January 22, 2007VOL. 44, NO. 4Oakland, CA

Groundbreaking in Fremont
Bishop Allen Vigneron and Father Mathew Vellankal, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Fremont, break ground Dec. 2 for the parish’s new religious education and activities center. Assisting are Courtney Fine, 2007 Pentecost Festival queen, (left) and Kimberly Dutrow, first side maid and designated queen for 2008.
DEACON RICHARD YEE PHOTO

Students make a difference

Students from Oakland’s St. Elizabeth High School will expand their global education and help bring clean drinking water to a small village during a visit to the eastern African nation of Kenya March 25-April 13.

The journey is part of the school’s special session offered each spring to give broad educational and leadership opportunities to students. The Kenya project, originated by English teacher Christina Alexander with assistance from science teacher Bob Gannon, will establish a sustainable water filter system for the village and school near Machakos. Currently, the only water source is one mile away and hauling water is a daily, back-breaking chore for women and girls. The new water system will improve access and also help eliminate many of water-borne diseases.

The students are working with Population Services International, a non-profit organization in collaboration with Proctor and Gamble. They will carry with them a water purification product, developed by Proctor and Gamble, and school supplies. They will work in the village and teach families there how to use the water purification system.

The students have been preparing for the trip since last June, undergoing leadership training, team-building and acquainting themselves with the village’s beliefs and traditions. They are also raising funds and collecting supplies for the village school. If you can help, contact Other Paths to Kenya Project, St. Elizabeth High School, 1530 34th Ave., Oakland, CA 94601 or (510) 532-8947.

School turns golden

Corpus Christi School in Piedmont continues its 50th anniversary celebrations with a Feb. 10 gala at the Claremont Resort in Berkeley. Festivities include the first Keller Hall of Fame presentation to Ann Stumpo Sanchez, the school’s first principal; Pam McGinn who taught French at the school for 33 years; Noel Nakahara, an alum and attorney who assists students with their mock trial activities; and Lillian and Ross Cadenasso, benefactors whose eight children attended the school. The honor is named for the school’s founder, Msgr. Edwin Keller, Corpus Christi pastor from 1933 to 1964. Tickets for the event, as well as a Feb. 4 tea and fashion show, are available at the school office.

Celebrating Tet

Catholic Charities of the East Bay is one of several sponsors of the Vietnamese Tet Celebration, Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle in Concord. The Vietnamese New Year’s Day celebration will include multicultural entertainment and special Vietnamese foods. To RSVP contact Bau Duy Ta, at CCEB, (510) 768-3159 or bau@cceb.org.

Seeking Cursillo news?

The English Cursillo of the Oakland Diocese, the local branch of the international organization that promotes small faith sharing and lay leadership, is moving to e-mail as a primary communication tool. Those who are not receiving e-mails about Cursillo dates and would like to be added to the e-mail list should contact: nitavolker@hotmail.com. Those preferring this information by postal mail can contact the English Cursillo at P.O. Box 2841, Dublin, CA 94583.

The organization also has a website that can be reached through this link: http://st-raymond-dublin.org/cursillo. Advisory council meetings will be posted on the website along with general information about Cursillo.

All Cursillistas are invited to the annual general meeting of the English Cursillo, Feb. 25 from 2-4 p.m. at St. Joan of Arc Church, 2601 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon. A major focus of the meeting will be approving revisions of the by-laws and electing new officers. For more information, contact Nita Volker at (925) 828-9442 or nitavolker@hotmail.com.

Around the Parishes

Family members, friends, and classmates of Kyle O’Connor gathered Jan. 6 at St. Augustine Church in Pleasanton to celebrate the life of the 16-year-old who was killed in a car accident days earlier. A member of the Foothill High School varsity basketball team, O’Connor was remembered for his love of sports as well as his Catholic faith. Father Dan Danielson, pastor of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton, presided at the funeral Mass.

At St. Monica Church in Moraga, hundreds gathered for a memorial Mass of Kyle Morton, a 17-year-old Campolindo High School senior and aspiring Eagle Scout, who was killed in a car crash on Jan. 13. Father Paul Minnihan, pastor, offered the liturgy.

The Meridians at St. Leander Parish in San Leandro, a social group known for its philanthropic ways, is looking for new members. Originally a singles-only group, it is now open to everyone interested in social activities and charitable fundraisers. It sponsors garage and flea market sales and two sport collector shows every year. Recently the group distributed $3,800 to charity. Recipients include St. Vincent de Paul, the Little Sisters of the Poor, Children’s Hospital, Catholic Charities, and cancer hospice groups. The group meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in the parish offices, 474 W. Estudillo Ave. in San Leandro. The next meeting is Feb. 1. For more information contact De Macrae at (510) 538-6245.

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Around the Schools

Two thumbs way up for students at Assumption School in San Leandro who raised more than $5,000 for charity during one week in December. The 8th grade’s bake sale raised over $400 for Toys for Tots; the Extended Care Program collected $600 for St. Jude’s Cancer Research Program when students donated $4 each and wore red and green for a day; and the annual St. Nick’s Boutique raised over $4,000 for the Davis Street Family Resource Center’s Preschool Breakfast Program. In its first Share the Warmth program, students collected more than 100 coats/jackets, hats, gloves, and scarves for clients of Catholic Charities of the East Bay.

A standing ovation for the Salesian High School girls volleyball team which showed their winning form on and off the court. The Richmond team posted an impressive grade point average of 3.83 during their fall season. In addition, they went to the North Coast Section playoffs, finished with an overall record of 23-13 and placed fourth in the league. Theresa Wilks and Malina Terrell were named second team all league and Alexis Fernandez received honorable mention.

Three cheers for the St. Elizabeth High boys basketball Team, under Coach Torrence Spencer, which came in first place in the prestigious John McMillan Tournament in Cloverdale. The Oakland team defeated St. Helena, St. Bernard (Eureka), and host, Cloverdale. Sophomore Edward Thomas was named tournament MVP, while Chioke Walker, a junior, and David Douglas, a freshman, were named to the All Tournament Team.

Congratulations go to Michael Cook, a teacher at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, who will be honored for his work at the Eugene O’Neill Foundation during a Jan. 24 dinner at the Crow Canyon Country Club in Danville. Cook, who serves as the scenic and lighting designer for the college’s Performing Arts Department, has assisted in productions at Tao House in Danville, where playwright Eugene O’Neill lived in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Danville residence is a national historic site.

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Names, News, Notes

Best Wishes to Kitty and Jerry McMahon, members of St. John the Baptist Parish in San Lorenzo, who celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary on Jan. 20. The McMahon’s recently enjoyed the Christmas holidays with their family, which includes nine children and 21 grandchildren.

Congratulations to Anna and Long Nguyen, members of St. Leo Parish in Oakland, who are marking the 50th anniversary of their wedded union.

Volunteer alert! Mary’s House, a Catholic home for single pregnant women in San Pablo, will hold its second “Volunteer Day” orientation on Feb. 17 from 9 – 10:30 a.m. All people who can contribute their time and talents are welcome. The orientation will take place at Mary’s House, 1850 Church Lane. For more information, call (510) 236-0383.

Family Theater Productions of Hollywood is releasing a new DVD that connects every day life experiences with the Mysteries of the Rosary. “The Luminous Mysteries: Compassion to Service” is a 28-minute DVD chronicling the activities of Jim and Terry Orcutt who founded My Brother’s Keeper to help the needy in Massachusetts. Reflections by the Orcutts are linked to the five Mysteries of Light. Catholic TV will show the program on its cable network beginning Jan. 20. For a listing of cities and channels that carry Catholic TV, visit www.catholictv.com.

Next Voice: Feb. 5. Send submissions, by Jan. 25 to Carrie McClish, 3014 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland, 94610; phone: (510) 419-1074; fax: (510) 893-4734; e-mail: cmcclish@oakdiocese.org.

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