Dear Seton Supporters, The 2016-17 school year was full of activities and opportunities for our students.  The children enjoyed learning in a positive, faith-filled environment, participated in monthly liturgies and weekly prayer services, and attended field trips that provided opportunities for them to learn and grow. 

What a wonderful Parish Picnic! We worked, played, and celebrated as a faith community rejoicing and celebrating God’s many blessings. As your Pastor, I am so very grateful to each and every one of you who made this a terrific day! On behalf of the entire parish, I extend our deepest appreciation to our Knights of Columbus, and our Community Life & Picnic Committee for the sharing of their time and talent.

Can’t hear the sermon or parts of the Mass? As part of the renovations at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, technology was installed to help our parishioners who do have various forms of hearing loss. People with hearing aids can now turn on the T-Coil built into their hearing aids and key into the sound system.

The graduating 8th Grade Class of 2017 marked a wonderful end to the academic year. Our graduates are now attending the following high schools; Bellarmine, Sacred Heart Prep, Saint Francis, Cristo Rey, Sequoia, Menlo-Atherton, Mercy Burlingame, Summit, and Oxford Charter. Graduation is a proud moment for students, families, teachers and staff. We know that they’re prepared and well-placed for the challenges ahead.

Here’s what to look forward to in the coming year: Children ages 4 through 10 are welcome. Registration forms are available on our parish website at www.paloaltocatholic.net

On the anniversary of September 11, about 200 individuals gathered outside City Hall in Palo Alto for a Peace Picnic, hosted by American Muslim Voice, followed by a Peaceful Presence Prayers for Peace, sponsored by Multifaith Voices for Peace and Justice (of which our parish is a member). Those of all faiths and no formal faith were more than welcome. Thanks to all who turned out, and who braved the rain and thunder (we got quite wet!) to witness together.

SANTA CLARA FAITH FORMATION CONFERENCE- Nov 3-4 God is Always With Us The Santa Clara Faith Formation Conference (SCFFC) will be held this year on November 3 & 4 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The conference is sponsored by the Dioceses of Monterey and San Jose in collaboration with the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the Dioceses of Oakland and Stockton.

We echo the sentiments of the Bishops of California and the United States in expressing our disappointment with the decision to rescind DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). We call upon Congress to pass laws that protect these young people, many for whom the United States is the only place they have ever known.

Are you a compassionate listener? A selfless giver? Empathetic and encouraging? Stanford Medical Center/Stanford Health Care is looking for bilingual volunteers to assist in their Catholic Holy Communion to the Sick in the Spiritual Care Department.

The Church's catechetical mission aims to help the faithful of all ages to grow in both human and Christian maturity, enriching the whole of life with the leaven of the Gospel. Our parish adult faith formation ministry seeks to engage the particular needs and interests of our parishioners in a way that is accessible and relates to their life experiences, helping them to form a Christian conscience and to live their lives in the world as faithful disciples of Jesus.

Everyone has a driving desire to love and to be loved. So why do we seem to miss the mark so often? We invite you to join us in discovering the keys to the mystery of love and relationships! The Dominican cloistered nuns of Corpus Christi Monastery and guest Jim Brady will be unraveling this mystery in a five-session series based on the groundbreaking “Love and Responsibility” by Karol Wojtyla (Saint John Paul II).

Overview for August 30, 2017 to September 13, 2017

I’d like to begin this article by sharing with you a brief, yet true, story. There once was a teenager whose life was changed when he decided to give God one last chance before giving up on faith completely. This young man, an upperclassman at a nearby private school, decided that his best chance to allow God to make His presence known was through joining his local youth group.

As our kids are formed in their faith, it is important for our parents to think about their own faith formation. At St. Albert the Great, sessions for parents will be offered every week during class. At Our Lady of the Rosary, we will meet at least once a month beginning with our session on September 10. We are offering additional family gatherings on week nights from 6 until 7:15 throughout the year.