December 13, 2018

Simbang Gabi:

Chant:

Creches:

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Celebration begins traditional Filipino Advent devotion

Class sparks parishes’ passion for traditional sacred music

Nativity sets teach about the Incarnation

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO Newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco

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December 13, 2018

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Pope: Protect basic human rights of all, no exceptions Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY – The fundamental rights of all human beings, especially the most vulnerable, must be respected and protected in every situation, Pope Francis said, marking Human Rights Day, Dec.10.

“While a part of humanity lives in opulence, another part sees their dignity denied, ignored or infringed upon and their fundamental rights ignored or violated,” he said.

Such a contradiction leads one to ask “whether the equal dignity of all human beings – solemnly proclaimed 70 years ago – is truly recognized, respected, protected and promoted in every circumstance,” he said in a written message.

The message was read aloud by Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, at a Dec. 10-11 see pope, page 22

(Photo by Dennis Callahan/Catholic San Francisco)

Thousands march in 25th Guadalupana pilgrimage

Pilgrims gathered at All Souls Church in South San Francisco on Dec. 8 for the 25th annual Guadalupana Crusade before beginning their 12-mile journey to St. Mary’s Cathedral. Event organizers anticipated 35,000 people would participate in the pilgrimage. More on Page 6.

Stained-glass artist: ‘God gave me good hands’ Christina Gray Catholic San Francisco

(Photo by Christina Gray/Catholic San Francisco)

A detail from a stained-glass restoration by artist Margaret Pederson at St. Augustine Church, South San Francisco.

“You should really come back and see this wall in the morning,” stainedglass artist Margaret Pederson told Catholic San Francisco Dec. 6 during an afternoon visit to St. Augustine Church. “When the sun rises it becomes just like a kaleidoscope.”

This was Pederson’s final visit to the South San Francisco parish after spending the better part of two years meticulously restoring two large banks of stained glass windows originally designed for and installed at the parish a few years after it opened in 1970.

One bank of windows near the altar

serves as a backdrop for the choir and was completed in time for Christmas Mass last year; the second larger window was unveiled at a Mass for the feast of St. Augustine on Aug. 26.

The project was clearly a labor of love for Pederson, whose Sea of Glass studio in San Leandro was hired to restore the aging church windows as part of a major sanctuary remodel completed in 2017.

“I put my heart and soul into this,” she said stretching her arms out toward a lively floor-to-ceiling swirl of orange, gold, leaf green, cerise and cobalt blue flowers or flames or both.

Part of her attachment to the project, she said, came from the discovery that stained-glass master and friend

Nick Lucas and his late father of Church Art Glass in San Francisco designed the windows in 1976. The business closed with Nick’s retirement.

“They were initially going to remove these walls and discard them,” said Pederson, who deconstructed the original glass design and failing lead structure which was leaking, and painstakingly replicated the design using 85 percent of the original glass. The remaining 15 percent of the glass, broken or damaged beyond repair, was replaced with rare vintage mouth-blown glass from Germany and France. see stained-glass artist, page 10

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Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Need to know CAROLS FOR LIFE: Pro-life advocates have scheduled concerts of Christmas carols at 7 p.m., Dec. 13 and 20, in front of Planned Parenthood, 1650 Valencia St., San Francisco. “The pro-life caroling is one of nearly 100 scheduled throughout the country by the Pro-Life Action League,” said Ron Konopaski in a statement for United for Life of Northern California. The concerts have been taking place for more than 16 years at various locations. “Many women hearing the Christmas carols outside have chosen not to go through with their abortions,” Konopaski said. www.ProLifeAction.org.

EWTN ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS PROGRAMMING: EWTN broadcasts live Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses from Rome and the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington D.C. Also broadcast are inspiring seasonal musical performances, specials for children and teens, and new holiday presentations that the whole family will enjoy! Watch or listen to EWTN TV and EWTN Radio on your local channel, online or even on your smartphone using the free EWTN app. For more information, go to ewtn.com.

NEW YEAR’S EVE RETREAT: “Divine Encounters: Embracing the Spirit of God,” with Paulist Father Bart Landry, 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m., Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose Chapel, 43326 Mission Circle Fremont. Festive desserts.

Freewill offering. Register by Dec. 28 at http:// bit.ly/2018NewYearRetreat or (510) 933-6360.

PAULINE SISTERS’ CHRISTMAS: Celebrate Christmas with the Daughters of St. Paul at their new location 3250 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, Dec. 22, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., for Christmas crafts and snacks, and storytelling.

Children’s Nativity stories from Pauline Sister Irene will be told at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Christmas craft-making and goodies will be available throughout the day, the sisters said. www.pauline.org; NorCal@paulinemedia. com, (650) 562-7060. Regular store hours are Monday-Friday, 10-6; Saturday, 10-5.

Archbishop cordileone’s schedule Dec. 15-16: Parish and school visit, St. Gregory Dec. 17: Dean’s meeting Dec. 19: Building and chancery meetings Dec. 20: Chancery meetings Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Mass, cathedral, midnight Dec. 25: Christmas morning Mass, cathedral 11 a.m.

(Photo by Christina Gray/Catholic San Francisco)

Wearing a Santa hat and orange vest, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory counselor Tom Farrell helps pedestrians cross Gough and Ellis streets near campus on Dec. 7 in his yearly service of Advent “accompaniment.”

You better watch out: School counselor dons Santa suit for guard duty Christina Gray Catholic San Francisco

This year’s theme at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory is “accompaniment,” and school counselor Tom Farrell takes it both literally and lightly.

Dressed as Santa in an orange vest, Farrell has for years made an Advent morning tradition of seeing that students, teachers and local neighbors cross safely at the campus intersection of Gough and Ellis streets in San Francisco.

All SHC faculty are required to do 20 minutes of supervision before, during or after the school day, in

Seminarians installed as acolytes and lectors

Men studying for the priesthood were instituted as lectors and acolytes Nov. 7 at St. Patrick’s Seminary & University in Menlo Park. San Francisco Auxiliary Bishop Robert F. Christian, OP, was principal celebrant and installed the men in their new roles.

The installed seminarians are from the archdioceses of Agaña and San Francisco, the dioceses of Fresno, Honolulu, Oakland, Portland, Sacramento, Santa Rosa and Spokane, and The Contemplatives of St. Joseph.

“Lectors are responsible for proclaiming the readings of Sacred Scripture, with the exception of the Gospel reading,” said Stephen Terlizzi, director of marketing and communications, on the seminary website in a blogpost about the rite. Lectors may also announce the prayers of the faithful and proclaim the psalm. Acolytes assist at liturgies, prepare the altar and the sacred vessels and, when necessary, act as extraordinary ministers of holy Communion.

The Archdiocese of San Francisco had three semi-

the dining hall, library, hallways, school entrances and nearby crosswalks.

A few smirks and signs of teenage indifference aside, students who crossed the street under Farrell’s watchful eye on Dec. 7 greeted him with shoutouts of “looking good” and thumbs-up.

Farrell said he prefers his interactions on the street over library duty where the shushing of students is a more negative experience.

“I like this post because the light can be up to 90 seconds long and as students gather and wait, I can ask them about their previous day’s sporting events, how their play practice going, what the math club up to, etc.,” he told Catholic San Francisco.

narians installed as acolytes and one Contemplative of St. Joseph whose provincial house is in South San Francisco: Gerardo Vazquez, Jerald Geronimo, James Precobb, and Contemplative of St. Joseph Brother Francis Coyne. An additional eight acolytes and nine lectors were also installed.

A prayer before the installation tells the new acolytes: “Dear sons in Christ, as people chosen for the ministry of acolyte, you will have a special role in the Church’s ministry. The summit and source of the church’s life is the Eucharist, which builds up the Christian community and makes it grow. It is your responsibility to assist priests and deacons in carrying out their ministry, and as special ministers to give holy Communion to the faithful at the liturgy and to the sick. Because you are specially called to this ministry, you should strive to live more fully by the Lord’s sacrifice and to be molded more perfectly in its likeness.”

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Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone Publisher Mike Brown Associate Publisher Rick DelVecchio Editor/General Manager Editorial Christina Gray, associate editor grayc@sfarchdiocese.org Tom Burke, senior writer burket@sfarchdiocese.org Nicholas Wolfram Smith, reporter smithn@sfarchdiocese.org Sandy Finnegan, administrative assistant finnegans@sfarchdiocese.org Advertising Mary Podesta, associate director 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 13, 2018

(Photos by Dennis Callahan/Catholic San Francisco)

More than 1,000 worshippers made up the assembly, including children and others dressed in clothes bespeaking their homeland. Parish Simbang Gabi leaders at foot of St. Mary’s Cathedral sanctuary to be sent forth to make ready the way of the Lord, Christ our light.

Simbang Gabi celebration opens at cathedral rishioner and active with Simbang Gabi in the archdiocese since 1996, pointed to the importance of the celebration.

“Introduced in the early-1500s by Spanish friars to evangelize the natives of the Philippines, this tradition continues to the present day wherever Filipinos are,” Hizon said.

More than 40 lanterns, usually handmade, are part of the rite.

“The lantern’s original design of five-point star, emulates the star of Bethlehem,” Hizon said. “It is said that in the early days of evangelization, the lighted ‘parol’ identified households being catechized.”

Catholic San Francisco

Simbang Gabi, a devotional tradition of the Philippines heralding the birth of the Lord, was launched in a Mass and rites special to the event Dec. 5 at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Father Eugene Tungol, pastor of Church of the Epiphany Parish, San Francisco, and vicar for Filipinos, was principal celebrant and homilist.

More than 1,000 worshippers made up the assembly, including children and others dressed in clothes bespeaking their homeland. Children carry battery-operated candles in the opening procession affirming Christ the light. A choir of singers representing parishes from around the archdiocese led song. The texts of the Mass were in English and Tagalog. Some 50 parishes take part in Simbang Gabi individually and in cooperation with parishes in their vicinity.

Parish delegations brought handcrafted traditional lanterns to the celebration.

Nellie Hizon, a St. Stephen pa-

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Hizon said the Simbang Gabi commissioning began in 2008. The Mass with commissioning rite recognizes the role of Filipinos, through this tradition, in bringing the light of Christ to the parishes. A novena of Simbang Gabi Masses begins Dec. 16.

The reception that usually follows a Simbang Gabi Mass, depicts the belief that everyone has a place at the table of the Lord, Hizon said.

The Mass was livestreamed by the communications office of the archdiocese and is archived for viewing at bit.ly/ ADSFSimbangGabi with previously live streamed liturgies and events.

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Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

‘Warm greetings’ from Ignatian Spiritual Life Center

tion “committed to faithful responses in solidarity with immigrants and refugees.” The center has a trained team of spiritual directors who offer spiritual direction and offers a grief support group facilitated by Pathways Hospice.

“I hope to listen to members of the community and the parish to build programming together that speaks to people’s deep needs to live integrated, spiritually nourished lives with focuses on social justice, education and formation, community and spirituality,” Grace said.

Visit www.ignatianspirituallifecenter.org or contact Grace@SaintAgnesSF.com, (415) 487-8560, ext. 225.

Tom Burke catholic San Francisco

“Warm greetings from the Ignatian Spiritual Life Center and St. Agnes Church,” Grace Salceanu told me, and I think all of us, in a hello accompanying her responses to questions about the Ignatian Center where she has been Grace Salceanu director for a year.

When Grace took the reins at the center, now in its 18th year, she was just back from Casa Bayanihan, the University of San Francisco’s Jesuit study abroad program in Manila, Philippines, where she was a codirector. “The program featured accompaniment of marginalized communities, rigorous academics at the Jesuit university, Ateneo de Manila University, simple living in community and Ignatian spirituality,” Grace, who holds undergraduate degrees in theology and anthropology from Fordham University and a graduate degree with focus on Catholic education, from Santa Clara University, said.

“Partnering with resilient communities and learning from the people in the Philippines opened my eyes to a living God and broke open the Gospels for me,” Grace said. Grace and her husband Alex have a 2-yearold daughter, Sofia, Grace said the center seeks to “help people nurture a profound and authentic relationship with God” and “provide the spiritual support and concrete opportunities to live out what this relationship demands.”

Opportunities at the center include Ignatian Spiritual Exercises; Ignatian Companions, a group for service and spirituality, as well as “Holy

SHARING WARMTH: As part of a Community Service Learning project, second graders at St. Raymond School in Menlo Park collected 458 coats to help those assisted by the St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Mateo County. “Under the guidance of their teachers, Melissa Huffman and Kim Carlisle, the class decorated flyers and posters to publicize the event and made announcements in each classroom and at morning assembly where they asked for donations,” the school said. Students counted, sorted and organized all the donations to get them ready to be distributed to those in need by the St. Vincent de Paul Society at the Fair Oaks Community Center in Redwood City. Busy buttoning up the campaign are, from left, second graders Addie Snowberger, Catie Williams and Autumn Remotti.

GOOD WORK REWARDED: Representatives from Safeway markets presented a check for $3,000 Nov. 7 to St. Matthew School for its assistance in festivities reopening the company’s newly remodeled San Mateo store.

Kindergartners wrote notes to principal, Adrian Peterson, pictured at the now- newer facility with student council members and the Safeway executives, with suggestions on how to spend the money: “I think you should buy a big map,” one youngster said.

‘TIS THE SEASON: Be sure to watch or tape “Mosaic” on Dec. 23, when Laura Bertone and host J.A. Gray look at the “rich array of feasts and remembrances” from Christmas through the baptism of Christ. Laura is director of worship for the archdiocese with incredible volumes of knowledge and an even more incredible way of making all she knows understandable. J.A. asks all the right questions. The show is on KPIX Channel 5 at 5:30 a.m.

Yoga on Monday nights, Tuesday Morning Mindfulness, Thursday Morning Faith Sharing and a lively book club monthly,” Grace said.

Seasonal retreats, speaker, book and film series, and soon a “group for

men who are balancing the demands of relationships, family life, work and living out of their faith” add to the list. The center also hosts the monthly meeting of the San Francisco Interfaith Coalition on Immigra-

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Her work has been a model to similar efforts around the country and even overseas, and continues today in San Francisco Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, both with Mass at noon and lunch and fellowship after. Bring someone or volunteer for the gathering at Catholic Charities Senior Center, 65 Beverly St., San Francisco, RSVP Diane Prell, activities coordinator, (415) 452-3500, www.Handicapables. com; or at Marin Catholic High School, Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and Bon Air Road, Kentfield. RSVP Cheryl Giurlani, (415) 308-4608; cherylgiurlani@gmail.com. All disabled people, caregivers, volunteers invited.

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Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Music director: Chant class ‘infused us with passion’ for sacred music Tom Burke Catholic San Francisco

(Courtesy photo)

(Courtesy photo)

Choir members of St. Isabella Parish and Santa Rosa’s St. Eugene Parish, and cantors of the Benedict XVI Institute, practice chant at St. Isabella in preparation for a “chant Mass celebration” Nov. 18. Three evening rehearsals with The Benedict XVI Institute singers preceded the liturgy. for their weekly Communion solo and the chant Mass setting is being thought about for use during Lent.

Young said Wu and those with her “were simply amazing.” Rebekah and her team are certainly pas-

St. Ignatius Parish choir members warming up for Mass with Gregorian chant Sept. 23. The teaching choir of the Benedict XVI Institute spent three evening rehearsals with the singers and joined them in the ensemble for the chant Mass at St. Ignatius Church.

sionate about their ‘mission’ to share this beautiful sacred traditional music of our church! We are most grateful to have had the opportunity to benefit from their expertise and enthusiasm for all things chant.”

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Gregorian chant is sometimes called plainchant but musicians at St. Isabella Parish in San Rafael and St. Ignatius Parish in San Francisco will tell you there is nothing plain about it.

Lynn Pieri Young, organist and pianist at St. Isabella, and Teresa DuSell, director of music at St. Ignatius and their parish ensembles welcomed the teaching choir of the Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine Worship to each of their sites for lessons in chant during the last few months.

“The choir learned many things in a short amount of time,” DuSell told Catholic San Francisco. “We prayed together with chant, we learned the technical musical components of chant notation, how to sing it as one voice and as prayer, especially under Rebekah Wu’s direction. She has such a passion for chant and infused us with it.”

Wu is music director for the Benedict XVI Institute teaching choir. The St. Ignatius singers had the teaching choir with them for three rehearsals prior to a Sunday Mass with chant Sept. 23.

“There is a longing from many people to learn and sing music that is traditional as well as contemporary, and not see them as being at odds or that one is better than the other,” DuSell said. “If this sacred music is bringing souls to Christ, it should be included. If a choir can sing chant well, better musicianship follows in everything else they sing.”

The St. Ignatius choir had been singing chant for over a year with modest success, DuSell said.

“The teaching choir improved our overall ability to understand the chant notation and how to sing it better together,” she said.

St. Isabella’s singers had the teaching choir with them for three rehearsals prior to a “chant Mass celebration,” Nov. 18.

“Under the excellent direction of Rebekah Wu, our choir was, basically, treated to a ‘master class’ introduction to the art of chant!” Lynn Pieri Young told Catholic San Francisco. “Choir members learned how to read the different chant clefs, were exposed to basic chant terminology and notation and were coached on proper Latin pronunciation as well as breathing techniques.”

The choir is now considering using a chant selection

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Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

(Photos by Dennis Callahan/Catholic San Francisco)

From left, Juan Madriz of St. Dominic Parish and Mari Guadalupe Hernández and Ignacio Martinez of St. Mary’s Cathedral participated in a retelling of the story of the Guadalupe miracle. Right, pilgrims carry a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 8 during the 25th annual Guadalupana pilgrimage from All Souls Church to St. Mary’s Cathedral. On the banner are famous words spoken to St. Juan Diego by Mary: “Am I not here? I who am your mother?”

‘Queen of Mexico’ draws thousands to cathedral Nicholas Wolfram Smith Catholic San Francisco

Our Lady of Guadalupe was everywhere. Thousands of people carried statues and banners depicting her, or wore her image on T-shirts as pilgrims filled St. Mary’s Cathedral and the plaza outside. Bouquets of flowers were stacked in front of her shrine in the cathedral as people brought gifts and prayers to the Queen of Mexico and the Patroness of the Americas.

St. Mary’s Cathedral was the final stop of the 25th Annual Guadalupana Crusade on Dec. 8. Starting from All Souls Church in South San Francisco at 6 a.m., nearly 35,000 people were expected to take part in the 12-mile pilgrimage.

The day finished with Mass at the cathedral celebrated by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, along with retired Bishop William J. Justice and Auxiliary Bishop Robert F. Christian, OP. In his homily, Archbishop Cordileone talked about Mary as an evangelizer and unifier. Her appearance at Tepeyac was the reason for the unity of all Mexican people in faith. In the appearance of the Virgin Mary, both the Mexican and Spanish peoples were able to recognize the mother of God. “A new Christian people is formed from the two, a mestizo people; a new Christian civilization is born from the union brought about by her who is venerated as ‘la Morenita’ and ‘la Inmaculada.’ How blessed is Mexico, for truly God has not done this for any other nation!” the archbishop said.

Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe breaks down all boundaries, the archbishop continued.

“In this family of faith, what counts is not one’s language, race, nationality or legal status. All these are welcome for those who ask her son for that same purity of heart.”

Ignacio Mendoza, part of a group of Aztec dancers who earlier danced in front of the cathedral’s Guadalupe shrine, told Catholic San Francisco he had been coming to the pilgrimage for 24 years.

“They say Mexico is the most Catholic nation on earth,” Mendoza said. “It’s not true: It’s the most Guadalupano nation on earth.”

Nearly every home has a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, he said, and Mexico City brings in people from all over the country as the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe approaches.

Jose Carrillo, one of the organizers of the Guadalupana Cruzada, said he

Pilgrims leave bouquets at the cathedral’s shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Roses are a popular choice, honoring the flowers St. Juan Diego brought in his tilma.

Ash Walker, a cathedral cantor and director of choirs at Mount Eden High School in Hayward, conducts the premiere of the “Mass of the Americas” during Mass at the cathedral. appreciated how diverse the group was that came to honor Mary.

“It shows that no matter where you are from, we are all one together, following Christ in the only church that he founded,” Carrillo said.

He said devotion to Mary comes from her “being the first one to teach us,” and that her humility and love “moves us to continue loving her.”

A new musical setting for the Mass, composed by Frank La Rocca at the request of Archbishop Cordileone,

A mother and child pray in front of the Guadalupe shrine.

premiered at the Dec. 8 Mass. La Rocca, composer-in-residence at the Benedict XVI Institute, said hearing the setting for the first time “was a deeply satisfying conclusion to six months of intense work and planning.”

“The commission I was given by Archbishop Cordileone – to take beloved Mexican devotional songs and to weave them into a ‘high church’ classical Mass – was challenging and unlike anything I had been asked to do before,” he said.

The new setting, named the Mass of the Americas, was written in Spanish, Latin, English, and Nahuatl, the language Our Lady of Guadalupe spoke to St. Juan Diego when she appeared to him.

Many appreciated the beauty of the music. Jose Carrillo said the Mass setting “was a good case of taking our culture and bringing in more solemnity. It was music to make you feel more of the love of Jesus Christ.”

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Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Mission Center aims to prevent homelessness Christina Gray Catholic San Francisco

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Francisco runs four shelters in the city geared to meet the special needs of homeless families: St. Joseph’s Family Center, 10th & Mission Family Housing, Star Community Home and the Rita de Cascia Community. But leaders of a new multi-service center in the Mission District are working hard to keep families living on the edge from ending up in one.

“We want to intervene and see if we can divert them,” said Jose Cartagena, who heads the homeless prevention programs at Catholic Charities’ new Mission Center.

The two-story center, which opened its doors to neighborhood families Nov. 9, operates from an old convent across the street from St. Charles Borromeo Parish at 18th Street and South Van Ness Avenue, bringing a trio of vital housing and immigration services to the neighborhood under one roof for the first time.

St. Charles pastor Father Moises Agudo blessed the center at an interfaith reception and grand opening attended by San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Catholic Charities leaders and former clients of the charitable arm of the archdiocese.

“We want to see if we can solve a family’s problem before they enter the shelter system,” Cartagena said.

“That’s the whole idea.”

Catholic Charities’ homelessness prevention programs work to ensure that vulnerable people have a home, either in the form of temporary shelter or longterm housing. They provide eviction prevention in the form of rental assistance for back rent, security deposits and referral to appropriate community agencies.

San Francisco’s housing crisis and soaring rental prices have had a devastating impact on low-income and at-risk families in the Mission, Cartagena told Catholic San Francisco during a tour of the facility Dec. 5. The average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco is $3,500 a month, according to RentCafe.com, a nationwide Internet listing service for renters.

Many families are relocating to Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto and other inland locations more than 100 miles from San Francisco, he said after exhausting all other options. Catholic Charities offers them support through that geographical transition too.

The Mission Center is also identified as the “Mission Access Point,” one of three localized community gateways into the city of San Francisco’s homelessness response system. Catholic Charities partnered with the city’s department of homelessness and supportive housing last year to open Bayview Access Point.

(Photo by Christina Gray/Catholic San Francisco)

Jose Cartagena, Catholic Charities homelessness prevention programs manager, is pictured Dec. 5 in the agency’s new Mission Center located in a former convent in San Francisco’s Mission District.

Access points are crucial to the function of “coordinated entry,” said Rob Strahan, program manager for the Bayview Access Point. He was at the Mission Center that day meeting with Michele Rimando, program manager for the new Mission Access Point. At both locations problem solvers and outreach workers assess the families threatened by homelessness and work out a solution together.

“We sit down with people and try and resolve whatever their current situation is in the hope of not getting them into the system,” Strahan said. Access points employ bilingual problem solvers who meet with families to assess their situation as well as outreach workers who canvass neighborhood streets to locate families in need.

He estimated that about 20 percent of the families he and his outreach workers encounter are undocumented families. Fear about system services prevents them from walking into their buildings to access services.

Family tent-dwellers with children have similar fears but about Child Protective Services. So, Catholic Charities “goes out into the streets” to do the same kind of assessments they would do in the office.

“The cornerstone of the access point concept is the problem-solving which involves the families and empowers them by letting them participate in finding the solutions that work best for them,” said Catholic Charities spokesperson Liza Cardinal Hand.

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

Christmas Masses: Saint Christmas Agnes Church Eve (Monday, December 24)

Saint Agnes Agnes Church Saint Church 6:00 p.m.

A Welcoming 4:00 p.m.

AWelcoming Welcoming Jesuit A Jesuit Parish Parish

Jesuit Parish

Christmas Vigil Mass Christmas Family Mass 12 Midnight Christmas Midnight Mass 11:30 p.m. - Christmas Concert

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

Reconciliation Service Christmas Eve Reconciliation Service

Saturday, December 9 — 11:00am Saturday, December 9 — 11:00am Monday, December 24 Saturday, December 9 — 11:00am Communal Advent reconciliation service.

Communal Advent reconciliation service.

Liturgies of the Nativity of the Lord Communal Advent reconciliation service.

All are welcome. are welcome.

5:00 pm Children’sAllLiturgy with Children’s Choir & Woodwinds 10:00 pm Christmas Vigil with Woodwinds, Brass & Timpani Advent Day of Choir, Preparation

All are welcome.

Church of the Good Shepherd

Advent Day 2018 of Preparation Christmas Week Schedule the Ignatian Spiritual LifeDay Center- 1:00pm Saturday,InDecember 16 — 10:00am Christmas Advent Day of Preparation Saturday, December 16 — 10:00am - 1:00pm

9 0 1 O ceana B lvd , Pacifica , C A 9 4 0 4 4

OakSpiritual St. at Masonic Saturday, December 16 — 10:00am - 1:00pm In the 1611 Ignatian Life Center Tuesday, December 25 1611 OakofSt. Masonic Center Liturgy theat Nativity of the Lord In the Ignatian Spiritual Dec 16, 21 Life 7:00 pm Simbang Gabi 10:30 Christmas am with Choir, Woodwinds, Brass &Timpani Eve 1611 Oak St. Dec at 24 Masonic

5:00 pm Children’s Mass Sunday, December

9:00pm Christmas Eve Christmas Eve24 New Year’s Day Liturgies of theDecember Nativity of the Lord

Dec 25 8:00 am Christmas Day Sunday, 24 Tuesday, 1, Choir 2019 5:00 pm Children’s withJanuary Children’s LiturgiesLiturgy of the Nativity of the Lord& Woodwinds

10:00am Christmas Day 10:00 pm Christmas Vigil with Choir, Woodwinds, Brass & Timpani LiturgyLiturgy of Mary with The Mother of God at 10:00am 12:00 pm Christmas Day 5:00 pm Children’s Children’s Choir & Woodwinds 24 Dec 30 Regular Sunday Masses :00 pm Christmas Vigil with Choir, Woodwinds, Brass Sunday, & Timpani December Christmas Day 1025 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco

am,Lord 10:00am, 12:00pm Liturgies of the Nativity of8:00 the Monday, December 25 (415) 487- 8560 • www.SaintAgnesSF.com

Jan 1 8:00 am Mass Christmas Day Liturgy of the Nativity of the 5:00 pmLord Children’s Liturgy with Children’s & Woodwinds Parking is available at 1639 Oak25 St. Garage Holy DayChoir of Obligation Monday, December 8:30 am with Cantor & Organ Solemnity of Mary,Brass the Mother&of Timpani God 10:00 Christmas Choir, Woodwinds, Liturgy of the Nativitypm of the Lord 10:30 am with Choir, Woodwinds, Brass &Timpani Vigil with 8:30 am with Cantor & Organ Merry Chrismas and Blessed Year Inclusive + Diverse + Jesuit 10:30 am with Choir, Woodwinds, Brass &Timpani

Nativity of Our Lord

Christmas Eve

New Year’s Day

Monday, January 1, 2018

New Year’s Day Liturgy at 10:00am

Christmas Day

Monday, December 25

OSV Institute turns its eyes toward the Hispanic community

After more than 100 years supporting a myriad of initiatives throughout the Catholic Church, Our Sunday Visitor is announcing a broadening of its orbit and focus on three areas facing the church: Hispanic outreach, millennials and parenting.

“By betting on these three initiatives, we can allocate our resources to maximize the church’s impact and help her thrive in the 21st century,” said Jason Shanks, president of Our Sunday Visitor Institute. “The church is changing and also how we reinvest in Catholic initiatives,” he said.

Hispanics now represent more than 60 percent of the Catholic Church in America, according to OSV. On its website, OSV said: “The church is changing -- and so is the way we approach our reinvestment in Catholic programs. OSV Institute seeks to serve the church by supporting and encouraging innovative and effective church-related programs and activities that help Catholics of diverse ethnicities, ages and stages of life come closer to Christ. Going forward, each of our grant cycles will focus on a different area of strategic support for religiously unaffiliated millennials, Hispanics and parents of Catholic dependents.”

According to OSV, it is critical for the church to form leaders who will keep Hispanics active in the faith.

Deacon Sergio Torres from San Francisco’s St. Paul of the Shipwreck Parish and Father Moisés Agudo, archdiocesan vicar for Hispanics, have introduced Hispanic youth ministry in the archdiocese.

“Our goal is for every parish to have a youth group. But funding is necessary for activities, retreats and programs that will encourage young people to find out more about the richness of the church,” Deacon Torres said.

“Sometimes we are short on resources and that prevents us from moving forward. We need to raise funds whenever we want to do anything.

If we manage to get a grant, there’s so much we could do, and that’s so good,” he said.

To apply for an OSV grant within the new initiatives visit www.osvinstitute.com/how-to-apply.

Araceli Martinez, San Francisco Católico

christmas liturgies Saint Emydius Church 286 Ashton Avenue San Francisco, CA 94112

(415) 587-7066 Fax (415) 587-6690

Advent / Christmas / Epiphany Celebrations

“LET GOD MEET US WHERE WE ARE. PREPARE!” ADVENT Sunday, December 16 Third Sunday of Advent • Regular Schedule Sunday, December 23 Fourth Sunday of Advent • Regular Schedule

CHRISTMAS

Monday, December 24 Christmas Vigil Mass 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 25 Christmas Masses: 12:00 Midnight, 10:00 a.m.

Sunday, December 30 Feast of the Holy Family • Regular Schedule Tuesday, January 01 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Holy Day) Octave of the Nativity 10:00 a.m.

EPIPHANY

Saturday, January 05 Anointing of the Sick Mass 10:00 a.m. (no 8:00 a.m. Mass) Sunday, January 06 Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Regular Schedule Sunday, January 13 Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Regular Schedule Monday, January 14 Ordinary Time begins.

Regular Schedule means: 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass on Saturday, 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses on Sunday

8 ARCHDiocesE

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Waiting for Christ: Nativity sets teach the Incarnation Nicholas Wolfram Smith Catholic San Francisco

Made from wood, cloth or recycled oil drums, Nativity sets and Christmas crèches give people an opportunity to reflect on the coming of Christ into the world. Two San Mateo County parishes, St. Bartholomew and Our Lady of Angels, each hosted an annual display of parishioners’ Nativity sets to highlight the meaning of the Incarnation.

At St. Bartholomew Parish in San Mateo Dec. 9, the “Follow the Star” display brought out more than 100 Nativity depictions of the Holy Family, bought in such faraway locales as the Philippines or Egypt, or in places closer to home like Half Moon Bay. Lalaine Frankel, one of the women who helped found “Follow the Star” at St. Bartholomew, told Catholic San Francisco one of the original reasons was to get children focused on the Incarnation.

“We all had young children, and we were trying to figure out how to fight materialism and commercialism during the Christmas season.”

For its first year, back in 2000, she borrowed nearly 20 different Nativity sets and crèches from family and friends to contribute to the display.

Frankel said Nativity sets show Christ within a family and can give children “an active role” in discovering the meaning of Christmas.

Father Michael Healy, pastor at St.

(Photos by Nicholas Wolfram Smith/Catholic San Francisco)

Nativity sets and crèches on display at the St. Bartholomew Church auditorium in San Mateo. Right, Rina Cassanego looks at Christmas crèche displays at Our Lady of Angels Church, Burlingame, Dec. 9. St. Francis of Assisi is traditionally regarded as the inventor of the Nativity scene.

Bartholomew, said the crèches help children understand the religious foundation of Christmas.

“The cultural focus is on gifts, but we don’t often see the reverse, which is that it is Christ who is giving us the gifts,” he said.

Sue Brenner, one of the volunteers with the crèche display at St. Bartholomew Parish, said the Christmas sets “can carry a lot of memory.”

Many of the sets on display are family heirlooms, or reminders of time spent traveling in other countries.

Some carry a note of sadness. A set at Our Lady of Angels noted that

christmas liturgies

when the owner’s family immigrated to America, her Christmas crèche was destroyed during the trip. On display was its replacement.

Our Lady of Angels began doing a display of Christmas crèches four years ago. Kathy Holmes, a parishioner at Our Lady of the Angels, said St. Bartholomew’s event was an inspiration for her parish. The crèche display also honors their Franciscan heritage – Our Lady of Angels is staffed by the Capuchins, a branch of the Franciscan order – and was a way to evangelize “our parish and our children.”

“It’s something every parish can easily do,” she said. “All you need is a little room and a few tables.”

Families can also build their own traditions around their home Nativity set. Frankel said her children would get strands of straw for each good deed they did during Advent, and use the straw to line the manger Jesus would lie in on Christmas.

“You can always bring in ways to teach,” she said. “It shows to them that this is our faith, and there’s something greater to this season,” she said.

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

Our Lady of Loretto Church 1806 Novato Boulevard, Novato, CA 94947

OLL Choir Christmas Concert

UPCOMING PARISH CELEBRATIONS & SERVICES UPCOMING PARISH CELEBRATIONS & SERVICES SIMGANG – NOVENA AND MASSES SIMBANG GABI GABI – NOVENA AND MASSES From Wednesday December 16 to Wednesday, December 24 @ 5:30 a.m.

From Sunday December 16 to Monday, December 24 @ 5:30 a.m.

Christmas Eve Masses

SCHEDULE OF CHRISTMAS MASSES SCHEDULE OF CHRISTMAS MASSES Thursday December 24 – Christmas Eve Monday December 24 – Christmas Eve 5:30 p.m.: Children’s Mass | 11:00 – 11:45 p.m.: Christmas Carols 5:30 p.m.: Children’s Mass12:00 | 11:00 11:45 p.m.: a.m.:– Midnight MassChristmas Carols 12:00 a.m.: Midnight Mass

Christmas Day Masses

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

(Spanish) 8:30, 10:00, 11:30 a.m. (English) | 1:00 p.m. (Spanish)

Sunday, December 16th 4pm and 7:30pm OLL Church

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

Thursday December 25 – Christmas Day

8am & 10am in English and 12:00 in Spanish

HOLY NAME OF JESUS PARISH San Francisco, California MISA DE GALLO (DAWN MASSES) December 16-24, 2018 at 5:30 AM in the Flanagan Center

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

2018 CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES Monday, December 24, 2018 4:30 PM (Family/Children’s Mass)

MERRY CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS Saturday, December 22nd 3:00 - 4:15 pm

CHRISTMAS MASSES

Christmas Eve Monday, December 24th 4:30 pm, 8:00 pm and Midnight Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25th 7:30 am, 9:30 am & 11:30 am No Evening Mass

11:30 PM Christmas Carols (Holy Name Choral Ministry) 12:00 Midnight Concelebrated Mass CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES Tuesday, December 25, 2018 7:30 AM 9:30 AM 11:30 AM

NEW YEAR’S DAY Tuesday, January 1, 2019 9:30 am FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY Saturday, January 5th 4:30 pm Sunday, January 6th 7:30 am, 9:30 am, 11:30 am, 5:00 pm

1555 39th Avenue San Francisco, CA 94122 (415) 664-8590 www.holynamesf.org

NEW YEAR’S DAY MASS The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Tuesday, January 1, 2019 9:00 AM

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Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Beyond charity: Conference urges Catholics to build social justice grants go toward local organizations working for long-term social change, while others focus on affordable housing enterprises and social enterprise businesses. Wendlinder said the principle they follow is that “the poor are the experts of their own solutions in their communities,” he said.

Two grantees spoke at the conference. Anna Eng, an organizer with the Industrial Areas Foundation, has been working with the campaign in San Jose to incorporate Catholic parishes into a movement focused on institutional and structural change in the area on issues like housing and immigration. Eng connected organizing for social change and confront-

Nicholas Wolfram Smith Catholic San Francisco

A Santa Clara conference Nov. 29 challenged Catholics to to establish social justice in their local communities. “Centering Social Justice in the Life of the Church,” presented by Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Relief Services, discussed issues at the heart of the Catholic Church’s work to build a more just society locally and across the world.

In sessions on economic justice, global migration, and immigration advocacy, conference participants got a glimpse into how the church serves the marginalized at home and abroad.

In the keynote address, Diocese of San Jose Coadjutor Bishop Oscar Cantú talked about his experience as a committee chair for the U.S. Catholic Bishops Committee on International Justice and Peace. Bishop Cantú said the church’s work on behalf of the marginalized displays its values and points to “a human dignity that is not sectarian. It speaks to the ‘imago dei,’ the fact that every person is created in God’s image and likeness.”

Bishop Cantú also discussed the distinction between charity and justice.

Echoing Pope Benedict XVI, he said “The need for charity never ends,” because God is love. Justice, however, is “giving to each what is due to them,” like safety, health, dignity or housing.

ing unjust systems to the prophetic vocation all Catholics receive through their baptism.

Teamworks Cleaning Coop, a business supported by the campaign also sent representatives to discuss their work. A worker-owned cooperative staffed by women from low-income backgrounds, Teamworks has seen success by focusing on the common good of all employees. Worker-owners discussed how their company not only turns a profit but also respects their human dignity.

Martin Ford, the social action coordinator for the San Francisco see beyond charity, page 22

(Photo by Nicholas Wolfram Smith/Catholic San Francisco)

Maria Arroyo, relationship manager with Catholic relief Services, discusses immigration advocacy at a social justice conference in Santa Clara, Nov. 29. The conference discussed the local and global context of Catholic social justice.

Injustices can be not just between individuals, but also structural, he said, like the Bay Area’s housing crisis.

Sean Wendlinder, a Catholic Campaign for Human Development grant specialist, discussed his organization’s work of translating Catholic social teaching into practice. Some

christmas liturgies

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

CATHEDRAL OF SAINT MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION ADVENT/CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE 2018 Christmas Eve Monday, December 24, 2018

“Silent Night 200”, Christmas Concert, Monday, December 17 7:30 p.m., St. Dominic’s Schola Cantorum, soloists & Festival Brass

Advent Reconciliation Services, Tuesday, December 18 With individual confessions available 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Parish Christmas Party, Thursday, December 20 Doors open 6:30 p.m., Parish Hall

Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24

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

Christmas Day, Tuesday, 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.

The Solemnity of the Holy Family, Sunday, December 30 5:30 p.m. Vigil, (Saturday, December 29) 7:30, 9:30, & 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 (in Spanish), 5:30 & 9:00 p.m.

The Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God, Monday, December 31 10:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve Prayer Vigil 11:30 p.m. Vigil Mass

Tuesday, January 1, 2019 9:30 a.m. (One Parish Mass)

The Solemnity of The Epiphany, Sunday, January 6, 2019 5:30 p.m. Vigil (Saturday, January 5) 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30 a.m., 1:30 (in Spanish), 5:30 & 9:00 p.m.

Cathedral Closed during the day 5:00 PM Caroling by the St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir School 5:30 PM - Christmas Vigil Mass 11:30 PM Caroling by the Cathedral Choir 12:00 AM - Midnight Mass

Christmas Day Tuesday, December 25, 2018

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

New Year’s Eve Monday, December 31, 2018

Mass Schedule: 8:00 AM The Cathedral will close at 12:00 PM

New Year’s Day - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Tuesday, January 1, 2019 HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION Mass Schedule: 8:00 AM and 12:10 PM The Cathedral will close after the 12:10 PM Mass

The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Sunday, January 6, 2019 Saturday, January 5 - 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

10 from the front

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Stained-glass artist: ‘God gave me good hands’ FROM PAGE 1

Lucas “has all of the best historic vintage glass,” she said. He gave Pederson access to it for the restoration project. She spoke in reverential terms of the precious glass.

“This glass is so rare, you can’t even get it anymore,” Pederson said, as she pointed to a vivid piece of aqua blue glass and offered a short lesson in the quality and character of stained glass.

What is commonly called “cathedral glass” is machine-made glass that is less expensive to use in stained glass projects but is visibly less intense and textured than mouth-blown glass, she said. The St. Augustine window is a combination of cathedral and mouth-blown glass.

“You see these striations and bubbles in here?” she asked. “This is the German and French glass.”

Pederson resized each individual window panel and “shuffled them” into a new order than the originals.

“It’s the same design but I put my flair on it,” she said. She was religious about matching the original design.

“If a broken piece was a German glass I replaced it with German glass,” she said.

She pointed to three slightly larger windows in the wall of the choir area, an artist’s secret detail. “The Father, Son and Holy Ghost, that was my idea,” she said.

Stained glass projects have a typical lifespan of 70-100 years before they have to be re-leaded, said

Pederson. “What happens is the lead matrix starts to fail over time and the glass ends up taking the load and can break.”

Pederson worked closely with parochial vicar Father Eduardo Dura, who saw the spiritual value of the parish spending the money to restore the windows.

“Stained glass is the patrimony of

St. Augustine for almost 50 years, we have to take care of it,” he said. “If I objected to it, it would have been like violence against the people.”

Neither he nor Pederson would say what the actual cost of the project was, but the cost included a whole new framing system and double door. Unlike the original work, the new windows were installed from

The Knights of Saint Francis

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(Photo by Christina Gray/Catholic San Francisco)

Stained-glass artist Margaret Pederson is seen in silhouette in front of one of two banks of windows she restored and installed in St. Augustine Church in 2017.

the inside and backed by doublepaned glass on the exterior for protection.

“Environmentally, there are lots of things to consider with breaking lead,” a toxic heavy metal, Father Dura said.

The old window panels had to be dismantled carefully by hand under water because of the airborne toxicity of lead, according to Pederson.

She used butcher paper to make an impression of the glass design of each panel, catalogued the composition of each panel and did precise mathematical measurements to assure no waste.

Pederson, a commercial art major who grew up in Castro Valley, began doing stained glass design when she was a college student and opened her Sea of Glass studio in 1985.

While she specializes in historic restoration, she also does her own design and fabrication.

She was chosen to restore the 670 stained glass windows in architect Julia Morgan’s Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland when the job was bid in 2003. More recently she installed a restored window at St. Mark Catholic Church in Richmond.

Pederson, a Lutheran, nodded when asked if her own faith informed her work. Quoting from the Bible’s Book of Revelation, she described how she arrived at the name for her business.

“They refer to the throne around God, ‘like a sea of glass under crystal,’” she said. “This is all for him.

He just gave me good hands.”

Piazza Saint Francis

—T H E P O E T S P L A Z A —

www.PiazzaSF.org

Sunday, December 23rd, 2018 • 5 – 8 pm • Porziuncola Nuova • Vallejo & Columbus www.knightsofsaintfrancis.com

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Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Ethicist: Gene-editing human embryos ‘a train wreck’ Mark Pattison Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON – The revelation in late November that a Chinese researcher had edited genes in human embryos and then implanted them in a woman was “a train wreck of a thing to do,” said an ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.

“Normally clinical research proceeds in phases. First, you verify it He Jiankui works in animals, etc. Second, you verify that it’s safe. In small things you verify it’s effective,” said John Brehany, the center’s director of institutional relations. “He skipped all that stuff.”

“He says, ‘I practiced in animals and human embryos.’ Even the Chinese officials are saying he violated their standards,” Brehany told Catholic News Service in a Nov. 30 telephone interview from Philadelphia. “He said he didn’t want to be first, he wanted to set an example, but he’s toying with human health. He said he practiced on human embryos, so that means he probably destroyed them.

He practiced in the context of experimentation.”

Brehany was referring to He (pronounced “hay”) Jiankui, who first revealed his efforts Nov. 26 during an international gene-editing conference in Hong Kong. He learned the gene-editing technique known as CRISPR while doing advanced research at Rice University in Texas. His partner from Rice may face sanctions from the U.S.-based National Institutes of Health depending on the depth of his involvement in the scheme.

“CRISPR” stands for “clusters of regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats.” This is a specialized region of DNA having two distinct characteristics: the presence of nucleotide repeats and spacers.

Newsweek reported Dec. 3 that He has not been seen since participating at the International Summit on Human Genome Editing and may be under house arrest by Chinese authorities.

One country where some human gene editing is legal is the United Kingdom. It is illegal in the United States, and after the furor erupted at the Hong Kong conference, China said what He had done was illegal in China.

The Catholic Church’s position is spelled out in the 2008 Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith document “Instruction ‘Dignitas Personae’ (‘The Dignity of a Person’): On Certain Bioethical Questions.” The dignity of a person, the document says, “must be recognized in every human being from conception to natural death.

This fundamental principle expresses a great ‘yes’ to human life and must be at the center of ethical reflection on biomedical research.”

Other faults Brehany found with He’s work included: practicing gene editing on other human embryos first; implanting twin embryos even though one of the twins did not carry the new trait, and may be “a patchwork of cells with various changes”; giving notice of his research only after he started; and having no experience running human research trials.

“On a normal day, in vitro fertilization already separates procreation from conjugal love,” Brehany said. “It also introduces the option, and the temptation, of eugenics – checking out embryos by sight or sophisticated analysis to learn which exhibit optimal health or traits. Those that don’t measure up are routinely discarded.”

“The couples were offered free fertility treatment if they participated in this, and that’s an unethical inducement,” Brehany told CNS. “They might have been told it was a vaccine for AIDS,” as the babies’ father was HIV-positive, he added; He had said he sought to remove the gene that triggers HIV infection. “In other words, there are multiple, multiple ways this was a hash. It really was a hash.”

Gene editing is nothing new, Brehany said.

“There’s a lot of gene editing that goes on in agriculture and in animals and there have bene some experiments and attempts that have gone on in humans, very carefully done, that have gone on since the 1990s,” he added. “A lot of this has not been successful, in part because the human immune system tends to think that new genes that are introduced are foreign bodies.”

Tomatoes and animals are one thing. Humans, though, are another.

“There have been a number of attempts at gene editing for things like cystic fibrosis, sickle-cell anemia, a number of conditions that shorten people’s life,” Brehany said. “When you are introducing changes into somebody’s body, they don’t go any further. Either they don’t go any further, or they die.

“If you introduce changes into a woman’s eggs, or a man’s sperm, or a human embryo within a very short period after conception, then those genes not only introduce genes into cells but into future generations, and that is both an opportunity in some respects, but it’s also controversial for a couple of reasons. He set out to do just that. And again ... in a couple of countries they’ve approved this for a few things,” Brehany said.

The full text of “Instruction ‘Dignitas Personae’ (‘The Dignity of a Person’): On Certain Bioethical Questions” can be found at https://bit.ly/1ry3mL5.

Merry Christmas

christmas liturgies ost Holy R M

SAINT VERONICA CHURCH

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

CHRISTMAS LITURGY SCHEDULE 2018

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Mass Schedules:

Sa n F est. 1900 ca rancisco,

God’s inclusive love proclaimed here!

December 24th (Monday) Christmas Eve Mass 9:30 PM Carols | 10:00 PM

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

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

December 15-23, 2018 SIMBANG GABI ADVENT MASSES

Weekday Masses at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday Masses (Dec. 15 & 22) at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday Masses (Dec. 16 & 23) at 4:00 p.m.

December 23 Celebrant Auxiliary Bishop Robert Christian, OP

ST. TERESA OF AVILA CATHOLIC CHURCH

*****

SERVED BY THE CARMELITES

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018 CHRISTMAS EVE VIGIL MASSES

Street at Connecticut

4:00 p.m. (Children’s Mass) & 9:00 p.m.

8:15 p.m. - Adult Choir Cantata Performance *****

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR ADVENT & CHRISTMAS MASSES Tuesdays & Fridays

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2018 CHRISTMAS DAY

Christmas Masses

7:00, 8:30, 10:00, & 11:30 a.m.

1:30 p.m. (Spanish)

Vigil, December 24th December 25th

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

New Year’s Day

9:00am

*****

MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2018 8:30 a.m. *****

TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2019 (A Holy Day of Obligation) 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.

8:30am

Unto Us A Child Is Born

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

12 national

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Advent calendars: Old tradition and modern commercialism Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON – The Advent calendar with one tab or box to open each day for 24 or 25 days taps into something people really like: countdowns. It also highlights the anticipation that is at the heart of the four-week liturgical season of Advent.

These calendars, which are religious in nature, hence always with the name Advent, also at times can take the religious theme and run with it, sometimes leaving the biblical manger scene in the dust with daily surprises of anything from whiskey, cosmetics, toys, chocolates, books, coffee, and for pets, daily treats.

But not all Advent calendars are alike. Some simply display, when each window is opened, either Christmas symbols, Bible passages or inspirational daily motivations. Some are online, some are traditional paper and others are way more elaborate with daily gifts in drawers or boxes.

No matter their size or design, Advent calendars all count down to Christmas.

Since they start with the No. 1, for Dec. 1, they technically do not begin at the start of Advent; the first Sunday of Advent varies each year and often comes at the end of November. Some calendars, with 25 windows, end after Advent wvith the biggest prize, or image, on the 25th window, or Christmas, but some calendars end at 24.

Whether they come from a Hallmark store or a religious supply company, these calendars are based on the practice of counting down the days until Christmas that once was done with chalk marks on doors or straw placed in Nativity mangers.

The ancient tradition of counting down to Christmas eventually made its way into calendars initially called “Nicholas calendars” because they

(CNS photo/Bob Roller)

Advent calendars, with one box to open each day from Dec. 1-25, vary from simple paper calendars with religious images to more elaborate calendars with actual gifts for each day. The tradition of these calendars began in the mid-19th century in Germany. were distributed Dec. 6, the feast of St. Nicholas, but then the name changed to “Christmas calendars” and even “Advent calendars” as some initial calendars appeared with the annual number of Advent days.

But the first official Advent calendar as we now know it is attributed to Gerhard Lang from Germany who produced a cardboard Advent calendar in 1908 with colored pictures that could be attached to each day in December – replicating the calendar his mother had made when he was a child with 24 candies to stick on cardboard.

Lang, who worked for a printing company, further developed this paper calendar to have tabs to open each day of December.

Printed Advent calendars took a break during world wars but made their way back to stores and were introduced

christmas liturgies Mater Dolorosa 307 Willow Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080

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

(Pot Luck Dinner follows December 23rd Mass

Christmas Masses Holy Day of Obligation Christmas Eve Masses 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.

Latin Mass 5:00pm

Solemnity of Mary Holy Day of Obligation January, 1, 2019 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. &12:00 p.m

to American consumers in the 1950s. A Newsweek photo of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his grandchildren with an Advent calendar in 1953 no doubt gave sales of these calendars a further boost.

Today, the Advent calendar runs the gamut from religious to political or sports themes and range from simple to expensive.

In 2010, the Daily Mail, a British tabloid, reported on what it said was the world’s most expensive Advent calendar: It was filled with 24 diamonds and gold along with diamond-shaped fairies. The calendar, made by a Belgian company, weighed 81 carats and cost 1.7 million pounds or just under $2.2 million dollars.

The world’s largest Advent calendar, according to Guinness World Records, was in London in 2007 at the St. Pancras train station to celebrate the station’s reopening. It stood more than 232 feet high and 75 feet wide.

A benefit of current paper Advent

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!

Saturday, December 15, to Sunday 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.

Monday, December 24: 7:00am, 9:00am 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

Tuesday, December 25: Christmas Day Masses at 7:30am and 9:00am 10:30am with our Children’s Choir 12:00pm with our Parish Choir

Monday, December 31: 7:00am, 9:00am and 6:00pm Vigil Mass for New Years Day

Tuesday, January 1, 2019 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 7:00am, 9:00am, 6:00pm

calendars is that they can be reused each year – although without surprises under each flap.

Alternatively, there are plenty of annually updated online Advent calendars. Here is a sampling of some of the online Catholic Advent calendars: – Loyola: www.loyolapress.com/ourcatholic-faith/liturgical-year/advent/ calendars/advent-calendar-for-adults.

The site also has a children’s calendar.

– Catholic Relief Services: www.crs. org/advent-calendar.

– The Paulist’s Busted Halo calendar: https://advent.bustedhalo.com.

An unofficial Twitter poll on Advent calendars conducted by this reporter found that 68 percent of respondents viewed Advent calendars as a spiritual resource and 32 percent found them too commercial.

One person said she wished religious Advent calendars were easier to find.

Colleen Darland, a parishioner at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in DeWitt, Iowa, said she wished “more Advent calendars were actually Advent calendars and not ‘December’ calendars.”

“I understand of course that this makes it more difficult to have a reusable calendar, but our faith isn’t meant to be reusable. It is to change and grow as we learn and change and grow,” she said in an email to Catholic News Service.

Jesuit Father Bruce Morrill, the Edward A. Malloy professor of Catholic studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee, sees something missing with the rush and push to Christmas not only in Advent calendars but celebrations in general, as if Christmas were the finish line.

He points out that the church celebration of Christmas really begins on Christmas Day and ends on the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, which will be Jan. 13, 2019. But ideally, he said, the celebration should continue until Feb. 2, called Candlemas, the feast of the Presentation of Our Lord.

Of course that would be an entirely different calendar.

St. Bruno’s Church (650) 588-2121

555 W. San Bruno Avenue, San Bruno, CA

2018 Christmas Schedule

December 13: 7pm Christmas Tree Lighting Dec 15-23: Posadas. Please check the church bulletin for locations and times.

December 15-20: 6PM Candlelight Masses December 21-23: 5AM Misa de Gallo December 23: 4:30 PM Vigil Mass 7:00 PM Vigil Mass (Spanish) December 24, Monday: 8AM English Mass 10 AM Spanish Mass 12 NN English Mass 7PM Christmas Vigil Mass in Spanish 9PM Christmas Carols by Tongan children 10PM Midnight Mass December 25, Christmas Day Masses: 8AM English 10 AM Spanish 12NN English There is No 6PM Mass on Christmas Day January 1, New Year’s Day (Holy Day of Obligation): Regular Sunday Masses Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

national 13

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Composer: Amid church’s abuse crisis, music can unite the faithful aEmily Rosenthal Catholic News Service

IJAMSVILLE, Md. – “How can we pray when we feel betrayed?”

The song continues, offering more questions, but no answers.

“How Can We Pray?” was written by Zachary Stachowski, director of music ministry at St. Ignatius of Loyola in Ijamsville, moved by the anger he felt immediately after the Pennsylvania grand jury report on clergy sexual abuse was released in mid-August.

After posting the sheet music to his personal Facebook page, nearly 300 people reacted, 67 commented and 80 shared, including the pages of national music organizations such as the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.

Stachowski has heard from music ministers who have used the song as far away as Ireland and Redlands, California.

“When the news started coming out of the grand jury in Pennsylvania, I just started noticing the uproar on social media,” Stachowski said. “It seemed to be a lot of anger, a lot of hurt.”

The music that he was being used in the wake of the grand jury report, however, did not reflect those emotions.

“But I was still in a place of pretty significant

christmas liturgies 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 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm Midnight Mass 12:00am Christmas Day, December 25th 8:00, 9:30 & 11:15 am. No evening mass.

December 29th 5:00 pm December 30th 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 11:15 am and 5:30 pm December 31st 8:00 am and 5:30 pm New Year's Day, January 1st 10:00 am

Get Home Before Dark!

4 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass in San Francisco!

St. Emydius Catholic Church

286 Ashton Avenue, San Francisco (one block from Ocean Ave.) Serving the Ingleside community of San Francisco, since 1913, St. Emydius is a multi-cultural, multi-racial, all inclusive faith-sharing community.

Daily Mass At 8:00 am 4:00 pm Saturday Vigil Mass 8:30 am Sunday Mass 10:30 am Sunday Mass To reach us from 19th Ave., take Holloway Ave., (near S.F. State, heading East), to Ashton Ave., left on Ashton to De Montfort Ave. To reach us from 280 S. (at City College) exit Ocean Ave. going West, turn left on Ashton to De Montfort Ave., (1/2 block up).

YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO JOIN US!

‘I was still in a place of pretty significant anger and bitterness and hurt. That’s where this song came from, and it turned out that it really resonated with a lot of people.’

Zachary Stachowski Parish music director

anger and bitterness and hurt,” he told the Catholic Review, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. “That’s where this song came from, and it turned out that it really resonated with a lot of people.”

As the song spread, more and more people contacted Stachowski for sheet music and recordings.

“It was really humbling as a composer to know that you had kind of struck a chord that was where a lot of people were at with the tragedy,” Stachowski said. “I just hope that it has helped people to pray and to voice some really difficult emotions.”

STAR of the SEA A Catholic Stewardship Parish

4420 Geary Blvd. @ 8th Avenue San Francisco, CA 94118 www.starparish.com | (415)751-0450

BLESSED CHRISTMAS!

Of the approximately 15 songs Stachowski has published, this was the first he released through social media, rather than typical publishing timelines.

“It just seemed like such an urgent need at the time,” he said, “that while usually I probably would’ve waited and worked more before showing it to anyone, I just thought I’d put this out there as soon as possible.”

“To help facilitate that kind of sung prayer with the assembly has always been something that has inspired me and something that I’ve just really fallen in love with,” said Stachowski, a 23-year veteran of the music ministry field. “My favorite instrument, I tell people, is the sound of the assembly singing. To play that every week is always a great thing.”

As parishes around the Archdiocese of Baltimore responded to the sexual abuse crisis in different ways, St. Ignatius held a nine-part prayer series in as many weeks, each focused on a specific theme. When the theme was anger, “How Can We Pray?” was used.

Stachowski’s faith in the Gospel and Jesus Christ remains resolute. Music, he said, can unite the faithful who find that they are not alone with questions and emotions on a difficult subject.

“As a liturgical composer, what we’re always trying to do is to write songs that we can sing collectively,” Stachowski said. “Music ... gives us the vehicle to do something together in one voice to share the same experience in time like no other medium can.”

Christmas and New Year’s Liturgies Christmas Eve (December 24)

4:30pm Children’s Nativity Play (4:00pm) and Mass (Children’s Choir) 10:00pm Christmas Caroling followed by 10:30pm Mass (full choir) 12:00am Midnight Mass (Sung High Mass in Latin, full choir)

Christmas Day (December 25)

8:00am Mass with Christmas Carols 9:30am Full Choir Mass 11:30am Full Choir Latin Mass No 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) Holy Day of Obligation 8:00am Mass 9:30am Full Choir Mass 11:30am Full Choir Latin Mass No 7:30pm Mass

Confessions

15 minutes before every Mass

Christmas TV Mass Special with Monsignor Harry Schlitt Will be aired on Christmas morning KTSF - CH26

9:30 - 10:00 am

KOFY-TV 20

8:00 - 8:30 am

FOX 40

7:30 - 8:00 am Your donations make the TV Mass possible Please join us Christmas morning and every Sunday

Have a Blessed Holiday season.

You are always in my Prayers Msgr. Harry Schlitt

h

14 national

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Alabama archbishop releases names of clergy, religious accused of abuse

MOBILE, Alabama – Saying that Jesus provides light for the church to overcome darkness, Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi of Mobile released the names of priests, deacons and religious brothers who had been credibly accused of sexual misconduct with minors.

In releasing the list Dec. 6, Archbishop Rodi apologized to victims Archbishop Rodi of child sexual abuse as well as to parishioners throughout the southern Alabama archdiocese in a statement posted on the archdiocesan website, www.mobarch.org.

The names were included on two lists: one for archdiocesan clergy and the other for religious order clergy and religious men.

In the case of religious order clergy, he said, the list includes the names of all priests and brothers credibly accused, even if alleged incidents of abuse did not occur in the archdiocese.

The lists show that allegations were received from the 1950s through 2012. The most recent case involved a deacon of the archdiocese. All other incidents were reported no later than 1998.

In all, 10 archdiocesan priests and one deacon were named as were 15 religious order priests and two religious brothers.

Archbishop Rodi said the allegations involved about 2 percent of the 457 archdiocesan clergy who have served since 1950. However, church officials were unable to determine how many religious order priests served in the archdiocese during the last seven decades because of incomplete records, he explained.

“I presume the percentage would be similar,” the archbishop’s statement said.

“As you will notice almost all of these acts of misconduct were many years ago. That is in no way to excuse the devastating harm of child abuse. The injury that sexual abuse of a minor inflicts lasts for many years,” the archbishop said.

Catholic News Service

St. Francis of Assisi Church 1425 Bay Road, East Palo Alto

650/322-2152

Mass Schedule For Christmas and New Year Confessions Monday, December 24, 2018 10:30 am to12:00 pm and 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm Christmas’ Eve & Day Masses Monday, December 24, 2018 6:00 pm Bi-lingual Children’s Mass Followed by Pastorela Midnight Bi-lingual Mass

Tuesday, December 25, 2018 7:30 am English 9:30 am Spanish 11:30 am English 1:30 pm Spanish New Year’s Eve and Day Masses Monday December 31, 2018 Midnight Bi-lingual Mass Tuesday, January 1, 2019 7:30 am English 9:30 am Spanish 11:30 am English 1:30 pm Spanish

Two Jesuit provinces release names of priests with credible abuse claims Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON – The leaders of two U.S. provinces of the Society of Jesus released the names of more than 150 clergy with credible sexual abuse claims against them dating to the 1950s.

Father Scott Santarosa, provincial of the order’s West province based in Portland, Oregon, and Father Ronald Mercier, provincial of the Central and Southern province based in St. Louis, released separate lists Dec. 7 of priests and religious brothers who were alleged to have abused minors.

The release of 153 names by the two provinces comes as dioceses, archdioceses and religious orders nationwide have made public since summer the names of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse.

The Central and Southern province list included 42 names dating to 1955, while the West province identified 111 men dating to 1950.

Both provincial leaders apologized to abuse survivors and to the wider Catholic community in response to the claims of abuse.

The priests also said they released the names in response to calls for transparency from the faithful and survivors.

“Silence in the face of the events of recent months cannot be an option,” Father Mercier said in a statement.

“Words cannot possibly suffice to express our sorrow and shame for what occurred, our promise of prayer for healing and our commitment to work with them. Caring for these survivors, and preventing any such future events, must be our focus as we move forward,” he said.

Father Santarosa said the release of names involving men in ministry was necessary.

“We do so because the people of God demand and deserve transparency. We do so because we

850 Judah St. San Francisco (415) 665-1600

2018 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 Masses, December Christmas Eve, December 24th 24 Vigil 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 Masses, December 25 Christmas, December 25th Midnight Mass 12:00 12am mn Traditional Midnight Mass 7:30, 9:30, 10:30 am Masses 7:30am Mass (with a cappella music) 12:00Mass nn Cantonese Mass 9:00am (with Traditional Choir) 10:30am Mass (with Contemporary Choir) New Year’s Day, January 1st 9:00 12pm am Mass Mass in Chinese New Year Mass- sf . org www . stanne January 1 9am God bless and a Blessed Advent and Merry12.17.10 Christmas to –you andx your loved ones.

Issue 2 col.

Display

Hall until 11pm

y Fr. Tony McGuire )

4”

Editor’s note: The list released by the Jesuits’ West province is available at https://bit.ly/2QIgyiA. The list released by the Central and Southern province is available at https://bit.ly/2Elb7QR.

christmas liturgies St. Monica-St. Thomas

the

Apostle Parish

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE St. Monica St. Thomas the Apostle Church C hurch

Geary Boulevard at 23rd Ave, San Francisco (415) 751-5275

St. Anne of the Sunset Church

hope that this act of accountability will help victims and their families in the healing process,” Father Santarosa said in a statement.

“On behalf of the Society of Jesus, I apologize to the victims and families who put their trust in a Jesuit only to have that trust so profoundly betrayed,” he said.

The lists contained detailed information about the men accused of abuse, including details of their assignments, the approximate period of the alleged abuse, status within the Society of Jesus and whether the men are alive or deceased.

The provincials stressed that none of the accused men remain in active ministry today.

The Jesuit leaders also said their respective province was committed to responding to the needs of all survivors and their families.

Both provinces planned to follow up the release of the lists with reviews of clergy personnel files by Kinsale Management Consulting, whose executive director, Kathleen McChesney, is a former FBI agent. The provinces said they planned to release additional names if the review uncovers additional allegations. The reviews are planned in the spring.

The Central and Southern province covers 13 states, Puerto Rico and Belize. The West province covers 10 states and includes the former Oregon province, which agreed in 2011 to pay $166 million to about 500 people abused by Jesuit priests. The settlement was part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.

The order’s Midwest province is expected to release its findings in mid-December.

3835 Balboa Street, San Francisco 415- 387-5545

ADVENT: 4th WEEK Saturday, December 22

ADVENT: 4th WEEK Saturday, December 22

Confessions: 4:00 pm - 4:45 pm, Mass: 5:00 pm

Confessions: 3:00 pm Mass: 4;00 pm

Sunday, December 23

Sunday, December 23

Masses: 8:00 am, 9:00 am (Cantonese), 11:00 am

Mass: 9:30 am, 6:00 pm (Vietnamese)

CHRISTMAS EVE

CHRISTMAS EVE

Monday December 24 8:30 a.m. Mass, 5:00 pm Family Christmas Eve Mass with St. Monica Honors Choir and Nativity Play 8:00 pm Vietnamese Mass 11:45 pm The St. Monica Choir will present festive music of the season 12:00 am Solemn Midnight Mass

Monday December 24 4:00 pm Children’s Mass 8:30 pm Christmas Carols by the Adult choir 9:00 pm Christmas Mass

CHRISTMAS DAY Tuesday, December 25 Masses: 8:00 am, 11:00 am with choir

Monday, December 31 Mass: 8:30 am

NEW YEAR’S DAY Tuesday, January 1, 2019 Mass: 10:00 am

CHRISTMAS DAY Tuesday, December 25 9:30 am Christmas Mass

Saturday, December 29 Confessions: 3:00 pm; Mass 4:00 pm

Sunday, December 30 Mass: 9:30 am, 6:00 pm (Vietnamese)

NEW YEAR’S DAY Tuesday, January 1, 2019 Mass: 9:30 am

national 15

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

US Supreme Court won’t hear case of states defunding Planned Parenthood

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court voted Dec. 10 not to hear an appeal from states seeking to terminate Medicaid contracts with Planned Parenthood, meaning that these contracts will remain.

Kansas and Louisiana had attempted to block Medicaid funds from being used for preventative care services provided by Planned Parenthood. A lower court ruled that this policy violated federal law, and the states were attempting to appeal this decision.

By deciding not to hear the case, the court has not cast a judgment on the questions contained in the appeals.

Only three judges – Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch – voted to grant review. This is one short of the four needed.

Voting against review were newlyconfirmed Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan.

In his dissent, Thomas wrote that he thought his colleagues on the bench were trying to avoid any cases involving Planned Parenthood, the country’s largest abortion provider.

This case in particular did not involve abortion, but concerned other services provided by Planned Parenthood.

“What explains the court’s refusal to do its job here?” asked Thomas, adding, “I suspect it has something to do with the fact that some respondents in these cases are named ‘Planned Parenthood.’”

Thomas was furious with the court’s denial of review, saying: “But these cases are not about abortion rights,” but rather “about private rights of action under the Medicaid Act.” “Resolving the question presented here would not even affect Planned Parenthood’s ability to challenge the States’ decisions; it concerns only the rights of individual Medicaid patients to bring their own suits. Some tenuous connection to a politically fraught issue does not justify abdicating our judicial duty.”

of the Nashville diocese. Groups also traveled from Birmingham, Alabama, north Georgia and Evansville, Indiana.

Religious investors ask energy firms to oppose EPA emission rollback plan

(CNS photo/David J. Phillip pool via Reuters)

Nation bids final goodbye to 41st president

A member of the military honor guard stands near the casket of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush while people pay their respects as the train carrying his casket passes by Dec. 6 along the route to his burial site in College Station, Texas. “He was a great, grand man,” said Sister Mary Brendan O’Donnell, who waited with thousands to pay her respects to the late president at his own parish church, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, the night before his funeral. “Honest and humble.”

‘Holy Fire’ retreat ignites faith of middle schoolers from 10 dioceses

tional Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, is developed in collaboration with host dioceses, like Nashville as well as Chicago recently.

Both events have been extremely well attended by thousands of young people.

“We had over 10 dioceses in all, including representatives from across Tennessee and three of four dioceses in Kentucky,” Staley told the Tennessee Register, newspaper

WASHINGTON – Nearly two dozen Catholic entities have joined other investors in urging major oil and natural gas producing companies to oppose the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rollback of standards governing greenhouse gas emissions.

In an early December letter to the energy firms, the 61 shareholders that are part of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility wrote that any rollback is risky to their investments because it would lead to “excessive methane emissions that needlessly tarnish the reputation of natural gas as clean fuel and call into question the role natural gas can play in a low-carbon future.”

The letter specifically focuses on an EPA plan to ease the New Source Performance Standards, or NSPS, adopted in 2016. The standards govern production and transmission in the oil and gas industry. The standards set limits on the emission of methane, volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants in energy production.

The EPA proposal seeks to ease those limits, citing cost savings to industry. Organizations such as Virginia-based Mercy Investment Services, one of the Catholic signatories to the letter, see the rollbacks not just as financially risky but a threat to the environment as the world struggles to respond to climate change.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – More than 1,800 Catholic middle school students and their chaperones from 10 dioceses danced and prayed their way through an interactive retreat event at the Catholic Pastoral Center in Nashville, the largest of its kind ever staged in the diocese.

“I’m still in awe,” said Bill Staley, director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Nashville.

The daylong event Dec. 1, which Mission Dolores Basilica included a mix of high-energy Advent – Christmas Schedule / 2018 musicians and inspirational speakHorario de la Temporada Adviento – Navideña ers, along with quiet moments for eucharistic adoration and prayer, was well-received by the youth, their parents and chaperones Retíro who at- de Adviento Thursday/Jueves [Español] Advent Lessons & Carols (English) Saturday/Sabado tended.

6 Dec 2018 JOINING Most Holy Redeemer Parish, Dec 2018 by12 Holy1Fire, produced thep.m.

Na- - 5 p.m. - Auditorio 18th & Diamond St. SF - 7:00 p.m.

Mission Dolores Basilica

Catholic News Service

Advent – Christmas Schedule / 2018 Horario de la Temporada Adviento – Navideña

Mission Dolores Basilica

Advent Christmas Schedule (English) Thursday/Jueves Advent Lessons & Carols 2018 JOINING Most Holy Redeemer Parish, 6 Dec 2018 christmas liturgies de la 18th & Diamond St. Horario SF - 7:00 p.m.

Catholic News Agency/EWTN

Saturday/Sabado 8 Dec 2018

Wednesday/Miercoles

Saturday/Sabado 8 Dec 2018 Wednesday/Miercoles 12 Dec 2018 Wednesday/Miercoles 19 Dec 2018 Saturdays/Sabados 8, 15 & 22 Dec 2018 Sunday / Domingo 16 Dec 2018 Sunday / Domingo 16 Dec - 23 Dec 2018 Monday/Lunes 24 Dec 2018

Feast of the Immaculate Conception Fiesta de la Inmaculada Concepción Mass: 9 a.m.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

12 Dec 2018 Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Temporada Adviento5:00 - Navieña a.m. Mañanitas y Misa Solemne Feast of the Immaculate Conception Communal Penance (English) Wednesday/Miercoles Fiesta de la Inmaculada Concepción 19 Dec 2018 JOINING Most Holy Redeemer Parish - 7:00 p.m.

Mass: 9 a.m.

Saturdays/Sabados 8, 15 & 22 Dec 2018

Confessions / Confesiónes 3:30 - 4:30 - Basilica

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica Choir Centennial Christmas Concert Sunday / Domingo Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe 16 Dec 2018 Concierto Navideño del Coro de la Basilica 5:00 a.m. Mañanitas y Misa Solemne 5:00 p.m.

Sunday / Domingo Las Posadas 16 Dec - 23 Dec 2018 7:00 p.m. *NOTE: (Sun., Dec.16 & 23 - 1 p.m.)

Penance (English)

Communal JOINING Most Holy Redeemer Parish p.m.

Christmas Eve- /7:00 Víspera de Navidad Monday/Lunes 24 Dec 2018

Confessions / Confesiónes 3:30 - 4:30 - Basilica

5:00 p.m.

11:30 p.m.

12:00

Family Christmas Mass - Children’s Choir Christmas Carol Sing - Basilica Choirs Midnight Solemn Mass / Misa Solemne (bilingüe)

Christmas Day / Día de Navidad 10:00 a.m. Mass in English Christmas Concert 12:00 noon Misa en Español

Tuesday/Martes 25 Dec 2018

Basilica Choir Centennial Concierto Navideño del Coro de la Basilica Tuesday/Martes New Year’s Day: Feast of Mary, the Mother of God 5:00 p.m.

1 Jan 2019 Misa del Año Nuevo: Fiesta de la Madre de Dios 9:00 a.m.

Mass (bi-lingual)

Las Posadas Epiphany / Día-de Reyes Sunday(Sun., / Domingo 7:00 p.m. *NOTE: Dec.16 & 23 1 los p.m.)

5:00 pm.

8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.

12:00 Navidad

6 Jan 2019

Vigil Mass (Sat. 5 Jan.) Mass in English Misa en Español

Christmas Eve / Víspera de 5:00 p.m.

Family Christmas Mass - Children’s Choir 11:30 p.m. Christmas Carol Sing - Basilica Choirs

16 faith

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Sunday readings

Third Sunday of Advent ZEPHANIAH 3:14-18A Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has removed the judgment against you he has turned away your enemies; the King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.

PSALM IS 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation.

Cry out with joy and gladness: for among

you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name.

Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

Sing praise to the Lord for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!

Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7 Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always.

I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

LUKE 3:10-18 The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none.

And whoever has food should do likewise.”

Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

What should we do?

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he theme of the third Sunday of Advent is one of joyful waiting, and in each of the three readings, we can recognize this theme.

The first reading calls us to “Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart … for the Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty Savior.” In the second reading, we hear: “Brother and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always … Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.” In the Gospel, John the Baptist proclaims a simple message of justice and mercy that in today’s world would have global ramifications.

When Jimmy Carter was president of the United Deacon States, he started a profaiva Po’oi gram of visiting people in their homes. It was not the prominent, the powerful people – the kind of people one would expect to host a president – that were visited. Instead, it was the farmers, the factory workers – just ordinary folks like you and me. Often I have wondered about those people and about the preparations they made in anticipation of that visit. Hopefully,

scripture reflection

Liturgical calendar, daily Mass readings Monday, December 17: Monday of the Third Week in Advent. St. Jose Manyanet, priest. Gn 49:2, 8-10. PS 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17. Mt 1:1-17.

Tuesday, December 18: Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent. Jer 23:5-8. pS 72:1-2, 12-13, 1819. Mt 1:18-25.

Wednesday, December 19: Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent. Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a. Ps 71:34a, 5-6ab, 16-17. Lk 1:5-25.

Thursday, December 20: Thursday of the Third Week of Advent. Is 7:10-14. Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6.

Lk 1:26-38.

Friday, December 21: Friday of the Third Week of Advent. Optional Memorial of St. Peter Canisius, priest and doctor. Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a. Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21. Lk 1:39-45.

Saturday, December 22: Saturday of the Third Week of Advent. 1 Sm 1:24-28. 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd. Lk 1:46-56.

they did not put on some superficial show, for that would have defeated the entire purpose of the visit. But of one thing you can be certain: they did an extra good job of cleaning house! I would.

Wouldn’t you?

This brought me to Advent. Advent is the time of the year when we celebrate the coming of Christ, not just as he came in the past, but as he continues to come into our present lives – not just to Bethlehem but to our town and our homes and our lives.

Suppose you knew that Jesus was going to physically visit your home during this Advent season.

Imagine what that would be like! You are not sure which day he will come nor what time of the day he will come. You are certain, however, that he is coming. How would you handle this? What would you do? How would you prepare for a visit without knowing any details?

This is somewhat the message of today’s Gospel.

John had been preaching to the crowds, telling them that the Messiah was at hand. Those who believed his message began to ask him: “What should we do?” And, John the Baptist had some specific and practical answers to that question. He responded: “Let the man who has two coats give to him who has none. The man who has food should do the same.” In addition, he told the tax collectors to exact nothing over and above their fixed amount. He told the soldiers not to intimidate people or lie to them. He told them to be content with their pay.

If we tried to decorate our lives in order to impress our Lord, we would simply be wasting our time and money! It would be an exercise in futility.

Humanity may look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.

The words of St. John the Baptist were not uttered just for his audience at that time in history.

Quite the contrary! His words are said to us as well. He spoke of “repentance,” and repentance is a vital part of our preparation for Christmas.

The word literally means to change one’s mind, and that would express itself in a change of life’s direction. Most of us still need to hear this message today.

Unfortunately, the temptation to take advantage of others did not vanish with the conclusion of the first century. The ways in which this happens may have changed, but the reality remains the same today.

Repentance is a vital part of Advent. If we are really looking for Jesus’ coming into our lives, we will want to “clean house” and make some major changes in the way that we are living our lives.

As Christmas draws near, may we intensify our prayer of thanksgiving and ask Jesus for guidance. May he send his love to purify our hearts and minds anew.

Deacon Faiva Po’oi serves at St. Timothy Parish, San Mateo.

pope francis Prepare for Christ’s birth by recognizing mistakes, sowing peace

VATICAN CITY – Advent is a time for people to think about what they can change about themselves so that they can sow the seeds of peace, justice and fraternity in their daily lives, Pope Francis said.

The Advent season is a call for personal conversion, “humbly recognizing our mistakes, our infidelities, our failure” to do one’s duty, he said Dec. 9 before praying the Angelus with visitors gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

Celebrating the second Sunday of Advent, the pope said the attitudes of vigilance and prayer that characterize the Advent season and preparations for Christmas include a journey of conversion.

“Let each one of us think, how can I change something about my behavior in order to prepare the way of the Lord?” the pope said.

Preparing the way entails making straight “his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low,” the pope said, citing the day’s Gospel reading according to St. Luke.

The pope said to think of the valleys as being the result of indifference and cold-heartedness. Filling them, he said, requires reaching out to others – like Jesus did – with warmth and attentive care and concern for their needs.

Hills that need leveling, he said, are the bitter, harsh obstacles of pride and arrogance.

What is needed here is reconciliation and asking for forgiveness for one’s mistakes, he said. Even though taking the first step is not easy, “the Lord helps us in this, if we are of goodwill.”

“We cannot give up in the face of negative situations of closure and refusal,” he said; “we must not let ourselves be subdued by the world’s mindset because the center of our life is Jesus and his word of light, love and consolation.”

St. John the Baptist, he said, invited the people around him to conversion “with strength, vigor and severity. Nonetheless he knew how to listen,” how to act with tenderness and be forgiving.

Catholic News Service

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Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

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Outside the city

od, it seems, favors the powerless, the unnoticed, children, babies, outsiders and refugees with no resources or place to go.

That’s why Jesus was born outside the city, in a stable, unnoticed, outside all fanfare, away from all major media, and away from all the persons and FATHER ron events that rolheiser were deemed important at the time, humble and anonymous. God works like that. Why? In the rock opera, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” that question is asked of Jesus: “Why’d you choose such a backward time in such a strange land? If you’d come today you could have reached a whole nation.” Israel in 4 BC had no mass communication.

Scripture answers by telling us that God’s ways are not our ways and our ways are not God’s ways. That’s true here. We tend to understand power by how it works in our world. There it works through popularity, through mass media, through historical privilege, through financial clout, through higher education, through idiosyncratic genius, and, not infrequently, through raw aggression, greed, and insensitivity to the needs of others and of nature.

But even a quick reading of scripture tells us that’s not how God works. The God that Jesus incarnates doesn’t enter into this world with a huge splash, as a royal birth eagerly anticipated and then announced by

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all the major media outlets, with photos of him and his parents on the cover of every popular magazine, with universal predictions as to his future greatness and influence, and then with privileged access to the best educational institutions and circles of power and influence.

Clearly, clearly, that’s not the story of Jesus’ birth, nor of how his life unfolded. God, as scripture shows, works more through anonymity than through the headlines, more through the poor than the powerful, and more through those outside the circles of power than those inside them. When we examine how God works, we see it’s no accident that Jesus was born outside the city and that after he was crucified he was also buried outside the city.

God’s work in our world generally does not make the headlines.

God never breaks into our world or into our consciousness by showy displays of power. God works more discretely, in quiet, touching soul, touching conscience, and touching that previously touched part inside of us where we still unconsciously bear the memory of once, long before birth, being touched, caressed, and loved by God. That’s why Christ was born into this world as a baby and not as superstar, as someone whose only power was the capacity to touch and soften the hearts of those around him. Babies overpower no one, physically, intellectually, or athletically.

They lie helpless and cry for love and care. That’s why, paradoxically, at the end of the day, they’re more powerful than anyone else. No physical, intellectual, or athletic power can ultimately touch the human conscience as can a baby – and similar sights of innocent helplessness, a wounded bird, an abandoned kitten, a young

child alone and crying. What’s best in us enflames, healthily, in the presence of powerlessness and innocence.

That’s how God enters into us, gently, unnoticed. No big splash. That’s also why God tends to bypass circles of power to favor the abandoned and vulnerable. For example, when the Gospel of Luke records how John the Baptist came to be specially blessed, it takes a scathing swipe at both the civic and religious powers of its time. It names all the major civil and religious leaders of the time (the Roman rulers, the kings in Palestine, and the religious high priests) and then tells us plainly that the word of God bypassed them all and came instead to John, a solitary, living in the wilderness (Luke 3, 1-3). According to the Gospels, the wilderness is where we’re most likely to find and experience God’s presence because God tends to bypasses the centers of power and influence to find a place instead in the hearts of those outside those circles.

You see this too, in the various apparitions of Mary, Jesus’ mother, that have been approved by the church. Mary has never appeared to a president, a pope, a major religious leader. She’s appeared to children, to a young woman of no earthly importance, to an illiterate peasant, and to various other persons of no worldly status.

We tend to understand power as residing clout. But, looked at more deeply, as we see in the birth of Christ, God’s word bypasses the centers of power and gestates instead in the hearts and consciences of those outside the city.

Oblate Father Rolheiser is president of the Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas.

Why 42 had to be impeached 20 years ago

wenty years ago this month, I found myself seriously doublebooked, so to speak.

The editing of the first volume of my John Paul II biography, “Witness to Hope,” was entering the ninth inning, and I was furiously engaged in exchanging edited and re-edited copy with my george weigel editors in New York. At the same time, the Clinton impeachment drama was cresting. And as I had long done speechwriting for Congressman Henry Hyde, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, I spent week after week of split time, working on John Paul II from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., then switching to impeachment for a couple of hours before returning to “Witness to Hope” in the evening.

It was not the optimal way to work but it had to be done, even if it seemed likely that the president would be acquitted in a Senate trial. On Dec. 19, 1998, the House of Representatives voted two articles of impeachment and senior House members, including Mr. Hyde, solemnly walked the two articles across the Capitol and presented them to the Senate’s leaders. On toward midnight, Henry Hyde called me and, referring to Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, said, “We’re not

going to make it. Trent won’t fight; I saw it in his eyes.” After a long moment I replied that, if we were going to lose, we had a duty to lay down a record with which history would have to reckon.

Which is what the great Henry Hyde did during the January 1999 Senate trial, where he bent every effort to prevent the proceedings from descending into farce.

For Hyde, the impeachment of President Bill Clinton was an unavoidable piece of nasty business. It was not a matter of partisan score-settling, nor was it a matter of punishing a president for gross behavior with an intern in the White House. It was a matter of defending the rule of law.

As Henry put it to me when it seemed clear that the president had perjured himself and obstructed justice, “There are over a hundred people in federal prisons for these crimes. How can the chief law enforcement officer of the United States be guilty of them and stay in office?”

Impeachment is a political process and it was clear by mid-fall of 1998 that the politics were not breaking toward removing the president from office. They had been pointed that way over the summer, though. And as the pressures built, it seemed as if the Clinton presidency might end as Richard Nixon’s had: Party elders, in this case Democrats, would go to the White House, explain that it was over, and ask the president to resign for the sake of the country. Then around Labor Day that year, Maureen Dowd of the

New York Times and other columnists began suggesting that, if Clinton were impeached and convicted, the sexual revolution would be over, the yahoos of reaction would have won, and we’d be back to something resembling Salem, Massachusetts, during the witchcraft insanity.

That was preposterous. It was also effective. And within days, at least in Washington, you could feel the templates shifting: This wasn’t about the rule of law, it was about sex and the yahoos couldn’t be allowed to win.

So once the game was redefined there was little chance to wrench the political process back to what it was really about: the rule of law. In his opening speech during the president’s trial, Henry Hyde tried valiantly to refocus the argument, insisting that high office did not absolve a man from obeying his constitutional oath to faithfully execute the laws of the United States and his oath swearing to tell the truth to a federal grand jury. To suggest that it did was to “break the covenant of trust” between president and people, dissolving “the mortar that binds the foundation stones of our freedom into a secure and solid edifice.”

It was the right argument. The nation should remember with gratitude those like Henry Hyde who, under fierce assault, stood for the rule of law.

George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow and William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington, D.C.

The theology of Christmas

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n the feast of the Incarnation we celebrate almighty God’s decision to become man by assuming the body of a human being. The heavenly father announced to Mary that she was chosen to be the mother of God’s only begotten son. Mary had been immaculately conceived in her mother womb, and was made ready from her conception for this supreme moment in the history of the world.

FATHER JOHN Mary humbly CATOIR accepted the divine invitation and submitted to the will of her heavenly Father in all things. When her time came she gave birth to an infant boy and named him Jesus. Being truly human, “He grew in wisdom, age and grace.” This divine mystery is beyond our ability to comprehend fully but are all privy to the facts that surround the mystery.

It is important to know that the human and divine natures of Jesus are not mixed; one does not dissolve into the other. We accept this on faith. Jesus is one divine person with two natures. The human and divine natures in Jesus Christ coexist without becoming comingled. His humanity is always fully present. And yet, Jesus is one divine person, God incarnate.

Mary was just as perplexed as you are.

She accepted her vocation in a state of wonder. She understood that the long awaited Messiah was to be taken from her body. Jesus is flesh of her flesh and bone of her bone. The Lord was carried in her womb for nine months, and when her time came, God incarnate was born in the form of a tiny infant.

The process by which Jesus became a divine person began in the Father’s love. He wanted to become totally united to all of us, and made it possible for us to become members of the mystical body of Christ.

The reception of this gift is given either in the sacrament of baptism, or in the sacrament of ardent desire for union with the Lord. We become other Christs. “In him we live, and breathe and have our being.”

God initiated this divinization process by allowing us to become one with the inner life of Jesus. At each reception of holy Communion, we become more and more transformed into our Lord’s life. Our new status enables us to be Christ-bearers in our service to one another.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but was it in a stable or a cave? Some accept the mystical revelations of Catherine Emmerich; namely, that Jesus was born in a cave where shepherds came to give shelter to their sheep. St. Joseph who knew the area from his boyhood, acted when he realized that there was no room at the inn.

He brought Mary to that cave for shelter.

They traveled to the outskirts of Bethlehem, and settled in a cold, damp cave to prepare for the birth of Christ the King.

The most important event in the history of the world, the birth of Christ, which we refer to as the feast of the Incarnation, took place in a cave where the body of Jesus was warmed by the breath of beasts.

On a personal note, the sentiments of my Christmas card are extended to one and all, “Wishing you the love Jesus, Mary and Joseph knew on that first Christmas night. May you and your loved ones share the peace and happiness of that love with each other.”

Father John Catoir is a canon lawyer and a priest of the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey.

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Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

What are you giving for Christmas?

s they celebrated their first Christmas in America 150 years ago, our Little Sisters in Baltimore noted that the donations received included “12 turkeys, four ducks, 16 chickens and so many other good things that we didn’t know what to do with it all!” They concluded, “In this country Christmas is like the feast of Sister the poor!” constance I decided to veit, lsp take a look at Christmas giving in 19th century America to see if this was true.

In 1843 Charles Dickens published “A Christmas Carol,” telling the story of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and his Christmas Eve conversion. As the story opens, Scrooge is approached by two men asking for a cash donation to help the poor. He refuses, answering that there are prisons and workhouses for the destitute and he pays taxes to support them.

Scrooge’s attitude was quite prevalent in America as well as in England.

Our young nation was being built up through hard work and self-reliance.

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Commerce and industry were taking off, and with them a new spirit of competition, along with the uncompromising pursuit of profit. There was also a growing social divide between the rich and the poor.

Like Scrooge, many Americans believed that the “unworthy” poor – those who were judged to have caused their own misery – belonged in prison or the workhouse, where the conditions were anything but humane. The one group of destitute individuals that elicited universal sympathy was impoverished children.

People concerned about poverty were encouraged to donate to churches or charitable institutions rather than giving directly to the poor.

A January 1844 article in the New York Tribune advised that if all the money wasted on unnecessary Christmas trifles was “rightly appropriated … Pauperism and its attendant miseries could be eliminated.” An 1853 editorial in the same newspaper ran with the headline, “Do Not Give to Street Beggars.” Giving directly to the poor was believed to encourage beggary.

The New York Times expressed similar sentiments. An 1854 editorial asserted that money contributed to worthy organizations “will find where the misery is.” The paper encouraged its readers to give to “those excellent institutions, in whose hands, if you

place a dollar, you do what, individually, you could not make five dollars do.”

Charitable giving was on its way to becoming a well-oiled yet impersonal machine. Large Christmas dinners for the poor at New York’s Madison Square Garden served up to 20,000 people at a time as the wealthy looked on as spectators. Is this how charity should be administered?

Worthy institutions of all types will always play an important role in relieving the distress of the poor, but contrary to what the New York Tribune asserted, poverty will never be completely eliminated. Christ himself foretold, “The poor you will always have with you,” and “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren, you do to me.”

In the 1860s and ’70s, the Little Sisters were a fledgling community in a foreign land, so the people who supported us were definitely taking a risk! I am especially grateful for those who gave the gift of their presence, and those who knew how to go beyond what might be considered life’s necessities in order to make the elderly feel loved.

Our archives are full of stories of such thoughtful charity. The Galt House Hotel, a Louisville institution, donated leftovers on a daily basis.

On Christmas day in 1869 the hotel

The challenge of John Chau

erhaps you’ve heard the extraordinary story of John Chau, the young Christian missionary who tried to bring the Gospel to North Sentinel Island, one of the most remote and isolated communities in the world, and who, for his trouble, was killed before he even got past the beach. His endeavor has inspired a whole BISHOP Robert range of reacBarron tions -- outrage, puzzlement, sympathy, deep admiration -- and has stirred up in many people, both religious and secular, questions about the missionary nature of Christianity.

To his critics, Chau was not only foolhardy but also culturally insensitive and imperialistic, trying to impose a doctrine and style of life on a people who had no interest in it. He called to mind, his detractors say, the worst of the Christian missionary era, during which the faith was introduced at the point of a bayonet and backed up by gunboats and armies of eager colonizers. Haven’t the religions finally eschewed this aggressiveness and allowed for tolerance and diversity? Even some Christians who shared his missionary zeal questioned the prudence of his methods.

I had a passing acquaintance with John Chau’s adventure when I chanced upon a lengthy piece in The New York Times which provided extensive background. The mission to North Sentinel Island was not a lark, nor was it decided upon spur of the moment. Chau in fact had first learned of the inhabitants of the island in the Indian Ocean when he was in high school. A 21st century anomaly, the people of North Sentinel

have had virtually no contact with the wider world, still live according to customs 10,000 years old, and exhibit extreme aggression toward any visitors who, by chance or design, have found their way to their shores. Fired by Christ’s call to bring the Gospel even to the ends of the world, Chau resolved to venture to this dangerous and primitive place.

For a number of years, he carefully prepared himself through cultural and linguistic study, through exercise, through spiritual discipline. His fondest hope was to establish a Christian community on North Sentinel Island and to translate the Bible into the language of the people. As the day of his landing approached, he was filled with trepidation -- we know this from a journal he kept -- but he pressed on. He arrived on shore wearing only a pair of black shorts, convinced that such simple garb would strike the native people as less threatening, but within a few minutes, he was killed in a hail of arrows. Later, some fishermen saw islanders dragging the missionary’s body with a rope.

Again, I realize that even the most sympathetic of observers might well be tempted to see this simply as a waste of a life, a debacle born of naïveté and foolish zeal. And yet … Jesus did indeed instruct his disciples to bring the Gospel to every nation -- it was in fact his final command. And the Christian church has honored missionaries up and down the centuries, from St. Paul and St. Patrick to St. Francis Xavier and Dr. Livingstone. It offers particular homage to those brave spirits who have brought the Christian faith to a region for the first time and who met, typically enough, enormous, even lethal, opposition. Think, to give just one example, of the great St. Isaac Jogues, a 17th century French Jesuit missionary to North America, who had his fingers chewed off by those he attempted to evangelize and who, in a subsequent mission, was put to death. When I first

heard the story of John Chau, what came to my mind immediately was the great film “The Mission,” which is the fictionalized account of the Jesuit outreach to the Guarani tribes of South America. Who can forget the scenes depicting Father Gabriel, played by Jeremy Irons, making his way up the steep cliff face behind a waterfall in order to reach the plateau where the Guarani lived? Once he got past that obstacle, the missionary was faced with a group of tribespeople, initially curious, then hostile, and finally charmed by his playing of a flute. Part of what makes that scene so memorable is the clear sense that things could easily have gone the other way and Father Gabriel been put to death in a manner reminiscent of John Chau. My point is that Christianity is a missionary religion and that Christians, across the centuries, have been willing to risk everything in order to bring the Gospel of Christ to those who do not know it. Has this outreach been frequently compromised by its association with imperialism and cultural aggression? Absolutely. But that says nothing against the courage and zeal of those who did the preaching.

But even if we grant that there is a warrant for John Chau’s mission, wouldn’t we have to admit that it was a tragic failure, a miscalculation? I don’t think so. Mother Teresa famously commented that the Lord does not ask us to be successful, but rather to be faithful.

Was young Mr. Chau faithful? It is hard to deny it. Might his success be measured not so much in converts made but in witness offered? And was he an avatar of Western intolerance? I don’t know: A kid wading ashore, unarmed, wearing only a pair of shorts, and carrying only a Bible? Say what you want about his prudence. I will speak of him with honor.

Bishop Robert Barron is an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries.

management requested that the Little Sisters send their begging wagon over to the hotel at noon. The Little Sisters assumed they would receive leftovers as they usually did, but the hotel employees filled the wagon with freshly made treats of all kinds, which made the residents quite happy!

Thanks to the generosity of such wonderful people I can see how the Little Sisters could say that in this country, Christmas is the feast of the poor.

As we reflect on how best to respond to the cry of the poor in our own time, I’d like to suggest that even the most destitute individual deserves a look of love and the gift of humanity.

In his encyclical on charity Pope Benedict XVI wrote that although charitable organizations might be “a political necessity,” if we look upon others from the perspective of Jesus Christ we can perceive in them an interior desire for a sign of love and concern. “Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities; I can give them the look of love which they crave.”

Let’s try to be generous in giving this look of love this Christmas!

Sister Constance Veit is director of communications for the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Embracing divine revelations, accepting the unknown

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t all started with a lost birth certificate. The Holy Spirit was at work that day and hasn’t slowed down since.

My aunt Jan has always known she was adopted, and the many mysteries surrounding that reality had never haunted her.

She raised Christina her daughCapecchi ters near St. Paul, Minnesota, her husband’s hometown, and cherished her Catholic faith. Now 56, she is an empty nester who volunteers often and paints religious icons.

Last summer Jan was applying for her enhanced driver’s license, Transportation Security Administration, and couldn’t find her birth certificate. Finally she resolved to send for another one from Pennsylvania, where she was born and raised. The state website noted that it would soon be issuing original birth certificates.

Eventually she applied, and the following month a copy of her original birth certificate arrived, bearing two revelations: her birth name, Theresa Anne, and her birth mother’s name, Judy with a last see capecchi, page 19

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Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Caring for caregivers is a special gift Lisa M. Petsche

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he holiday season is a hectic time for many people, due to the preparations and festivities that typically take place. Staying sane, not to mention enjoying this time of the year, is even more of a challenge for those providing care to a chronically ill relative.

Keep in mind that emotional support and your time are the two most valuable gifts you can give a caregiver.

The following are suggestions for lightening the load of a caregiver in your life and gifts you might find appropriate for the caregiver.

Bake extra holiday treats for them.

Let them know when you are heading out to the grocery store or on other errands, and ask if there’s anything they need.

Offer respite for an hour so they can get their hair done, or for a longer stretch so they can go shopping or to a holiday event.

Offer to decorate, wrap gifts or perform other seasonal tasks. If they enjoy some of these activities, occupy

their relative so they can engage in them without interruption.

Offer to address greeting cards and take them to the post office, or assist the person in preparing and sending a newsletter to update family members and friends.

If they plan to entertain, offer to help with preparations and cleanup, or to attend to the care receiver during the event.

If the person doesn’t drive, offer transportation to the mall, a church event or somewhere else that they would like to go.

Encourage the caregiver to practice self-care by eating nutritiously, exercising and getting sufficient rest.

Bring over a meal or offer to sit with their relative so they can take a walk.

Surprise the person with a treat, such as a rented movie. If you’re on limited income, sign out magazines, books, movies or music CDs for them from the public library.

Ask, rather than guess, what kind of practical help the caregiver could use most; perhaps it’s dusting and

vacuuming or running errands. Take it upon yourself to deliver a casserole or baked goods and, if you’re a neighbor, to sweep both walks or bring in both sets of garbage cans.

Gifts include a booklet of IOUs for home-cooked meals, baked goods, respite care, household chores or repairs, yard work, chauffeuring, running errands.

Answering machine or cordless phone.

Wall calendar with plenty of space for noting appointments.

Caregiving binder for keeping records and organizing paperwork.

Membership in a caregivers’ organization or non-profit organization associated with their relative’s disease.

Gift certificate for a home health care agency, medical supply store or cleaning service.

Book of tickets or gift voucher for accessible transportation, if the care receiver is unable to ride in a car, so they can go out together.

Inspirational book. Choose a collec-

tion of verses or short stories if the caregiver doesn’t have much time for reading.

Subscription to a caregiving periodical, or a magazine that reflects an interest or favorite pastime.

Hardcover journal for recording their experiences, thoughts and feelings.

Writing paper and envelopes, or a set of all-occasion note cards, along with stamps.

Basket of sweets, gourmet coffees and teas, jams and jellies or dried fruit and nuts.

Gift certificate to a restaurant with takeout and delivery service, a dry cleaner with pickup service or a pharmacy or grocery store that delivers.

Two tickets to a cultural event – so a friend can accompany them – and an IOU for respite care.

For higher-cost items, pool resources with family members or friends.

Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior health matters.

Capecchi: Embracing divine revelations, accepting the unknown FROM PAGE 18

name Jan would rather not disclose except to call it “unusual.” With both in hand she turned to an online search. Within minutes, White Pages churned up a 1940 census showing that Judy had grown up – of all places – in St. Paul! She is 80 and still alive, living in Florida.

Within a week Jan was mining Ancestry.com. An obituary of her mom’s brother listed his children, including one distinct name: a member of Jan’s parish, St. Odilia, a thriving Catholic community in Shoreview, Minnesota.

Jan has known and worshipped alongside her first cousin for years!

The two have since forged a warm new friendship, meeting and texting regularly. Though her birth father’s identity remains unclear, Jan has determined that she has five half-siblings, including one in Duluth, Minnesota. Many cousins live nearby, and Jan recently met an uncle in another

St. Paul suburb.

Jan’s spiritual life proved just as active as her adoption research. She took three icon classes and began the lay formation process for the Third Order Carmelites.

Reconnecting with her birth mom was never her goal, but suddenly it seemed prudent to reach out before someone else mentioned Jan to Judy.

And so, on a Friday night in August, Jan sat at her kitchen table and wrote a letter to her birth mom. The words and tears poured out.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the gift of life and the gift of adoption,” she wrote. “Thank you for having me baptized Catholic. I know God has been with me from the very beginning.”

She expressed a willingness to meet but left it up to her.

“I have prayed in thanksgiving for you and my siblings and birth father for years,” Jan wrote in closing. “I will continue to do so.”

The letter was written in one sitting and in the mail the following morning.

Initially, Jan hoped for an immediate reply.

None has come, but she’s OK with that.

“God is so amazing to allow me to see these connections this side of heaven,” she said. “He is working through me more and more!”

It’s evident in her art: She has completed seven icons this year. Normally, she’d finish one or two. It’s also evident in her abundant prayer life, including a daily rosary and many Masses offered for her birth parents and siblings.

“You have to be in motion for God to act,” she said. “Prayer is action.”

As the year draws to a close, Jan has a peaceful acceptance of the many remaining unknowns – and a joyful optimism for the future.

She’d love to paint icons full time to give to churches in need. She plans to learn the violin after retiring and eventually walk El Camino. She’s dreaming big and believing, like never before, that anything is possible in God. “I am living it!”

Christina Capecchi is a freelance writer in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.

756 MISSION STREET, SAN FRANCISCO

christmas liturgies Seventeenth andVicente VicenteStreet Street Seventeenth Avenue Avenue and The DistrictininSan SanFrancisco Francisco The Parkside Parkside District

CHRISTMAS EVEMASSES MASSES CHRISTMAS EVE

5:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m. –– Fr. Fr.Michael MichaelLiliedahl Liliedahl with with music musicby byFrances FrancesPeterson Peterson 7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m. –– Fr. Fr.Sebastine SebastineBula, Bula,VC VC with with our ourChildren’s Children’sChoir Choir 11:15 p.m.

11:15 p.m. –– Carol CarolConcert Concert Midnight Mass Midnight Mass––Msgr.

Msgr.Romulo RomuloVergara Vergara with our Adult Choir Orchestra Orchestra with our Adult Choirand and

6:00 a.m. Misa de Gallo, followed by hot breakfast in Bitanga Hall 7:30 a.m. Mass 12:10 p.m. Mass There will be no Mass at 5:15 p.m.

7:00 p.m. Christmas Carols 8:00 p.m. Traditional “Mass at Midnight”

CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES

CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES 7:30 a.m. – Fr. Sebastine Bula, VC

7:30 a.m. – Fr. Sebastine Bula, VC 9:30 a.m – Fr. Michael Liliedahl 9:30 a.m – Fr. Michael Liliedahl with music

by Frances Peterson with- Msgr. musicRomulo

by Frances Peterson 11:30 a.m.

Vergara 11:30 a.m.

Msgr.

Romulo Vergara with-our Adult Choir and Orchestra with our Adult Choir and Orchestra

LIVE BROADCAST: WWW.STCECILIA.COM

LIVE BROADCAST: WWW.STCECILIA.COM

7:30 a.m., 12:10 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.

20 opinion

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Mass confusion

T

here is a growing interest among some priests and laity to celebrate Mass ad orientem (toward the East).

This designation should not be labeled as the priest facing the wall or the tabernacle with his back to the people, but rather a posture of praying to God. The earliest church documents that describe the Eucharist show FATHER gerald differences D. Coleman, PSS in the way it was celebrated from region to region, Rome, Jerusalem, Milan. These centers of the church had different ways of celebrating the Eucharist from the earliest days. However, there was never a question that it was the same Eucharist. In the 16th century, the Council of Trent endorsed some of this diversity, but called for a greater centrality in promoting uniformity.

In 1984 St. John Paul II gave permission under certain conditions to restore the use of the Missal promulgated by St. John XXIII. In 1988 he established a commission for the pastoral oversight of those Catholics who remain attached to the Mass as it was celebrated in the Roman Missal of 1962. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI

gave permission to celebrate the whole liturgy according to the norms of 1962.

He stated that the Missal of 1962 (the extraordinary form) and the Missal of 2008 (the ordinary form) are both legitimate forms of the one Roman Rite.

Benedict exhorted the whole church to “generously open our hearts and make room for everything that the faith itself allows.” The pope’s apostolic letter aimed at legitimizing the extraordinary form of the liturgy “as a precious treasure to be preserved” and “promoting reconciliation at the heart of the church.”

This brief history serves as background for the confusion over the proper direction the priest should face during Mass. After the Second Vatican Council one of the most evident liturgical changes was the celebration of Mass versus populum (toward the people). This stance was adopted throughout the Latin church and has become the prevailing practice for the celebration of Mass.

The church teaches that it is legitimate for the priest to celebrate Mass facing the people, but has not forbidden or excluded the possibility of celebrating Mass ad orientem.

The crucial point is that the Mass is a common act of worship where priest and people together listen to the word of God and celebrate the Eucharist.

The whole congregation, priest and people, are praying together to God through Jesus.

CHRISTMAS MASSES

Some believe that this common act of worship is best celebrated when both priest and people are turned toward the Lord facing the same way, manifesting a common act of worship and symbolizing our common pilgrimage toward the Lord. In his book “The Spirit of the Liturgy,” Cardinal Ratzinger expressed his belief that this common posture best evokes the mystery of the transcendent God. The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council (with a vote by the Bishops of 2,147 to 4, and promulgated by St. Paul VI) importantly sets forth foundational principles about the celebration of the Mass. It aims to shift the Mass from a clerical sacred drama to an act of the entire community. The key passage is: “Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. Such a participation by the Christian people … is their right and duty by reason of their baptism. In the full restoration and promotion of the sacred liturgy, this full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered before all else; for it is the primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit; and therefore pastors of souls must zealously strive to achieve it…” (no. 14).

Those who favor celebrating Mass ad orientem insist that this way best fosters humility in the priest and prevents

his ego from taking over “as it does in versus populum.” Mass facing the East also forces us to recognize, without any doubt or confusion, just who it is we are worshiping. Cardinal Ratzinger wrote that “the turning of the priest toward the people has turned the community into a self-enclosed circle … locked into itself.” The priest “becomes the real point of reference for the whole liturgy. Everything depends on him. We have to see him, to be involved in what he is doing.”

This argument strains credulity as it assumes that a priest celebrating Mass facing the people is centered on himself and his ego. Neither humility nor egoism aligns with either practice.

We must be careful not to chip away at the Spirit-guided reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Mass celebrated toward the people seems the best way of fulfilling the norm set forth in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. Both forms (ad orientem and versus populum) may provide spiritual enrichment and can promote the communion of the whole church as an expression of unity in diversity.

It’s not a question of which form is right and which is wrong. The main point is which form best honors the teaching of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. I believe that the correct answer is the celebration of Mass facing the people as it fosters a “greater centrality in promoting unity.”

Sulpician Father Gerald D. Coleman is adjunct professor, Graduate Department of Pastoral Ministries, Santa Clara University.

christmas liturgies St. Augustine Church

3700 Callan Blvd.

S. San Francisco, CA 94080

Christmas 2018

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24

4:00pm 6:00pm

Family Vigil Mass with Children’s Chorus

Vigil Mass with Choir & Trumpet

Midnight Solemn Vigil with Choir & Strings Prelude begins at 11:30pm

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25

8:00am

Mass with Organ and Cantor

9:30am

Mass with Choir and Cantor

11:00am

Mass with Choir and Trumpet

FREE PARKING AVAILABLE IN ALL UNIVERSITY LOTS

650 Parker Avenue San Francisco, CA 94118

Novena of masses (Simbang Gabi) December 15-23 – 7:00 P.M. No 5:30 pm Mass during Simbang Gabi.

Christmas Vigil: Monday, 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: Tuesday, 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.

Vigil Mass: Monday, December 31 5:30 P.M.

Holy Day of Obligation, Tuesday, January 1, 2019

9:00 A.M., 11:00 A.M. Mass (No 5:30 P.M. Mass on New Years Day)

world 21

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Christmas spirit in the air as Vatican unveils Nativity scene, tree Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY – The annual unveiling of the Vatican’s Christmas tree and Nativity scene brought some much-needed warmth to people’s hearts as winter approached.

Hundreds of people in St. Peter’s Square Dec. 7 applauded as white curtains unfurled, revealing a 52-foot wide artistic representation of Jesus’ birth made entirely of sand and dubbed the “Sand Nativity.”

The bas-relief sculpture, which weighed over 700 tons, was made with sand from Jesolo, an Italian seaside resort town roughly 40 miles north of Venice.

Shortly after, as the sun set behind St. Peter’s Basilica, the sounds of “Silent Night” filled the square before the lights of the Vatican’s towering Christmas tree were lit.

The 42-foot-tall red spruce tree, donated by the Diocese of ConcordiaPordenone in the northern Italian region of Veneto, was unveiled at the Vatican’s annual tree lighting ceremony.

Among those present at the annual Christmas tree lighting were Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the commission governing Vatican City State; Archbishop Francesco Moraglia, patriarch of Venice; and Bishop Giuseppe Pellegrini of ConcordiaPordenone.

The “Sand Nativity” scene and tree

(CNS photo/Paul Haring)

The Christmas tree and “Sand Nativity” are seen after a tree-lighting ceremony in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Dec. 7. will remain in St. Peter’s Square until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord Jan. 13.

Earlier in the day, Pope Francis met with delegations from the northern Italian regions of Veneto and FriuliVenezia Giulia, responsible respectively for the 2018 Vatican Christmas tree and Nativity scene.

Thanking the delegations for their gifts, the pope said the Nativity scene and Christmas tree are visible signs that “help us to contemplate the mystery of God, who was made man in order to be close to us.”

The bright lights emanating from the Christmas tree, he explained, “remind us that Jesus is the light of the world, the light of the soul that drives

out the darkness of enmity and makes room for forgiveness.”

The soaring height of the Christmas tree, he added, also symbolizes “God who – through the birth of his son, Jesus – came down to man to raise him to himself and elevate him from the fog of selfishness and sin.”

Pope Francis also reflected on the unique composition of the Nativity scene. Sand, he said, is a poor material that “recalls the simplicity, the littleness and frailty with which God show himself through the birth of Jesus in the precariousness of Bethlehem.”

“The child Jesus, Son of God and our Savior, whom we lay in the manger, is holy in poverty, littleness, simplicity and humility,” the pope said. “By contemplating the God-child who emanates light in the humility of the manger, we, too, can become witnesses of humility, tenderness and goodness.”

Kicking off preparations to celebrate the birth of Christ was special exhibition in the morning of over 100 different Nativity scenes at the Vatican.

The event, now in its 43rd edition, was sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization.

Dubbed “100 Cribs at the Vatican,” the Dec. 7-Jan. 13 exhibition featured a wide variety of artistic representations depicting Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.

In a statement promoting the event, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the pontifical council, said the exhibition of different Nativity scenes – a tradition credited to St. Francis of Assisi – was “a strong instrument of evangelization.”

“So many people stop every Christmas before the mystery of God made man, represented with figurines – which in many cases are authentic masterpieces of art – to pray, to reflect and to discover the love of God who became a child for us.”

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22 from the front

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Pope: Protect basic human rights of all, without exception FROM PAGE 1

conference at the Pontifical Gregorian University discussing the “achievements, omissions and negations” in the world of human rights today.

The Universal Declaration on Human Rights was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly Dec. 10, 1948. It detailed core principles that guaranteed the fundaments rights of every person.

In his message, Pope Francis said, “numerous forms of injustice” still exist in the world today, which seems to have no qualms about exploiting, rejecting and even killing human beings.

Those whose basic human rights continue to be violated, he said, include: the unborn, who are “denied the right to come into the world”; those who lack the necessary means to live a decent life; those who are denied an adequate education; those who lack work or are forced to work in slave-like conditions; those who are detained in inhumane conditions, who are tortured or are denied the possibility of redeeming their lives; and victims of “forced disappearances” and their families.

In addition, he said, there are those who live “in an atmosphere dominated by suspicion and disdain, who are the targets of acts of intolerance, discrimination and violence because of their race, ethnicity, nationality or religion.”

“Finally,” the pope wrote, “I cannot forget all those who are subjected to multiple violations of their fundamental rights in the tragic context of armed conflict while the unscrupulous merchants of death get rich off the price of their brother and sisters’ blood.”

Everyone is called to play his or her part “with courage and determination” to stop those ongoing violations of basic human rights and promote respect for the fundamental rights of every person, “especially those who are ‘invisible,’ those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, foreign or detained, those who live on the margins of society or are rejected.”

(CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Pope Francis greets a child as he visits poor, sick people at a center run by the CasAmica Onlus organization on the outskirts of Rome Dec. 7. The visit continued the pope’s tradition of doing Friday works of mercy.

Pope Francis appealed to all world leaders “to put human rights at the center of their policies,” including policies concerning development, “even when that means going against the tide.”

Speaking at the conference, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said the declaration was intended to “combine the values of humanity with the formulations of rights” to prevent violence and eliminate inequality.

“It is not just a question of defining rights on the basis of abstract peaceful coexistence or environmental or climate-based sustainability, but of reflecting on the basic criteria for coexistence between people,” Cardinal Parolin said.

However, he said, there are signs that the shared values that were once the fabric of the document are unraveling, so the world must have “the courage to rewrite legislation to bring values back to the center.”

The cardinal, like other Catholic commentators on the universal declarations’ 70th anniversary, noted the push for a recognition of new rights, such

as abortion or euthanasia.

Perhaps, he said, what is needed is a dialogue about values. “Words like dignity, liberty and responsibility are already in the language and aspirations of the human family; in fact, without them, it is not possible to speak of human rights” or hope for the conditions of peace, security, development and cooperation that should flow from a universal recognition of human rights.

“Perhaps the time has come to launch a broad reflection and consultation in the church on human rights, indeed I would say almost on the future of humankind, becoming aware that the classic question, ‘Who are you?’ has been replaced by the highly insidious one: ‘What rights do you want to have?’” Cardinal Parolin said.

In Brussels, Pax Christi International marked the anniversary of the human rights declaration, saying the current period in history is a time to celebrate its achievements and to examine current challenges to its implementation.

“We have become acutely aware from our partners and friends that human rights and those who seek to protect them are increasingly under attack,” a statement from the Catholic peace organization said. “The tireless guardians of these universal rights are faced with a shrinking space in which to do their work.”

Despite the challenges, the organization said it remained hopeful because human rights defenders and people working to protect the environment and toward disarmament “remain steadfast in their nonviolent struggle.”

The anniversary gave Pax Christi the opportunity to reiterate its calls to end violence and violent conflicts to stop human rights violations; eliminate nuclear weapons as a human rights issue; demand safeguards for human rights in areas in the mining of vital metal and fuels; support civil society in their nonviolence work for human rights; support the 2030 time frame for the sustainable development goals as a key factor in advancing human rights.

Beyond charity: Conference urges Catholics to build social justice FROM PAGE 9

archdiocese’s Office of Human Life and Dignity, told Catholic San Francisco that the presentation

by Teamworks was the highlight of the conference. “Cooperatives represent a model of democracy in the workplace,” Ford said, “and they fit in well with our office’s mission to advance the dignity of human life.”

While the conference presentations found an enthusiastic reception, implementing them at

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

2018 Christmas Schedule

Christmas Eve, Monday December 24th 4:00 pm 6:00 pm Children’s Mass 10:00 pm Candlelight Mass (No Mass at Midnight) Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25th 8:00 am, 10:00 am, and 12 Noon New Year’s Day Masses Vigil Mass on Monday, December 31st at 5:30 pm Tuesday, January 1, 2019 8:00 am, 11:00 am, & 7:30 pm 11:30 am at Marian Oaks Convent

The Capuchin Franciscans & Parish Staff wish our Parishioners and Friends Peace, Love and Hope for Christmas and the New Year.

the local level presents a challenge for parishes.

Kathy Mattingly, social ministries liaison at St. Thomas of Canterbury in San Jose, told Catholic San Francisco that she found the discussions exciting, but the envisioned goals were vague.

“We need to persuade people to commit to long-term organizing, but it’s so far out, and it’s nebulous and fuzzy,” she said. “There’s nothing that says, ‘Come do this and you’ll get this result.’” Mattingly said “individual relations are key” for mobilizing a community for long-term social change.

Besides the difficulty of bridging ideas and actions, Mattingly said bureaucracy and institutional concerns about liability tend to impede effective action.

“When I have a crisis, I go do something – now.

Commissioning pilot programs and studies acts like it’s not a crisis,” she said.

Sabrina Harper, the pastoral associate at St. Matthias, told Catholic San Francisco building a faith-based social justice movement would require a change in how Catholics engage their faith.

“I think the church is really good at charity; justice and peace are less of a focus,” she said.

“People want to keep their faith lives separate from politics,” she said, and can be uncomfortable with the political overtones of social justice.

“The challenge is in pursuing justice, and trying to get people to see the way they live their faith is in action,” said Harper.

world 23

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

In times of trouble, hold fast to God, Capuchin tells pope Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY – When storm clouds gather and the Catholic Church is tossed by the scandalous behavior of some of its members, Catholics must repeat what St. Francis of Assisi repeated: “God is and that suffices,” the preacher of the papal household told Pope Francis and his aides.

“Let us also learn to repeat these simple words to ourselves when, in the church or in our lives, we find ourselves in circumstances similar to those of (St.) Francis, and many clouds will disperse,” said Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa Dec. 7.

The preacher of the papal household leads the pope and Roman Curia officials in a spiritual reflection on most Fridays of Advent and Lent. For his 2018 Advent reflections, Father Cantalamessa said he would “set aside every other theme and any reference to current problems” and focus on each individual’s need for a personal relationship with God. “We know from experience that an authentic personal relationship with God is the first requirement in dealing with all the situations and problems that come up without us losing our peace and patience,” said the 84-yearold Father Cantalamessa.

At the suggestion of Pope Francis, Father Cantalamessa will lead a retreat for the bishops of the United

(CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the official preacher of the papal household, is pictured in a 2014 photo. Father Cantalamessa leads Pope Francis and Roman Curia officials in a spiritual reflection on most Fridays of Advent and Lent.

States Jan. 2-8 at Mundelein Seminary near Chicago as they continue to discuss and discern ways to handle the clerical sexual abuse crisis.

For the theme of his Advent reflections at the Vatican, the Capuchin chose a verse from Psalm 42: “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” “People today are passionate in searching for signs of the existence of intelligent beings on other planets,” which is “legitimate and understandable,” he told the pope and Curia officials. “Few, however, search for and

christmas liturgies Saints Peter and Paul Church Dec. 17-21 Dec. 17

5PM Christmas Novena 7PM Advent Penance Service

Christmas Eve

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

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

In In In In In

English English Cantonese/English Italian English

No 5:00 PM Mass on Christmas Day

660 Filbert Street San Francisco 415.421.0809

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.

Christmas Celebrations at St. Dunstan 2018 CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES 4:30 pm Children’s Mass with Pageant 11:00 pm Christmas Carols 11:30 pm Christmas Mass Christmas Day Masses 7:00 am, 8:30 am, 10:00 am, and 11:30 am

NO 5:00 pm Mass on Christmas Day

study the signs of the Living Being who has created the universe, who entered into its history, and who lives in it.”

Yet while “we have the real Living One in our midst,” he said, “we overlook him to search for hypothetical beings who, in the best of cases, could do very little for us and certainly could not save us from death.”

A fundamental fact for those who believe in God is not only that he exists, Father Cantalamessa said, but that he lives and continually seeks a

relationship with the human beings he created.

Many Christians see Jesus’ remark “Seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” as a promise that Jesus will give them everything they ask for, and then are “perplexed because we see this rarely happens,” he said.

But the basic promise is “Seek me and you will find me; knock and I will open the door,” Father Cantalamessa said. “He promises to give himself, above and beyond the small things we ask of him, and this promise is always infallibly kept. Whoever seeks him finds him; he will open to whoever knocks, and once someone has found him, everything else is secondary.”

Father Cantalamessa recalled how, at the end of his life, St. Francis of Assisi was troubled by the way some of his friars were behaving. In prayer, he felt the Lord rebuke him with the words, “Why are you disturbed, little man? Did I not place you over my order as its shepherd, and now you do not know that I am its chief protector?...

Do not be disturbed, therefore, but work out your salvation, for though the order were reduced to the number of three, it will by my grace remain unshaken.”

According to a Franciscan scholar, he said, St. Francis was comforted and went around repeating to himself, “God is and that suffices! God is and that suffices!”

Merry Christmas FROM

ST. MARY STAR OF THE SEA PARISH 180 Harrison Ave, Sausalito, CA 94965

Christmas Schedule Christmas Eve – Monday, December 24th, 2018

5:30 P.M. Children’s Mass with Christmas Carols | 9:00 P.M. Mass (Our Midnight Mass)

Christmas Day – Tuesday, December 25th, 2018 7:30 A.M.; 9:30 A.M. and 11:30 A.M. Masses

Celebrating

Christ

TH E BI RTH OF

24 world

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Catholic groups push for strong climate deal at UN summit

KATOWICE, Poland – Catholic representatives worked to keep negotiations on track for a comprehensive deal to address global warming as the U.N. climate change conference entered its second and final week in Katowice, Poland.

The effort was complicated by the actions of U.S., Russian, Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti delegates, who objected to a note by the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP24, “welcoming” an October report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The report warned that greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels would need to be reduced by 45 percent by 2030 for global warming kept to a maximum of 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit under the 2015 Paris climate accord or risk worsening drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty. After hours of negotiations Dec. 8 and with no consensus reached, the note was dropped under U.N. protocol. Still, the church continued to press for sustained action on climate change.

“The church is exerting pressure and showing really significant commitment. We must hope countries match this,” said Rebecca Elliott, communications

director of Global Catholic Climate Movement, a coalition of more than 650 Catholic organizations. “Besides acting as a moral voice and providing a robust faithbased response, Catholic organizations are relating stories about the experiences of people from Latin America, Africa, India and the Pacific islands who are gravely affected by climate change.”

Algerian martyrs bear witness to dialogue, peace, pope says

VATICAN CITY – The lives of 19 religious men and women martyred during the Algerian civil war are a testament to God’s plan of love and peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims, Pope Francis said.

In a message read Dec. 8 at the beatification Mass for the six women religious and 13 clerics, Pope Francis said it was a time for Catholics in Algeria and around the world to celebrate the martyrs’ commitment to peace, but it was also a time to remember the sacrifices made by all Algerians during the bloody war.

Cardinal Angelo Becciu, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, celebrated the Mass in Oran, Algeria, for the martyrs who were killed between 1994 and 1996. Both Christians and Muslims in Algeria “have

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been victims of the same violence for having lived, with faithfulness and respect for each other, their duties as believers and citizens in this blessed land. It is for them, too, that we pray and express our grateful tribute,” the pope said.

Vatican publishes pope’s Christmas schedule

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has a full schedule of Christmastime liturgies planned for December and January, including the customary baptism of newborn babies Jan. 13, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

The Vatican published the pope’s Christmas schedule Dec. 10, reconfirming liturgies originally announced in late October.

The Masses and special celebrations include: – Dec. 24 at 9:30 p.m., the Christmas Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.

– Dec. 25 at noon, Christmas message and blessing “urbi et orbi” (“to the city and the world”) from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

– Dec. 31 at 5 p.m., first vespers for the feast of Mary, Mother of God, followed by eucharistic exposition, the singing of the “Te Deum” hymn of praise in thanksgiving for the year that is ending and benediction.

– Jan. 1 at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica, Mass for the feast of Mary, Mother of God, and for the World Day of Peace.

– Jan. 6 at 10 a.m., Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for the feast of the Epiphany.

Earlier, the Vatican had announced that on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Jan. 13, Pope Francis would celebrate a morning Mass in the Sistine Chapel and baptize infants.

He is scheduled to travel to Panama Jan. 23-28 for World Youth Day. Catholic News Agency

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Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

For pope, it was year to come to terms with abuse crisis Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis marked the fifth anniversary of his election in March in the midst of a firestorm over his handling of clerical sexual abuse and bishops’ accountability in Chile.

He soon apologized for his slow response and invited Chilean abuse survivors to the Vatican and then all the country’s bishops to meet with him in May. By mid-October, the pope had dismissed two Chilean bishops from the priesthood and accepted the resignations of seven others.

The firestorm began when Pope Francis visited Chile and Peru in January, but the trip also included a meeting with the region’s indigenous peoples, marking an important stage in the preparation for the 2019 special Synod of Bishops on the Amazon, which will focus on safeguarding creation and on the pastoral care of the people who live in the region.

Also during 2018, Pope Francis traveled to the Geneva headquarters of the World Council of Churches to celebrate the ecumenical body’s 70th anniversary; he went to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families; and he visited the Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

He spent most of October presiding over the Synod of Bishops on young people, and during the synod, he celebrated the canonizations of St. Paul VI, St. Oscar Romero and five others.

But the sex abuse crisis dominated news coverage of the pope’s year, particularly after accusations were deemed credible that former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, had abused a minor and for years had sexually harassed seminarians.

The pope accepted his resignation from the College of Cardinals, forbid him from publicly exercising priestly ministry and ordered him to “a life of prayer and penance until the accusations made against him are examined” in a canonical process.

Less than a month later, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the former nuncio to the United States, inflamed the situation by claiming that Pope Francis had known of Archbishop McCarrick’s history of sexual misconduct and of supposed sanctions imposed on him, but ignored or lifted them. Archbishop Vigano later admitted sanctions were never formally imposed, but he continued to insist Pope Francis ignored warnings about Archbishop McCarrick.

In mid-September, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis was calling the presidents of all the world’s bishops’ conferences to a four-day meeting at the Vatican in February to address the abuse crisis and better ways to protect children.

(CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Pope Francis is pictured after posing for a photo with officials representing the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at the Vatican Sept. 13. The meeting came as the U.S. church was responding to the sexual abuse crisis. From left are Msgr. J. Brian Bransfield, general secretary of the conference; Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors; Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the conference; and Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, vice president of the conference.

At the synod on young people, faith and vocational discernment, some bishops – especially from Australia and the United States – insisted the abuse crisis be a topic of discussion.

Australian Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney used his speech at the synod to formally apologize to young people for all the ways the Catholic Church and its members have harmed them or let them down.

In the presence of Pope Francis, he apologized Oct. 4 “for the shameful deeds of some priests, religious and laypeople, perpetrated upon you or other young people just like you, and the terrible damage that has done.”

He apologized “for the failure of too many bishops and others to respond appropriately when abuse was identified, and to do all in their power to keep you safe; and for the damage thus done to the church’s credibility and to your trust.”

U.S. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia, a member of the synod council that planned the gathering, had asked Pope Francis in August to cancel the synod and focus instead on the abuse crisis.

In his speech to the synod, he urged his fellow bishops to reaffirm strongly and clearly Catholic teaching on sex, sexuality and sexual morality.

“Explaining why Catholic teaching about human sexuality is true, and why it’s ennobling and merciful, seems crucial to any discussion of anthropological issues,” the archbishop told the synod.

“The clergy sexual abuse crisis is precisely a result of the self-indulgence and confusion introduced into the church in my lifetime, even among those tasked with teaching and leading,” he said. “And minors – our young people – have paid the price for it.”

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groups at the synod reported having discussed the abuse scandal, in the end the final document removed a reference to “zero tolerance” of abuse that had been in the draft document.

But members retained a passage saying, “The Synod expresses gratitude to those who have had the courage to denounce the evil they have suffered: they help the church become aware of what has happened and of the need to react decisively” to ensure abuse does not continue to occur.

The synod was enlivened by the presence of three dozen young people in their 20s and 30s who addressed the assembly, participated in the small groups, spoke at press briefings and – uncommonly at a synod – cheered for some of the speeches of bishops and other observers.

In the end, the synod affirmed that the Catholic Church and all its members must get better at listening to young people, taking their questions seriously, recognizing them as full members of the church, patiently walking with them and offering guidance as they discern the best way to live their faith.

Pope Francis’ trip to the former

Soviet republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in September coincided with the announcement that after decades of talks with China’s communist government officials, the Vatican had reached a provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops.

Giving the government input on bishop candidates in exchange for official recognition of their office was a move widely debated. Some people, including the pope, saw it as an essential step toward ensuring the unity of Catholics in China with the universal church, while others viewed it as an unacceptable concession to the Chinese government and a betrayal of Chinese Catholics who have risked their lives for decades by refusing to allow the government to control the church.

One positive result, however, was that for the first time, two bishops from mainland China were allowed to attend a Synod of Bishops, although they had to leave early.

Canonizing St. Paul VI and St. Oscar Romero during the synod, Pope Francis focused on Jesus’ call to leave everything behind and follow him. “Do not walk behind Jesus only when you want to, but seek him out every day,” the pope said. “Do not be content to keep the commandments, to give a little alms and say a few prayers: find in him the God who always loves you; seek in Jesus the God who is the meaning of your life, the God who gives you the strength to give of yourself.”

The sainthood ceremony came seven months after Pope Francis published his third apostolic exhortation, “Gaudete et Exsultate” (“Rejoice and Be Glad”) on how every person is called to holiness.

“We are all called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves,” he said, citing the example of “saints next door,” as seen, for example, in “parents who raise their children with immense love, in those men and women who work hard to support their families, in the sick, in elderly religious who never lose their smile.”

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26 arts & life

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

New children’s books help little ones know Jesus geously illustrated rosary on pages. With 90 works of classic and contemporary art, this unique book helps children pray the rosary in a new way: with words and images for better concentration and increased meditation. As parents of young children know, meaningful prayer time can easily derail in boredom and distraction, but this book includes the full text of every prayer paired with compelling images. Ages 3 and up.

Regina Lordan Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON – The following books are suitable for Christmas giving.

“Paul Writes (a Letter)” by Chris Raschka. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2018). 40 pp., $17.

It’s no surprise author and illustrator Chris Raschka is a two-time Caldecott Medal winner. The watercolor map of St. Paul’s travels throughout the Roman empire immediately hooks readers and welcomes them into an ancient biblical world reinvigorated with contemporarily edited prose and gorgeous lettering. St. Paul is introduced to children as a friend, speaking tenderly in a common language.

He calls to mind God’s love, God’s commandments and offers his own divinely inspired lessons. Ages 6 and up.

“My Year with the Saints for Kids” by Peter Celano. Paraclete Press (Brewster, Massachusetts, 2018). 153 pp., $14.99.

Beginning with the queen of saints, this daily devotional is so efficient even the most impatient and distracted middle-schooler or teenager can handle its contents independently. Younger children, with the assistance of parents, also can enjoy the book, which introduces a different saint every day with a quote and message for reflection.

Ages 8 and up.

“I Went to Mass: What Did I See?” by Katie Warner, illustrated by Meg Whalen.

Tan Books (Charlotte, North Carolina, 2018). 21 pp., $16.95.

Young children who like hearing simple calland-response prose or who are learning to read by repetition will enjoy “I Went to Mass.” The sketch paper-and-pencil illustrations, mostly in shades of charcoal, pair well with the text. The book teaches the littlest Massgoers to notice key elements of a church and the liturgy. Similar in its simplicity, “Cloud of Witnesses,” also by Katie Warner and Meg Whalen, is an introductory board book for children to learn about well-known saints such as Sts. Teresa of Avila, Augustine and Francis using simple quotes from the saints themselves. Ages 2-5.

“God Needed a Puppy” by John Gray, illustrated by Shanna Brickell. Paraclete Press (Brewster, Massachusetts, 2018). 40 pp., $12.99.

This children’s story is sweet and comforting for any child (or adult) who has lost a pet. Illustrated with breathtakingly real drawings of remarkable detail and illuminated with streams of light, readers will surely question whether or not the images are drawn or photographed. Unfortunately, what the book has in story and illustrations, it lacks in Catholic teaching. It would be helpful if the book included resources for families to find more information about Catholic teaching on animals and heaven. Ages 5 and up.

“Staircase for the Sisters: A Story of Prayer and St. Joseph” by Pamela Love, illustrated by John Joseph. Pauline Kids (Boston, 2018). 25 pp., $12.95.

Gather your children around and watch their eyes open in awe as you share with them the story

“The Complete Illuminated Rosary” edited by Jerry Windley-Daoust and Mark Daoust. Gracewatch Media (Winona, Minnesota, 2018). 370 pp., $84 hardcover, $64 softcover.

“The Complete Illuminated Rosary” is a gor-

of the miracle of the Loretto staircase. Little is more enjoyable than watching the joyful surprise of little faces processing that this was indeed a true story and the staircase still stands today. “Staircase for the Sisters” tells the story of the mysterious carpenter who answered the prayers of desperate sisters needing a staircase to their choir loft.

Some say the carpenter was an angel, others say it was St. Joseph himself. No one knows for certain.

Although the illustrations are cartoony, the joyful illustrations pair well with the story. Ages 5-8.

“Who Is Jesus? His Life His Land His Time”

by Gaelle Tertrais and Adeline Avril.

Ignatius Press (San Francisco, 2018). 93 pp., $16.99.

A history book for children, “Who Is Jesus” allows readers to explore the everyday life of God’s only son. It cracks open some interesting facts children would find intriguing (what did Jesus eat?) and reinforces important information skewed over the years (the Magi were not kings). The stories of the Gospel are given context, and the man whom Jesus became is given deeper meaning with this beautifully illustrated book. Ages 9 and up.

“The Church Rocks! A History of the Catholic Church for Kids and Their Parents and Teachers” by Sister Mary Lea Hill, FSP. Pauline Books and Media (Boston, 2018). 255 pp., $15.95.

Children, families and their teachers now have a book that comprehensively covers the history of the Catholic Church, from its birth at Pentecost to the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI and election of Pope Francis. Designed with young readers in mind, the text is appropriately interrupted with interesting graphics and sidebars to maintain attention. Ages 10 and up. regina Lordan has master’s degrees in education and political science and is a former assistant international editor of Catholic News Service. A mother of three young children, she is a digital editor at Peanut Butter & Grace, an online resource for Catholic parents.

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Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

help wanted

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

classifieds

COORDINATOR OF YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY FOR ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN FRANCISCO

Publish a novena New! Personal prayer option added Pre-payment required Mastercard or Visa accepted

Cost $26

If you wish to publish a Novena in the Catholic San Francisco You may use the form below or call (415) 614-5640 Your prayer will be published in our newspaper

Name ­ Address Phone MC/VISA # Exp. Select One Prayer:

❑St. Jude Novena to SH ❑ Prayer to the Blessed Virgin ❑ Prayer to St. Jude ❑ Prayer to the Holy Spirit ❑ Personal Prayer, 50 words or less Please return form with check or money order for $26 Payable to: Catholic San Francisco Advertising Dept., Catholic San Francisco 1 Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109

Full time benefited position, with an immediate start date.

Tasks & Responsibilities Toward Youth Ministry

Qualities & Qualifications:

1. To recruit, train, and create effective faith-filled, talented youth ministry leaders to animate the youth ministry groups 2. To accompany the youth actively and creatively in their faith journey by way of spiritual, liturgical, scriptural, sacramental events.

3. To be engaged in target-based, result-oriented invigoration of youth ministry in parishes and deaneries in terms of increasing number of youth, number of parish ministries, and various events organized, including at least one county-level event per county and one Archdiocese-wide event annually.

4. To help prepare youth for the Sacrament of Confirmation and organize Archdiocesan Confirmation retreats in collaboration with the Youth Council.

5. Develop and maintain database of addresses and contact information for youth ministry members of the Archdiocese and the progress of this ministry.

6. Facilitate Theology on Tap program.

7. Organize World Youth Day participation and maintain informational and financial database of participants.

• Strong interpersonal and problem resolution skills.

• Excellent English verbal, written and communication skills (Spanish Language helpful) • Organized, reliable, flexible, pleasant, affable, timely; and with effective planning skills • Proficient in Word, PowerPoint, Publisher and Excel • Practicing Catholic in good standing with a deep love for the Church • Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree • Experience in youth/young adult ministry, faith formation or related fields • 4-6 years of experience in parish and diocesan ministry • Valid California driver’s license with clean driving record and car for work • Able to work evenings/nights and weekends

help wanted

Catholic Elementary Principals Sought for Archdiocesan Schools The Department of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, is seeking elementary principal candidates for the 2019-2020 school year. Candidates must be a practicing Roman Catholic in good standing with the Church, possess a Valid California Standard Teaching Credential or the equivalent from another State, a Master’s Degree in an educational field and/or California administrative credential or the Certificate in Catholic School Administration from Loyola Marymount Unniversity *, be certified as a catechist at the basic level** and have five years of experience in teaching and/or in administration with Catholic school experience *Principals who are not in possession of both educational qualifications, must complete the requirement within a three year period of time from date of hire. ** Principals who are not in possession of basic certification in religion at the time of hire, must complete the process before they start their position.

Application materials may be downloaded from the official DCS website by clicking on the following link: www.sfarchdiocese.org/ employment The requested material plus a letter of interest should be submitted before February 15 to:

Christine Escobar, Human Resources Manager Department of Catholic Schools One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109-6602

Salary will be determined according to Archdiocesan guidelines based upon experience as a teacher or administrator and graduate education. Medical, dental, and retirement benefits are included.

ARCHDIOCESAN STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION The Archdiocese of San Francisco adheres to the following policy: “All school staff of Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of San Francisco shall be employed without regard to race, color, sex, ethnic or national origin and will consider for employment, qualified applicants with criminal histories.” (Administrative Handbook #4111.4)

Send cover letter, resume and three references to Christine Escobar escobarc@sfarch.org at One PeterYorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109 Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified candidates with criminal histories considered.

help wanted Business Manager, Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption Reports to: Pastor FLSA Status: Full Time Exempt POSITION SUMMARY: The Cathedral Business Manager serves as a key resource in support of the pastor, fulfilling administrative needs in managing finances, overseeing buildings, grounds, property maintenance and personnel. Works independently while advising the Pastor and collaborating with the Chancery offices.

Responsible for developing and managing to the annual operating and capital budgets.

RESPONSIBILITIES: • Manages operations of offices, event center, gift shop and team of five employees • Administers cash flow management system and is responsible for recording and depositing of all Cathedral Revenue • Purchasing and inventory • Monthly, quarterly and year-end financial reporting • Prepares and presents financial and operational performance reports for Pastor, Finance Council and ADSF Finance Department • Negotiates contracts with suppliers, vendors and construction firms in coordination with Archdiocesan Finance Department.

• Maintains the premises and anticipates needed repairs and replacements as part of facility maintenance and capital Improvements plans • Develop and update a three-five year Capital improvement and maintenance plans for the Cathedral.

These should be prepared in collaboration with the Archdiocesan Real Property Support Corporation (RPSC), Pastor and Moderator of the Curia • Maintenance of Cathedral membership and sacramental records • Administers archdiocesan salary, hiring and benefit policies as directed by the pastor in coordination with the Archdiocesan Human Resources Department.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty.

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Bachelor’s degree; two to five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Must be a practicing Roman Catholic who upholds and understands the teaching and traditions of the Catholic Church.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret financial statements, general business periodicals or governmental regulations.

• At least three years of management experience and strong knowledge of finance and budgeting and should have knowledge of MS Word, Excel and Outlook. Proficiency with QuickBooks Desktop and On-line sotware Please submit resume and cover letter to: Attn: Christine Escobar-Human Resources Manager Archdiocese of San Francisco One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109-6602 E-mail: escobarc@sfarch.org Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified candidates with criminal histories considered.

28 arts & life

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Conversational dialogues offer insights into Pope Francis’ views Nancy L. Roberts Catholic News Service

“A Future of Faith: The Path of Change in Politics and Society” by Pope Francis with Dominique Wolton. St. Martin’s Press (New York, 2018). 304 pp., $29.99.

“Open to God: Open to the World” by Pope Francis with Antonio Spadaro.

Bloomsbury (London, 2018). 200 pp., $14.40.

Two new collections of conversations with Pope Francis illuminate his vision for the church in the 21st century.

“A Future of Faith: The Path of Change in Politics and Society” presents his dialogue with Dominique Wolton, a French reporter and sociyounger priests. “They’re afraid of the Gospel and ologist. Their 12 conversations range across such prefer canon law. But that’s a caricature, just a compelling topics as globalization, immigration manner of speaking.” and poverty.

He continues: “If you’re a pastor it’s about Wolton adroitly raises timely issues for the serving people. Not looking at yourself in the pope to address. When he asks about the refugee mirror. The true wealth is the weak little people, crisis in January 2016 in Lesbos when Francis the poor, the sick, the ones right at the bottom, famously said, “We are all migrants, and we are the ones who are morally weakened. ... That’s all refugees,” the pope elaborates: “Our theology where the wealth of the church lies: among the is a theology of migrants. Because we all are since the call to Abraham, with all the migrations of the sinners.”

Pope Francis’ well-known compassion and people of Israel, and Jesus himself was a refugee, concern for the poor and marginalized are often an immigrant, and existentially, by virtue of our apparent in these pages. Throughout the book he faith, we are migrants.” comes across as an intelligent, wise and humble Lack of work and war are the twin forces that leader whose humanity is unmistakable. create refugees, the pope adds. In the case of “I am at peace with the Lord. I have many joys,” the first, we must identify and invest in new job he says. “When priests come to me for help for sources. In the case of war, “people complain that their problems, I feel the joy of someone who is migrants are coming to destroy us. But we’re the given a child; it’s also a joy to celebrate Mass.” He ones sending them the weapons!” He explains that adds that “the sense of humor is the thing, on the by “we,” he means “the West” as well as “some human level, that comes closest to divine grace.” non-Western countries (that) also sell weapons.”

The book also includes excerpts from six of the Pope Francis has much more to say here about pope’s major speeches since he was elected pope the church in the modern world. He cautions in March 2013. These are well chosen to flesh out against “wanting to modernize without discernThe Most Requested Funeral Directors in the ofFuture San The Requested Funeral Directorsthe indialogues. the Archdiocese Archdiocese San Francisco Francisco All in all, “Aof of Faith” is ment” andMost also laments the “rigidity” of some

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“Open to God: Open to the World” is similarly based on conversational dialogue between the pope and Father Antonio Spadaro, a Jesuit who provides a thoughtful interpretive perspective. He explains how the pope strives “to look people in the eye.”

The Holy Father’s “message is able to touch people immediately, directly, intuitively,” Father Spadaro writes. “His ability to communicate is rooted in pastoral experience, carried naturally to the creation of authentic relationships. His authority is never expressed in a rigid manner, like that of a marble statue; even its physicality is directed toward the interlocutor.”

Father Spadaro gives us a close-up view of the pope’s heartfelt ecumenism, recounting his interview with the pontiff just before his October 2016 visit to Sweden to participate in the ecumenical celebration of the Lutheran Reformation’s 500th anniversary.

The pope noted the importance of theological dialogue, but also expressed his belief in the importance of joining with those of other (or no) faith in “common prayer and works of mercy, working together to help the sick, the poor, the imprisoned. Doing something together is a deep and effective form of dialogue,” he told Father Spadaro. “Speaking, praying, working together: that is the path we must take.”

Similarly, Pope Francis’ advice to a young person who asked how to convert an atheist friend was, “The last thing you must do is to say anything. Act! Live! Then, seeing your life, your witness, the other person will ask you why you live like that.” The pope added his insight that “those who do not believe or do not seek God may not have experienced the restlessness that comes from bearing witness.” And this “restlessness is difficult to find in affluence.”

One of the most interesting sections presents Francis’ views on politics. In this highly polarized world, what is its proper role and value? The pope notes that what he calls “big politics … has been increasingly degraded into small politics.” But true politics is “craftsmanship used to build the unity of peoples and the unity of a people with all the diversity that is within them.” It is “one of the highest forms of charity” – and one that is helped by dialogue.

This echoes what he told Wolton in “A Future of Faith” when asked his advice for those wishing to enter politics: “Do it to serve. Do it out of love.

Don’t do it out of personal interest, out of greed or a desire for power.”

“Open to God: Open to the World” also includes the pope’s recent speeches in Myanmar, Peru and Chile.

Among the book’s personal insights is how the pope has found creative inspiration for his sermons in literary works such as Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov” and “Notes From Underground,” as well as works of Argentinian and German literature. “Novels, literature can read the hearts of men, they help us to respond to desire, splendor and misery. It isn’t theoretical. It helps you to preach, to know the heart.”

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Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Books introduce saintly pope, venerable archbishop Brian T. Olszewski Catholic News Service

”Prophet and Pilgrim of Peace: 99 Sayings by Pope St. Paul VI,” edited by Karl A. Schultz.

New City Press (Hyde Park, New York, 2018). 103 pp, $16.95.

“Fulton J. Sheen” by Alexis Walkenstein.

Pauline Books & Media (Boston, 2018).

124 pp, $12.95.

When it comes to quoting popes, homilists and workshop speakers often choose words from Pope Francis, St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII to make their point.

Aside from his 1965 speech to the United Nations in which he said, “Never again war, never again war! It is peace, peace that has to guide the destiny of the nations of all mankind,” and his 1972 Day of Peace letter in which he wrote, “If you want peace, work for justice,” rarely does one read or hear a quote from the recently canonized St. Paul VI. That’s too bad. While his writings and speeches were not as extensive as the aforementioned popes, what he wrote/spoke provided much upon which to reflect.

In “Prophet and Pilgrim of Peace,” readers will find plenty of material that can be integrated into one’s prayer life or that simply offers inspiration for the day.

It is no surprise that three of the quotes chosen

by Karl A. Schultz are about evangelization as St. Paul VI’s 1975 apostolic exhortation on evangelization, “Evangelii Nuntiandi,” is viewed by many as the root of the new evangelization that continues to be an integral part of his successors’ pontificates.

In collections of quotes, one can recognize the

prophetic in the subject when a quote is as relevant today as it was when first written. Such is the case with Schultz’s inclusion of this one from the 1964 encyclical “Ecclesiam Suam” (“Paths of the Church”): “We must serve the church and love her as she is, with a clear understanding of history, and humbly searching for the will of God who assists and guides her even when at times he permits human weakness to eclipse the purity of her features and the beauty of her action.”

While the material is rich, the editor did not provide the source for each quote. Rather, the book includes a list of sources, i.e., encyclicals, apostolic exhortations, apostolic letters, etc., from which the material is culled, but not a specific reference for each quote. Readers wishing to read St. Paul VI’s words in context must Google them to find the source from which they came.

Although that omission is frustrating, it doesn’t detract from the fact that “Prophet and Pilgrim of

Peace” serves as an introduction for anyone who is unaware of the wisdom and spirituality of St. Paul VI, and for anyone wanting to rediscover that wisdom and spirituality.

Like St. Teresa of Kolkata, Father Henri Nouwen and Father Thomas Merton, the life of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and his writing continue to inspire.

Having read the archbishop’s “Three to Get Married,” Alexis Walkenstein was inspired to learn more about the television legend with whom she claims a “spiritual friendship.”

Her 12-page introduction indicates she has a spiritual love affair with Archbishop Sheen as she explains how she came to know him through his writings and his family members. She serves on the advisory board for the canonization cause for Archbishop Sheen, who has been declared “venerable,” which is a step in the cause recognizing his heroic virtues.

The result is a volume of selections from “Three to Get Married” and six other Archbishop Sheen books. What Walkenstein provides is a buffet of the archbishop’s work, covering topics as diverse as “Invasion of Divinity” and “The Mystery of Sex.” It will not take readers long – especially those who have only heard their grandparents talk about watching him on TV in the 1950s – to understand why he is a venerated prelate.

Walkenstein concludes with a chapter titled “Continuing in the School of Fulton J. Sheen,” in which she provides readers with six questions about what they have read. The questions are helpful for those wanting to use his words as a source for prayer, meditation and how to live their lives.

Brian T. Olszewski is the editor of The Catholic Virginian, newspaper of the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia.

Collection of essays chronicles search for order through two decades Patrick T. Brown Catholic News Service”

The Fragility of Order: Catholic Reflections on Turbulent Times” by George Weigel. Ignatius Press (San Francisco, 2018). 223 pp., $24.95.

Since Michael Novak’s death in early 2017, the undisputed title of most influential Catholic neoconservative has belonged to George Weigel. Along with Novak and the late Father Richard John Neuhaus, Weigel has been at the center of a style of spiritual-political engagement that found its apogee in the papacy of St. John Paul II and the presidency of George W. Bush.

In the intervening decade or so, the ground has shifted markedly under Weigel’s feet. The momentum in both Catholicism and the conservative movement has shifted in favor of, on the one hand, Pope Francis’ “church on the margins,” and on the other, a right-leaning populism resulting in the election of President Donald Trump.

“The Fragility of Order” is a collection of Weigel’s essays from the past two decades, offering depth and clarity to three overarching topics – foreign policy, the American experiment, and the Catholic Church in an age of challenge from within and without.

Weigel, of course, rose to prominence with “Witness to Hope,” his detailed biography of St. John Paul, written in close collaboration with the pope and his associates. The shadow of St. John Paul is never far from the topics at hand in “The Fragility of Order,” with Weigel recalling the “heady” potential some predicted following the fall of the Soviet Union: “A church eager to offer humanity the healing truth of the Gospel and to make its unique contribution to building free and virtuous societies.”

But history did not end in 1989, and the world, the country and the church have undergone revolutions from corners unsuspected at that time.

“Order, it has become clear, is a very fragile thing,” Weigel writes. In foreign and domestic policy, he says, a Nietzschean will to power has overtaken any semblance of prudential moral reasoning, while the church, he suggests, has been weakened by an inability to present a confident countercultural message.

Weigel blames “the cultural conditions of a postmodern world,” which have created a secular humanism in which nothing is sacred apart from “the worship of the imperial autonomous self.”

Weigel sees this “new gnosticism,” which denies any kind of ontological reality, as being the root cause of instability in the domestic and foreign sphere. The church’s teaching on the deep truths of the human condition, he says, can correct tendencies toward isolation or “strategic retrenchment,” and recapture some concept of “ordered liberty” both at home and abroad.

In an essay revisiting Pope Leo XIII’s encyclicals, Weigel would suggest we recover a conception of politics as being focused on ends, rather than means: “No ‘telos,’ no justice. Or … (with) no grounding of politics and economics in the deep truths of the human condition, no society fit for human beings.” Doing so requires intentionally creating space outside the market for humans to be formed in and interact, to break the tyranny of rationalism and materialism and recover a sense of the spiritual in our social and political lives.

In each essay, Weigel takes the long view, largely eschewing day-to-day controversies for a historically informed approach to the challenges facing the church. This healthy remove, aside from some jarringly aggressive attacks on former President Barack Obama, offers a cool and frank assessment of the challenges facing Catholics in public life.

At times, this coolness passes into unmerited sanguinity. When recapping the controversies surrounding the 2015 synod on the family, for example, Weigel neglects to mention Pope Francis’ closing speech, which caused no shortage of heartburn among conservative critics by accusing them of “closed hearts, … conspiracy theories and blinkered viewpoints.” Skirting any direct discussion

of Pope Francis’ pontificate feels like airbrushing away difficult conversations that are happening within the church.

Through it all, Weigel plays the happy warrior, acknowledging that while there may be some “cause for concern about the state of affairs in the world, the American republic and the church,” there is “no cause for despair, and … no choice but to put out into the deep in a mission of truthtelling, healing and conversion.” His open critique of the so-called “Benedict option” for not focusing enough on evangelization and cultural renewal feels solidly in keeping with a commission to be salt for the earth.

The potential of those immediate post-1989 years now feels squandered, and what the neoconservative turn advocated by Weigel, Novak and Father Neuhaus might have become in the absence of the Iraq War and the sex abuse crisis will keep historians busy for years. The role of “The Fragility of Order” is to re-emphasize the authentic desire that undergirded that movement – for the church, and the United States, to live up to their full potential and be robust voices for freedom and dignity in the world.

Weigel offers us sound insights from the past – an emphasis on evangelization, a strong sense of the uniqueness of our Catholic and American identities, of offering more than just “a way of not dying” – that can inform our search for “order” today. The correctives he offers to foreign policy “realism” and unchecked economic libertarianism deserve a full airing.

But the size of the challenges Weigel rightly points out require a greater willingness to let go of past approaches (starting with, perhaps, a freer acknowledgment of St. John Paul’s shortcomings).

The same formulas that helped combat the spread of totalitarianism in the disenchanted 20th century are not the same as those that will help us find our way in a post-Christian 21st century.

Recapturing the lost luster of the Barque of Peter and the “shining city on a hill” will require more than a reapplication of past approaches, but a more fundamental restoration.

Patrick T. Brown is a graduate public policy student at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

30 arts & life

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

Pauline sisters share gift of music, their joy as religious David Luecking Catholic News Service

(CNS photo/courtesy Pauline Media)

Daughters of St. Paul perform in 2017 during their annual Christmas concert. This year, the sisters’ choir will perform Christmas concerts in New York, Boston, Lafayette, Lousiana, New Orleans, St. Louis, Cleveland and Los Angeles. blown away: ‘You can actually sing!’”

Sister Nancy said, laughing.

This year, the Paulines will perform Christmas concerts in New York, Boston, Lafayette, Louisiana, New Orleans, St. Louis, Cleveland and Los Angeles.

The “Glorious Night” shows in St. Louis will be Dec. 9 and 10 at the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School.

A state-of-the-art concert venue calls for a state-of-the-art production, which the “media nuns” deliver in a two-hour performance. Pauline sisters run the lights and sound system, prepared the choreography and props, and of course provide heavenly harmony to set the stage for the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ.

“The start of Advent is a time that people want to hear the music and have an experience of Christmas,” Sister Nancy said, adding that the sisters “help people enter into the mystery

of the Christmas story, the Christmas message.”

The Paulines bring more than the gift of music, though.

“It’s also the joy we have as religious sisters – the joy we have together and our love for Christ and love for the church,” she said, adding that those aspects “come out in how we sing, how we interact with one another on stage and how we interact with the audience.”

It’s all in keeping with the Paulines’ charism to evangelize in whatever medium necessary. Founded in 1915 by Blessed James Alberione, the Daughters of St. Paul started with pamphlets, newspapers and books, graduated to recordings, radio and television and adapted adeptly to the digital world of the 21st century.

A professional choir has added to the modes of evangelization.

“That’s who we are as Daughters of St. Paul; we evangelize through the me-

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David Luecking is a staff writer at the St. Louis Review and Catholic St. Louis, publications of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

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dia,” said Sister Nancy, director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies in Los Angeles. “The medium of music has a power all its own, a power to touch the heart.”

The ensemble choir draws on Pauline sisters serving throughout the United States and Canada. They pick the music in March, gather for about 10 days to plan choreography and rehearse in August, and meet again after Thanksgiving to finalize preparations and rehearse again for the 10-show, 18-day tour. Then, it’s show time.

“It’s miraculous how it comes together,” she said.

Editor’s note: The performance schedule for the Pauline sisters’ choir can be found at www.daughtersofstpaulchoir.org.

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ST. LOUIS – Ask Pauline Sister Nancy Usselmann whether she sang in high school at Cor Jesu Academy or had a musical background, and her answer is short and simple.

“Not really,” she said, with a laugh.

So, how did she become a mainstay of the Daughters of St. Paul Christmas concerts, now a 24-year holiday tradition?

Credit the Holy Spirit with that one, putting together the right people in the right time and place – the early 1990s at the Paulines’ motherhouse in Boston.

“We sang together in chapel for years,” said Sister Nancy, who was a novice at the time with final vows upcoming in 1995. “It was really neat to see. We knew each other and knew each other’s voices.

“The choir director listened to the different voices, how we harmonized, and selected some sisters to begin with this concert and asked me to be part of it,” she told the St. Louis Review, newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

From the humble beginning of a single concert in 1995, the Paulines’ Christmas concert has grown into an annual nationwide tour in Advent. The choir also has produced 30 albums at the motherhouse recording studio.

“We started because some friends of ours wanted to help us raise some money,” Sister Nancy said. “They asked, ‘What do you sisters know how to do?’ We had our recording studio and were recording albums already by that point, so we said, ‘We sing a little. ... OK, let’s put on a concert!’”

They received rave reviews for the first show, which was a debut in more ways than one.

“They hadn’t heard us sing until the night of the concert, and they were

calendar 31

Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

THURSDAY, DEC. 13 RELICS EXPOSITION: Vatican collection of first class relics, 6:30 p.m. with talk from Companions of the Cross Father Carlos Martins, St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1425 Bay Road, East Palo Alto. (650) 3222152.

SATURDAY, DEC. 15 REUNION: Mercy High School, San Francisco, Class of 2008, Mercy High School, 3 p.m., Veronica Granucci, vgranucci31@gmail.com.

HANDICAPABLES MASS: Marin Catholic High School, Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and Bon Air Road, Kentfield. Mass at noon in chapel followed by lunch and entertainment in the St. John Paul II Student Center. All disabled people, caregivers invited. RSVP Cheryl Giurlani, (415) 308-4608; cherylgiurlani@gmail.com.

Sponsored by Order of Malta.

SUNDAY, DEC. 23 ‘RICHES OF CHRISTMAS’: Laura Bertone, director of worship for the archdiocese, visits with host J.A. Gray on Mosaic, Dec. Laura Bertone 23, 5:30 a.m., KPIX Channel 5. The two unwrap “some of the forgotten or neglected treasures and tales of the sacred season when God became man,” producers said. The Christmas season offers a rich array of feasts and remembrances from Dec. 25 through Jan. 13, the baptism of Jesus. sfarch.org/ mosaic-tv.

SUNDAY, DEC. 16

SUNDAY, DEC. 23

‘CANTIAMO CHRISTMAS’: Cantiamo Sonoma presents a concert of a cappella Christmas music, both familiar and rarely heard. Carmelite Monastery of Cristo Rey, San Francisco, 2:30 p.m. Freewill donations accepted. www.cantiamosonoma. org.

ORGAN CONCERT: Christoph Tietze, music director and organist for St. Mary’s Cathedral, celebrates his 50th year as a church organist, in concert Dec. 23, 4 p.m., at the cathedral, Gough Street at Geary Boulevard, San Francisco. Chris notes that he played for his “first Mass Dec. 25, 1968.” The program will feature the works of Bach, Pachelbel, Daquin, Franck. Freewill offerings at door.

(415) 567-2020. www.stmarycathedralsf.org.

SATURDAY, DEC. 22 TURKEY DRIVE: Bring turkeys and hams to St. Emydius Church parking lot, 350 DeMontfort Ave., San Francisco, 9 a.m.-noon. All donations benefit St. Anthony’s Dining Room, contact Pierre at SFPierre@aol.com, www.SFTurkeyDrive.com.

PAULINE SISTERS CHRISTMAS: Celebrate Christmas with Daughters of St. Paul at their new location 3250 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., for Christmas crafts and snacks and storytelling. www.pauline. org; NorCal@paulinemedia.com, (650) 562-7060.

LIVE NATIVITY: Porziuncola Nuova, Vallejo and Columbus, San Francisco, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Presented by The Knights of St. Francis, www.knightsofsaintfrancis.com.

Jose Chapel, 43326 Mission Circle Fremont. Festive desserts. Freewill offering. Register by Dec. 28 at http:// bit.ly/2018NewYearRetreat or (510) 933-6360.

THURSDAY, JAN. 3 VOCATION MEETINGS: Father Patrick Summerhays, director of vocations, welcomes men discerning a priestly vocation to monthly dinner meetings to help them discover more about the priesthood. “Discernment involves listening to God, learning about yourself, and seeking the guidance of others,” Father Summerhays said. First Monday meetings are in Redwood City. First Thursday meetings are in San Francisco. The program each time is eucharistic adoration in the church, followed by dinner and discussion in the rectory: Jan. 3, Feb. 7, March 7, 6:158:30 p.m., Church of the Epiphany, 826 Vienna St., San Francisco.

For information or to RSVP: Father Summerhays (415) 614-5684; summerhays.patrick@sfarch.org. Jan. 7, Feb. 4, March 4: 6:15-8:30 p.m., St. Pius Church, 1100 Woodside Road, Redwood City For information or to RSVP: Father Tom Martin, martin. thomas@sfarch.org. https://sfarchdiocese.org/vocations.

SATURDAY, JAN. 5 PEACE MASS: Corpus Christi Church, noon, 62 Santa Rosa Ave, San Francisco, Salesian Father Tom Tudukula, pastor, principal celebrant and homilist. (650) 580-7123; zoniafasquelle@ gmail.com.

SATURDAY, JAN. 19

HANDICAPABLES MASS: Mass at noon then lunch, both in lower halls, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Gough Street MONDAY, DEC. 31 at Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, Gough Street entrance. All disabled people, caregivers invited. Please NEW YEAR’S EVE RETREAT “DiP RSVP U byBcontacting L IDianeCPrell,A T vine Encounters: Embracing activities coordinator, (415) 452-3500; the Spirit of God,” with Paulist Father www.Handicapables.com. Dates are Bart Landry, 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m., subject to change.

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VOCATION MEETINGS: Father Patrick Summerhays, director of vocations, welcomes men discerning a priestly vocation to monthly dinner meetings to help them discover more about the priesthood. “Discernment involves listening to God, learning about yourself, and seeking the guidance of others,” Father Summerhays said. First Monday meetings are in Redwood City. First Thursday meetings are in San Francisco. The program each time is eucharistic adoration in the church, followed by dinner and discussion in the rectory: Feb. 7, March 7, 6:15-8:30 p.m., Church of the Epiphany, 826 Vienna St., San Francisco. For information or to RSVP: Father Summerhays (415) 614-5684; summerhays.patrick@ sfarch.org. Feb. 4, March 4: 6:15-8:30 p.m., St. Pius Church, 1100 Woodside Road, Redwood City. For information or to RSVP: Father Tom Martin, martin.thomas@sfarch.org. https:// sfarchdiocese.org/vocations.

SATURDAY, FEB. 9 ANNIVERSARY MASS: Mass for Couples with 5-year anniversaries, 10 a.m., St. Mary’s Cathedral, Gough Street at Geary Boulevard, San Francisco. Ed Hopfner, (415) 614-5547; hopfnere@sfarch.org. Couples who in 2019 will celebrate anniversaries ending in 5 or 0 (5 years, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40) and all couples married more than 40 years, are invited.

Bishop Robert F. Christian, OP, principal celebrant, homilist. Registration will open Nov. 15.

THURSDAY, MAY 2

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Catholic san francisco | December 13, 2018

THIS CHRISTMAS, WE HOPE YOU WILL MAKE A THOUGHTFUL DONATION TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES. TOGETHER WE ARE FINDING SOLUTIONS AND PROTECTING THE DIGNITY OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. Use the envelope included in this issue of Catholic San Francisco or visit CatholicCharitiesSF.org/donate to make your gift.

Questions? Contact Pat Gallagher at pgallagher@CatholicCharitiesSF.org or 415 972 1231.

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