Friday, November 30, 2007

Advent Morning of Prayer - December 6, 2007

Advent Morning Of Prayer
(sponsored by the Southwest Catechetical Cluster
and the Office of Pastoral Ministries)

Thursday, December 6th
(9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
Villa Holy Names, Los Gatos, California

We Invite
Directors/Coordinators of
Catechetical Ministry, Liturgy, Youth Ministry,
Young Adults, Catechumenate, Adult Faith Formation
and
RCIA Team Members, Faith Formation Teams
Master Catechists, Pastoral Ministers

Lynda DeManti
Pastoral Associate, Santa Teresa Parish

will lead us in prayer and reflection
This gathering will be an opportunity for us to reflect,
on how Mary was the first disciple,
and how she is a model for living our baptismal call
as ministers in the Church.
The theme of Mary will weave our time together
through scripture, faith sharing,
personal reflection, prayer and ritual.

Registration fee: $20.00
Morning Hospitality and lunch will be provided
Please click here to print a registration form

Saved by Hope: Spe Salvi, Pope Benedict XVI

Today, Pope Benedict XVI has issued his second encyclical letter to "the bishops, priests, and deacons, men and women religious, and all the lay faithful." This letter is on Christian hope. You'll recall that his first encyclical was on love, called Deus caritas est, issued on Christmas Day, 2005. An encyclical letter is simply a document issued by the Pope to the Church, or particular members of the Church, on a theological or social point he wishes to examine. Popes use encyclicals often as teaching tools for the Church.

Another fun fact: Church documents are often titled in Latin with the first few words of the document itself.

One of my favorite paragraphs so far from Spe salvi is this:

26. It is not science that redeems man: man is redeemed by love. This applies even in terms of this present world. When someone has the experience of a great love in his life, this is a moment of “redemption” which gives a new meaning to his life. But soon he will also realize that the love bestowed upon him cannot by itself resolve the question of his life. It is a love that remains fragile. It can be destroyed by death. The human being needs unconditional love. He needs the certainty which makes him say: “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38- 39). If this absolute love exists, with its absolute certainty, then—only then—is man “redeemed”, whatever should happen to him in his particular circumstances. This is what it means to say: Jesus Christ has “redeemed” us. Through him we have become certain of God, a God who is not a remote “first cause” of the world, because his only-begotten Son has become man and of him everyone can say: “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20).
Read Spe salvi here.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

World AIDS Day - December 1, 2007

According to Zenit, on November 28, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appealed to people of good will to increase their efforts to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS and to combat "the disdain" he says is often directed toward those with the disease:

I remain spiritually close to everyone suffering from this terrible sickness, and to their families, especially those who have lost a loved one. To everyone I give assurances of my prayers. Furthermore, I wish to exhort all people of good will to increase their efforts to halt the spread of the HIV virus, to combat the disdain which is often directed towards people who are affected by it, and to care for the sick, especially those who are still children.
Let us remember...that we are in the holy presence of God
when we are in the presence of those living, suffering, and dying with AIDS.

Here is a reflection I wrote three years ago on December 1 about "Advent waiting and what if."

And here are a list of resources for prayer, information, and action on AIDS.

Here are some resources from the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.

Also, Catholic Relief Services and the Ecumenical Advocacy Allians both have resources to obeserve this year's World AIDS Day on December 1.

Characteristics of an Engaged Parish

In their November, 2007, edition of "Parish Newsletter," Fr. Tom Sweetser, SJ, and Sr. Peg Bishop, OSF, of the Parish Evaluation Project discuss what it means to be an "engaged" parish. The following is quoted and used with their permission. Please go to the Parish Evaluation Project website to see more.

They begin by quoting Albert L. Winseman's book, Growing an Engaged Church: How to Stop "Doing Church" and Start Being the Church Again:
Most church leaders confuse involvement with engagement. They believe the conventional wisdom: The way to get new members to really connect with their new church is to get them involved in something – anything! But involvement is not engagement. Involvement is what you do in and for your church; engagement is how you feel about your church. (p. 28)
Emotional Connections:
Connecting with a parish, according to Winseman, is centered around four aspects:
  1. Life Satisfaction. Those who have an emotional connection with a parish are better able to cope with their own problems, losses, and difficulties.

  2. Inviting. They feel personally invited into the life of the community. As a result, they reach out to others and invite them in, whether family members, friends or co-workers. They have a sense of pride in the parish and want to share it with others.

  3. Serving Others. Those who are emotionally engaged are reaching out in service to others, either joining parish ministries or other groups.

  4. Giving. Finally, they chip in and financially support the parish, giving freely to the parish’s projects and programs.

A Checklist for Engagement:
The book includes a list of indicators that help people become more engaged and emotionally committed (p. 81-82). Sr. Peg and Fr. Tom have paraphrased the list to make it applicable to a Catholic situation:

  1. I know what is expected of me as a member of this parish. (In their April, 2007 Newsletter, Fr. Tom and Sr. Peg offered a job description for parishioners that included signing up, attending, joining in, and contributing.)

  2. My spiritual needs are being met. In a Catholic parish this means offering a variety of prayer experiences, faith enrichment, community-building and outreach opportunities.

  3. I have a chance to do what I do best. Instead of just filling slots, people can choose something they enjoy, that fits their abilities, energies, time-requirements and inclinations.

  4. I regularly receive recognition and praise from someone in my parish. On a monthly basis, in other words, someone in leadership says thanks for what people are doing.

  5. The pastor and staff seem to care about me as person. This is best done when people come into church or attend a parish event; they are given a warm and genuine welcome.

  6. There is someone in my parish who encourages my spiritual development. Attending Mass is not enough. Parishioners need to be given helps in how to pray, read the bible, act morally, reach out to others.

  7. My opinions seem to count in my parish. If any change, addition or new direction is being contemplated, parishioners have an opportunity to share their ideas, insights and reactions.

  8. The mission or purpose of my parish makes me feel my participation is important.

  9. Other members of my parish are committed to spiritual growth. Parishioners – pastor, staff and leaders include – are providing good modeling to one another of what it means to be a faithful Christian.

  10. Aside from my family, I have a best friend in my parish. Relationship-building is a key element for furthering engagement and emotional commitment.

  11. I have opportunities in my parish to learn and grow in my faith. This is best done in small groups, whether bible study, discussion groups or breakout sessions.

For more information, contact Fr. Tom Sweetser, SJ, or Sr. Peg Bishop, OSF, at pepparish [at] pepparish [dot] org, or see their website at www.pepparish.org.



Feast of Santo Niño - January 19, 2008

Diocesan Council of Filipino Catholics
cordially invites you to the

Santo Niño Fiesta

Saturday, January 19, 2008
St. Joseph Cathedral
Sinulog 11:30 A.M.
Karakol 11:45 A.M.
Eucharistic Celebration 12:00 Noon
His Excellency, Bishop Patick J. McGrath
Presider

**********
In the Evening
Dinner-Dance @ 6:30 P.M.
Pavalkis Hall, St. John the Baptist
Main Street, Milpitas
Tickets $25.00 Per Person
**********

  • January 10: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño (Santa Teresa Parish), 7:30p
  • January 11: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño (Saint Julie Parish), 7:00p
  • January 12: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño (Saint Catherine Parish), 5:30p
  • January 13: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño (SaintJoseph Parish), 5:00p
  • January 14: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño (Saint Elizabeth Parish), 7:00p
  • January 15: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño (Saint John the Baptist Parish), 7:00p
  • January 16: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño (Holy Cross Parish), 6:30p
  • January 17: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño (Christ the King Parish), 7:30p
  • January 18: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño (Most Holy Trinity Parish), 7:00p
A continuous 9-day novena will be held at Most Holy Trinity Church
For More Info: Didi 408.578.5101; Poi 408.729.7228; Romy 408.946.2205

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Friends of Jesus at NCYC

Our own local ensemble, Friends of Jesus (FOJ), led by Nelson Gonzales, performed at this year's National Catholic Youth Conference in Columbus, Ohio, for about 7000 youth. Enjoy their YouTube performance of "Senor, Yo Te Amo" by FOJ.



Sunday Reflections and Social Ministry - Catholic Charities

Many of you in San José will know Elizabeth Lilly from liturgical, catechumenate, justice, and pastoral circles. She is now more actively working with parishes to help them foster and support their justice activities through her role with Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County. Because she is a liturgist at the core, she has been working on helping parishes make the connection between liturgy and justice clearer. Part of her motivation comes from the United States Bishops’ 1993 document, Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish.


The most important setting for the Church’s social teaching is not in a food pantry or in a legislative committee room, but in prayer and worship, especially gathered around the altar for the Eucharist. It is in the liturgy that we find the fundamental direction, motivation, and strength for social ministry. Social ministry not genuinely rooted in prayer can easily burn itself out. On the other hand, worship that does not reflect the Lord’s call to conversion, service, and justice can become pious ritual and empty of the Gospel.
Below is a sample bulletin reflection she offers that you can use each week that connects God’s story found in the Sunday readings with our story found in the real-life events of a person affected by the work of Catholic Charities and gives information on how you can become part of this story by proclaiming the Gospel in concrete ways in Santa Clara County.

Get the entire collection of reflections for Advent and Christmas as a Word doc here. Permission is given to download and reprint for your parishes and communities.


Sunday Reflections and Social Ministry
December – 2007 – Advent

For weekly bulletins, faith sharing groups, prayer at meetings, bible study, lectors, outreach actions…anywhere the word of God calls us to act with charity and justice. Community and Parish Partnerships Elizabeth Lilly, 408-325-5262, elilly [at] ccsj [dot] org.

December 2, 2007
“Let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day.” Romans 13

Catholic Charities story: Diego, a senior in high school, comes to the youth center in his neighborhood to do his homework. One day the director introduced him to a visiting business man. As they spoke they realized that, so far, they had gone to the same schools. The gentleman is now asking his alma mater for a scholarship for Diego.

Catholic Charities opportunity: To visit or to learn more about the services at the Washington United Youth Center on First Street in San Jose, call Tony Rodriguez, 408-938-6731, trodriguez [at] ccsj [dot] org.

Catholic Social Teaching: Call to Family, Community, and Participation

Classifieds: Data Entry Clerks

Temporary Position Available: Data Entry Clerks

The Development Department of the Diocese of San Jose has openings for 3-4 full time, temporary data entry clerks. These temporary positions will start in January and are expected to last for a period of 3-5 months. These positions will pay $12.50 per hour. If interested, please email your resume in text to personnel [at] dsj [dot] org or fax it to (408) 983-0203.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Rite of Election 2008 - Instructions, Rehearsals, Registration

Bishop Patrick J. McGrath welcomes to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph (80 South Market Street, San Jose) the catechumens from all parishes, institutions, and missions of the diocese who are ready for the Rite of Election where they will be chosen to celebrate the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist at the next Easter Vigil. All the liturgies will be multilingual.


Rite of Election - 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008, 3:30p
Monday, February 11, 2008, 7:30p
Tuesday, February 12, 2008, 7:30p

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph
80 South Market Street, San Jose


Rehearsals for Rite of Election
There will be two rehearsals for the Rite of Election. Catechumens and godparents DO NOT attend these rehearsals. At least two people from your parish must attend one of the rehearsals (the catechumenate director may be one of the following persons):
  • one person to carry your Book of the Elect,
  • one (or two) people to read your names of the Elect.
Rehearsals for Rite of Election
Monday, January 28, 2008, 7:00p – 8:00p
or Tuesday, January 29, 2008, 7:00p – 8:00p

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph
80 South Market Street, San Jose

San José downtown public parking lots now charge a $2 flat fee after 6:00p every day. Click here for a map (PDF) showing all the parking lots near the Cathedral.


Instructions
You can download these Word documents and distribute them to the godparents and those carrying the Book of the Elect or reading the names.


Registration and Seating
Seats will be reserved for:
  • each catechumen,
  • his or her godparent (child catechumens may have two godparents sit with them),
  • the representative from each parish carrying the Book of the Elect,
  • the representative from each parish calling out the names,
  • the parish's catechumenate director,
  • and two other parish representatives.

Family members, candidates (baptized persons preparing for the sacraments), and friends who are not doing one of the roles listed above are invited to sit in the unreserved sections of the Cathedral.

So that enough seats can be reserved for your catechumens and their godparents, please submit the names of your eligible catechumens no later than January 8, 2008.

Please remember that the Rite of Election is only for catechumens, i.e., those who are unbaptized. Baptized candidates preparing for reception or for Confirmation and/or First Communion are invited to participate in the Rite of Election as members of the assembly present to support the catechumens. However, they do not join in the procession of catechumens.

There are two ways to submit your catechumens' names for the Rite of Election:
The final schedule for the three celebrations will be announced January 10, 2008 on the Rite of Election web site.

If you have any questions, please contact Diana Macalintal at 408-983-0136.




Rite of Election 2008
Registration deadline: January 8, 2008

Contact Information

Parish, Mission, or School Name


Catechumenate Director's Name


Catechumenate Director's Phone Number


Catechumenate Director's E-mail Address



Rite of Election Schedule

Please check your parish's first choice (check only one):
    Sunday, February 10, 2008, 3:30p.
    Monday, February 11, 2008, 7:30p.
    Tuesday, February 12, 2008, 7:30p.
    We have no preference.

Please check your parish's second choice(s):
    Sunday, February 10, 2008, 3:30p.
    Monday, February 11, 2008, 7:30p.
    Tuesday, February 12, 2008, 7:30p.

We are unable to attend the following date(s) (check all that apply):
    Sunday, February 10, 2008, 3:30p.
    Monday, February 11, 2008, 7:30p.
    Tuesday, February 12, 2008, 7:30p.

Catechumen Information

TOTAL number of catechumens*
*Only catechumens (the unbaptized) will be called forward during the Rite. However, candidates are welcomed to participate as members of the assembly.

How many of your catechumens are children?

We have catechumens who speak the following languages other than English:


Names of Catechumens

Please list each catechumen's name on a separate line in alphabetical order by last name, using this format:
First Last



Bernard Nemis from the Office of Pastoral Ministry will contact you to confirm your registration. Please make sure all your information is correct before submitting this form.


Tuesday, November 20, 2007

How does our diocese celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe?

The Diocese of San Jose has a special way of celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was one of the first diocesan celebrations I experienced when I began working for this diocese. Read my vivid description of this celebration here.

Evening Prayer in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe - December 7, 2007

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

This annual celebration takes place this year on Friday, December 7, 2007, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (2020 East San Antonio Street, San Jose). The procession of parishes begins at 6:00p and Evening Prayer at 7:00p.

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.

Read about how the Diocese of San Jose celebrates 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 7, 2007
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
Processions: 6:00p
Evening Prayer: 7:00p

Click below to get pdf flyers you can print:


  • Flyer in English and Spanish, color (coming soon)
  • Flyer in English and Spanish, black and white (coming soon)

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Giving thanks--"It's not something minor"

Here's a beautiful NPR StoryCorps recording about how the simple acts of eating and giving thanks can be more powerful than death. Click on the "Listen now" button at the top of the page to hear the sisters' story in their own words.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass - February 2, 2008

Image hosted by Photobucket.com


25 and 50+ Silver and Golden
Wedding Anniversary Celebration
Aniversario de Bodas de Plata y Oro
February 2, 2008 / 2 de Febrero, 2008

10:00 am
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph / Catedral Basílica de San José
80 South Market Street, San José

Couples celebrating Silver (25 years) and Golden (50 years or more) Wedding Anniversaries are invited to the celebration. / Las parejas que celebran su Aniversario de Bodas de Plata (25 años) o de Oro (50 años o más) están invitadas a asistir a la celebración.

Each couple will receive a certificate signed by the Bishop. A reception follows the Mass. / Cada pareja recibirá un certificado firmado por el Obispo y están invitadas a la recepción.

For information call / Para su información llame: Sylvia Blanch, 408-983-0128.

Use the form below to register, or click here for a form in Word or a pdf form.



Anniversary Mass Registration Form
Misa de Aniversario Hoja de Registración

Registration deadline: January 28, 2008


Please print names exactly as you wish them to appear on the certificate. / Por favor escriba su nombre como quiera que esté en su certifidado.

Husband's First Name / Nombre del Esposo


Wife's First Name / Nombre de la Esposa


Last Name / Apellido


Anniversary being celebrated / Años de Aniversario


Street Address / Domicilio


City / Ciudad


Zip Code / Codigo Postal


Phone / Número de Teléfono


E-mail Address / Correo Electrónico


Parish / Parroquia


Number of Guests Attending / Número de Invitados


We would like our certificate in English.
Nos gustaría nuestro certificado en Español.

We need handicapped parking/seating.
Necesitamos asistencia/estacionamiento para incapacitados.


For American Sign Language Interpretation, call Sylvia at (408) 983-0128.

Donations are optional. Please make check payable to Diocese of San José. / Las donaciones son opcionales. Por favor haga el cheque al nombre de Diócesis de San José.

Mail donations to / Envie donaciones a:
    Diocese of San José, Office of Pastoral Ministry
    Attn: Sylvia Blanch (Anniversary Mass)
    900 Lafayette Street, Suite 405
    Santa Clara, CA 95050-4966

Sylvia Blanch from the Office of Pastoral Ministry will contact you to confirm your registration. Please make sure all your information is correct before submitting this form.



A prayer before preparing Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner

This prayer by Diana Macalintal originally appeared in Today's Parish Minister, Vol. 39, No. 7, November/December, 2007.

A prayer before preparing Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner
(based on Luke 10:27, 38-42)

photo: Kerry A. Adamo, courtesy of and copyright Free Range Stock, www.freerangestock.comLord, you know all the things that still need to be done—
the cooking and cleaning, the preparation and anticipation,
the anxiety and worry that everything will be just right.
As I prepare this meal, help me also to prepare myself
that I may not be distracted by all these concerns.
And when you enter this home and sit at this table,
may I sit beside you and remember that only one thing is needed:
to love you with all my heart, with all my being,
with all my strength, and with all my mind,
and to love my neighbor as myself. Amen.

A Prayer Before Family Reunions

This prayer by Diana Macalintal originally appeared in Today's Parish Minister, Vol. 39, No. 7, November/December, 2007.

A Prayer Before Family Reunions

Photo: Chance Agrella, courtesy of and copyright Free Range Stock, www.freerangestock.comGod, I will be seeing my family soon,
and it has been so long since I have been with them.
I am a different person now, and I am sure that they are too.
Yet I still feel the same hurts that never went away,
the same wounds that never healed,
the same grudges that were never settled,
and the same anxiety of falling into old habits.
Fill me, Lord, with your peace, forgive my faults as I forgive theirs,
and help me love my family as I know you love them.
With the Holy Family as our companion,
bless our time together and strengthen the bonds between us
that we may grow more in love with each other
until we are perfectly united forever in your kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Advent: It's Coming

Here's your reminder that Advent is coming. Everybody dance!

Hat tip to CatholicColbert.com. She wisely listed this as her only liturgy post. Nothing better can be said on the subject. :) Enjoy!



Classifieds (outside diocese): Director of the Office of Worship

Position Available: Director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Raleigh

The Diocese of Raleigh is comprised of the 54 eastern-most counties of North Carolina and serves a rapidly growing and culturally diverse population in 76 parishes and 19 missions, chapels, and stations.

The Director of the Office of Worship is to assist the Diocesan Bishop in his role as the principle liturgist of the Diocese. The Director serves as a resource on liturgical matters to the Diocesan Bishop and to the parishes of the Diocese. The Director is responsible for coordinating all episcopal and Diocesan liturgies, recommends particular norms and praxis in keeping with the universal liturgical norms of the Church, and is able to conduct liturgical formation on the Diocesan and parish levels in appropriate collaboration with Diocesan offices.

The successful candidate is a practicing Roman Catholic in good standing with a true love for God, His Church, and the Sacred Liturgy. The successful candidate will have completed a Master's or Licentiate degree in Liturgy or Liturgical Theology; have significant experience in planning and coordinating Diocesan and parish liturgies; have a proven understanding of the Spanish language and Hispanic liturgical customs; and have strong leadership and communication skills. Applicants are invited to send a resume and references to Director of Human Resources, Diocese of Raleigh, 715 Nazareth St., Raleigh, NC 27606. Fax: 919-821-9716; e-mail: leo [dot] tapler [at] raldioc [dot] org.

Friday, November 09, 2007

Liturgical Calendar for the Diocese of San José: 2007-2008

Here are some important liturgical dates to keep in mind for 2007-2008.

  • Holy days of obligation are highlighted in red (Sundays are the first and most important holy days of obligation).
  • Diocesan celebrations are highlighted in purple.
  • Parish feast days in the Diocese of San José are highlighted in green.

December, 2007
  • December 1: World AIDS Day
  • December 2: First Sunday of Advent (Year A / Year II begins)
  • December 4: Anniversary of the approval of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (1963)
  • December 6: Optional Memorial of Saint Nicholas (Saint Nicholas parish in Los Altos)
  • December 7: Vespers in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe @ Our Lady of Guadalupe parish, 7:00p
  • December 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, holy day of obligation (Saint Mary parish in Los Gatos)
  • December 9: Second Sunday of Advent
  • December 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Solemnity in the city of San José) (Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in San José)
  • December 12: Season of Hope 2007 @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:00p and 8:00p
  • December 13: Memorial of Saint Lucy (Saint Lucy parish in Campbell)
  • December 13: Season of Hope 2007, San José Youth Symphony @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:00p and 8:00p
  • December 14: Season of Hope 2007, Diocesan Filipino Priests Chorale @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:00p and 8:00p
  • December 15: Season of Hope 2007, Presentation High School @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:00p and 8:00p
  • December 16: Third Sunday of Advent
  • December 16: Season of Hope 2007, Harper's Hall Celtic Harpists @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:00p and 8:00p
  • December 17: Season of Hope 2007, "Friends of Jesus" Catholic Contemporary Band @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:00p and 8:00p
  • December 18: Season of Hope 2007, San Jose Youth Chamber Orchestra @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:00p and 8:00p
  • December 19: Season of Hope 2007, Castillero Middle School of the Performing Arts @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:00p and 8:00p
  • December 20: Season of Hope 2007, Notre Dame High School @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:00p and 8:00p
  • December 21: Season of Hope 2007, Maranatha Hope of Glory Choir @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:00p and 8:00p
  • December 22: Season of Hope 2007, Bella Sorella - Opera Duo @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:00p and 8:00p
  • December 23: Fourth Sunday of Advent
  • December 23: Season of Hope 2007, Cathedral Schola - directed by Julie Wind @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:00p and 8:00p
  • December 25: Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (holy day of obligation)
  • December 30: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (Holy Family parish in San José)

January, 2008

  • January 1: Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God (obligation is dispensed in the Diocese of San José)
  • January 3: Catechumenate Support Group meeting @ Holy Spirit, 7:00p
  • January 6: Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
  • January 8: Liturgical Coordinators' Gathering @ Saint Mary of the Immaculation Conception, 10:00a
  • January 10: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño @ Santa Teresa Parish, 7:30p
  • January 11: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño @ Saint Julie Parish, 7:00p
  • January 12: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño @ Saint Catherine Parish, 5:30p
  • January 13: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño @ Saint Joseph Parish, 5:00p
  • January 13: Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (Christmas ends after the last Mass of this day)
  • January 14: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño @ Saint Elizabeth Parish, 7:00p
  • January 14: Ordinary Time, Year A / Year II, begins
  • January 15: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño @ Saint John the Baptist Parish, 7:00p
  • January 16: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño @ Holy Cross Parish, 6:30p
  • January 17: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño @ Christ the King Parish, 7:30p
  • January 18: Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño @ Most Holy Trinity Parish, 7:00p
  • January 18: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins
  • January 19: Santo Niño Fiesta @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph
  • January 20: 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
  • January 21: Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday
  • January 22: Day of Penance on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade
  • January 24: Ongoing Professional Education Series: God the Psyche and Me @ Church of the Transfiguration, 9:30a
  • January 25: Anniversary of the Episcopal Ordination of Patrick J. McGrath (1989)
  • January 28: Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Saint Thomas Aquinas parish in Palo Alto)
  • January 31: Ongoing Professional Education Series: God the Psyche and Me @ Transfiguration Church, 9:30a

February, 2008

  • Februry 2: Diocesan Celebration of 25th and 50th Wedding Anniversaries @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 10:00a
  • February 4: Rehearsal for Rite of Election @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:00p
  • February 5: Rehearsal for Rite of Election @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:00p
  • February 6: Ash Wednesday, Lent begins
  • Febuary 6: Optional Memorial of the Five Wounds of Christ (Five Wounds Portuguese National Parish in San José)
  • February 7: Ongoing Professional Education Series: God the Psyche and Me @ Transfiguration Church, 9:30a
  • February 10: First Sunday of Lent
  • February 10: Rite of Election @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 3:30p
  • February 11: Rite of Election @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:30p
  • February 12: Rite of Election @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:30p
  • February 17: Second Sunday of Lent
  • February 24: Third Sunday of Lent (First Scrutiny of the Elect)

March, 2008

  • Month of March: Special Diocesan Days of Prayer for Human Rights and Equality
  • March 2: Fourth Sunday of Lent (Second Scrutiny of the Elect)
  • March 9: Fifth Sunday of Lent (Third Scrutiny of the Elect)
  • March 11: Chrism Mass @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 7:30p
  • March 15: Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary, Principal Patron of the Diocese of San José (transferred this year to this date from its usual observance on March 19 because of Holy Week) (Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph parish in San José)
  • March 16: Palm Sunday; Holy Week begins
  • March 20: Holy Thursday
  • March 21: Good Friday
  • March 21: Anniversary of Dedication of Saint Patrick Proto-Cathedral in San José
  • March 22: Holy Saturday; Easter Vigil
  • March 23: Easter Sunday (Church of the Resurrection parish in Sunnyvale)
  • March 30: Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday
  • March 31: Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord (transferred this year to this date from its usual observance on March 25 because of the Octave of Easter)

April, 2008

  • April 5: Neophyte Mass @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 4:30p
  • April 6: Third Sunday of Easter
  • April 8: Optional Memorial of Saint Julie Billiart (Saint Julie Billiart parish in San José)
  • April 13: Fourth Sunday of Easter
  • April 20: Fifth Sunday of Easter
  • April 27: Sixth Sunday of Easter

May, 2008

  • May 1: Optional Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker (Saint Joseph parish in Mountain View)
  • May 2: Memorial of Saint Athanasius (Saint Athanasius parish in Mountain View)
  • May 4: Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (transferred to the Seventh Sunday of Easter) (Church of the Ascension parish in Saratoga)
  • May 11: Solemnity of Pentecost (Easter ends after the last Sunday Mass of this day) (Holy Spirit parish in San José)
  • May 11: Confirmation of Adults @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 3:00p
  • May 12: Ordinary Time resumes
  • May 17: Ordination of Deacons @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 9:30a
  • May 18: Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (Most Holy Trinity parish in San José)
  • May 24: Ordination of Priests @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 9:30a
  • May 25: Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
  • May 30: Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in San José and Sacred Heart parish in Saratoga)

June, 2008

  • June 1: 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time
  • June 13: Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua (Saint Anthony parish in San José)
  • June 17: Optional Memorial of Saint Brother Albert Chmielowski (Saint Brother Albert Chmielowski parish in San José)
  • June 24: Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (Saint John the Baptist parish in Milpitas)
  • June 25: Optional Memorial of Saint William (Saint William parish in Los Altos)
  • June 27: Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Pertpetual Help (Oratory of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel in Santa Clara)
  • June 29: Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul
  • June 29: Anniversary of Episcopal Ordination of R. Pierre DuMaine (1978)
  • June 30: Anniversary of the transfer of Bishop Patrick J. McGrath to the see of San José (1998)

July, 2008

  • July 4: Optional Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal (Saint Elizabeth parish in Milpitas)
  • July 5: Feast of Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners, Patroness of the Californias
  • July 6: 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
  • July 9: Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Peace (Our Lady of Peace parish in Santa Clara)
  • July 28: Optional Memorial of Pope Saint Victor I (Saint Victor parish in San José)

August, 2008

  • August 4: Memorial of Saint John Mary Vianney (Saint John Vianney parish in San José)
  • August 6: Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (Church of the Transfiguration parish in San José)
  • August 8: Memorial of Saint Dominic (Catholic Community at Stanford under the patronage of Saint Dominic in Palo Alto)
  • August 11: Memorial of Saint Clare of Assisi, Secondary Patron of the Diocese of San José (Feast in the Diocese of San José; Solemnity in the city of Santa Clara) (Saint Clare parish in Santa Clara)
  • August 15: Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (holy day of obligation) (Saint Mary of the Assumption Croatian Mission in San José; Saint Mary parish in Gilroy)
  • August 22: Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Queen of Apostles parish in San José; Queen of Martyrs Vietnamese Catholic Center in San José)

September, 2008

  • September 12: Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Our Lady, Star of the Sea parish in Alviso)
  • September 14: Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Holy Cross parish in San José)
  • September 16: Memorial of Saint Cyprian (Saint Cyprian parish in Sunnyvale)
  • September 18: Memorial of Saint Joseph of Cupertino (Solemnity in the City of Cupertino) (Saint Joseph of Cupertino parish in Cupertino)
  • September 20: Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang, and their Companions (Holy Korean Martyrs parish in Sunnyvale)
  • September 21: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

October, 2008

  • Month of October: Special Diocesan Days of Prayer for the General Needs of Humankind
  • October 4: Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi (Saint Francis of Assisi parish in San José)
  • October 7: Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary (Our Lady of the Rosary church, part of Saint Thomas Aquinas parish in Palo Alto)
  • October 15: Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, also known as Saint Teresa of Avila (Santa Teresa parish in San José)
  • October 28: Feast of Saints Simon and Jude (Saint Simon parish in Los Altos)

November, 2008

  • November 1: Solemnity of All Saints (not a holy day of obligation this year because it falls on Saturday)
  • November 2: Commemoration of All Souls
  • November 4: Anniversary of the Re-Dedication of Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph in San José (solemnity in the parish of the Cathedral; feast for the rest of the diocese)
  • November 9: Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
  • November 10: Memorial of Saint Leo the Great (Saint Leo the Great parish in San José)
  • November 11: Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours (Saint Martin of Tours parish in San José; Saint Martin parish in Sunnyvale)
  • November 13: Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (Saint Frances Cabrini parish in San José)
  • November 15: Optional Memorial of Saint Albert the Great (Saint Albert the Great church, part of Saint Thomas Aquinas parish in Palo Alto)
  • November 23: Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King (last Sunday of Ordinary Time) (Christ the King parish in San José)
  • November 25: Optional Memorial of Saint Catherine of Alexandria (Saint Catherine of Alexandria parish in Morgan Hill)
  • November 24-26: Special Diocesan Days of Prayer for the Harvest and Fruits of the Earth
  • November 27: Thanksgiving holiday
  • November 27: Anniversary of the Installation of Bishop Patrick J. McGrath as second Bishop of the Diocese of San José (1999)
  • November 30: First Sunday of Advent (Year B / Year I begins)

December, 2008

  • December 1: World AIDS Day
  • December 4: Anniversary of the approval of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (1963)
  • December 6: Optional Memorial of Saint Nicholas (Saint Nicholas parish in Los Altos)
  • December 7: Second Sunday of Advent
  • December 8, Monday: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (holy day of obligation)(Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception parish in Los Gatos)
  • December 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Solemnity in the city of San José) (Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in San José)
  • December 13: Memorial of Saint Lucy (Saint Lucy parish in Campbell)
  • December 14: Third Sunday of Advent
  • December 21: Fourth Sunday of Advent
  • December 25: Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (holy day of obligation)
  • December 28: Solemnity of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (Holy Family parish in San José)

The Liturgy Files: Is January 1, 2008, a holy day of obligation?

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPart of my job is to answer email. Some of these emails are simple Q&A. In these Liturgy Files, I'll share some of the most helpful Q&As.


Q: Is January 1, 2008, a holy day of obligation? Has our Bishop dispensed the obligation to participate in Mass?

A: January 1 is the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and is one of the holy days of obligation observed in the United States. (Click here for the entire list of holy days of obligation for the US.) By law, all Catholics are obligated to participate in Mass on these days. However, the Bishop of each diocese, whenever he judges that it contributes to their spiritual good, may dispense the faithful of his diocese from the obligation to participate in Mass for a particular holy day.

Bishop McGrath has dispensed the Diocese of San José from the obligation to participate in Mass on January 1, 2008. This dispensation, however, does not remove the rank of solemnity from the day, and the faithful are still encouraged to participate in Mass if they are able or to observe the holy day in other forms of prayer or pious works.

Parishes are expected to provide at least one Mass in observance of the holy day, either at an anticipated Mass on the evening of December 31, 2007, or during the day on January 1, 2008.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

I so want to be in Stephen Colbert's religious education class

Here's a snip from Rocco's blog, Whispers in the Loggia, on Stephen Colbert, talk show host on Comedy Central (who, by the way, is standing in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America strike), Catholic, and Sunday school teacher. How many religion teachers and catechists thought to teach about the papal conclave and qualities of leadership in such a cool, fun way?

***snip***

Keeping with things late night, just on a lighter note, much has been made of the Catholic sensibility as fleshed out by Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert--so much so that there's even a website (and a great one at that) devoted to the "yes-and" approach of the comic's marriage of faith and art.

A religious ed teacher as time allows in his New Jersey parish, during a recent pre-show warm-up with his audience, Colbert talked about his brief stint as Camerlengo...for a conclave of elementary-schoolers.

As questions were being tossed from the crowd, then in the midst of his fleeting presidential bid, the satirist was asked what his first executive order would be.

His answer: "Be kind to each other"... which led to his account of the decree's genesis, reported by an audience member:


[Colbert] didn’t teach Sunday school last year, because he was too busy with the show; but he substituted, and he was subbing on the last day before summer vacation — when the kids didn’t really want to learn anything. And Pope Benedict had just been elected, so they decided to hold a mini papal election.

He and his daughter made a paper-maché miter, with a glitter cross, and then he “very seriously” locked the door, put the key in his pocket, and told the kids, “Okay, nobody leaves here until we elect a Pope.”

They started by making a list of qualities that you should have to be a Pope: ‘knows the Bible’, ‘good person’, etcetera. “And nobody said ‘must be a man’, which made me happy.” Then it came time to vote, but one kid said “Hey, I’m gonna vote for me,” and another said, “I’m gonna vote for me!”, and it looked like trouble.

(Stephen digressed at this point to speculate that all the cardinals probably do this on the first round. “Hey, might as well, who knows, there could be a groundswell…”)

Daughter to the rescue: “Dad, make everyone vote twice.” That way they would all vote for themselves and someone else. The winner was a kid named Gregory (and his daughter had predicted “It’s gonna be Gregory, because he always knows all the answers in class.” Stephen’s daughter sounds like such a cool kid).

So they brought Gregory up to the front, put the miter on his head and the cloth over his shoulder, and said, “Now that you’re the Pope, you need to pick a name; what name are you going to have?”

And the kid goes, “Urban III.” (”He really knows his stuff!”)

What will be his first papal injunction? Gregory holds up his hands (here Stephen holds up his own for a moment, to demonstrate, and then brings the mic back to his mouth), and says, “Be kind to each other.”

At which Stephen went, “All right, that’s it, we’re done, everybody go home!”

...and that's today's word.

***endsnip***

And from Colbert's Knox College commencement speech from 2006, here's some great wisdom about trusting enough to say, "yes." I couldn't help think of young Mary, sitting in her room, going about her own business, not knowing that Gabriel is at her door just about ready to lead her into the greatest improv skit of her life. (My brother does improv. I tell you, it's not easy.) But for us with faith, there is nothing better than to say "yes-and" to all God gives us.

Click the link above to read his entire speech. I laughed through it all.

But you seem nice enough, so I'll try to give you some advice. First of all, when you go to apply for your first job, don't wear these robes. Medieval garb does not instill confidence in future employers—unless you're applying to be a scrivener. And if someone does offer you a job, say yes. You can always quit later. Then at least you'll be one of the unemployed as opposed to one of the never-employed. Nothing looks worse on a resume than nothing.

So, say "yes." In fact, say "yes" as often as you can. When I was starting out in Chicago, doing improvisational theatre with Second City and other places, there was really only one rule I was taught about improv. That was, "yes-and." In this case, "yes-and" is a verb. To "yes-and." I yes-and, you yes-and, he, she or it yes-ands. And yes-anding means that when you go onstage to improvise a scene with no script, you have no idea what's going to happen, maybe with someone you've never met before. To build a scene, you have to accept. To build anything onstage, you have to accept what the other improviser initiates on stage. They say you're doctors—you're doctors. And then, you add to that: We're doctors and we're trapped in an ice cave. That's the "-and." And then hopefully they "yes-and" you back. You have to keep your eyes open when you do this. You have to be aware of what the other performer is offering you, so that you can agree and add to it. And through these agreements, you can improvise a scene or a one-act play. And because, by following each other's lead, neither of you are really in control. It's more of a mutual discovery than a solo adventure. What happens in a scene is often as much a surprise to you as it is to the audience.

Well, you are about to start the greatest improvisation of all. With no script. No idea what's going to happen, often with people and places you have never seen before. And you are not in control. So say "yes." And if you're lucky, you'll find people who will say "yes" back.

Now will saying "yes" get you in trouble at times? Will saying "yes" lead you to doing some foolish things? Yes it will. But don't be afraid to be a fool. Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don't learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying "yes" begins things. Saying "yes" is how things grow. Saying "yes" leads to knowledge. "Yes" is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say "yes."

And that's The Word.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

What's the deal with RSS?

Okay, if you've surfed the Internet a little bit, you've probably seen something called an RSS link or feed. Or maybe you've seen the universal logo for RSS feeds which looks like this:


So what the heck is RSS? It stands for "really simple syndication," and it's the World Wide Web's version of your mailbox.

Being the technology geek that I am, I used to spend a lot of time surfing all the different Church Web sites and blogs to see what people were talking about. So for example, I'd boot up my laptop, start up my Web browser, open up my bookmarks, and click on each of these Web sites:

After clicking on each of those sites, I'd scroll around to see if there was anything new. Sometimes there was. Most times there wasn't. But I'd still have to spend quite some time going to each site just to find out.

Then...I'd go check out the fun sites to see what they were talking about. So then I'd open my bookmarks again and click on each of these sites:

There were also the tech and business blogs I like to read:

Whew! By the time I finished opening up the last site, I had spent way too much time and gotten too little information out of the entire process. And if your computer is slow like mine, trying to stay up to date just about makes you want to crawl back into bed.

THEN, I discovered the power of RSS. (The video below explains RSS and how to use it.) I tried several different news readers and landed on netvibes.com. That's pretty much the only site I open now to read all of the Web sites listed above. Plus I also get a bunch of other information that I arrange, like the local weather, the latest New York Times crossword, and todo lists that I can access anywhere there's a computer and an Internet connection. Now my daily routine of checking to see what's new on 20 or so different Web sites is down to mere minutes.

One of the neat things about RSS readers is that you can share your "feeds" with others. For example, here's my netvibes page with all my Church Web sites feeds:

Add to Netvibes

If you click on the netvibes button above, you can see my Church page that shows me (and now you) all the newest articles on all my favorite Church Web sites. Because this page also shows me if I've read a particular article or not, I can see right away what's new to me and what's old news. After you click the button above, a new page will open. Go ahead and click on "Yes, preview it." Then you'll see my entire page. If you like it and want to try netvibes and sign up for a free account, just click on "Add it to my page."

Why should liturgy people care? Because we have to care about communication. Communication was God's first act: God spoke. We need to be listening. What are people outside of our own social circles saying? What are people outside of the Church saying? What are the 20 and 30 somethings saying? And where are they saying it. One place, I would argue, is right here on the Internet. People in love with the Church and the liturgy and the principles of full, conscious, and activie participation in all of life need to be on the Internet, communicating and listening. If we don't do it, others with more extreme, louder voices will--they already are.

So try it out. Don't be afraid. Once you've chosen a feed reader, like netvibes or any of the ones listed in the video below, you can add this blog to it just by clicking on the bright orange RSS logo in the sidebar. And here's that great little video explaining all this in a much more interesting way.


Music Ministry Evaluation Checklist

Here's a really good evaluation checklist prepared by Melissa Broome, liturgy director at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph in San José, for music ministers and choir directors. Permission is granted by the author to reprint this for your own music ministries.

Download a Word doc version of this checklist.

I. Quality of Worship Aid

  • Does the community have access to participate fully in the music being sung?
  • Is the program professionally made (e.g., capitalizations and spelling are correct)?

II. Quality of Blend of Choir

  • Are the voices blended as one or do individual voices stick out?
  • Is the choir on pitch? Is one section better than others?

III. Quality of Congregational Singing

  • Is the assembly singing?
  • It the music simple enough for them to join in?
  • Is the majority of the music familiar to the community, or is it all new?

IV. Tempo of Music

  • Is the music too slow? Is the choir having a hard time breathings? Is the choir being forced sharp or flat because the phrases are too long? Are they able to sing a complete thought without needing multiple breaths in between?
  • Is the tempo too fast? Is the assembly unable to follow along because they cannot keep up with the pace of the music?

V. Quality of Diction

  • Can text be understood, especially during the psalm?

VI. Quality of Cut-Offs

  • Does the choir end phrases at the same time?
  • Are final consonants together and crisp? Or is there a trail of final consonants? (e.g., t-t-t-t)

VII. Quality of Cantor

  • Are the musical entrances for the assembly clear? Can the assembly see that they are being encouraged to sing?
  • Does the cantor have a pleasant demeanor, or do they look nervous or unfocused?
  • Can text be understood?

VIII. Quality of Rehearsal Time

  • Is time during rehearsal well organized? Does the director know exactly which piece will be next and move to it quickly, or is the choir waiting for music to be distributed or prepared before moving on?
  • Does the rehearsal include a spiritual component, a time for the choir to gather in prayer and blend hearts, not just voices?
Copyright © 2007, Melissa Broome. All rights reserved.

Using WordPress for Churches

Readers of this blog know that I use Blogger to create this site. You can also use WordPress which is another free online service that creates beautiful blogs and websites. Here's a new site on the catechumenate that I've begun with Nick Wagner that uses WordPress instead of Blogger.

I discovered this very good tutorial that teaches churches how to use WordPress to create their own website or blog. There are lots of articles on basics and other more advanced techniques to get your Church website started.

Hat tip to Lorelle who also has a great site for WordPress users.

Posada: The Film - November 13, 2007

You are invited to a free viewing of a new film...

Posada
A Film about Unaccompanied Children
Knocking on America's Door
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
7:30p - 9:00p

Santa Clara University
Music and Dance Facility, Recital Hall
Free and Open to the Public

The U.S. Border Patrol turns away 100,000 unaccompanied immigrant children every year. This is the story of three who stayed.

Posada portrays the journeys of Densi, Johny and Wilber who, as teenagers, separately left their homes in Central America for the United States. They each were detained by immigration officials for months between 1999 and 2002. Their struggles helped pave the way for others to receive assistance. They relate their stories to Las Posadas, a Mexican tradition that retells the Christmas story of Joseph and Mary's search for shelter.

For more information Fr. Mark McGregor at mmcgregor [at] scu [dot] edu or 408-551-3000.

The Trinity as Football: Now THAT'S Collaboration!

The Concord Pastor (aka Fr. Austin Fleming) posts a video with a great view of the famous recent college football game between Trinity University and Millsaps. Down by two with two seconds left on the clock and 60 yards to go for a touchdown, Trinity University performed a miracle--15 lateral passes in 62 seconds to give them the win. (At the risk of showing my ignorance, a lateral is when a person tosses the football to a teammate, but he can only throw it backwards, or upfield, to him...yes?)

Now I'm not a huge football fanatic (sorry, Mary P-H), but I absolutely love watching great plays.

Then I thought, hey! This play! It's Trinity! I mean, really, as in The Trinity. Seven of the 11 Trinity team members handled the football during that play. They collaborated and cooperated with each other to perform this miracle play. (Read the entire list of players who made this play happen and how they did it.)

We say the Trinity is One (CCC #253). "We do not confess three Gods but one God in three persons."

We say the divine persons of the Trinity are really distinct from one another (CCC #254). The Trinity is One, but the persons are distinct. They aren't different modes of the One God. They are distinct persons, the Son distinct from the Father, and the Spirit bonding them together.

And we say the divine persons of the Trinity are relative to one another (CCC #255). The Trinity is One yet distinct only because they are in relationship. The Trinity acts as one because of their relationship, and outside of this interdependence, there can be no Trinity.

The parallel isn't perfect, and I don't mean to say the Most Holy Trinity is like a football team. But I think we can learn something of the mystery of the Trinity from this amazing sports moment. There was creativity, movement, and dance in this play. Each team member relied on the other, yet in his moment of carrying and throwing the ball, each player was the team. And only by their collaborative, mind-as-one relationship were they able to accomplish something miraculous.

But most importantly--and the reason I think the Trinity matters in our life--is that in witnessing this play, we become a part of it. It doesn't matter that I don't know the intricacies of football or even who the teams are. I was swept up into the amazingness of this moment. In those 62 seconds, I became a fan, the 12th team member. When we experience the amazing union--the deep love--between the Father and the Son joined by the Spirit, we can't help but be caught up in that love as well, pulled into the dance of a great "play." When that happens, our very lives become a reflection of that oneness, that unity, that joy, that love.

And here's why this matters to liturgists. It's in the liturgy that we encounter most fully that intimacy and love of the Trinity. If we can do all we can to prepare liturgies that pull people into that Trinitarian love, into the same kind of excitement and wonder all those fans at that stadium witnessed, we will have helped to prepare liturgies that lead to conversion (yet another football term!).

Okay, okay, I hear all you hard-core theologians and liturgists groaning at the metaphor, and I've taken this simile too far already. Don't take the comparison too seriously. I just thought it was a great, fun football play. :)

Learn music appreciation from the Boston Pops

Here's a fun site where you can watch and listen to full performances of the Boston Pops while commentary at the bottom of the screen points out musical features to pay attention to. Click on LaunchPopsTV.

Those who select and prepare the liturgical music repertoire for a parish need to have these basic musical listening skills to be able to discern the musical quality of a piece. Remember that there are three judgments used to discern the appropriateness of a musical piece for liturgy:
  1. Musical judgment: Is it good quality music? Is it beautiful? Is the melody interesting yet logically-written, that is, does it seem natural in its line? Do the text and music complement each other?

  2. Liturgical judgment: Does it serve the purpose of the part of the liturgy for which it is selected? Does it reflect the season, the Sunday, the rite?

  3. Pastoral judgment: Can your particular assembly sing it well? Do they like singing it? Does it reflect the sensibility of the assembly? Does it enable them to express their faith confidently?

To musically judge a piece, we need some skills in learning what to listen for. Watch these Boston Pops performances to whet your appetite for more training in music appreciation.



Friday, November 02, 2007

Dr. Gary Macy - "Diversity as Tradition: Why the Future of Christianity is Looking More Like Its Past" - November 8, 2007

Diversity as Tradition:
Why the Future of Christianity
is Looking More like Its Past
November 8, 2007
7:30p - 9:00p
Williman Room, Benson Memorial Center
Santa Clara University
Free lecture open to the public

Dr. Gary Macy, recently appointed John Nobili, S.J. Professor of Theology at Santa Clara University, received both his Bachelor's and his Master's degrees from Marquette University where he specialized in historical and sacramental theology. He earned his doctoral degree in Divinity from Cambridge University in 1978.

The history of Christianity has often been presented as monolithic, and this uniformity has been prized as its tradition. Yet historians have long been aware that in fact Christianity has always existed as a community of diversity. The Gregorian Reforms of the eleventh and twelfth centuries successfully created the illusion of a unity that was ultimately unenforceable. It is time to recover diversity as the real tradition of Christianity, a diversity open once again to accepting the best of each Christian community as well as the best of the traditions with which Christians interact. In the streets, in the classrooms and in the churches, this openness already exists. The challenge of Catholic universities is to address this new situation explicitly and theologically in each of those forums.

This lecture is free and open to the public. Information: Nikole Nichols, (408) 551-1951.
For more information on other Santa Clara University lecture, click here.

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Open auditions for "Who Do You Say That I Am?" - November 27, 2007

Julie Wind, music director at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, will be presenting a concert this spring (after Easter) of a musical called, "Who Do You Say That I Am?" Open auditions will be held on Tuesday, November 27, 2007, at 7:00pm in Loyola Hall, the parish hall of the Cathedral (80 South Market Street, San José). All interested musicians and actors in the Diocese of San José are invited to audition.

Auditions are open for both men and women. Cast needs:
  • 2 narrators (men)
  • Jesus
  • Sara (older, in her 60's)
  • Salome (mother of James and John)
  • Mariam (witnessed the crucifixion)
  • Paula (adultress woman)
  • Joanna (wife of Chuza, in her 50's)
  • Susanna (young 17 or 18yrs)
  • Veronica (early 30's)
  • Rachel (late 60's)
  • Sophia (woman of color)
  • Martha (early 40's)
  • Marybeth (early 30's)
  • Mary Magdalene (30's)

This piece will be performed as a spoken word concert, so people will not have to memorize a lot of dialogue, but they will have to memorize the songs.

Performance date is to be determined. Additionally, the musical will be filmed at studios in San Francisco with the same people that will be live performance cast. Cast members will need to be available throughout the summer of 2008 for filming.

For more information and to sign up for an audition, please contact Julie Wind at 408-283-8100 x2205 or music_director [at] yahoo [dot] com.



What's the deal with Anticipated Masses?

In researching what happens with holy days and if one can celebrate a Mass for Immaculate Conception on the evening before, I found this great article on the historial, theological, and pastoral issues surrounding anticipated Masses.

Advice from the Communion of Saints

Not only are the saints helpful in time of need, they're funny too. Read advice from the Communion of Saints.

Hat tip to the always funny Ironic Catholic.

Happy are those who are called to his supper.

We hear these words every Sunday and every time we celebrate the Eucharist—“Happy are those….” But who are the “those”?

I’m pretty sure the “those” are the saints. They are the ones who are already standing around the altar of the Lamb, who already “see him as he is,” as today’s second reading says is our hope. At every Eucharistic prayer, we say that “we join the angels and the saints in proclaiming [God’s] glory” (Eucharistic Prayer II). The saints are where we hope to be, seeing what we hope to see, doing what we hope to do forever.

But sometimes, we think the “those” are us, and rightfully so. Sometimes, presiders even change the words to say “Happy are we who are called to his supper.” Yes, we too have surely been called to the Lamb’s supper, and we respond to that call every time we share in Communion. But this simple change in pronoun misses the point of the supper and the saints and the banquet that we still long for even after we have been filled from the altar table.

Today’s solemnity of All Saints and its assigned readings remind us that the supper of the Lamb is more than the Communion we share on Sunday. The eternal life of the saints in heaven is more than the best day we can think of on earth. The greatest joy, the deepest love, the most wonderful thing we know now cannot even compare to what is awaiting God’s children when what we shall be will be revealed.

It is good to know that the saints are just like us—everyday ordinary people who lived holy extraordinary lives. But it is also good to remember that the saints point us to something more than the ordinary. Their saintliness makes them more than who we are now. The saints are icons that both reveal mystery and also hide it. They reveal what we are to become—living, breathing signs of the Kingdom on earth. But try as we might, no matter how long we gaze upon the icon, we will never know the full joy of the saints until the Last Day when it is revealed to us by God.

Why does this matter? It matters because we sometimes forget that the promise Christ made to us through his resurrection is real. Sometimes we forget that we are promised “abounding joy” in God’s presence, “the delights at [the Lord’s] right hand forever” (Psalm 16:11). Not just joy but ABOUNDING JOY! Joy overflowing and pressed down until there's just no more room for it, then even more than that! Therefore, no matter what suffering, despair, apathy, or anger that “things aren’t the way they should be,” no matter what, God’s promise is real. Just look at the saints.

But even more so, God’s promise is real even when we think life is pretty good. If you think you’ve got it good now, just wait! It gets even better!

All Saints proclaims God’s faithful promise of “abounding joy.” It’s our day to hope for something more than what we can imagine, to hope for the unimaginable—and to know it's coming. It’s a promise and a hope for all people, no matter what blessings we may revel in or what curses we may be enduring in this moment. For happy, indeed, are those who are called to his supper.

Below is last year's reflection on this joyful day. Happy feast day to all of you!

***

Saint LibrataOver the years, I’ve collected several images of saints. It started with a ceramic relief of Saint Cecilia that the members of the Newman Center choir at UCLA gave me as a birthday present. Then a fellow campus minister at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga found a retablo of Saint Librata (also known as Wilgefortis or “holy face”). The legend of this deposed saint (she was removed from the calendar in 1969) tells of her martyrdom on a cross in which she appeared to have the face of Christ. Thus, many of her images show a crucified person with a beard wearing women’s clothing. She is said to be the patron saint of difficult marriages and unwarranted advances by men.

Saint ExpeditusBut one of my favorite retablos is one I found years ago at the Religious Education Congress, of all places! It’s a small image of a man with a halo walking—more like marching—with a look of determination. Behold, Saint Expeditus, patron of urgent situations, emergencies, and procrastinators!

All this time, I thought he was a made-up saint. But he’s not! He has a novena, and his feast day is April 19 (four days after Tax Day), but as his fans say, you can celebrate Saint Expy day whenever you get around to it.

The saints indeed know all about our lives and can be models for us on how to deal with the troubles we face each day. Yet the saints really aren’t distant onlookers. They’re here among us. We don’t so much pray to them as we pray with them.

Property of John Nava and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. All rights reserved. www.olacathedral.orgOne of the most striking things about the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles is the way the saints face. They aren’t looking at you; they’re standing with you, joining you in prayer around the altar. It’s a beautiful image of what it means to be part of the communion of saints.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (948) speaks of two aspects of the communion of saints which it sums up in the Eastern liturgy’s invitation to Communion: “Holy gifts for holy people!” The communion of saints is first a sharing of the good things God gives us, the most wonderful of which is Eucharist. Thus the tapestries at Los Angeles’ Cathedral show the saints standing with us at the altar. Being part of the communion of saints also means that we are united—in communion—with all the living and the dead, all God’s holy people.

That sharing and that communion come together at the altar—the tomb—of the model after which all the saints are formed: Christ. The cult of saints began in the early church when Christians were being persecuted and killed for their faith. Christians would recall their example of faith, often celebrating Eucharist on the anniversary of their death. Their burial places were holy sites where “heaven is joined to earth”—where death in Christ was wedded to eternal life in heaven. These sites were thought to be where one could receive some of the grace of the saint (sharing in the good things of God). Therefore, stone slabs were sometimes placed on top of the martyrs’ graves so the pilgrims could celebrate Mass there. These graves eventually became pilgrimage destinations around which monasteries, chapels, and religious houses were built. (Ever wondered why relics are embedded in the altar?)

Saints model for us how to live because saints show us how to die—die to selfishness and self-preservation; to worrying that you won’t have enough and to worrying that you aren’t good enough; to harboring grudges and withholding forgiveness; to apathy and to waiting until tomorrow to do what needs to be done today—saying “I love you,” “I’m sorry,” “I forgive you.”

They are called saints because in some way they stood apart from the rest of world and showed us how to be counter to what was expected, especially in times of trial.

The poor family who doesn’t have enough food to feed themselves yet welcomes in the stranger with open arms and the best of their kitchen stands apart from those who have more than enough yet have no joy around their table. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Those Amish who forgave their children’s murderer, attended his funeral, and vowed to support his widow and their children stood apart from what most of the rest of us would have done. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Those prophets of faithful dissent who speak out against injustice—even injustice in the Church—and are condemned for it stand apart from our “don’t rock the boat” and “keep your head down” indifference. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.

The saints stand apart, yet they do not stand alone. All the holy ones of God—you and me and the saints—stand together, dying to ourselves and rising to holiness, sharing in the good things of God.

Property of John Nava and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. All rights reserved. www.olacathedral.org
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:13-22)