Bulletin of January 25, 2004
Dear Parishioners,
This Sunday we begin “Catholic Schools Week” with our 9:15 liturgy and daily special events throughout the week. They include an information/application night this Monday for any families interested in applying to attend our school next fall. The Catholic parochial school experience in the U.S. is unique to the Church throughout the world and can be summarized in three stages: (1) well over 100 years ago as anti-Catholic feelings prevailed in the eastern states, American bishops called for a school in every parish and every Catholic child in the school. From the late 1800’s through World War I, our Catholic schools began by standing outside mainstream America, succeeding as immigrant Catholics built parishes and schools to give their children that precious education; (2) the second stage saw our schools grow to enormous strength in the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s. The children of immigrants who had graduated from these schools were now teaching in them as sisters, priests and brothers. With schools now strongly assimilating into the American culture, to be a good Catholic during this era was to be a good American – rather than “different”, “foreigner” and “outsider”; (3) the final stage began in the 70’s and continues today. Where once schools were staffed entirely by religious, now lay persons, almost exclusively, staff our schools. Where once the cost ranged between a dollar a month to zero, now tuition is in the thousands ($4,350.00 current tuition this year at Christ the King). Now the experience is on being neither outside nor mimic of American culture, but “leaven” to magnify what is good, critique what is not and from our faith make a difference.
The annual week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25) goes back to the first decade of the 1900’s in the U.S. For many years its focus was prayer for a “return” of other Christians to the Roman Catholic Church. With the Vatican Council in the 1960’s the focus shifted to the fact that we already have much more in common with other Christian faiths than differences, and our task is to join more and more together with mutual cooperation and respect. Today the divisions caused by fundamentalism both between churches and within churches, including our own, needs serious attention and prayer. Be sure to pray as Jesus did “that all may be one” (Jn.17:20).
January 22nd marks the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision (1973) that affirmed the almost absolute right of a woman to abortion. The numbers of abortions in our land since that decision have been overwhelming, at least 40 million since 1973, and one and a half million last year. Surveys show that 7 of 10 women who seek abortions identify themselves as Christian (Catholic or Protestant), which means our church services always include many who have lived through the upheaval of abortion and its aftermath. One survey claims that 9 out of 10 women who chose abortion say they would have chosen differently if positive alternatives had been realistically available. Two conclusions: (1) its our responsibility and our privilege to help make alternatives available. If we are either “pro life” or “pro choice” that requires us to make choices and alternatives a real possibility; (2) we celebrate always that no human circumstance or choice moves us beyond the bounds of God’s redemption and no emotional wound is beyond God’s ability to heal. We pray that God give us eyes to see and hands to help both those contemplating abortion and those who have experienced its traumatic consequences. [Birthright of Concord (798-7227) offers pregnancy tests; support services, resource information, medical care referral, infant and maternity clothes and adoption information. Our parish outreach supports Birthright, Casa Vincentia (510-729-0316) for homeless pregnant young women and the Bay Area Crisis Center]
Edwina Gateley is coming to town! She is visiting the Bay Area to give a retreat at San Damiano and we are fortunate to have her with us as a speaker this Monday evening at 7:30 pm, here in Church. Last year she spoke at St. Stephens and the many of you who heard here were inspired and delighted. Edwina is founder of the Voluntary Missionary Movement, a lay overseas mission group, and also of Genesis Home, a haven for prostitutes in Chicago. Her topic “The Only Life Raft Here is Love: A Call to Inner Renewal” is sure to be dynamic and well worth your time.
Our annual Financial Report is included as an insert in today’s bulletin. My comments and observations about our financial situation are on the reverse side. Feel free to raise any questions you might have and a big thank you to our finance committee of: Andy Dressel, Ken Henry, John Hyde, Brian Joyce, Bernard Perez, Don Peirce, Greg Thornbury and Sandy Towns.
Your Pastor,
Brian Joyce