December 14, 2017 by Catholic San Francisco

Simbang Gabi:

Parishes gather at cathedral to begin annual Advent novena

PAGE 3

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Pilgrims march MERRY 12 CHRISTMAS miles in annual CONFESSIONS Saturday, Marian Decemberdevotion 23rd,

Parish Advent, Christmas celebrations

PAGE 6

3:00 - 4:15 pm Evening Mass 4:30 pm Sunday, December 24th 7:30 am, 9:30 am & 11:30 am Christmas Eve, December 24th 4:30 pm, 8:00 pm and Midnight

PAGEs 9-17

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO Christmas Day Monday, December 25th 7:30 am, 9:30 am & 11:30 am No Evening Mass

Newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco

Serving San Francisco, Marin & San Mateo Counties

Sunday, December 31st 7:30 am, 9:30 am, 11:30 am, 5:00 pm

December 14, 2017

NEW YEAR’S DAY Monday, January 1, 2018 9:30 am Feast of the Epiphany Saturday, January 6, 2018 4:30 pm Sunday, January 7, 2018 7:30 am, 9:30 am 11:30 am, 5:00 pm

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“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel”

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Mary and the Christ Child are depicted in a 1997 painting by Elizabeth Wang. The feast of the Nativity of Christ, a holy day of obligation, is celebrated Dec. 25.

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Index On the Street . . . . . . . . 4 National . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . 23

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Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

Need to know CSF media kit: Catholic San Francisco’s revised media kit is now available at Catholic-sf.org (click on the Advertise link at the top of the page) or by email by request. It includes an updated schedule of general ad rates and other information for advertisers, and the paper’s 26-issue promotional calendar for 2018. CSF is adding a third issue in December, dated Dec. 20, 2018. Please contact Joe Pena for more information about advertising at penaj@sfarchdiocese.org or (415) 614-5642. End-of-life resources: The Archdiocese of San Francisco has published online resources to support Catholics in dealing with end-of-life issues. Visit https://sfarchdiocese.org/end-of-life-issues. CLERICUS CLASSIC: Following in the success of last year’s basketball game pitting priests against seminarians, archdiocesan clergy and future clergy tip off again, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m., Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, 1055 Ellis St., San Francisco. Tickets $7. www.sfarch.org/basketball, (415) 614-5517.

(Photo by Christina Gray/Catholic San Francisco)

Carmelite Sister Immaculate of Divine Providence and St. Therese is embraced by children from the local community near the Carmel of the Mother of God monastery in Marinwood after making her final vows on Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Carmelite sister makes final vows on feast of Immaculate Conception Christina Gray Catholic San Francisco

(photo CourtesyHelen Gee)

Students make chaplets for VA hospital patients Students in second and sixth grades at St. Thomas the Apostle School, San Francisco, made chaplets that incorporate one decade of the rosary and are easy to hold. Hilary Dito taught the children how to put the prayer aids together. “They will be donated to the Veteran’s Administration Hospital to comfort patients,” the school said. Father. Kevin Kennedy, here with second graders True Lim and Ethan Yip, blessed the the good work.

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Almost 100 people packed the chapel, hallways and vestibule of Mother of God Monastery in San Rafael on Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, to bear witness to the solemn profession of vows and veiling of Carmelite Sister Immaculate of Divine Providence and St. Therese. Sister Immaculate, 34, was born Emmaculate Anyango Ager in Kenya. She entered a Carmelite monastery as a novitiate in Nairobi but came to Mother of God Monastery in Marin County in 2013. She is one of seven cloistered, contemplative Carmelite sisters living in the suburban monastery built by Archbishop Joseph T. McGucken in 1965. San Jose Bishop P.J. McGrath was principal celebrant of the liturgy and was joined on the altar in the monastery’s compact chapel by 10 priests including Father Brian Costello, pastor of Our Lady of Loretto Parish in Novato, and others from Carmelite, Jesuit and Dominican orders. Sister Immaculate’s mother and aunt, who traveled from Kenya, also participated. In his homily, the bishop said that Sister Immaculate, like Mary before her, responded “yes” of her own free will to God’s call. “Mary was asked to put her freedom, her whole

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person” at the service of God’s plan,” Bishop McGrath said. The difference between us and Mary is not that Mary was chosen and that we are not, he said, but rather that she fully responded to her role “while some of us remain half-hearted about what God has called us to,” he said. He said that in that special way God chose Sister Immaculate of Divine Providence to live a life of divine love. “And like Mary you have responded whole heartedly to that call,” he said. Bishop McGrath blessed a black veil after the profession of final vows and handed it to Sister Immaculate, asking her to “receive this veil as a sign of your consecration, and keep unbroken faith with your heavenly spouse. It proclaims that you belong entirely to Christ and to his mystical body, the church.” God has chosen all of us, though, the bishop reminded the congregation, and “has a role for every single one of us.” “Like Mary, we are challenged to say yes,” he said. “Let’s think about it.” The Mother of God Monastery in San Rafael, according to its website, was founded as an extension of the Carmelite Monastery at Carmel-by-the-Sea to respond to Our Lady of Fatima’s message about praying for the conversion of sinners and for the Russian people.

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone Publisher Mike Brown Associate Publisher Rick DelVecchio Editor/General Manager Editorial Valerie Schmalz, assistant editor Tom Burke, senior writer Christina Gray, reporter

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Advertising Joseph Peña, director Mary Podesta, account representative Chandra Kirtman, advertising & circulation coordinator Production Karessa McCartney-Kavanaugh, manager Joel Carrico, assistant how to reaCh us One Peter Yorke Way San Francisco, CA 94109 Phone: (415) 614-5639 | Fax: (415) 614-5641 Editor: (415) 614-5647 delvecchior@sfarchdiocese.org Advertising: (415) 614-5642 advertising.csf@sfarchdiocese.org Circulation: (415) 614-5639 circulation.csf@sfarchdiocese.org Letters to the editor: letters.csf@sfarchdiocese.org

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Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

Parishes celebrate Simbang Gabi novena

(Photos by Dennis Callahan/Catholic San Francisco)

Cardinal William J. Levada was principal celebrant of a Mass Dec. 7 at St. Mary’s Cathedral beginning the Advent tradition of Simbang Gabi, which is celebrated annually at parishes – this year more than three dozen – throughout the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The series of liturgies and usually fellowship following begins Dec. 15 and ends Dec. 24, Christmas Eve. The tradition was introduced to the Philippines by Spanish friars to allow farmers to hear Mass before going to the fields early in the morning. At that time, the church bells started ringing as early as 3 a.m., waking people up so they could get ready for the dawn Mass.

The vocation to love is always valuable for everyone.” -Pope Francis

Many people in our community are in great need right now. It is our duty to take action and spread God’s love through our service and support! Pope Francis tells us that “we can’t just sit around and wait for others to perform our vocation.” The holidays are an especially difficult time for families and individuals living on the margins. Someone in your neighborhood may be calling us today for help with an emergency. We invite you to help us help others, and make a donation to SVdP so that rent and utility assistance, food, transportation, medical help, and more is available in an emergency. Gifts of all sizes are greatly appreciated. 91¢ of every dollar you donate goes directly to those we serve. Donations can also be made online at svdpsm.org.

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Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

‘Person to person’ is St. Vincent de Paul Society pledge Tom Burke catholic San Francisco

When I first started to know the St. Vincent de Paul Society as a chancery rookie, any writing I’d do on the group founded in 1833 would include its “more than 150 years” of helping the poor. Now, near 35 years later, the good work has moved into Shari P. “almost 200 years” Wooldridge status. The St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco has long been a part of that tradition. “Our mission is to offer hope and service on a direct person-to-person basis, working to break the cycles of homelessness and domestic violence,” Shari P. Wooldridge, executive director, told me via email. The person-to-person dimension of SVdP’s ministry is one that dates back to founder Frederic Ozanam in 19th century Paris and a facet that all connected with SVdP hold close to their hearts. Based in parish conferences more than 250 Vincentians seek out the city’s poor. More than 1,000 volunteers assist. SVdP helps people of all ages including “adults in San Francisco experiencing homelessness and women and children survivors of domestic violence,” Shari told me. SVdP domestic violence programs served more than 3000 people last year and its multi-service center sheltered more than 3,000 adults and almost 900 children, Shari said. SVDP-SF operates the largest singleadult homeless shelter in Northern California providing beds, meals, services and case management for 340 men and women daily, as well as a 24-hour Drop-In Center for an additional 70 people, Shari said. The facilities “provide safe havens from inclement weather, noise and congestion, and from the risks perva-

(Courtesy photo)

EASY DOES IT: Young adults, young adult leaders, and youth ministers took part in a Work/Life Balance Retreat Nov. 4 at St. Cecilia Parish, San Francisco. “We had 28 youth ministers, young adult leaders, and young adults from throughout the archdiocese in attendance,” said Amanda George, director of young adult ministry for the archdiocese. “Sessions turned to some familiar biblical figures to learn how to balance the demands of faith, work, and life.”

(Courtesy photo)

REUNION: Members of the Archbishop Riordan High School Class of 1972 gathered for a 45th reunion Oct. 14 at Bechelli’s Flower Mart Restaurant in San Francisco. “A great time had by all,” said classmate Jeff Holl in a note to this column. sive to living on the streets,” Shari said. “Having a place to sleep at night and rest during the day, and receiving help in accessing resources and services, allows people the opportunity to begin the healing process that can lead to long term recovery from the trauma of being homeless, permanent housing, and selfsufficiency.” Children’s Services at SVdP’s Riley Center “are integral to our mission to stop the generational cycle of domestic violence and homelessness,” Shari said. “Our children’s services address the long-term emotional health of children and help prevent them from growing up to perpetuate the cycle of violence in their own lives.” Ways to help in the work include financial contributions and volunteer-

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY: It is cake all around for the Sisters of Mercy as they celebrate the birthdays of Sister Edith Hurley, 97 years old Nov. 15, and Sister Suzanne Toolan, 90 years old, Oct. 24. Sister Edith served more than 50 years as Sister Edith teacher and adminHurley, RSM istrator in schools including San Francisco’s Holy Name, St. Stephen, St. Gabriel and St. Peter. She

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TILL THEN: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us here at Catholic San Francisco. Next CSF is Jan. 11. Email items and electronic pictures – hi-res jpegs - to burket@sfarch.org or mail to Street, One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco 94109. Include a follow-up phone number. Street is toll-free. Reach me at (415) 614-5634; email burket@sfarch.org.

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO Catholic San Francisco (ISSN 15255298) is published 26 times per year by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, 1500 Mission Rd., P.O. Box 1577, Colma, CA 94014. Periodical postage paid at South San Francisco, CA. Postmaster: Send address changes to Catholic San Francisco, 1500 Mission Rd., P.O. Box 1577, Colma, CA 94014

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enjoyed service in Australia just a few years ago. Sister Edith entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1939 and has been in the community 78 years, the longest of any sister in the Burlingame Community. Sister Suzanne is the beloved music director and teacher to hundreds maybe thousands of young women at the sisters’ high schools in San Francisco and Burlingame. Everyone knows Sister Suzanne Sister Suzanne too from her composiToolan, RSM tions sung for half a century at Masses many weeks of the year including “I Am the Bread of Life.” Sister Suzanne entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1950 and has been in the community 67 years. Just to get it off my chest, I miss Sister Suzanne’s “Great is the Lord,” a super song and once a significant staple of the hymnals.

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Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

(Photos by Dennis Callahan/Catholic San Francisco)

Guadalupana pilgrims walk near St. Mary’s Cathedral after traveling 12 miles from All Souls Church in South San Francisco on Dec. 9. Right, pilgrims pray at the cathedral’s Guadalupe shrine.

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The annual Guadalupana Crusade filled the streets of San Francisco on Dec. 9, with thousands of pilgrims traveling the 12-mile route from South San Francisco to St. Mary’s Cathedral. The event concluded with Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone presiding. During his homily, the archbishop preached the importance of love for others, as the Virgin Mary has taught her from the moment she decided to take care of her elderly cousin Elizabeth. Preaching on the example of Marian service and love, the archbishop said that Mary “is always there to help others ... Isabel had pressing needs ... and

the Virgin Mary was there to help her, even with all that she was suffering in her life. This is an important lesson for all of us.” The archbishop told the pilgrims that “no matter how big the cross is, we can always give love to others, we can always give love to others and serve them. This is what makes one great in the eyes of God.” During the pilgrimage from All Souls Church in South San Francisco, Alfredo Salina, a resident of San Rafael, walked at front of the group, carrying a banner with the photo of the virgin. He said it is a sacrifice he offers to the virgin, while asking for the health of his family and work. He added that he learned the see guadalupana, page 8

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Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

San Mateo approves cannabis farming for Half Moon Bay coast Valerie Schmalz Catholic San Francisco

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted 5-to-0 to allow commercial marijuana farming in greenhouses and nurseries in the areas zoned agricultural, located almost entirely in the Half Moon Bay region along the Pacific Ocean. “The pot growers see this allowing greenhouse cultivation of pot in primarily coastal San Mateo as the first step in making San Mateo a large production, manufacturing and distribution center for this drug,” said Our Lady of the Pillar parishioner Anne Martin, who fears the coastside will soon become “the Napa Valley of pot.” Restrictions against retail, processing, storage and outdoor cultivation expire December 2018, unless extended by the San Mateo County supervisors who have jurisdiction over the unincorporated areas of the county, Martin said.

“It’s not a good message we are sending to our youth or children,” said Yolanda Novelo, a San Mateo County mental health social worker, who said that many farmworkers from Mexico, El Salvador and other parts of South America oppose marijuana farms. “Most of these families are being traumatized from drug violence in Mexico or other parts of South America. And, you know, I am just concerned that’s where we are going to end up.” Already the few opportunities in the Half Moon Bay area for youth recreation are a factor in

youth drug use, said Novelo, who said she has three children, the youngest 14. With the state law legalizing recreational cannabis to take effect Jan. 1, local governments are grappling with whether to enact legislation or impose bans. California voters approved the initiative in the November 2016 election. Most of San Mateo’s cities and towns have instituted permanent or temporary bans on recreational cannabis dispensaries, as well as WILLET HAUSER STANDARDS

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Guadalupana: Follow Our Lady’s example in loving amid difficulty FROM PAGE 6

devotion from his grandparents in Mexico and wants to transmit it to other generations. The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated Dec. 12 throughout the Catholic Church in the U.S., and this year’s observance also marks a day of solidarity with migrants in order to “honor the

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achievements, the hopes, fears and needs of all the families that have come to the U.S. in search of a better life,”said Bishop Joe S. Vázquez, of Austin, Texas, who heads the U.S. bishops’ Migration Committee. San Francisco Auxiliary Bishop William J. Justice joined pilgrims on the cathedral plaza in a prayer to the virgin, imploring for an end to violence and for immigration reform. In a message of hope during Mass, Archbishop Cordileone, prayed for “those who are suffering anguish at this time due to the political climate.”

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national 9

Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

West Virginia opioid crisis worries church leaders it held its seventh conversation in November. Throughout the Bridgeport area, green ribbons can be seen on the BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Ellen doors of businesses, organizations, Condron wanted to start a conversachurches and even homes indicating tion about what is happening in her that community members are advobeloved state of West Virginia, where cating for their neighbors suffering the opioid crisis claimed the lives of from drug addiction. more than 880 people last year. Condron had the ribbons made to “It breaks my heart,” she said. “You raise awareness of the need for treatsee people in the newspaper every ment for persons with addiction or day, young people – ‘died at home.’ mental illness. I feel like we’re “I feel they are losing a whole the lost souls of generation. ... our society, and we Grandparents are need to advocate raising grandchilfor them,” she said dren because the of those suffering parents can’t take from addiction and care of them.” why she wanted to A 40-year memstart Community ber of All Saints Conversations. Parish in Bridge“Addiction is not port, where she a choice. Addicalso serves as the tion is a disease. … parish nurse, ConTreatment needs dron felt driven to to be long term. It do something. takes a long time She felt espefor the brain to cially compelled heal, but it can.” to do something Since its incepafter her nursing tion, Community students relayed Conversations has stories to her about hosted speakers children suffering Dr. Angelo Georges from state and because of their Chief medical officer, Wheeling Hospital local government, parents’ addiclaw enforcement, health care leadtions, she told The Catholic Spirit, ers and organizers of prevention and newspaper of the statewide Diocese recovery groups. of Wheeling-Charleston. At the most recent gathering Nov. “They were coming to school 13, Jim Johnson, West Virginia’s drug hungry,” Condron said her students control policy director, reported that would tell her. So she asked them, the state had 882 overdose deaths what could they do about this. Their last year. The crisis is wide reaching, answer: Nothing can be done. “That’s the wrong answer,” she said. Johnson said, and it is a problem that won’t be solved overnight. In Harrison County, which previ“We can’t give up,” he said. “We’ve ously held the title of having the got to keep fighting.” highest number of overdose cases in According to the West Virginia West Virginia, Condron spearheaded Health Statistics Center, Vital Statis“Community Conversations on Subtics System, there were 56 overdose stance Abuse” at her parish, gatherdeaths from opioids/heroin/fentanyl ing community leaders and residents per month in West Virginia in 2016. to talk about the problem and posIt’s a crisis that knows no social or sible solutions with the help of the economic boundaries, said Dr. Anparish’s Social Concerns Committee. gelo Georges, chief medical officer at Initially planning this to be a onetime forum in April 2016, the program Wheeling Hospital, which is operated by the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleshas garnered so much interest that Colleen Rowan

Catholic News Service

‘It’s really the worst scourge I have ever seen. I have never seen anything take off so fast. To me, this is the greatest plague … eminent threat to breaking down of all levels – health, death, family structure, burdening hospitals, babies born addicted – it’s awful, it’s just awful.’

christmas liturgies

addicted – it’s awful, it’s just awful.” Georges, who has been personally touched as a family member dealt with addiction, said that people need to talk about what is happening, because the scope of the crisis is all over the state. “I don’t know one family that’s not been affected by this,” he told The Catholic Spirit.

ton. Affecting people from every walk of life, he said, the crisis also includes a rise in heroine use. “It’s really the worst scourge I have ever seen,” Georges said. “I have never seen anything take off so fast. To me, this is the greatest plague … eminent threat to breaking down of all levels – health, death, family structure, burdening hospitals, babies born

1111 Gough St., San Francisco • Tel: (415) 567-2020 www.stmarycathedralsf.org

CATHEDRAL OF SAINT MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION ADVENT/CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE 2017 Christmas Cookies and Carols Sunday, December 17, 2017

7:00 PM - Concert and dessert reception $20/person ($10 children and seniors) Tickets: 567-2020 Ex. 233

Blessing of Expectant Parents Sunday, December 17, 2017

Special Blessing at all Masses: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM (Español)

Christmas Eve Sunday, December 24, 2017

Mass Schedule: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM (Español) Cathedral Closes at 2:30 PM; Re-Opens at 7:00 PM 7:30 PM Caroling by the St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir School 8:00 PM - Christmas Vigil Mass 11:30 PM Caroling by the Cathedral Choir 12:00 AM - Midnight Mass Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, Principal Celebrant

Christmas Day Monday, December 25, 2017

No 7:30 AM Mass today 9:00 AM - Gregorian Chant Mass with Cathedral Schola Cantorum 11:00 AM - Solemn Mass with Cathedral Choir Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, Principal Celebrant 1:00 PM - Misa en Español con el Coro Hispano The Cathedral will close after the 1:00 PM Mass

New Year’s Eve Sunday, December 31, 2017

Mass Schedule: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM (Español)

New Year’s Day - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Monday, January 1, 2018

Mass Schedule: 8:00 AM. The Cathedral will close after the 8:00 AM Mass

The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Sunday, January 7, 2018

Saturday, January 6 - Vigil - 5:30 PM Sunday - 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM (Español) 4:00 PM - Epiphany Lessons and Carols for the End of the Christmas Season featuring the Golden Gate Boys Choir and Bellringers and St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir School

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Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

CathOliC SaN FraNCiSCO | deCemBer 15, 2016

Iowa priest honored posthumously Pearl Harbor heroism

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Relatives of the first chaplain to die in World War II accepted the Silver Star on his behalf 76 years to the day after he died saving 12 sailors during the Pearl Harbor attack. On Dec. 7, Del and Dan Schmitt, and Father Aloysius Fran Hemesath – Schmitt nephews and a niece of Father Aloysius Schmitt – were among the family members who participated in a memorial Mass and medal ceremony at Loras College in Dubuque. They still remember time they spent with their uncle as children before anybody ever called him a hero. “He would be very humble,” reflected Del Schmitt on how the priest would react to the recognition. “He would probably tell them to give the medal to someone else.” Rear Adm. Margaret Kibben, chief of chaplains of the U.S. Navy, led the military delegation bestowing the award, the third-highest medal in the

canada biShoPS addreSS PaStoral iSSueS linKed to aSSiSted dying

QUEBEC CITY – In a pastoral letter addressing medical aid in dying, the Atlantic Episcopal Assembly says that “the pastoral care of souls cannot be reduced to norms for the reception of the sacraments or the celebration of funeral rites.” The four-page letter, issued in late November, offers a “pastoral reflection” on the challenges the assisted-dying law, passed in June, poses to the Canadian church. “In the pastoral care of those who are contemplating medical assistance in dying, we must remember that the purpose of pastoral care is to communicate the compassion of Christ, his heal(CNS wrote photo/Tyler ing love and his mercy,” theOrsburn) 10 Catholic bishops from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. Mosaic tiles depicting the Immaculate Conception and various saints are in the Dome of “As people ofseen faith, andTrinity ministers at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the ImmaculateGod’s Conception in Washington. The to mosaic was grace, we are called entrust dedicated Dec. 8. The dome mosaic is composed of more than 14 million piecestheir of Venetian glassmay everyone, whatever decisions covering more than 18,300 square feet of the dome’s surface. Its completion the one final and step in be, to the mercy of marks God. To all finishing the work of the Upper Church that began in 1955. we wish to say that the pastoral care of souls cannot be reduced to norms for the reception of the sacraments or the armed forces, given for bravery in “It was hisof actions that helped to the celebration funeral rites,” added combat. save 12 souls,” said and the admiral during bishops. “Persons, their families, the ceremony. “Father Schmitt has or who may be considering euthanasia lived out the motto therequest U.S. Navy assisted suicide andofwho the Chaplain ... ‘called to serve.’” ministryCorps of the church, need to be acThe 32-year-old lieutenant companied with dialogue andwas compaskilled aboard the battleship USS sionate prayerful support. The fruit of Oklahoma during the Japanese at- light such a pastoral encounter will shed 1806 Novato Boulevard, Novato, CA 94947 tack on Pearlpastoral Harborsituations Dec. 7, 1941. on complex andThe will priest hadthe just finished indicate most propersaying actionMass to be OLL Choir Christmas Concert attaken about 7:48 a.m.whether when his was including or ship not the celSunday, December 17th struck by of torpedoes andisbegan to ebration sacraments appropriate.”

National shrine’s ‘crowning jewel’ dedicated

Our Lady of Loretto Church 4pm and 7:30pm OLL Church

Christmas Eve Masses

9am Daily Mass 5pm & 7pm in English and 9pm in Spanish

sink. Father Schmitt sacrificed his own chance to escape and helped save the lives of a dozen men by pushing them through a porthole to safety.

Iraqi archbishop, Pence discuss plight of persecuted Christians

WASHINGTON – Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar Warda of Irbil, Iraq, reported that he and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence “had a substantial discussion on the needs of the Christians, and other religious minority communities, in Iraq.” The archbishop met with Pence Dec. 4. The visit came during an extended visit the prelate made to the United States. Part of his trip included several events during and after the Week of Awareness for Persecuted Christians Nov. is 26-Dec. The Nativity scene pictured2.in St. Peter’s Square during a PenceDec. is to the Middle East in scene are s Vatican 9. visit The Christmas tree and Nativity late has said his discusus toDecember. contemplate He the beauty of creation and welcome the sions there will focus on protecting religious minorities, especially Christians, the continued threat imposed However, the letter stresses that the Syri by the Islamic State and the Arab- aid church does not support medical a let Israeli conflict. in dying, but encourages the developTh Archbishop Wardaofsaid he updated ment and support palliative care. hour Pence “on the situation facing our “in n people and expressed our hope that to th PoPe writeS to Syrian PreSident, peace would soon come Ninevah. ther Pleading For to Peace “On behalf of our–people, I exaffec VATICAN CITY Pope Francis pressed our gratitude for Bashar his promise so so urged Syrian President Assad oftoswift assistancepossible to our communi“In do everything to end the ties who suffered genocide at the war in his country, to protect civilians cardi hands ISIS,” humanitarian the archbishopagensaid. and toofensure Catholic Service received cies canNews deliver emergency aidan to the email with his remarks from the people. Knights of SANA Columbus. Syria’s news agency reported Assad met Dec. 12 with new Cardinal Newsto Service Mario Zenari, the papalCatholic nuncio

Vatican Nativi

christmas ChriStmaSliturgies liturgieS

Christmas Day Masses

8am & 10am in English and 12:30 in Spanish

Mission Mission Dolores Dolores Basilica Basilica

Advent –Advent Christmas – Christmas ScheduleSchedule / / Horario de Horario la Temporada de la Temporada AdvientoAdviento – Navideña – Navideña Feast of the Feast Immaculate of the Immaculate ConceptionConception Thursday/Jueves Thursday/Jueves Fiesta Inmaculada de la Inmaculada Concepción Concepción 8 Dec 20168 Dec 2016de laFiesta Masses: 7:30, Masses: 9 a.m., 7:30, 7 p.m. 9 a.m., (bi-lingual) 7 p.m. (bi-lingual) Saturday/Sabado Saturday/Sabado Retíro de Adviento Retíro de[Español] Adviento [Español] 10 Dec 2016 10 Dec 122016 p.m. - 5 12 p.m. p.m. - Auditorio - 5 p.m. - Auditorio Monday / Lunes Monday /Feast Lunesof Our Feast Lady ofof Our Guadalupe Lady of Guadalupe 12 Dec 2016 12 Dec 2016de Nuestra Fiesta Fiesta de Señora Nuestra de Señora Guadalupe de Guadalupe 4:45 a.m. 4:45 Mañanitas a.m. yMañanitas Misa Solemne y Misa Solemne Advent Retreat Advent [English] Retreat [English] Saturday/Sabado Saturday/Sabado 122016 p.m. - 5 12 p.m. p.m. - Auditorium - 5 p.m. - Auditorium 17 Dec 2016 17 Dec Confessions Confessions / Confesiónes / Confesiónes Saturdays/Sabados Saturdays/Sabados 3:30 - 4:30 3:30 - Basilica - 4:30 - Basilica 3, 10 & 17 Dec 3, 102016 & 17 Dec 2016 Basilica Choir Basilica 25thChoir Annual 25th Candlelight Annual Candlelight Christmas Concert Christmas Concert Sunday / Domingo Sunday / Domingo Concierto Navideño Concierto del Navideño Coro de del la Coro Basilica de la Basilica 18 Dec 2016 18 Dec 2016 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Las Posadas Las Posadas Fri./ViernesFri./Viernes - Fri./Viernes - Fri./Viernes 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 16 Dec - 2316 Dec Dec 2016 - 23 Dec 2016 Christmas Eve Christmas / Víspera Evede / Víspera Navidadde Navidad Saturday/Sabado Saturday/Sabado 5:00 p.m. 5:00 Family p.m.Christmas Family Mass Christmas - Children’s Mass - Choir Children’s Choir 24 Dec 2016 24 Dec 2016 11:30 p.m. 11:30 Christmas p.m. Carol Christmas Sing Carol - Basilica SingChoirs - Basilica Choirs 12:00 12:00 Midnight Solemn Midnight Mass Solemn / MisaMass Solemne / Misa (bilingüe) Solemne (bilingüe) Christmas Day Christmas / Día de Day Navidad / Día de Navidad Sunday / Domingo Sunday / Domingo 8:00 a.m. &8:00 10:00 a.m. a.m. & 10:00 Mass a.m. in English Mass in English 25 Dec 2016 25 Dec 2016 12:00 noon12:00 Misanoon en Español Misa en Español New Year’sNew DayYear’s Mass: Day Feast Mass: of Mary Feast theofMother Mary the of Mother God of God Sunday / Domingo Sunday / Domingo Misa del Año Misa Nuevo: del Año Fiesta Nuevo: de laFiesta Madre dede la Dios Madre de Dios 1 Jan 2017 1 Jan 2017 5:00 pm. 5:00 pm. Vigil Mass (Sat. Vigil 31 Mass Dec.) (Sat. 31 Dec.) 8:00 a.m. &8:00 10:00 a.m. a.m. & 10:00 Mass a.m. in English Mass in English 12:00 12:00 Misa en Español Misa en Español Epiphany /Epiphany Día de los/ Día Reyes de los Reyes Sunday / Domingo Sunday / Domingo 5:00 pm. 5:00 pm. Vigil Mass (Sat. Vigil 7Mass Jan.)(Sat. 7 Jan.) 8 Jan 2017 8 Jan 2017

An American Christmas Concert, Monday, December 18

7:30 p.m., St. Dominic’s Schola Cantorum, soloists & orchestra.

Advent Reconciliation Services, Tuesday, December 19 With individual confessions available 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. & 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Advent IV Masses, Sunday, December 24 5:30 p.m. Vigil (Saturday, December 23) 8:30 & 11:00 a.m.;1:30 p.m. (in Spanish)

Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24

4:00 & 6:00 p.m. Christmas Vigil Masses 11:15 p.m. Carol service followed by 12:00 a.m. Midnight Mass, Solemn Mass with Choral Music, strings and brass. No confessions today.

Christmas Day, Monday, December 25

8:30 a.m. Parish Mass with Carols 11:00 a.m. Solemn Mass with Choral Music, strings and brass 1:30 p.m. Mass in Spanish. No confessions today.

Solemnity of the Holy Family, Sunday, December 31 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (in Spanish)

Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God Sunday, December 31

10:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve Prayer Vigil 11:30 p.m. Vigil Mass

Monday, January 1, 2018 9:30 a.m. (One Parish Mass)

Solemnity of The Epiphany, Sunday, January 7, 2018 5:30 p.m. Vigil Mass (Saturday, January 6) 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30 a.m.; 1:30, 5:30 & 9:00 p.m.

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Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

Court seems split in cake case examining religious rights, expression Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court seemed equally divided in the long-anticipated oral arguments Dec. 5 about the baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a samesex couple because of his religious beliefs. Even Justice Anthony Kennedy’s comments went right down the middle, from expressing concern for those who would be shut out of services to later stressing that “tolerance is a two-way street” and saying the state of Colorado, where the bakery is located, seemed to be “neither tolerant or respectful” of the baker’s views. The case, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, pits anti-discrimination laws against freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression. It drew strong feelings on both sides long before the court heard the arguments with the filing of 100 friend-ofthe-court briefs months ago and the crowds lined up for days hoping to get into the court during the arguments. Crowds also gathered on the Supreme Court steps under cloudy skies and

(CNS photo/Rick Wilking, Reuters)

Baker Jack Phillips decorates a cake in his Masterpiece Cakeshop Sept. 21 in Lakewood, Colorado. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Dec. 5 in the case of the baker who cited religious freedom in his refusal to design a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. warm temperatures, chanting and holding aloft placards such as “Justice for Jack” (the baker) and “Open for All.” The U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops filed a friend-of-the court

christmas liturgies Saint Robert’s Church 1380 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno, CA 94066 (650) 589-2800

MERRY CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS Saturday, December 23rd, 3:00 - 4:15 pm Evening Mass 4:30 pm Sunday, December 24th 7:30 am, 9:30 am & 11:30 am Christmas Eve, December 24th 4:30 pm, 8:00 pm and Midnight Christmas Day Monday, December 25th 7:30 am, 9:30 am & 11:30 am No Evening Mass Sunday, December 31st 7:30 am, 9:30 am, 11:30 am, 5:00 pm

NEW YEAR’S DAY Monday, January 1, 2018 9:30 am Feast of the Epiphany Saturday, January 6, 2018 4:30 pm Sunday, January 7, 2018 7:30 am, 9:30 am 11:30 am, 5:00 pm

The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi

There will be a public Nativity display at the front entry to the Shrine church from the afternoon of Sunday, December 17 through Sunday, January 7, 2018. *Note: Christmas Concert, 6:30 PM Dec. 17, 2017 in the Shrine Church. Sunday, December 24 Christmas Eve: Christmas Vigil Mass at 7:30 PM Monday, December 25 Christmas Day: Mass at 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 26: The Shrine church, chapel, and office will be closed. There will be no Mass or Confessions. Sunday, December 31, New Year’s Eve - VIGIL FOR PEACE: Confessions from 6 PM TO 7 PM Mass at 7:15 PM Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 8 PM - (Benediction at 12 Midnight) Peace Prayer Blessing “To the City and to the World” at 12:15 AM Monday, January 1, 2018 New Year’s Day The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God: Mass at 11:00 AM

brief in support of the baker joined by the Colorado Catholic Conference, Catholic Bar Association, Catholic Medical Association, National As-

sociation of Catholic Nurses-USA and National Catholic Bioethics Center. And after the hour and a half of oral arguments, chairmen of three USCCB committees issued a statement saying: “America has the ability to serve every person while making room for valid conscientious objection.” It also said it hoped the court would continue to “preserve the ability of people to live out their faith in daily life, regardless of their occupation,” noting that artists “deserve to have the freedom to express ideas – or to decline to create certain messages – in accordance with their deeply held beliefs.” The statement was issued by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty; Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth; and Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska, chairman of the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage. The case before the court at the end see cake, page 12

Christmas Masses Sunday, December 24

4:00 pm 6:00 pm Midnight

Family Vigil Mass with Children’s choir Vigil Mass with choir and trumpet Solemn Vigil with choir and strings Prelude begins at 11:30 pm

Monday, December 25 8:00 am Mass with organ and cantor 9:30 am Mass with choir and trumpet 11:00 am Mass with choir and trumpet free PARKING AVAILABLE IN ALL UNIVERSITY LOTS

Pax et Bonum

The Heart of San Francisco | 610 Vallejo Street, San Francisco 415.986.4557 | info@shrinesf.org | www.shrinesf.org

650 Parker @ Fulton, San Francisco, CA 94118

on:

ursday:

day:

12 from the front

Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

Cake: Court seems split in case on religious rights FROM PAGE 11

of 2017 was five years in the making, beginning in 2012 when Charlie Craig and David Mullins asked the Colorado baker, Jack Phillips, to make a cake for their wedding reception. Phillips refused, saying his religious beliefs would not allow him to create a cake honoring their marriage. The couple filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which decided the baker’s action violated state law. The decision was upheld by the Colorado Court of Appeals. The Colorado Supreme Court wouldn’t take the case, letting the ruling stand. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the case. During oral arguments at the high court, many questions came up about what constitutes speech, since the baker claimed he should have freedom of speech protection. Justice Elena Kagan asked if a florist, chef or makeup artist also should have the same protection and other roles also were called into question such as tailors, or invitation designers, as were other cakes; pre-made cakes, for example, would not be an issue of compelled speech. And as Kristen Waggoner, the Alliance Defending Freedom attorney representing Phillips, said “not all cakes would be considered speech.” “Obviously, we want a distinction that will not undermine every single civil rights law,” he added.

christmas liturgies

St. Dunstan Church 1133 Broadway Millbrae, CA 94030 (650) 697-4730

One of the pleasures of the Christmas Season is the opportunity to send our thoughts and prayers to those whose friendship and goodwill we value so highly. The priests and staff of St. Dunstan Parish join in wishing you a very blessed Christmas. May the gift of faith, the blessing of hope, and the peace of God’s love be with you and yours throughout the New Year.

St.Christmas Anne Cofelebrations the Sunset Church at St. Dunstan 2017 850 Judah St., San Francisco CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES 4:30 pm Children’s Mass with Pageant Week Schedule 11:002016 pm Holy Christmas Carols 11:30 pm Christmas Mass Christmas Day Masses March 16am, @ and 7pm 7:00Wed., am, 8:30 am, 10:00 11:30 am

NO 5:00 pm Mass on Christmas Day

The bulk of the defense for the baker focused on his freedom of speech rights, which attorneys argued would be violated by forcing him to make this cake. Waggoner said the court was saying it had the discretion to decide what speech is offensive and what isn’t, but it didn’t “apply that in a fair way to Mr. Phillips.” She also said that “what’s deeply concerning” is how speech could be compelled of “filmmakers, oil painters and graphic designers in all kinds of context.” The arguments against the baker questioned if failing to provide services to same-sex couples was discriminatory. David Cole, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, defending the couple, said discrimination against the couple who wanted the cake consigned them to “second-class status.” The last minutes of the oral arguments boiled down to the opposing views but also didn’t reveal a clear path forward. Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the nation’s views about interracial marriages “didn’t change on its own” but because of “public accommodation laws that forced people to do things that many claimed were against their expressive rights and against their religious rights.” “Whatever it is you choose to sell, you have to sell it to everyone who knocks on your door, if you open your door to everyone,” she added. In response, Waggoner said it would be a grave offense to the First Amendment to “compel a person who believes that marriage is sacred, to give voice to a different view of marriage and require them to celebrate that marriage.”

St. Anne of the Sunset Church 850 Judah St. San Francisco (415) 665-1600

2017 Christmas Mass sSchedule 2010 Christmas Chedule

Christmas Novena Masses (Simbang Gabi) 15th - 23rd DecemberSimbang 15 – 23 @Gabi, 7pm December weeknight and 5pm weekend 7:00 pm Novena Masses in preparation for Christmas. Christmas Eve Sunday, December 24 Vigil 7:30am, 9:00am, 10:30am & 12:00pm Christmas Eve, December 24th (Chinese) 4:30 pm AMass Children’s Concert 5pm Family with Christmas Pageant 5:00 pm Family Mass in Chinese 8pm Mass 11:30 pm A Christmas Concert Christmas Day Monday, December 25 12amDecember Midnight25th Mass Christmas, 7:30am Mass (with a cappella music) 12:00 mn Traditional Midnight Mass 7:30, Mass 9:30, 10:30 am Masses 9:00am (with Traditional Choir) 12:00 nn Cantonese 10:30am Mass (withMass Contemporary Choir) 12pm Mass in Chinese New Year’s Day, January 1st 9:00 am New Mass Year Masses Sunday, December 31 www . stanne 5pm Vigil Mass- sf . org Monday, January 1 9am God bless and a Blessed Advent and Merry12.17.10 Christmas to –you andx your loved ones. Issue 2 col. Display

4”

7:30pm w/Adoration in Church Hall until 11pm

12pm Last 7 WordsChurch of Jesus (by Fr. Tony McGuire ) St.- Patrick 114 King Street, Larkspur, CA 94939 1:30pm - Liturgy with Veneration of the Cross (415) 924-0600 www.stpatricklarkspur.org A Catholic Stewardship Parish 3pm - Confessions 7pm - Stations of the Cross 4420 Geary Blvd. @ 8th Avenue

STAR of the SEA San Francisco, CA 94118 www.starparish.com | (415)751-0450

urday:

Easter Vigil at 8pm

unday:

7:30am, 9am, 10:30am (w/Easter Egg Hunt following) BLESSED 12pm (Mass in Chinese)

CHRISTMAS!

Dominican who was oldest religious sister on Long Island dies at 106

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. – Dominican Sister Grace Regina Wingenfeld, the oldest Catholic religious sister on Long Island, died Dec. 2 at age 106. She was a Dominican sister of Amityville for 90 years. Although no formal databases are kept, she may have been the Sister Grace Regina Wingenfeld oldest religious sister in the United States, according to her order. Her funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 6 at in St. Albert’s Chapel at the sisters’ Queen of the Holy Rosary Motherhouse in Amityville, followed by burial on the convent grounds. Sister Grace was well known for her long vitality – being featured this year in Newsday, on the News 12 cable TV channel and in The Long Island Catholic, the magazine of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. She also was known for her big smile, passion for teaching and constant love for God. Being a Dominican sister – part of the Order of Preachers – she was still spreading God’s message on her 106th birthday, which was Nov. 9. Celebrated with a room full of family, friends and a television crew. She told the viewers of News 12, “Do the best you can and entrust the rest to God!” Catholic News Service

St. Bartholomew

Parish Community Corner of Alameda & Crystal Springs Rd. San Mateo, CA 94402 (650) 347-0701 stbarts@barts.org CHRISTMAS LITURGIES

Christmas Eve, December 24th 9:30 am, 11:15 am, 4:00 pm, 6:00 pm Midnight Mass 12:00 am Christmas Day December 25th 8:00, 9:30 & 11:15 am no evening Mass. December 30th 5:00 pm December 31st 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 11:15 am and 5:30 pm New Year's Day, January 1st 10:00 am

Immaculate Conception (December 8) 7:30am Low Mass in Latin 12noon English Mass 6:30pm Solemn High Mass with choir

December 9

12noon Mass of Consecration of California to the Immaculate Heart, followed by rosary

Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12)

6:30pm Mass followed by procession and dinner

Christmas Eve (December 24)

Sunday Morning Masses: 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:30am 4:30pm Children’s Christmas Pageant and Mass (children’s choir) 10pm Christmas Caroling followed by 10:30pm Mass (full choir) 12am Midnight Mass (Sung High Mass in Latin, full choir)

Christmas Day (December 25)

8:00am Mass with Christmas Carols 9:30am Full Choral Mass 11:30am Full Choral Mass in Latin No 5pm or 7:30pm Mass

New Year’s Eve (December 31)

11:30pm-12:30am Holy Hour with benediction

Solemnity of the Mother of God (January 1) 7:30am Low Mass in Latin 12noon English Mass 6:30pm Solemn High Mass with choir

Confessions beginning 15 minutes before every Mass

world 13

Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

God does not lead us into temptation, Satan does, pope says Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY – The Italian and English translations of the “Our Father” can give believers the wrong impression that God can and does lead people into temptation, Pope Francis said. The Italian bishops’ television channel, TV2000, has been broadcasting a series of conversations between the pope and a Catholic prison chaplain looking at the Lord’s Prayer line by line. The episode broadcast Dec. 6 focused on the line, “Lead us not into temptation.” Father Marco Pozza told the pope that friends have asked him, “Can God really lead us into temptation?” “This is not a good translation,” the pope said. The standard versions of the prayer are translated from the Latin, which was translated from the New Testament in Greek. While he said nothing about ordering a new translation, Pope Francis noted how the French bishops had decided that beginning Dec. 3, the first Sunday of Advent, French Catholics would change the line to the equivalent of “do not let us enter into temptation.” French-speaking Catholics in Benin and Belgium began using the new translation at Pentecost last June. The common Spanish translation already is

(CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz, Long Island Catholic)

Worshippers recite the Lord’s Prayer during Mass at Corpus Christi Church in Mineola, N.Y., Oct. 13. The Italian and English translations of the “Our Father” can give believers the wrong impression that God can and does lead people into temptation, Pope Francis said. “no nos dejes caer en la tentacion” or “do not let us fall into temptation.” The Italian bishops’ conference in 2008 adopted a

christmas liturgies

St. Bruno’s Church

Mater Dolorosa

(650) 588-2121

307 Willow Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080

555 W. San Bruno Avenue, San Bruno, CA

2017 Christmas Schedule December 13: 7 PM Christmas Tree Lighting December 15-23: Posadas. Check the church bulletin for locations and times.

Simbang Gabi Masses

December 15th through December 23rd at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday Masses, December 24th 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., & 12:00 p.m. Latin Mass 2:00 p.m.

Christmas Masses Holy Day of Obligation Christmas Eve Masses

December 15-20: 7 PM Candlelight Mass December 21-23: 5 AM Misa de Gallo December 23: 4:30 PM Vigil Mass 7 PM Vigil Mass (Spanish) December 24, Sunday: 8 AM English Mass; 10 AM Spanish Mass; 12 noon English Mass; 7 PM Christmas Vigil Mass in Spanish; 9 PM Christmas Carols by Tongan children; 10 PM Midnight Mass December 25, Christmas Day Masses: 8 AM English; 10 AM Spanish; 12 noon English There is No 6PM mass on Christmas Day

December 24th

5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass with Children’s Pageant 9:30 p.m. Christmas Caroling 10:00 p.m. (Midnight Mass)

Christmas Day Masses: December 25th - 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., & 12:00 p.m.

New Year’s Day Not a Holy Day of Obligation (There will be no New Year’s Eve Mass) January, 1, 2018 8:00 a.m. Mass

January 1, New Year’s Day: Regular Sunday Masses Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

new translation of the Bible; for the Lord’s Prayer both in Matthew 6 and Luke 11, they chose “do not abandon us in temptation,” although they did not order the change in liturgical use. The New American Bible, revised edition, is the basis for the Lectionary used at English-language Masses in the United States; the petition from the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew and Luke is translated as: “do not subject us to the final test.” Pope Francis told Father Pozza, “I’m the one who falls. But it’s not (God) who pushes me into temptation to see how I fall. No, a father does not do this. A father helps us up immediately.” “The one who leads us into temptation is Satan,” the pope said. “That’s Satan’s job.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in its discussion of the Lord’s Prayer, says, “our sins result from our consenting to temptation; we therefore ask our Father not to ‘lead’ us into temptation. It is difficult to translate the Greek verb used by a single English word: the Greek means both ‘do not allow us to enter into temptation’ and ‘do not let us yield to temptation.’”

Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church 1721 Hillside Drive, Burlingame Capuchin Franciscans 650-347-7768

2017 Christmas Schedule

Christmas Eve, Sunday Dec. 24th 4:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. (Children’s Mass) and 10 p.m. Candlelight (No Mass at Midnight) Christmas Day, Monday Dec. 25th 8:00, 10:00 and 12 noon New Year’s Day Masses Vigil Mass Sunday, Dec. 31st at 6:00 p.m. Monday, January 1, 2018 8:00 a.m., 11:00a.m., 11:30 a.m. at Marian Oaks Convent The Capuchin Franciscans & Parish Staff wish our Parishioners and Friends Peace, Love and Hope for Christmas and the New Year.

SAINT VERONICA CHURCH

434 Alida Way South San Francisco, CA 94080 650-588-1455 www.stveronicassf.com

CHRISTMAS LITURGY SCHEDULE 2017 December 15-23, 2017 SIMBANG GABI ADVENT MASSES

Merry Christmas

Weekday Masses at 6:30 p.m. Saturday Masses (Dec. 16 & 23) at 5:00 p.m. Sunday Mass (Dec. 17) at 4:00 p.m. Dec. 23 Celebrant - Bishop Daniel Walsh *****

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2017 CHRISTMAS EVE VIGIL MASSES

4:00 p.m. (Children’s Mass) & 9:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. - Adult Choir Cantata Performance *****

MONDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2017 CHRISTMAS DAY 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, & 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. (Spanish)

ost Holy R M

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God’s inclusive love proclaimed here!

*****

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2017 Mass Schedules: December 24th (Sunday) 9:30 PM Carols 10:00 PM Christmas Eve Mass

100 Diamond St. @ 18th, San Francisco, CA 94114 (415) 863-6259 | mhr.org

December 25th (Monday) 8:00 AM 10:00 AM Christmas Day Mass

7:00, 8:30, 10:00, & 11:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m. (Spanish) *****

MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 2018

8:30 a.m. (not a Holy Day of Obligation)

14 world

Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

Prepare the way for the Lord with charity, pope says

VATICAN CITY – Advent is a time to make a renewed commitment to prayer and to caring for others, Pope Francis said. “It is a time to recognize the holes to be filled in our lives, to smooth the roughness of pride and make space for Jesus who is coming,” the pope said Dec. 10, the second Sunday of Advent. Before reciting the Angelus prayer with an estimated 20,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis spoke about the Sunday Mass readings and particularly about the ways in which people today could respond to the prophet Isaiah’s call to prepare the way of the Lord. Isaiah says “every valley shall be filled in” and “every mountain and hill shall be made low” in preparation for the coming of the savior. The personal valleys or voids to be filled, the pope said, are “sins of omission,” especially “the fact that we do not pray or pray seldom.” The other omission, he said, is in taking care of others. Not only does

Christmas signs of God’s compassion Nativity scenes such as this one displayed in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Dec. 7 are visible reminders of God’s benevolence and closeness to all men and women, Pope Francis said. The traditional Christmas displays are “the signs of the heavenly Father’s compassion, of his participation and closeness to humanity who experience not being abandoned in dark times, but instead visited and accompanied in their difficulties,” the pope said. charity alleviate material needs, but it can be an occasion for the giver to be like John the Baptist in “opening paths of hope in the desert of arid hearts.”

Pope: Migrants need accompaniment, not just decent laws

VATICAN CITY – The men, women and children who flee poverty and violence need to find people like St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, who have

christmas liturgies St. Augustine Church

3700 Callan Blvd. S. San Francisco, CA 94080

Christmas 2017

Novena of Masses (Simbang Gabi) December 15-23 – 7:00 P.M.

Christmas Vigil: Sunday, December 24

4:30 P.M. Vigil Mass 7:30 P.M. Children’s Caroling 8 P.M. Children’s Mass 11:00 P.M. Caroling 12 A.M. Midnight Mass

Christmas Day: December 25

7:45 A.M., 9:30 A.M., 11 A.M., 12:30 P.M. There is no 5:30 P.M. Mass on Christmas Day.

Solemnity of Mary, January 1, 2018 9:30 A.M.

schools, orphanages and hospitals for the poor. She died Dec. 22, 1917, in Chicago and became the first U.S. citizen to be declared a saint.

Let go of whining, stop holding grudges, pope says

(CNS photo/Paul Haring)

open hearts and hands to welcome them, Pope Francis said. Her charism is extraordinarily relevant today “because migrants certainly need good laws, development programs, organization, but they also and first of all always need love, friendship and human closeness,” the pope said. “They need to be listened to, looked at in the eyes, accompanied” and they need God, whom they encounter in the kind of selfless love that St. Cabrini displayed, he said in an audience Dec. 9 with the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The pope met with members of the congregation founded by St. Frances as they were marking the 100th anniversary of her death. The Italian nun immigrated to New York in 1889 to minister to fellow immigrants, opening

VATICAN CITY – Christians must be strong and let go of all the bitterness and negativity that prevent them from experiencing God’s consolation and joy, Pope Francis said. “So many times, we cling to what’s negative, we hold on to the wound of sin inside of us, and many times, the preference is to stay there, alone,” he said in his homily Dec. 11 at morning Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae. Instead, Jesus always tells people to “get up” and have no fear, because he is there to offer salvation, consolation and joy, the pope said. The pope’s homily focused on the day’s reading from Isaiah (35:1-10) in which the prophet foresaw the glory of the Lord, who will come “with vindication; with divine recompense, he comes to save you.” This is why people must “strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak” and “be strong, fear not” because of the coming of the Lord, the pope said. Often it is easier, however, to console others than to let oneself be consoled because “we are afraid.” Catholic News Service

The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi Holiday Concerts Free-will donations appreciated

Saturday, December 10, 2017 at 2:30pm

“Through Advent to Christmas”

Carols, Hymns and chants of the season Golden Gate Boys Choir and Bellringers Choir Director: Mr. Steven Meyer Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 6:30pm Schola Chorale Group, Choir Director: Mr. John Montanero (From St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, Vallejo, CA) Organ Christmas music & song by Mr. Robert Mayer Dec. 17: Also Enjoy our large outdoor Christmas Creche

Pax et Bonum The Heart of San Francisco | 610 Vallejo Street, San Francisco 415.986.4557 | info@shrinesf.org | www.shrinesf.org

Seventeenth Avenue and Vicente Street Seventeenth Avenue The Parkside District and in SanVicente FranciscoStreet The Parkside District in San Francisco

CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES 5:00 p.m. - Fr. Patrick Summerhays

5:00 p.m. –- Fr. Patrick Summerhays 7:00 Mark Taheny 7:00 p.m. – Fr. TahenyChoir with ourMark Children’s with- our Children’s Choir 11:15 p.m. Singing of Carols 11:15 p.m. Singing of Carols Midnight Mass - Fr. Mark Taheny Midnight Mass Fr. Mark Taheny with our-Adult Choir and Orchestra with our Adult Choir and Orchestra

CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES 7:30 a.m. – Fr. Michael Liliedahl

7:30 a.m. – Fr. Michael Liliedahl instrumental with Chris and Matt Jereza with Chris and Matt Jereza 9:30 a.minstrumental – Fr. Mark Taheny 9:30 a.m – Fr. Mark with the HolyTaheny Spirit Music Ministry with- the Holy Spirit Music Ministry 11:30 a.m. Fr. Patrick Summerhays 11:30 a.m. Fr. Patrick Summerhays with- our Adult Choir and Orchestra with our Adult Choir and Orchestra

LIVE BROADCAST: WWW.STCECILIA.COM LIVE BROADCAST: WWW.STCECILIA.COM

world 15

Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

Mideast Christian leaders warn Trump on Jerusalem move Judith Sudilovsky Catholic News Service

JERUSALEM – In an open letter to U.S. President Donald Trump, Christian leaders in Jerusalem said U.S. recognition of the city as the capital of Israel could have dire regional consequences. “We have been following, with concern, the reports about the possibility of changing how the United States understands and deals with the status of Jerusalem. We are certain that such steps will yield increased hatred, conflict, violence and suffering in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, moving us farther from the goal of unity and deeper toward destructive division,” the Christian leaders said, just hours before Trump announced the U.S. was recognizing Jerusalem as the capital and relocating the U.S. embassy. They appealed to Trump to take their viewpoint into consideration, as did the leaders who met at Camp David in July 2000 to decide the status of Jerusalem. The Christian leaders said their “solemn advice and plea” for the president was to continue recognizing the international status of Jerusalem.

(CNS photo/Debbie Hill)

The gold-covered Dome of the Rock at the Temple Mount complex is seen in this overview of Jerusalem’s Old City Dec. 6. “We ask you, Mr. President, to help us all walk toward more love and a definitive peace, which cannot be reached without Jerusalem being for all,” they said Dec. 6. “Any sudden changes would cause irreparable harm. We are confident

that, with strong support from our friends, Israelis and Palestinians can

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Dec. 15 & 18-22 Dec. 18

2017 Christmas Week Schedule Nativity of Our Lord

5PM Christmas Novena 7PM Advent Penance Service

4:00 PM 5:00 PM 11:15 PM 12:00 AM

Dec 24 5:00 pm Children’s Mass 9:00pm Christmas Eve Dec 25 8:00 am Christmas Day 10:00am Christmas Day 12:00 pm Christmas Day

Confessions Vigil Mass Christmas Carols Midnight Mass

Christmas Day Masses 7:30 AM 8:45 AM 10:15 AM 11:45 AM 1:00 PM

Dec 31 Regular Sunday Masses 8:00 am, 10:00am, 12:00pm Jan. 1st is not a Holy Day of Obligation but the faithful are encouraged to attend mass at 7:00 AM for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.

In In In In In

English English Cantonese/English Italian English

No 5:00 PM Mass on Christmas Day

MerrySaint Chrismas and Blessed Year Agnes Church

660 Filbert Street San Francisco 415.421.0809

Saint Agnes Church

A Welcoming Welcoming Jesuit Jesuit Parish Parish A

650/322-2152

Saint Agnes Church St. Monica

A Welcoming Jesuit Parish Advent Day of Preparation Preparation Saint Church Saint Agnes Church Advent Day of Reconciliation Service Communal Advent service. All are reconciliation welcome. All are welcome.

Parish A Welcoming Jesuit Geary Boulevard atParish 23 Ave, San Francisco Saturday, December 16 — 10:00am - 1:00pm Saturday, December 16 — 10:00am - 1:00pm rd

Saturday, December 9 — 11:00am In the Ignatian Spiritual Life Center

(415) 751-5275

Communal Advent reconciliation service. In the Ignatian Spiritual Life Center AWelcoming Welcoming Jesuit Parish All are 1611 Oak St.welcome. at Masonic A Jesuit 1611 Oak St. at Masonic Parish

Reconciliation Service

ADVENT: 4th WEEK

Advent Day of Preparation

Saturday, December 16 — 10:00am Christmas Eve - 1:00pm Reconciliation Service

Saturday, December 23 Christmas Eve Reconciliation Service In Sunday, the Ignatian December Spiritual Life Center Saturday, December 9 — 11:00am 24 Confessions: 3:00 pm, Mass: 4:00 pm Saturday, December — 11:00am 1611 Oak St. 9 at Masonic

Sunday, December 24Lord Saturday, December 9 — of11:00am Liturgies of the Nativity the Communal Advent reconciliation service. Communal Advent reconciliation service. Liturgies of the Nativity of the Lord Communal Advent reconciliation service. 5:00 pm Children’s with Children’s Choir & Woodwinds All are welcome. AllLiturgy are welcome. Sunday, December 24 5:00 pm Children’s Liturgy with Children’s Eve Choir & Woodwinds AllChristmas are welcome.

10:00 pm Christmas Vigil with Choir, Woodwinds, Brass & Timpani Sunday, December 24 10:00 pm Christmas Vigil with Choir, Woodwinds, Brass & Timpani

AdventLiturgies Day ofof the Preparation Nativity of the Lord Advent Day of Preparation Christmas Day 5:00 pm Children’s Liturgy with 10:00am Children’s Choir-&1:00pm Woodwinds Advent Saturday, December 16 —

Masses: 8:30 am, 11;00 am

Day of Preparation CHRISTMAS EVE

Christmas Day25-Brass Saturday, 16 December — 10:00am 10:00 pm Christmas VigilSpiritual with Choir, Woodwinds, & Timpani Monday, InDecember the Ignatian Life Center 1:00pm

4:00 pm Children’s Mass Monday, December 25 Saturday, In the 1611 Ignatian LifeofCenter Liturgy ofSpiritual the at Nativity the Lord December 16 — 10:00am - 1:00pm Oak St. Masonic Liturgy of the Nativity of&the Lord 8:30 pm Christmas Carols by the Adult Choir Christmas Day 8:30 am with Cantor Organ 1611 Oak St. at Masonic In the Ignatian Spiritual Life Center

am with Cantor & Organ December 25 10:30 am 8:30 withMonday, Choir, Woodwinds, Brass &Timpani 10:30 am with Choir, Liturgy of theWoodwinds, Nativity of theBrass Lord &Timpani 1611

Christmas Eve

8:30 am with Cantor & Organ 10:30 am with Choir, Woodwinds, 24 Brass &Timpani Sunday, December

9:00 pm Christmas Mass with the Adult Choir

Oak St. at Masonic

New Year’s Day Liturgies of theDecember Nativity of the Lord Sunday, 24 New Year’s Day Monday, January 1, Lord 2018 Liturgies of New the Nativity of the Monday, January 1, 5:00 pm Children’s Liturgy with Children’s Choir & Woodwinds Year’s Day2018 Liturgy at 10:00am Liturgy at 10:00am Monday, 1, 2018 10:00 Vigil with Choir, Woodwinds, & Timpani 5:00pm pmChristmas Children’s Liturgy withJanuary Children’s ChoirBrass & Woodwinds

CHRISTMAS DAY

Monday, December 25 Masses: 8:30 am 11:00 am

Christmas Eve

:00 pm Christmas Vigil with Choir, Woodwinds, Brass Sunday, & Timpani 1025 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco Christmas Day Liturgies 1025 Masonic San Francisco (415) 4878560 Avenue, www.SaintAgnesSF.com 1025 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco (415) 487- 8560 www.SaintAgnesSF.com Monday, December 25

Mass Schedule For Christmas and New Year Confessions Saturday, December 23, 2017 10:30 am to12:00 pm and 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm Christmas’ Eve & Day Masses Sunday, December 24, 2017 6:00 pm Bi-lingual Children’s Mass Followed by Pastorela Midnight Bi-lingual Mass

the

Monday, December 25, 2017 7:30 am English 9:30 am Spanish 11:30 am English 1:30 pm Spanish New Year’s Eve and Day Masses Sunday, January 1, 2018 at Midnight Bi-lingual Mass 7:30 am English 9:30 am Spanish 11:30 am English 1:30 pm Spanish

Apostle Parish

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

Reconciliation Service Service Reconciliation

Sunday24 , December 31 December

Masses: 8:30 am, 11:00 am, 6:00 pm (Vietnamese)

of the Nativity of the Lord Christmas Day (415) 4878560 www.SaintAgnesSF.com Parking available at 1639pm Oak St. Garage NEW YEAR’S 5:00 Children’s Liturgy with Children’s Choir &DAY Woodwinds Liturgy ofisisthe Nativity of the Lord Parking available at 1639 Oak Garage Parking is available at 1639 Oak St.St. Garage Monday, December 25 Monday, January 1, 2018 8:30 am with Cantor & Organ 10:00 Christmas Vigil with Choir, Woodwinds, Brass & Timpani Liturgy of the Nativitypm of the Lord 10:00 am Mass 10:30 am with Choir, Woodwinds, Brass &Timpani 8:30 am with Cantor & Organ+ Jesuit Inclusive + Diverse Inclusive++ Diverse Diverse + Jesuit Jesuit 10:30Inclusive am with Choir, Woodwinds, Brass+&Timpani Christmas Day New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day

1425 Bay Road, East Palo Alto

St. Monica-St. Thomas

Saint Agnes Saturday, December 9 —Church 11:00am Saturday, December 9 — 11:00am Communal Advent reconciliation service.

Monday, January 1, 2018

St. Francis of Assisi Church

Christmas Eve

Dec 19, 20 & 22 Simbang Gabi

Liturgy at 10:00am

see jerusalem, page 17

christmas liturgies

Saints Peter and Paul Church

Church of the Good Shepherd

work toward negotiating a sustainable and just peace, benefiting all who long for the Holy City of Jerusalem to fulfill its destiny.” The Christian leaders, who include Catholic and Orthodox patriarchs as well as the Franciscan custos of the Holy Land, said Jerusalem could be “shared and fully enjoyed” once a political process helped “liberate the hearts of all people that live within it from the conditions of conflict and destructiveness that they are experiencing.” With Christmas approaching they asked that Jerusalem “not be deprived” of peace; they wished Trump a Merry Christmas and asked that he help them “listen to the song of the angels.” “As the Christian leaders of Jerusalem, we invite you to walk with us in hope as we build a just, inclusive peace for all the peoples of this unique and Holy City,” they said.

Monday, December 25

ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CHURCH 3835 Balboa Street, San Francisco 415- 387-5545

ADVENT: 4th Week Saturday, December 23 Confessions: 4:00 pm. Mass: S;00 pm

Sunday, December 24 Masses; 8:00 am, 9:00 am (Cantonese), 10:30 am

CHRISTMAS EVE Sunday, December 24 5:00 pm Family Christmas Mass with the

Honors Choir and Nativity Play 8:00 pm Vietnamese Mass 11:00 pm Christmas Carols by the Adult Choir 1Z;00 am Solemn Midnight Mass

CHRISTMAS DAY Monday, December 25 Masses: 8:00 am 10:30 a.m. Adult Choir

Sunday, December 31 Masses; 8;00 am, 9:00 am (Cantonese), 10:30 am

NEW YEAR’S DAY Monday, January 1, 2018 9:00 am Mass

16 opinion

Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

A saintly Advent journey lists his “Top 10 Saints for Advent” and explains how aspects of their stories relate to this period of expectation. For instance, St. Francis of Assisi installed the first Nativity scene, using real life animals and a life-sized manger. He wanted to ignite devotion to the faith, and his actions remind us that this is indeed a time for us to create beautiful commemorations to the miracle of Christ’s birth. Another saint devoted to reminding others of the importance of Christ was John the Baptist, only his was a prophetic call sounded even before Christ began his ministry. John’s story reminds us that we all have a unique purpose in life. His purpose was so clear to him from the very beginning that he actually leapt in his mother Elizabeth’s womb upon being in the

Father Ed Dougherty, MM

dvent is a time to prepare for Christmas, recalling the hope surrounding Christ’s first coming and looking forward to his second coming, when all things will be fulfilled in him. During this time, we should feel like we are on a journey away from the bondage of worldliness and toward the fulfillment of our deepest and purest desires. One of the most important ways to bring this journey to life within our hearts is to pray for guidance, protection, and intercession along the way, and there are certain saints that are particularly appropriate to call upon, with life stories to inspire us as we prepare ourselves for Christmas. In an article for Catholic Exchange, journalist Stephen Beale

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and School 60 Wellington Avenue, Daly City, CA 94014

UPCOMING PARISH CELEBRATIONS & SERVICES UPCOMING PARISH CELEBRATIONS & SERVICES SIMGANG – NOVENA AND MASSES SIMBANG GABI GABI – NOVENA AND MASSES From Wednesday December to Wednesday, December @ 5:30 From Saturday December 16 to 16 Sunday, December 24 @ 24 5:30 a.m.a.m. SCHEDULE OF CHRISTMAS MASSES SCHEDULE OF CHRISTMAS MASSES Thursday December 24 – Christmas Sunday December 24 – Christmas EveEve 5:30 p.m.: Children’s Mass | 11:00 – 11:45 p.m.: Christmas Carols 6:30 p.m.: Children’s Mass | 11:00 – 11:45 p.m.: Christmas Carols 12:00 a.m.: Midnight Mass 12:00 a.m.: Midnight Mass Thursday December 25 – Christmas Day

Monday December 25 – Christmas Day 8:30, 10:00, 11:30 a.m. (English) | 1:00 p.m. (Spanish) 8:30, 10:00, 11:30 a.m. (English) | 1:00 p.m. (Spanish)

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM

ST. MARY STAR OF THE SEA PARISH

presence of the unborn Christ in Mary’s womb. Other saints that Beale highlights for their significance during Advent are St. John of the Cross for his meditation on the Dark Night of the Soul, a time when we wait in anxious expectation to be calmed by the peace of Christ; St. Martin of Tours, whose feast day was once a Mardi Gras-like kickoff to start Advent; St. Nicholas, whose legend has grown around Christmas but who was also known as a strong defender of the faith; St. Lucy, who endured a torture that left her blind and is now remembered in connection to the Christmas imagery of Jesus as the light of the world; St. Therese of Lisieux, who was devoted to the Child Jesus; and St. Teresa of Avila, who was devoted to St. Joseph. And that brings us to the two most important saints to remember during Advent: Mary and Joseph. Beale calls Mary “the ultimate Christian believer,” who experienced the intense joy of being close to Christ and who also weathered the turmoil that surrounded his life. Reflecting on St. Joseph, Beale references an Advent sermon given by St. Bernard of Clairvaux on the special relationship between Joseph and Jesus. Bernard highlighted that God trusted Joseph to “carry in his arms, to lead by the hand, to nourish and to watch over the infant savior.” No two people could have experienced the anticipation of Christ’s birth more profoundly than Mary and Joseph. Imagine the responsibility they knew they were preparing themselves for – and then realize that God is calling you to that same responsibility. Advent is a time to prepare ourselves to welcome the Child Jesus in all his vulnerability into our lives and to see Christ in all those entrusted to us in their most vulnerable moments. When we do that, we have walked in the footsteps of the saints in preparing ourselves for Christ, and it is a journey that will not disappoint. Maryknoll Father Ed Dougherty is a member of The Christophers’ board of directors For free copies of the Christopher News Note “Embracing the Spirit of Christmas,” write: The Christophers, 5 Hanover Square, New York, New York 10004; or e-mail mail@christophers.org.

Books for Christmas

t’s been a good year for publishing – at least in the sense of a lot of good books getting published – so here are some for the readers on your Christmas gift list (in addition, of course, to “Lessons in Hope: My Unexpected george weigel Life with St. John Paul II” [Basic Books], by your scribe): “The Light of Christ: An Introduction to Catholicism,” by Thomas Joseph White, OP (Catholic University of America Press): Father White is one of America’s most impressive younger Catholic thinkers (and its most impressive banjo-playing Catholic thinker). His work exemplifies the Catholic renaissance inspired by St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, and his book makes the searching skeptic think, and then think again, about what the fullness of Catholic faith means. “Charles Borromeo: Selected Orations, Homilies, and Writings,” edited by John R. Cihak (Bloomsbury): The saintly 16th-century archbishop of Milan, Charles Borromeo – who was shot at the altar for his reformist efforts, recovered, and then pleaded for his assailant’s life – is obviously a man worth getting to know. Msgr. John Cihak’s fine introduction to Borromeo’s life and work helps us distinguish true from false reform in the church at a moment when that’s a crucial issue for the 21st-century Catholicism. “An Introduction to Vatican II is an Ongoing Theological Event,” by Matthew Levering (Catholic University of America see weigel, page 22

christmas liturgies CHRISTMAS IN NOVATO

180 Harrison Ave, Sausalito, California 94965 Christmas Schedule

Christmas Eve Sunday, December 24th, 2017 5:30 P.M. Children’s Mass with Christmas Carols 9:00 P.M. Mass (Our Midnight Mass) Christmas Day Monday, December 25th, 2017 7:30 A.M.; 9:30 A.M. & 11:30 A.M. Masses

Christmas Eve

3 pm Mass with Children's Pageant 5 pm Mass with Children's Pageant 8 pm Candlelight Mass

Christmas Day 7 am, 9 am, 11 am Masses All Are Welcome!

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church www.stanthonynovato.org 1000 Cambridge Street Novato, CA 94947

from the front 17

Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

Jerusalem: Mideast Christian leaders warn Trump on move FROM PAGE 15

In 1967, Israel annexed East Jerusalem, which had been under Jordanian control since 1948. In 1980 Israel declared a united Jerusalem as its capital. Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the future capital of an independent Palestine. Earlier Dec. 6, Pope Francis expressed concern that a U.S. move recognizing Jerusalem as the capital would further destabilize the Middle East. Pope Francis said he could not “keep silent about my deep concern” for Jerusalem and urged respect for “the status quo of the city in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations.” The pope spoke at the end of his weekly general audience Dec. 6, the same day Trump announced his decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, fulfilling a promise he made during his presidential campaign. The Vatican supports a “two-state solution” for the Holy Land with independence, recognition and secure borders for both Israel and Palestine. At the same time, the Vatican consistently has called for a special status for Jerusalem, particularly its Old City, in order to protect and guarantee access to the holy sites of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In his appeal, Pope Francis said, “Jerusalem

The Parish of St. Catherine of Siena 1310 Bayswater Ave. Burlingame CA 94010

Christmas Masses:

Christmas Eve (Sunday, December 24) 4:00 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass 6:00 p.m. Christmas Family Mass 12 Midnight Christmas Midnight Mass 11:30 p.m. - Christmas Concert

Christmas Day (Monday, December 25) Masses: 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 12 noon

With violent demonstrations already in evidence even before any announcement had been made, Abunassar said more steps that produce confidence-building measures are needed rather than steps that “add oil to the flame.” Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic political party with an armed faction, called for more protests in the coming days, particularly Dec. 8, the Muslim day of prayer. The U.S. labels Hamas a terrorist organization.

is a unique city, sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims who venerate the holy places of their respective religions, and has a special vocation to peace.” The internationally unsettled status of Jerusalem and its central importance to Jews, Muslims and Christians explains why, while recognizing the state of Israel, no nation has its embassy in the holy city. Wadie Abunassar, chairman of media relations for the Christian leaders, said the status of Jerusalem is not only an issue for Israelis and Palestinians, but also for other Muslim countries as well. He noted that already a gathering of Arab foreign ministers has been organized for Dec. 11 as well as a meeting prepared by Turkey for Muslim countries. “Jerusalem is a sensitive issue for all, so the Christian leaders, (following) the pope, are making an appeal to President Trump to be wise – there is a need for wisdom ... especially in such an explosive situation,” he said.

christmas liturgies Simbang Gabi and Christmas Mass Schedule

Our Lady of Mercy Parish 5 Elmwood Drive, Daly City

Between South Mayfair ad South Avenues with plenty of free parking!

Friday, December 15, to Friday Dec. 23: 7:00pm Rosary and Confession (except Saturday, 2:30pm) 7:30pm Simbang Gabi Masses (except Saturday, 5:30pm), followed by a Reception downstairs in our Church Hall.

Sunday, December 24: 7:30am, 9:00am, 10:30am, 12:00 noon 4:00pm Christmas Eve Vigil Mass 5:30pm Christmas Eve Vigil Mass 11:30pm Sing-Along Christmas Carols with our Parish Choir. 12:00am Midnight Mass with our Choir

Monday, December 25:

Saint Emydius Church 286 Ashton Avenue San Francisco, CA 94112 (415) 587-7066 Fax (415) 587-6690

Advent / Christmas / Epiphany Celebrations Parish Celebrations 2017/18

“TODAY LET CHRIST BE BORNE IN YOU.” Sunday, December 17 Third Sunday of Advent • Regular Schedule Sunday, December 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent • Regular Schedule

Christmas Day Masses at 7:30am and 9:00am 10:30am with our Children’s Choir 12:00pm with our Parish Choir

Sunday, December 31: 7:30am, 9:00am, 10:30am, 12:00pm

Monday, January 1, 2018 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 7:00am, 9:00am, 6:00pm

CHRISTMAS

ST. TERESA OF AVILA CATHOLIC CHURCH

Sunday, December 24 Christmas Vigil Mass 4:00 p.m. Monday, December 25 Christmas Masses:* 12:00 Midnight, 10:00 a.m. Sunday, December 31 Feast of the Holy Family • Regular Schedule Monday, January 1 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 10:00 a.m. (not a holy day this year)

SERVED BY THE CARMELITES

Street at Connecticut Tuesdays & Fridays

EPIPHANY

Sunday, January 7 Solemnity of the Epiphany • Regular Schedule Monday, January 8 Feast of the Lord’s Baptism 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 9 Ordinary Time begins 8:00 a.m. Saturday, January 13 Anointing of the Sick Mass 10:00 a.m. (no 8:00 a.m. Mass) Regular Schedule means: 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass on Saturday, 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses on Sunday

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR ADVENT & CHRISTMAS MASSES 8:30am

Christmas Masses

Vigil, December 24th

Unto Us A Child Is Born

December 25th

4:15 Children’s Mass 9:00 pm Choir Mass 8:30 & 10:00 am

New Year’s Day

9:00am

For more information: Call: 415-285-5272 · E-mail: info@stteresasf.org · www.stteresasf.org

18 faith

Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

Sunday readings

Third Sunday of Advent ISAIAH 61:1-2A, 10-11 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God. I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, so will the Lord God make justice and praise spring up before all the nations. PSALM LUKE 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 My soul rejoices in my God. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed. My soul rejoices in my God. The Almighty has done great things for me, and

holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. My soul rejoices in my God. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, My soul rejoices in my God. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-24 Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil. May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it. JOHN 1:6-8, 19-28 A man named John was sent from God. He came

for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself ?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Who am I and what is my mission?

he first three readings for the third Sunday of Advent remind people to rejoice – to be optimistic, hopeful, forward-looking and confident in God’s goodness, intervention, nearness, healing power and restorative presence. We could use these Sunday readings more than once a year. A woman who survived the fires still raging in Southern California was featured on the news returning to her incinerated home in Ventura. Everything reduced to ashes around her, she embraced a woman neighbor who comforted her, “We have each other.” We see on TV the courage of people to start over after a disaster they didn’t deserve, that could not be prevented. sister Eloise is no insurance coverRosenblatt, RSM There age that can restore things to what they were before. The experience of disaster is a useful starting place for understanding the consolation offered to believers in the first three readings. Kathleen Rushton, RSM, a Sister of Mercy and scripture scholar in New Zealand, provides an online

scripture reflection

commentary for today’s Gospel, sponsored by Mercy International Association. She points out the distinctive portrait of John the Baptist. In John’s Gospel, we get no mention of his appearance, his animal skin clothes, or his diet of locusts and honey as we do in the synoptics. She highlights the environmental setting of the desert, the baptist’s alliance with this mysterious empty land, alienated from cities and villages, and the fragile state of water in the Jordan. John is allied with the kind of land which is vulnerable to ecological degradation from human exploitation of natural resources. I extend Sister Kathleen’s comments on the unique features of the Baptist. Like Jesus later in the Gospel interrogated by Pilate, John the Baptist is, early on, subjected to an investigation by the priests coming down from Jerusalem. They do not come out to the desert on a spiritual retreat, to hear John’s preaching, to be purified, to reflect on their own lives, or to seek baptism as a sign of repentance. Rather, they are temple agents, pursuing rumors that Zachary’s son has turned into a selfaggrandizing religious megalomaniac. “Who are you?” they demand authoritatively. The confrontation challenges both his self-understanding, and the authorization for his work. He does not shrink from dialogue with religious officials. They demand an answer. They pose themselves against him, as though he is subject to their hierarchical

authority. They are concerned to justify themselves and assert their superiority over him. “Who are you so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself ?” There seems to be both jealousy and mockery in the questions. What is the secret of John’s success in attracting crowds? Is there concern that John is creating a cult following and drawing off worshipers from making the trek up to Jerusalem? Is the Temple is losing some business by the diversion created by John’s sensational message? Is John hosting a oneman desert theatre, taking on the role of Anointed One, Messiah, Elijah or a resurrected prophet? John calmly answers, completely free of political motive to confront, accommodate or appease the officials. He has accepted his mission, independent of “a place” in the hierarchical structure of their religious authority. Neither his identity nor his work can be decoded by labels imposed on him by priests or officials. He is not the Anointed One, not Elijah, not the prophet. He asserts his own identity as “a voice of one crying in the desert.” He serves God’s interests, no one else’s. He seeks to make straight a way for the Lord. I can seek John’s clarity about who I am and what my mission is.

Monday, December 25: Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. At the Vigil Mass: Is 62:1-5. Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29. Acts 13:16-17, 22-25. Mt 1:1-25 or Mt 1:18-25. Mass During the Night: Is 9:1-6. Ps 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13. Ti 2:11-14. Lk 2:10-11. Lk 2:1-14. Mass at Dawn: Is 62:11-12. Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12. Ti 3:4-7. Lk 2:14. Lk 2:1520. Mass During the Day: Is 52:7-10. Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6. Heb 1:1-6. Jn 1:1-18 or Jn 1:1-5, 9-14.

Octave of Christmas. 1 Jn 2:12-17. Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10. Lk 2:36-40.

Eloise Rosenblatt, RSM, is a Sister of Mercy, a Ph.D. theologian, and an attorney in private practice, mostly in family law. She lives in San Jose.

Liturgical calendar, daily Mass readings Monday, December 18: Monday of the Third Week of Advent. Jer 23:5-8. Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19. Mt 1:18-25. Tuesday, December 19: Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent. Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a. Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17. Lk 1:5-25. Wednesday, December 20: Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent. Is 7:10-14. Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6. Lk 1:26-38. Thursday, December 21: Thursday of the Third Week of Advent. Optional Memorial of St. Peter Canisius, priest and doctor. Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:1418a. Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21. Lk 1:39-45. Friday, December 22: Friday of the Third Week of Advent. 1 Sm 1:24-28. 1 SM 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd. LK 1:46-56. Saturday, December 23: Saturday of the Third Week of Advent. Optional Memorial of St. John of Kanty, priest. Mal 3:1-4, 23-24. Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14. Lk 1:57-66. Sunday, December 24: Fourth Sunday of Advent. 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16. Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29. Rom 16:25-27. Lk 1:38. Lk 1:26-38.

Tuesday, December 26: Feast of St. Stephen, first martyr. Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59. Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17. Ps 118:26a, 27a. Mt 10:1722. Wednesday, December 27: Feast of St. John, apostle and evangelist. 1 Jn 1:1-4. Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 1112. Jn 20:1a and 2-8. Thursday, December 28: Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs. 1 Jn 1:5– Mt 2:13-18 2:2. Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8. Mt 2:13-18. Friday, December 29: Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas; Optional Memorial of St. Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr. 1 Jn 2:3-11. Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6. Lk 2:32. Lk 2:22-35. Saturday, December 30: The Sixth Day in the

Sunday, December 31: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3. Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 or Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9. Col 3:12-21 or Col 3:12-17 or Heb 11:8, 1112, 17-19. Col 3:15a, 16a or Heb 1:1-2. Lk 2:22-40 or Lk 2:22, 39-40. Monday, January 1: The Octave Day of Christmas. Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. Nm 6:22-27. Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8. Gal 4:4-7. Heb 1:1-2. Lk 2:16-21. Tuesday, January 2: Memorials of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors of the Church. 1 Jn 2:22-28. ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4. Heb 1:1-2. Jn 1:19-28. Wednesday, January 3: Christmas Weekday. Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. 1 Jn 2:29–3:6. PS 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6. Jn 1:14a, 12a. Jn 1:29-34. Thursday, January 4: Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious. 1 Jn 3:7-10. Ps 98:1, 7-8, 9. Heb 1:1-2. Jn 1:35-42.

opinion 19

Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

The real tragedy of sin

he real tragedy of sin is that often the one who is sinned against eventually becomes a sinner, inflicting on others what was first inflicted upon him or her. There’s something perverse within us whereby when we are sinned against we tend to take in the sin, complete with the sickness from which it emanated, and then struggle not to act out in that same sick way. The ultimate triumph of sin is that first being sinned against, we often become sinners. We see this, in an elemenFATHER ron tary form, in the effects rolheiser that certain sadistic hazing rituals have on those who undergo them. From high school football teams to college sororities to certain schools of military training, we see sadistic hazing rituals used as forms of initiation. The interesting thing is that those who undergo them generally can’t wait for their turn to inflict them upon someone else. Having undergone some sadism something sadistic arises within them. There’s an axiom within certain schools of psychology which submits that every abuser was first abused. Mostly that’s true. The bully was himself first bullied, the sadist was himself first victimized, and the bitter alienated outsider (whom in arrogance we label “a loser”) was himself first unfairly excluded. What produces an outsider? What produces a sadistic person? Indeed, what produces a mass killer? What must have happened to the heart of a man for him to put on military fatigues, take up an assault rifle, and begin to shoot helpless school children?

Mental illness, no doubt, is often the factor, but there are other factors too, most of which we don’t have the courage to honestly face. Our spontaneous judgment on the perpetrator of a mass shooting or terrorist bombing most naturally expresses itself this way: “I hope he fries in hell!” What’s wrong with that reaction is its failure to understand that this person was already frying in some private hell and this terrible acting-out is an attempt to get out of hell or at least to take as many people as he can to hell with him. What perpetrators of violence mostly want to do is to ruin heaven for others since they themselves feel unfairly deprived of it. This isn’t everywhere true of course since mental illness and the mystery of human freedom also play in, but it’s true enough to challenge us toward a better understanding of why some people have bitter, sadistic hearts while others have gracious, loving ones. What shapes a heart? What makes someone bitter or gracious? Sin and blessing shape a heart, the former deforming it and the latter healing it. Sin, our own not less than anyone else’s, wounds others and shields us from having to own what’s sick inside us because we have now inflicted our sickness onto someone else where it works at making that person ill. Blessing does opposite. It relieves others of the sickness that was unfairly inflicted on them, helps turn their bitterness into graciousness, and soothes the very root of their wounds. And so we need to stop classifying people as “winners” and “losers,” as if they alone were responsible for their success or failure. They aren’t. Not many Mother Teresas, I suspect, were traumatically abused as children. Not many St. Francises suffered debilitating ridicule as young children, were bullied on Facebook, or shamed for their appearance. Cruelty and grace,

Family history fills this Christmas tree Lisa M. Petsche

n magazines and on television, Christmas trees are tall, symmetrical and tastefully decorated, using just the right amount of restraint. Sets of ornaments are distributed evenly and garland perfectly draped. Often there’s a color scheme – blue and white or red and gold, for example – with impeccably coordinated trimmings. In contrast, our family Christmas tree (always a real one, and so intrinsically imperfect), contains an eclectic mix of embellishments accumulated over many years. All of them, though, have meaning, and so rather than one more holiday task to be completed, decorating the tree is a welcome walk down memory lane. There are the ornaments from my childhood: a green, triangle-shaped angel made of felt, with a tangle of yellow, yarn-dyed hair; a pink, plastic angel sleeping soundly; and a red, felt-covered foam boot. My sisters and I each had our own versions, discretely labeled to avoid dispute. We took great care in finding the perfect spot for them on the tree after the tinsel and spray-on snow had been applied. When we were teenagers, the tradition of giving ornaments began. My parents bought a set of wooden ones each year from the Sears catalog. Some were standard Christmas or winter fare, like a candy cane, a snowman and a skier, but others were whimsical, such as a holly-bearing mouse sitting in a deck chair. Because each ornament was unique, mom and dad used a lottery system to fairly distribute them. The drawing took place on Christmas Eve and was great fun. After an ornament was claimed, it was passed around for all to admire. By the time we left home, my siblings and I each had a nice collection of decorations with associated memories. My own kids each have a “Baby’s First Christmas” ornament that includes a photo. They’re among the first trimmings to go on the tree. Every subsequent Christmas, we’ve bought the kids a decoration reflecting a current interest – from children’s cartoon characters to gymnastics and soccer – or an event from the past year, such as a trip to Florida commemorated with an alligator in a Santa hat lounging under a festively decorated

palm tree. The kids can take these with them someday. A special spot on our tree goes to the angel memorializing the baby we lost before birth some years ago. Our kids — two of whom weren’t born yet when the death occurred — are intrigued by the reminder that they have a sibling in heaven. The ornament is part of a collector series and features a young angel sitting on a cloud, rubbing its eyes sleepily. We attach it to a hanger with a miniature motor that plugs into the tree lights and makes the ornament slowly twirl. Decorations made by the kids also rank high. They’ve had some pretty creative teachers, and so we have ornaments made from sugar dough, clothespins, paper clips, sewing spools, golf balls, PingPong balls and Christmas light bulbs. Other handcrafted trimmings include snowflakes crocheted by my mother and various personalized ornaments my talented sister-in-law has made for the kids over the years. Vintage ornaments dating back to my now deceased mother-in-law’s childhood are recent additions to our collection. These are made of metal, among them a church and a dove. The trimmings wouldn’t be complete without a Nativity set – or two. One is made of cardboard, with cut-out scenes and stand-alone figures. An opening in the stable’s roof allows for insertion of a light. The set is similar to one my parents have owned throughout their married life, only theirs is an impressive 26 inches long and 12 inches tall. Some years ago, mom and dad came across a smaller version and scooped up several sets. Until recently ours was displayed under the tree, but now it’s set up on our living room window seat. That’s because eventually the kids pleaded for a “real” (three-dimensional) Nativity scene, complete with wood stable and resin figures. As much as I enjoy our decked-out tree, I have no illusions about its design merit. The branches are overloaded, ornaments vary in scale and there’s no unifying theme. While far from a showpiece, our tree is something more noteworthy: a piece of family history. Lisa Petsche is a freelance writer specializing in family life. lmepetsche@gmail.com.

as Leonard Cohen submits, both come upon us undeserved. And then they imprint themselves into our psyches and even our bodies. How we carry ourselves, our bodily posture, how we radiate spiritually, our self-confidence, our shame, our big-heartedness, our pettiness, our ability to express love, our resistance of love, how much we bless and how much we curse, is very much contingent on how much we ourselves have been undeservedly blessed or cursed, that is, the various undeserved graces and cruelties we have undergone. Admittedly, this is still colored by the mystery of human freedom. Some Mother Teresas do come from abusive backgrounds and some St. Francises did suffer cruelty and bullying as a child and yet became one-in-million wounded healers, turning the very sin against them into a powerful healing grace. Unfortunately, they’re the exception, not the rule, and their greatness, more than anything else, lies in that exact achievement. There are many challenges for us in this: First, we must not let our emotions sway us into making the kind of judgments where we would like to see someone “fry in hell.” Second, we should be much less smug and arrogant about those whom we label as “losers.” Next, we need to learn that perhaps the ultimate human and spiritual challenge is to not let what we suffer from the sins and failings of others turn us bitter so that we in turn begin to inflict that same sin onto others. Finally, and not least, understanding more deeply what’s undeserved in our lives should lead us to a deeper gratitude toward God and toward all who have so, undeservedly, loved and gifted us. Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser is president of the Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas.

Letters Paul VI and marital reality

Re: “Paul VI, prophet,” Bishop Robert Barron, Dec. 7: It may be helpful to consider the following points for a more comprehensive discussion. First, the church does a disservice to Catholic husbands when it asserts that the use of artificial contraception will lead to the objectification of wives. How can this happen within a loving marriage? And, how would this be prevented by the use of NBR (natural birth regulation)? Second, in the encyclical (in English translation), one finds no mention of the wife having a sex drive. It appears that over the centuries the church has become far removed from the realities of marital lovemaking. Many wives are naturally desirous of making love with their husband, and this is natural and it is good. Third, there is much good in Catholic married couples using NBR instead of artificial contraception (especially with several such regimens, and devices not being contraceptive but actually being abortifacient in how these work). But, what does the church do for the small percentage of couples who use NBR? It offers them guilt or at least anxiety when it admonishes that the method it purports to allow cannot, must not be used for “selfish” reasons. Positive reinforcement would be a better choice for the church. Lastly, the church may be trying hard to put a positive spin on its long-held view of sex, but the old, pagan, sexual pessimism that entered the church’s thinking with Augustine is still plain to see. Larry Z. Burdoin San Francisco

Letters policy Email letters.csf@sfarchdiocese.org write Letters to the Editor, Catholic San Francisco, One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109 Name, address and daytime phone number for verification required SHORT letters preferred: 250 words or fewer

20 opinion

Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

Local Daughters of St. Paul are praying for a miracle

Obituary Father Flavian Welstead, OFM Cap.

Mary Sullivan

Since 1966, the Daughters of St. Paul have maintained a bookstore in the Bay Area where their ministry is evangelization through the media. Currently, Pauline Books & Media in Redwood City is the only Catholic bookstore in the Bay Area run by the order. Besides offering books, DVDs, CDs and religious items, the store is, says St. Paul Sister Domenica Vitello, “a place where customers may also receive a warm welcome, spiritual guidance, and enrich their relationship with Christ.” This ministry is enhanced by a chapel, a book club, and a program for people who wish to become lay associates within the order. To extend their outreach beyond the bookstore, the sisters take turns on Sundays traveling in pairs to parishes where they mingle with parishioners while displaying faith-based material people can obtain for themselves and their families. But now, the sisters are facing a big challenge. Increasingly high rent on their bookstore, plus a hard-to-spot storefront, recently prompted the sisters to buy a large building on Middlefield

(Courtesy photo)

Pictured are the Daughters of St. Paul seeking help in the completion of their “Miracle on Middlefield”: Sister Domenica, Sister Bernardine, Sister Irene Mary, Sister Irene Robert, Sister Jennifer Tecla, Sister Danielle Victoria. Avenue in Menlo Park. The plan is to establish the bookstore and chapel on the ground floor, and utilize the second floor as a convent. They dubbed the purchase “Miracle on Middlefield,” but as self-supporting missionary sisters, they now require a second miracle. They need to raise $2 million dollars to renovate the building. Recently, they established a Communication Team comprised of

volunteers who are helping them reach their financial goal. To advertise the need for donations, the sisters have at the bookstore copies of a pamphlet describing their fundraising project, while a brief video is available at www. MiracleonMiddlefield.com. Donations may be made at this website, and are tax deductible. Any donations made in memory of a person or organization will be included in a permanent memorial within the “Miracle on Middlefield” building. Meanwhile, the sisters continue their sacred ministry by sharing themselves and their media expertise to spread the good news of Christ’s love for all. Mary Sullivan is a freelance writer who has written for publications including Catholic Digest and Liguorian magazine.

Capuchin Father Flavian Welstead died Dec. 4 at Peninsula Hospital, Burlingame. He was 78 years old, a Capuchin for 58 years, and a priest for 50 years. Father Flavian has served in minFather Flavian istry in BurlinWelstead, OFM game for more Cap. than 30 years as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Angels Parish, which has been entrusted to the Capuchins since its 1926 founding, and in administrative roles for his congregation. Born in Ireland, Father Flavian served at the Irish Capuchin Mission in Zambia, Africa, before coming to the United States in 1973 where assignments included his congregation’s St. Francis High School in La Canada and parishes in Oregon. “Flavian was very outgoing. He easily made friends and was able to gather a strong support team for whatever task he was about, whether it be youth ministry, spiritual retreat programs or development fundraising,” the Capuchins said in a statement. “Flavian was very hospitable to all and he loved the people he served.” Survivors include his sisters Jane O’Brien and Marie Furlong. A funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 12 at Our Lady of Angels Church. Interment was in the Capuchins’ San Lorenzo Friary cemetery in Santa Ynez. Remembrances may be made to the Capuchin Brothers Legacy Circle, 1345 Cortez Ave., Burlingame 94010.

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22 from the front

Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

Cannabis: San Mateo approves pot farming for Half Moon Bay coast FROM PAGE 7

on production and manufacturing. An exception is Pacifica where the city approved a marijuana tax in the November election, and set a cap of six recreational use dispensaries and will allow cannabis manufacturing in the commercial district. In San Francisco, the city government has embraced recreational cannabis. Mayor Ed Lee signed legislation Dec. 6 regulating recreational cannabis in the city that narrows the buffer zone protecting K-12 schools from 1,000 to 600 feet. The new law allows 46 existing medical cannabis dispensaries, and any in the regulatory pipeline, to convert to adult use. The new law also establishes parameters for new dispensaries. Dec. 5, the San Francisco

homes and schools and include other restrictions but Martin said it will all be up for review in December 2018. “Growers are looking at it as a business. They are saying this is great for farm workers. They are going to get an increase in pay because cannabis pays better than vegetables,” Brody said. Most ranchers do not pay health benefits and cannabis farmers say they plan to offer benefits, said Novelo. “A lot of these families are very, very against any type of drugs,” said pediatrician Brody. “They have families, they have kids. Some of them live in the housing at the farms,” Brody said. They have told her, Brody said: “We thought we were getting away from it. We thought we left Mexico, getting away from the drug cartels, and now here we are.”

San Francisco mayor signs sweeping recreational cannabis legislation. Board of Supervisors rejected a Sunset District neighborhood appeal of a cannabis dispensary on Irving Street, despite strong opposition from neighbors, including testimony from St. Anne of the Sunset pastor Father Dan Nascimento. In San Mateo County, growers see the cash potential of cannabis, said Martin and fellow Half Moon Bay resident, pediatrician Dr. Rosa Brody. The law as approved Dec. 6, and set for final approval this week, would bar farms from displacing other crops with cannabis, create setbacks from

WEigel: Books for Christmas Press): I’ve been amazed to discover in recent years just how little young and engaged Catholic millennials know about the Second Vatican Council and what preceded it – a gap in their historical knowledge that often leads to a distorted view of today’s intra-Catholic contentions. Give Dr. Levering’s fine book to anyone you know who falls into that category, or indeed to anyone who wants to know the Council and today’s arguments over its proper implementation better. It’s reader-friendly and written for non-specialists (although I can think of some theologians on the port side of the Barque of Peter who could benefit from studying it, too). “Accompanying, Discerning, Integrating: A Handbook for the Pastoral Care of the Family According to ‘Amoris Laetitia,’” by José Granados, Stephan Kampowski, and Juan José PérezSoba (Emmaus Road Publishing): The buzzword title ought not put anyone off from giving this engaging and trustworthy guide through the thicket of family life issues to every priest, dea-

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sity of Chicago found in Leon Kass and his late wife Amy the kind of teachers for which every student and every student’s parents should long. In this collection of essays, some jointly written by one of the all-time great husband-and-wife teams, readers meet wisdom and decency honed by a deep reading of everyone from Homer, Aristotle and Moses to Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and C.S. Lewis – and by a lifelong love for the Chicago Cubs (which, after the 2016 World Series, can no longer be dismissed as a sign of grave psychic distress). “Kenneth Clark: Life, Art, and ‘Civilisation,’” by James Stourton (Knopf ): A charming biography of the great art historian, who once said that entering the Catholic Church (which he seems to have done on his deathbed) was like a painting entering the Louvre: “It would find itself in some pretty queer company, but at least it would be sure that it had a soul.”

con, marriage-preparation minister, and marriage counselor on their gift list. “Scalia Speaks: Reflections on Law, Faith, and Life Well Lived,” edited by Christopher J. Scalia and Edward Whelan (Crown Forum): How could anyone not love a man whose favorite lunch was pepperoni pizza and red wine? Well, a lot of people didn’t love Justice Scalia during his lifetime, but this posthumous collection of his speeches may change even the most hardened of hearts and minds. For it not only introduces the man in full but helps explain why he was one of the most influential jurists in American history, in a class with John Marshall and Joseph Storey. Antonin Scalia was a serious man who took his craft seriously, loved his family and country, and wrote with courage, passion, and wit, especially in dissent. Little wonder that he was given, by his priest-son, Paul, the finest funeral homily since Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger’s homily at the funeral Mass of John Paul II. “Leading a Worthy Life: Finding Meaning in Modern Times,” by Leon R. Kass (Encounter Books): Generations of students at the Univer-

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Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

THURSDAY, DEC. 14 CANDLELIGHTING: Longstanding Advent rite of St. Paul High School, 7 p.m., St. Paul Church, Valley and Church streets, San Francisco. The service was begun more than 60 years ago by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and continues today under the leadership of St. Paul High School alumnae who continue their good work some 20 years after the school’s closing. “It invites people to prepare for Christ’s coming,” organizers said. “Prepare your hearts for the Christmas season with this celebration of music and light.” (415) 648-7538.

FRIDAY, DEC. 15 GRIEF SUPPORT: Monthly Grief Support Program, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Gough Street at Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Msgr. Bowe room. Sessions provide information on the grief process, and tips on coping with the loss of a loved one. No charge. Facilitator: Deacon Christoph Sandoval. For further details, please call Sister Elaine at (415) 567-2020, ext. 218.

SATURDAY, DEC. 16 MUSICAL ADVENT RETREAT: Noted composer Dan Schutte - “Here I Am Lord” - leads an uplifting day of music and prayer, Dec. 16, St. Anselm Church, Ross, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $20 donation requested, bring lunch, beverages provided. RSVP by Dec. 7 to Sissy Ratto, (415) 453-2342, ext. 10, St.anselmoffice@att.net.

P TURKEY U B L Christmas I CTurkey A DRIVE:

Drive, St. Emydius Parish, DeMontfort and Jules avenues, 9 a.m.-noon, all donations benefit St. Anthony’s to feed the hungry. Donate online, www.SFTurkeyDrive.com, Pierre Smit, sfpierre@ aol.com.

RELEVANT RADIO SPEAKER: Jesse Romero a longtime host on Immaculate Heart Radio now Relevant Radio speaks on “Battling the Culture of Death” at St. Bruno Church, 555 W. San Bruno Ave., San Bruno, after the 4:30 p.m. Mass in English, and after the 7 p.m. Mass in Spanish. Romero holds a graduate degree in theology

MONDAY, DEC. 18

SUNDAY, DEC. 31

MEMORIAL MASS: Archbishop Riordan High School invites friends of Father Thomas Seagrave to a Mass of remembrance on the second anniversary of his death at the school, 175 Phelan Ave., San Father Seagrave Francisco at 5 p.m. followed by a reception. RSVP by Dec. 14 at www.riordanhs.org/ seagrave-mass or email info@ riordanhs.org with the number in your party.

NEW YEAR’S EVE RETREAT: Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose Chapel, 7-10:30 p.m., 43326 Mission Circle, Fremont, 7-10:30 p.m. Hear “The Divine Dance” with Father David Father Pettingill Pettingill, reflection-Eucharist-festive dessert. Freewill offering. RSVP by Dec. 27, http://bit.ly/NYRetreat2017; (510) 933-6360.

from Franciscan University in Steubenville. Admission is free but freewill offerings will be accepted. www.saintbrunos.org; (650) 588-2121.

MEET NEW CEO: J.A Gray introduces new Catholic Charities CEO Jilma Meneses on Mosaic, 5 a.m., KPIX Channel 5. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Francisco has Jilma Meneses well over a century of addressing critical needs of families and individuals, of old and young alike, giving Catholics many ways to assist neighbors in need. Catholic Charities is committed to strengthening families, reducing poverty, helping the young to develop, helping the old to age with dignity. The new CEO will discuss where the community is hurting, and how to help in its healing. Episodes of Mosaic are archived on the archdiocesan website, www.sfarch. org/mosaic-tv.

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MONDAY, DEC. 18

SUNDAY, DEC. 17 LESSONS AND CAROLS: A Musi-

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NOON MUSIC: Free classical concert 12:30 p.m., Old St. Mary’s Cathedral, 660 California St. at Grant. www. noontimeconcerts.org, (415) 777-3211. Freewill donations accepted.

FRIDAY, JAN. 5 CLERICUS CLASSIC: Following in the success of last year’s basketball game pitting priests against seminarians, archdiocesan clergy and future clergy tip off again 7 p.m., Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, 1055 Ellis St., San Francisco. Tickets $7. www.sfarch.org/ basketball, (415) 614-5517.

SATURDAY, JAN. 20 VOCATIONS: Single, Catholic women between the ages of 18 and 38 are invited to experience a taste of the life of a cloistered Dominican nun. Contact Dominican Sister Joseph Marie, vocation directress, vocations@ nunsmenlo.org, visit http://nunsmenlo. org/discernment-days/, to learn more and to register for this upcoming “Come and See Day,” Corpus Christi Monastery 215 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park, event is free and all meals will be provided.

SATURDAY, FEB. 10 SI SPEAKERS: Friends of St. Ignatius series, St. Ignatius Church, 650 Parker Ave., San Francisco, 6 p.m., Fromm Hall, dinner and speaker, Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno. fgargiulo@usfca. edu; http://stignatiussf.org/event/jesuit-connections; (415) 564-2600.

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Catholic san francisco | December 14, 2017

In Remembrance of the Faithful Departed Interred In Our Catholic Cemeteries During the Month of November HOLY CROSS, COLMA

Eugenia Abriol Patricia A. Ahlf Francisca E. Aquino Albert Arellano Richard L. Arrighi Guido George Baffico Jose L. Bajada Baudilio Barajas Elenita E. Bell Alina Beltrami Sr. Marie Ann Brent Oswaldo Caamano Mary Patricia Callan Romana D. Caloca Hector G. Caloca Maurice Carcamo Dionisio “Dennis” Carrillo, Jr. Carol Carter Patrick Cassidy Raul Ramon Castillo Lourdes C. Castro Corazon D.J. Castro Nidia Castro Robert Cauterucio Margot T. Contreras Gabriel Correa Robert M. Crowe Jr. Agnieszka Cyzman James Thomas Patrick Deely William J. Dickson Margaret L. Dolan Lawrence B. Dolan Joanne Domenichini John Steve Donofrio Hatsume Dornecker Juanita Drevin Mary Dunn Stefan Dymsza Consuelo Escobar Felicidad Escalona Ezequiel Norma B. Falleti Melba Falvey Catherine (Bettye) Ferguson Mary Lou Ferguson Ma. Luisa T. Floranda Alicia Concepcion Flores Tony A. Gomez Natalia Gonsalves Guadalupe Gonzalez Raul Gutierrez Jorge Abraham Guzman Bridget Hagan Ana Maria Hill Santiago Huerta Paul Jacobson

Maria Estebana Jarquin Lavern Jolivet Estrellita Jones James F. Keane Marian M. Kearney Melvin C. Kerwin Barbara F. Kip Jon (Jong) Lam Jose Guadalupe Lara Joseph P. Lehane Gregorio Lepe Roberto E. Lobo John C. MacKenzie Alfred A. McCarthy William C. McGowan Pauline McGowan Lucille Mendolari Janet Marie Mitchell Marcellus Morrison June Theresa Moynihan Arthur A. Mugnolo John Charles Muscat Clarence Enrico Musto, III Lydia A. Ned-Jones Noel V. O’Halloran Jorge E. Ocon Adoracion C. Ofrecio Fe Encarnacion Pagaduan Isabel Palafox Paul Parnis Miguel Angel Perez-Lizano Herminio Salazar Pugay David Antonio Quinteros Gerard Reilly Mary Ellen Reilly Pat J. Reudy Ines Richen Lisette Rigo Lourdes A. Romey Guillermo J. Sacramento Conchita B. Salinas Maria Theresa Leyba Santos Barbara Santucci Thomas J. Soher Lois E. Sterling Patria L. Sun Juan Tellez Alicia Tellez Lloyd Edward Trower III Daniel F. Turner Nestor Valdemoro Roselily Cayabyab Villacarlos Encarnacion G. Villanueva Sister Marjorie Wakelin, SHF Victoria Wehr Ormon M. Yee Evelyn Zappia Alice D. Ahern (October)

HOLY CROSS, menlo Park Daniel Alberto Carlos David Owen Carolan Kenneth A. Hausler Paul G. Sedillo Jesus Virelas-Contreras Jr.

Mt. olivet, san rafael

Laura M. Borges Mary Olga (Cronemeyer) Conte Roberta Frances Erlandsen Louis “Louie” Mario Gazzoli Linda R. Harris Raymond Arthur Low Elvira (Vera) Sullivan Mooney Baby Skye H. John G. Stuber

TOMALES Diana Lee Cornett

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Saturday, January 6, 2018 All Saints Mausoleum Chapel – 11:00 am Rev. Anthony LaTorre, Celebrant Pastor St. Stephen Parish

Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery 1500 Mission Road, Colma CA | 650-756-2060 Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery Santa Cruz Ave. @Avy Ave., Menlo Park, CA | 650-323-6375 Tomales Catholic Cemetery 1400 Dillon Beach Road, Tomales, CA | 415-479-9021 St. Anthony Cemetery Stage Road, Pescadero, CA | 650-712-1675 Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery 270 Los Ranchitos Road, San Rafael, CA | 415-479-9020 Our Lady of the Pillar Cemetery Miramontes St., Half Moon Bay, CA | 650-712-1679 St Mary Magdalene Cemetery 16 Horseshoe Hill Road, Bolinas, CA | 415-479-9021

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Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery 1500 Mission Road, Colma | 650-756-2060 Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery Santa Cruz Ave. @ Avy Ave., Menlo Park | 650-323-6375 Tomales Catholic Cemetery 1400 Dillon Beach Road, Tomales | 415-479-9021 St. Anthony Cemetery Stage Road, Pescadero | 650-752-1679 Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery 270 Los Ranchitos Road, San Rafael | 415-479-9020 Our Lady of the Pillar Cemetery Miramontes St., Half Moon Bay | 650-712-1679 St Mary Magdalene Cemetery 16 Horseshoe Hill Road, Bolinas | 415-479-9021