March 6 , 2006VOL. 44, NO. 5Oakland, CA

A gift of life
James Kildunne, a senior and cross country/track athlete at De La Salle High, celebrated his 18th birthday earlier this year by making his first blood donation during a blood drive held at the Concord campus. Kildunne was one of 83 students who supported the drive, sponsored by De La Salle and the American Red Cross. Students collected 50 pints of blood and nine pints of double red cells..

Glee in Pleasant Hill

The University of Notre Dame Glee Club – one of the most renowned all-male choruses in the U.S. – is coming to Pleasant Hill next week for a performance that is part fundraiser and part homecoming for a local Catholic parish. The concert at Christ the King Church, 1999 Brandon Road, on March 13 at 7:30 p.m. is a fundraiser for St. Catherine Parish in Martinez, where parishioners are trying to raise enough money to build a parish activity center. “Christ the King was kind enough to let us use their church,” said Frank Hall.

For Hall the concert will mark the happy return of his grandson, Robby Rusca, a chorus member and parishioner at St. Catherine’s. Rusca, a 2005 graduate of Alhambra High School in Martinez and valedictorian of his class, is attending UND on a full academic scholarship. The cost of the benefit concert is $15; tickets will be available at the door or can be reserved by calling (925) 586-3658.

Around the Parishes

Much applause and many blessings go to members of St. Perpetua Parish in Lafayette who offered their parish hall as a temporary shelter for homeless families last month. Some parishioners volunteered as chaperones, and many, including the school faculty and staff, opened their wallets as well. Joining them was the MOMS group from Santa Maria Parish in Orinda. In all, they donated five queen-sized air mattresses, 60 BART tickets ($3 each), 35 movie passes ($9.75 each), 30 McDonald’s certificates ($5 each), $350 in gas gift cards and $2,471.50 in cash.

Father Richard Mangini, pastor at Concord’s St. Bonaventure Parish, fondly remembered and gave thanks for Annie Rose Carlos, a founding member of the parish, who died recently at the age of 106. Carlos, along with her mother, Minnie Rose, donated the property on which the parish church stands today. In a parish bulletin, Father Mangini said that although Carlos moved out of the parish in 1968 she continued to visit each year until 1997. “It was a dream and long goal of Annie’s to have a parish established in eastern Concord,” the pastor wrote. “Having had seven acres left to the old Archdiocese of San Francisco in her mother’s will, she added almost three more, and gradually pressured the archdiocese to establish the parish by threatening to take the property back.” A bronze plaque in honor of Annie Rose Carlos and Minnie Rose is affixed just outside the door of the parish office.

Members at St. Leo Parish in Oakland offered their gratitude to Bill Visscher, music coordinator for two weekend Masses, who moved to Olympia, WA last month.

Who’s Reading What? The Newman fiction group at Holy Spirit-Newman Hall Parish in Berkeley is discussing “Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon tomorrow (March 7) at 7 p.m. In April the NFG will discuss “Gilead” by M. Robinson.

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Around the Schools

The first and fifth grade classes at Assumption School in San Leandro helped their schoolmates welcome in the Year of the Dog during the school’s observation of the Chinese New Year. Working in groups, the students created a dragon and the accessories for a parade – drums, shakers, wands, fans and lanterns, then visited the classrooms, giving each a lantern and fan. The first and fifth graders ended their celebration by sharing a yummy treat – fortune cookies – together.

Alameda’s St. Joseph Notre Dame High School is putting on a musical this spring called “Home Sweet Home.” But the story behind the story is two JSND seniors --. Gabrielle Soria wrote the script and Jon Siapno composed the music. The drama, set in the 1960s, finds the main characters, Donnie and Mark, struggling with the aftermath of their father’s death during the Vietnam War. Their mother and various friends are pulled into the mix, allowing the audience to see how far-reaching the effects of one tragic event can be. Performances will take place in St. Joseph’s Learning Center, 1011 Chestnut St. in Alameda on March 31, April 1, April 7, and April 8 at 8 p.m. and on April 2 at 2 p.m. Ticket are $10 for adults and $7.50 for students and seniors. Contact Didi Kubicek, SJND vocal director, at (510) 814-8512 or (510) 523-1526 for tickets.

Earthbound, the environmental group at Bishop O’Dowd High in Oakland, is sponsoring a benefit, “Stories from Chernobyl, a Celebration of Survival,” on March 10 from 8 to 10 p.m. in the school’s theater. The gathering commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster that resulted in the release of 200 tons of radioactive materials into the atmosphere. Highlights of the gathering include a performance by Kitka, an internationally acclaimed women’s vocal ensemble that performs Eastern European music. Proceeds will benefit “How to Live With Radiation,” a project of the Russian environmental organization Viola. Admission: $20 for adults, $10 for children. Information: www.bishopodowd.org.

Got news? Share it with Around The Diocese. Send your school news, anniversaries, parish activities, individual achievements and other happenings in the Catholic community to Carrie McClish at The Catholic Voice, c/o Around The Diocese, 3014 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland, Ca 94610; phone: (510) 419-1074; fax (510) 893-4734; e-mail:cmcclish@oakdiocese.org.

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Names, News, Notes

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