March 20, 2006VOL. 44, NO. 6Oakland, CA

CYO champs in San Leandro

Assumption School’s 8th grade volleyball team celebrates after winning the diocesan CYO championship, defeating St. Theresa of Oakland in two games. Team members are, from left, Samantha Yamini, Coach Paul Stier, Amand Penalva, Meg Scherer, Rachel Stier, Laurel Fujii (seated), Marina Affonso, Beth Morrisroe and Analyss Cruz.

Honoring a cheerleader

Cheerleaders from St. Mary’s High School in Berkeley showed their compassion and support when they honored Jenny Selitham, a cheerleader from rival Salesian High School in Richmond, who died in a car accident in February. When the two cheer teams met at the North Coast Section boys’ basketball playoff game between the two schools, members of St. Mary’s cheer team presented the grieving Salesian cheer squad with roses and condolences.

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Devotional CD

Seeking spiritual inspiration during this Lenten season? You’re in luck – a new CD produced by the music ministry of St. John Vianney Parish in Walnut Creek is now available for those who want to enhance their prayer life during Lent.

Entitled “Adoro Te Devote (Humbly We Adore Thee),” the CD offers 10 instrumental selections that center on Lenten themes and on prayer. The CD is available during all weekend Masses at St. John Vianney Church or during regular business hours at the parish office. Mail orders for the CD ($18 plus $3 shipping/handling) can be sent to St. John Vianney Parish, Attention Merrill Collins, 1650 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94598. For additional information phone: (925) 939-7911 or visit the website: www.sjvianney.org.

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Around the Parishes

Members of Santa Maria Parish in Orinda along with the Orinda Community Church recently provided the evening meals for the Winter Nights Family Shelter, a rotating shelter among local area churches. Adult volunteers, several youth groups and two scout troops also served up a pancake breakfast on the weekend and entertained the large group of young homeless children staying at the shelter.

Meanwhile, at St. Joan of Arc Parish in San Ramon, members are providing financial assistance and volunteer support to Habitat for Humanity, an ecumenical organization that helps low-income people obtain affordable and decent housing. The Mount Diablo Habitat, which the parish supports, is currently renovating a house in Martinez that will be used to house AmeriCorps volunteers. The next project is a four-home development in Antioch.

Talk about pre-planning! Oakland’s St. Leo Parish is already getting ready for its big centennial celebration as a faith community – the festivities, however, will start in January 2011. Organizers are getting a jump on the event by encouraging folks to write down and turn in their recollections – the earlier the better – of the parish and parish life. Photos of parish happenings during those first 100 years are also being sought – the deadline for submission is July 4, 2009! Don’t keep your St. Leo memories to yourself. Send them the parish office: 176 Ridgeway Ave, Oakland, 94611.

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Around the Schools

Two thumbs way up for the students of St. John School in San Lorenzo who participated in the American Heart Association’s fundraiser “Jump Rope for Heart” and raised more than $1,060 – double the amount they raised last year! But the school’s generosity doesn’t stop there. Students also took up a collection during Ash Wednesday services that netted more than $1,000 for the victims of the mudslides in the Philippines. The money will be sent to Catholic Relief Services.

Much applause goes to the third grade class at St. Edward School in Newark who recently held a bake sale and raised $214.27 for the Tri-City Homeless Coalition.

Congratulations to several students and alumni from Richmond’s Salesian High School who recently received recognition for their athletic and academic achievements: David Singleton, senior, was voted the BSAL MVP for football; Andre Wells, senior, was selected one of the national Red Zone Football Players of the Year; Carmen Merport is a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship competition; Michael Love is a finalist in the 2006 National Achievement Scholarship Program; and alumna Andrea Salvador (2004) was named All-American for soccer and a National Athlete of the Year.

Congratulations to Miranda Wilson, a junior at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, who placed third in the shot put event at the 2006 National Scholastic Indoor Track and Field Championships in New York. Wilson, who threw 44 feet, 21 inches, is currently ranked third in the U.S. for the indoor event and second in the state. As a result of her performance she made the first Team All American and the Academic All-American Team. Wilson is also one of the top discus throwers in the state, with her best throw a 140-6.

Applause also goes to students at Carondelet High School in Concord who defeated Pinole Valley High School 52-35 to win the California Interscholastic Federation Northern Regional Division II girls final in Sacramento. Meanwhile De La Salle High School, also in Concord, posted a 65-52 win against Tokay-Lodi to claim the CIF Northern Regional Division I boys championship. Both teams are vying for the state championships in their divisions as The Voice goes to press.

Did you graduate from Salesian High School in Richmond in 1977? Your former classmates are looking for all alums for the upcoming 30-year reunion. For more information, contact David Escobar at dsescobar@sbcglobal.net.

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Among the Religious

Father Joseph Phan recently began a three-year term as director of the diocesan Apostleship of the Sea, a pastoral ministry to seafarers and others who work in the maritime industry.

Sister Michelle L’Allier, a staff member at San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville, has been elected to the leadership team of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minn.

Msgr. J. Quinn, a former Catholic chaplain at the U.S. Veteran’s Hospital in Livermore, died at his home in Coronado, CA on Feb. 24 at the age of 98. Msgr. Quinn, who retired from the Navy in July 1969, served as an associate pastor at St. Michael Parish in Livermore from 1972 – 1978. Memorial donations may be sent to: Briar Cliff University, Office of Nursing Scholarships, 3303 Rebecca St., Sioux City IA 51104.

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Names, News, Notes

Get ready to renew your mind and body from the inside out through a series of workshops offered by Mercy Retirement and Care Center in Oakland. Kate Schrup will lead the five-part series, “How to Expand Your Mind-Body Connection” beginning today (March 20) from 5:30 – 7 p.m. in the Rose Room at the care center, 3431 Foothill Blvd., Oakland. The next sessions will be held April 3, April 17, May 1 and 15. The cost of the complete workshop is $120 or $30 for individual sessions. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (510) 534-8547, ext. 666. To learn more, visit the website: www.mercyretirementcenter.org.

The Eternal Word Television Network will air three telecasts on the life of Pope John Paul II a year after his death. The 2005 telecast of the Pope’s funeral Mass at St. Peter’s Square in Rome will be rebroadcast (three hours) on April 1 at 4 p.m. A new one-hour documentary, “John Paul II the Great: A Pope Who Made History,” will air at 7 p.m. on both April 2 and 5. A memorial Mass for Pope John Paul II will air live from St. Peter’s Square on April 3 at 8:30 a.m., with a repeat telecast later at 6 p.m. EWTN is carried on Comcast Digital channel 229; DISH Satellite channel 261; and Direct TV channel 422; in Alameda on Comcast channel 30 and Alameda Power channel 26. Visit www.ewtn.comfor more special programming.

Family Connections Christian Adoptions, a Christian non-profit agency for waiting children, will hold a free information session on April 1 at 2 p.m. at 1120 Tully Road in Modesto. Family Connections Christian Adoptions specializes in placing waiting children from California and across the world. For more information: (209) 524-8844.

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