Teens
celebrate
at rally
Participants in the sixth annual regional youth
rally celebrate their faith during the Oct. 4 event at St. Bede Church
in Hayward. More than 675 teens from 13 parishes gathered for a workshop
and concert with noted Catholic musician Steve Angrisano, a presentation
by the Seldom Seen Acting Company of St. Vincent de Paul Society,
Mass and a dinner/dance.
ALFRED ALIPIO JOCSON PHOTO |
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Working for a cure
St. Mary’s High School in Berkeley observed
October Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a number of projects that
resulted in more than $2,000 in online donations to the Susan G. Komen
for the Cure Foundation and $1500 in pledges at the Mills College
Swim for the Cure. Members of the campus Yarn Club sold handmade scarves
in shades of pink. With some of their creations are club members,
from left, Jocelyn Crudo, Maggie Buchanan and Julie Anderson with
faculty member Clare McCormick. |
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Hooray for the refs!
A standing ovation to a group of referees from the diocesan
Catholic Youth Organization (CYO)! Mark Leyva, director of referees
for the CYO’s Southern Alameda County, asked his referees to consider
donating what they earn from just one CYO game to a fund he set up called
“1 Game, Many Meals” to benefit programs aiding those who
are hungry.
More than half of the 40 referees said “Yes!” and since September
they have donated $768. Leyva, a member at St. Leander Parish in San Leandro
where he is the assistant athletic director, said he was especially moved
by the response because a good number of the referees are teens. At a
meeting later this month, the referees will decide what non-profit program
or service will receive the funds.
Around
the Parishes
Members of the Heavenly Harmony Children’s
Choir from St. Bonaventure Parish in Concord will participate
in the Pueri Cantores Choral Festival on Nov. 15 at the Cathedral of St.
Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco. The festival is organized by
the American Federation Pueri Cantores which brings together parish and
school choirs (children ages 8-18) to sing sacred and liturgical music.
The Nov. 15 performance will include a choral concert starting at 4:15
p.m. as well as a Eucharistic liturgy at 5:30 p.m.
Our Lady of Grace Parish in Castro Valley was recently cited by
the Family Emergency Shelter Coalition (FESCO) newsletter for providing
“significant funds” and “untold” volunteer hours
to the organization.
St. Ignatius Parish in Antioch will host a traditional holiday
dinner on Thanksgiving Day for those in the parish who will be away from
their families on the holiday.
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Around
the Schools
Congratulations to five 5th graders at St. Jerome
School in El Cerrito who were among the winners of a poster contest
held in conjunction with the 22nd Annual GRIP (Great Richmond Interfaith
Program) Harmony Walk to End Hunger. Emily Soe, a first place winner,
received $100; Alexis Foster, a second place winner, picked up
$50; Deija Jackson, took third place and $25; and honorable mention
went to Marisa Gonzalez and Juliette Langari. The El Cerrito
students who won prizes donated their winnings back to GRIP for the organization’s
shelter and food programs.
St. Peter Martyr School in Pittsburg has six winners in the Fourth
Annual Art of Dairy contest and their art has been sent to the national
contest sponsored by Lucerne. The prize artists are: Alexandra Cardona
(third grade); Gabriela Loretto, (fifth grade) Jazelyn De Guzman and Nena
Manuel (seventh grade) and Hunter Aliotti and Anela Medeiros (eighth grade).
A number of families of Assumption School in San Leandro participated
in the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, Oct. 18, in San
Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The “Assumption Angels,”
many wearing team t-shirts designed by Danielle Perez, lived up to their
name by completing their five-mile walk and raising over $31,000.
For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the fourth grade class at St. Joseph
School in Alameda used their first Goodies for Good bake sale to raise
more than $900 for local breast cancer support groups in two 15-minute
recess periods. The class sold packaged and homemade treats. This month,
the third grade class will do a Goodies for Good project for a local animal
shelter.
Eight seniors at Alameda’s St. Joseph Notre Dame High School
(SJND) have been named commended students in the 2009 National Merit
Scholarship Program. They are: William Connacher, Genora Givens, Anna
Patricia Jimenez, Michael McAlister, Teresa Mooney, Madeleine Seiwald,
Ryan Sze, and Nicolas Tubbs. Genora Givens, has a second reason
to celebrate: she and Dominic Guiton, another SJND senior, have
been recognized by the National Achievement Scholarship Program, which
honors black Americans who are among the top students in the country.
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Among the Religious
Congratulations to Deacon Jeffrey Burns on his
25th anniversary as archivist for the San Francisco Archdiocese. Burns,
who was ordained as a permanent deacon in the Oakland Diocese in 2003,
has written extensively in local church history and is the co-author of
“We Are The Church: A History of the Diocese of Oakland.”
He also serves as an adjunct faculty member at California State University,
Hayward; St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park; and the Franciscan
School of Theology in Berkeley.
Msgr. Ted Kraus, pastor at Santa Maria Parish in Orinda,
and Passionist Father Tom Bonacci, in residence at St. Ignatius
Parish in Antioch, are planning to lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land
in November 2009. For information, a brochure or to register, contact
(925) 254-2426, ext. 301. Sign-up required before Nov. 15, 2008.
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Names, News, Notes
Many Blessings to two couples who are celebrating 50
years of marriage: Phylis and Peter Carpino, who recently renewed
their vows at Good Shepherd Church in Pittsburg; and to Toni
and Ed Furrer, members at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Concord.
St. Vincent de Paul Society of Alameda County needs volunteers
in three of its programs in Oakland. The Free Dining Room needs
help with serving meals; contact: Jonas Williams (510) 877-9213/jwilliams@svdp-alameda.org.
The Champion Center for men needs volunteers to help clients fill
out forms and to monitor the showers; contact: Rueben Garza (51) 877-9238/rgarza@svdp-alameda.org.
The Visitation Center for women and children needs help with maintenance,
client registration, children’s activities and its ESL program;
contact Carmen Edstrom (510) 444-3790/cedstron@svdp-alameda.org.
The Family Emergency Shelter Coalition (FESCO), which provides
emergency shelter and comprehensive support services to homeless families
in Alameda County, needs volunteers to supervise children while their
parents are participating in life skills classes; provide office assistance;
sort, organize, and accept donations at the organization’s warehouse;
and repair a porch at the counseling center. Contact FESCO at (510) 886-5473,
fesco@fescofamilyshelter.org,
or www.fescofamilyshelter.org.
What’s New on EWTN? The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN),
with the support of the Primavera Fine Art Foundation, will air “Catholic
Canvas,” a 10-episode look inside the Vatican Museums, beginning
Nov. 6. “‘Catholic Canvas’ is a journey through salvation
history as seen in the art of the Vatican Museums,” said Mary Shovlain,
Rome producer. Episodes will focus on the angels, Mary, the Epiphany,
Christ’s earthly ministry, the saints, and more. For more information,
visit www.ewtn.com.
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