May 23, 2005 VOL. 43, NO. 11Oakland, CA

Oldest Holy Spirit festival In keeping with a tradition begun on Pentecost 1887, Holy Spirit Parish in Fremont held its annual festival May 15 with a parade through the Centerville district to the church for the Pentecost Mass and coronation of the festival queen. This year’s queen is Sarina Sigmon, seen here with her godfather, Father Gerard Moran, pastor. She carried the same ceremonial crown used for the last 92 years. This year’s Grand Marshals are Les and Sharon Rodrigues. The parish, founded by Portuguese Catholics, is now home to over 5,000 families from such diverse countries as Vietnam, Botswana, India, the Philippines, Korea, China, Jamaica as well as Europe. It is the largest parish in the Oakland Diocese. To respond to its growing population, the parish is raising funds for a $6 million building and renovation project that will add a religious education center and a perpetual adoration chapel.	Moraga campus carnival Katie Gallagher, a student at Saint Mary’s College, watches as a clown (Tom Carroll, a graduate student at the college) entertains two youngsters during the college’s annual Carnival 4 Kids last month. Organized by student volunteers, the event brought 250 children to the Moraga campus from San Francisco and Oakland non-profit organizations. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Ken Dorsey spoke to the kids about the value of education. Also participating were Mary Spellman, dean of student life (background), and the school’s mascot, Gael Force One.
Parishioners visit historic war ship A possible first in the Oakland Diocese – Mass aboard the USS Hornet at the former Naval Air Station in Alameda. Father Antony Vazhappilly, parochial vicar at St. John Vianney Parish in Walnut Creek, celebrated the liturgy for 106 parishioners and their guests who came to the World War II aircraft carrier on a family outing sponsored by the parish’s Men’s Club. After Mass in the Officers’ Mess, the group toured the ship with four seasoned Hornet docents. The two-hour tour took the group from the air control tower five levels above the flight deck to the crew’s mess five levels below the flight deck. On the hanger deck, they saw an Apollo space capsule. The Hornet picked up the first astronauts who visited the moon. The group also enjoyed a hot lunch and free time on the ship. James Torres, a parishioner and docent, said that at $20 per person, the visit was “a bargain, a treat, a great way for a church group to spend a Sunday.” The Hornet also is available for groups wishing to spend the night on the ship. Cost is $50 per person, including meals.
Panthers Class of 1936 Six members of St. Mary’s High School Class of 1936 gathered at the Berkeley campus for their 69th reunion. The reunion are always held on the Saturday after Easter. They are, from left, Leo Cooney, Harold Turner, Jim McCloud, Augie Gaspar, Jahn Sabatte, and Bill Rockett. The men have met annually except for two years during World War II. Their 70th reunion is set for April 22, 2006.

Around the Parishes

Members at St. Michael Parish in Livermore will conduct the 40 Hours Devotion, a special period of continuous prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in solemn exposition, May 26 – 29. The event will begin with a bilingual Mass on May 26 at 7 p.m., followed by a procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the chapel where there will be continuous adoration until May 28 at 6:15 p.m.

Concord’s Queen of All Saints Church in Concord will have a Eucharistic procession following the noon Mass on May 29, the Feast of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).

Oakland’s St. Leo Parish is starting up a Moms’ Group, where moms can get to know one another, learn and share ideas and tips, and just have fun!

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Brentwood will observe the first anniversary of the dedication of its new church with a special Mass on June 4 at 4 p.m.

back to top

Around the Schools

Two thumbs way up to seven students in Hayward’s Catholic schools who received honors from the City of Hayward for promoting recycling through their artwork and essays. Ricardo Gonzalez of St. Bede School took first place in the 3rd-5th grade essay category; Christie Hartanto, All Saints School, third place, 6th-8th grade, essay; Emily Choi, Moreau Catholic High, first place, 9th-12 grade, essay; Melissa Palanca, St. Bede School, second place, 3rd-5th grade, poster; Kristia Candelario, St. Bede School, third place, 3rd-5th grade; Phillip Peng, St. Clement School, second place, 6th-8th grade, poster; and Cherilyn Go, St. Clement School, third place, 6th-8th grade, poster.

Students at St. Raymond School in Dublin received an abundance of food for thought during their recent Career Week. Police officers, an emergency room doctor, an architect, a university professor, and a NASA engineer were among the professionals who made presentations. A number of parents served as presenters.

The graduating class at St. Felicitas School in San Leandro recently attended their 8th grade retreat at the diocesan Youth Retreat House in Lafayette. For three days the 24 leaders Jeff and Donna Heusler, Denise Abero and teacher Marylou Ramirez, led the students in prayer, activities, music and introspection. Other members of the team were group facilitators who had once attended the same retreat while in the 8th grade and who are now in their late teens and early 20s. Rich Hulsman prepared the meals while the students were required to set and clean up tables, wash dishes and sweep floors. The retreat ended in an outdoor Mass, presided by Father Wayne Campbell, St. Felicitas pastor. Joanne Dalnoki, principal, was also in attendance.

back to top

Names, News, Notes

More than 500 girls and boys, grades 3 through 8, competed in the annual diocesan CYO track and field championship meet at Diablo Valley College. Several athletes broke or tied diocesan records: Fifth-grade girls tetherball toss (105’9”) - Katrina Hess, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Fremont; seventh grade girls 800 meters (2:24.8)- Chelsea Schneider, Our Lady of Grace, Castro Valley; high jump (5’) - Adrienne Johnson, Christ the King, Pleasant Hill; eighth grade girls 400 meters (59.9) - Donnise Powell, St. Anne, Union City; fifth grade boys 800 meters (2.28.2) – Evan Molineux, St. Isidore, Danville; sixth grade boys 400 meters (58.8) - Carlyle Garrick, Our Lady of Grace, Castro Valley; 4 X 100 relay (53.7) – Our Lady of Grace, Castro Valley; seventh grade boys long jump (19’7 1/4”) – Derek Walcott, St. Joan of Arc, San Ramon; eighth grade boys high jump (5’10” – David Williams, St. Michael, Livermore.

Several adults were recognized at the CYO diocesan track and field championship meet for their outstanding contributions to the program: Chris Eckert of St. Paul Parish, San Pablo; Randy Engles and Gil Llacuna, Jr. of St. John Vianney Parish, Walnut Creek; Carlos Mangrobang, St. Joseph Parish, Fremont, and Keith Robertson, St. Leo the Great Parish, Oakland.
Congratulations go to Richard Lipinski, a member of Boy Scout Troop 19 chartered by St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Berkeley, who completed his Eagle Scout project last month. He planned, installed steps, and landscaped a new entry to Columbia Walk on Fairlawn Drive in the Berkeley Hills.

All are invited to attend and participate in National Senior Health and Fitness Day, May 25, at Salem Lutheran Home, 2361 E. 29th St. in Oakland. “Get Moving … It’s a Step in the Right Direction,” begins at 9 a.m. and includes guest speakers, information booths, health and fitness tests, special walks and games and prizes. Salem Lutheran Home is affiliated with Elder Care Alliance and co-sponsored by the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Sisters of Mercy Regional Community of Burlingame. For more information , call Tony Powell or Gina Meyer at (510) 434-2855.

EWTN Programming: America’s 24-hour Catholic network will broadcast live the Memorial Day Mass from the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, D.C. on May 30 at 9 a.m. Archbishop Edwin O’Brien, who heads the Archdiocese for Military Services, will celebrate the annual Mass honoring the nation’s deceased veterans.

Also on EWTN, a special telecast featuring Tony Melendez, a musician born without arms who is known worldwide for playing the guitar with his feet. His inspiring story will be shown May 31 at 10 a.m. and June 3 at 8 p.m. EWTN airs on Comcast Digital channel 229; DISH Satellite channel 261; and DirecTV channel 422; in Alameda on Comcast channel 30; and Alameda Power channel 19.

back to top

home