Bishops' Statement on the Death Penalty

Who is the most famous innocent victim of the Death Penalty?

WASHINGTON (March 21, 2005) - The U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops today launched a Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, declared, "We cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing. We cannot defend life by taking life." Speaking at the National Press Club on behalf of the U.S. bishops' conference, Cardinal McCarrick said, "The Catholic campaign will work to change the debate and decisions on the use of the death penalty: building a constituency for life, not death; calling on our lawmakers to lead, not follow; to defend life, not take it away... This cause is not new. Our bishops' conference has opposed the death penalty for 25 years. But this campaign is new. It brings greater urgency and unity, increased energy and advocacy, and a renewed call to our people and to our leaders to end the use of the death penalty in our nation."

For the full story, visit the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website at www.nccbuscc.org/comm/archives/2005/05-064.shtml .

Holy Week Schedule

The Triduum schedule is as follows:

Prayer Service for Robin Morel

Last Saturday, at 3:00 PM, some 100 people gathered to pray for the recovery of Robin Morel . At the High School confirmation retreat Robin was nearly drowned when she heard one of the students crying out for help. She rushed to help but was caught in a riptide, which swept her out. One of the leaders of the group, Martin Barragan, a trained firefighter, swam out to save her. While she was unresponsive at first, after much group prayer, she began to breath and was air lifted to Dominican Hospital.

She is currently still in critical condition, in an induced coma and will soon be transferred to a San Jose hospital.

At the prayer service we learned how strong a person and leader Robin is. She is student commander of ROTC at Mt. Pleasant High School and her commander spoke well of her. One student wrote a heart wrenching prayer and Jerald Rokita wrote a poem about the experience. Please keep Robin and the Morel family in your prayers.

Riptide
by Jerald Rokita

Everything was fine
It was a bright and sunny day
No one had a clue
You'd try to steal one of us away

Lunch was great
Guys playing football
An awesome retreat so far
But then we heard that fateful call

As we watched in confusion
A young man sprinted from the water
"Help! Help! It's Robin!"
"She keeps getting pulled out farther and farther!"

At first I'm not sure how to react
Thinking, "No way... It couldn't be true!"
But I saw his look of panic
I knew what I had to do

I grabbed my phone, dialed 9-1-1
And watched in horror as the whole scene changed
The guys playing football ran to the water
Yelling poor Robin's name...

80 kids total were on that retreat
And every one was helping every way they could
They swam, they yelled, searched, and scanned
Following orders when they should...

We finally got all of them out of the water
Everyone stayed on dry sand
Then we found out Martin was guided to her
Only by the grace of our God's hand

They brought her to shore
No heartbeat...No pulse...
All 80 gathered in a circle and prayed
"Lord...please bring her back to us!..."

"Don't let her go now!" "Her life isn't done!"
We cried, we prayed, we wept...
All the while they tried to revive her
But still...our dear Robin slept

But then, when all hope seemed lost, we suddenly got word
Her heart and breathing started all on their own!
God heard our prayers! Our Robin was back!
And how much our faith had grown...

A helicopter came, and took her away...
But it was fine because she was alive!
We took role, then praised God...
It's a miracle that she had survived...

Though it's been just 4 days,
I'm still kind of numb
And I'll never see the ocean in the same way
I'll always remember, those life-changing events
That took place that bright, sunny Saturday...

Submitted by Bruno Martinez

Global Week of Action for Fair Trade

Do you know where your food comes from? Why should you care? Next month we celebrate the Global Week of Awareness for Fair Trade, April 10-16. Fair Trade food is grown by farmers who make a living wage.

We have a duty to treat every person we come into contact with as if that person were Jesus himself. See Matthew 25: 31-46. Therefore, we have a concern for the people who grow our food, make our clothing and other goods. We are responsible to see to it that they are paid a wage that allows them to support their families. We are also concerned that working conditions be fair for those who provide the things we need. For example, organic farming protects the farmer, the environment, and the consumer.

Catholic Social Teaching has developed over time, based on papal encyclicals, synod documents, and statements from Bishops' Conferences. But Catholic Social Teaching is based also on our understanding of the Bible, and the call to justice we find in Hebrew Scripture and the New Testament. Matthew 25: 31-46 clearly calls us to love God and neighbor. The key themes of Catholic Social Teaching are summarized at www.mt25.org/principles.htm .

Jesus started his public ministry declaring "glad tidings to the poor...To announce a year of favor from our God." (Luke 4:18)  To be a follower of Jesus means one is called to do justice.

Next month, join the Global Week of Awareness for Fair Trade. JustFaith will be bringing Fair Trade coffee and chocolate to the parish April 9-10, for tasting and purchasing.

Look for the Fair Trade logo on coffee at your favorite grocery store or coffee house. If they don't carry it, ask them to do so. Generally businesses are responsive to their customers. A cup of Fair Trade coffee might cost three cents more to brew, but makes a big difference for a farmer who would otherwise live in poverty and under harsh working conditions.

Did you know that much of the chocolate we drink and buy in the United States is made from beans picked by children who are working long hard days instead of going to school? After a hard day of grueling work, most of the pickers have never had a chance to actually taste chocolate. You can buy Fair Trade chocolate and encourage your favorite chocolate producer to contract only with Fair Trade farmers for the purchase of cocoa.

Did you know that most quality soccer balls are hand-stitched by children in Pakistan? After years of pulling the needle through that tough material, their hands are frozen into a claw shape. You can purchase a Fair Trade soccer ball, guaranteed to involve no child labor and encourage your favorite soccer teams to do the same.

Am I responsible for my brother! You betcha! And Jesus tells us that we will all be judged based on how we treated the least important person we met. Fair Trade is one way to do the right thing.  And it only costs you pennies more for that coffee or chocolate.

Parishioner in the News

After ten years of extremely successful service as the Executive Director of The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Council of Santa Clara County, Steve Pehanich has left the Society to assume the position of Executive Director of Catholic Charities of California. His new office is in Sacramento, and he and his family will be moving there. His new work will include policy formation, advocacy for the poor and lobbying on behalf of the 12 Catholic Charities Units in California.

SJV Parishioner Dave Gonzales (husband of Beth Gonzales) was named as the new Executive Director effective March 1, 2005.  We all welcome Dave to his new position, and we know he will do wonderful work for those made poor in Santa Clara County.

The Project Rachel

Rachel is represented here in a statue of a woman kneeling with a bouquet of roses. Her face turned upward, with an expression of hope. This is the Rachel Monument located at the Memorial to the Unborn, Resurrection Cemetery, Clyde Park. It is a healing place for anyone who has lost a child. The bronze statue sits atop a concrete base bearing the inscription: "Rachel weeping for her children because they are no more." Jeremiah 31:15.

Lent is a time of repentance and transformation. It is a time to purify ourselves in preparation for the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Sometimes we feel that we committed unforgivable acts. However, we have to remember that our God is merciful and forgiving. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:43) On a daily basis, many women have made the decision to have an abortion. For many such women the solution turns out to be more difficult than they expected. While many will agree that abortion is not the right choice, we still need to love and support those who have been through that experience. Many times they suffer from guilt and self-loathing for the rest of their lives. But we know that Jesus loves us and redeems us, no matter what we have done. The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:22) Our diocese offers support and services for women in this situation called Project Rachel. Project Rachel is the post-abortion healing ministry of the Catholic Church. It was founded in 1984 in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Vicki Thorn. At this time, Project Rachel is in more than 110 dioceses in the United States with more ministries forming.

This diocesan based ministry is composed of a network of specially trained clergy, spiritual directors and therapists who provide compassionate one-on-one care to those who are struggling with the aftermath of abortion. Project Rachel is designed to provide confidential and skilled help to each individual who comes to the ministry.

Project Rachel is an outreach of the Catholic Church, but it is open to anyone who is struggling after an abortion loss. It is able to help women and men; parents, grandparents, siblings, friends and others whose lives have been impacted by an abortion loss.

In the Bible, Rachel was the second wife of Jacob, and the youngest daughter of Leban. She lived in the 18th Century B.C. and was considered beautiful and lovely (Genesis 21:17). After many childless years, Rachel bore a son, Joseph. While Jacob and his family were traveling to Hebron, at the village of Rahma, Rachel gave birth to a second son, Benoni (Son of my Sorrow). Rachel died during childbirth. She was buried and Jacob erected a pillar on her grave (Genesis 35:20). It was considered a holy place, and today women pray there for healthy sons for their daughters.

Rachel is thought of as a Matriarch of Israel and the ancestress of Ephraim, the chief of the northern tribes. In the book of Jeremiah, which recounts the prophet's opposition to the infidelity of Judah and the subsequent Babylonian captivity, Rachel is seen reaching through history and weeping for her children as they are carried off in bondage in Babylon.

Her cries echo into the New Testament as Matthew applied her mourning to the slaughter of the Holy Innocents (Matthew 2:18). The Lord assures Rachel that her lost children will return from exile and that families will be reunited through the embrace of a loving God. Such is the vision of Project Rachel.

If you or someone you know would like more information on Project Rachel, contact the local chapter of Project Rachel at 408-983-0132 or visit the website for the Diocese of San Jose at www.dsj.org . More information can also be located on www.hopeafterabortion.com .

Submitted by Judi Miel

Announcements

Cesar Chavez Breakfast will take place on March 31 at the Mexican Heritage Center, starting with registration at 7:30 AM. The commemoration will start at 8:15 AM. Cesar Chavez lived nearby in East San Jose when he started his work to improve the lives of farm workers. Speakers will include his nephew, Rudy Chavez, and his niece, Lydia Chavez Medina. Cost is $25 and tickets can be purchased at the San Jose Stage Company. Call 408-283-7142.

BETWEEN DIRT AND SKY: A Musical Based on the Life of Cesar Chavez will be presented at the Mexican Heritage Center, April 7, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. This will be the only San Jose performance of Between Dirt and Sky, an original children's musical theater production inspired by the life of Cesar Chavez.

Ticket information:
  $8.00 for adults
  $6.00 for students
  $25.00 for a family pass
To order tickets, call (408) 287-2290.

The musical is produced by the San Francisco Arts Education Project (ArtsEd), a nonprofit organization that places long-term artist residencies within San Francisco's public schools. ArtsEd's Event Players program recruits and trains talented 9 – 14 year old students in an after school musical theater program.

Peace Conference, "A Season for Nonviolence." Community Conference Partners are: Center for Spiritual Enlightenment (CSE), Resources for Families and Communities, and San Jose City Council Member: Dave Cortese.

Date: Saturday, April 2
Time: 9 AM to 5 PM
Location: Evergreen Valley College
Fee: Adults $25, Youth $10

TO REGISTER:
Go to www.carrythevision.net OR mail your check to:
   Carry the Vision, c/o Council Member Dave Cortese,
   801 No. First Street, Room 600, San Jose, CA 95110
   (Please make check payable to "CSE: Carry the Vision")

For more information, visit the website or call Dave Cortese at 408-277-5242.

The Interfaith Council on Religion, Race, Economic & Social Justice, a group that brings Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and others together, invites you to join other people of faith exploring our common call to justice. Their Faith In Action Series meets Thursday evenings, April 7 through May 12, 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM. This six-session course will bring together progressive spiritual activists from diverse traditions to learn, connect, and mobilize. For more information, see the March 11 issue of the SJV Newsletter or contact Rev. Carol Been at 408-269-7872 x577 or carol@atwork.org .

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.

The Annual St. John Vianney Fiesta "Celebrating Our Diversity" is quickly approaching. This year it is set for May 20 through May 22. We need CHAIRS and CO-CHAIRS....Manage a booth (Chair position) or assist in managing (Co-Chair position). If you are interested in the above Fiesta Positions, please contact: David Couch at 408-314-2393 or at dcouch36@sbcglobal.net , or Patricia Tovar at patricia.tovar@arusd.org.

Weekly Readings

This Week:

  Easter Vigil, March 26
  Genesis 1:1--2:2
  Genesis 22:1-18
  Exodus 14:15--15:1
  Isaiah 54:5-14
  Isaiah 55:1-11
  Baruch 3:9-15, 32--4:4
  Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28
  Romans 6:3-11
  Matthew 28:1-10

Easter Sunday, March 27
  Acts 10:34a. 37-43
  Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8
  John 20:1-9 or, afternoon, Luke 24:13-35

Next Week:

Second Sunday of Easter, April 3
  Acts 2:42-47
  1 Peter 1:3-9
  John 20:19-31

Praying the Scriptures:
  Visit this web site for ideas on
  praying the Scriptures:
  www.liturgy.slu.edu

Take a Moment to Pray:
  Visit this web site for ideas on
  the Ignatious way to pray:
  www.sacredspace.ie

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