First Communion: Joining the Family Table
(adapted from www.AmericanCatholic.org by Judi Miel)

A toddler's move from high chair to the family table is a momentous event. A high chair is a throne for a small despot whose demands for another bite take precedence over others' needs. A seat at the table acclaims a new status: big boy or big girl. The move to the table brings new privileges. There a child can share fully in the family fare (even the broccoli !) and in the table conversation. The move also brings new responsibilities. The little one must master the rudiments of table manners. Children who sit at the table are expected to contribute something to the well-being of the whole family.

First Communion is just such a momentous move. A child, baptized as an infant into the family of God we call Church, at last takes a place at the Lord's Table with the grownups. The move also has meaning for the rest of us. We smile at the tykes in their First Communion finery-not just because they look cute, but because they are joining us at our family table, too: the table of God's family.

Eucharist is a family meal
All living creatures eat, but only human beings share a meal. A pride of lions dine on the same carcass, but the king gets his share first. Lionesses and cubs must wait their turn to snarl at each other over the leftovers, and the weakest eats last. Only in the human family is food truly shared.

A family meal provides more than physical nourishment. It affirms the sharing of resources, the mutual love and interdependence that is the very essence of family. It is the daily rediscovery and celebration of what it means to be family.

Also uniquely human is the ability to add meaning to a special meal. A birthday dinner, a holiday feast, a picnic outing- very young children know that these are not everyday meals. They are set apart from the ordinary by different foods, seasonal decorations or unusual surroundings, the best china or colorful paper plates, perhaps by special songs and rituals (Christmas carols, carving the bird, blowing out the birthday candles). And they often include guests: extended family, neighbors, friends, co-workers.

Celebrating who we are
Such special meals celebrate who we are. They emphasize our connections with one another even beyond the boundaries of immediate family. A kindergartner can retell the story of the first Thanksgiving. Young children already know that Thanksgiving is not just for their families, but a celebration with many others.

Jesus celebrated the Passover meal as he grew up in Nazareth. On the night before he died, he celebrated it with his adopted family, his closest followers. Departing from the familiar ritual, he broke the unleavened bread for them and passed a cup of wine, declaring this food his body and blood given for the life of the world. In this action, he gave us the Eucharist, the family meal that unites believers all around the world at one table. The first Christians, still rooted in Judaism, went to synagogues to pray and hear God's word, but they celebrated Eucharist in homes with those who had become family through Jesus.

Changing family traditions
Family traditions change, even though slowly. As the Church grew, the sacraments of initiation became separate moments. Confirmation and Eucharist were gradually postponed until children, like adult catechumens, were schooled in the faith by lesson and by example. By the 10th century, the three sacraments of initiation had become separated. First communicants were 12 to 14 years old- nearly adults-until 1910, when Pope Pius X lowered the age for first reception to six or seven, "the age of reason." By then, First Communion had become a "class" event.

In some parishes, First Communion is still a class event-and fittingly so, for these youngsters have made the journey toward the Lord's table together; the class is a child's first faith community outside the family circle. More and more parishioners today see children receiving their First Communion with their families at a regular Sunday liturgy (also fittingly, for they first learned faith at home). Many parishes do both, scheduling a Eucharist for the whole class after each child has already received with family.

In the early Church, new members wore their white garments throughout the seven weeks of the Easter season, and the whole assembly took care to extend special attention to the newcomers. First communicants are still easy to spot. They're the kids in new finery. White garb is still the most popular for little girls, as it once was for their brothers. And these kids still merit special attention and congratulations from the rest of us.

Evening Bible Study at SJV !

An evening Bible Study will be offered at St. John Vianney Parish! This is something many people have been asking for, so we hope you will all attend.

The Bible study will be on the Gospel of John. The presentor will be the dean and rector of Trinity Cathedral, Very Rev. David Bird. He holds a doctorate in systematic theology from Duquesne University.

The dates will be Tuesday evenings May 17, 24, 31, and June 7 from 7 PM to 8:30 PM in the parish office center.

Global Week of Action for Fair Trade

You're invited to a progressive coffee party! As our way of celebrating the Global Week of Action for Fair Trade, we are having a progressive coffee party:

1. Gather your friends and fellow parishioners at 8:00 AM on Saturday, April 16, in the parish parking lot.
2. Divide into groups of 4-5 and jump into your cars.
3. Visit your local coffee houses. (List provided.)
4. For each visit, send one person in to ask for a brewed cup of Fair Trade Coffee.
   A. If a brewed cup of Fair Trade coffee is available, buy it and thank them for providing a living wage to the coffee farmer. Perhaps everyone else in your team would buy a cup also.
   B. If a brewed cup of Fair Trade coffee is not available, tell them you are unable to buy. Give them a card explaining why it is important, be polite, and leave without a purchase. Send in the next person in your car to repeat the process, etc.
5. Visit a variety of coffee shops in the area, requesting a brewed cup of Fair Trade Coffee.
6. After visiting five or six shops, gather at the home of Brendan and Darby Cunning for a party with all the Fair Trade Coffee you can drink. (Other refreshments will be provided also.)

St. John Vianney JustFaith members and alumni, together with MT25.org, have provided kits to other parishes so they can have their own progressive coffee party. Together, we can make the world a better place.

www.ncrlc.com/GWofA-webpage.html

Valley of the Gods: Religious Encounters in Silicon Valley

Santa Clara University lecture series explores diversity of religious beliefs. Hindu, Jain, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Zoroastrian: immigrants to Silicon Valley have created an incredibly rich religious landscape in the Valley.

How do Silicon Valley's different and diverse religious communities regard each other: An asset to be promoted or a challenge to be feared? A harmonious mosaic or a balkanized collection of fragments?

Santa Clara University's religious studies department and its Local Religion Project (LRP) is trying to gain a better understanding of the diversity of religious beliefs in Silicon Valley, by hosting a series of free lectures by regional religious leaders, "Valley of the Gods: Religious Encounters in the Bay Area."

The lectures are open to the public every Thursday through June 2, from 4 to 5 PM in Daly Science 206. No registration is required.

"The Local Religion Project is an effort to develop a resource for people wanting to teach or learn about religion in the valley," said Philip Boo Riley, director of the LRP and religious studies professor at SCU.

The lecture series will address issues like:
* What role do faith communities play in the Valley?
* Do religious differences erode a collective identity?
* Do different faith communities tolerate or ignore one another?
* Where do religious communities come together in the Valley, and why?
* Is religion a source of conflict in the Valley?

Each presenter will comment on "the way in which they understand themselves in relation to other religions, talk about their roots, and engage with the audience about their role in the Valley," Riley said.

April 21 - Valley of the Gods: Focus on Evangelical Christianity
"CHAM: Battling Poverty in the Heart of Silicon Valley,"
by Rev. Scott Wagers, Community Homeless Alliance Ministry (CHAM)

April 28 - Valley of the Gods: Focus on Islam
"Islam, Immigration, Community in the Valley,"
by Tahir Anwar, Imam, South Bay Islamic Center

May 5 - Valley of the Gods: Focus on Judaism
"Living Jewishly in the Multicultural Worlds of the Valley,"
by Rabbi Sheldon Lewis, Kol Emeth Synagogue (Palo Alto)

May 12 - Valley of the Gods: Focus on Buddhism
"Indigenous Zen Buddhism: Healing Bodies and Spirits in the Valley,"
by Darlene Cohen, Zen priest and Bay Area Buddhist teacher

May 19 - Valley of the Gods: Focus on Sikhism
"Building a New Home in Silicon Valley: Immigration, Roots and Integration,"
by Dr. Gurinder Paul Singh, Executive Board of the San Jose Gurdwara and Principal of the Gurdwara School

May 26 - Valley of the Gods: Focus on Inter Faith Work
"Educating for Tolerance in the Bay Area,"
by Bart Charlow, Executive Director, National Conference of Community and Justice (NCCJ), Andrew Kille, Founder/Director, Interfaith Space, and Maha El Genaidi, Executive Director Islamic Networks Group

June 2 - Valley of the Gods: Focus on Native Americans
"Past, Present and Future of the Valley's Oldest Way of Life,"
by Ann Sayers, Indian Canyon Community; Costanoan Indian Research

This Lecture series is sponsored by the Local Religion Project. Funding is provided by Santa Clara University's Department of Religious Studies, Osher Life Long Learning Institute, and the Thomas Terry Grant program. For more information, contact Deepa Arora, Medias Relations Director, Santa Clara University, (408) 554-5125

Fair Trade - Where Do I Buy It?
by Ann McEntee

We all became aware of Fair Trade last weekend, as JustFaith members and alumni spoke about it at each liturgy and offered samples after mass. Many of you purchased Fair Trade items for your own use.. We all want to help our brothers and sisters around the world earn a living wage. So where can we buy these products?

One place we can buy them is our local SaveMart (where we always run in to fellow parishioners). SaveMart carries Fair Trade Organic Coffee. (You have to look for the "Certified Fair Trade" logo on the package.) and other products that are environmentally safe, non-toxic, biodegradable, and use recycled paper. (This saves our trees and water.) These products are made locally by small businesses. We can all ask SaveMart to carry "Fair Trade Certified" hot chocolate, decaffeinated coffee, as well as other products that help give workers a living wage and protect the environment.

We can also order from a local supplier, Mike Monroe, who owns a small business, Integrity Express. We served and sold his products this past weekend. He delivers or ships his products.

Contact Mike Monroe at:

phone: (408) 234-6377
fax: (408) 848-3736
email: mike@integrityexpress.us
No minimum order! Free Same Day or Next Day Delivery or Quick out of area shipping!

There are other companies, but these two are local ones with which we can start. We can also request there products from the other stores we frequent. We can help change the world !

Women's Time Out News

Save the date, April 28th, for the next Women's Time Out (WTO) event: A Scapbooking Night hosted by Dianna Albert, SJV 2nd Grade Teacher! Her co-coordinator is Veronica Wildanger, SJV parishioner.

What? You've never heard of Women's Time Out? WTO events are held monthly (September through May) for women (21 years and older) of St. John Vianney Parish and School. Usually, the fourth Thursday of the month, at 6:30 PM we get out of the house to share time with friends or make new ones. Our activities include wine and cheese socials, craft or scrapbooking nights, holiday cookie and ornament exchanges, Bunco, cooking classes, dinners out, Bingo, etc. A flower show last Spring and our recent spa night were big hits.

Would you be interested in being a WTO Coordinator? We are looking for one or more gals to take over for next year. Don't let WTO go away. Please contact Laura Rossini 254-8602 for more information.

Announcements

First Communion Sundays: St. John Vianney Parish will celebrate First Communion on April 10, 17, and 24. This means we will likely have guests at Mass, so let's be especially welcoming and understanding.

The Spanish Speaking community of Saint John Vianney has a Desayuno (breakfast) fundraiser the 4th Sunday of every month. All proceeds from the Desayuno go to the Multipurpose Building Fund. The next Desayuno is scheduled for Sunday, April 24, 2005 , after each of the morning Masses. Donations of food are accepted. Please contact Fernando Pena for more information at (408) 258-3470.

Reminder: The Jim McEntee Legacy Story Collection wants as many people as possible to share stories of Jim, so we can all remember and imitate him. If you have a story to tell, visit the website: www.JimMcEnteeLegacy.org

Father Kevin Joyce, Ph.D, Director of SpiritSite, is scheduled to return to SJV Parish at 7 PM on April 18. For more information see www.SpiritSite.org , or call Spririt Site at (408) 247-9237.  At St. John Vianney, call Irma Rangel at 258-7832, or email Irma at irangel@sjvsj.net .

The 30th annual Berryessa Art and Wine Festival will be held on Saturday, May 7, from 10 AM to 5 PM at Penitencia Creek Park (adjacent to Berryessa Community Center, 3050 Berryessa Road).  The festival will feature a variety of foods and wines, as well as 156 artisans selling their wares.  Admission is free, and all net proceeds go to the music programs in the Berryessa elementary and middle schools. For more information, contact Paula Townsend at (408) 251-7326 or bawf@comcast.net.

The next SJV Fiesta meeting will be next Tuesday, April 21 and April 28, at 7 PM in the School Library. The Annual St. John Vianney Fiesta 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.

You can help name the new Alum Rock Library. The name of the new branch library, at the corner of Alum Rock Avenue and White Road, will be decided at a meeting of the San Jose City Council on Tuesday, April 19th at 7 PM. Anyone may speak at the meeting and state your preference. Click on the April edition of NNV online newsletter to read a story on this topic. Click on NNV's community bulletin board for any changes to the meeting schedule and for information on other upcoming community events and meetings.

Weekly Readings

This Week:

Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 17
  Acts 2:14a, 36-41
  1 Peter 2:20b-25
  John 10:1-10

Next Week:

Fifth Sunday of Easter, April 24
  Acts 6:1-7
  1 Peter 2:4-9
  John 14:1-12

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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