Today our parish, along with other parishes across the United States, is celebrating Catechetical Sunday. At the 9:30 a.m. Mass we will have a special blessing for all Catechists involved in our Religious Education Program. As we begin another year, I ask you to pray for God’s continued blessing on our parish ministries.

All of us share in the mission of Jesus. We are called to show our young people who God is and how much He loves them We do this by example by being with them, by listening, praying, laughing, forgiving, and by being patient. Jesus is our model. His was a challenging ministry. At times He was exasperated with the Apostles, their many questions, doubts, and their apparent lack of faith. But Jesus never gave up. Let us, too, be steadfast and persevering in providing a climate of hope and trust that will nurture and strengthen the faith life of our young people. Our Catechists also need support in many ways and here are three to consider:

1. Praying for all catechists—we need the prayers and support of the parish community all year long, not just on Catechetical Sunday.
2. Volunteer your time to help as a catechetical aide or assistant.
3. Give serious consideration to becoming a catechist yourself.

The ministry of the catechist is a vocation to which people are called by God. If you feel that you have been called to share your faith as a Religious Education teacher, call Sister Mary at 588-0477.

As of August 28thth we have received $26,272.89 and $980.22 in tips. The total is $27,253.11!

Classes for Children Grades 6th, 7th and 8th begin on Tuesday, October 4th from 6:45 to 8 pm. in Hennessy Hall.

Confirmation classes for 9th graders begins on Tuesday, September 13th at 6:45 pm. to 8 p.m. in Hennessy Hall.

Confirmation classes for 10th graders started on Sunday, August 28th.

The Food and BBQ is still in need of help on Friday night between 8 and 11 p.m., Saturday night between 7-11 pm. And anytime on Sunday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. If you can help, please call us as soon as possible at (650) 588-1927.

It has come to our attention that we did not receive all of the sign-up forms or Emails that were sent to us. We do not have an explanation for this. For those of you who might have returned your form or sent us an Email and have not yet been contacted, please call us as soon as possible so that we can schedule you for the hours that you wanted.

The students at our parish school are having a contest to see which grade can sell the most Festival Raffle tickets.

There's still time to help your favorite class win one of the above prizes. So, turn in your raffle ticket stubs and please remember write on the outside of the envelope which grade you want to get credit for your book of tickets. If you need more tickets, or if you would like to volunteer for the festival raffle booth, you can contact Barbara Balestieri.

As a Parish Community

We continue to ask each week that parishioners pray for the chronically ill of our parish. If you have a friend or loved one in need of our parish prayers please call the Rectory at 589-2800.

The San Bruno Clinic, at 1001 Sneath Lane, Suite 300 is an outpatient facility of the San Francisco VA Medical Center and offers a full range of primary care services including: preventative care, nutrition, cancer screening, and vaccinations. Mental health services will be coming soon. The clinic is open from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Please phone them at 553-8000. You do not have to be disabled to utilize this clinic.

My Ways Are Not Your Ways
My Dad, who worked for Honeywell as an electrical engineer for 30 years before he retired, could never understand this gospel. Whenever it came up (every three years), he would say to me something like “You’ve given your whole life to working for God and doing what’s right. Why should some person who’s led a wild life, then has a death-bed conversion, get the same reward - going to heaven - as you do?” I would respond by saying that first of all, nobody deserves heaven; it is God’s free gift. Those of us who are old enough will remember the stress on doing things, as though we earned heaven through our good works. (That was actually a heresy, but we didn’t know it at the time.) Since Vatican II, the emphasis has been on helping us realize that God’s goodness to us ought to make us grateful and out of our gratitude, we reach out to show that same goodness to our brothers and sisters, especially those in need.

Secondly, my Dad’s question assumes that the person who’s led a wild life has gained happiness from that lifestyle and that my lifestyle of (trying) to respond to God and the needs of others has been a more difficult and less happy lifestyle. I remember when “Biography” used to highlight the lives of famous people. So often, they went through spouses like water and, though they seemingly had everything, frequently got caught up in alcohol or drugs. Though they may have been idolized, they surely weren’t happy. And doesn’t our experience tell us that when we’re giving to others and trying to be generous, we are happier than when we’re acting selfishly? Might the two Great Commandments - Love God with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole mind and your whole strength and love your neighbor as your self - be the key to our human happiness and not just our spiritual well-being?

Since my Dad is now enjoying God’s gift of eternal life, I’m sure he understands this parable and is rejoicing with those who share it with him. The gospel contains the invitation to be open and accepting of all who respond to God’s call whether early in life or later in life. One small way we can spread the Word is by our welcome. We have many new parishioners here since the summer. If you see someone you don’t recognize, why not introduce yourself and welcome him or her? Even if it turns out to be someone who simply participates in a different Mass than you do, you’ve met a fellow believer. Once we feel ourselves part of a community, it’s that much easier to respond to God’s call. Peace, S. Sheral