October 14, 2012

Announcements

FALL SPEAKER Tuesday, October 16 at 7:30 pm Joseph Komonchak, formerly Professor of theology at Catholic University of America, will speak at Newman on "Interpreting Vatican II.” Thanks to the Jesuit and Dominican Schools at the GTU for making Joe's appearance possible.

NEW MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION COMMISSIONED! On Monday, Oct. 8th Father Al Moser conducted a commissioning rite to welcome the 10 new ministers. Congratulations to the following parishioners who completed the four session training class: Synequeen Alasa-as, Marlon Blake, Anna Costello, Anthony Galace, Ann Heslin, Adriana Lopez, Veronica Marquez, Patricio Marquez, Gabriela Rodriguez, Edward Rosa and Kyle Shackleford.

POVERTY IN AMERICA – IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK Please join the Newman Social Justice Network to watch the 40 minute documentary: The Line after the 9:30 a.m. mass Sunday, Oct. 14th , or 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15th. The Line documents the lives of four people living at or below the poverty line in the U.S. They have goals. They have children. They work hard. They are people like you and me. All across our country, millions of Americans are struggling every day to make it above The Line. What does this mean for the future of our country? How do real-life stories change the narrative about poverty? Fight Poverty. Support the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. For more info on the movie go to: http://thelinemovie.com/ or to calnewman.org/

ATTENTION KNITTERS AND NON–KNITTERS Do you like to knit? Crochet? Want to learn to knit and help the homeless or less fortunate? We are starting a group here at Newman, in conjunction with His Hand and Feet Ministries, to knit scarves hats and much more for our friends in need in the community. We would like to gauge interest with a meeting here at Newman Sunday, Nov. 4th after the 9:30 a.m. mass. If you would like to be a part of this project, even simply by donating yarn or other materials, please contact Linda at (510) 967-3676 or linda.castronovo@yahoo.com for more information.

LGBT CATHOLICS "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me..." (Luke 4:18). Please join the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Catholics as we share of favorite passages from Luke's Gospel on the Feast of Saint Luke. We meet Thursday, October 18th from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the lounge upstairs. For more information on the group or to get on our email list, contact Antonio Salas at (510) 663-6302 or LGBT_Newman@yahoo.com. All are welcome!

NEWMAN HALL YOUNG ADULT GROUP (YAGGIES) Whether you have been involved with the Yaggies for years, or you are new to the area and interested in meeting new people, we hope you can join us for as many events as possible! Sunday, October 21st, 6:00 p.m.: Mass & Munch. Our popular monthly dinner is back for October! We will gather for the 5 PM mass and then walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner. Plan to meet us either in the chapel at 5 p.m., or outside the Newman center at 6 p.m.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MASS Oct. 22nd will see the Diocese of Oakland’s first-ever Wedding Anniversary Mass, to coincide with the Diocese’s own 50th Anniversary. Fr George Mockel will celebrate mass at 4:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in downtown Oakland, including a renewal of wedding vows, for couples celebrating 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 (or more) years of marriage. Reception to follow in the conference center. For more information or registration, go to www.anniversarymass.info

NONVIOLENT PEACEMAKING GROUP The Nonviolent Peacemaking Group invites you to join us for a viewing of a new film “Franz Jägerstätter" on Monday, Oct. 22nd at 7:00 p.m. Jägerstätter, an Austrian farmer, devoted husband and father, and devout Catholic, was executed in 1943 for refusing to serve in the Nazi army. Beatified in 2007, this saint of our time is an inspiring example to all who struggle to follow the nonviolent Jesus.

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR 2013 CORAZON Corazon is a non-profit organization that helps build community in impoverished areas of Northern Mexico, with the building of homes, education, and training. The 2012 Corazon mission trip was a resounding success with the high school, college, and adult parishioners from Newman Holy Spirit and St. Augustine’s. We are seeking volunteers early for the 2013 Corazon mission set for April 26-28th. Hopefully this will allow more time to set the date in your calendar, complete the paperwork, and fundraise for this rewarding event. There are already 30 volunteers from St. Augustine parish committed for Corazon 2013! Please contact Robert Englund at 510-910-1620 or Robskyi@aol.com if you have questions. I hope you will consider this transformative work.

NEWMAN FICTION GROUP We will meet on Thursday, November 8th, at 7:00 p.m. at Newman to discuss How it all Began by Penelope Lively. In December we will discuss The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. . For further information or to receive e-mail notices of our meetings, email Michael at michael@donahue.com.

LIFE SUPPORT NEEDED Birthright of San Lorenzo needs funds to help them continue serving women in a crisis pregnancy by offering an alternative to abortion. Birthright has served women in crisis since 1996. Hundreds of mothers and babies have been helped. We need volunteers and funds to keep our doors open to coninute to guide young women in finding workable solutions, so that they can give birth to their babies and face the future with dignity and hope. For more information contact Rosanne Maki, Executive Director at (510) 487-9677.

ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS NOT IN THIS WEEK'S PRINT EDITION:
FLOWER MINISTRY A practical way we can all participate in enhancing our unique worship space as well as perhaps sharing special events in our lives with the community, is by contribution to the Flower Ministry. Donation envelopes are available at the Reception Desk. All contributions will be acknowledged in the bulletin unless otherwise requested. If you have any questions, please leave a message for Colleen.

WELCOME TO NEWMAN HALL LITURGICAL MINISTRIES! If you feel called to join any of these ministries: Music, Communion Ministry, Lector Ministry, Chapel Cleaning Ministry, Sacristan, etc, you will find the information at http://calnewman.org/liturgical-ministries/ or on the information sheets on the Hospitality Table near the Front desk. Colleen would be happy to talk further with you, email her at colleenlenord@gmail.com.

INTERESTED IN DEEPENING YOUR PRAYER LIFE? Have you ever wanted to make the 30-day Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius but simply could not get away for that long? The 19th Annotation Retreat of the Spiritual Exercises is another way to experience this gift of St. Ignatius. This is mainly a journey, through prayer, in which a deeper, more intimate relationship with God is experienced. Please contact Antoinette (Toni) Betschart at 510 502-1256 if you wish to learn more about the 19th Annotation or have questions.

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR 2013 CORAZON Corazon is a non-profit organization that helps build community in impoverished areas of Northern Mexico, with the building of homes, education, and training. The 2012 Corazon mission trip was a resounding success with the high school, college, and adult parishioners from Newman Holy Spirit and St. Augustine’s. A home for the Salas-Gomez family was built on Saturday, April 28th. Those who participated with their labor and financial donations received heartfelt thanks from the Salas-Gomez family. Please visit the YouTube video that one of our Newman parishioners made during the build: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRzUE_BAnEs&feature=youtube_gdata We are seeking volunteers early for the 2013 Corazon mission set for April 26-28th. Hopefully this will allow more time to set the date in your calendar, complete the paperwork, and fundraise for this rewarding event. There are already 30 volunteers from St. Augustine parish committed for Corazon 2013! Please contact Robert Englund at 510-910-1620 or Robskyi@aol.com if you have questions or an interest in coming on the Corazon 2013 mission build. I hope you will consider this transformative work.

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Is it just me - or...
...is the world turning faster and faster...?

Part of me is still enjoying early spring - and being "buzzed" by the hummingbirds on our balcony! I always find it difficult to ‘let summer go.’ I am clinging to these glorious Indian summer days. As well, I find that I am still programmed to Aussie seasons -- the opposite of our seasons here, so most of the time I can hardly work out "which way is up"...(pun intended!)

As you read this, Jim & I are in Three Rivers – entrance to Sequoia National Park, celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary (I am still a young bride!). A seminary friend of Jim runs a wonderful Retreat and Youth Center there. Both Fall and Spring are magnificent in that area. I am most appreciative of Ann McChesney-Young’s graciousness in playing for me this weekend so that we can celebrate in this beautiful place.

As is the lot of a liturgical musician, I am always thinking, creating, planning – waaaay ahead. Now that I have Christmas and Advent prepared I am beginning remote preparation for Holy Week, Lent, and Easter. Meanwhile here are a few dates for your refrigerator of lovely Christmas possibilities:

Friday December 7th , for our annual Christmas Concert. The 9:30 choir has been including Christmas repertoire in their weekly rehearsals for some months. Two new pieces this year include the beautiful “O Nata Lux” of Morten Lauridsen, and a new setting of “O Magnum Mysterium” by Craig Kingsbury. I am delighted that some of the student groups have agreed to join us for this concert.

This year we will again sing carols for Alta Bates Rehab unit on Wednesday December 12th . If you are interested please do let me know.

Also keep in mind the Family Choir for Christmas – which leads singing for the 5 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve, Monday 12/24. Rehearsals will be on the first 3 Thursdays in December.

One of the things that helps me deal with the 'speed of the world turning' and events happening, is to take a few moments each day - ideally a few times each day - to breathe, relax, reflect, center, pray, and ‘just ‘be.’ I am inspired and encouraged in this by a new song of Carey Landry, based on Lamentations 3:21-26:

It is good to wait in silence
for your saving help, O God...

Colleen Lenord
Director of Music & Liturgy