The Fifty-fifth World Day of Prayer for Vocations once again proclaims this good news to us, and in a decisive manner. We are not victims of chance or swept up in a series of unconnected events; on the contrary, our life and our presence in this world are the fruit of a divine vocation! Even amid these troubled times, the mystery of the Incarnation reminds us that God continually comes to encounter us. He is God-with-us, who walks along the often dusty paths of our lives. He knows our anxious longing for love and he calls us to joy. In the diversity and the uniqueness of each and every vocation, personal and ecclesial, there is a need to listen, discern and live this word that calls to us from on high and, while enabling us to develop our talents, makes us instruments of salvation in the world and guides us to full happiness.
This year's Catholic Advocacy Day (CAD) will take place next Tuesday, April 24. CAD brings people from dioceses throughout the state to the Capitol on one day. The advocates - two for each legislative district - will meet with their elected representatives and be a voice for life and dignity in a world that often does not seem to value either.
What is your image of a shepherd? When I had the chance to lead a pilgrimage in Israel 3 years ago, one of the first things I wanted to see was a shepherd. I used to read and hear the word shepherd a lot from the lips of my 1st Grade teacher, during the sermons of our priest then back home, in my theology classes in the seminary, etcetera, but I never had the opportunity to see a real one except through pictures and movies, until I saw the Holy Land.
Our retired diocesan priests continue to impact the lives of thousands each and every year! These men of God celebrate Mass, administer the sacraments, and walk with us still. Our Diocesan priests have given us decades of faithful service, receiving modest compensation for their work. Many of priests continue their ministry for years after retirement, assisting in parishes with weekend liturgies, hearing confessions, and visiting the sick. In recent years the number of retired priests has grown significantly to 44, challenging the diocesan retirement resources. Your generosity to this appeal helps us keep an important promise of care to these priests who have been good Shepherds and have kept their promises to us.
Remembering a loved one during Easter is always foremost in our minds. So why not express that love by donating toward the Easter flowers as special intention or in memory of a deceased family member or friend? Special Easter Flower envelopes can be found in the back of our three churches.
March Averages 2018 - Offertory by Mass (per week): Sat 5:00pm (SAG): $911 Sun 9:00am (SAG): $1,369; Sun 9:00am (OLR): $1,249; Sun 10:30am (OLR): $2,057 Sun 7:30am (STA): $1,058; Sun 8:45am (STA): $874; Sun 10:30am (STA): $515 Sun 12:00pm (STA): $328 ; Mail: $487 ; Online Giving: $2,966 Total: $11,814 (Goal: $12,000) - Total 2nd Collections in March: $17,992 Total March Collections: $16,312 (weekly)
Parishioners of all ages - children, youth and adults are invited to an afternoon of prayer and reflection on our call to True Discipleship on Sunday, May 6, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Seton School Auditorium (St. Albert the Great site) with inspirational speaker, singer, composer and storyteller, ValLimar Jansen.
You are invited! Please join us for our annual fundraising event at the exclusive Stanford Gold Course on Monday, May 14. Register at www.setonpaloalto.org. Questions? Contact Carmel Caligaris: Development2setonpaloalto.org or 650-326-1258
For sisters, Gwenn Connolly and Karen Vetter that means finding the funds to send 30 kids from St. Elizabeth Seton kids to CYO Summer Camp. These kids have big dreams and talents — but few resources. Funds Needed: $300 per camper The total cost for camp is $825 per person for seven days. Each child’s family pays a portion and campership funds cover the remaining 65%. Your contribution, big or small, will make a difference. Donations are tax deductible.
REVS vs. SEMS is a fun night for families and friends to cheer on their favorite priests and seminarians in an epic basketball game. May 12, 2018 | 7 pm at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose. All proceeds from the game benefit Seminarian Formation.
I joined our Diocese’s volunteer group for Restorative Justice over a year ago. We go to our local jails and either hold Bible Study or hold distribution of Holy Communion and a celebration of the Word. I was led into this work after being summoned to jury duty and subsequently thinking about the men, women and children in our jails. My final push came after reading Pope Francis’ call to go out to the edges of our community.
FAITH IN THE EUCHARIST O my God, I firmly believe that Thou art really and corporally present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. I adore Thee here present from the very depths of my heart, and I worship Thy sacred presence with all possible humility. O my soul, what joy to have Jesus Christ always with us, and to be able to speak to Him, heart to heart, with all confidence. Grant, O Lord, that I, having adored Thy divine Majesty here on earth in this wonderful Sacrament, may be able to adore it eternally in Heaven. Amen.
Attention: All Parish groups who use our facilities. We need your calendar request forms for 2017-2018. If you have any questions, contact Nora Lundin (nlundin@dsj.org). Requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Mothers Prayers was formed to help those mothers who wished to pray together for their children and grandchildren and to find the support they need. We pray together at Our Lady of the Rosary, every THURSDAY morning, at 9:00 am, after morning mass. Any question, contact Isabelle Peltier isa.usa1980@gmail.com
Pledged: $185,532; Pledges: 285 * Average Pledge: $656; Potential Rebate: $45,532. We have reached our parish goal by Easter. Thank you so much for your support for the ministry of Bishop McGrath and our parish. Every dollar pledged and paid will continue to be rebated back to our parish. Use your Visa or MasterCard, make an Electronic Funds Transfer from your checking account, or donate online at dsj.org.
On March 6th, Spirituality Tuesday hosted an evening on prayer and contemplation introducing a method called Centering Prayer. At the conclusion of the meeting, we discussed getting together after Easter and continuing the dialogue and reinforcing our prayer practice. If you are interested in coming together again and if others who weren’t present on the 6th would like to join us, please email me and I’ll coordinate a time and place to meet. I hope we can continue the conversation. Pat Clough - Email: pathclough@gmail.com
Those Celebrating Full Christian Initiation: Nadia Carey, Caden Domingo, Jacob Domingo, Peyton Eng, Sarah Eng, Rafael Frans, Adam Hotchkiss, David Kim, Jin Lee, Nicholas Provost, Peter Saldaña; Previously Baptized Catholics Celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation and/or First Eucharist: Rachel Eng, Maya Lopez. We wish to acknowledge and thank their sponsors, catechists, parents, and indeed, the entire parish community who have supported these our brothers and sisters through prayer and witness. May we truly welcome them to our Church and our parish.
Young Adults! Are you discerning a Call to be a Sister or a Priest? What does your heart desire? The National Religious Vocation Conference is hosting a Young Adult “Encounter” Retreat on April 14, 2018 from 2:00 – 8:00pm at the Dominican Sisters Center in San Rafael.
In the past year we have lost quite a few ministers due to age and illness. We now have approximately 16 ministers. We visit clients weekly in their homes and in several nursing and retirement homes: Lytton Gardens, Palo Alto Sub-Acute and Convalescent Home, Channing House, Vi Living, Sunrise, Palo Alto Commons and Avant.