Beginning Memorial Day weekend and continuing through Summer, the time of vacations and weekends away, is a time quite challenging for our parish financially. As the attendance at our weekend liturgies dwindles, so can the weekly support of our parishioners: a good reason to consider using ONLINE GIVING. 

Your donation dollars continue to provide items for the most needy clients at the Opportunity Center. Over $550 was recently spent for more underwear and socks which restocked empty shelves. Your donations will also allow another large purchase in the fall.

I wish to thank all of the many people who gave so much of their time and effort to host my 25th anniversary celebration this past Saturday. It was a wonderful and joyful gathering of parishioners, old friends, and former colleagues. I am deeply grateful to the parish staff, Ted Baer, Beverly Wade, Chris Lundin, Donna Pellizari, Mona Napaa, Steve Carter, and Rudel Cruzet for their hard work. Finally, I would like to thank the parish for the most extraordinary gift of a papal blessing parchment from Rome honoring my 25 years of serving the Church as a priest. I will hold many fond memories in my heart for the outpouring of love and support from all of you.

10 years ago, I looked up what feast day would fall on this Sunday in May, 2016. Yes, I like to plan ahead. I was hoping it would be Pentecost, maybe Corpus Christi, or even perhaps, the feast of the Ascension. But no. It would fall on Trinity Sunday.

On behalf of all the people who will be able to see much better, we would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank you!" to all the compassionate parishioners who donated eyeglasses. We collected 108 used eyeglasses (and some new), 1 pair of contacts and $11 at the three parish sites for up-cycling through the Lions International Sight Program to help people in developing countries.

"Through a number of measures, we reduced the carbon footprint from natural gas consumption at our parish facilities by 43% from 2009 through 2015. The side benefit is the energy cost savings. In 2009 we emitted 156.9 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) due to natural gas and in 2015 it went down to 89 metric tons. One metric ton = 2,205 lbs.

Dear Youth, The leadership team and I wish to congratulate you for making it this far in your faith journey as a Catholic! All of your effort toward growing in wisdom, knowledge and relationship with Christ has led this very special moment of our life—the day of your Confirmation. In receiving this Sacrament, you have been sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, receiving special strength and graces that will allow Christ to use you in tremendous new ways if you only allow Him to do so

2016-17 applications for new students are now available in the school office and on our website: setonpaloalto. org for all grades including our Little Saints Preschool. Preschool applicants must be 4 years old by September 1, 2016. Kindergarten applicants must be 5 years old by September 1, 2016. Readiness testing for our Full-Day Kindergarten will begin in February.

Thanks to the approximately 75 parishioners who greeted and ate with 40 members of the local Muslim community last Saturday in the Our Lady of the rosary Hall. Fr. Matt was our host, and Bishop Patrick McGrath was in attendance, along with the Imam Huzefa Poonawala from the Hatemi Masjid community in Palo Alto. General Secretary of the Muslim community Zoaib Rangwala gave the history of their community, while Bishop McGrath told of the Catholic community in the Valley of St. Clare.

Thank you to our wonderful St. Thomas Aquinas parishioners for your generous donations to the 2nd collection for our St. Vincent de Paul Conference last weekend.