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No one pours new wine into old wineskins.
An Alternative to a Chocolate Diet for Lent
by Rosana Madrigal
Instead of going on a chocolate diet this Lent,
I invite you to use Lent's 40-days to feed your mind and soul, or simply
pray. I
recommend a book we just finished in our JustFaith Community. The book is Compassion,
a Reflection on the Christian Life, by Henri J.M. 
Nouwen,
Donald P. McNeill and Douglas A. Morrison, with drawings by Joel Filartiga.
The drawings themselves are very thought-provoking. The publisher is
Doubleday.
The book invites you to read two or three pages at a time, that make wonderful opportunities for meditations, food for thought, prayer and even some simple practices to become more Christian. Simple examples of how to be more Christian are on page 93, "Patience means stopping on the road when someone in pain needs immediate attention." How about doing that all this Lent instead of not eating chocolate? You could also practice during Lent the suggestion on page 14, "The simple but difficult gift of being present to each other," an action promoted often by Jim McEntee. During my last visits to my grandmother before she died I would just sit with her, no need to talk, just being with her was enough. After all, as JustFaith-er Don DeLeon would say, "We are human beings, not human doers." You could also ponder any of the Scripture quotes, like the one found on page 7, "Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate." LK 6:36
The book invites self-reflection. If you cannot recognize your brokenness, you cannot recognize your fellow human beings' brokenness. While the question is simple, "Where are you broken?" The answer may not be so easy.
The book also recommends on page 64, "Voluntary displacement leads to the existential recognition of our inner brokenness and thus brings us to a deeper solidarity with the brokenness of our fellow human beings." Perhaps, you could find that voluntary displacement by volunteering at the Santa Clara County Second Harvest Food Bank or the San Jose Family Shelter.
Other voluntary displacements, such as the Elmwood Jail or Juvenile Hall, require more than Lent's 40-days just to get clearance, but Father Paul Mensah would welcome your assistance since soon he will return home to Africa. Lent's 40-days are much more than a time to do penance, they are an invitation to grow in your Christian faith.
Town Hall Meeting
by Ellen Turner
Saint John Vianney Parish met for a Town Hall Meeting on February 16. It was a very cold night and fewer than fifty parishioners braved the weather to attend. The meeting opened at 7:00 PM sharp with a prayer led by Pastor Tim Kidney. Ray Turner, who is the leader of the Parish Pastoral Council, followed with a short set of announcements: Deanery Vision of Justice Workshop coming up on Saturday, February 25, and our parish Taste of Mardi Gras jambalaya dinner and auction fund-raiser for our sister parish on Saturday, March 4 at the Drying Shed. Following Ray, Pamela Bjorklund, our Pastoral Council facilitator led us through some exercises to help us set goals for the parish.
We were reminded of the four goals we set at our first Town Hall meeting in June of 2004: Youth & Young Adult Ministry, Liturgy, Social Justice, and Communication. Then Pamela revealed a series of ideas that were posted on the walls. These ideas came from the staff and the Parish Pastoral Council. On one side of the podium were things we really wanted to keep at St. John Vianney. On the other side, were a series of other things we might like to work in for the next five years.
After we had a few minutes to think about the information on the wall, we broke into small groups of 4-6 people to see if we had any other ideas that were missing from the wall. Then we put those ideas up also. Everyone was given three dots to put on the wall. We were instructed to put one on each side of the podium (things we already have at SJV and want to keep, or things we want to develop at SJV in the next five years) and to use the third dot for whatever idea we thought was most important, on either side of the podium.
We were then given a chance to suggest priorities for the mayoral candidates. We brainstormed ideas, then everyone was given the chance to vote for the two concepts that seemed most important to them. Quality education, affordable housing, and healthcare came out as our most important issues.
Everyone was invited to come forward and sign up for a committee to work towards making our five year goals a reality. A lot of folks signed up, so look for some action in the near future.
Saint John Vianney Speaks: A Town Hall Meeting
by Rosana Madrigal
Once again, the community of Saint John Vianney gathered on February 16 for a Town Hall Meeting. There were about fifty brave souls in the main hall.
There was an assessment of the goals established at previous meetings, and a look forward to the next five years. The Saint John Vianney community wanted to work on Adult Education and Spiritual Renewal Programs, and Social Justice Outreach and Teaching. JustFaith is in its 5th year. Alumni and others have formed Faith in Action to work on a variety of social justice work, such as Fair Trade, which is catching on. It is also sponsoring "Journey to Forgiveness," a talk with Bud Welch, on Monday, March 13, at 7:00 PM with the Youth, and at 8:00 PM with the rest of us. Mr. Welch will speak about his journey to forgiveness following the death of his only daughter in the Oklahoma City bombing, and his conversion from "eye for an eye" to his embracing forgiveness, to the point of empathy for the parents of those responsible for the bombing. As a Deanery, we will hold "Vision of Justice" seminar from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday, February 25, at Saint Francis of Assisi.
The youth programs and youth ministry are going strong under the direction of David Cortese and many, many volunteers. Youth Minister, Andrew Magsumbol, says this is the first Town Hall Meeting he attended, and it was very good. He especially liked how young and old integrated to become one. They plan to attend the LA Religious Education Congress, the largest gathering of Catholics in the Country. Last year, there were 38,000 of us. As usual, they need our financial support for this life enhancing and transformative endeavor. The gathering starts with Youth Day on Thursday, followed by the hundreds of workshops in English, Spanish and even Vietnamese.
For communications we added the SJV Parish News weekly newsletter, the Discipleship newsletter, and the web site. Jenny Simpson says she was very impressed by the vision for the future of Saint John Vianney that includes a bit of the same, with Parish and Spiritual Renewal Programs.
Those present were also asked to come up with a vision for the next mayor of San Jose for PACT to pose to the candidates. Gilne Tosco says she was very surprised and pleased with the Mayoral challenges. The top vote getter was Quality Education (13), next tie between Affordable Housing (10) and a Downtown Hospital (10), next came Immigration (9), but more importantly a desire to make San Jose a sanctuary for immigrants. Wow, wouldn't it something to recognize and take to heart Jesus' call to take care of the stranger among us?
Ash Wednesday is March 1. Services at St. John Vianney will be as follows:
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7:45 AM
9:00 AM 11:00 AM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:30 PM |
Mass with Ashes
Liturgy of the Word with Ashes Liturgy of the Word with Ashes Palabra con Ceniza Mass with Ashes Misa con Ceniza |
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On Thursdays during Lent, all parishioners are encouraged to attend a special Lenten series with the Very Reverend David Bird, the Dean and Rector of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, San Jose. (Dr. Bird's young son attends our parish school and offered a Bible study series last Spring.) This series will take us through a time of prayer and reflection based on the writings of St. Paul. Meetings will be held in Saint John Vianney Church from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM on Thursdays, March 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, followed on April 6, at 7:00 PM with our parish reconciliation service including confessions.
Lent: A Reflection
by Rey Flores
In the Hebrew Scriptures,
forty was a sacred number. It had a mysterious connection to Jewish history:
It rained forty days and forty nights; the Children of Israel were in the
desert forty years before being allowed to enter the promised land; Jesus
fasted forty
days in the desert in preparation for his public ministry. There are many
references to Forty in the Scriptures.
What does it mean? Like most events in scripture, we do not take this literally. It has metaphorical meaning. Metaphor is a way of seeing things, beyond any literal meaning, yet with real significance. Forty means that God used this time to do what God had to do - to prepare the people for the next phase, for the next step, to make sure God's Word did not come back empty.
So, we come to Lent. The Latin word for Lent is Quadragesima. It means forty. Lent was originally started as the final preparation of the Catechumens (the unbaptized wishing to become Christians) to be initiated through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. It was the culmination of a long period of prayer, discernment, and commitment to the Lord Jesus, and to His Community of Faith.
This intense Lenten Forty was intended to deepen God's Word in them, to bear fruit, to prepare them for the next phase, for their next steps. It was a special time to let God do in them what God had to do.
On the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent, the Scrutinies were held, with special readings: the Woman at the Well, the Man Born Blind, and the Raising of Lazarus, emphasizing the Living Water (Grace), Seeing with New Eyes (Jesus is the Light), and Being Freed form the Shackles of Death (I am the Resurrection).
For us, the baptized, the Forty is to allow God to do in us what still needs to be done, to prepare us for our next steps. Because, as pilgrims, we are not done; there is still a road ahead, short or long, that must be traveled.
Our best teacher in this is the Liturgy of Lent, from Ash Wednesday to the Easter Vigil. It's all there. Follow it with the new eyes and ears of the Catechumens. Let it be fresh for you. Let it be a revelation to you. Let yourself be awed by it all. HAPPY FORTY!
Bud Welch, From Rage to Forgiveness
His only daughter was killed in the Oklahoma City bombing. His first reaction was to personally kill Timothy McVey for the vicious crime he committed, but over time,
through the tears and lots of prayer, Bud Welch was able to work his way back
to the position he and his daughter had shared before the bombing: The Death
Penalty is wrong.
Several years ago, we were blessed to have Bud Welch visit our parish, and talk at all the weekend liturgies. He also shared his story with many of the local high schools. Bud is returning to San Jose and will be speaking at St. John Vianney Parish on Monday, March 13. At 7:00 PM, he will meet with our Youth Group. I urge you to encourage your young friends and family members to attend, as his story is so important. At 8:00 PM Bud will come over to the Parish Office Center to tell his story to any adults who are interested.
After 9/11, the story of Bud's journey through the unimaginable pain of losing a young daughter has a lesson for all of us. Please bring your friends and neighbors and take advantage of this opportunity to meet and speak with this remarkable, ordinary man.
Ash Wednesday
by Brendan Cunning
In the old days when the minister made the cross on our foreheads with the holy ashes, he said, "Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return." We went away thinking about our deaths. It was gloomy. The notion of being dust and ashes is discouraging. It gave Lent a pretty sorry beginning. Really, it was a bit negative.
Nowadays, the priest makes the Cross of Ashes on our heads and says, "Turn away from sin and believe the Gospel." This is brighter. This call holds a promise of very good news.
In
the early Church it was very good news indeed for some people. These were
people who had been baptized but had committed some major sin and were
barred from communion, and cut off from Christian worship and life. These
people felt there was no way back into God's grace and favor. How could they
be reborn spiritually? How could they be brought back into the fold?
Well, just as there was an order of catechumens who prepared for baptism throughout Lent, so the Church leaders created an Order of Penitents who would use Lent to prepare for a grand absolution from their great sins, and an Easter restoration to the Christian community and worship. One mark of entry into the Order of Penitents was the mark of the Cross of Ashes on the forehead. It was the mark of an initiation. It was the new beginning of a Lenten journey to complete forgiveness, as if to a second baptism. It was a second spring of the spirit.
Now, if you have no sin in you, the next time you see me, lob a stone in my direction. I feel pretty safe, for truthfully, we know we all belong to the Order of Penitents. We are a Church of sinners.
Remember, on March first, Ash Wednesday, 2006, the mark of the Cross of Ashes on our foreheads is our initiation into the Penitential Order, as we set out on our forty-day Lenten journey, shoulder to shoulder, with Jesus, towards Easter Joy.
PARISH AND DEANERY:
The Annual Diocesan Appeal (ADA) Campaign, "Proclaim God's Message," is the 2006 major fund raising drive for the Diocese of San Jose. Each parish is assigned a specific goal to meet. We have met our goal and all additional funds received will go toward the new projector system for St. John Vianney Church. Please be generous, as this will make our liturgies much nicer. For more information about the ADA, click here.
Deanery 6 Invites All interested persons to attend a day of Catholic Social Justice education at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 5111 San Felipe Road, San Jose, on Saturday, February 25, 2006, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Keynote Speaker will be the Reverend Paul Fitzgerald, SJ, from Santa Clara University. Click here to read the registration flyer. Also, click here to check out the story about this workshop on page 5 of the January 17, 2006, issue of the Valley Catholic.
Special Prayer and Reflection During Lent, on Thursday nights. The Very Reverend David Bird, the Dean and Rector of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, will be leading us on a spiritual journey through the writings of St. Paul. This series will be held in Saint John Vianney church from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM on Thursdays, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, and finishing with our parish reconciliation service with confessions on Thursday, April 6, at 7 PM. Father Tim asks parish groups either, to cancel, or to limit to a minimum, all parish meetings so that all can be free to attend this Lenten series.
Mardi Gras (Katrina) Dinner & Auction: The Hurricane Katrina Committee of St. John Vianney Parish is looking for DONATIONS and we need your help. We are in need of items to be used as auction and raffle prizes in conjunction with our up-coming Mardi Gras Dinner and Auction, March 4. If you'd like to make a donation of an auction or raffle item, please contact Jerry Walker at (408) 251-1466 or email JayDub@ix.netcom.com for more information.
SJV Parishioner Pamela Bjorklund, Ph.D., presents a Holy Week Retreat Weekend: "Meeting Violence with Love, Jesus' Response to the Passion," April 7-9, 2006, Friday at 4:00 PM to Sunday at 1:00 PM, at Presentation Center. For more information, visit the web site: www.presentationcenter.org.
SJV Spring Fling 2006, "Springtime in Paris," Friday, April 28. The Drying Shed Restaurant, San Jose. Tickets: $40 each Contact: Kristin Heinemann at (408) 258-7677 or kheinemann@sjvsj.org. All proceeds to benefit the SJV-Sister Joan Marie Scholarship Fund.
Coming Events:
o SJV Fiesta,
May 19-21,
at the SJV Courtyard.
For more information, contact the SJV School Development Office at (408)
258-7677 or lelston@sjvsj.org.
COMMUNITY AT LARGE:
E-Waste Recycling:
Wondering how to get rid of that old computer, printer, or television? Free
E-Waste Recycling Event at Lincoln High School this weekend. The address is
555 Dana Ave, San Jose. Friday,
February 24
through Sunday,
February 26,
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. For more information visit www.unwaste.com
or call (888) 832-9839.
A Series of Six Evenings of Discussions Based on the Justice Writings of Pope John Paul II: Ascension Parish, Saratoga, 7:30 to 9:00 PM. Registration begins at 7:15 PM.
| Monday, Feb. 27: | Rev. Paul Fitzgerald, SJ. "In The Words of John Paul II: Our Ecological Vocation: A Catholic Response to the Environmental Crisis." | ||
| Monday, Mar. 20: | Mr. Joseph Hastings, West Coast Director, Catholic Relief Services. "In The Words of John Paul II: Creating Networks of Peace." | ||
| Monday, Apr. 24: | Rev. Joseph Sands, SJ. "In The Words of John Paul II: Justice in the Americas: The Continuing Disparity of Wealth." | ||
| Monday, May 22: | Diane Clyne: Justice Coordinator for the Mercy Sisters, Burlingame California: "In The Words of John Paul II: Free Trade Agreements and the loss of lands and livelihood of Indigenous Peoples." | ||
| Monday, Jun. 12: | Sister Jean Schafer, Co-Director, Anti-Human Trafficking Project. "The Tragedy of Human Trafficking." | ||
You are invited to the Santa Clara Lecture Series presentation on the topic "Church Leadership, Ethics, and the Future," by James Keenan, S.J. Tuesday, March 7, 2006, 7:30-8:30 PM, Benson Memorial Center, Williman Room, Santa Clara University. Free and open to the public. For more information, call the Ignatian Center at 511-1951, or click here.
The largest gathering of Catholics in the United States takes place each Spring at the Anaheim Convention Center, across the street from Disneyland. Called the Religious Education Congress The workshops offered at the Congress are amazing. This year the dates are March 31 through April 2. Check it out at www.recongress.org.
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This Week:
8th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Feb. 26
Next Week:
Ash Wednesday, March 1
1st Sunday of Lent: March 5
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Praying the Scriptures:
Visit this web site for ideas on praying the Scriptures: www.liturgy.slu.edu
Take a Moment to Pray:
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