September 18, 2006VOL. 44, NO. 16Oakland, CA

Golden jubilarian
Holy Names Sister Kathryn Ondreyco, principal of Holy Names High in Oakland from 1982-1992, recently observed her golden jubilee in religious life. The Pennsylvania native also taught at Sacred Heart School in Oakland (1960-1963) and Holy Names High (1963-1968, 1973-1978, 1980-1982). She is now development director for the Holy Names Sisters in California and is living in Los Gatos.

Tee time for Roza

The “Rocket” Roza Golf Classic, a fundraiser for Oakland’s Bishop O’Dowd High School, will be held Oct. 9 at Sequoyah Country Club in Oakland. And that leaves inquiring minds to wonder, “Who is ‘Rocket’ Roza?” Dick Roza, who just began his 48th year as a teacher at BOD.

Technology wasn’t very advanced when Roza started at the school, but over the years he has embraced new ways to reach students. This summer, for example, he created a PowerPoint presentation for his health classes. It is fitting that the proceeds from the tournament named in his honor will help create technologically advanced classrooms at the campus. For more information about the tournament visit www.bishopodowd.org.

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Nothing but the “Truth”

“An Inconvenient Truth,” the acclaimed documentary about former Vice President Al Gore and his campaign to reverse global warming, will have at least three separate screenings in the diocese next month.

On Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m., it will be featured as part of the Mission Forum sponsored by the Maryknoll community, 16300 Foothill Blvd., San Leandro.

On Oct. 8, a screening will take place in the parish center at St. Stephen Church, 1101 Keaveny Court in Walnut Creek at 6 p.m. A potluck dinner will be offered at 5 p.m. For information, contact Annette Roux at (925) 939-3826.
On Oct. 18, St. John the Baptist Church, 264 East Lewelling Blvd. in San Lorenzo, will host a screening at 6:45 p.m. A discussion with light snacks will follow at 8:30 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring food to share or a $3 donation. To RVSP: (510) 351-5050 or mjauco05-05@yahoo.com.
The screenings in San Leandro and Walnut Creek are sponsored by CA Interfaith Power and Light.

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Eucharistic celebration

What do Our Lady Queen of the World and the Confraternity of Eucharistic Devotion have in common? Both were the focus of a Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Concord on Aug. 22. About 500 persons from across the diocese joined Bishop Allen Vigneron and five concelebrants for the first annual Mass of the Confraternity on the feast day of the diocesan patroness. Fellowship and the first general membership meeting followed the liturgy. For more information contact St. Francis of Assisi Church, 860 Oak Grove Road, Concord or visit www.eucharisticdevotion.org.

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Around the Parishes

St. Isidore Parish in Danville will hold a Candlelight Rosary for Life on Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. Members of the Respect Life Ministry, Young Ladies Institute, the International Rosary Committee, Knights of Columbus, St. Isidore’s Youth Group and the Legion of Mary will lead the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary in different languages. More than 60 additional people will hold lighted candles to represent each rosary prayer.

Members of Christ the King Parish in Pleasant Hill welcomed Father Gerard Jean-Juste, who has been fighting political and economic violence and persecution in his native Haiti for many years, to the 10:45 a.m. Mass on Sept. 10. The priest expressed his thanks to the parish for their support of his food program for hungry children in Haiti. Father Jean-Juste, who spent several months in a Haitian prison on false charges of gun possession, also spoke at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Berkeley on Sept. 9.

Over 180 people recently signed the “Declaration of Peace” pledge at St. John the Baptist Parish in San Lorenzo, joining the nationwide campaign to urge Congress to establish a rapid plan for peace in Iraq by Sept. 21. The parish also hosted a concert Sept. 14 featuring Jesse Manibusan to raise funds for the parish’s religious education.

A free forum on immigration for those who have questions or concerns about immigration will be held at noon at St. Jarlath Parish at 2620 Pleasant St. in Oakland. Attorneys who specialize in immigration law will provide general information about proposed changes in law. They will also provide free and individual consultations for those who need it. For more information, contact the Social Justice Office, Diocese of Oakland, at (510) 267-8379.

Father Dan Danielson, pastor at the Catholic Community of Pleasanton, will address the topic, “Learning How to Live in Gratitude,” on Sept. 26 at St. Pius Parish, 1100 Woodside Road in Redwood City at 7 p.m., kicking off the new speaker series there.

The bereavement ministry at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Brentwood is offering a seven-week support group starting on Oct. 8 for anyone grieving the death of a loved one. The group will meet at the church, 500 Fairview Ave., on Sundays at 4 p.m. For more information, call Sandy at (925) 513-3412 or Elizabeth at (925) 513-2907.

Next year St. Augustine Parish in Oakland will celebrate its 100th birthday. As part of the centennial commemoration organizers are seeking photographs of the old church, rectory, grounds, etc. and other parish memorabilia, for the celebration. If you can help, contact the rectory office at (510) 653-8631.

St. Monica Parish in Moraga will dedicate its new Parish Education and Activity Center on Oct. 8. Bishop Emeritus John Cummins will preside at the dedication Mass at 11 a.m. The celebration will continue at the parish picnic immediately following the liturgy at Rancho Laguan Park.

Speaking of St. Monica’s, Boy Scout Troop 234 hosted an Eagle Court of Honor on Sept. 10 celebrating the advancement of David Maas Weinzimmer, Jeffrey Michael Gicklhorn, and Michael Thomas Matheson to the highest rank in Scouting. Troop 234 is chartered by the parish’s Men’s Club.

All Saints Parish in Hayward will host their first junior high rally for 7th and 8th graders on Sept. 23. Bob Perron, a nationally known speaker, will give the keynote address and Jon Manongdo from IXD will lead the youth in song.

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Around the Schools

Students at The School of the Madeleine in Berkeley will observe International Peace Day on Sept. 21 with the dedication of a peace garden and peace pole. The garden will be used by the faculty to teach ecology and to study the richness of the earth. Gabrielle Baumgartner, head of the school’s science department, shares her interest in science with her brother, Andrew De Vogelaere who works at Monterey Bay Research Institute. Both are Madeleine graduates. The peace pole, which has been carved by hand, contains the word “peace” in the 25 languages spoken by the students' parents.

Congratulations go to Katherine Diamantine, a 10th grader at Carondelet High School in Concord who participated in the 2006 Hong Kong International Youth and Children’s Choir Festival. Diamantine won the “Silver A” medal in the solo competition for those 16 years and younger, singing a classic and folk piece, which placed her fourth overall. She has been singing with Piedmont Choirs since the 3rd grade.

Congratulations to the staff at Bishop O’Dowd’s student newspaper, The Crozier, who captured the Gold Medalist award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association of Columbia University. The Crozier also earned “All-Columbian Honors” in coverage.

The Center for the Regional Economy, a new interdisciplinary center established at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, will study the economy of the East Bay, with a special focus on Contra Costa County. Student interns and faculty will work on economic, political, environmental and social issues with regional business, governmental and nonprofit groups.

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Among the Religious

The Burlingame Region of the Sisters of Mercy elected Sister Anne Murphy last month as president of the region, succeeding Sister Nancy Grassilli who died in July. Sister Ellene Egan was elected vice president. They will form a new leadership team with Sisters Carolyn Krohn and Sherry Dolan. Sister Murphy has been a member of the Burlingame Leadership Team since 2003 and had been vice president of the region. Sister Egan has served as School of Nursing Faculty Chair and professor of nursing at the University of San Francisco.

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Names, News, Notes

On Sept. 24 at 2 p.m., the Barnes and Noble book store at the Bay Street Mall in Emeryville will help celebrate the short life of Joanne Pang, a student of St. Cecilia School in San Francisco who died of leukemia in 2003. Her father has written a book, “See Daddy! That’s the New Kite," and Barnes and Noble will donate up to 20 percent of the net sales from this event to St. Cecilia School. Participants are asked to request a Bookfair Voucher at Barnes and Noble before attending. For more information, e-mail josephpang@pacbell.net, visit the website www.joannepangor phone (415) 624-4123.

Bay area radio talk show host Brian Copeland, a graduate of St. Felicitas School in San Leandro and Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, is bringing back his one-man play, “Not a Genuine Black Man” to the Marsh Theater in San Francisco for a limited run Sept. 21 – Oct. 21. The Sept. 30 performance will be a book party. A ticket to that show will include an autographed copy of Copeland’s new book based on the play and a cocktail reception after the performance. The “Genuine” book was recently on the San Francisco Chronicle’s bestseller list. Visit www.briancopeland.com for more information.

Got news? 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. The deadline for the Oct. 9 issue is Sept. 27.

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