29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA Tel. No. (415) October 28, 2018 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA Tel. No. (415) October 28, 2018 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time"

Oliver Walker
5 years ago
Views:

ST. BRENDAN CHURCH Share these articles with your friends online at www.stbrendanparish.

org October 28, 2018 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time The Problem of Spiritual Blindness We conclude our message series this week that we ve been calling, Holy Triage.

Today we are asking God to open the eyes of our minds and make us see again thereby overcoming our spiritual blindness.

1 ST. BRENDAN CHURCH Share these articles with your friends online at 29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA Tel. No. (415) October 28, 2018 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time The Problem of Spiritual Blindness We conclude our message series this week that we ve been calling, Holy Triage. In this series, we have been scanning through the aspects of our spiritual lives that need healing. Today we are asking God to open the eyes of our minds and make us see again thereby overcoming our spiritual blindness. Physical blindness is a tragedy because it keeps us from seeing what is around us, but an even greater tragedy is spiritual blindness. This type of blindness keeps us from seeing and understanding the Truth in the Bible. Spiritual blindness is a symbol of a weakened and impaired spiritual vision. In this kind of blindness, we don t see the splendor of God, nor do we see as God wants us to see. To be spiritually blind is not to see Christ, and not to see Christ is not to see God (Colossians 1:15-16). Physical blindness in the gospels has a great significance, representing the human need for God s light, the light of faith. We need to ask God to help us overcome this kind of blindness. In today s Gospel, the blind Bartimaeus represents our collective human situation that is constantly yearning for healing and liberation from all sorts of limitations. The blindness might not necessarily be the physical loss of vision, but spiritual ignorance that limits our relationship with others and with God. Hence, today s Gospel teaches us that to be free from these limitations, we must humbly accept them. Secondly, by constantly reminding ourselves that, Our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth (Psalm 95:8), we must humbly ask for help from Jesus Christ. So like the blind man in our gospel, we must cry out to the Lord in faith for healing: Lord that I might see. However, it is important to know that Bartimaeus did not believe because he was cured. Rather, he was cured because he had faith in Christ who said, Your faith has cured you. Faith is very important in our daily walk and encounter with Jesus Christ. To see is to have a living faith in Christ. When Bartimaeus calls out to Jesus, the crowd around him tries to silence him. Yet Bartimaeus persists in calling out more loudly and with greater urgency. He will not be deterred from getting the attention of Jesus. We notice how quickly the crowd reaction changes when Jesus calls for Bartimaeus. Those who sought to quiet him now encourage him. And once his physical sight is restored, his spiritual sight is also restored and Bartimaeus follows Jesus on his way to Jerusalem. Jesus Christ wants to heal our spiritual blindness so that we can see through our lives and grow in holiness and compassion for others. What will you say when He asks you what He inquired of Bartimaeus: What do you want me to do for you? You might answer and say: Lord enlighten me that I may see everything through your eyes; help me follow you and keep me close to you. Should I stray, bring me back to you. Help me serve you by giving of myself for others so that one day you will welcome me into your kingdom. Father Celestine Tyowua, Parochial Vicar

2 Making Church Matter Welcome Aboard! If this is your first time to Saint Brendan or your first time to church in a long time, we re glad you re here! We are a cozy community of believers who seek to find our way in life by following Jesus together, and we want you with us on the journey. Explore some possible next steps for you below. We re here to help. If you have any questions, stop by our welcome desk located at the entrance to the church, check out our website at or just give us a call. Become Part of Our Church Family Come aboard and navigate life with us. As a member, we ask that you take steps to grow in your discipleship. In fact, STEPS is an acronym for how to become a better disciple of Christ. As a member, we'll ask that you consider: S - Serving in a ministry T - Tithing & Giving E - Engaging in a small group P - Practicing prayer, including regular Sunday worship with us S - Sharing your faith by inviting your friends and neighbors to church If you think you're ready to become part of our church family, stop by our welcome desk at the entrance to the church before or after any Weekend Mass. Serve in Ministry & Mission We know many things compete for your attention. But we also know you ll never really be happy until you begin serving others and putting your love to work. There are so many opportunities to make a difference: Help make Sundays an irresistible celebration by joining our Sunday Liturgy Support Ministry. Help children, teens, and adults on their journey of faith by joining our Faith Formation Ministry. Keep parishioners and visitors connected to one another by joining one of our Parish Life Ministries. Take the love of Christ to people who are suffering by joining one of our Outreach Ministries. Whatever God is calling you to do, take that next bold step in faith. Explore our website for more information or just call us. We re happy to get you connected!

Please pray as they prepare for Confirmation on November 18. Our next kindergarten tour will be on Tuesday, November 13, from 8:30 a.m 10:30 a.m. Call the school office at (415) 731-2665 for more information.

3 SAINT BRENDAN SCHOOL DID YOU KNOW? Featured News News & Events & Events Congratulations to the confirmation candidates from our school and faith formation program who were formally presented at the 9:30 a.m. Mass. Please pray as they prepare for Confirmation on November 18. Our next kindergarten tour will be on Tuesday, November 13, from 8:30 a.m 10:30 a.m. Call the school office at (415) for more information. St. Brendan School does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and/or ethnic origin, age, sex, or disability in administration of admissions policies. FEELING LUCKY? EXPERIENCED NAVIGATORS CASINO TRIP Tuesday, November 20 JUVENILE DETENTION MINISTRY ALL-DAY TRAINING, NOVEMBER 17 Every week a team of caring adults takes the gospel message inside the walls of the juvenile detention center just a few blocks away from Saint Brendan Church. If you would like to become a minister in the San Dimas ministry to kids behind bars, join us for an intensive training workshop on November 17. Pre-Registration is required. To be considered for this ministry, contact Archdiocesan Director of Restorative Justice Ministry, Julio Escobar at (415) Our over 50 group will be departing St. Brendan at 10:00 a.m. for the Graton Casino in Rohnert Park and returning at 4:00 p.m. Coach fare of $40 includes a $10 gaming credit and a $5 food credit. Minimum of 25 people must sign up for this event to take place. For more information, call Tony Fernandez at (415) or Barbara Casey at (415) ST. BRENDAN MEMORIAL MASS November 4 at 11:30 A.M. Reception to follow in Church Hall Please join us for St. Brendan s annual Memorial Mass to remember and pray for those who have died. If you would like to include a photograph of your loved one in the In Memoriam slideshow to be presented during the Mass, please a photograph to Brad Angeja at bangeja@yahoo.com or bring it to the rectory in care of Sister Angela.

Featured Article This Week s Prescription: Examine Yourself Over the past several weeks in our message series, Holy Triage, we ve been trying to muster the courage to look into ourselves, see where

Spiritual blindness, today s topic, comes when we fall into denial about our problem areas and don t take the time to be introspective.

But more often than not, it comes from a place of confusion or tiredness we know that we need to grow in certain areas of our spirituality, but we re not sure how best to do that.

4 Featured Article This Week s Prescription: Examine Yourself Over the past several weeks in our message series, Holy Triage, we ve been trying to muster the courage to look into ourselves, see where our weaknesses lie, and take action on them. But that can be a really tall order, especially if we don t know where to begin. Spiritual blindness, today s topic, comes when we fall into denial about our problem areas and don t take the time to be introspective. Sometimes, that spiritual blindness comes from a willful desire to turn away from God. But more often than not, it comes from a place of confusion or tiredness we know that we need to grow in certain areas of our spirituality, but we re not sure how best to do that. And in the chaos of everyday life, it s easy to give up spiritual growth as a proverbial bad job. Cultivating a daily habit of introspection can help you avoid this. For me, praying the Examen has been a wonderful gateway to unstructured reflection. The Examen is a Jesuit prayer, created by Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatius broke the monastic convention of his time, which called for the religious to pause their work at least three times per day to pray, by asking his followers to pray the Examen instead, not interrupting their daily life to do so, but taking care to live completely as God would desire. There are five steps to the prayer, which can be prayed either at night or in the morning. First, become aware of God s presence: look back on the events of the day, and reflect on how God acted in your life that day. Did God send challenges, blessings, or both your way? How and when did you see God today? Next, review the day with gratitude. Try to think of five things that you are grateful for that day, big or small you can be thankful for good health and a supportive family, or thankful for something as small as being able to open your eyes. Then, pay attention to your emotions. How are you feeling right now? How did you feel throughout the day? Did you feel even-tempered or fired up? What is God saying to you through these feelings? Next, choose one element of the day to pray from. Ask for wisdom from the Holy Spirit to discern something from the day that God thinks to be particularly important it could seem significant or insignificant to you. Allow prayer to come organically from your heart; do not force it to come out. If prayer doesn t come naturally, that may not be the moment of the day God is directing you toward. Finally, look toward tomorrow. Ask God to give you strength for tomorrow s challenges, whatever they may be seek God s guidance and do not be afraid to ask for help. End your reflection with a conversation with Jesus, who calls us to reach out to him. Ask for wisdom, grace, hope, or whatever feels relevant that day. End with a prayer, formally lifting yourself up to Christ and his Father. Taking time to examine yourself each day will help you overcome spiritual blindness and improve your overall level of spiritual wellness. --Claire Kosewic, Staff Bulletin Writer

Stewardship Stewardship is the grateful response of a Christian disciple who recognizes and receives God s gifts and shares them generously in love of God and neighbor.

5 Stewardship Stewardship is the grateful response of a Christian disciple who recognizes and receives God s gifts and shares them generously in love of God and neighbor. Stewardship is not about money or fundraising. It is a spirituality. It is a way of life. A steward recognizes that God is the source of all life and every blessing and that all gifts of time, talent, and treasure come from God. A steward is grateful for those gifts. A steward takes care of and increases those gifts and freely gives back the first and best portion of those gifts to God. A Stewardship of Purification Over the last two Sundays, we heard about a rich young man who would not yield control over his wealth to follow Jesus, as well as two disciples who demanded power and prominence in Jesus kingdom. Both stories typify the craving for absolute dominion and control and quest for wealth and pleasure that result from the hold that sin maintains over the human condition. As a matter of fact, sin causes people to turn in on themselves; to become grasping and exploitative toward possessions and other people; to grow accustomed to conducting relationships not by the standards of generous stewardship but by the calculus of selfinterest: What s in it for me? (U.S. Catholic Bishops, Stewardship: A Disciple s Response (2002), 28). In contrast to the avarice exemplified in these two stories, the blind man in today s gospel does not ask for any special honor for himself, but only the restoration to wholeness that is part of God s messianic promise. He sits alone in social isolation as a disabled person and a beggar, and cries out to Jesus as he passes by. The juxtaposition between the two stories of grasping and acquisitive human behavior and the humble request of the blind man for the simple gift of sight demonstrates that it is, in fact, the blind man who actually sees more clearly than the others. When the man threw aside his cloak, he expressed his ardent desire to leave behind his former way of life, just as Christians are called to put off the old nature of sin and put on Christ. Like the blind man, Christians must constantly beg God for the grace of conversion: the grace to know who they are, to whom they belong, how they are to live the grace to repent and change and grow; the grace to become good disciples and stewards (Id.). Father Roger Gustafson, Pastor Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5: Whatever blessings God has given you, we invite you to make a planned, proportionate, and sacrificial financial commitment to this parish and to the poor that will endure. SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEK: ST. BRENDAN SCHOOL SUNDAY COLLECTION October 21, 2018 GOAL $ 9,500 TOTAL $ 8,263 Under $ 1,237

Grow Your Business, Advertise Here. Support Your Church & Bulletin.

SINCE 1945 Hanna Boys Center: Changing the lives of at-risk, motivated

productive members of society since 1945. email: kwiatkowskim@jspaluch.

(St. Finn Barr/Riordan) From the WLP Vault comes the Bible Story of

Gospel of Luke 2: 4-20 by Bing Crosby! Also available on vinyl.

org 800-566-6150 7 Radio Dispatched Trucks 648-6413 Lic.

Prices begin at $1045 per couple which includes all port fees and taxes.

Deposit of only $350 per person will reserve your cabin.

399.1785 an Official Travel Agency of Apostleship of the Sea-USA CST

DIRECTORS weekly bulletin 1123 Sutter Street, San Francisco 415-673-3000

com EXCLUSIVE GLOBAL PARTNER delivered by email - for FREE!

6 Grow Your Business, Advertise Here. Support Your Church & Bulletin. Free professional ad design & my help! SINCE 1945 Hanna Boys Center: Changing the lives of at-risk, motivated youth through faith, education and caring, helping them grow into productive members of society since Revere Ave. S.F Call Marcy Kwiatkowski GARAGE DOOR REPAIRS DOORS & OPENERS Mark Griffin Owner and Graduate (St. Finn Barr/Riordan) From the WLP Vault comes the Bible Story of Christmas featuring 8 Classic Christmas Carols and a reading of the Gospel of Luke 2: 4-20 by Bing Crosby! Also available on vinyl Radio Dispatched Trucks Lic Photo Courtesy of Bing Crosby Enterprises Visit WLPmusic.com to purchase your copy - CD $10.00 Come Sail Away on a 7-night Catholic Exotic Cruise. Prices begin at $1045 per couple which includes all port fees and taxes. Daily Mass and Rosary offered. Deposit of only $350 per person will reserve your cabin. Space is limited. Thanks and God Bless, Brian or Sally, coordinators an Official Travel Agency of Apostleship of the Sea-USA CST Get this Serving families for more than 150 years FUNERAL DIRECTORS weekly bulletin 1123 Sutter Street, San Francisco FD Lic # EXCLUSIVE GLOBAL PARTNER delivered by - for FREE! Fouzia Zaheer, Realtor Dre # fouzia_zaheer@yahoo.com Sign up here: OPEN HOUSE Saturday & Sunday ROCKAWAY AVE, SAN FRANCISCO $1,846,000 3 Bedroom house with 3 baths NEWLY PAINTED, UPGRADED, MOVE-IN READY St Brendan Church (B) Courtesy of J.S. Paluch Company, Inc. For Ads: J.S. Paluch Co., Inc

Ulloa Street (415) 664-8810 Evergreen Mortuary of McAvoy O'Hara Co.

San Francisco, CA 94114 712 Monterey Blvd., S.F. Email: mfreethy@yahoo.com (415) 239-8420 John W. Schulz, D.D.S. 4545

Cosmetic Dentistry 595 Buckingham Wy Top Producers - 28 years Experience Specializing in Residential, Probate & Trust

com Complimentary Notary Public for all parishioners. Phone 668-0077 24 hrs. 731-4058 Medical Alert System $29.95/Mo.

WARREN, DDS, MSD Easy Self Installation Laura Sullivan Van Zandt Call Today! ATTORNEYS AT LAW Specializing in Toll Free 1.

com Estate/Tax Planning, Trusts, Wills, Probate, Offering the Damon System of braces as well as Invisalign for the entire

Parking Jim Sullivan, Parishioner Family Law 605 Market Street Orthodontics for Children and Adults 415.621.4567 415.587.

, San Francisco 495-3800 Traditional and Cremation Services THE LAWSON If You Live Alone You Need MDMedAlert!

, S.F. 285-1661 913112 St Brendan Church (A) Solutions as Low as Police Fire Friends/Family FREE Shipping $19.

7 Michael T. Sweeney SERVING WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE Attorney at Law SINCE 1850 WILLS * TRUSTS * PROBATE McKEEVER R E A L T Y 782A Ulloa Street (415) Evergreen Mortuary of McAvoy O'Hara Co. Chuck Lewkowitz MICHAEL AND JOY FREETHY Realtors Your Neighborhood Specialists (415) Compass 2099 Market Street San Francisco, CA Monterey Blvd., S.F. mfreethy@yahoo.com (415) John W. Schulz, D.D.S Geary BOULEVARD at TENTH AVENUE Serving SF for Over 25 Yrs STONESTOWN * General Dentistry * Dentistry for Children * Cosmetic Dentistry 595 Buckingham Wy Top Producers - 28 years Experience Specializing in Residential, Probate & Trust Sales Please visit our websites at or Complimentary Notary Public for all parishioners. Phone hrs Medical Alert System $29.95/Mo. billed quarterly One Free Month No Long-Term Contract Price Guarantee Ruth Downs Sullivan FREDRIC R. WARREN, DDS, MSD Easy Self Installation Laura Sullivan Van Zandt Call Today! ATTORNEYS AT LAW Specializing in Toll Free Celebration of Life and Receptions 15 West Portal Ave., S.F. (415) Estate/Tax Planning, Trusts, Wills, Probate, Offering the Damon System of braces as well as Invisalign for the entire family Conservatorship and The Bud Duggan Family Since 1924 Most Convenient & Reasonable Costs Multilingual Unlimited Parking Jim Sullivan, Parishioner Family Law 605 Market Street Orthodontics for Children and Adults sullivansfh.com duggansserra.com FD1098 FD Westlake Ave., Daly City 6201 Geary Blvd., San Francisco Traditional and Cremation Services THE LAWSON If You Live Alone You Need MDMedAlert! 24 Hour Protection at HOME and AWAY! ROOFING CO., INC. Ambulance "Since 1907" Contractor Lic. No Tennessee St., S.F St Brendan Church (A) Solutions as Low as Police Fire Friends/Family FREE Shipping $19.95 a month R E A L E S TAT E G RO U P FREE Activation NO Long Term Contracts CALL NOW! This Button SAVES Lives! As Shown GPS, Lowest Price Guaranteed! GPS Tracking w/fall Detection Nationwide, No Land Line Needed EASY Set-up, NO Contract Safe-Guarding America s Seniors Nationwide! 24/7 365 Monitoring in the USA MDMedAlert BA R BAG E L ATA CalBRE# For Ads: J.S. Paluch Co., Inc

SAINT BRENDAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Church School Convent 29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA 94127 Rectory Phone: (415)

org 940 Laguna Honda Blvd. San Francisco CA 94127 Tel. (415) 731-2665 www.stbrendansf.

(415) 681-3465 MASSES Sunday: 7:30, 9:30,11:30 AM Mon-Fri: 6:30 & 8:15 AM Saturday: 8:15 AM 5:00 PM Holy Days: 6:30

7:00-8:00 PM Saturday: 4:00-4:45 PM BAPTISMS & WEDDINGS For information, please see our website at www.stbrendanparish.

m. 6:30 a.m. 8:15 a.m. Monday Open Open Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Weekday Jose Gabaldon Frieda & Franz Guznar

Thompson Sissy Corsi Albert & Madeline Brandi Frank Schwab David L.

Brendan Parish STAFF Pastor (415) 969-6788 Fr. Roger Gustafson FatherRogerGustafson@gmail.

com Member & Volunteer Care (415) 969-6813 Sr. Angela Furia, FdCC srangela@stbrendanparish.

8 SAINT BRENDAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Church School Convent 29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA Rectory Phone: (415) Mon - Thurs: 8:30 am - Noon, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Sun: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Laguna Honda Blvd. San Francisco CA Tel. (415) Canossian Sisters 234 Ulloa Street San Francisco CA Tel. (415) MASSES Sunday: 7:30, 9:30,11:30 AM Mon-Fri: 6:30 & 8:15 AM Saturday: 8:15 AM 5:00 PM Holy Days: 6:30 AM, 8:15 AM and 6:00 PM CONFESSIONS Saturday: 4:15-4:45 PM Wednesday: 7:15-7:45 PM EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Wednesday: 7:00-8:00 PM Saturday: 4:00-4:45 PM BAPTISMS & WEDDINGS For information, please see our website at or call us at (415) MASS INTENTIONS (October 29-November 4, 2018) SAT 8:15 a.m. SAT 5 p.m. SUN 7:30 a.m. SUN 9:30 a.m. 6:30 a.m. 8:15 a.m. Monday Open Open Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Weekday Jose Gabaldon Frieda & Franz Guznar Robert Gonzales 6:00 p.m. Mitch Carey (L) Conrad Quianio Weekend Richard G. Thompson Sissy Corsi Albert & Madeline Brandi Frank Schwab David L. Alvers Roland Pomerleau Theodore Kitt The Wong Family SUN 11:30a.m. People of St. Brendan Parish STAFF Pastor (415) Fr. Roger Gustafson FatherRogerGustafson@gmail.com Parochial Vicar (415) Fr. Celestine Tyowua Ext.214 oryina2000@gmail.com Member & Volunteer Care (415) Sr. Angela Furia, FdCC srangela@stbrendanparish.org Evangelization & Faith Formation Manolito Jaldon (415) manolito@stbrendanparish.org Music Ministry (415) Mario Balestrieri School Principal (415) Dianne Lakatta dlakatta@stbrendansf.com Parish Manager (415) Lisa Rosenlund lisa@stbrendanparish.org Financial Administrator (415) Maeve O Reilly maeve@stbrendanparish.org Administrative Assistant (415) Vera Gonzalez vera@stbrendanparish.org

29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA Tel. No. (415) August 19, 2018 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

ST. BRENDAN CHURCH Share these articles with your friends online at www.stbrendanparish.org. 29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA 94127 Tel. No. (415) 681-4225 www.stbrendanparish.org August 19, 2018 Twentieth