since The Mulcrevy family history certainly runs deep in our parish,

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1 February 2018 St.Cecilia CATHOLIC CHURCH Meet Gracie Mulcrevy A Life Centered on Her Faith, Her Parish, and Her Family F or 50 years, St. Cecilia Catholic Church and our school have been at the center of Gracie Mulcrevy s life. She was first introduced to our parish by her husband, Bob, whose family has been a part of parish life here since The Mulcrevy family history certainly runs deep in our parish, and the story of their involvement at St. Cecilia is still being written today as the next generation continue to build a strong faith life here. Today, Gracie stays active in parish life by serving as one of the core volunteers for the Young Families group. Founded in 2013 by Fr. Lim, the Young Families group ministers to parents with children age 5 and under. The group provides these families with fun nights out at the parish, organizing events such as play dates, Halloween parties, and Advent celebrations where volunteers lead crafts and games for the children while the adults enjoy fellowship time. Gracie first started helping with this ministry in 2014 at the encouragement of fellow parishioner Happy Kramer, and she has enjoyed every minute of it since. I love to see the kids and how happy they are with the activities and Gracie Mulcrevy and her grandchildren during a family trip to Hawaii in December 2017 (back row) Rory and Dylan Kenneally; (middle row) Ava Maguire, Gracie Mulcrevy, Lily and Celine Maguire, Eoin Burke; (front row) Joe Maguire, Gracie Burke, Tommy Maguire and Shane Burke games, she says. The parents really enjoy having their kids entertained so they can socialize and get to know each other, which is great. Everybody looks like they re having a great time. It s fun seeing people enjoy it. Reflecting on the spirit of family and cooperation that make continued on page 2

2 St.CeciliaCatholicChurch Meet Gracie Mulcrevy continued from front cover St. Cecilia such a wonderful parish, Gracie affirms that she has often been inspired by others to become more involved in church life. I really never felt that I was doing anything by myself, she explains. I ve always been with someone else, and Happy Kramer has been a great support. She really has been the driver for what I can do to help. I just want to help I ve been there to be a support and do what I can. I just want to be a part of encouraging other people to join stewardship so they can experience the same joy that I have. In addition to an active involvement in church life, the Mulcrevy family s long history at our parish school also continues today. Bob graduated from the school in In addition, he and Gracie sent all four of their daughters Jane, Erin, Laura and Maureen through St. Cecilia School, and nine grandchildren are currently in attendance. Gracie spends time volunteering in the kindergarten classrooms and helping with tours of the school. Her daughters, who run the family business at Millbrae Pancake House, sponsor the cake booth at the school s annual festival and donate batter to the St. Cecilia pancake breakfasts. As Gracie looks back on her own childhood and forward to the future generations of her family, she feels truly blessed that the Catholic faith continues to be passed along. I thank my parents because I was just given such an incredible gift of faith, she says. They brought me up to be a strong Catholic, and I ve been so happy that all my children have been married in the Church and have children at the school, teaching them to be Catholic. I feel our religion is a part of me. I know that s what my mother hoped to give to us, and that s also what I wish to be able to have been a model for my kids and grandkids, to keep God present in their minds and lives. Indeed, there is every reason to believe that the story of the Mulcrevy family s involvement here at St. Cecilia in addition to having a long history will have a very long future to come. And Gracie, for one, will always be thankful that our parish and school have played such a central role in her own personal history. St. Cecilia is just part of my life, she enthuses. It s just been a great feeling of being where I belong. I wouldn t want to be any place else I wouldn t want to be in another parish or another part of town. I ve always felt that the church and the school have been here for me when I ve needed help. They have always been here for me, and I hope I ve been there for them. I thank my parents because I was just given such an incredible gift of faith. They brought me up to be a strong Catholic, and I ve been so happy that all my children have been married in the Church and have children at the school, teaching them to be Catholic. I feel our religion is a part of me. I know that s what my mother hoped to give to us, and that s also what I wish to be able to have been a model for my kids and grandkids, to keep God present in their minds and lives. Gracie Mulcrevy 2

3 A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR Preparing for Our Lenten Journey and Prioritizing the Gift of Time Dear Parishioners, Lent begins on Wednesday, Feb. 14, Ash Wednesday. Most of us are aware that Lent is a time of prayer, penance and giving alms. So, it would seem that Lent is a perfect time for stewardship. As we examine our lives and try to find ways to deepen our relationship with God, it is good to remember that whenever we give our time, talent, or treasure, we are living as better stewards. For each of us, our relationship with God should be the first priority. God has given us the precious gift of time, so we need to thank Him for this gift by using it wisely. Stewardship of time is about how we spend every minute of every day. Most of us probably feel that we do not have enough time for all the things we hope to accomplish or achieve. However, each of us is given the same amount of time 24 hours in a day, seven days in a week. So, how do we choose to use our time? We need to prioritize this gift of time, which means putting the most important things first. If deepening our relationship with God is our first priority, then time spent in prayer, at Mass, in our personal lives through reading Holy Scriptures, and meditating on God s Holy Word should be paramount. Our second priority might be our relationship to our family. We need to spend time building a strong family unit filled with respect and love for life. And perhaps our third priority should be our relationship with our parish and our community of faith. Finally, we must spend time supporting others in their faith journeys and ministering to those in need. We must remember that first requirement for our Lenten journey prayer. Our Catholic faith is full of prayer forms and traditions that are available to us all. Find a prayer form that works for you, and truly cultivate your prayer life in order to connect and build a real, personal relationship with the Lord. We all need to carve out time during Lent by dedicating time to prayer. Perhaps it is only 10 minutes each day for quiet reflection on Holy Scripture. Or it may be something more substantial perhaps a reflective weekend retreat. We might consider Lent our own personal Stewardship Renewal season. Fasting, prayer and almsgiving should be what we try to do the entire year. But we must make an intentional effort to practice these during the 40 days of Lent. After all, 40 days comprises just over 10 percent of the year and that is remarkably close to our stewardship tithe of 10 percent, isn t it? God bless you in all you do, and especially during this holy time of Lent. Sincerely yours in Christ, Fr. Mark Taheny Pastor 3

4 St.CeciliaCatholicChurch Chinese Ministry Brings Parishione Some of the most important parts of being Catholic are inclusion and unity. Since 1987, St. Cecilia s Chinese Ministry has united parishioners of Chinese descent through faith and fellowship. Through this ministry, members are able to grow in their faith, build community, and share their culture with the next generation and the parish as a whole. The Chinese Ministry includes both the Chinese Club and the Chinese Bible Sharing Group. The Chinese Club is made up of 35 families from both the parish and school. We have general meetings on a Friday night in September, December and May at the Collins Center we always invite clergy to attend and they lead us in prayer, says club president Karen Lee. In addition to getting together socially, we also gather volunteers to help out at different school and parish events. The club works to promote a sense of belonging and friendship among its members, help new immigrants adapt to their new environment, and help children of Chinese descent to understand Chinese culture and language. For example, club member parents contributed a Chinese booth to the school s Multi-Cultural Day, serving Chinese food for children at the event. The club also offers weekly afterschool Mandarin classes for children. Our teacher teaches speaking and writing, and tries to make it fun for the kids with storytelling, videos and songs, Karen says. The students performance is the highlight of our annual Chinese Lunar New Year Dinner. Ministry events, such as the Lunar New Year Dinner and Lunar New Year Mass, offer an opportunity for ministry members to celebrate Chinese culture and share it with the whole parish community. The dinner, a parish fundraiser, is attended by 200 guests every year. The Lunar New Year Mass brings Chinese and Catholic culture together in a special way. The family Mass is conducted bilingually in English and Chinese, Karen says. It s a tradition that Msgr. Harriman spearheaded, in which ceremonial tribute to the ancestors is honored. The Catholic Church accepts the ideas and practices of ancestor veneration because aside from honoring God, the Church also practices the veneration of saints, angels and, in a special way, the Virgin Mary. As Catholics, we do not consider our ancestors as idols we venerate them and remember them as we do angels and saints. Ministry members also participate in various programs and activities in which they strengthen their Catholic faith. Ministry members often attend prayer meetings and retreats, and Chinese RCIA classes have been a huge success. A few of our members who weren t Catholic in Members of the Chinese Bible Sharing Group share in formation and fellowship. 4

5 rs Together in Faith and Fellowship the very beginning went through RCIA and became Catholic, Karen says. The Chinese Bible Sharing Group is another vibrant and active group within the Chinese Ministry. Led by Terence Leung and Irene Quan, and under the spiritual direction of Fr. Peter Zhai, the group has more than 25 active members. The group meets every last Thursday of the month at the Collins Center, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The meetings are conducted in a bilingual format, in Chinese both Cantonese and Mandarin and English. Each meeting begins with prayer. An important part of each meeting is the sharing of our intentions for prayers, says group member Lisa Shek. We pray together for our families, friends, neighbors and those in need of help. The meetings continue with an in-depth explanation of Bible passages by Fr. Peter and a designated member-speaker, and a sharing of experience related to the passages. Meetings are followed by a social gathering with snacks and drinks. For the members, the meetings represent an opportunity to resume a deeper relationship with God and with the Good News, Terence says. The group also cultivates a sense of community for the faithful, as members participate in discussions, prayers and additional volunteering service outside of the meetings. Indeed, the Chinese Ministry also provides opportunities for members to put their prayer into action and serve others. We joined forces to volunteer at the Chinese New Year Celebration at Conard House in San Francisco, a non-profit organization that supports adults living with serious health or mental conditions, Karen says. Members decorated Conard House for the event, performed, hosted arts and crafts, and served food for the party. It started out last year as a centennial celebration event for the ministry, and it turned out to be such a success for Conard House and so rewarding for our members that we decided to make it an annual event. For more information about the Chinese Club, please contact Karen Lee at karenlee1996uva@gmail.com; for the Chinese Bible Sharing Group, please contact Lisa Shek at lisamyshek@gmail.com, or Terence Leung at Terence.scp@gmail.com or ; and for details about the Mandarin Class, please contact Louise Foo at lhyfoo@hotmail.com. The Chinese Club s booth at the school s Multi-Cultural Day. 5

6 St.CeciliaCatholicChurch Hospitality: The Cornerstone of Stewardship The dictionary defines hospitality as the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way. A Christian worldview can refer to hospitality as Christian kindness. We see the effects of hospitality or the lack thereof time and time again throughout the Bible. Christ speaks of hospitality in Matthew s Gospel when He says, When I was a stranger, you welcomed me (Matthew 25:35). The Old Testament told of the Israelites, as they wandered the desert for 40 years in search of hospitable environs. Even the Holy Family spent ample time searching for shelter before the birth of Our Lord. It is safe to say that hospitality is, and most likely has always been, of great importance to people everywhere. Modern hotels and hostels often use the image of a pineapple to advertise their special brand of hospitality. There is no doubt that in ancient times, the distant lights of an inn or tavern struck a chord of hope within weary travelers hearts. Indeed, hospitality s meaning has not diminished at all over the years, decades and millennia. Christians view the presence of hospitality as meaning the difference between calling others guests and strangers. Guests are welcomed with open arms and warm smiles, but strangers aren t. Guests feel the genuine love present in a hearty welcome, but strangers don t. Guests often return for second or third visits, while strangers don t. As a parish, do we find ourselves surrounded by guests, or burdened by strangers? Hospitality is, in many respects, a mindset. The same person may be treated as guest at the church just down the road, but as a stranger here. Matthew s Gospel tells of Christ as He reveals a profound truth about hospitality: When I was a stranger, you welcomed me. That is, I used to be a stranger, but you fixed that when you welcomed me. It s a classic example of before-and-after. All it took was a change of heart. Stewardship holds hospitality as an immensely important concept. Remember the three Ts of stewardship Time, Talent, and Treasure? Well, there are also four Ps, the Four Pillars of Stewardship Hospitality, Prayer, Formation, and Service. Hospitality is mentioned first. Why? If not for hospitality, none of the other pillars will ever take hold. Hospitality is the cornerstone of stewardship, because it opens the door to a person s heart and allows them to receive joy, grace, and love. Hospitality must become second nature, if stewardship is to truly take hold within a parish. So, when a stranger visits our parish, welcome them as a guest. Perhaps one day, they ll pay us a second visit. Matthew s Gospel tells of Christ as He reveals a profound truth about hospitality: When I was a stranger, you welcomed me. That is, I used to be a stranger, but you fixed that when you welcomed me. It s a classic example of before-and-after. All it took was a change of heart. 6

7 Funeral Ministry Providing Support, Love and Hope in the Face of Grief One of the most difficult crosses in life to bear is the death of a loved one, particularly when that death is an unexpected or untimely one. During such times, grief is a natural occurrence. Yet, through our Catholic faith there is also hope and even joy knowing that Christ has conquered death forever and that we will one day be reunited with our lost loved ones. We are all going to die sometime or another, Funeral Ministry coordinator Walter McCall says. But although it s an extremely sad and bad time for our loved ones, it s also a great time because we are going back to the Lord. Eventually our body will go away while our soul lives on forever. And our hope is that we re going on to heaven, which is the main purpose of being Catholic what our life is supposed to be about. Mindful of this, the funeral liturgy becomes even more important. For beyond allowing loved ones to mourn, it also provides us with an opportunity to both celebrate the life of the deceased and intercede for them in their heavenly journey. And here to assist parishioners in this process is St. Cecilia s Funeral Ministry, working to ensure a smooth and respectful memorial for each and every deceased loved one to help convey the love and support of the entire Church to those who are grieving. When you ve lost a loved one, you want and need to feel some comfort, Walter says. Our job as the Funeral Ministry, then, is to help people feel the love of Christ s Church and I think we re doing a good job of that over here at St. Cecilia s. Funeral Ministry member Rita Mazzei shares that at first she found the ministry a bit overwhelming, feeling like a rookie as she worked to learn the specific needs of a funeral liturgy. But through perseverance and the patience of those who trained her, she soon became proficient in the ministry s routine, allowing her to focus wholeheartedly on the deceased s family. And this, adds Rita, is where the true beauty of the ministry lies. St. Cecilia s Paschal Candle, used both at each Baptism and funeral liturgy I find tremendous fulfillment in doing the Funeral Ministry duties because I feel that I can comfort the family, Rita says. The death of a loved one is an overwhelming event for families, even for those who knew that their loved one was terminally ill. Some families are very organized and have worked out all the details of the service, whereas others need you to be there to guide them through the process. And in continued on back cover 7

8 St.CeciliaCatholicChurch 2555 Seventeenth Avenue San Francisco, CA NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID MAILED FROM ZIP CODE PERMIT NO. 3 Church Office: (415) ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Funeral Ministry continued from page 7 performing these services, you get to know the parishioners better and connect with them at this special time of need whether you are meeting them for the first time or you ve known them for years. Having each been part of the ministry now for several years, both Rita and Walter share how blessed they feel to be able to serve in this way. For not only does it allow them to fill in a real need within the parish family, but it also strengthens their own faith life, reminding them of the hope of the resurrection and our true goal in life heaven. I feel my faith has grown being part of the Funeral Ministry, Rita says. As I hear the priest s homily regarding our belief in the resurrection and life after death, it is reassuring to my own heart and soul. Hearing those reassuring words is a gift each time I assist at a funeral Mass. God truly never fails giving back His graces when we do our little part. It truly is such a humbling experience, Walter adds. One that I feel blessed to be able to do. Because funerals by nature are most often unplanned, ministry members must be available to serve on relatively short notice. For this reason, additional volunteers would be most welcome! Parishioners interested in joining the Funeral Ministry, or who would like more info about this ministry, may contact the parish office at LITURGY SCHEDULE Saturday: 5:00 p.m. (Vigil Mass) Sunday: 7:30, 9:30 (Family Mass), & 11:30 a.m. Weekdays: 7:00, 9:00 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Reconciliation (Confessions): Saturday, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.