of our lives. The corporate world tells us to
If we are willing to let Jesus touch our lives, allow him to give us sight, we’ll be able to recognize that the kingdom of God is springing to life, right now, all around us. Of course, the blind man isn’t the only one who has trouble seeing in John’s Gospel. The disciples, the Pharisees, the neighbors, his parents – all were unable to recognize that Jesus had come into the world, that the world was now being radically transformed. They were set in their ways, afraid to leave the comfortable boxes they had created
do one thing, the media another. Society bombards us with messages telling us how to be liked, respected, successful. Everything is measured in terms of money, prestige, wealth, power. We take it all in and see the world this way because we understand it and are comfortable with it. We know how to play this game, and though the lenses
said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; question him.” So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner.” He replied, “If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.” So they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” They ridiculed him and said, “You are that man’s disciple; we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from.” The man answered and said to them, “This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.” They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out. When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains. through which we’re viewing the world might be distorted, we prefer them because the alternative involves change, and change can be scary. This Lenten season, we’re challenged to look at the world with fresh eyes, and, like the man born blind, see it as it is, as it can be, as it should be. As we approach Easter, we need to examine our lives honestly, than open ourselves to the incredible, worldaltering power of our Lord. If we are willing to let Jesus touch our lives, allow him to give us sight, we’ll be able to recognize that the kingdom of God is springing to life, right now, all around us. We’re not just talking about heaven, or only what’s going on in church. Instead, every time someone loves, every time someone forgives, every time people share their lives, the kingdom is bursting into existence. The old ways fade away, and the new ways become our ways; we just merely need to open our eyes. But with this sight comes responsibility. We must drop our blinders and change, becoming the people that make this kingdom possible. More loving, more forgiving, more accepting of all those around us. I felt pretty silly that day, running into the door, but I’ve told this story before, and from people’s reaction, I’ll bet about 90 percent of you have done it! But that’s OK, because during Lent, we can all use a good wake-up call, and sometimes it takes running into a door to do it. As we continue through Lent, let’s use as our model the man born blind, allowing God to touch our lives and open our eyes, helping us to see the world as it truly is, where Jesus is Lord and the kingdom of God is all around us. Mike Murphy is a permanent deacon serving at St. Charles Parish in San Carlos. He teaches religion at Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton.
April 1, 2011
Catholic San Francisco
15
Spirituality for Life
Approachable apologetics for adults One of the reasons why we don’t often find a good Christian apologetics today is because so many of our best theologians write at such a level of academia that their thoughts are not really accessible to the ordinary person in the pews. Apologists like C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton are rare. We have great thinkers in theology today, but unfortunately many of them cannot be profitably read outside of academic settings. With this as a background, I would like to recommend a very helpful book, “Faith-Maps,” just published by Michael Paul Gallagher, a Jesuit professor at the Gregorian University in Rome. Gallagher has a background in literature which keeps him sensitive to the kind of language which can speak to the popular mind and still remain the language of depth and soul. That’s the gift he brings to this book. What Gallagher does in “Faith-Maps” is take 10 major Christian thinkers (John Henry Newman, Maurice Blondel, Karl Rahner, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Bernard Lonergan, Flannery O’Connor, Dorothee Soelle, Charles Taylor, Pieranglo Sequeri and Pope Benedict XVI) and write a brief chapter on each of them within which he explains, in lay terms, the kernel of their major insight. Moreover he does this with a certain apologetic intent, that is, to have each of them deliver a short, clear challenge to our generation, especially as pertains to our struggle with faith and with church. And in doing this, Gallagher proves himself both a gifted and an unbiased teacher: He lays out the central concepts of these thinkers in a way that, for the most part at least, is accessible to the nonprofessional and in a way that doesn’t fall into either liberal or conservative bias.
Seeking John Paul II stories Do you have a special memory or experience of Pope John Paul II? Catholic San Francisco is collecting local recollections of Pope John Paul II in preparation for his beatification on May 1. If you have an experience whether of his 1987 visit to San Francisco or other experiences or memories, and would like to share them, please contact Assistant Editor Valerie Schmalz at schmalzv@sfarchdiocese.org.
I heartily recommend the book for all who want to familiarize themselves with these great thinkers and who are willing to let themselves be stretched a bit intellectually. I recommend it particularly to anyone who is struggling intellectually with his or her faith. This is a book on adult apologetics. Allow me just one example of Gallagher’s genius in his selection of thinker, theme and challenge: In outlining some of the major themes in the thinking of Han Urs von Balthasar he writes:
Our generation discovered self-expression and affectivity. All this was exciting and worthwhile, and yet, on reflection, in danger of being one-sided. “Modern thinking has been dominated by the ‘turn of the subject.’ Insofar as Balthasar tried to purify the excesses of this school and to initiate a ‘return to the object,’ his work questions deeply rooted assumptions in the culture around us and even in our personal living of faith. Under the influence of my literary training (a parallel to Balthasar) and then in the cultural revolution that religious life experienced in the 1960s and 1970s, my spirituality certainly became more subjective. Quietly, a whole tradition of asceticism was set aside, not only in the sense of abandoning external austerities but of allowing self-fulfillment to replace self-sacrifice as a core value. Our generation discovered self-expression and affectivity. All this was exciting and worthwhile, and yet, on reflection, in danger of being one-sided. Almost imperceptibly we came to live a new set of priorities, where the subjective aspect of religion became stronger than the objective. Even prayer was often judged in terms of experience (initially a positive revaluing of a neglected
dimension). ‘How do I feel’ became a litmus paper for growth.” If I recognize how this new sensibility influenced spirituality, the reading of Balthasar raises awkward but important questions. Father Ronald His emphasis on ‘objectivity’ invites me to make Rolheiser room for adoration and for obedient reverence of God. This breaks the magnifying glass of subjectivism. His language of faith reminds me that the glory of God is greater than any possible response of mine. The glory that shines in the face of Christ is indeed a call to “humanity fully alive” (to echo Iranaeus) but that glory goes beyond self-measured fullness, because it is the radiance of the crucified Jesus as risen Lord. It stands over against me rather as a great work of art, that moves me, but is always itself, not dependent on me for its power and beauty. In Balthasar’s words: “The originality of a work of art” can only be perceived “by the impression it gives of complete inevitability with perfect freedom, overwhelming the beholder, and making one say: it could only have been thus.” A good apologetic has to make deep thought accessible, though without dumbing it down. It has to make things simple without being simplistic. Academic theologians generally struggle with the accessibility part of the equation, while popular spiritual writers, catechists, and preachers struggle with retaining the depth. Not many people can do both. Michael Paul Gallagher does both in this book. “Faith-Maps” reaches into the deep wells of 10 major thinkers, extracts some of their gold, displays it in a way that makes it more visible to the untrained eye, challenges us to understand our faith more deeply and gives us a rich arsenal of concepts with which to do that. Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser is president of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas.
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Bishop McElroy . . . ■ Continued from page 12 capacity to use phantom weapons of mass destruction, the eradication of the hold that Saddam’s Baath Party had on Iraqi society, the erection of a functioning democracy in the Middle East, the elimination of a serious threat to Israel. In both wars the goal of societal transformation and democratization came to dominate American aims and strategy, and that goal has limited the flexibility of the United States to withdraw early in the conflicts or to accept compromise outcomes. The fear of failure deepens the moral hazard posed by U.S. power in the world today. Once committed to war, having cast the goals of war in transformational terms, the United States feels compelled to keep fighting in order to maintain its reputation for success on the battlefield and on the global stage. As a result, the United States suffers from a paralyzing inability to bring wars to a close. In his recent book, “How Wars End,” the editor of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Rose, delineates the great human and material costs that have accompanied America’s inability to end war. Rose proposes that much of this cost can be attributed to a failure of U.S. policymakers to be realistic when going into a war about what can actually be achieved. Vague or highly optimistic notions of victory have crippled war planning at the beginning, middle and end of every major American conflict since World War II. Today, the United States is again paralyzed by an inability to bring war to a close. Afghanistan is no longer the central location for the fight against terrorism in general or al-Qaida in particular. There are no clear grounds for believing that the corruption-riddled government that the United States points to as the incarnation of democracy in Afghanistan will ever attain national legitimacy and long-term stability. Afghanistan’s deeply ingrained suspicions against foreign invaders are increasingly being directed toward the United States and its allies. Yet America fights on. When the administration and Congressional supporters of the war recently pre-empted the promised debate on troop withdrawals scheduled for 2011 and instead focused on a long-term commitment lasting until 2014, the reaction was deafening silence. This can be explained only by the fact that the United States has entered into a new and radically different relationship with major warfare: even 13 years of ongoing major conflict do not constitute a cause for alarm or soul-searching. This indeed is a moral hazard, for the world and for the identity of the United States. When does a nation have a moral obligation to end its participation in a decade-old war that has no clear prospect of success? How has continuation of warfare become the moral default position for cases in which the United States is fundamentally uncertain how to proceed? Has the United States allowed its wealth and technological achievement to combine with its idealism to create a society in which major warfare is a permanent part of its national life? Catholic teaching on war and peace For the Catholic community, these questions cannot be addressed without reference to the church’s teaching on war and peace in the modern age. It should be a sobering reality for every believer in the United States that at the same time that America has come to a new acceptance of war as an
SCRIPTURE SEARCH Gospel for April 3, 2011 John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 Following is a word search based on the Gospel reading for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Cycle A: the furor caused by healing a blind man. The words can be found in all directions in the puzzle. HE SAW GROUND GO WASH SIT AND BEG SUCH SIGNS PROPHET TEACH US
BLIND MADE CLAY SILOAM PHARISEES DIVISION ANSWERED WHO IS HE
SPAT EYES NEIGHBORS SABBATH OPENED BORN SEEN HIM
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ongoing part of its national life and identity, the universal church has grown increasingly skeptical of the legitimacy of warfare. The Second Vatican Council declared that “it is hardly possible to imagine that in an atomic era, war could be used as an instrument of justice.” Pope John Paul II declared that war is never an appropriate way to resolve problems and never will be, precisely because war creates new wounds and new, ever more complicated conflicts. The United States has found in the cutting-edge technologies of war the foundation for its ability to wage long-term war without generating massive American casualties; the church sees in these same technologies and their massive destructive capacities a clarion call to limit radically any resort to war. In an interview as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said that “given the new weapons that make possible destruction that goes beyond the combatant groups, today we should be asking ourselves if it is still licit to admit the very existence of a ‘just war.’”
The people of the United States need to engage in a deep and piercing national dialogue on the role of war in their national identity. While still recognizing a delimited right to defensive warfare in extreme cases of aggression, the church’s teaching directly challenges the embrace of warfare as a regular element of state action. This is not a challenge that occurs at the level of contingent prudential application of doctrinal principles to a particular war. It is a disagreement on the level of doctrinal principle about the legitimacy of the use of warfare as a regular tool of national policy. Catholic doctrine does not permit war (or force of arms) to democratize other countries. There is no more pressing moral lesson for the United States to draw from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan than that it is morally illegitimate to use the weapons of war, with all their lethal and dehumanizing consequences, to remake foreign societies in our own image. Only major aggression counts in Catholic moral teaching as a just cause for war. Catholic doctrine does not permit the continuation of warfare in order to avoid the damage that will come to one’s reputation from defeat. The church’s teaching on right intention in war absolutely precludes starting or continuing a war out of this or any other political motivation. Catholic doctrine does not permit the use of weapons
and tactics that eviscerate the distinction between combatants and civilians. The use of drone aircraft for strikes that have generated increasing civilian casualties in Afghanistan and Pakistan represents just the type of “advanced” technology that lay at the heart of Pope Benedict’s skepticism about the moral legitimacy of warfare in the present day. Catholic doctrine does not permit continuation of war based on a mere wisp of hope. If the principle of proportionality in Catholic doctrine is to have any meaning, it must require that, in the absence of any clear probability of success after 10 years of major fighting, war must end. The central question This year should be a time of intense national debate on Afghanistan and America’s approach to war. But almost certainly it will not be. In part this is a result of the nation’s preoccupation with the current economic crisis that has created so much suffering here and around the world. On a deeper level, there will be no searing debate about Afghanistan despite almost 10 years of warfare precisely because the moral hazard that David Kennedy has identified is real. America’s economy is too vast, its war-fighting skills too advanced, its ability to limit the number and social location of American casualties too successful for even 10 years of major warfare to burden the nation seriously. The country has truly learned to wage war “without breaking a sweat.” This is a frightening reality. It raises the possibility that a decade that has not known a single day without major warfare involving the United States may be succeeded by yet another decade of continuing American warfare overseas. The countries involved may change, but the themes will be the same. The world will always be a dangerous place, and dictatorships will always be in need of reform and “regime change.” The people of the United States need to engage in a deep and piercing national dialogue on the role of war in their national identity. U.S. citizens need to understand that this nation cannot transform the world by force of arms. They must recognize that war inevitably brings horrendous unintended consequences, like the persecution and destruction of the ancient Christian community in Iraq that is currently underway. The American people need to comprehend the human devastation caused by instruments of war that skillfully limit U.S. casualties but devastate cities and families and the lives of strangers. We the people need to recognize that good intentions do not constitute a just cause for war. If we do not, we may raise a whole generation of children who have never known an America at peace. And we may create a world that turns to war as easily as we do. Bishop Robert W. McElroy is auxiliary bishop of San Francisco. Reprinted from America magazine, Feb. 21, 2011, with permission of America Press, Inc., 2011. All rights reserved. For subscription information, call (800) 627-9533 or visit www.americamagazine.org.
Afghanistan: ‘Untenable situation’ for civilians Recent reports have raised concern about the impact of the war in Afghanistan on civilians in Afghanistan and in Pakistani border areas that have been the focus of drone strikes targeting Taliban leaders. In Afghanistan, the first two months of 2011 saw a dramatic deterioration in the security situation for ordinary Afghans, the International Committee for the Red Cross said March 15. Suicide bombings in public places where civilians congregate, roads mined with improvised explosive devices and civilian casualties resulting from international combat operations all have added to Afghans’ suffering. “People tell us that they are caught in the middle of the conflict and they don’t know which way to turn,” said the ICRC’s head of delegation, Reto Stocker. “It is an untenable situation. Civilians must be protected from harm as much as possible, not become victims of the fighting.” The dangerous conditions have compromised health care services in remote areas as clinics close, doctors and nurses flee and roads are blocked by checkpoints or fighting, the ICRC said. “The conflict continued to have a devastating impact on women and children,” with 1,175 women and 555 children killed in 2010, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a report in March. “More women and children were killed and injured than in 2009. Women casualties increased by six percent and child casualties increased by 21 percent from 2009.” Over the past four years, 8,832 civilians have been killed in the conflict, with civilian deaths increasing each year, UNAMA said. Insurgents were responsible for 75 percent of the 2,777 deaths in 2010, up 28 percent from the year before. Pro-government forces were responsible for 16 percent of the deaths, compared with 26 percent the prior year. Coalition forces have reduced their civilian casualties overall but a recent increase in helicopter combat operations has created a new source of danger for civilians, the Wall Street Journal reported. Nine Afghan boys collecting firewood were killed March 1 in Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan when they were mistakenly targeted by coalition helicopters hunting for insurgents. On March 14 two boys watering their field were killed
(CNS PHOTO/FINBARR O’REILLY, REUTERS)
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A U.S. Marine fires his weapon during a battle against Taliban insurgents in Musa Qala district in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 7, 2010.
in the same district when a helicopter fired on them, and a commander and a helicopter crew were suspended pending an investigation, Long War Journal reported. The 233 reported drone strikes in northwest Pakistan, including 20 in 2011, from 2004 to the present have killed approximately between 1,411 and 2,247 individuals, of whom around 1,134 to 1,810 were described as militants in reliable press accounts, New America Foundation said in a report March 16. A March 17 drone attack in the tribal region of North Waziristan killed 40 people, the Pakistani government said. Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir demanded an apology and explanation, and the Pakistani government called the attack “not only unacceptable but also a flagrant violation of all humanitarian rules and norms.” The U.S. government said the attack targeted insurgents. “These people weren’t gathering for a bake sale,” The New York Times quoted an American official as saying. “They were terrorists.” – Compiled by Catholic San Francisco
April 1, 2011
Lenten Opportunities April 2, 7:30 p.m.: “Troubadour for the Lord!” Hear a rare Bay Area appearance by renowned Catholic composer, musician, and speaker John Michael Talbot, at St. Catherine Church, 3450 Tennessee St. in Vallejo. Tickets are available at the door or call (707) 553-1355 or (707) 642-2520. Visit - www.johnmichaeltalbot.com / www.facebook. com/johnmichael.talbot April 7, 5:30 p.m.: Shari Roeseler, executive director of San Francisco’s St. Anthony Foundation is guest speaker about “Women, Leadership, and the Church” at St. Boniface Church, 133 Golden Gate Ave. in San Francisco. A soup supper provided by St. Anthony’s precedes the talk. Suggested donation benefiting The Gubbio Project is $10-$25. Gubbio Project supports daytime rest for the homeless on the pews of St. Boniface Church. Event is part of the Gubbio Project Speaker Series. Call (415) 861-5848 or visit www.thegubbioproject.org. April 9, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.: “The Brown Scapular: Mary’s Garment,” a day of recollection at St. Anthony Church rectory, in San Francisco. Hear talks on the topic by Father John Jimenez and Father Mark Taheny. Continental breakfast and lunch served. Call (415) 282-0773 or e-mail gemaloof2003@yahoo.com. April 13, May 11: Bioethics Seminars, 2580 McAllister St. in San Francisco, and sponsored by the San Francisco Catholic Medical Guild. “The Dying Experience” will be presented by Catherine Conway and Mary Ann Schwab with Raymond Dennehy, Ph.D. Refreshments provided. Donation is $15. Call (415) 282-0773 or e-mail gemaloof2003@yahoo.com. April 24: Msgr. Harry Schlitt celebrates the TV Mass on Easter, April 24, and all Sundays of the year! Now produced by the retired priest’s God Squad Productions, the TV Mass is broadcast throughout Northern California and also distributed to hospitals, retirement communities, assisted living and senior centers as well as San Quentin State Prison. The Mass is for anyone who cannot get to Church on Sunday. The TV Mass, taped at the Porziuncola Nuova in North Beach, can be seen on KTXL FOX-40 Sacramento (Comcast CH 8), Sundays at 5:30 a.m.; KTSF- CH 26 San Francisco (Comcast CH 8), Sundays at 6 a.m.; KOFY – CH 20 San Francisco (Comcast CH 13), Sundays at 6 a.m. Contact, TV Mass, One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco 94109 or call (415) 614-5643. Daily through April 17, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.: “40 Days for Life” Campaign of fasting and of prayer for an end to abortion at 815 Eddy St. between Van Ness and Franklin in San Francisco. Call (415) 668-9800 or visit www.40daysforlife.com/sanfrancisco. Daily through April 17, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.: Join the 40 Days for Life campaign in San Mateo in a peaceful, non-violent prayer vigil on the sidewalk at 2211 Palm Avenue, San Mateo. Signs and pamphlets will be provided. Visit www.40daysforlife. com/sanmateo. Wednesdays through April 20, 7:30 p.m.: The Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose offer a “Lenten Journey” to reexamine minds and hearts to enter deeply into the Paschal Mystery during Holy Week. Series includes faith sharing with a Scriptural base, time to share and explore what the scripture has to share. Takes place at Dominican Sisters of MSJ motherhouse, main parlor, 43326 Mission Blvd., entrance on Mission Tierra Place,
April 30, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: “CYO Camp Open House,” an opportunity to “learn more about this awe-inspiring Catholic community that enables campers to experience a positive, meaningful and challenging summer adventure,” said information about the event. Open house includes barbecue lunch, tours, swimming, canoeing, archery, hikes and arts and crafts. CYO Camp and Retreat Center is located at 2136 Bohemian Highway in Occidental. CYO Camp welcomes children of all religious backgrounds in youth-centered programming with value-based themes of community, stewardship and friendship. Registration is now open for CYO Camp’s Summer 2010 sessions. For dates, rates and information visit www.cyocamp.org.
P UT YOUR
April 6, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.: “Advance Directives: A St. Mary’s Medical Center Speaker Panel” Learn why it is imperative to establish advance directives with regard to your care now. Includes information on living wills and health proxies and how they are “important tools for providing care in keeping with patients’ wishes.” Call (415) 750-5790 or e-mail stmarysfoundation@chw.edu.
St. Mary’s Cathedral – Celebrating 40 years Gough and Geary Blvd. in San Francisco (415) 567-2020. Visit www.stmarycathedralsf.org April 19, 5:30 p.m.: “2011 Chrism Mass” at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Gough Street at Geary Boulevard in San Francisco. Archbishop George Niederauer presides with priests from throughout the Archdiocese of San Francisco concelebrating. At this annual liturgy, always prayed during Holy Week, the archbishop blesses oils for sacramental use in the archdiocese for the coming year. Everyone in the archdiocese is invited. A choir leads song. Singers are invited to call Joseph Murphy at (415) 614-5505 or e-mail murphyj@sfarchdiocese.org to register with name, phone number, voice part and parish. Attendance at three rehearsals is necessary. The dates are April 16, 10 a.m. – noon; April 18, 7 – 9 p.m.; and April 19, 4 p.m. Christoph Tietze, the cathedral’s director of music, will conduct.
Food and Fun April 16, 10 a.m. - noon: “Eggstravaganza” at
Mercy High School, San Francisco, 3250 19th Ave. Rain or shine activities include Easter Egg hunt for children 2 – 10, games, arts and crafts, silent auction and more for adults, too. Advance tickets are $5 per child ($10 at the door) ages 2 – 10. Adult admission is free. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Proceeds benefit the school. Call Sally O’Connell at (415) 334-0525 or e-mail soconnell@mercyhs.org. April 16, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.: God Squad Productions holds its annual Bocce Tournament and Picnic April 16 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Marin Federation Bocce Courts in San Rafael. Day includes tournament, barbecue lunch, plus beverages and snacks all day. For ticket information, contact Jan. Schachern at janschachern@aol.com. April 29 - May 1: Our Lady of Mount Carmel School Redwood City Annual Spring Festival. Three days of safe family fun including carnival rides, games, great food and live local entertainment. Buy carnival ride tickets in advance and save big by contacting the school at (650) 366-8817 or visiting www.mountcarmel.org. April 29: “Queen of Hearts Bridge Party and Luncheon” at St. Charles Parish Hall, 880 Tamarack Ave. in San Carlos. Check in at 9:30 a.m. Games begin at 10 a.m. Tickets at $50 per person include lunch. Al proceeds benefit St. Francis Center in Redwood City. Four rotating rounds will be played before lunch and four rounds after lunch with prizes for top three highest scoring pairs. Contact Lynda Connolly at (650) 592-7714 or lyndaconnolly@ c2usa.net. Leave your name and partner’s name with telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. May 2: 52nd Annual Catholic Charities CYO Golf Day at Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club. As the longest-running charitable golf tournament in the Bay Area, CCCYO Golf Day provides scholarship opportunities for summer programming at CYO Camp and CYO Athletics Summer Camps. Presented by honorary chair – former 49ers head coach – George Seifert, tournament chair Jim McCabe and CCCYO Golf Day committee, the
OF
1500 Old Mission Rd. in Colma, (650) 756-2060 April 2, 11 a.m.: First Saturday Mass in All Saints Mausoleum.
TV/Radio Fridays at 9 a.m.: The Archbishop’s Hour on Immaculate Heart Radio, KSFB - 1260 AM, San Francisco. Enjoy news, conversation and in-depth look at local and larger Church. Program is rerun Friday at 9 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. E-mail info@ sfarchdiocese.org with comments and questions about faith. Visit www.ihradio.org Sunday, 6 a.m., KOFY Channel 20/Cable 13 and KTSF Channel 26/Cable 8: TV Mass with Msgr. Harry Schlitt presiding. Sunday, 7 a.m.: TV Mass on the Filipino Channel (TFC) Channel 241 on Comcast and Channel 2060 on Direct TV. Saturday, 4 p.m.: Religious programming in Cantonese over KVTO 1400 AM, co-sponsored by the Chinese Ministry and Chinese Young Adults of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. First Sunday, 5 a.m., CBS Channel 5: “Mosaic,” featuring conversations on current Catholic issues. EWTN Catholic Television: Comcast Channel 229, AT&T Channel 562, Astound Channel 80, San Bruno Cable Channel 143, DISH Satellite Channel 261, Direct TV Channel 370. For programming details, visit www.ewtn.com.
Datebook is a free listing for parishes, schools and non-profit groups. Please include event name, time, date, place, address and an information phone number. Listing must reach Catholic San Francisco at least two weeks before the Friday publication date desired. Mail your notice to: Datebook, Catholic San Francisco, One Peter Yorke Way, S.F. 94109, or fax it to (415) 614-5633, e-mail burket@sfarchdiocese.org, or visit www.catholic-sf.org, Contact Us.
Deadline for June 10th Issue is May 30th Please do not write on your card.
C A THOLI C S A N F RA NCI S CO
ONLY $112.00 P E R M ONTH IN OUR B USINE SS CARD SE CTION NOW AP P E ARING THE FIRST FRIDAY OF E ACH M ONTH.THIS NE W SE CTION IS CE RTAINLY LE SS E XP E NSIVE THAN THE $65,000 IT WOULD COST TO P RINT AND M AIL YOUR B USINE SS CARDS TO ALL OUR RE ADE RS . ONLY $96.00 P E R M ONTH ON A *12-M ONTH CONTRACT. LISTING IN OUR BUSINESS
Holy Cross Cemetery
Attach Card Here Deadline for May 6th Issue is April 22nd
FOR
*FREE
April 2, 11 a.m.: Immaculate Conception Academy’s Annual Alumnae Reunion at the Basque Cultural Center in South San Francisco. For reservations call Patricia Cavagnaro, Alumnae Moderator at (415) 824-2052 ext. 31. April 10, 9:30 a.m.: St John Ursuline Alumnae Association annual mass and luncheon at St John the Evangelist Church. Luncheon gathering begins at 11 a.m. at the United Irish Cultural Center, 45th Ave and Sloat Boulevard in San Francisco. The Class of 1961 will be presented with Golden Diplomas. Tickets are $35 per person; address check and mail to: St John Alumnae Assoc, 98 Bosworth St., San Francisco 94112. May 1, 9 a.m.: The Catholic Alumni Club of the San Francisco Bay Area invites current and former members, married and single, guests and friends for a reunion at Mass and buffet breakfast at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 150 Anza Blvd., Burlingame at SFO. Reservations are required by April 15 and the breakfast cost is $30. Contact Elinor Tanck at (408) 738-2511 or e-mail tancke@sbcglobal.net. Aug. 13 or Nov.26: All alumni of St. Anne of the Sunset School, class of 1981 are invited to a reunion. Location/date are undecided. E-mail George Rehmet at georgerehmet@yahoo.com or call (650) 438-9589. Oct. 22: Presentation High School, San Francisco class of ’66. Contact Martha Kunz Willis at (650) 763-1202 or e-mail mwwmtw@comcast.net or Marilyn Mathers at (510) 232-4848 or mmathers@ deloitte.com.
B USINE SS CARD IN THE HANDS
210,000 R E ADE RS
Reunion
April 16: Committee Chairs are getting ready for Belmont’s Immaculate Heart of Mary Church 22nd Annual Auction Dinner Dance at the San Mateo Marriott Hotel. “The many exciting bidding items include vacations sites, gift certificates and cocktails with the former Mayor of San Francisco, Willie Brown!” the parish said. Pictured from left are IHM’s Karen and Bob Lotti and Mary Beth Kelley. For more information contact Gail at (650) 593-6157.
Good Health
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day includes lunch, an afternoon of golf followed by dinner, a live auction and raffle. For tickets and information about sponsorships, contact Ana Ayala at (415) 972-1213 or e-mail aayala@cccyo.org or visit www.cyogolfday.org.
Datebook
in Fremont. E-mail blessings@msjdominicans.org or call Sister Beth Quire, OP at (510) 449-7554. Fridays, through April 22, 6:00 p.m.: Soup Suppers followed by Stations of the Cross in Mater Dolorosa Church, 307 Willow Ave. South San Francisco. Call (650)-583-4131 or visit www.mdssf.org.
Catholic San Francisco
DIRECTORY ON OUR WEB SITE *
AD HE ADING NAM E ADDRE SS CITY ZIP
STATE PHONE
MAIL TO: CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO, BUSINE SS CARD ONE PE TE R YORKE WAY, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109
Catholic San Francisco
April 1, 2011
SERVICE DIRECTORY For information about advertising in the Service Directory, visit www.catholic-sf.org Call 415-614-5642 Fax: 415-614-5641 E-mail: penaj@sfarchdiocese.org
Painting
Painting
Fences & Decks Counseling
S.O.S. PAINTING CO. Interior-Exterior wallpaper hanging & removal Lic # 526818 Senior Discount
John Spillane • • • •
Retaining Walls Stairs • Gates Dry Rot Senior & Parishioner Discounts
415-269-0446 650-738-9295
650.291.4303
www.sospainting.net
PLUMBING
FREE ESTIMATES
HOLLAND Plumbing Works San Francisco
BILL HEFFERON
PAINTING INTERIOR, EXTERIOR All Jobs Large and Small
10% Discount: Seniors, Parishioners
Call BILL 415.731.8065 • Cell: 415.710.0584 bheffpainting@sbcglobal.net Member of Better Business Bureau
Irish Painting Eoin Lehane
Painting & Remodeling Painting & Remodeling •Interiors •Exteriors •Kitchens •Baths Contractor inspection reports and pre-purchase consulting
Handy Man Expert interior and exterior painting, carpentry, demolition, fence (repair, build), decks, remodeling, roof repair, gutter (clean/repair), landscaping, gardening, hauling, moving, welding.
All Purpose Cell (415) 517-5977 (650) 757-1946
BEST PLUMBING, INC. Your Payless Plumbing
(650) 557-1263
S
NOT A LICENSED CONTRACTOR
Member: Better Business Bureau
anti Plumbing and Heating Michael T. Santi
Since 1972 Ca License # 663641 24 Hour Emergency Service
Visit www.catholic-sf.org For your local and international Catholic news, Datebook, advertising information, “Place Classified Ad” Form and more!
Insurance Farmers Insurance Steve Murphy Home • Life • Auto • Renters • Apartments Involved in your community as a CYO coach, referee and parishioner
www.farmersagent.com/smurphy1
415-661-2060
Certified Signing Agent
Timothy P. Breen Notary Public
DEWITT ELECTRIC YOUR # 1 CHOICE FOR Recessed Lights – Outdoor Lighting Outlets – Dimmers – Service Upgrades • Trouble Shooting!
Ph. 415.515.2043 Ph. 650.508.1348
Lic. 631209) 9)
Construction
Fully Licensed • State Certified • Locally Trained • Experienced • On Call 24/7
Affordable Decks • Additions • General Remodel • Carports
Free Estimates
415.383.6122
KEANE CONSTRUCTION ➮ ➮ ➮ ➮
Exterior / Interior Additions ➮ Baths Foundations, Stairs, Dry Rot Replacement Windows ➮ Kitchen Remodeling Architect Available ➮ Senior Discount
Call: 415.533.2265 Lic. 407271
➤ Hauling ➤ Job Site Clean-Up ➤ Demolition ➤ Yard Service ➤ Garbage Runs ➤ Saturday & Sunday
FREE ESTIMATES! • Fast & Affordable
PAUL (415) 282-2023 YOELSHAULING@YAHOO.COM
NOTICE TO READERS
LAST-MINUTE SERVICE AVAILABLE
Unhealed wounds can hold you back - even if they are not the “logical” cause of your problems today. You can be the person God intended. Inner Child Healing Offers a deep spiritual and psychological approach to counseling: ❖ 30 years experience with individuals, couples and groups ❖ Directed, effective and results-oriented ❖ Compassionate and Intuitive ❖ Supports 12-step ❖ Enneagram Personality Transformation ❖ Free Counseling for Iraqi/Afghanistani Vets
Lila Caffery, MA, CCHT San Francisco: 415.337.9474 Complimentary phone consultation www.InnerChildHealing.com
When Life Hurts It Helps To Talk • Family • Work • Relationships • Depression • Anxiety • Addictions
Dr. Daniel J. Kugler Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Over 30 years experience • Reasonable Fees
Confidential • Compassionate • Practical (415) 921-1619 • Insurance Accepted 1537 Franklin Street • San Francisco, CA 94109
Clinical Gerontologist Care Management for the Older Adult Family Consultation –Bereavement Support Kathy Faenzi, MA, Clinical Gerontologist Office: 650.401.6350 Web: www.faenziassociates.com Striving to Achieve Optimum Health & Wellbeing
Healthcare Agency The Irish Rose
Home Healthcare Agency Specializing in home health aides, attendants and companions. Serving San Francisco, Marin & the Peninsula.
Service Changes Solar Installation Lighting/Power Fire Alarm/Data Green Energy
CONSTRUCTION
Lic.# 593788
PHONE: 415-846-1922 www.breensnotary.com
* Member National Notary Association *
HOUSECLEANING
DA LY
Do you want to be more fulfilled in love and work – but find things keep getting in the way?
Notary
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Electrical
FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP Marriage, Family, and Individual Counseling David Nellis M.A. M.F.T. (415) 242-3355 www.christiancounseling2.com
EMAIL: bestplumbinginc@comcast.net
415-661-3707
CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO
ALL ELECTRIC SERVICE 650.322.9288
Lic. # 872560
➤ Drain-Sewer Cleaning Service ➤ Water Heaters ➤ Gas Pipes ➤ Toilets ➤ Faucets ➤ Garbage Disposals ➤ Copper Repiping ➤ Sewer Replacement ➤ Video Camera & Line locate PROMPT AND UNPARALLELED SERVICE
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER!
Electrical
BONDED & INSURED
415-205-1235
Lic.#942181
(650) 355-4926
Lic. # 907564
CA LIC #817607
www.Irishpainting-sf.com
John Holtz Ca. Lic 391053 General Contractor Since 1980
(415) 786-0121 • (415) 586-6748
ALL PLUMBING WORK PAT HOLLAND
415.368.8589
Bonded, Insured – LIC. #819191
Roofing
Lic. #742961
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Reasonable rates Licensed, Bonded & Insured
Christopher’s House Cleaning
415.370.4341 www.christophershousecleaning.com
Construction
Cahalan Const. Remodeles, Additions, Kitchens, Baths, Dryrot, Stucco
415.279.1266 Lic. #582766 415.566.8646 mikecahalan@gmail.com
bookkeeping
Contact: 415.447.8463
Certified Accounting Services Corporate Office, PC
Home Care
Marlen C. Rosales, CPA
www.mcrosalescpa.com
Bookkeeping and Taxes Quality ● Thorough ●
Dependable ● Reasonable
●
139 Mitchell Ave., Suite 216, South San Francisco, CA 94080 Tel 650-589-9225 Fax 650-589-4272
Industrial Supply Falcon Industrial Supply 7381 Mission Street Daly City, CA 94014 T: (650)992-3149 • (650)992-4015 F: (650)992-3129 CLEANING SUPPLIES FLOOR/CARPET CLEANING SKIN CARE/PERSONAL HYGIENE JANITORIAL PRODUCTS STORAGE/MATERIAL HANDLING WASTE/TRASH RECEPTACLES FACILITY MAINTENANCE/SAFETY TRASH BAG & CAN LINERS VACUUM/FLOOR EQUIPMENTS FOOD SERVICE ITEMS
30% off Discount for Schools & Churches No Minimum Order • FREE Delivery
Irish Help At Home QUALITY HOME CARE SERVING THE BAY AREA SINCE 1996 * Attendants * Companions * Hospice * Respite Care Competitive Rates • Screened • Insured • Bonded
Full Payroll Service www.irishhelpathome.com
Tel: 415 759 0520 • 415.721.7380
Senior Care SUPPLE SENIOR CARE “The most compassionate care in town”
1655 Old Mission Road #3 Colma, SSF, CA 94080 415-573-5141 or 650-993-8036 *Irish owned & operated *Serving from San Francisco to North San Mateo
Licensed contractors are required by law to list their license numbers in advertisments. The law also state that contractors performing work totaling For more information, contact: $500 or more must be state-licensed. Advertisments appearing in this newspaper without a license number indicate that the contractor is not licensed. Contractors State License Board 800-321-2752
April 1, 2011
Catholic
San
Catholic San Francisco
19
Francisco
classifieds FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION visit us at www.catholic-sf.org or Call: 415-614-5642 Fax: 415-614-5641 Email: penaj@sfarchdiocese.org
Caregiver Caregiver Caregiver Available Available Available Loving, experienced Irish caregiver available. caregiver with 15 years Kind, reliable, experience available for experienced, excellent hourly of live-in homecare. references, night care. Bonded and insured. Call Claire at Call Olga 650-679-4339 (650) 255-5165
Adult companion seeks employment with elderly woman or male, personal care, doctors appointments, live-in or hourly. Call Annabelle at (415) 412-4271
Elderly Care Personal companion, medications, grooming, appointments, shopping, driving, & Alzheimer’s care over 20 years experience, honest and reliable, outstanding references, bonded.
ACACIA HOME CAREGIVERS
Compassionate, quality home care for seniors
Nancy A. Concon, Owner - Nurse Serving the Bay Area
Call (415) 713-1366
Help Wanted
RUMMAGE SALE th
Caregiver SELL
Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
FREE IN-HOME ASSESSMENT
Wide diversity of merchandise, furniture, art collection, fine & costume jewelry, books, vintage & fine clothing,
house hold furnishings, crafts, shoes, food!
PUBLISH A NOVENA Pre-payment required Mastercard or Visa accepted
Cost $26
If you wish to publish a Novena in the Catholic San Francisco You may use the form below or call 415-614-5640
Real Estate Sue Schultes, Realtor Director of Luxury Homes Division Seniors Real Estate Specialist
Call
415.614.5642 Prayer to the Blessed Virgin never known to fail. Most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel Blessed Mother of the Son of God, assistme in my need. Help me and show me you are my mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth. I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to help me in this need. Oh Mary, conceived without sin. Pray for us (3X). Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (3X). Say prayers 3 days. M.P.L.
Your prayer will be published in our newspaper
St. Jude Novena
Name Adress Phone MC/VISA # Exp.
t
Catholic San Francisco
Novenas
th
Little Sisters of the Poor St. Anne’s Home 300 Lake Street, San Francisco
(415) 505-7830 (415) 386-7830 (415) 374-4094
your house, car, or any other items with a Classified Ad in
Select One Prayer: â?‘ St. Jude Novena to SH â?‘ Prayer to St. Jude
â?‘ Prayer to the Blessed Virgin â?‘ Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Please return form with check or money order for $26 Payable to: Catholic San Francisco Advertising Dept., Catholic San Francisco 1 Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved & preserved throughout the world now & forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus pray for us. St. Jude helper of the hopeless pray for us. Say prayer 9 times a day for 9 days. Thank You St. Jude. Never known to fail. You may publish.
M.P.L.
Island Home Tahoe
San Juans Islands Home Whether you’re buying a new home or selling your current one, you have to trust your agent. Sue is committed to culSue Schultes, tivating that trust by serving all of her clients’ real estate needs: personal, professional, and financial. Sue loves what Realtor she does, and part of her passion comes from the belief in working for the greater good. Active in her parish at St. Agnes, on the Board of Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly she creates the possibility of a positive future for all of us. Contact her today.
415.307.0153
SSchultes@Paragon-re.com www.doorsofyourlife.com
Automotive
Hilltop Buick Pontiac GMC Truck I P L B A ! • Extensive inventory means selection
A master suite with a jetted tub, its own deck, a sitting room and 210-degree view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Cattle Pass are features of this 3-bedroom, 2 bath unique home on 2.1 acres on Lopez Island. Very private, yet close to island airport and golf course. Two-car garage. Stone fireplace. Walk to beach. $399,000 – $115,000 under county assessed value. E-mail Dan at cnsuncle01@yahoo.com for more info and/or photos. (360) 299-0506
heaven can’t wait Serra for Priestly Vocations Please call Archdiocese of San Francisco (415) 614-5683
Rental LAKE TAHOE RENTAL Vacation Rental Condo in South Lake Tahoe. Sleeps 8, near Heavenly Valley and Casinos.
Call 925-933-1095 See it at RentMyCondo.com#657
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Catholic San Francisco
April 1, 2011
News in brief . . . ■ Continued from page 5
Settlement in Northwest Jesuit clergy abuse case PORTLAND – The Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, known as the Northwest Jesuits, has agreed to pay $166 million to settle the claims of hundreds of victims of clergy sexual abuse, victims’ lawyers announced March 25. The claims span from the 1950s to the 1980s and include victims from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. The settlement would end claims filed in February 2009 that alleged abuse on Native American reservations in Washington, Idaho and Montana, where the Jesuits ran boarding schools until the mid-1970s, one victims’ lawyer said in a press release. Dozens of victims also came forward from remote villages in Alaska, the release added. The settlement is part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization by the religious order, the Portland archdiocese’s Catholic Sentinel said.
Young Catholic filmmakers compete in Internet contest LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Young Catholic filmmakers have produced inspirational YouTube videos with Catholic themes as part of a contest to help evangelize others about the faith, Catholic News Agency reported. The Kentucky-based Catholic youth media group Goodness Reigns is running the contest, whose entrants include youth groups and individuals
ST. CLARE’S RETREAT Santa Cruz
2381 LAUREL GLEN ROAD SOQUEL CA 95073 E-mail: stclares@sbcglobal.net Web site: www.nonprofitpages/stclaresretreat
14 and older from all skill levels. They have submitted short films on church teachings, the sacraments, church history, the lives of the saints and examples of contemporary mission spirit. Goodness Reigns’ People’s Choice Award promises a $1,000 cash prize to the winner of an Internet vote.
CRS forced to close food program in Western Darfur BALTIMORE – Catholic Relief Services announced that it will be forced to close its food program in the Sudanese state of Western Darfur at the end of March. A statement from CRS headquarters in Baltimore did not list a reason for the program’s closure, and a CRS spokeswoman in Baltimore said March 28 the agency would not comment further. However, the previous day, Sara Fajardo, CRS spokeswoman in Africa, told Agence France-Presse that the Sudanese government had asked CRS to leave because it said it could not guarantee staffers’ security. CRS remained in Darfur in 2009 when the government expelled 13 other aid agencies. “One of their (government’s) claims was that we were distributing Bibles. This is completely wrong. It is against all our operating principles,” Fajardo said. “We are a humanitarian organization whose work is based on need and not creed. The majority of our staff in Darfur are Muslim.” In mid-January, more than a dozen CRS workers were evacuated from a remote area of Western Darfur to the Sudanese capital of Khartoum with the help of the United Nations after receiving “indications of threats.” CRS, the U.S. bishops’ international relief and development agency, has not resumed its operations since then.
APRIL
duration of this disease often places increasingly intense demands on the millions of family members and friends who provide care to those with Alzheimer’s, the associated noted. The report noted that while caregivers report positive feelings about the service they provide, including family togetherness and the satisfaction of helping others, they also report that high levels of stress over the course of providing care. In a survey, 61 percent of family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias rated the emotional stress of giving care as high or very high. In addition, 33 percent of family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias report symptoms of depression. The association also estimated that total payments for health and long-term care services for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will amount to $183 billion in 2011, which is $11 billion more than in 2010. Medicare and Medicaid will make up the majority of the increase. The group estimated that by 2050, Medicare costs for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will increase nearly 600 percent and Medicaid costs will climb almost 400 percent. “The projected rise in Alzheimer’s incidence will become an enormous balloon payment for the nation – a payment that will exceed $1 trillion by 2050,” said Robert Egge, vice president for public policy at the Alzheimer’s Association. “It is clear our government must make a smart commitment in order to make these costs unnecessary.”
Catholic Hispanic Charismatic Congress
SILENT WOMEN’S RETREAT – Fr. Allen Ramirez, OFM Conv. 8-10 RETROVAILLE ENRICHMENT – SILENT WOMEN’S RETREAT – 15-17 Fr. Allen Ramirez, OFM Conv. 22-24 EASTER - NO RETREATS – 29-May 1 MARRIED COUPLES/KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS RETREAT FR. DOMINIC BRIESE, O.P. “Divine Love and Mercy”
APR. 21-24
HOLY WEEK RETREAT Retreat Team
MAY 1
RETREAT DAY FOR FAMILIES Zack Oelerich, MFT Erin Davis Meyer, MFTI
MAY 20
SPIRITUAL SPA DAY FOR WOMEN Rena Grant & Kathy Miranda
MAY 23-27
SILENT CONTEMPLATIVE Sr. Ishpriya
1-3
MAY
27-29
■ Continued from page 8
RETREATS • MEETINGS • CONFRENCES
Reservations for weekends must be made by mail and accompanied by a $10 non-refundable deposit per person. Suggested retreat donation $115.00 private room, $105.00 per person double room.
6-8 13-15 20-22
Alzheimer’s in America . . .
MAY 27-29
MOTHERS’ DAY No retreat – LEGION OF MARY FR. MICHAEL BARRY, SS.CC LEGION OF MARY FR. MICHAEL BRIESE, O.P. “Divine Love and Mercy” CHINESE RETREAT/CAMP
Prayer Group – “Pescador de Hombres” Adults and children over 11 years - $5 per person per day
HEALING & WHOLENESS Carol Mitchell, Ph.D. Tom Gorham, M.A., CADC II
2011 THEME:
Jubilee Joy Celebrating our 50th Anniversary
(831) 423-8093 • Fax: (831) 423-1541
May 14 – 15, 2011 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Cañada College 4200 Farm Hill Blvd. Redwood City
For information: Rev. José Corral (415) 333-3627 Coordinator Hispanic Charismatic Renewal of San Francisco Joel & Josefa Sanchez (650) 368-7110 / (510) 745-7439
SAN DAMIANO RETREAT
pescadordehombres_rcc@yahoo./com www.sonico.com/pescadordehombres
PO Box 767 • Danville, CA 94526 925-837-9141 • www.sandamiano.org
The Dilemma of Choice
“Engaging the Heart” Pre-Cana Workshops
Retreats s Conferences s Workshops April 10, 2-4pm Lenten Prayer Service thefere Vallombrosa Choir Retre Re Retreats reats awith ts s Conference Conferences Confe rences es s Workshops Works kshops The polarizing controversy that abortion causes generally removes the focus from the most critical place – the mind and heart of the woman making the choice. What do women considering abortion deserve? And is there just one choice involved here, or two? Shari Plunkett has served as President and CEO of First Resort since its beginning in 1984. First Resort’s pregnancy counseling medical clinics focus on abortion-minded women and serve as the most practical, compassionate, and proven approach to reaching, serving and restoring hope for women in unplanned pregnancies.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 13, 7am to 8:30am (Mass at 7am) WHERE: Palio D'Asti Restaurant, 640 Sacramento at Montgomery, SF COST: $20 per members, $30 for non-members (become a member for $45) Includes a delicious breakfast, coffee, and juice RESERVATIONS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED! RESERVATIONS: Mail your contact information & a check payable to “CPBC-ADSF” to: CPBC, Attn: John Norris, 1 Peter Yorke Way, SF, CA 94109 or pay at the door.
www.cpbc-sf.org
““Engaging Engaging theMay Heart” Hea art7” includes Engaging the Heart presentations s by Catholic Vallombrosa Catholic on various professionals var rious aspects Marriage Preparation of married life, such as Intimacy, MaySpirituality, 8 Communication, Vallombrosa Mother’s Day Mass Role Expectations, and an nd Sexuality.
Dates for 2011: See our website for registration details.
July 23
AprilEngaging 2 s Maythe7 Heart s July 23 Vallombrosa Catholic 19 October 1 s November Marriage Preparation
250 Oak Grove Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025-3218 (650) 325-5614 s www.vallombrosa.org
Catholic san Francisco Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper
APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH 10 THINGS VICTIMS/SURVIVORS TAUGHT US National Review Board May, 2010
1. 2. 3.
We have learned that it takes great courage for a victim/survivor to come forward with his or her story after years, sometimes decades, of silence and feelings of shame.
4.
We have learned that, while each individual’s story is different, what is common is the violation of trust; some survivors trust absolutely no one to this day, while others have been able to work through this pain with the help and support of loved ones.
We have learned that to the victim/survivor it is so important to finally simply be believed. We have learned that in spite of their own pain and suffering, many victims/survivors are just as concerned that the Church prevents this abuse from happening to more children as they are about themselves and their own needs for healing.
5.
We have learned that today there are methods of therapy that work particularly well with and for survivors of childhood sexual abuse and that individuals can be helped even after many years of unsuccessfully trying to simply “forget about it.”
6. 7.
We have learned that very many victims/survivors have lived for many years with the belief that they were the “only one” to have been abused by a particular priest.
8.
We have learned that, while some victims/survivors have been unable to succeed in various areas of life (marriage, employment, education and parenting, for example) as a consequence of the great emotional/psychological harm, others have gone on to lead very healthy and productive lives. We have learned that between those two “ends of a continuum” there is as much variation as there are numbers of victims.
9. 10.
We have learned that the abuse has robbed some victims/survivors of their faith. For some this means loss of their Catholic faith, but for others it means loss of any faith in a God at all.
A Prayer for Healing Vctims of Abuse God of endless love, Ever caring, ever strong, Always present, always just; You gave Your only Son to save us by the blood of His cross. Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace, join to Your own suffering the pain of all who have been hurt in body, mind, and spirit by those who betrayed the trust placed in them. Hear our cries as we agonize over the harm done to our brothers and sisters. Breathe wisdom into our prayers, soothe restless hearts with hope, steady shaken spirits with faith; Show us the way to justice and wholeness, enlightened by truth and enfolded in Your mercy. Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, Heal Your people’s wounds and transform our brokenness. Grant us courage and wisdom, humility and grace, so that we may act with justice and peace in You. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen Copyright © 2004, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. All rights reserved.
We have learned that to be privileged to hear an individual victim/ survivor’s story is a sacred trust, to be received with great care and pastoral concern. We have learned that we still have much to learn. The National Review Board is an advisory group of 13 laypersons with expertise in such areas as law, education, media, and psychological sciences. The board was established in 2002, when the U.S. bishops adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People to oversee efforts of the Office for Child and Youth Protection. The National Review Board is responsible for a three-year Causes and Context Study being undertaken by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and due for release in 2011. The study looks at the clergy sexual abuse of minors problem to ascertain what factors led to it and how it can be prevented going forward.
SAN FRANCISCO INDEPENDENT REVIEW BOARD Archbishop Niederauer has identified a group of well educated and highly skilled professionals to advise the Archdiocese on matters relating to abuse by clergy. This group includes a psychologist (Dr. Suzanne McDonnell Giraudo), a pediatrician (Dr. Eileen G. Aicardi), an attorney (Sr. Mary Gemma O’Keeffe, RSM), a retired judge (Honorable Claude D. Perasso), a retired policeman (Mr. Dan L. Lawson) and one pastor (Fr. John Ryan). There is a balance of men and women and most members are also parents. The board oversees the “Safe Environment” program of the Archdiocese and has acted as a consultant to religious orders of priests. The Vicar for Clergy and the Archbishop meet regularly with this Board. The Victim Assistance Coordinator, the Diocesan Attorney, and the Judicial Vicar serve in an ex officio capacity. The Archdiocese’s Victim Assistance Coordinator can be reached at (415) 614-5506, and works with the Archbishop, the Independent Review Board, and the Vicar for Clergy to coordinate support for victims and their families.
ARCHDIOCESE V ICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR 415.614.5506 For additional information contact Deacon John Norris, Director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection norrisj@sfarchdiocese.org or 415.614.5504
April 1, 2011
ONE DOLLAR
VOLUME 13
•
No. 13
CP2
Catholic San Francisco
April 1, 2011
April 1, 2011
Catholic San Francisco
CP3
Keeping the Promise to Protect
Office of Child & Youth Protection
Archdiocese of San Francisco
Ch
M
i ril Ap s
on th
The Office of Child and Youth Protection
n io ild t n Abuse Preve
Tennessee 6th Grade St. Rita
thanks the wonderful artists and their teachers for the 450 art contest submissions. The artwork was both thoughtful and beautiful. We value the partnership with our schools and religious education programs and our shared commitment to protecting children.
Child Abuse Prevention Month Poster Contest Winners
TALKING ABOUT TOUCHING: Grades Pre K – 3
KIDS SAFETY: Grades 4 – 8
Children, along with their parents and teachers, are learning: Common safety rules; how to ask for help when feeling unsafe or uncomfortable; ways to respond assertively; and the differences between safe and unsafe touches.
Kids are learning: How to identify different types of harm; how to respond assertively and get help; to grow in understanding of personal boundaries; and how to practice safe use of the internet. www.shieldthevulnerable.org.
Jana Kindergarten St. Catherine of Siena
Monica 2nd grade Our Lady of Mercy
Veronika 6th grade Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Ashley 7th grade Holy Angels
TEEN SAFETY: Grades 9 – 12 Teens are learning: How to identify different types of harm; how to enforce personal boundaries; safe use of the internet; to reject negative media influences; and the importance of respecting the dignity of self and others. www.shieldthevulnerable.org.
ARTICLE 12 of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People states: “Dioceses/eparchies are to maintain ‘safe environment’ programs which the diocesan/eparchial bishop deems to be in accord with Catholic moral principles. They are to be conducted cooperatively with parents, civil authorities, educators, and community organizations to provide education and training for children, youth, parents, ministers, educators, volunteers, and others about ways to make and maintain a safe environment for children and young people…” The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
CP4
Catholic San Francisco
April 1, 2011
Keeping the Pledge to Protect IMMACULATE HEART
OF
MARY
On Wednesday, February 21, a group of students from Immaculate Heart of Mary school and parish Religious Education students (who attend local non-Catholic schools) gathered under the guidance of IHM teacher and parishioner Mr. David Pekari to review the specifics of the Shield the Vulnerable on-line training program. Students were paired and worked together on a Safe Environment exercise. There have also been parish workshops, attended by both school students and Religious Education program students, which stress the importance of being in a safe space, re-iterating the healthy need for boundaries and appropriate behavior with others. Working together as a team has not only enabled young people to discuss a very important topic in our community today, but it has created a constructive dialogue between the school and the parish. Belmont Police Chief, Mr. Don Mattei and an Inspector for the District Attorney of San Mateo County, Mr. Ivan Grosshauser have spent time in the classrooms with the children, both School of Religion and Parish Elementary School, discussing safety procedures and answering any questions the children and families might have. IHM pastor, Father Stephen H. Howell, stresses the need for strong collaboration between these two parish programs. With so many young people involved in school and parish programs, they should come together as much as possible. Parents of both IHM School and Religious Ed program students have remarked how pleasantly surprised they have been by the positive interaction of students who are not together every day. Parents have also indicated that they are particularly pleased with the Shield the Vulnerable online programs and appreciate the accessibility of information on-line that helps them to take part in their children’s safety education. This effort has made parish-wide workshops on safety and safe environments beneficial and effective.
SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL PREPARATORY In 2002, in response to the sexual abuse crisis in our Church, the Archdiocese of San Francisco mandated training for all employees and volunteers who are in regular contact with minors. In the fall of 2006 as part of its pledge to ensure the safety of all children, the Archdiocese introduced “Recognize, Report and Prevent Child Abuse”, an on-line training program from Shield the Vulnerable – a service of Law Room. This program was instantly seen to be an effective option to train thousands of employees to recognize, report and prevent child abuse. When Teen Safety interactive online courses for high school students, became a part of the archdiocesan program, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory (SHCP) saw an opportunity to further engage teens about healthy relationships and life decisions and to encourage students to become voices for justice within their communities. The school rises to meet responsibility in every facet of care, from fingerprinting and background checks of all adults working on campus, to maintaining a closed campus and nurturing students’ emotional and physical health through graduation and beyond. Modules for 9th through 12th grade include Teen Safety, Internet Safety & Texting, Bullying & Hazing, and Dating Abuse. A new course for seniors will be added “You’re 18 Now What?”
ST. JOHN
OF
GOD
Last year, St. John of God parish, in San Francisco, was introduced to the blue ribbons shown in the accompanying photo as part of “April – Child Abuse Prevention Month.” St. John of God is a “small parish” with a “big mission” heart. Not only is St. John of God the Hospital Ministers for UC Medical Center, but it is an active community that supports a year round “calendar of compassion” So, in 2010, St. John of God included “April – Child Abuse Prevention Month” in this calendar. This was welcomed by the parish and parishioners were given the ribbons (shown) to wear in support of this effort. This year the announcement and ribbons will be available at all three Masses held over the weekend. Outreach will also be made to the St. John of God Religious Education Director so that this information can be shared with those families. Thirty ribbons will be made at St. John of God to be shared with clergy abuse survivors. Anyone wishing more information is asked to get in touch with: Barbara Elordi at the Archdiocese office at (415) 614-5506.
What to do if you suspect abuse Anyone who has reason to believe or suspects that a child has been, or is being, abused should report their suspicions first to civil authorities and then to the Archdiocese’s Victim Assistance Coordinator. Investigation should be left to duly appointed professionals. State law requires persons in certain positions (called “mandated reporters”) to make such reports. Others, (called “ethical reporters”) should do so. Every allegation will be treated seriously and immediate steps taken to protect the alleged victim(s). These actions will be taken discreetly so as to protect the confidentiality and the rights of both the victim and the accused.
Reporting Instructions by County Cases of alleged abuse in which the abuser and the victim are members of the same household are to be reported to Child Protective Services (CPS), while cases in which the alleged victim and the accused do not share a household should be reported to law enforcement authorities (Sheriff’s Department or City Police). If in doubt, just report to the most convenient agency. They’ll help ensure the message get to the proper place.
MARIN
SAN FRANCISCO
SAN MATEO
Child Protective Services 415.499.7153
Child Protective Services 415.558.2650
Child Protective Services 650.802.7922
Sheriff’s Department 415.479.2311
Police Department 415.553.0123
Sheriff’s Department 650.363.4911
Note: You can also report abuse to your local Police Department. A RCHDIOCESE V ICTIM A SSISTANCE C OORDINATOR
415.614.5506