St. John Vianney Parish Newsletter
January 21, 2005
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Blessed are the peacemakers! |
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Parish Pastoral Council
Part Three
by Ellen Turner
![Ngay4.jpg [A]](images/Ngay4.jpg)
We
have all heard horror stories about parish councils: the council that spent months debating the location of a flag pole, the
council that turned into a vicious clique, or the council that did nothing but say "Yes, Father." We want to avoid all those pitfalls and others
we may not have even thought about.
To design a solid, useful council we prayed together, researched other parishes, and dreamed of our ideal council.
It quickly became clear that this council must have its roots deeply secured in our Catholic
traditions, so we defined our dream council based on the mission of the Church, and created the mission for this council.
The mission of the Church is to spread the Good News that the reign of God is among us (evangelization). The reign of God is made evident
in love and service with our neighbor. The heart of our parish community is the Word and the Eucharist.
The mission of the Parish Pastoral Council is to help the parish:
1) create a Gospel-inspired vision for its future,
Mark your calendar now for the Parish Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, February 10, at which the first six members of the council will be elected. Next week
I will explain more about how the Parish Pastoral Council will function.
If you missed the first part
We have a very active parish, with many groups and ministries already in place. It is NOT the purpose of the Parish Pastoral Council to manage all the
groups in the parish. Groups are free to work on any items in the list of parish needs or other projects they feel are needed to accomplish their goals. The
Council WILL ask each group how it is responding to the priority objectives the parish has set.
2) prioritize objectives, and,
3) take action to realize its vision.
Part 1 in the January 7 issue, and Part 2 in the January 14 issue.
Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking, and a Roman Catholic nun, will be speaking at 7:00 PM, Sunday, January 23, at King Middle School, 1781 Rose Street (off University Avenue) in Berkeley.
Sister
Helen Prejean will talk about her new book, The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The event benefits community supported radio station KPFA and Pace e Bene. There is wheelcair access, and an interpreter will sign for hearing impaired guests. Tickets are available at Black Oak, Cody's (both stores). Diesel a Bookstore, Global Exchange Store (Berkeley), Pegasus (both stores), Pendragon, Walden Pond, and Modern Times (San Francisco)
KPFA:
Founded in 1949 by Lewis Hill, a pacifist, poet and journalist, KPFA was the first community supported radio station in the USA. KPFA broadcasts at 94.1 FM
and KPFB at 89.3 FM, from Berkeley, and KFCF at 88.1 FM, from Fresno. At 59,000 Watts, the stations reach one third of California.
Pace e Bene: Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service was established in 1989 as an agency of the non-profit St. Barbara Province of the Franciscan Friars of California. It is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, with offices in Oakland, California, Olympia, Washington and Perth, Australia. Pace e Bene (pronounced pah-chay-bay-nay) means "peace and all good" in Italian and was an expression used by St. Francis of Assisi as a greeting and as a means of proclaiming the way of nonviolence in the midst of a violent world.
Other times and place Sr. Prejean is speaking in the Bay Area include:
Jan. 20 A Clean Well Lighted Place for Books
604 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-441-6670Jan. 21 Capitola Book Café
1475 41st Ave.
Capitola, CA 95010
831-462-4415Jan. 22 Copperfield’s Books
140 Kentucky Street
Petaluma, CA 94952 (about an hour outside San Francisco)
707-762-0563Jan. 23 Global Exchange (7 - 9 PM Talk and Signing)
Oakland, CA
510-268-8765
Ash Wednesday is very early this year, February 9. We will have liturgies on Ash Wednesday as
per the following schedule:
| 7:45 | AM | Mass |
| 9:00 | AM | Liturgy of the Word |
| 12:05 | PM | Mass |
| 3:30 | PM | Liturgy of the Word |
| 5:00 | PM | Mass |
| 6:30 | PM | Liturgy of the Word - Spanish |
| 8:00 | PM | Mass - Spanish |
Ashes will be distributed at each liturgy.
Remember that we are taking up a special collection on Easter Sunday for tsunami relief. Instead of just "giving something up for Lent" why not see what changes you can make to your lifestyle that might be used to help tsunami victims.
St. John Vianney parishioner, Don De Leon, was featured in the San Jose Mercury News on Monday, January 17. Don joined our JustFaith group in 2002, and greatly contributed to the program. He was featured in the news because he is leaving the position he has held for the last few years as Director of the Interfaith Council on Race, Religion and Social and Economic Justice of Silicon Valley. The Interfaith Council has been working on health care, living wages, affordable housing, and accountable development. Members include all faiths represented in our valley, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and others, all working together to improve our world.
Don also was honored last month by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops with an award given to young people who demonstrate leadership in fighting poverty and injustice. Don is probably going to pursue graduate studies, but where ever he goes, we know the world will be better because of his work.
The article in the Mercury News is available until Sunday at: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/religion/10664150.htm
After Sunday, you will need to search the archives for the article and the Mercury News will require a fee.
Parish Council Election Process
On Thursday, February 10, St. John Vianney Parish will elect the first members of our new Parish Council. Next week, we will introduce you to the candidates on the slate. Today we will give you a quick understanding of the election process.
The full Parish Council foundational document, created by a small team of parishioners at the request of our pastor, Fr. Tim Kidney, is available for you to study at: http://council.sjvonline.net/foundation-doc.htm
The document calls for a Nominating Committee to select a slate of candidates to stand for election. The Nominating Committee created a slate of twelve candidates last Fall. Several of those fine people have since decided that they are not available after all, so our final slate will be nine or ten candidates, from whom we will select six Parish Council members. Fr. Tim will then appoint an additional three members, creating a council of nine members. Fr. Tim will use his appointments to assure a balanced council, that is, if there are only old folks elected, he would appoint a young person. If there are only Hispanic people elected, he would appoint members representing other groups. With only nine members, we cannot expect a completely balanced council, but we want people who can speak to the concerns of all parishioners.
In addition to the official slate of candidates, it is also possible for parishioners to nominate candidates on the floor, that is, at the February 10th Town Hall meeting. In order to be nominated from the floor, the candidate must either be present, to accept the nomination, or the person nominating a candidate must have a signed consent form from the candidate accepting the nomination. Candidates must also be over the age of 16 years.
Voting at the Town Hall meeting will be open to all parishioners who are present, and who are over the age of 16 years.
Council members will serve for a term of three years and can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms (up to six years). After one year off the council, a person who has served the maximum may stand for election again. Since this is our first election, the terms for this first group will be staggered, with three serving for one year, three serving for two years, and three serving full three year terms.
If a vacancy occurs during the year, the Council may appoint someone to fill out the term. The Council may also remove someone they feel is unable to fulfill the duties of a Council member.
Coming Next Week: Meet the Candidates
Lent
The Facts
by Bruno Martinez
Lent is a time of preparation for the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, Easter, and it is our holiest season. The word Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon Lengten, which refers to the lengthening of days during spring.
Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and continues for 40 days, excluding Sundays, until Holy Thursday, which is the start of the Triduum. The date of Ash Wednesday is based on the date of Easter Sunday. As you no doubt noticed, Easter comes early this year and therefore so does Lent. The date for Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon immediately following the Vernal (Spring) equinox.
40 days is very important throughout the bible, but during Lent, they specifically remind us of the 40 days Christ spent in the wilderness, in preparation for the fulfillment of scripture. During this time, Christ was tempted by Satan three times, and though he was hungry and worn down, he never faltered, and refused the temptations.
The focus of Lent is almsgiving (charity and tithing),
prayer and fasting. We are also called to pray together as families, attend daily Mass whenever possible, and to remember and relive our baptism. The color
of the season is purple, which reminds us of the other theme of Lent, penance and forgiveness. For it is through Christ’s eternal sacrifice that we are
freed from sin and can enter into His everlasting life.
There are 2 days of fasting during Lent: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting is required of all healthy adults 18-59. During our fast we are to have only one full meal, though we are permitted 2 small meals, provided that combined, they do not equal a full meal. We are also permitted only fluids between meals.
We are also called to abstinence during Lent. All Catholics 14 and over are specifically called to abstain from meat, except fish, on Ash Wednesday and every Friday of Lent. We should also choose something else in our lives from which we will abstain, but consider giving up a behavior as well as your favorite food. Whatever sacrifice you make, the benefit of it (the money you save from abstaining) should go toward alms for the poor. For this year, remember the special collection we will take on Easter Sunday for the victims of the tsunami, and do not forget to support the ongoing needs of Saint John Vianney Parish.
You may also notice that we do not say or sing the Alleluia or Gloria during Lent. In fact during Lent, the Gloria is only sung once, on Holy Thursday. After that musical instruments fall silent in church until the Alleluia during the Easter Vigil.
Though Lent seems solemn, its quietness is that of Grace, which reminds, focuses, and prepares us for the fulfillment of scripture that is the Resurrection, and for the time when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will come again, in Glory.
St. John Vianney School Registration for 2005-2006 School Year
Applications are available in the school office or online at www.sjvsj.org
.
Return Applications:
Tuesday, February 15, 2005, 5 PM – 7 PM &
Wednesday, February 16, 2005, 5 PM – 7 PM
If you have any questions, or need additional information or tuition assistance, please contact the school at 258-7677, 8 AM - 4 PM, Monday through Friday, or you may send email to mwood@sjvsj.org .
A Chance to Speak to Your City Council: This is your chance to be heard. Councilman Chuck Reed, who represents District 4, which includes North San Jose and Berryessa, will hold a community conference on Saturday, January 22 at the Berryessa Community Center, 3050 Berryessa Road from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Members of the community have the opportunity to speak for 2 minutes each on issues in the community.Do you have an extra LCD Multimedia projector? We are looking for 2 LCD projectors, in good working order, for the Church to use for PowerPoint and other presentations. If your company is replacing older models, or has unused equipment, please contact Bruno Martinez at 408-274-7552, or email to bruno@sjvonline.net .
Do you know of parishioners who do not have email but would like to get the St. John Vianney Parish Newsletter? Perhaps you could print out a copy each week to share with them. The cost of printing and mailing to everyone in the parish is prohibitive, but if everyone shares and passes it along, we can reach a lot more parishioners. Also, we post a copy on the bulletin board in the back of church, to your right as you are leaving. We are hoping that folks would read that copy there so others could see it too. We are always happy to add new members to our subscription list.
SJV Fiesta: The next meeting is Thursday, January 27, at 7 PM, in the school library. We have many Chair positions available, and we would like to draw on parishioners to help fill them. For information email David Couch at dcouch36@sbcglobal.net .
3rd
Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 23
Isaiah 8:23-9:3
1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17
Matthew 4:12-23
Next Week:
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 30
Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Matthew 5:1-12a
Praying the Scriptures:
Visit
this web site for ideas on
praying the Scriptures:
www.liturgy.slu.edu
Join Our Mailing List!
Find out what's happening at St. John Vianney Parish by joining our email newsletter list.
To add (or remove) your email address, send an email request to newsletter@sjvonline.net or phone Ellen Turner at 408-272-9234. We will use these email addresses for St. John Vianney business only. No addresses will be visible to others.
Visit our web site at: www.sjvsj.net
Saint John Vianney Catholic Parish Community
4609 Hyland Avenue, San Jose, CA 95127
408-258-7832