CSF June 2022 by Catholic San Francisco

JUNE 2022

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JUNE 2022

JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

TAB LE OF CONTE NTS

National Eucharistic Revival launches June 19

7 Ways to practice rest and leisure this summer

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There’s a lesson here … really! Feeding the birds with children

Pray-ers for Priests Path to Priesthood: Deacon Jerald Geronimo and Deacon Gerardo Vázquez

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Young adults and their dog complete Lenten Mission pilgrimage

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6 Movies to see this summer

Summer Pilgrimages & Providence

Becoming Deacons

Liturgy of the Eucharist

In praise of silence and solitude Stained glass: St. Thomas More Church honors religious freedom martyr

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ARCH B I S HOP

National Eucharistic Revival launches June 19 I BY ARCHBISHOP SALVATORE JOSEPH CORDILEONE

n his work, “Western Culture: Today and Tomorrow,” Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI masterfully diagnoses the most influential problems that we face in our Western civilization. Yet, not giving over to despair, in the face of such challenges, Benedict offers an alternative vision for tomorrow based on uniquely Christian hope. Remembering Europe not merely as a geopolitical entity but as a project that stretches through time, he recalls the notion that throughout its history Europe was tasked with mission. In other words, at its best, Western civilization was not static, but a project, the striving after an ideal, even a hope. And the hope that it carried forward was a graced vision for what can be achieved through

the proclamation of the Gospel both internally and brought to all corners of our world. As heirs to that civilization, Benedict invites us to recall this heritage which is no less than a mandate to mission. There is hope to be found - if we are to rediscover the missionary zeal by which the West for 2,000 years found life and purpose. But what is that life, that purpose? The Second Vatican Council famously articulates the Eucharist as the source and summit of the Christian life. If that is the case, which as Catholics we firmly believe, then it seems entirely reasonable that a return commitment to our mission would entail a recovery of that which gives us the most life,

JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Photo by Debra Greenblat

Church of the Visitacion pastor Father Hoang Van Thuan holds the monstrance as faithful process around the parish grounds.

the most purpose, that is, the Eucharist. To remember the mission of our great civilization, in many ways, is to recall the importance of the place of the most Blessed Sacrament in our societies, in our parishes, and in our lives. However, in an important way, this invitation is also not naive. It must take into account the realities of being Catholic in the 21st century. Hence, it is a call to reevaluate where we find ourselves across different levels. As members of the Body of Christ we belong to a universal Church, a worldwide Catholic family; this gives us the chance to reevaluate ourselves as a nation, as a people, as an archdiocese, as a parish, as a family and, finally, as individuals. Renewal is possible. But where do we start? We begin with the possibility, the hope, for revival. The bishops of the United States (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) have endeavored to encourage a nationwide Eucharistic Revival. ›

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JUNE 2022

Photo by Debra Greenblat

At the heart of Eucharistic Revival is meeting Jesus in the Eucharist by attending Mass on Sundays and as frequently as possible at other times.

As many know, the 2019 Pew study indicated that merely 30% of Catholics fully believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Seeing this as a clarion call for revival, the bishops across the nation have called all of us to rediscover that source and summit of our lives. This new initiative is a grassroots campaign to rekindle the love and devotion for the Eucharistic heart of Jesus Christ. The Revival will take place in three phases over the course of the next three years. Every Catholic diocese, parish, school, apostolate and family will be invited to renew their passion and love for our Lord in the Eucharist. The Revival officially launches on the Feast of Corpus Christi, June 19, 2022. Over the next three years, dioceses across our nation will host Eucharistic congresses and processions. Parishes will increase or begin Eucharistic Adoration. Families and friends will gather in small groups to learn and pray together. Filled with the flame of charity from the reception of Jesus in the Eucharist, missionary disciples will go to the margins, recognizing the mystery of Jesus’ presence in the poor and the suffering. All of this will culminate in the first National Eucharistic Congress in the United States in almost 50 years, July 17-21, 2024. For the conference, thousands of Catholics will journey on pilgrimage to Indianapolis to personally encounter Jesus in the Eucharist and be sent back out into their parishes and communities back home.

Pope St. John Paul II reminds us that “the Church draws her life from the Eucharist.” This is another way of saying that the Church draws her life from the Eucharistic sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We cannot separate the Eucharist from sacrifice – just as we cannot separate sacrifice from the Holy Mass. A revival of the Eucharist, then, is nothing less than a revival of that which is the very life of the Church, which is found in her greatest prayer: the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In rediscovering the vital role of the Eucharist we are at the same time rediscovering the place of the Holy Mass in the life of the People of God. As we begin to come out of these years of pandemic, such a nationwide revival is clearly providential. I ask all of you to join me as together we rediscover our heritage, our mission. With faith in Christ, and moving forward in Christian hope, this Eucharistic Revival will be an answer to the need to rekindle our collective sense of mission and to find within it the very source and summit of our lives, the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Finally, it should not be lost on us that the very last lines of the Holy Mass, by which the precious gift of the Eucharist is given to us, entail the very command to mission that is so integral in shaping our civilization, “Ite missa est.” The Mass, indeed, sends us forth. May these very words of the Holy Mass be for us our own call to mission as we seek to bring ourselves and all those whom we meet to the love found in the Eucharistic heart of Jesus Christ. ■ JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Do you have a legal will?

Catholics are called to protect our abundant blessings from God. Creating your will or trust will give you peace of mind. It ensures your loved ones are cared for and perpetuates the long-term mission of the church. The Archdiocese of San Francisco has partnered with FreeWill to provide parishioners an online resource to create a legal estate plan at no cost. It takes less than a half hour.

Get started on your free will at FreeWill.com/SFArch

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LE I SU R E

7 WAYS

to practice rest and leisure this summer

n Book VIII of his “Politics,” Aristotle observes, “The first principle of all action is leisure. Both (action & leisure) are required, but leisure is better than action and is its end; and therefore the question must be asked, what ought we to do when at leisure?” Even Aristotle seems to have wrestled with the age-old question that arises this time of year: what should we do for vacation? The word “vacation” itself tells us that we have our priorities backward, coming from the Latin “vacare” or, “to be unoccupied.” The assumption behind the term is that our “free time” is defined as the time in which we are not doing the thing we normally do, namely work. In other words, our work defines our free time. Now, work is something essentially human and therefore good. Only human beings work, properly speaking. Besides its utility for earning money, our work is one of the ways that we act as co-creators with God, tending the garden of creation, and it is one of the principal ways that we contribute to the common good. Work is

BY RYAN MAYER Director of Office of Catholic Identity Formation & Assessment, Archdiocese of San Francisco

JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

good. But, as Pope St. John Paul II said, “The basis for determining the value of human work is not primarily the kind of work being done but the fact that the one who is doing it is a person. … In the first place, work is ‘for man’ and not man ‘for work’” (“Laborem Exercens,” 6). Seems like John Paul the Great and Aristotle are both onto something here. Our culture suffers from an overemphasis on “doing” over “being.” Consider that one of the first questions we ask one another when we meet is, “So, what do you do?” Being should not be understood as a passive term. Even when we are not “doing work” we are still doing something. What is it that we are doing? “Being” human. This is precisely what leisure is for – being human in the highest ways. We do not rest in order to go back to work. Rather, we work so that we might make time for leisure. This is the main difference between leisure and vacation. “Vacation” can only be understood with reference to work (vacation is “not-being-at-work”). Leisure, however, need not only be defined by what we’re not doing, but by what we are actively engaged in. Rest, in the Christian sense, is not something passive, but focused. But to return to the question posed by Aristotle, “what ought we to do when at leisure?” Here are seven ways to rest and practice true leisure this summer. ›

… The basis for determining the value of human work is not primarily the kind of work being done but the fact that the one who is doing it is a person. … In the first place work is ‘for man’ and not man ‘for work’.” POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II

Congratulations! Mercy High School

CLASS OF 2022 Nora Anuar Abu-Arafeh Emily Rachel Agler Lilly Akeyson Natalia Allen Bharathi Arivazhagan Sabrina Ashley Hemedez Avenido Jessica Alejandra Avila Brooke Isabella Barron Francesca Bertin Rinské Bolander Cassandra Ellen Bousquet Amalia Brawn Severa J. Brawn Amaelia Bringas Angelica Mendoza Buncio Teagan Brianna Butts Alicia Brigid Byrne Sofia Caamaño Sofia Isabella Cava Chloe Cheng Kayla Evelyn-Ann Cole Erin Elizabeth Colville Caitlin Joan Conroy Kalia Jordan Cordero Kira Cory Emily Jennifer Day Natalie Dean Catherine Del Rosso Coral Aiko Dempsey Taylor-Amanda P. Domingo Grace Edhammer-Downing Summer Rami Elgelda Emelie Margaret Engelhardt Valeria Espinoza Orozco Isabella Ayana Estevez Kathleen Frances Ferry Mia Fitzpatrick Emily Anne Gomez Izzy Goodwin Ryan Rosemary Luce Grout Karina Gutierrez Carolina Brigette Gutierrez Rodriguez Kaylie Hernandez Isabella Sophia Hoffman Akiko Hokamura Samantha Jane Iffla Sabrina Jarman

Michaela C. Jones Zoë Kelleher Kaitlyn Lara Olivia Katherine Larratt Sorina Larsen Lindsay Ann Laubacher Jasmin Hauolikeliipaahana Leota Claudia Leigh Lespade Iriana May Amataga Lopez Gianna Isabella Lumanlan Ashley Nicole Marheineke Sarah Marsh Nina Jasmin Mayne Emily Lynn Michaud Danielle Marie Miller Ariana Marie Montiel Naomi Vanessa Moran Guzman Abby Rose O’Brien Lauren O’Connor Samantha Leyla Oshita Kiara Pardilla-Gray Margaret Liberty Payne Elizabeth Pinkham Anadi Mehar Purewal-Legha Cassidy Nicole Ravelo Gabriella Ravelo Bianca Isabela Ricafort Kacey Frances Rodriguez Darian Rossi Ella Ryan Elizabeth Sackrider Ava Salfiti Marina Shannon Samantha Shoemaker Kyliah Trujillo Edberg Adrianna Liana Turchet Bianca Imelda Turchet Kallie Ung Katherine Lynn Vilchez Katelyn Vo Shiyijia Crystal Wang Sadie Elizabeth Williams Hailey Wilson Kylie Wilson Janice Josephine Wong Jessica Worrall

MERCY HIGH SCHOOL

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Be Known. Be Challenged. Be Transformed. 7 Mercy High School, is a sponsored ministry of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and is a member of Mercy Education.

BE STILL. We cannot rest unless we are still, unless we are quiet. Stillness doesn’t necessarily mean the absence of noise or external activity. In his little book “Leisure: The Basis of Culture,” German Catholic philosopher Josef Pieper writes that leisure is a kind of interior silence whereby we allow some other, higher aspect of reality into our lives. Our leisure, then, is the way in which we do precisely this: make our interior selves open in something we might not otherwise be able to. Where are you in need of silence and stillness this summer?

GO SOMEWHERE. There is a story of a young boy saying to his father, “Father, if God is the same everywhere, why do you go somewhere else to pray?” “Because,” the boy’s father replied, “I am not the same everywhere.” Sometimes we need to go somewhere else to just be.

GO ON PILGRIMAGE. Let’s combine the first two items in this list into a third. Pilgrimage. In the same way that we are not the same everywhere, everywhere is not the same. Some places are more conducive to leisure, to that particular, still, singular focus of the soul. Find someplace that is set apart and go. You don’t even have to go far. The California missions are wonderful pilgrimage sites that are not only of historical interest but are beautiful and spiritually renewing.

GO TO SCHOOL. HEAR ME OUT. The ancient Greek word for leisure is “schole” from which we derive the word “school.” Wait, what? That’s

right. In ancient Greek culture, only someone with enough free time could engage in leisure and enjoy intellectual pursuits. Pursuing and contemplating what is true and good and beautiful is the pursuit of God. Sometimes school gets in the way of this, to be sure. As you plan your summer leisure, ask, “How will I pursue God in what is true, good and beautiful?” That’s leisure.

SEEK BEAUTY. All of creation is a school of beauty. It is no wonder that many people choose to spend their leisure time in the outdoors. Go outside.

“WASTE” TIME WITH FAMILY AND LOVED ONES. One of the side effects of a culture of “doing” over “being” is that we can sometimes feel guilty for not always doing. Pope Francis has encouraged parents to “waste time” with their children so that their children come to know that they are valued simply for being. The thing about love is that it must be free. Spend time just being with one another this summer.

MAKE THE DAYS HOLY. If leisure is about being human in the highest ways, then leisure must include the worship of God. Whether you’re at home or out of town this summer, continue to make time to keep holy the Sabbath by actively participating in the Mass and in daily prayer. Visit masstimes.org to find a Mass near you or go to http://ibreviary.com/ to pray with the psalms in the Liturgy of the Hours (they also have a free app). The Hallow app is also a good app for daily prayer. Work is good, but we are made for rest. ■

How will I pursue God in what is true, good, and beautiful?”

JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

David Tuvshin UCLA

Collin Murtagh Grand Canyon University

Delaney Mulqueen University of Oregon

Rizlin Jew University of San Francisco

Will Haskell Chapman University

Christine Zhu Boston University

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2022 The entire Riordan community commends and admires your talents, skills, grit, and perseverance. We know you will go forth and do great things!

Kevin Cruz Mendoza David Aberouette Emilio Cruz Aaron Abraham Jose Cruz Jesus Aguilar Markus Cyr Kenya Alcantara Taishun Dai Cole Anderson Sterling Damonte Gino Andrini Alex Dang Ondrei Leesane Angeles Caton Daval-Santos Nataly Anzueto Noah Andrew David Eric Arroyo-Rocha Henry Del Cid Michael Artiga Ronghan Deng Dan Julius Baradi Sean DiNicola Mark Barer Abby Donovan Hannibal Bechmann Declan Donovan Ziion Best Ivan Dubriwny Cameron Bevan-Abel Marcellus Edwards Brandon Bigler Rodel Espinosa Carlos Blanco Logan Estrada Ryder Bouck Haileeyesus Fanta Isabella Brenes Giovanni Ferrari Reginald Brown Grace Fitzgerald Jack Burrous Zailea Mae Flores Jahmon Burton Jr Angel Fontanilla Pierce Byrne Allen Forte Elijah Calip Ella Francis Juan Carlos Campos Henry Frazier Javier Cardenas Rory Gallardo Harrison Carpenter Daniel Galvan Sophia Carrasquilla Kekoa Garabilez Josh Cenina Mason Gardner Sydney Cerbatos Aidan Geraldi Tyler Chan Christopher Geraldi Griffin Cheng Elizabeth Gertsberg Kyle Chow Cameren Gonzales Ashley Coleman Michael Gormley Caroline Cooper CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JUNE 2022 Dylan Green Garrick Cordova Jacob Gregorio Elci Cortes

Joseph Grysiewicz Kevin Guinasso Zihao Guo Marisa Hamilton Joseph Harbert Owen Harp Robert Harutunyan William Haskell Eduardo Hernandez Diego Hernandez-Veliz Robert Hirsch Yuhang Hong Jack Hubley Claire Ibalio Isaiah Inguillo Michelle Jaurigui Rizlin Jew Leonardo Jimenez Curtis Jones Xavier Juarez Joshua Kao Kemoeatu Kefu John Kosewic Joseph Kurpinsky Andrew Kwon Max Lara Anson Lee William Lee William Lenoyr Ortiz Chen Liu Sophia Lockwood Dylan Lopez Romeo Lopez Stefanie Lopez Ronnique Louvier Andrei Lynch Lawrence Madar

Jamm Magaling Victoria Maguire Matthew Manzi Daniella Martinez Natalie Martinez Nicholas Martinez Elijah Martiniano Daniel Massarweh Nicolas Mathy Oisin McClorey Joshua McGarr Ryan McGrath Jack McNulty John McQuaid Sarai Melendez Matthew Mendoza Nicholas Mibach Rodrigo Millan Amanda Montalbano William Morales Jacob Moreton Delaney Mulqueen Lizandro Munoz Christopher Murray Collin Murtagh Minh Nguyen Antonio Nunez Murillo Oliveira Anderson Ortiz Andrew Parenti Brendan Passanisi-Boullet Araav Patel Logan Paulsen Vanessa Perez Rojas Carmen Perez Dominic Phan-Romero Dennis Polyak

Raymond Ponce Antonio Posey Chase Proctor Michael Prudden Antonio Pusateri Aidan Quirarte Aidan Ragasa Christian Ramirez Cortes Gian Ramirez Kevin Redmond Nicholas Redmond Juliette Restauro Nailah Reynolds Luca Ricci Aidan Ring Sergio Rios Mateo Rocha Francisco Rodriguez Alyssa Rodriguez-Iniguez Dylan Russell Andrew Rustrian Grayson Salomon Justin Kenneth Samaniego Michael Sanbrailo Isabella Sanchez James Sanchez Javier Sanchez Roy Sanchez Nicholas Santiago Leo Schutzendorf Logan Scudmore Brannon Serrano Nicholas Shipman Dierisch Silva-Castro Connor Situ Ian Slattery Agostino Somma

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Cole Anderson Cal Poly Ian Starks Brandon Sturdivant Jr. Colin Reilly Sumala Alexander Tabios Noah Tango Antony Tartakovskiy Jeremiah Tejuco Maxwell Terrell Jesiah Threets Kieran Tingin Maya Torres Paige Toscanini Daniel Tremillo Daniel Trounday Georgios Tsokas David Tuvshin Jacob Umanzor Malia Urbina Jolie Verzosa Mikel Villamayor Evan Wallis Jessica West Morgan Williams Mason Wong Nicholas Wong Santino Woo Jalen Woods Lucas Woon Shuyuan Xing Christopher Yee Sean Yoshida Frank Zapata Sijie Zhou Jiaying Zhu

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Riley Adao Luis A. Aguila-Bautista Kian Aimi Andrew Alexander Mario Alfaro Javier Amaral Erik Anaya Sean Andrasick Miles Aristides Constantine Athanasiou Aitogi Auimatagi Andrew Azzopardi Kalin Baca Dustin Baker Jaden Barajas Addison Bauer Ryan Beck Kerzic Tyler Beffa Zachary Behn Nicholas Beier Andrew Berkin Matthew Bevilacqua Nicholas Biagini Deren Bog Rayhan Borthakur Tyler Boswell Robert (Connor) Bottoms William Bowen Tyler Breite William Broderick Louis Bronzini Trevor Burns Henry Burton Enzo Cappabianca Garett Carlson Christopher Carrick Omar Carvallo Colin Chad Kyle Chamberlain Connor Chan Enoch Chen Terry Chen

Andrew Chesnosky Benjamin Chesnosky Benjamin Chu Khephren Clark Jace Clayton Jack Collins Joseph Conway Cameron Cowan Daniel de Cossio Jonathan Devincenzi Donovan Diago David Dubinsky-Nadelson Yacoub Dudum Nikolas Dupont Gaven Eli Dytioco Landon, Eger Mohamed El-Badry Nathan Elu Lars Erikson Xander Farsad Joshua Ferri Daniel Finucane Dylan Flieder Gael Fonseca Leonardo Galindo William Garcia Zachary Garcia Jakob Gates Gino Gianoli Leonardo Gianoli Francesco Giusti Antonio Gomez Isaac Gomez Julian Gomez Dominic Gonzalez Samuel Gonzalez Brendan Guevara Patrick Guinasso Benjamin Gullo Joseph Gutierrez Joshua Halapio Andrew Hart

Jackson Haugen Daniel Heathcote Robert Hernandez-Garcia Giovanni Hernandez Frank Hiura Malakai Hoeft Matthew Honeck Anthony Houle Jason Huang Joseph Hutchinson Joey Iosia Spencer Isero Bill Jia Matthew Kamienski Carl Kaufman Charles Kelley Xavier Kendall-Protacio Garret Keyhani Noah Kiely Cooper Kilpatrick Jason Kimoto Aaron King William Kinney, III Miles Klapper Lucas Kramer Peter Kulda William Kulda Nolan La Mar Jett Lalic Dominique Lampkin, Jr. Sione Laulea Garrett Lawson Thomas Ledezma Ampie Aidan Lew Alex Loveland Diego Luis Christopher Lundquist James Luo Ryan Marcelino Maboloc Patrick Macy Hassan Mahasin Ryan Mahe

Finbar Maroun Christian Martinez David Martinez Julian Martinez Cooper Mayo Aidan McCarthy Colin McCarthy Kaveh Miller Dhillon Misri Spencer Morehead Enoch Mun Matthew Murdoff Travis Murphy Nicholas Musgrave Kyle Nash Kelly Newlin Brodie Nolan Cole Norton Conor O’Quigley Aidan O’Reilly Joseph Opalenik Tuungasipa Otuhiva William Ou Vincent Padilla Luca Paganucci Jailen Patel Kyan Patel Manu Patel John Penner Tyler Peruzzaro Lukas Plumb Anish Pombra Varun Popli Calvin Qian Gian Michael Quijano Aidan Quinn Cameron Quintero Christopher Raymundo Petelo Gi Richards Thomas Rogers Anthony Romero Stefanos Rosenbaum

Nicholas Ross Nicolas Saenz Dario Salazar Daniele Salvato Lucas Schorno Cooper Schwaab Graham Sheardown Dominic Silver Joseph Simonds Ethan Singer Soane Siolo Alexander Smith Brady Smith Edgar Hernandez Solorio Louis Soto Raymond Spink Danila Stepanenkov Alexander Stevens Andrew Stewart Orestis Strongylos Matthew Taft Ryan Tanner Jadon Tapp Hunter Taylor Connor Thompson Dominic Thompson Charles Tolod William Torrey Hing Lung Tsang Theodore Ullyot Nathaniel Valdez Cyrus Valle Ciaran Vaughan Diego Vivanco Nicholas Walan James Wall Sean Walsh Ryan West Henry White Samuel White Adam Wolin Xiaohu Yu

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FAM I LY

There’s a lesson here … really! BY SIMCHA FISHER Freelance writer, the author of “The Sinner’s Guide to Natural Family Planning” and blogs at SimchaFisher.com.

Feeding the birds with children T

he first time I took my kids out to hand-feed wild birds, it didn’t go well. I had hit upon the activity out of desperation at the beginning of spring vacation. The kids were so bored, but I had COVID and was much too tired and contagious for outings. We had long since exhausted the charms of reading books via FaceTime, with and without silly filters, and even the kids were tired of TV. But maybe we could feed the birds together! We could sit in chairs, safely distanced, enjoying nature, being quiet, doing something wholesome and memorable, and did I mention being quiet? It didn’t go so well. But that was OK. It was pleasant enough just being outside, and I’m a firm believer in the value of unstructured, unplugged time for kids. We thought we might get a nibble or two, but you really do have to be quiet to attract birds, and my youngest is made out of monkeys. The first few times she squirmed or chattered, I fondly and gently shushed her. But I recalled that our goal was to have a nice time together, so before long I released her, and we dispersed without having fed or even seen a single bird. We agreed it was fun, though, or at least potentially fun. Apparently you really can train birds to get to know you. I talked about our attempt on social media, and people shared photos and videos of their kids’ success in making friends with these wild creatures. The idea began to take hold. I started to see hand-feeding wild birds as the ideal summer activity. By the end of vacation, I thought, this is how we would greet every morning: We would step into the backyard with a handful of seed, and our feathered ›

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JUNE 2022

friends, who knew our gentle ways, would flock to us like a gang of modern-day St. Francises. An eager twittering grew in my heart. It was everything I wanted for my kids: A break from screen time, a memorable bonding experience and a naturally contemplative pastime that would sweetly, easily open the gates for all kinds of other goods of the spirit.

So as summer gets underway, I’m making a resolve to be OK with the experiences we actually have, and the opportunities that actually come along, rather than the glorified, idealized ones that might possibly be, if only we tried harder, and managed to be quieter, and could make up for all the defects of the past.” The idea took flight. This could be about so much more than birds, I thought. We would learn to quiet our minds, to cherish the natural gifts of God in our own backyard. These tiny creatures who share our space would teach us to break through the thoughtless blur that blinds us to the beauty and order of creation. We’d learn the exquisite diversity not only between species, but between different specific bird friends, and this in turn would teach us to know and

care for each other. Maybe we could even say our evening prayers accompanied by God’s own avian choir! Yes! Some long-silent part of my failed home-schooler’s heart let out a whimper of pure longing. Yes: We would feed those birds if it killed us. So we tried again. And the second time we went out to feed the birds, it also didn’t go very well. It was more or less a repeat of our first experience, which is to say we sat out in our yard like weirdos with handfuls of birdseed, and nothing happened. Except this time it was chilly and the chairs were damp. So this time, when the birds completely ignored us, our pants got wet; and when the kids made kid noise, I shushed them less fondly and more irritably, because more was at stake. Eventually, the cat came by and started eating the birdseed, and he wouldn’t go away, so we gave up and went inside. I reminded the kids that it was OK. We were still having fun, potentially. And we could still make it work if we were patient enough, potentially. I did a bit more research and learned that some people set up clothing and hats outside with birdseed scattered on them, to familiarize the birds with the human form. Still reassuring each other that we were having lots of fun, we did this, too. Then it rained, and the birdseed-covered clothes got wet, and the birds still didn’t care. And even I had to admit that, as far as childhood wonders go, looking out the JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

ST. JAMES CATHOLIC SCHOOL window at some wet clothes in the yard does not rank very high. You may think this is a story about how I had inappropriately high hopes, and then gave up, because life is disappointing. Not at all! Believe it or not, we still intend to spend the rest of our vacation trying to feed the birds a few times a week. I still think it would be cool, and it could work. We may be dumb, but we’re smarter than some bird, I’m sure of it. But the sight of those empty suits of clothes sitting out in the rain really stuck with me. That is not how I want to be with my kids: Shushing them so as to have potential fun. Pretending to be outside, so as not to scare birds who don’t like us. Hanging all my hopes on being different people than we are. That’s no way to live. So as summer gets underway, I’m resolving to be OK with the experiences we actually have, and the opportunities that actually come along, rather than the glorified, idealized ones that might possibly be, if only we tried harder, and managed to be quieter, and could make up for all the defects of the past. We are who we are. We have the life that we have. Maybe the birds will come and maybe they won’t, but we definitely only have a short time together as a family. A better goal for the summer: Less shushing. Less wishing, more enjoying. I do like these kids. I want to enjoy them. And anyway, they will always cherish the moment we looked at each other and realized our clothes were having more fun than we were. There’s a bonding memory for you! The truth is moments of sweetness and beauty in childhood will come. But they come like wild birds, not tame ones. They are what they are, and they come when they will, and they can’t always be arranged or planned for. It’s not a bad thing to try for wholesome and meaningful times. But it’s a mistake to be always trying to manage these moments into existence. The secret is to be ready with your hand out, so you can recognize and enjoy them when they do come. ■ CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JUNE 2022

Congratulations to the class of

2022!

Alex Agustin, Francisco Guardado, Joshuan Hernandez, Penelope Hyde, Aliyah McCarver, Damian Mendoza, Alyssa Diaz, Anakarina Moya, Marie O'Brien, Andres Pineda, Marcelo Quinonez, Siem Tesfai

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Congratulates our Class of 2022 Altan Agi Dexter Aksdal-Jansen Thomas Anderson Thavas Antonio Mathew Barden Jensen Bauer Brianna Cabezas Ryan Casserly Tiago Chicas Caoimhe Cudden Liam Finnerty Matteo Gupta Konstantin Luedorf Roman Maimone Myles Marcus Madeline McEachron

Nash Mullen Liam O’Leary Lucy O’Sullivan Parker Reid Annika Shehu Solihem Solomon Sasha Stirk Evelyn Sullivan Gemma Wadlow Pearl Watson Jake Zmrzli

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PR AYE R

Pray-ers for Priests BY CHRISTINA GRAY Lead writer, Catholic San Francisco grayc@sfarch.org

Photo by Brother John Paul Puschautz, OP

JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Seven lay women pray for one priest or bishop for one hour each week as part of the Seven Sisters Apostolate. At stake, they say, is the Church itself.

ne day a week, Donna Mohr kneels before the tabernacle at St. Dominic Church for an hour to pray for Dominican Father Michael Hurley, pastor. She said she brings a chaplet of prayers for St. Michael the Archangel to keep her “focused” on him. “I had never in my life said to anyone, ‘I’m going to pray a Holy Hour for you,’” Mohr said. “But I believe my prayers can help strengthen our pastor. When he is fortified by prayer, he can do more for others.” The longtime parishioner is one of seven laywomen at the parish who pray especially for the intentions of Father Hurley as part of a ministry called the Seven Sisters Apostolate. Each has committed to a full year of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, praying a Holy Hour of their choice on different days of the week. Laywomen have enthusiastically responded to the call to pray for priests since the San Francisco parish introduced the apostolate four years ago. St. Dominic formed not just the Seven Sisters ‘team’ that supports its pastor, but four others that support the individual priests of the parish and other members of the Dominican community. St. Dominic was also the springboard for a Seven Sisters team supporting the ministry of San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone. Today the archbishop has three separate Seven Sisters teams

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JUNE 2022

praying for him throughout the Archdiocese, with several members at Church of the Nativity. The Menlo Park parish offers perpetual adoration. SEVEN SISTERS: MODERN REVIVAL OF A MEDIEVAL TRADITION Kathleen Folan, St. Dominic’s director of family and youth ministries, admits that she thought the Seven Sisters Apostolate sounded “a little new age-y,” when she first heard about it. Still, the more she learned of the apostolate formed just over 10 years ago by a laywoman in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the more she saw a Dominican connection and a future for it at her parish. Before founding the Order of Preachers friars, St. Dominic first set up a monastery of cloistered nuns in Prouilhe, France. He knew that prayer would be needed for this new order to fulfill its missionary role. “Convents have declined in number, but laywomen are ready and willing to rise to the occasion and fill in the gap as best we can in the midst of our busy lives,” said Folan. She said many Catholic laywomen, including herself, were left feeling crushed and powerless by the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report in 2018. It found clergy sex abuse and cover-ups in six of Pennsylvania’s eight dioceses, and it implicated 300 priests. ›

More than ever, Folan, like others, just “wanted to do something.” She found that in the Seven Sisters Apostolate. “Prayer is the best weapon we possess,” she said, quoting St. Padre Pio. “Priests are always the first targets of demonic attack,” said Eva Muntean, a parishioner at Star of the Sea Parish in San Francisco, who started a Seven Sisters team for Father Joseph Illo, pastor, and parochial vicar Father Michael Konopik. “We must surround them with the armor of our prayers to protect them.”

In gratitude, Howe decided to offer a Holy Hour once a week for him. She delighted in offering the hour and trusting he was benefiting from the graces and enjoyed the private, steady rhythm and ritual of her commitment. Praying for her pastor helped her stop and appreciate the scope of his “robust” responsibilities, she said. “I have a son who is a priest,” she said. “A lot is asked of them.” One day in 2011, she inaudibly “heard” the words “Seven Sisters” while in prayer for Father Johnson. Howe sensed clearly that the Lord wanted her to invite six others – seven in total – to offer one Holy Hour a day for Father Johnson, just as she was doing. In time, she told Father Johnson, who encouraged her

By praying for priests, they are truly helping us get the word out there.” FATHER MICHAEL HURLEY, OP, St. Dominic pastor

Photo by Valerie Schmalz

She said “Satan would like nothing more than to frustrate the salvific mission of Jesus.” While he cannot corrupt or frustrate Jesus, she said, “We know all too well that he can corrupt and frustrate those who are ‘in persona Christi’ (in the person of Christ).” INTERCESSORY PRAYER FOR A PRIEST’S “CONFORMITY TO CHRIST” Catholic laywomen in the Seven Sisters Apostolate are praying for priests and bishops in more than 1,350 parishes, chanceries, seminaries, hospitals and other locations around the world, according to sevensistersapostolate.org. The landing page states its mission: “That our prayers may find the hearts of every priest and bishop.” The aim is to strengthen the Church by strengthening the priesthood through a Holy Hour prayed daily for the sole intention of a specific priest or bishop – a “holy wasting” (Mt. 26:10) or lavishing of prayer for his deeper conformity to Christ. In 2010, Janette Howe decided to pray more frequently and intentionally for her pastor, Father Joseph R. Johnson, rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota. Janette’s son was studying for the priesthood, and Father Johnson was generous in his guidance and support.

to start a Seven Sisters Apostolate at seven churches with 49 women in total. Today the apostolate continues to grow organically without promotion as it seeks formal Church approval. Seven Sisters is modeled after the prayerful devotion of St. Mary Magdalene, a “model of prayerful extravagance,” according to Howe. “The beauty of this apostolate is that it is so simple,” she said. “One woman, one priest, one hour.” MOORED IN PRAYER BY AN “ANCHORESS” Each Seven Sisters Apostolate is led by an “anchoress.” In the Middle Ages, the term denoted someone who withdrew from secular society to lead an intensely prayer-oriented, ascetic and Eucharist-focused life. In a modern context, the anchoress of a Seven Sisters prayer team does not live such an austere life. But she is called to find members willing to commit to a year of prayer for a priest and to coordinate the team. She prays for their fidelity, and she herself commits to two years of prayer. Priests are contacted by the anchoress with the apostolate’s gift of prayer to him. In turn she relays to the group any particular intentions the priest might request. (All communications regarding intentions are strictly confidential.) The structure is simple: each “sister” chooses a different day of the week to pray their Holy Hour. It can be made in any church, preferably in front of a tabernacle. “How to spend this hour is up to each woman, and can differ each week,” said Folan. A substitute is secured to JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

ensure that, in case of emergencies and family vacations, the prayers continue uninterrupted. A true sisterhood is formed between members of a team, despite the fact that there is infrequent interaction between them on their prayer mission. Many report an awakening of new dimensions in their own spirituality as a result of prayers for priests. “When we pray the Nicene Creed, we pray for all things visible and invisible,” said Mohr. “This is really bringing my attention to a world that we cannot see, the spiritual world. It keeps my life in perspective.” WHAT DO PRIESTS SAY? Howe was told by a priest at Ave Maria University in Florida, who was supported in prayer by a Seven Sisters team, that he “stood taller” after it started praying for him. Another priest told her he felt like the “cripple being lowered through the roof” of the church. “I was kind of envious in a way that I didn’t have these people praying specifically for me,” said Dominican Father Anthony Rosevear, when he heard Father Hurley talk about his Seven Sisters. Father Rosevear leads the Western Dominican Province novitiate located in St. Dominic’s Priory at the parish. “But then that happened for me, and it was a great gift,” he said. “I really do feel supported by them, the regularity of their prayer for me in my own ministry is a great, great support.” Father Rosevear considers prayer armor for a priest. “A priest is on the front lines,” he said. “Satan is all the more powerfully going to attack that in many ways. If he can gain you, he has not only gained you; he has gained many, many souls, as we’ve seen in the priest scandal.” A priest’s actions and words are judged more severely, and rightfully so, he said, “because any action or word they use can be detrimental to a person’s faith.” When he first met his Seven Sisters, Father Hurley lightheartedly asked them, “How many women does it take for a priest to get into heaven?” He said being asked for his own prayer intentions was at first “almost outside my comfort zone.” “As a priest people ask me to pray for them all the time,” he said. But it’s not often that people ask a priest how they can pray for him. He said he “certainly need prayers like anyone else,” but didn’t often think of it in that way. “This has helped me in asking for what I need from the Lord. To know that there are people who are literally praying for me helps me to form my own intentions to keep me available to the grace God has for me.” Father Hurley said Seven Sisters is an example of “new evangelization the Church has been calling for.” It’s the lay faithful who are being called to preach the Gospel. “By praying for priests, they are truly helping us get the word out there,” he said. ■ CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JUNE 2022

PR I ESTLY VOCATION S

PATH TO

Priesthood Priestly ordinations June 4, 2022 Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption

he two men who were to be ordained on June 4 were asked several questions about themselves and their path to priesthood. Their answers and the questions follow. Please support them in prayer as they embark on their vocation of serving God and the people of God. ›

Deacon Jerald Geronimo

JUNE JUNE2022 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Deacon Gerardo Vázquez CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JUNE 2022

DEACON JERALD GERONIMO QUESTION: Why are you embarking on this vocation? Answer: I’m embarking on this priestly vocation as I believe that the Lord is calling me to shepherd and be a father to the people of San Francisco as His priest. The mission of the earthly father is to bring his family to the gates of heaven. In the same way, the life of the priest as spiritual father is centered on walking with his parishioners – his spiritual sons and daughters – and guiding them toward the way, the truth, and the life eternal. In this greatest of adventures, I hope to emulate the loving presence of the Good Shepherd to the people of God and become an instrument of the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ. Q: What drew you to the priesthood and what if any obstacles did you encounter toward making the final commitment? A: I’ve always wanted to be a priest ever since I could remember. As a young 5-year-old boy, I would “play Mass” with the other kids at day care and imitate the actions of the priest. I then became an altar server all throughout grade school and high school. In seeing the witness of seminarians and priests, I observed a palpable joy that accompanied their life of service to the Lord – something which was deeply impressed upon my mind and heart. In the midst of the temptation to shift my gaze from the things of heaven to the things of the world, the Lord’s voice remained ever clear especially during moments of silent prayer. In college, I was led one day to these following words of Scripture during a powerful experience in Eucharistic Adoration: “Come and follow me, and I will make you a fisher of men” – words that have propelled me forth to commit myself to the priestly vocation. Q: This is a challenging time for every priest. What do you see as the

Come and follow me, and I will make you a fisher of men” – words that have propelled me forth to commit myself to the priestly vocation.”

greatest challenges and how are you preparing yourself to be a priest taking into account those challenges? A: One of the greatest challenges of the times would be the evangelization of the truth of the Gospel. The world undoubtedly seeks to muddle the truth, leaving the people of God in turbulent and confusing waters. The task of the priest then is to calm these waters with the teachings of Christ and His Church, through both word and deed. In all this, he is to do so with the disposition of the Good Shepherd, who is meek and humble of heart. It is in personifying His gentleness of spirit, I believe, that will enable me to journey with the people, especially those on the peripheries, and together face the challenges of the times with resiliency and hope. Q: What do you see as the greatest hopes and joys of the priesthood? A: I see the greatest joy of the priesthood as being the celebration of the sacraments, especially the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Through the faithful offering of the sacraments, the priest assists in the Father’s divine plan of sanctification of the entire world. He becomes a beacon of Christ’s light in a world that is overshadowed by JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

darkness, as he offers the people, by the gift of his ordination, the grace they most desperately need, all through his priestly, anointed hands. This will be the greatest joy for me as a priest. Q: Would you share some personal background about yourself? A: Age: 28 years old. Education: Holy Angels School, Colma; Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, San Francisco; San Francisco State University. Hometown: Born and raised in Daly City, California; baptized at St. Andrew Church in Daly City; parishioner of Holy Angels Church, Colma. Family: Mother: Andrea Geronimo; father: Jerico Geronimo; younger brother: Justin Geronimo. Languages: English, Tagalog, some Spanish. Upon ordination, I will be the first Filipino American priest for the Archdiocese of San Francisco since its founding in 1853. My Filipino culture has played a significant role in my upbringing. Through my culture, I have learned the values of family, communion and self-sacrifice. These values will be of the utmost importance as I soon embark on a vocation that is precisely centered on sacrificial love, all for God and neighbor. ›

Congratulations to the Class of 2022 On behalf of Rev. Mark Doherty, the board of trustees, the faculty and staff of St. Patrick’s Seminary & University, on their graduation. We wish them abundant blessings as they prepare for their priestly ordination. Rev. Mr. Jerald Marc Geronimo Master of Divinity, Bachelor of Sacred Theology Archdiocese of San Francisco

Rev. Mr. Andrew O’Leary Master of Divinity, Bachelor of Sacred Theology Diocese of Spokane Rev. Mr. Erik Amando Pereira Master of Divinity Diocese of Sacramento Rev. Mr. Dario Luca Rinaldi Master of Divinity, Bachelor of Sacred Theology Diocese of Honolulu Rev. Mr. Ramon Antonio Urbina Master of Divinity, Bachelor of Sacred Theology Diocese of Oakland Rev. Mr. Gerardo Vázquez Master of Divinity, Bachelor of Sacred Theology Archdiocese of San Francisco

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JUNE 2022

DEACON GERARDO VÁZQUEZ QUESTION: Why are you embarking on this vocation? Answer: When I was 5 years old, I remember telling my parents I wanted to be a priest; something in me was somehow naturally drawn to be close to Jesus. I was 8 when I started altar serving with my brothers and godfather. I somehow had a natural desire to want to serve others, so that in giving of myself (my talents, my time or service) I felt fulfilled and at peace. Not taking seriously my call earlier in my teens made me forget all about the priesthood until I was already working in industry and was looking toward marriage. Nonetheless, the more serious I became about marriage the more serious I grew in my love for God and the Church. After a while, there was nothing more that I wanted; nothing else would ever completely satisfy the thirst I had (and still have) for God. I have chosen to pursue the priesthood not because of anything special I have personally done, but it is because God has tugged my heart, and has called me over and over and did not stop until I finally entered seminary. I so much look forward to finally fulfilling the role for which I believe God has created me – to be a priest after His own Sacred Heart. Out of this love grew my love for His Blessed Mother, who guides me ever closer to her Son and reminds me every day, “Do whatever He tells you.” Q: What drew you to the priesthood and what if any obstacles did you encounter toward making the final commitment? A: : My devotion to the most Holy Eucharist in Eucharistic Adoration is what ultimately drew me to the priesthood. Spending time in silence before our Lord and really seeking His will for my life was key to drawing me closer to the priesthood. For some time, pursing this vocation was a challenge because I was nearly engaged with “the one” I thought I was going to marry. We spent so much time together in prayer (daily Mass, adoration, Liturgy of the

By remaining close to the source of grace I myself may be an instrument of grace for others.”

Hours and the holy rosary) that with time I felt more drawn to our Lord than to her; I felt like I was cheating on her with God! I felt called to love in an infinite way – to love as Christ loves, except as His priest. I felt that if I did not pursue the priesthood, or at least fully discern it by entering the seminary, I would be disingenuous and would never be truly at peace. What was also difficult was that I financially supported my parents and that if I entered the seminary, I would have to sell off the house I bought them and they would have to support themselves (especially after my dad had lost his leg from a bacteria called necrotizing fasciitis). My prayer was that if I am truly called to the priesthood that God would take care of my parents … and He certainly did! My parents are financially stable and we have since traveled all over Europe visiting the beauty the Catholic Church brings to every culture. Q: This is a challenging time for every priest. What do you see as the greatest challenges and how are you preparing yourself to be a priest taking into account those challenges? JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

A: The greatest challenges I foresee is the uphill battle that we, as a Church, are already experiencing – postmodernism, relativism and secularism. As such, there has been a loss of reverence and love for the sacred and an indifference to what is true, good and beautiful. This has caused division inside and outside the Church, which has affected our parishes, schools and vocations. To tackle these challenges, my primary focus has been on becoming a personal testament to the love and mercy of God by the way I live my life – to practice what I preach and to teach what I believe. I try to maintain a working knowledge of modernday problems and how they have affected society as a whole, and study methods of healing the wounds caused by these false philosophies. Studying these issues during my time in seminary has been vital because this is the reality that every priest will face, if not already. Throughout my years in seminary, I have inculcated a deep prayer life to help preserve my relationship with the Divine Physician: praying the Divine Office, maintaining my daily Holy Hour, daily rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and meditating over sacred Scripture. By remaining close to the source of grace I myself may be an instrument of grace for others.

Hearts on Fire! Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Called to be Women with hearts on ﬁre, encountering others with unifying love! vocations@csjla.org www.csjla.org

Q: What do you see as the greatest hopes and joys of the priesthood? A: The greatest hopes and joys that I see in the priesthood is the fact that the priest brings all people into contact with God’s grace. This occurs through prayer, community life, and especially in administering the sacraments. There is also great hope and joy for the priest himself especially when he has a deep spiritual prayer life which helps him to refocus and brings him peace in times of difficulty and joy in times of sadness. Priest mentors, friends or spiritual directors also give hope and joy to the priest because it reminds him that he is not alone. Q: Would you share some personal background about yourself? A: I am currently 41 years old and have a background in aerospace engineering (bachelor’s and master’s degrees), having worked in the aerospace industry for about 12 years (NASA, Lockheed Martin and Pratt › CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JUNE 2022

& Whitney). I was born in Tijuana, Mexico, and raised in Fresno, California, since I was 3 years old. I’ve lived in the Bay Area since I was 21 for school and work. I speak English, Spanish and some Italian.

Parents (both living & married) – Ignacio Vázquez (Dad) & Teresa Vázquez (Mom). Siblings (all living): Ignacio Vázquez Jr., Adrian Vázquez, Claudia Vázquez-Geis, Oscar Vázquez, Lucy Galicia and Carolina Cignetti. ■

JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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DIACONATE VOCATION S

Becoming

DEACONS MARK SCAFIDI

Mark Scafidi grew up in San Francisco. He has been married for 44 years to his wife Linda and has a son, Gregory. He has served many parish ministries and coached CYO sports at St. Patrick Church in Larkspur. After earning degrees in psychology and law, he coached communication skills and mediated emotionally charged problems in increasingly difficult circumstances: incarcerated juveniles, child custody and marital dissolution, police officer-civilian disputes and patient-provider health care concerns.

TOM KRAMER

Tom Kramer earned degrees in mechanical engineering from Cal Poly and San Diego State. He founded Sirius Engineering in 2008 and is a co-founder of four medical device companies. He and his wife, Julie, raised three children, Kathleen, David and Kristine (Hunter) in San Carlos, where they have been active members of St. Charles Parish since 1992. Tom’s mother always told him, “Remember, Tommy, you will not only be judged on what you do, but also on what you don’t do.” There is always more to do. Tom’s home parish of St. Michael’s in Livermore holds a very special place in his heart. His pastor of 30 years, the late Msgr. Michael G. Adams, and Deacon Dave Rezendes were both influential in his spiritual life. He also credits his growth to the Dominican Sisters, particularly Sisters Antoninus, Francis Raphael, Annette, Bartholomew and Emmanuel. Tom’s vocation journey can be summed up as going from “Am I being called?” to “Lord, here I am. Send me.”

RICARDO ESCOBAR Ricardo Antonio Escobar was born in San Salvador, El Salvador. As a child, he was a member of the Cruzados Montañeros (an equivalent version of the Catholic Boy Scouts) and an altar server. He finished high school at Industrial Technical Institute of San Salvador. In 1990, due to the civil war, he immigrated to the United States. Shortly after coming to the U.S. he met his wife, Maribel, in the youth group of St. Anthony of Padua, Menlo Park, where he also finished his Christian initiation. Maribel and Ricardo are the proud parents of Ahtziri Galilea, 16, and Sarah Belen, 6. Maribel has been the administrative assistant for the faith formation program for 30 years. Ricardo has helped the parish in many ministries, including coordinator for the altar servers and the liturgy, giving talks to the parents of faith formation and as a catechist of RCIA. He currently works as a school bus driver for Palo Alto Unified School District.

JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

IWAN SOEGIHARTO

Iwan Soegiharto is married to Lily Suryani Tanu. They have two children: Maria Cecilia, 17, and Joseph Louis, 12. Before becoming a parishioner at St. Cecilia Parish 20 years ago, Iwan was actively involved with the Catholic Indonesian community in Northern California and Holy Trinity Community. In these communities, Iwan served as longtime RCIA coordinator and frequently led sharing groups. He works as an accountant at Archbishop Riordan High School and helped develop the Riordan Chess Club. His favorite Bible passage is from Psalm 34:9: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.”

RUSS WERTENBERG

Russ Wertenberg is a native Californian, born in San Francisco. He grew up in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish before moving to Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in 1970. For 14 years Russ worked at a national lab doing research and about 30 years at NASA as an engineer. During those years, he married his wife of 44 years, Linda, and became a father to two and grandfather to four. Upon beginning his diaconate formation, it became clear to Russ that it needed to be his priority and focus, so he decided to retire from outside business. During formation he has served at the Notre Dame de Namur University Cunningham Chapel, St. Mark, St. Denis and Our Lady of the Wayside. This is a full-circle journey as he is now working with parishes that he attended with his wife in 1978.

JAMES DEWAN

A native of Newark, California, James DeWan was baptized a Lutheran but became a full member of the Catholic Church after the RCIA journey. James studied horticulture in college and spent most of his adult working life in the retail and wholesale nurseries industry and in landscaping. James is single and is currently groundskeeper at a retirement community in the Piedmont area of Oakland. James is serving the very culturally diverse and vibrant community of the Church of the Visitacion. Music, gardening and church history are his favorite pastimes.

CHRIS MAJOR Chris Major holds a Clear Level II Education Specialist credential from the University of San Francisco and an undergraduate degree in economics and business administration from St. Mary’s College of California. He taught special education at the K-12 level for 18 years, after a 13-year career in insurance risk management. He is a member of St. Isabella Parish in San Rafael. He is the marriage preparation consultant for the parish, passionate about RCIA and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He currently serves as the coordinator for African American ethnic ministry in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. › CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JUNE 2022

CHRIS MARIANO

Chris Mariano and his wife, Theresa Manansala, have been married for 14 years and have three boys — ages 11, 8 and 4. Chris is the Archdiocese of San Francisco coordinator of youth and young adult ministry, and Theresa is a teacher in an archdiocesan Catholic school. Chris and Theresa have been professionally active in education and youth ministry for over 22 years. Parishes and schools they have served include St. Augustine, Immaculate Conception Academy, Archbishop Riordan High School, St. Timothy and St. Dunstan. They currently serve at Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame. They ask for your continued prayers as they serve their communities.

DAVID ARMS

David Arms and his wife, Susan, were married at Mission Santa Clara in 1988. They have four sons (Oran, Steven, Kevin and Michael), two daughters-in-law (Emily and Miranda) and two soon-to-be daughtersin-law (Monique and Meagan). They also have two grandchildren (Claire and Joseph). They are small business owners serving the aviation industry. David became a Catholic in 1992, receiving the sacraments of initiation at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Mill Valley. His conversion took place through involvement in the pro-life movement, the faithful witness of Susan and her family, the truths of the Catholic faith and the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. David particularly enjoys ministering to other men by helping them to build their faith through prayer, study and fellowship.

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GUILLERMO QUANT

Guillermo Quant was born in Bluefields, Nicaragua, and immigrated to the United States in the late 1970s. In the ’80s, he became an active member of youth groups in different parishes within the Archdiocese of San Francisco. He met his wife, Ivania, in the youth group at St. Peter’s Church. They have been married for 33 years and are blessed with one son, William. Guillermo has been a parishioner at St. Bruno Church for the last 25 years. After 29 years with the U.S. Postal Service, he retired early to enter the diaconate formation. In this last year of formation, he has been in ministry at St. Timothy Church in San Mateo. ■

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KNOW TH E MASS

Liturgy of the Eucharist PART TWO

BY FATHER KEVIN KENNEDY This article is part of the Know the Mass series. Father Kevin Kennedy is pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Russian Byzantine Catholic Church, administrator at St. MonicaSt. Thomas the Apostle Parish in San Francisco and formation adviser and spiritual director at St. Patrick’s Seminary & University.

e complete this series on the Mass by providing the second part of our reflection on the Liturgy of the Eucharist, examining the basic structure of the very heart of the Mass, which is the Eucharistic prayer. Thanksgiving constitutes a fundamental element of Christian worship. As God’s own people, we are called to offer praise and thanksgiving for the gifts of creation, salvation and sanctification. Indeed, from the Greek, the word Eucharist means thanksgiving or to give thanks. Originally, the entire liturgical offering of thanks was a single or whole prayer which, by the seventh century, had been divided in two by an introductory part of the Eucharistic prayer called the preface and a hymn called the Sanctus. Preserving the original and essential focus on thanksgiving, the preface begins with a dialogue between the priest and the people common to

ancient liturgical tradition, both East and West. Then, on behalf of the people, the priest proclaims the prayer in which God is glorified for the whole work of salvation. There are a rich variety of prefaces composed for specific days or seasons of the liturgical year. The preface is then followed by the angelic prayer of praise and adoration (Holy, Holy, Holy, etc.) from Isaiah 6:2-3, along with a verse from Psalm 118. The next major part of the Eucharistic prayer is called the epiclesis which, in Greek, means invocation or calling down. This prayer is a petition or supplication in which the priest asks that God the Father send down the Holy Spirit upon the gifts of bread and wine so that they may truly become the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the different Eucharistic prayers of the Roman rite this invocation occurs in slightly different forms and with varying degrees of specificity, but the intention is the same. The calling down of the Holy Spirit upon the gifts is a preparation for their consecration or transformation. However, there is another, second epiclesis in which we pray that the same Spirit descend upon us, the assembly, so that we might become one body, one spirit, in Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit we receive the Lord in the Eucharist and are thus enabled to become He whom we receive. JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

www.heckerfiduciary.com iris@heckerfiduciary.com The Last Supper marble relief on the altar of the Basilica di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice in Rome, Italy by unknown artist.

In Eastern Christianity there is yet a third form of epiclesis. In a dialogue between the priest celebrant and the deacon before the Eucharistic prayer, the deacon says to the priest: “May the Holy Spirit descend upon you and the power of the Most High overshadow you” (Byzantine Anaphora). In this beautiful epiclesis the Church prays that the Spirit who descended upon and overshadowed the Virgin Mary at the Annunciation may also descend upon the priest so that through his words, acting in the person of Christ, the sacrificial offering of the Lord may be renewed and the people fed at the Eucharistic banquet. After the epiclesis there is the institution narrative and consecration. What happened at the Last Supper is remembered and the words and actions of the Lord are proclaimed and repeated by the priest: “This is my body which will be given up for you” and “This is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting eternal covenant which will be shed poured out for you. Do this in memory of me.” Thus the gifts of bread and wine are transformed and the sacrifice of the cross is reactualized. The Greek word “anamnesis” means remembrance. In the Mass it refers to the › CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JUNE 2022

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In the Eucharistic prayer what is remembered and renewed is the Lord’s sacrificial love, his offering of himself to the Father for us and on our behalf.”

memorial character of the Eucharistic prayer in which we call to mind the paschal mystery, namely the passion, death, resurrection and ascension of the Lord. In the Jewish context of the Last Supper, remembrance of God’s saving deeds brought forth a renewal or reactualization of those deeds for the believing/worshipping community. It is the interpretative key for understanding the words of the Lord: “Do this in memory of me.” In the Eucharistic prayer what is remembered and renewed is the Lord’s sacrificial love, His offering of himself to the Father for us and on our behalf. We then remember the needs of the Church and all of humanity, both the living and the dead, in intercessory prayer. The Eucharistic prayer is completed by a glorious doxology in which we give praise to the Father, through the Son and in the Holy Spirit, joining heaven and earth, and sealed by the great Amen. Finally, we are ready to be fed by “the precious and holy body and blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins and everlasting life” (Byzantine Divine Liturgy), and to go forth and share with all the world the love we have received from the Lord Himself. ■

JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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movies to see this summer A

side from the hot sun beating down and a cold glass of lemonade, few images evoke the sweet season of summer better than the dim lights of a movie theater with popcorn in hand. This year has seen the release of a wide variety of great films, from familyfriendly heartwarmers to raucous summer blockbusters. There’s even been a couple of spiritual films that powerfully portray the love of God and the beauty of the Christian faith. If you find yourself with some downtime to kick back and watch a movie or two this summer, here are six that are worth watching.

remain “family-friendly,” but for now, they’re still releasing some newer gems that are not agenda-driven and hearken back to the classic Disney films that actively promoted good things like traditional family values. One of their latest phenomena is “Encanto,” which centers around the Family Madrigal and a miracle they received during a difficult point in their family’s history. Besides the music, which is ridiculously, almost annoyingly, catchy thanks to composer Lin Manuel-Miranda (remember, we don’t talk about Bruno!), “Encanto” is, at its heart, a movie about the importance of family and how we are not defined by what we can do or the gifts we’ve been given, but rather by how well we are able to love one another. A perfect flick for a family movie night.

BELFAST This one received a lot of Oscar buzz, with seven nominations and one win for best original screenplay, and for good reason. “Belfast” is a poignant yet heartwarming tale of one boy’s life in Belfast during the era known as The Troubles, a sectarian conflict between the Irish people that lasted well into the ’90s. The film is partly a biopic of the childhood of director Kenneth Branagh, who is not only a successful director but also a very talented actor. “Belfast” feels very personal, because indeed, it is; but a strong thread of childhood innocence weaved into the importance of faith, family and friends amid a tumultuous period of history make this film leave a lasting impact.

THE BATMAN One of the most anticipated movies of the year, “The Batman” doesn’t quite live up to the hype surrounding it, but it’s a decent movie with a surprisingly human story at its core that warrants a watch nonetheless. Robert Pattinson plays the Batman, whose secret identity is billionaire Bruce Wayne, traditionally depicted as a playboy of sorts but is more akin in this latest reboot to a grungy, angsty youth. While this version of “The Batman” is even darker than Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy (and, in this writer’s opinion, much more inferior), there is still a message of hope that resounds by the time the end credits roll. Of note is the film’s score by Michael Giacchino, which features a short homage to Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” albeit used in a more sinister manner as the theme for Paul Dano’s disturbed take on The Riddler, a classic Batman villain. Make sure the kids are in bed before turning this one on. ›

BY AARON LAMBERT Writer from Denver

ENCANTO Time will tell how much longer Disney movies CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JUNE 2022

FATHER STU The film industry is not kind to Catholic priests. Generally speaking, priests as depicted on film fall into three general stereotypes: perverts, fools or evil incarnate, all clad in a collar. Thankfully, with “Father Stu,” Hollywood has given us a film that shows the priesthood as it actually is – a beautiful gift of self to others. The film is based on the true story of Father Stuart Long, a staunch atheist and all-around troublemaker from Helena, Montana who experienced a profound conversion later in life and became a priest, only to be diagnosed with a rare disease that ultimately killed him in 2014. As short-lived as his

Aside from the hot sun beating down and a cold glass of lemonade, few images evoke the sweet season of summer better than the dim lights of a movie theater with popcorn in hand.”

priesthood was, he had a profound impact on the many who encountered him. Megastar Mark Wahlberg was so moved by Father Stu’s story and his beautiful example of suffering well that he made a movie about him in which he stars as the late priest, and what results is one of the best movies about the priesthood and the Church in a long time. Highly recommended, with a disclaimer: this film earns its “R” rating for crude and pervasive language. MAN OF GOD As Catholics, it is imperative to hear the stories of our Orthodox brothers and sisters in the faith, whose examples of fidelity to Christ are no less moving than those of the saints venerated by the Catholic Church. One such story is that of St. Nektarios of Aegina, whose life is recounted in the beautiful film “Man of God.” In many ways, St. Nektarios’ life mimics that of Christ himself; he was a bishop and great teacher in the Greek Orthodox Church whose fellow bishops in Egypt became jealous of his popularity with the people and unjustly exiled him from the diocese. St. Nektarios, who is portrayed wonderfully by the Greek actor Aris Servetalis in the film, did not let this deter him from doing the heavenly work he felt the Lord was calling him to, in spite of numerous other tribulations that he encountered along the way. “Man of God” is a reverent, almost contemplative film that studies St. Nektarios’ life as one which reflects each Christian’s duty to live charitably and be holy, regardless of our state of life or where we are. DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS At this point, it seems the Marvel cinematic universe will never end, what with all the series and spinoffs and superfluous cinematic sagas in the works. It seems that Marvel movies (and superhero films, for that matter) are a dime a dozen these days, and their quality is suffering as a result. However, every once in a while, there’s still a gem that emerges from the rubble. Case in point: the recent “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness,” which succeeds because it tries something different than the formulaic approach that many of the recent Marvel films have fallen into. Sure, part of that has to do with the fact that the multiverse has been opened wide and is now ripe for cameos and other surprises, but the main reason is director Sam Raimi, who is best known for cheesy horror films but more notably for the original Spider Man trilogy starring Tobey Maguire. Raimi’s return to the superhero genre with “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness” mixes in a bit of his B-movie sensibilities and is carried by a surprisingly human story at the heart of it. Even for those who have long since written off Marvel films as recycled Hollywood drivel, this one is worth a watch; if nothing else, it’s wickedly fun and entertaining. ■ JUNE2022 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO JUNE

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FAM I LY VACATION S

SUM

Pilgrimages DR. ANTHONY LILLES Academic dean and associate professor of spiritual theology at St. Patrick’s Seminary & University

t’s a couple of hours after midnight at an airport in Munich, with workers vacuuming the concourse. Sixty-five pilgrims from St. Patrick’s Seminary & University are trying to sleep as we wait for our flights later today. On our way to Bosnia-Herzegovina, we were stranded at an airport because of severe winds and mechanical problems with our flight. So far there has been much excitement with both laughter as things go wrong and smiles as unexpected things go right. Somewhere in this, I am hoping our future priests catch life-changing glimpses of divine providence. A pilgrimage is pregnant with such glimpses, even at an airport in the dead of night. Pilgrimage was an important part of my own childhood. While Santa Cruz was where

I went to school, my extended family farmed in the San Joaquin Valley. Summers included many long car rides back and forth across the Pacheco Pass. While my grandparents were not particularly pious, they would occasionally stop at Mission San Juan Baptista, if only to break up the long drive. My brothers and I loved the freedom to run in this protected garden paradise. The cloister-surrounded courtyard enchanted us with paths winding around beautiful flowers, exotic vegetation and old California artifacts. If it smacked of adventure, it also harkened back to a less secular and less frenzied time. We ran through the old cemetery terrorizing squirrels and looked at the grave markers, seeing who could find the oldest one. The enchantments of Spanish California JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

MER

& Providence worked in our imaginations and my grandfather knew stories about Three Finger Jack and the Murietta Brothers. It was as if El Zorro were about to ride around the corner. Sometimes we would even have a picnic nearby. We also would make a short visit to the Blessed Sacrament. The adobe walls of the mission told Spanish California’s story of sacrifice and prayer, of difficult struggles to establish order and prosperity amid an arid wilderness while bringing the Gospel to people very different from themselves. If we puzzled over the misunderstood intentions and unconscious motives that were part of the story, what most spoke were the vestiges of love that remained, last witnesses to the effort to do something beautiful for God. In the end, CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JUNE 2022

what actually motivated these priests to leave everything behind and brave all kinds of hardship at the edge of the world? Long after the visit, my mind would imagine the friars, the Native Americans and the Spanish soldiers. I learned enough to know that there was tension between military, mendicant and Native cultures. Surely, the story of Cain and Abel, of brother against brother, was part of this. Yet, deeper than fraternal strife, there was an awareness of a time more friendly to humanity, the kind of time that one can only know when difficult differences are faced while striving toward a sacred order together as a people. Memories of grace are shared not so much in the accomplishment of this but in the frail unnoticed effort disguised by its failures. ›

Members of the seminary staff and seminarians trek through an airport during their summer pilgrimage. Photo courtesy St. Patrick Seminary & University

In such flashes of glory, the heart discovers those deeper capacities for love and peace that only faith can know.” This is the very heartbeat of a family. Tasting this, even for a forgotten unconscious instant, was a sacred moment for my family, a moment of solidarity and mutual belonging right amid the normal sort of goofing around, laughter and fun that makes a family pilgrimage. We understood in some way that such stories started long before our family discovered them and that they would go on long after we were forgotten. We also had a sense that these stories were not foreign to our own story, but instead a hidden part of our lives. As a child I wondered whether the Franciscans ran the mission with this same sense or whether the Native people who helped build it also tasted it. I wondered what it was like when they prayed together. All these thoughts evoked a kind of nostalgia for something that only children can understand. A sense of the way things ought to be. A sorrow that they were not so. A hidden hope that something lost might one day be restored. In hindsight, such movements of the heart

offer a reprieve from the absolute claims that secular life can make. For a small part of an afternoon, life was about something more than the next learning activity or chore or game. We had glimpsed a sacred order to life, a mystery only divine providence explains. While this sacred order is felt more than understood, this feeling touches on something essential to human life. Reigniting a sense of it is the key to restoring a more meaningful culture in California. At stake is a society a little more friendly to our families and faith. Indeed, I am not sure one has truly lived if one has not tasted it. If we adults make a little effort, not only can children glimpse these flashes of this sacred order in the intimate moments that families, but we ourselves can find them too. The effort involves a journey of faith, one that embraces the pilgrimage spirit of those early California friars. This is a sense that I carry into spiritual formation in general and the formation of seminarians more specifically. That is why I find myself surrounded by our seminarians on a spiritual journey into the heart of Bosnia-Herzegovina. My hope is that they too will taste some of that nostalgia for the sacred. Even in the wake of human disasters brought on by National Socialism, communism and imperial expansionism, Pope St. John Paul II helped us to see that there is a spiritual culture among the Slavic peoples that can accept deep differences and even painful memories in pursuit of a sacred order to life together. I hope our men will gaze on this horizon with the pilgrim pope. I write this even as war is raging several hundred miles east of where our small group of pilgrims is trying to sleep. Brothers struggle against brothers just as did Cain and Abel. Such is the catastrophe of war. Yet fraternal strife is always against a backdrop of a love that ought to be and that by Christ Jesus is in fact flowing into the world. I am hoping that our men will encounter this divine inflow in the tragic and inspiring stories of these peoples, stories that live in their churches and in their sacred landscapes, stories filled with beautiful visions and devotions. Mary, the queen of peace, is certainly part of this encounter. In such flashes of glory, the heart discovers those deeper capacities for love and peace that only faith can know. ■ JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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3 young adults and their dog Complete Lenten California Mission pilgrimage BY VALERIE SCHMALZ Director, Office of Human Life & Dignity

trio of twenty-something young adults and their dog Laika walked more than 800 miles in the footsteps of St. Junipero Serra on a Lenten pilgrimage to pray for California that spanned the 46 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter Vigil. Hope Waterman, 27, Matthew Geier, 27 and John Paul Hanson, 24, began walking after the 7 a.m. Ash Wednesday Mass at the first mission, Mission San Diego de Alcalá, and concluded in time for Easter Vigil in Sonoma, where the 21st and farthest north California mission was founded by the Franciscan friars. “The thing I could do to bring about the radical reconversion of California was to pray to the man who brought the faith to California in the first place and to walk the missions of California as a prayer and penance for the salvation of California,” said Waterman, who was inspired to make the pilgrimage to ask the intercession of St. Junipero Serra who founded California’s mission system. Waterman met Geier, a park ranger at Chino Hills State Park and a musician with a medieval and renaissance ensemble, when she was scouting and planning the pilgrimage earlier this year. Geier thought it sounded like a great idea and his boss agreed, giving him six weeks off. Hanson was a childhood neighbor and is a family friend who up until two days before the expedition was undecided. “I meant to say no,” said Hanson when Waterman called him in Irving, Texas, to find out his final decision, “and somehow I said yes.” › JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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Waterman’s dog Laika, named for the Sputnik canine who was the first to orbit the earth in 1958, made up the pilgrimage’s fourth.

I really wanted to do something for several years to pray for California. To ask God to bring about a radical reconversion to Him.” HOPE WATERMAN, CALIFORNIA MISSION PILGRIM The 21 missions, beginning with the first one founded by St. Junipero Serra in San Diego in 1769, are integral to the state, Geier said. “It’s to try to restore a proper appreciation for the missions as a foundation of California. This place was such a deeply Catholic place. The whole society of our state has grown up around these missions. “ Because of his commitment to the reputation of St. Junipero Serra and to California’s Catholic

heritage, Archbishop Cordileone met with the pilgrims just hours after he learned they had arrived in San Francisco Holy Thursday. He blessed their pilgrimage, their banner and various religious articles, praising the initiative which he called “blazing the trail for what I think we should be doing here, a Camino California.” Gregory Wood, a Catholic psychotherapist and member of the Mission Walkers, connected them with several families. Wood is also coordinator of the St. Serra Walking Pilgrimage, July 23-24, in Southern California. The three pilgrims walked everywhere, refusing rides because Father Serra walked everywhere. They only stayed indoors at places that would allow dogs. “People have offered us all kinds of things. It’s been encouraging to see so much kindness and generosity and hospitality,” said Geier. For more information about walking the California Mission trail, go to missionwalk.org. ■

JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Congratulations to the St. Brendan School Class of 2022 on their high school choices:

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MARIN CATHOLIC CLASS OF 2022!

We are so proud of you!

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St. Brendan School Also Congratulates Its Award -Winning Student Scientists The science fair projects from twelve SBS junior high students competed in the Golden Gate STEM Fair this year. These students had already earned First Place in the St. Brendan Science Fair and then advanced to compete against projects submitted by the top students from 9 different Bay Area counties. It was stiff competition, and the St. Brendan School students performed extremely well, with ten of them winning awards: Eighth Grade Awards: ISABEL MERRIMAN - 1st place in Environmental Sciences, and special awards from the California Association of Professional Scientists (CAPS), from the EPA, and from the Northern California Institute of Food Technologists (NCIFT) CILLIAN STANLEY - 1st place in Physical Sciences

MARINCATHOLIC.ORG

TESS CORVERA - 2nd place in Environmental Sciences, and special awards from the EPA and from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) WINSTON BUCOY - 3rd place in Environmental Sciences, and a special award from the EPA Seventh Grade Awards: SYLVIA ANGEJA - 2nd place in Biological Sciences and a special award from the EPA BOBBY NELSON - 3rd place in Environmental Sciences, and special awards from the EPA and the Yerba Buena Plant Society ELYSE SQUIRES - 4th place in Environmental Sciences and a special award from the EPA Sixth Grade Awards: JASPER BERMUDEZ - 1st place in Physical Sciences EMILY LOMBARDINI - 2nd place in Physical Sciences NOEL LOWRY - 4th place in Environmental Sciences First and second place winners Tess, Isabel, Cillian, Sylvia, Jasper, and Emily were invited to present their work at the California State Science Fair in mid-April, where Isabel and Jasper earned 1�� Place and 4�� Place, respectively, in their categories. On top of that, Jasper, Tess, and Isabel’s projects have been ranked in the top 10% of all middle school students in the U.S., and they have been invited to participate in the Broadcom MASTERS scholarship competition. Congratulations to all these talented young scientists and their teacher, L�� B�� D�� ‘74.

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R ETR E AT

In praise of silence and solitude BY FATHER REGINALD MARTIN, OP Director of the Archdiocese’s Vallombrosa Center in Menlo Park

hat is a retreat? The dictionary defines the verb as “the act of going backward or of withdrawing.” The noun of retreat is “a quiet, private or secure place.” A retreat center, like Vallombrosa, is that quiet spot to which one can withdraw. When I am talking to people about our retreat center, I emphasize the quiet that characterizes our life at Vallombrosa; it is essential to everything we do. I’m growing deaf, so I’m very grateful to those willing to stand on my “good side” or be patient when I ask them to repeat things. As a result, some will conclude that growing deaf is no more than a process by which sounds are diminished. But another aspect of hearing loss is far more annoying, and that’s the confusion of sounds that occurs whenever there’s a crowd and several individuals are talking at once. I mention this because almost any time we open the Bible, unless we encounter Jesus off by Himself praying, we encounter an absolute cacophony. Jesus is almost always surrounded by a crowd. His disciples ask how He can possibly ask who touched Him because there are so many people around Him, and when He goes to heal Jairus’ daughter, the first thing He does is throw out all the noise makers. When God punished our prehistoric ancestors for their pride, the Book of Genesis tells us He confused their speech. Three or four thousand years later, when the poet Dryden wished to characterize our later ancestors in the Old Testament, he used an uncomplimentary adjective for noise to describe their decadence: “God’s murmurous people.” In both cases, a Babel of noises, competing for attention and demanding to be heard. And offering a good reason to seek a retreat. If I look for an image of what we strive to offer at Vallombrosa, I ask folks to think about any picture they’ve ever seen of the

Annunciation. Here we encounter no crowds, no raised voices, no noise at all, really. Just two individuals, facing one another and carrying on a conversation that will change the course of history. Back in the 16th century, John Donne summed up this encounter pretty eloquently, and I love to refer to his poem when someone asks what a retreat is all about: “Salvation to all that will is nigh … (and) faithful Virgin, yields himself to lie… cloistered in thy dear womb.” That word “cloistered” conjures up what a retreat is all about – or what it ought to be about – a calm and tidy world where nothing goes to waste, and every single word and action bears fruit. A world where our lives change because the only voice we hear is God’s, and the only word we say is “yes.” I’ve mentioned silence quite often in this reflection, and I use it to promote Vallombrosa and its ministry. I was a great fan of John Quinn, deceased former Archbishop of San Francisco, and he once observed, “Silence is not a penance. It is a necessary disposition if we are to receive anything from God.” The 19th-century French Dominican, Henri Lacordaire, said much the same thing, “After the Word, silence is the greatest power in the world.” We live in a world of noises competing for our attention. We might think of Archbishop Quinn’s remark, and Lacordaire’s, the next time we’re alone and tempted to turn on the television simply to have something going on in the background. The Vallombrosa estate is composed of a dozen or so wooded acres, which allow those making a retreat to draw back from the demands of everyday life and relish the silence they encounter. How individuals spend their time is a matter of choice, and Vallombrosa offers a number of options. One might join a number of similarly minded others and place themselves under the leadership of a conference director, who offers two or three daily talks, followed by time for private prayer and reflection. On the other hand, should individuals wish, they may join a silent retreat group and seek personal guidance from the retreat director, › JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Salvation to all that will is nigh … (and) faithful Virgin, yields himself to lie… cloistered in thy dear womb.” Photo courtesy of St. Clare’s Retreat

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | JUNE 2022

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Catholic Retreat Centers Abbey of Our Lady of New Clairvaux (Trappists) 26240 7th Street, Vina, 96092 newclairvaux.org | 530-839-2161 Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph 68 Rincon Road, Kensington, 94707 carmelofkensington.org Jesuit Retreat Center 300 Manresa Way, Los Altos, 94022 Jrclosaltos.org | 650.948.4491 Mercy Center 2300 Adeline Dr., Burlingame, 94010 sistersofmercy.org | 650.340.7474 Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart Retreat Center 920 East Alhambra Road, Alhambra, 91801-2799 carmelitesistersocd.com 626.289.1353 Holy Transfiguration Monastery 17001 Tomki Road, Box 217, Redwood Valley, 95470 monksofmttabor.com 707.485.8959 San Damiano Retreat Center 710 Highland Dr., Danville, 94526 sandamiano.org | 925.837.9141 St. Andrew’s Abbey 31001 N Valyermo Road, Valyermo, 93563 saintandrewsabbey.com 661.944.2178 St. Clare’s Retreat Center 2381 Laurel Glen Road, Soquel, 95073 stclaresretreat.org | 831.423.8093 Vallombrosa Center 250 Oak Grove Avenue, Menlo Park, 94025 vallombrosa.org | 650.325.5614 Villa Maria Del Mar 21918 E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, 95062 villamariadelmar.org | 831.475.1236 New Camaldoli Hermitage 62475 CA-1, Big Sur, 93920 contemplation.com | 831.667.5126

A retreat allows us to create a cloister in our hearts where God’s gaze and ours can collide. Mary’s encounter resulted in the Incarnation. Our encounter may be less dramatic, but no less fruitful. Photo courtesy of Vallombrosa Center

“checking in” regularly to report their progress on the spiritual path they have chosen to embrace. If a person wishes no more than to spend time alone, Vallombrosa offers ample opportunities for such private retreats, providing sacramental reconciliation and spiritual direction should the individual desire. Folks often ask how long a retreat should last. This is negotiable, but we recommend five days, if only because some of the spiritual giants in our faith suggest that a lesser number is “not enough to change a soul.” Nevertheless, however long one plans to devote to a retreat, silence is altogether key to the experience. Thus, we ask those who make retreats at Vallombrosa to abandon cellphone and computer use during their time with us. The Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title “Mother of the Church.” We might also call her the mother of retreats, for she sets the example for all

we strive to accomplish when we make a retreat. The poet Rainer Maria Rilke described Mary’s encounter with Gabriel at the Annunciation, and said, “It did not scare her that he entered/ But that he was so utterly present…/That his gaze and hers, looking up to him collided/ As if everything outside had become empty….” We are very proud of our shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, an area we have taken great trouble to develop as a spot for our visitors’ quiet meditation. To anyone who wonders: why make a retreat? I reply: come to Vallombrosa. A retreat allows us to create a cloister in our hearts where God’s gaze and ours can collide. Mary’s encounter resulted in the Incarnation. Our encounter may be less dramatic, but no less fruitful. I recently read a book titled “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking.” The author observes that solitude contributes a great deal to creativity. A retreat isn’t a vacation; it’s an opportunity to restore and refresh who we are. ■ JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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St. Thomas More Church honors religious freedom martyr BY MARY POWERS Assistant Director of Communications and Media Relations. Office of Communications, Archdiocese of San Francisco

atholic statesman, lawyer and friend and adviser to the king St. Thomas More was a fierce defender of the faith against the Protestant Reformation in Europe. Central to his uneasiness with Martin Luther’s Reformation were the changes made to the Mass and understanding of the Eucharist. Then, when English King Henry VIII broke from Rome over the divorce of his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, St. Thomas More could not endorse the divorce and subsequent marriage to Anne Boleyn, refusing to sign the Act of Succession. King Henry VIII had St. Thomas More arrested on April 17, 1534. Locked in the Tower of London, St. Thomas More penned a magnificent reflection titled “A Treatise to Receive the Blessed Body of our Lord Sacramentally and Virtually Both,” part of the 1,458 pages of his “Workes” written in the tower before he died. The treatise, written a year before his martyrdom, poetically describes the beauty and gift of the Eucharist, while also describing the importance of preparing to receive the sacrament and living that communion with our Lord in daily life. “Now, when we have received our Lord, and have Him in our body, let us not then let Him alone … and get us forth about other things, and look no more unto Him … but let all our busyness be about Him. Let us by devout prayer talk to Him, by devout meditation talk with Him. … For surely, if we set aside all other things … and attend unto Him, He will not fail with good inspirations to speak such things to us within us. … And therefore let us with Martha provide … that all our outward busyness may be pertaining to Him: in making cheer to Him, and to His company for His sake.” (The Complete Works of St. Thomas More, Yale University Press, volume 13.) The rose stained-glass window at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in San Francisco brings More’s words and work to life. In a pamphlet created for the

Pictured in the rose window are scenes from life of St. Thomas More, including his pet monkey.

dedication of the new church in 1967, the window is described as having been designed and executed by Gabriel Loire in Chartres, France, with the description, “The segments of the window depict scenes from the life of St. Thomas More. …Together, the scenes portray his great love for the sacrifice of the Mass, his dedication to the office of judge, his fidelity to the precept of the law.” “St. Thomas More was a martyr of conscience, willing to die for refusing to take an oath embracing the king as supreme head of the Church. The Catholic faith always has and always will uphold the responsibility of remaining true to one's conscience,” noted Father Rick Van De Water, administrator of St. Thomas More Parish. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops each year begins Religious Freedom Week fittingly on the memorial of St. Thomas More and fellow English martyr St. John Fischer, bishop, cardinal and defender of Catherine of Aragon. Both were beheaded for refusing to take the oath of succession, acknowledging the issue of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn as legitimate heirs to the throne. The week concludes on June 29, the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul. This year’s theme is “Life and Dignity for All.” St. Thomas More is truly a man for our times. He kept his eyes focused on Christ and the Eucharistic center of the Catholic faith, dying as “the king’s good servant, but God’s first.” Religious Freedom Week is June 22-29. ■ JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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The Archdiocese of San Francisco is accepting cryptocurrency! BY ROD LINHARES Director of Mission Advancement for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

he Archdiocese of San Francisco is accepting cryptocurrency, joining a growing but still relatively small group of nonprofits and church organizations who can process donations in the digital currency. The Archdiocese has partnered with The Giving Block (thegivingblock.com) to make this happen. The Giving Block is the leader in cryptocurrency donation solutions for nonprofit organizations. It provides a system for nonprofits and charities to raise cryptocurrency dollars, a place for crypto donors to find nonprofits that accept crypto gifts and an easy, secure way to make crypto donations. The Giving Block is the cryptocurrency donation solution trusted by over 1,000 faith-based organizations, nonprofits and universities. Among the organizations who use The Giving Block are The Catholic University of America, the American Cancer Society, Save the Children and many others. A cryptocurrency (or “crypto”) is an electronic, peerto-peer currency. This intangible asset is created using encryption algorithms and is circulated independently of a central monetary authority, like a bank or government. Consumers can convert traditional currencies, such as dollars or euros, into crypto, which can then be used to make investments, or even purchase goods or services. Most crypto exchanges use blockchain technology, allowing users to make safe and secure transactions, whether they are buying, selling or trading crypto. It is fast and easy to make a gift of cryptocurrency to your parish, a school and/or ministry (such as the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal) of your choice. The process is extremely efficient, donor-focused and secure, from the time you make your gift and automatically

receive your tax receipt to when the parish, school and/ or ministry you select receives your donation. The process of donating cryptocurrency to the Archdiocese is virtually identical to that of donating stock. Significantly, just as with the sale of stock, the Archdiocese sells a gift of cryptocurrency as soon as it is received. The Archdiocese does not hold the cryptocurrency. There is no speculation. Your cryptocurrency gift will have a great impact by furthering the mission of an archdiocesan entity or ministry while reducing your tax-gain burden. When donating crypto, you receive a tax deduction for the fair market value of the crypto, and you avoid the capital gains tax you would have incurred if you had sold the cryptocurrency and then made a donation. This often makes Bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies (there are nearly 80 cryptocurrencies you can donate through The Giving Block) one of the most tax-efficient ways to support your favorite parish, school and/or ministry. To donate cryptocurrency to an archdiocesan ministry, school, parish or the AAA, to learn more about doing so or to learn about The Giving Block, please see thegivingblock.com. You will notice on the website that our Archdiocese is listed as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Francisco. That is simply because The Giving Block requires organizations to be listed under their legal entity name. Please contact Rod Linhares, director of mission advancement, at 415-614-5581 or linharesr@sfarch. org for more information or if you have questions. Make a gift of cryptocurrency and change lives! ■ JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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CATHOLIC SYMBOLS R

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R W

W Q

N W S

W E

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3 Wages of sin, as described in Romans CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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10 One of the prophets

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SCEPTER WHEAT SHEAF CROOK STOLE TRIANGLE

2 Eight days of a holy season

12 Lenten foliage

3 Opus ___

13 Monks’ cowls

4 First patriarch

15 A queen from this country came to hear Solomon speak

5 Types of monks

16 Biblical river

7 Chalice

17 Biblical animals

8 “___ us, O Lord…”

20 “___ in terris”

14 “There is a ___ in Gilead”

22 The ___ at the Well

15 Birth month of Mary (abbr.)

23 Judah, for example

18 Hebrew for “son of”

25 Diocese unit

19 One of the 7 deadly sins

26 Non-ordained members of the Church

21 Certain vow

6 Fourth man

22 Catholic bandleader and accordion player

31 OT prophetic bk.

23 Jesus was crucified between two

32 Rib-giver

24 Hell

35 ___ unction

27 A papal dispensation permitting a deviation from church law

36 Saint item 9 President Johnson’s daughter who converted to Catholicism

11 In the ___ of the Lord

29 First word in the Lord’s Prayer, in Paris

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37 A deacon wears this over his left shoulder

28 The ___ of Forbidden Books 30 Home of Adam and Eve

DOWN 1 Biblical “kill”

33 Abbr. for two OT 53 books

34 Medieval Christian emp.

O RW

OD APA RT

TS EN

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Thank You for participating!

n September 2021 Pope Francis invited each Roman Catholic diocese in the world to participate in the preparatory process for the upcoming 2023 Synod of Bishops on synodality. Each diocese was asked to enter into a consultative process to reflect on how the Church is “journeying together,” united in Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. In response the Archdiocese of San Francisco partnered with Catholic Leadership Institute to facilitate a twophase approach. Phase One (Jan. 15-Feb. 15) consisted of offering a survey tool called the Disciple Maker Index to each parish for a broad-based survey of our parishioners, assessing individual faith journeys and desires for greater parish engagement. Phase Two (Feb. 20-March 13) consisted of 25 listening sessions (16 in-person; nine virtual) in three different languages. The notes from these listening groups were synthesized by the facilitator for each session. Since these two phases concluded, CLI has been

conducting a series of training webinars (March 8-April 27) for pastors and parish leaders to learn how to work with and respond pastorally to the parish survey data. Moreover CLI has summarized the information that was obtained from both the surveys and the listening sessions and produced the 10-page synthesized report that each U.S. diocese has been asked to send to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In turn the USCCB, like every other national conference, will submit its own report to the Holy Father in advance of the upcoming Synod of Bishops. The Archdiocese of San Francisco report is available at www.sfarch.org/synod While these national conference reports are informing the planning for the Synod of Bishops in Rome, CLI will return in September to facilitate a priest convocation, allowing the priests of the Archdiocese of San Francisco to review the survey results and the parishioner input from the listening sessions. This gathering will be an opportunity for the priests serving in our parishes to discuss how parishes are planning to respond and how they might collaborate. Thank you to all who participated in the diocesan synodal process. Please continue to pray for the success of this upcoming synod especially around the themes Pope Francis has chosen: Communion, Participation and Mission. ■

G I VE T HE G I FT O F

WE WELCOME AND ARE GRATEFUL TO OUR ADVERTISERS! We hope our readers are enjoying this edition of Catholic San Francisco Magazine. A lot of thought, preparation and heart have gone into our new publication. A great deal of support has come from our advertisers. They have expressed excitement about a beautifully designed magazine that will be delivered 8 times each year to our current readership. Featured stories will inspire an appreciation for our faith and concurrently offer real assistance56 that will improve our lives in a myriad of ways.

To advertise, contact: MARY PODESTA 415.614.5644 podestam@sfarch.org

Share with your family and friends who are far away. $35 a year anywhere in the United States. JUNE 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO Visit www.sfarch.org/givecatholicsf

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2022! ST. IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREPARATORY EDUCATE . I N S P I R E . LAU N C H.

Mia Isabel Aaronson Ashleigh Davila Jonathan Martin Aban-Hermosura Emma Elisabeth Davila Timothy O’Neill Abbott Anthony Michael De Benedetti Caroline Abrams Caroline Fitzpatrick Deasy Jacqueline Acosta Thomas Alexander DeBenedetti Abigail Adams Adam Michael Beltran del Rosario Angelica Maresca Aksdal-Jansen Grace Olivia DelNegro William Luke Alexander Owen Hunter DeLuca Michael Masamu Allen Dominic James DeMera Taylor Francesca Amann Reilly Rose Derrick Thomas Cole Amaya William Grady Devine Halle Loren Angeles Adrian Neil Di Lena Hannah Ruby Angsten Gregory Harkins Dorn Jordan Ansari Jenilynn Alondra Duarte Salazar Paul Arthur Williams Armstrong Jr. Michael Charles Duffy Molly Elizabeth Marie Ashendorf Matthew Patrick Duggan Matthew Joseph Asiano Cole Walter Dyos Gabrielle Mamie Baenen Charlotte Shames Edwards Alanna Elizabeth Baker Sophie Margaret Edwards Rex Warren Bales Vana Ekmekjian Isabel Ando Balleza Braden Thomas Theodore Elder Jordan Antonio Barraza Joshua Joseph Elias Bradley Louis Barry Nabiyou Elias Alexa Michelle Batinovich Soon Ja Dianne Elzey Andrew Bayani Bautista Amalija Grace Ennis Sean Niran Bell Stefan Babic Erhart Leo Robertson Bianco Isabel Erskine Madeleine Simone Manio Bibat Isabel Alejandra Escalante Bethaneya Binyam Makena Eugster Sofia Arleen Blenkinsop Claire Marie Ewers Oliver Douglas Christopher Bligh Grace Lewis Fannon Kennedy Evelyn Bluford Sonali Ellora Feeley Aaron Michael Bolcerek Zachary Elvis Ferdon Tala Isabel Bongalon Mateo Robert Figueroa Michael David Bourdet Parisa Fillabi Benjamin Scott Boyden Parker Ryan Fitzgerald Fiona Rose Brandon Aidan Everisto Flocchini Dylan Matthew Brewer-Fong Isabella Teresa Carzon Fontanilla Rocco Joseph Brichler Eva Jean Fortney Anika Hoang Anh Brinkerhoff Elsa Rosie Fuentes-Virabyan Joi Christina Bryant Valerie Cecilia Gabriel-Novoa August Buessing Martina Maria Gaehwiler Joseph Gabriel Capurro Amelia Rose Gale Mary Helen Casserly Ciava Siobhan Gallagher Abigail Castaneda Munoz Ciaran J Galvin-Quinn Maximiliano Castro Daniel Yuze Gao Lola Pearl Cerchiai Malia Araneta Garcia Abby Okalani Cha Alessia Graydon Gatti Christina Alexandra Chanchu Shane Gavney Aidan Chen Katherine Corrigan Gerrity Imani Kamaria Chism Charlotte Louise Glen Kayla May Billedo Chongco Quinn John Peter Goldberg Christian Aquino Chow Sarah Rochelle Golden Jayden J Chung Lucas Aurelio Goldman Ryan Wada Conroy Emma Sophia Gorin Ben Carlos Corvi Samantha Pauline Gotch Caroline Grace Cranston Lachlan Kaiwen Grant Shane Frank Crispen John Grassi Matthew Robert Cummings Ronan John Greene Nicholas Cruz D’Agostino Madison Jana Guarin SAN FRANCISCO JUNE 2022 MadelineCATHOLIC Pulliam Danaher Mateo| Guzman

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Gavin Francis O’Connor Anthony Owen O’Neil Emma Kate O’Reilly Megan Elizabeth O’Sullivan Cailla Louise Oakley-Lynch Gemma Louise Oakley-Lynch Manuel Enrique Ocana Jr. Branden Aaron Oum Andrew William Ow Nicolas Miguel Paez William Valentine Acosta Parker Cailey Niandrea Pasco Claire Pritika Patankar Jacqueline Cossette Patterson Zachary Westaway Philipp Declan David Poland John Patrick Powell Leo Donoghue Priesman Charles Maxwell Pyfer Charles John Quackenbush Sean Michael Quanico Katelyn Diana Quon Isabella Kara Radunich Jayden Matthew Ramos Madison Grace Reed Keith Allen Reyes Bianca Erika Reynoso-Duran Sophia Marcella Rigatti Alexander Maxian Rike Caeli Jacquelyn Riordan Hannah Abigail Riskin Gloria Yaneth Rivas Gioberto Paul Rocchio Ella Arianna Ross Domenico V Rossetto Fiona Pares Ruane Gavin James Ruane Diego Ryan Lindsay Rose Ryan Axel William Salomaa Natalie Sila San Maya Bravo Santos Reo Sato Anna Lind Scandalios Katherine Schatz Amanda Carmen Schmidt Elisabeth Maria Schuth Justin Raymond Scott Gabriele Scotto di Vettimo Frederic Joseph Serrano-Orense Margaret Virginia Simpson Trinity Elizabeth Slack Aidan Thomas Smith LaVon Nightingale Smith Shuri Kemoni Smith Cole Louis Smolinski Noah Manalo Soto Isabelle Louise Southern Riley Susanna Spahr Ryan Clark Steinberg Grace Alexandra Sterling

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