Champion swimmer
Madison White, an eighth grader at St. Isidore
School in Danville in the fall, holds a bouquet of flowers and USA
balloons given to her by Jean Schroeder, her principal, during a school
assembly last month. Just days before, she had qualified for the 2008
Olympic Swim Trials in Nebraska, June 30. Madison, 13, ranks number
1 in the nation in backstroke in her age group. She has been swimming
since she was four and won a first-place medal at the Contra Costa
County championship when she was six. |
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Thumbs up for cathedral
While work continues on the new Cathedral of Christ the Light,
the future spiritual center of the Oakland Diocese has been bestowed with
the title of “Best Lake Merritt Skyline Addition” in the June
issue of Oakland magazine.
Editor Judith M. Gallman used such terms as “graceful,” “elegant”
and “airy” to describe the structure at Harrison Street and
Grand Avenue. “Quite simply,” Gallman wrote, “this is
architecture at its finest, bringing new energy to the southern end of
the lake.”
Richmond crime reduction
Over 200 Richmond residents gathered at St. Mark Church on June
12 to ask city officials to re-commit to a crime prevention strategy presented
to them one year ago by the Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community
Organization.
Victoria Leftridge, CCISCO leader, said her group wanted to make sure
elected officials “work on the problems that our community faces.”
The plan includes improved street lights, blight and trash abatement,
year-round youth activities designed by youth, and increased police and
community policing. Already new, bright street lights have reduced
crime in the area.
The event was organized by CCISCO leaders at St. Mark Parish, the Historic
Triangle Neighborhood Council, Atchison Village Neighborhood Council and
the Pacific Institute.
Around
the Parishes
Concord’s St. Francis of Assisi Parish
hosted a vigil June 11 in response to several recent incidents of violence
in the Monument Corridor, including the shooting of a 20-year-old man.
Seven members of St. Albert the Great Parish in Alameda joined
200 walkers to raise money for breast cancer research at a 10K walk in
Pleasanton. They walked to honor St. Albert’s members who are survivors
and to support those members currently undergoing treatment for the disease.
The parishioners raised about $3,000 for the Susan B. Komen Foundation.
Our Lady of Grace Parish in Castro Valley launched a food drive
this week, which runs through Aug. 4, on behalf of the Alameda County
Food Bank. The parish’s efforts will help provide nutritious food
during the summer for many children who rely on school lunch programs.
Five Cub Scouts received their religious scouting awards at Berkeley’s
St. Mary Magdalen Parish on June 15. Kiran Aranha, Matteo Gozzini,
Christopher McKeon, and Kaylb Nichols of Cub Scout Pack 30,
Wolf Den 1 earned the Light of Christ Religious Medal and Leonardo
Nakamura, a member of Cub Scout Pack 30, Webelos Ram Den earned the
Parvuli Dei Religious Medal.
Union City’s St. Anne Parish will mark the 35th anniversary
of its founding with a parish festival, July 26 – 27. A Kick-Off
Dance will be held July 18 at 8 p.m. For more information, contact the
parish office at (510) 471-7766 or stanne@sbcglobal.net.
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Around
the Schools
Four students from St. Mary’s High School in
Berkeley, all from Scout Troop 6 in Piedmont, are netw Eagle Scouts.
They are Jeff Kalmon and Guy Hager, graduating seniors,
and Kevin Renner and Dan Woelffer, incoming seniors.
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Among the Religious
Precious Blood Father Marvin Steffes, who served
for 12 years as pastor at St. Edward Parish in Newark, recently
returned to the parish to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination.
Father Steffes became the first Precious Blood Father to serve the parish
when he was appointed pastor in 1979.
Father Gerard Reid, who provided clergy support at Oakland’s
St. Columba Parish duirng the past nine years, will be relocating
to Boston at the end of the month. Parishioners recently held a “recognition
celebration” to thank the priest for his service to the community.
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Names, News, Notes
St. Joseph’s Center for the Deaf in Union
City said a fond farewell to Ardith Lynch, their executive director
for the past 28 years, who has accepted a new position as director of
Disabled Student Services for Saddleback Community College in Mission
Viejo. Under her leadership, St. Joseph’s Center established Mass
and religious education programs for the deaf; counseling services for
families and individuals; and programs providing education for at-risk
youth. Center staff and diocesan colleagues honored Lynch with a June
16 lunch at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Hall. Dominican Sister Glenn Anne
McPhee, diocesan chancellor, presented her with the diocesan Medal of
Merit.
Best Wishes to Alberta and Joseph Whalen, members at St. Michael
Parish in Livermore, who are celebrating 54 years of marriage.
Congratulations to Delia and Hugo Zarate, members of St. Patrick
Parish in Rodeo, who marked their 45th wedding anniversary on June
1. Mr. Zarate is president of the Knights of Columbus Oakland Diocese
Chapter.
Keith E. Brandt was recently appointed vice president for development
at St. Mary’s College in Moraga. Brant, who previously served
as vice chancellor for external relations at UC San Diego, assumes the
position on July 15.
The Golden Gate Boys Choir and Bellringers will tour Washington,
D.C., June 28 – July 7. The group’s itinerary will include
a performance at the Veterans Administration Medical Center and participation
in the Pueri Cantores American Festival for Catholic youth choirs from
across the country. They will take part in a July 4 concert on the National
Mall and an evening Mass in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception on July 5.
VOLUNTEER ALERT! San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville has numerous
openings for volunteers from helping out at the front desk or gift shop
to working in the organic gardens. The schedule is flexible and a free
meal is included. For more information, contact Sandy at (925) 837-9142,
ext. 307.
WHAT’S ON EWTN? A seven-part series, “Paul: From Tarsus
to the World,” will air in 30-minute segments, June 23-27 at 12
a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The series looks at St. Paul’s life and wisdom
and takes the viewer to places where he taught and preached. On June 28
Pope Benedict XVI will lead Vespers at the start of the Pauline Year.
EWTN will broadcast the service live from Rome on June 28 at 8:30 a.m.
with an encore telecast at 1:30 p.m. Visit www.ewtn.comfor
more information.
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