July 15, 2012

Announcements

MONDAY NIGHT MOVIES So NOW we'll see THE WAY! The film follows Martin Sheen’s character as he walks the 500-mile pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James in Spain. The film also features Sheen’s son, Emilio Estevez, who directs the movie. Join us this Monday, July 9th at 7:30 p.m. here at Newman.

AVAILABLE FOR YOUR USE We have a nice selection of DVD's and CD's that are available for your use. Many of them deal with various themes of spirituality with a number of presentations by Richard Rohr and the remarkable Trappist, Thomas Keating. There are also some conferences with the eminent Scripture scholar Raymond Brown on the themes of The Death of Jesus and The Resurrection. In addition there are some wonderful presentations from Michael Himes on the Mystery of Faith. The latter are on 3 discs with each presentation running about 18 minutes. Himes, as the others, is a gifted teacher with many fruits to offer. Please stop by the front desk to borrow any two discs at a time. Three weeks to re- view/share and return.

NEW FACES AT NEWMAN Some months ago someone noted, at an informal gathering of Newman, that there seemed to be a good number who have recently joined the church as adults. Might be fun to gather to hear how things went and are going for you whether the time frame is but a year or two or somewhat longer. I welcome those who would like to meet on Saturday, July 21 at 9:30 a.m. with light refreshments provided. We will finish no later than 11:30 a.m. Do let me know if you can make it or would like to but the date doesn't work for you. Many thanks! –BJCampbell.

WHY GO TO MASS? This week will culminate our four part conversation on Timothy Radcliffe’s Why Go To Church? We will meet this Tuesday, July 17th at 7:30 p.m. here at Newman. If you would like to join us please purchase or borrow a copy and read Act 3.

BOCA The1st annual Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action Grill and Thrill BBQ takes place Saturday July 21, beginning at 12 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. at the Tilden Park Mineral Springs picnic site. All Newman parishioners are invited—learn how you can become involved in local organizing initiatives while enjoying great food, games, fellowship and fun. Please bring a salad and a smiling face. For more information contact Rev. Michael Smith of McGee Avenue Baptist Church, BOCA board co chair 510-843-1774 or Alan Roselius Newman BOCA 510-881-2879.

ENVELOPES AVAILABLE There will be envelopes available at the welcome table at all Sunday masses—a “two for one” to support both Catholic University and Latin America. Thank you for your generosity!

CONVERSATIONS AMONG WOMEN will once again convene on Saturday, July 28, 9am-noon in Newman’s upper lounge. We will have a riveting documentary film about the role of women in the Catholic Church. This award-winning film talks about the equality of women in the early Church in all functions. Bring your friends for the showing and discussion! Please also bring a potluck pastry, fruit, or savory snack item to share. For further information call Ellen Augustine at 510-428-1832 or email ellenaugustine@earthlink.net.

COMPANIONS IN IGNATIAN SERVICE AND SPIRITUALITY is a unique program, affiliated with Santa Clara University and the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley. We respond to the thirst of many Catholics to deepen their spiritual life while giving of their time and talent in service to those in need. Our mission is to enrich the experience of people over 50, through a 10-month program of prayer, service to the poor, and Ignatian spiritual reflection. We are currently recruiting for new participants for our 2012-2013 Program beginning in September. For more information, visit www.ignatiancompanions.org or contact Jenny Girard Malley, Program Director at 415-503-1310 or ignatiancompanions@gmail.com.

YAGGIES SUMMER EVENTS Hello Yaggies! We have a few events scheduled this summer and we hope that all of you who are in Berkeley for the summer can join us! Saturday, July 21, 7:30 p.m.: Catholic Underground Bay Area. Catholic Underground, a cultural apostolate of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, is coming to St. Mary Magdalen parish in North Berkeley (2005 Berryman St). CU is a direct response to a call that began with Pope John Paul II, and is continued by Pope Benedict XVI. JPII said that because the Gospel lives in conversation with culture, we must be fearless in crossing the cultural threshold of the communication and information revolution now taking place. The first part of the evening is Eucharistic adoration, and begins with Vespers (Evening Prayer). The second part showcases Catholic artists, and includes music, poetry, visual art, dancers, film, drama, etc.

OPPORTUNITY FOR RETREAT The World Community for Christian Meditation is sponsoring a weekend Silent Retreat at San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville, CA September 14-16. The presenter is Fr. Laurence Freeman, OSB. The Title of the retreat is "First Sight: The Experience of Faith" The Retreat will be in a spirit of silence and mindfulness. Fr. Laurence will give daily conferences and in addition to the silent meditation time together there will be a contemplative Eucharist. Reservations and additional information can be made by contacting the retreat center: sandamiano.org or phone (925)837-9141.

ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS NOT IN THIS WEEK'S PRINT EDITION:
ELECTRONIC GIVING There are three options for contributing electronically:
1. Contributions can be made directly from a checking account by adding Newman Hall – Holy Spirit Parish as a payee (online bill paying).
2. One-time and recurring (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.) donations from checking accounts can be made from the calnewman.org website or by contacting Peg McGowan in the Finance Office.
3. One-time credit card donations can be made from the calnewman.org website or by contacting Peg McGowan in the Finance Office. Recurring (monthly) credit card donations can be made ONLY by contacting Peg McGowan in the Finance Office.
Additional information and donation forms are available on the Welcome Table in the lobby. Questions? Please contact Peg McGowan in the Finance Office.

ONLINE SURVEY PARTICIPATION NEEDED One of our student parishioners, Josephine Juanamarga, needs your help. She is participating in a research project and needs help from non-student participants (i.e. non college students, non high-school students) of any age (expected above 30 years old) who are currently working full time. The online survey takes about 40-45 minutes and can be done from anywhere. Although there is no benefit for participating in our survey, your participation would be very helpful toward helping one of our students here at Newman and is greatly appreciated. Your participation will definitely contribute to greater psychological research. The survey can be found at: http://ucbpsych.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8ocnAlQFIXufSqU. If you would like to know more about the study, please do not hesitate to email us, arounducberkeley.psych.culture@gmail.com, for more information. Thank you for your participation and please spread the word!

WIDOWS/WIDOWERS GRIEF RECOVERY GROUPS Have you or someone you know experienced the death of a spouse recently or within the last few years? Sharing our experiences during this 10-week class is extremely helpful to our healing process. Find hope, support and successful ways to process this significant life event. Course is open to all Widows and Widowers and takes place Weds., 7 – 9 p.m. from June 27th to Sept. 5th. Enrollments are now being accepted – can start up to 3rd week. Pre-Registration required. The workbook is $15. Please contact Linda Husted at Valley Community Church in Pleasanton, 925-833-9013 or lilhusted@sbcglobal.net

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Over the last several weeks we have posted on our web page materials from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops on the theme "Fortnight for Freedom" and a link to the June 15th issue of Commonweal magazine with six commentaries by various scholars on the Bishops' proposal(s). Last Sunday two small groups of parishioners met after the 9:30 and 5 p.m. Masses to discuss these materials.

I began each discussion by pointing out the crucial importance that metaphor can play in almost any conversation. A metaphor, judiciously employed by all parties to a conversation, may indeed cast light and understanding that enables "church, temple, and mosque vis-a vis state" to engage in a fruitful if difficult conversation. A metaphor, injudiciously employed by one or all parties, can and often does lead to "a conversation of the deaf". In the latter case I suggested the famous Jeffersonian metaphor, "a wall of separation.” A wiser metaphor, I suggested, borrowing from the Catholic theologian Richard McBrien's book of some years ago, Render to Caesar, is that of "a squiggly long line.” Such an image better reflects the over 200 hundred years of legal, social and political conversation involving Americans in our multi-religious society. A squiggly line proves mightily resistant to absolutizing pronouncements and claims whether they spring from religious or secular soil.

One of the participants in our conversation, Ann Marie Marciarille J.D., M.T.S. who also speaks and teaches extensively as a health law scholar, notes that the single largest anti-poverty statute passed since the Johnson years now enables 37 million Americans without health insurance to have the opportunity for coverage. Another participant, who works with over 500 uninsured and psychologically challenged, noted that these struggling men and women will now be insured. Anne Marie noted, "A health care system premised on feast for some at the expense of famine for many could not be more antithetical to Catholic social teaching."

William Galston, writing in the Commonweal response, urges all parties to the dispute over Health and Human Services proposed regulations regarding religious institutions' responsibilities for health coverage of its employees, urges all sides "(to) decouple our inquiry from the overwrought polemics of our polarized politics. The church is not conducting a war on women and the Obama administration is not waging a war on religion."

Throughout our history both as Church and as citizens there have been serious disagreements between the respective roles of civil law and faith in the public domain. As John Courtney Murray S.J., a principal author of Dignitatis Humanae—on Religious Liberty—at Vatican Council II, urged throughout his life, the only worthy response to such serious disagreements is informed, modest and rigorous conversation along that squiggly line. The other alternative, unworthy of all of us, is the "conversation of the deaf".

Bernard J. Campbell CSP