Temporary Position Open in Catechumenate

The Campus Ministry office at Santa Clara University is seeking a temporary employee to coordinate the processes for the Sacraments of Initiation, both the ongoing Catechumenate and a separate adult Confirmation process. The ideal person would be one who has knowledge and experience in liturgical catechesis as it relates to the Sacraments of Initiation and can engage and collaborate with young adults in a university setting. This position would be part-time and for a fixed term: January to May, 2006. For more information, please contact Lulu Santana at LSantana@scu.edu.

Christmas Musicians Needed

St. Martin of Tours Church in San Jose is in need of additional musicians for Christmas. They need an organist (and more choir members) for their Midnight Mass. They are also in need of liturgical musicians to lead their 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Masses on Christmas morning. They will pay according to scale for pianists, organists, and those who coordinate the music. For more information, contact Judy Swazey at408-289-9617 or jswazey@stmartin.org.

I'm looking for an Administrative Assistant

It was too short a time that Sandra Pacheco served as my administrative assistant, but her career in finance was calling her to another job. So sadly, we say goodbye to her and wish her well in her studies and career path.

Now, if you are highly organized, a great people-person, and can keep me and the associate for youth and young adults in line, then we want you!

The Office of Pastoral Ministry for the Diocese of San Jose in Santa Clara is seeking an Administrative Assitant for the Offices of Liturgy and Youth & Young Adult Ministry. This is an immediate opening for a fulltime administrative assistant with:

• a minimum of 3 years secretarial experience, good organizational and telephone skills, ability to meet deadlines;
• proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point, Internet Explore, Access and Publisher;
• and some knowledge of parish and Church structures and procedures.
• Bi-lingual Spanish is preferred.

Fax resume to 408-983-0203 or email resume in text to personnel@dsj.org.

For job openings in pastoral ministry in the parish, check out the diocesan job website. When I last looked, there were still many openings available in the parishes in various pastoral ministries.

Vespers for Our Lady of Guadalupe - December 9, 2005

Every year, the diocese celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with processions and evening prayer in Spanish.

This year's celebration takes place on Friday, December 9, 2005 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (2020 East San Antonio Street, San Jose). The procession of parishes begins at 6:00p and the vespers at 7:00p. This year, we will be honoring the work of Catholic Relief Services and supporting its Pakistan earthquake relief.

Here's an article in Spanish by Lupita Vital, the Associate for Hispanic Catechesis for the diocese, about celebrating Advent with Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Parishes are invited to participate in the procession to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Parishes near and far have walked the distance between their parish home and Our Lady of Guadalupe parish. Some parishes also gather at a closer location and begin their procession from there. However way you do it, it's always a wonderful sight to see people of faith walking together. Parishes should plan to arrive at the church between 6:00p and 7:00p.

Evening Prayer in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Friday, December 9, 2005

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

2020 East San Antonio Street, San Jose

Processions: 6:00p

Evening Prayer: 7:00p

Click below to get pdf flyers you can print:

• Flyer in Spanish, color
• Flyer in Spanish, black and white
• Flyer in English, color
• Flyer in English, black and white

Open Call for Singers for Ordination

On Saturday, December 10, 9:00a at the Cathedral, the Diocese of San Jose will celebrate an ordination to the priesthood. Singers and instrumentalists are invited to join the music ministry for the celebration.

Choir Rehearsal for Ordination

Monday, December 5, 7:00p

Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph parish hall

80 S. Market Street, San Jose

Ordination Celebration

Saturday, December 10, 9:00a

Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph

There will be only one rehearsal and you must be able to attend. Please RSVP with Julie Wind at juliewind@stjosephcathedral.org or 408-283-8100 x2205.

Thanksgiving Prayers for the Dinner Table

Do you still need a prayer card to give to parishioners to help them pray at family dinner? Below are simple cards that you can print. You'll need Adobe reader.

Click here for English, and click here for Spanish. Print them on card stock and cut them in quarters. There are prayers on each side of the card.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sample Intercessions for First Sunday of Advent - November 27, 2005 - Opening of Jubilee Year

First Sunday of Advent, Year B
November 27, 2005

Things, events, and news items to keep in mind:

• Click here for this Sunday's readings.
• This Sunday begins the Jubilee Year in the Diocese of San Jose commemorating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of our diocese. The Jubilee Year culminates in a eucharistic celebration at the Cathedral on March 18, 2006, and ends on March 19, 2007.
• This week the nation celebrates Thanksgiving Day. Some parishioners may be travelling, and visitors may be in your parish this weekend.

The following are just samples meant to inspire your work. Use them as ideas for your own assembly's intercessions. Read 10 Principles for Writing Intercessions and Step by Step Guide to help you write your own.


Presider:
For the coming of Jesus Christ in glory,
of Emmanuel, our hope, of peace and unity for all,
let us cry out that God may remember us.


For the Church,
still waiting,
still seeking the fullness of the revelation of our Lord Jesus [pause]:
May we be unafraid to dream,
alert to God’s presence,
and awake to hear Christ’s call.
We pray to the Lord.

For the leaders of the world,
still divided,
still unable to see God’s face in the poor [pause]:
May they be roused from their sleep
to work untiringly for a world
where all are fed, sheltered, healed, and at peace.
We pray to the Lord.

For families,
still yearning for reconciliation,
still striving in faith through the daily struggles of life [pause]:
May they be abundantly blessed
with thanksgiving for all that has been
and hope for what is to come.
We pray to the Lord.

For those still waiting for welcome,
still searching for meaning,
still hoping for compassion, forgiveness, and love [pause]:
May we be watchful
for the many, surprising ways God comes to us.
We pray to the Lord.

For our Diocese of San José,
still growing in God’s riches,
still being worked by the potter’s hands [pause]:
May we be faithful servants and courageous witnesses
who show the face of Christ to the world
until the day of the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.

For the dead who wait in joyful hope
for the coming of the Lord,
especially for those we now remember [pause]:
May they be roused from their sleep
and raised up to life eternal.
We pray to the Lord.


Presider:
Lord Jesus, the Fullness of Time and Lord of History,
prepare us to recognize the coming of your Kingdom,
and make us watchful for your presence already with us.
Form us in this Jubilee Year to be a Church that matters,
especially to those most in need of good news.
Hear our prayers and do not delay,
for you are Christ, yesterday, today, and tomorrow,
Lord, for ever and ever. Amen.



FILED UNDER: INTERCESSIONS

A Marian / Advent Examination of Conscience

Below is an examination of conscience written by Diana Macalintal based on the scripture passage of the Visitation and the Magnificat (Luke 1:39-56). It would be appropriate for use at reconciliation liturgies during Advent.

Reader:
Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. [pause]

• Have we greeted one another with curses instead of blessings?
• Have we borne bitter fruit in our thoughts, words, and deeds? [pause]

Holy Mary...

All:
...Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Reader:
And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? [pause]

• Have we denied our own worth or the worth of others, disbelieving that God is present in ourselves or in others?
• Have we missed the presence of God because we are too busy, too hurried, or too anxious?
  [pause]

Holy Mary...

All:
...Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Reader:
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. [pause]

• Have we closed our ears to the sound of God’s voice coming from unexpected people, places, and encounters?
• Have we grown so serious that we cannot leap for joy? [pause]

Holy Mary...

All:
...Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Reader:
Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled. [pause]

• Have we lost hope and faith in each other, in ourselves, in our church, in our world, in our communities?
• Do we prevent the Word from being fulfilled by our apathy, passive-aggressiveness, despair, or complacency? [pause]

Holy Mary...

All:
...Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Reader:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. [pause]

• Does my very being, my very presence preach the goodness of God?
• Do I sing, dance, play, and rejoice with others as often as I can? [pause]

Holy Mary...

All:
...Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Reader:
For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. [pause]

• Who have we looked down upon because of their particular spirituality, lifestyle, political party, educational background, or economic wealth or poverty?
• How has our need to help the lowly dominated their need to know the dignity of helping themselves? [pause]

Holy Mary...

All:
...Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Reader:
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. [pause]

• When have we taken credit for what we have not done?
• When have we denied our own participation in the evil that our communities, church, families, countries, or other associations have done? [pause]

Holy Mary...

All:
...Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Reader:
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. [pause]

• Have we lost our sense of mercy and compassion so that nothing ever angers or sickens us?
• Have we lost our sense of fear, awe, and reverence that nothing ever moves us at our core? [pause]

Holy Mary...

All:
...Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Reader:
He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. [pause]

• Have we been secretly arrogant?
• Have we used our own power, status, education, or religion to put others down, even in the silence of our hearts?
  [pause]

Holy Mary...

All:
...Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Reader:
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. [pause]

• Have we done all we can to participate in and influence the political life of our cities, states, and nations?
• Have we been afraid to be prophetic and revolutionary even at the cost of our own comfort? [pause]

Holy Mary...

All:
...Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Reader:
The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. [pause]

• Have we become gluttonous for praise, solitude, piety, or the safety of those who are like us?
• Who have we sent away empty, without our acknowledgment, thanks, care, or gratitude? [pause]

Holy Mary...

All:
...Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Reader:
He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever. [pause]

• Have we refused to give help and mercy?
• Have we broken our promises?
• Will we leave this world a more merciful, just, and beautiful place for our descendants? [pause]

Holy Mary...

All:
...Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Wisdom from a Starbuck's Cup

Down the street from my home, there's a Starbuck's. Now that's not unusual, but what makes this Starbuck's unique is that young people pack the place every night and hang out there until late into the evening. Starbuck's has become the place of community for these young adults.

I've always thought that it would be wonderful if the Church could somehow "do ministry" where young adults naturally gather. Meet them where they're already at. Wouldn't it be great if we could talk about faith over a cup of coffee?

In college, I worked at the Newman Center with a priest who would "do ministry" at the campus gymnasium. He would work out and chat with the students there--mostly those who would rarely come to the church--just so they could see "Fr. Joe" in their own environment. It made it a lot easier for them to venture to the church if they already knew that "those holy people there" were just like them.

The other day, I noticed a quote on my Starbuck's cup:

I wonder…if young people were actively engaged in all aspects of society, and thought of themselves as community leaders, problem-solvers, role models, mentors and key ‘stakeholder’…how would the world change?
-- Jennifer Corriero, Co-founder of TakingITGlobal.org. She has been recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader.

Sometimes all young people need is an invitation from those who enjoy the same things in life as they do. Starbuck's gets it; so should we.

To learn more about "The Way I See It" project, click here.

Vino & Vespers - Postponed

Unfortunately, I've had to postpone Vino & Vespers, originally scheduled for November 4, 2005. I want to ensure that we have great speakers, and no matter how much I tried, none of those on my short-list could make the date. Some things just aren't meant to happen.

But Vino & Vespers will definitely take place on Friday, January 27, 2006, 7:30p. The Holy Spirit has already worked and has led me to some strong leads for a speaker for that evening. So mark your calendar now!

Don't know what Vino & Vespers is? Click here to find out.

Embracing Families in Need - November 4, 2005

“Embracing Families in Need – a Day of Training for the Faith Community”
Building Peaceful Families Sponsored Event

The goal of this training is to support the continuing efforts of faith communities to prevent family violence and respond effectively to families experiencing violence. Find out how faith communities, advocacy community and the Court System can increase collaboration with outreach efforts, education, support services and spiritual guidance.

Embracing Families in Need
A Day of Training for the Faith Community
November 4, 2005
7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Center for Employment Training
701 Vine Street, San José

Conference Cost: $20.00.

Please make check or money order payable to:

Building Peaceful Families.

Conference fee includes:

Full day of training, continental breakfast, lunch,

resources material, free parking and door prizes.

To Register: Contact Marian Brown at

buildpeace@gmail.com or 408-808-7007

Presentations include:

Importance of Taking Action – Presentation by Warriors for Peace WFP is a men’s educational organization whose members have taken a pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women. As men of faith, they will speak about their outreach efforts and the importance of faith communities taking action to end violence against women.

Domestic Violence the Batterer and the Faith Community – Learn to recognize all types of abuse including, physical, emotional, verbal, sexual and financial abuse. Information will be available on resources and how to access them (faith and secular) to assist congregants on how to hold the batterer accountable and help families to heal.

The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children and Interventions That Help – Important information on the latest finding on the impact of domestic violence on children will be shared and ways you can intervene to help the most vulnerable in your faith community.

Teen Dating Abuse and Solutions – One third of all teens report they have been in an abusive dating Relationship. Learn how you can help teens speak out and speak up to find solutions to stop the violence.

Domestic Violence and Abuse in Later Life and the Faith Community Response – Older battered people are more economically vulnerable than younger ones. They are usually neglected, and isolated. Learn about the wonderful outreach efforts and services that are available in the community to help this population where abuse is often hidden.

Mandated Reporting: What Happens After You Report? – We recognize that you will follow your mandated duties. However, following a brief review of mandated reporting laws, this presentation will cover what happens after you report and the innovative programs designs to help children and keep families together when appropriate.

Family Violence and the Courts – A distinguish panel of judges from Family Court, Juvenile Court, Dependency Court and Domestic Violence Court will discuss what happens when families are in the court system and the innovative programs, services and outreach effort the courts provide.

Partial List of Sponsors include:
Santa Clara County Superior Court
City of San José
Center for Spiritual Enlightenment
Interfaith Council on Religion, Race, Economic and Social Justice
Congregation of Shir Hadash
Human Relations Commission
Resources for Family and Children
Diocese of San José
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Islamic Network Group (ING)
Support Network for Battered Women
Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence

Guidelines on Copyright

As church musicians and parish leaders, we need to understand the basics of copyright laws. We do this not simply to "follow the law" and not get in trouble but to honor the work of creativity, respect the Holy Spirit that inspires us, and give praise to the Creator who guides those who create art for our use and benefit.

Here is a two-page guideline (in pdf format), and here in Spanish, prepared by Music Publishers' Association, OCP Publications, and New Dawn Music, to educate church musicians on copyright laws. The handout itself is not copyrighted, and the preparers encourage you to reproduce the guidelines and distribute them to your musicians and parish leaders.

Advent Articles - Repeat

To help you prepare for Advent which begins on November 27, 2005, check out these articles from last year:

• What is Advent?
• Advent: Season of Anticipation
• Advent Basics: Getting Back to Liturgical Essentials
• First Week of Advent - A Reflection

Stop Recruiting Volunteers

This article by Diana Macalintal originally appeared in Parish Life, #256, July 2005.

What makes being Catholic different from being part of any other organization that does good works?

In essence, we don’t have a choice but to do good. Everything Christians do is a response to God who first began that good work in us. Those who seek to be baptized are simply responding to God who “sought and summoned them in many ways” (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, #53). By being baptized, we are essentially changed from being an isolated body moving by our own will to being a part of the Body of Christ, in whom “we live and move and have our being” (Preface for Ordinary Time VI). With St. Paul we say, “I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:19-20). The life we live is the life of Christ who continues his work on earth through the mission of the Church.

Vatican II’s Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People describes this right and duty of the faithful in this way:

The Church was founded for the purpose of spreading the kingdom of Christ throughout the earth for the glory of God the Father…. All activity of the Mystical Body directed to the attainment of this goal is called the apostolate, which the Church carries on in various ways through all her members. For the Christian vocation by its very nature is also a vocation to the apostolate. No part of the structure of a living body is merely passive but has a share in the functions as well as life of the body: so, too, in the body of Christ, which is the Church. (2)

It even goes on to say that “the organic union in this body and the structure of the members are so compact that the member who fails to make his proper contribution to the development of the Church must be said to be useful neither to the Church nor to himself” (2).

Therefore, no one in the Church is ever really a “volunteer” who, as the dictionary says, is one who does a service or participates in a transaction without any legal concern or interest in the matter. By baptism, all Christians are obligated to participate in the work of the Church according to each one’s gifts and abilities.

Does this mean we can’t have volunteer fairs and sign-up sheets? Of course not. But we do need to cultivate better the sense of “right and duty” of discipleship that our baptism brings.

Read "Six Ways to Grow Disciples."

Six Ways to Grow Disciples

This article by Diana Macalintal originally appeared in Parish Life, #256, July 2005.

Instead of recruiting volunteers, work on growing disciples. Here are six simple ways to begin.

1. Uphold the dignity of baptism. Infants, the sick and elderly—any who are “useless” by the world’s standards are integral to the Church. Each in their unique way builds up the Body.



2. Train catechumens in the work of the apostolate. Easter or Pentecost is not the time to get the newly-baptized to “sign up” for ministry. Their Christian work began when they became catechumens. Apprentice them throughout their catechumenate in the activities of the Church.



3. Match talents to needs. We’re not simply filling empty slots with warm bodies. Help people discern their God-given gifts and how they can be best put to use in the work of the Church.



4. Don’t use sacraments as “reward” for service. Service hour quotas for sacramental preparation create a consumerist mentality about discipleship. Instead, teach full participation in all the Church’s works as a lifelong commitment.



5. Stop asking people to “help Father.” Ministry is about exercising one’s baptismal right and duty, not about helping Father. The lay apostolate and the ordained work together to accomplish the Church’s mission. Without either, the Church cannot function.



6. Honor the work of the faithful in the world. Don’t denigrate those who never “sign up.” Discipleship is lived primarily at home and in the workplace.

Got other ideas? Share them by clicking on the word "comments" below.