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NEWS
- week of 05-27-07 to 06-02-07 Social Concerns Opportunities to Volunteer at Sacred Heart Community Service: Sacred Heart Community Service has needs for volunteers in a variety of areas including working with small groups on ESL, helping mentor families, helping with job searches and employment counseling, working with students on homework and computer skills, helping to collect, sort/package and deliver lunches to local shelters, and many many more. A representative from Sacred Heart will be available outside church at all Masses next weekend (June 2-3) with more information and to discuss these with you. If you are interested and have the time, you can get a "head start" at www.shcstheheart.org/volunteers/opps.html. Immigration Reform legislation to move forward in Senate but improvements are needed. A preliminary version will be debated in the U.S. senate this week. Catholic Charities characterizes the draft as a good starting point, albeit not the optimal approach. Various Catholic spokespersons recognize the need to strengthen sections which unify families and prevent disrupting family life, and provide participants a meaningful opportunity to obtain permanent residency with a fair and realistic path to citizenship. A USCCB spokesperson said "there are many ways we can raise our voices (on this legislation), but two in particular are called for at this moment - advocacy and prayer". There are many stories on catholicnews.com and americancatholic.org .Help Wanted in the Immigration Area - - There are many important activities going on in the Immigration area of the Diocese, and the Social Concerns group is unable to keep up with them all. We really could use help from someone who would be interested in this area to help as their time permits. Perhaps you are just curious, interested, or you or a relative or a friend have personally experienced injustice from the immigration process. If any or all of these apply, and you would like to discuss this further, please call Jim at 241-0265. Catechetical MinistryGrounded in the apostolic word, we are to live and profess our faith so as to bring the love of God into the lives of others." (John H. Tietjen) As we approach the end of the academic year some of the Catechetical programs offered here at the parish cease until September. During the summer the catechists who minister in Parish School of Religion, RCIA-CIC, and Children's Liturgy of the Word take a well earned break, this affords them time for ongoing formation and also time to plan for the future. At this time I would like to extend my heart-filled appreciation to all the catechists who minister to our young children every Sunday in the Parish School of Religion and those who facilitate the RCIA-CIC process. This is an enormous commitment on their part and one that is essential to the ministry of the local community. The second group of ministers that truly deserve our gratitude are the catechists who facilitate the Children's Liturgy of the Word. This group of catechists rotate on a monthly basis to ensure that our young children can participate in an age appropriate Liturgy of the Word. As you read and reflect on this column you may ask yourself what could I do to help in the ministries listed above? The answer to this question is very clear there are many and varied ways through which parishioners can enhance these ministries; as catechists and catechists' aides, by ensuring that we have a very welcoming community especially for all the newly initiated and above all by praying for these and all other ministries in our parish. FAITH beyond 2000, part 1, an eleven-session catechist formation series, is being offered again this year. Sessions in English will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:45 - 9:00 p.m. at St. Simon beginning Monday, June 18. Sessions in English and Spanish will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:45 – 9:00 p.m. at Most Holy Trinity beginning Tuesday, June 19. Topics include Revelation, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Church, the Creed, Scripture and Prayer. Catechists, youth ministers, people who may be thinking about becoming catechists and adults interested in a basic understanding of their faith are encouraged to register by calling (408) 983-0127 or by visiting the website at www.dsj.org. Registration is available online.
5:00pm - $918.00 Thank you for your continued support! Other Offerings: $100.00
Everyone is cordially invited to the Rectory Open House on Friday, June 15th from 5pm to 8pm. Parishioners will have the opportunity to see first hand the front office renovations and repainting. It will also be our celebration of Fr. Andy's 15th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood and our farewell party for our seminarian, Tan Nguyen, as he ends his pastoral year here at Saint Lawrence. All offices will be closed for the Memorial Day Holiday. Mass will be at it's regular time of 8:30am. We wish you all a safe and relaxing holiday!
Saint Lawrence the Martyr Parish is seeking a part-time coordinator of youth ministry to organize the core groups for youth and young adult ministry. This will include coordinating and helping to develop workshops, retreats, social outreach, volunteer recruitment and training, youth liturgy and various other youth activities.
Candidates should have taken some studies in theology and/or catechetical/ youth ministry. Good communication and computer skills preferred. Position will begin August 1. Salary determined according to Diocesan Guidelines
With summer upon us, isn't it a good time to consider your married relationship? A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend can renew and rejuvenate your marriage. Call Ken & Claranne Schirle at (408) 782-1413 or go to www.Love MoreDeeply.org . for information The Catholic Professional and Business Club invites you to our last breakfast meeting for the season. The meeting will be held on Thursday, June 14th at the Holiday Inn (formerly Hyatt), 1740 N. First Street, San Jose, at 7:30AM (optional Mass at 6:45AM). Guest speaker will be Anne Grycz, Director, Institute for Leadership in Ministry (ILM). Her topic will be "Lay Leadership in the Church of San Jose". Cost is $20 Members, $25 Non-Members. Contact: Jessica King at 408-491-9229 or cpbcinfo@gmail.com or www.sjcatholicprofessionals.org We continue to accept nominations for our Pastoral Parish Council. Applications are available in the vestibule of the Church. You may nominate yourself or someone you know who you think would be perfect for the council! (Please ask them first!) You may place the completed form in the box provided or at the Rectory office. - week of 05-20-07 to 05-26-07 Social Concerns On his recent trip to Brazil, Pope Benedict XVI said that Archbishop Oscar Romero "deserves to be beatified". He went on to say that Archbishop Romero, an assassinated champion of the poor and exploited in El Salvador, who was featured in this column a few weeks ago, was "certainly a great witness of the faith, a man of great Christian virtue who worked for peace and against the dictatorship." That's great news for Archbishop Romero's supporters here at St. Lawrence! We read in the news that Cardinal Mahoney, and church leaders of many faiths in Los Angeles, are opening up their churches as sanctuaries for undocumented immigrants at risk of being deported - - first of all to protect the least among us as Disciples of Christ, and second to launch a nationwide effort to pressure lawmakers to create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Some parishioners may complain that we are reporting something "illegal" with an implied endorsement, - - however, it should not go un-noted that if the people who came before us did not challenge laws they saw as unjust 1) the U.S. would still be a British colony, 2) slavery would still be "legal;" 3) women would still not have the "right" to vote, and 4) poorer children would still be laboring in factories. The role of the Church in working to achieve justice goals, through affecting the outcome of the political process grows every day. In fact, the California Bishops have a very active program to advocate and influence state legislation: currently they are advocating NO on assisted suicide (AB 374), YES on the compassionate release for terminally ill prisoners (AB 1539), YES on food security for the poor (AB 1060), and YES on the inclusion of immigrants in college loan programs (SB 160). St. Lawrence parishioners can find out much more about these positions and activities at the California Catholic Conference website at www.cacatholic.org Catechetical MinistryThis is the sacrament in which the Holy Spirit is given to those already baptized in order to make them strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ. Last Thursday, McGrath, presided at Mass over the 38 confirmandi from our local parishes and school. Confirmation impartso an increase of sanctifying grace which makes the recipient a "perfect Christian"; o a special sacramental grace consisting in the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and notably in the strength and courage to confess boldly the name of Christ; o an indelible character by reason of which the sacrament cannot be received again by the same person. We congratulate and welcome the following into full, conscience, & active participation within the church and in our community: Nathan Brown Nathaniel MartinsAmanda Calamia Monica Morgia Craig Cannon Angelica Murillo Brendan Carroll Nicolas Murphy Charles Chapman Sarah Newton Alicia Collins Anthony Nguyen Saral Covarrubias Arturo Oliveros Nathaniel Craig Francesca Opulencia Marcio De Jesus Joan Pacheco Andre Duarte Pricilla Pereira Nicole Duniphin Ian Powell Marcelo Estrella Cephra Raja Zachary Ferreyra Bethany Salvador Jennifer Fong Rachel Sanville Ginette Gagen Val Tarcha Alda Hernandez Victoria Taylor Andrew Kalt Erin Vranicar Sashka Leahy Eric Warnars Jessica Long Michelle Zill
5:00pm - $1,851.00 Thank you for your continued support! 2nd Coll: $863.00 . Other Offerings: $109.00
Join in celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the USA at the Santa Clara Convention Center on the weekend of May 25 – 27. Convention highlights include seven outstanding speakers, general sessions and workshops, Eucharist Worship services, Healing Mass and prayer ministry. Also complete Youth & Children’s Ministries are available (if pre-registered). For the complete schedule and registration brochure, call (707) 643-2238 or you can also register at the door. Information is also available at www.ncrcspirit.com at Ascension Church in Saratoga on Monday, May 21 at 7:15 p.m. The speaker is Sister Corrine Florek, OP, Coordinator of Mercy Partnership Funds. Learn the difference you can make with changing how you invest some of your money. There is no charge for this lecture, but a free will donation is gratefully accepted. For more information, contact Church of the Ascension, (408) 725-3939. Can You Change a Life Today? Yes. You can make a difference in the lives of the poor. Nearly one in four people in Santa Clara County can't meet their family's basic needs without help. They are the working poor, isolated seniors, at-risk youth, children in low-performing schools, caregivers of young children and frail elders, and those suffering from mental illness and addiction. Together, we can change more lives--for good. Please make a generous pledge or contribution to Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County at Mass on May 19 and 20. Envelopes will be provided, or you may donate online at www.ccsj.org One hundred percent of contributions will support critical services for the poor and vulnerable. For more information, contact Sara Johnson at (408) 325-5259 We are looking for registered parishioners who want to become more active in our community: There is a need for counters for the weekend collections (Sunday afternoon and Monday morning openings), Scrip sellers for after weekend Masses, and Sacristans to set up for Mass. If you believe that one of these ministries is right for you, please contact the Rectory Office at 408-296-3000. The Quinceanera is a Latin American tradition celebrated by young ladies on or about her 15th birthday. The celebration has a duel origin that truly captures the richness of Latin American culture. In pre-Columbian Mexico, the Aztecs had a presentation of their daughters at the temple, anywhere from her 13th to 15th birthday, as a gift to their gods and to present her as ready for marriage. When the European Spanish and French aristocrats arrived in Latin America, they brought with them the tradition of Cotillions. A cotillion was a party to announce a young lady as full members of society and also that she was open to suitors. These parties were lavish and the mestizo people saw these parties and remember the similar tradition their ancestors had celebrated. And out of this mix of traditions, the Quinceanera was born. The new tradition brought memories of offerings to Aztec/Mayan gods. As newly converted and passionate Catholics, the mestizo peoples brought this festival into the Church and the Quinceanera Mass slowly evolved. The tradition of Quinceañeras spread to all parts of Latin America and to all of society. Today, in the US and in Latin American, Quinceaenra Masses are celebrated to present a young lady to God as a responsible Christian disciple, to ask the Blessed Mother to pray for her in her life and most importantly as a Mass of Thanksgiving for the gift of the young lady, and the gifts given to her by God. During the Mass a young lady may have court of as many as 7 other young ladies or Damas with escorts or Chambelánes with the Quinceanera herself being the symbolic 15th person. Not all processions are this large but they all represent people who promise to help the Quinceanera live a good Christian life. During the Quinceanera Mass, the young lady offers a prayer of thanksgiving to God before the Assembly, and her parents present her to God as a new adult disciple. The Quinceanera will also be presented with a pillow upon which she will kneel before God during most of the Mass. She will also receive a Bible and either a crucifix or rosary from her God parents. Other gifts which are reminiscent of cotillions may include a tiara, a bracelet and a ring. At the end of the Mass, the Quinceanera and her parents usually present flowers to the Blessed Mother and the Quinceanera will ask the Blessed Mother to pray for her as she enters into adult faith and young adult life. While the Quinceanera is a Latin American tradition, any young lady who has turned or is about to turn 15 is welcome to celebrate a Quinceanera Mass. If you have any questions feel free to contact the Parish Office or Bruno Martínez at STL15era@sbcglobal.net We continue to accept nominations for our Pastoral Parish Council. Applications are available in the vestibule of the Church. You may nominate yourself or someone you know who you think would be perfect for the council! (Please ask them first!) You may place the completed form in the box provided or at the Rectory office. - week of 05-06-07 to 05-12-07 Social Concerns Last week, Sara Johnson of Catholic Charities mentioned many of the groups Catholic Charities helps to make a difference in the lives of the poor. One item which was not mentioned, however, is the fact that Catholic Charities also functions as a regional placement and followup service for the UN Resettlement Program. I am sure most of you can already see where this is going. Without Catholic Charities, St. Lawrence would not have become aware of this program and would not have had the opportunity to open our hearts to Hindiyo and her six children - Somalian refugees who entered this country with virtually nothing and are progressing toward self-sufficiency. So it is very easy for me to recommend being extra generous in considering your contribution next week. I must admit to getting a little annoyed over the media usage of the word "disaster" in reference to the highway that collapsed in Oakland. It is indeed an incident that will be very disruptive to many people and businesses for quite a while with a substantial economic impact. But to me, the term "disaster" is totally inappropriate. Nobody was killed or seriously injured. My mother-in-law, after we had been in an auto accident, once said "Don't get upset - nobody was hurt - it's "only money". How very insightful. When an unborn child comes to term only to emerge stillborn, that is a disaster. The HIV-AIDS epidemic in Africa, affecting over 40 million people, is a disaster. Darfur is a disaster. Iraq is a disaster. Somalia is a disaster. Life is precious and people are dying - - and it does not need to be this way! The highway in Oakland is not a disaster - it's "only money" - and we need to keep our priorities straight! Catechetical Ministry
Just as the bread, which is made from the earth, when God is invoked is no longer common bread but the Eucharist, both earthly and heavenly, so our bodies, after we have received the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible, since they hold the hope of the resurrection. Holy Eucharist is the sacrament and sacrifice in which Jesus Christ, under the appearances of bread and wine, is contained, offered, and received. As a sacrifice, the Eucharist is known as the Mass; and as the sacrament, it is known as Holy Communion. The Eucharist is a sacrifice in which Christians, through the hands of their priests, offer to God the Father the most precious gift possible - His only begotten Son. God is so pleased with this offering that He shares with them this gift by giving His Son to them in Holy Communion as food for their souls. The Eucharist, both sacrifice and sacrament, should be the center of all Christian life and worship, because it brings man to God and brings God to man. Please keep all our First Communicants in your prayers this week.
5:00pm - $1,066.00 Thank you for your continued support! 2nd Coll: $1,194.05 St. Vincent de Paul; Other Offerings: $147.00 May 13th is Mother's Day. It is a day when children honor their mothers with cards, gifts, and flowers. The custom of honoring mothers goes back at least as far as 17th-century England, which celebrated (and still celebrates) Mothering Sunday. In the late1600's in England there was an annual observance called "Mothering Sunday." It was celebrated during Lent, on the fourth Sunday. On Mothering Sunday, the servants, who generally lived with their employers, were encouraged to return home and honor their mothers. It was traditional for them to bring a special cake along to celebrate the occasion. The first observance of Mother's Day in the US started in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1907 based on suggestions by Julia Ward Howe in 1872 and Anna Jarvis in 1907. In 1908 Ana Jarvis, from Grafton, West Virginia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Jarvis persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the anniversary of her mother's death. A memorial service was held there on May 10, 1908 and in Philadelphia the following year where Jarvis moved. Jarvis and others began a letter-writing campaign to ministers, businessmen, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day. They were successful. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day a national observance that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May. Here at Saint Lawrence Parish, we celebrate Mother's Day with a Novena of Masses starting on May 12. However, due to the Annual Retreat of the Clergy of the Diocese of San Jose from May 14 to May 18, which Fr. Willie and I will be attending, this Novena of Masses will be extended for five more days so that we will have a total of 9 Masses for the Novena. A limited supply of Mass Cards will be available from the Hospitality Room. Envelopes for the Novena are available on the table in the foyer. What greater gift can we offer to all Mothers than our prayers especially the celebration of the Holy Mass. I hope that you will please pick up a Mother's Day Mass card or envelope after Mass and please return the envelopes with the names of the Mothers you want to be included in the Novena Mass Intentions. Can You Change a Life Today? Yes. You can make a difference in the lives of the poor. Nearly one in four people in Santa Clara County can't meet their family's basic needs without help. They are the working poor, isolated seniors, at-risk youth, children in low-performing schools, caregivers of young children and frail elders, and those suffering from mental illness and addiction. Together, we can change more lives--for good.Please make a generous pledge or contribution to Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County at Mass on May 12 and 13. Envelopes will be provided, or you may donate online at www.ccsj.org. One hundred percent of contributions will support critical services for the poor and vulnerable. For more information, contact Sara Johnson at (408) 325-5259. Please join us for our May Crowning Mass & Celebration on Tuesday, May 22nd at 7:00pm. Mass will take place in the church with a coffee reception following in the piazza. We invite you to bring a fresh flower for each member of your family to be placed in Mary's Grotto. Don't miss this special celebration to mark the Month of Mary. All women of our parish are invited to the quarterly luncheon, Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 11:30am. The luncheon takes place at China Stix Restaurant in Mervyns Plaza, Santa Clara. The cost is $17 per person. Please send checks made payable to Mary Ann Miller, to 12800 Arroyo De Arguella, Saratoga, CA 95070-3706. For more information, you can contact Mary Ann at 408-867-5503 or 408-887-3675. The deadline for payment is May 10th. All senior citizens are invited to our monthly luncheon this Thursday, May 10th, at 12:15pm. Please bring a potluck dish to share. The luncheon takes place in the parish hall. For more information, please contact Mary Ann at 408-867-5503 or 408-887-3675.
The spiritually based fellowship group, singles in their 40's and 50's, meets every 3rd Friday. Location: St. Lucy's Parish Activity Center, 2350 S. Winchester Blvd, Campbell. All are welcome, no RSVP necessary. You are invited to attend one of the following Masses to remember all those interred in our cemeteries, especially those who have died for the freedom of our country. Priests from various parishes, choirs, Knights of Columbus, American Legion and Scouts will participate to make this tribute a memorable experience. Most Reverend Bishop Patrick J. McGrath will celebrate at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 22555 Cristo Rey Dr., Los Altos, Msgr. Joseph Milani will celebrate at Calvary Cemetery, 2655 Madden Ave., San Jose. Monday, May 28th, Veteran's Tribute at 10:40 a.m., Mass at 11:00 a.m. Please allow time for parking. These events will be held outdoors, chairs and a tent will be provided. For information contact Frances Carrasco Leyerle at (408) 258-2940 x208 or carrasco@dosj.org
The Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries at Santa Clara University offers a Master of Arts degree in one of four areas to those looking to deepen their involvement in their local parish as well as their religious community. For More information please visit our website: www.scu.edu/pm
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