March 9, 2009   •   VOL. 47, NO. 5   •   Oakland, CA

Pastor bares soul Father Brian Joyce, the longtime pastor at Christ the King Parish in Pleasant Hill, will offer personal reflections, share prayerful insights of his ministry, and sign his new book, “Soul Full . . . Emotions,” during a book signing event on March 30 at Sagrada Sacred Arts, 4926 Telegraph Ave. in Oakland at 7 p.m.

March 9 – 11
Lenten Parish Mission. At Holy Spirit Parish, 37588 Fremont Blvd., Fremont. Jesuit Father Tom Allender returns to give his “Life’s Journey” parish mission talks and the Week II talks “From Anger to Forgiveness,” at 8:45 a.m., repeated at 7 p.m. Reception follows. (510) 797-1660.

March 9, 12, 17, 31
Lenten Days of Renewal. At San Damiano Retreat in Danville. Presenters: Franciscan Father Rusty Shaughnessy, Rena Grant, and Franciscan Father Evan Howard; Franciscan Father Barry Brunsman on March 12. Presentations, lunch, and Eucharist. $25. Kateri, (925) 837-9141, ext. 315 or online registration: www.sandamiano.org.

March 9, 16, 23, 30
Lenten Series: “A Pearl of Great Price.” 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the chapel at Newman Hall/Holy Spirit Parish, 2700 Dwight Way, Berkeley. One-hour candlelight meeting, quiet music, a short teaching and 25 minutes of silent mediation. Jeannie Battagin, (510) 849-2181.

Lenten Series: “God So Loved the World.” 7 p.m. at Mullen Commons Vista Room, St. John Vianney Church, 1650 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. Zach Flanagin, faculty member at St. Mary’s College, on the Gospel of John. Nora Petersen, (925) 939-7911, x 107, npetersen@sjvianney.org.

March 11, 18, 25
Wednesday Morning Contemplative Prayer. At Vallombrosa Retreat Center, 650 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park. Gather in the retreat center’s chapel for an hour of gentle music, Scripture and silent reflection. Optional continental breakfast follows. Led by Dominican Sister Ingrid Clemmensen, Vallombrosa’s program director. (650) 325-5614 or www.vallombrosa.org.

St. Stephen Parish Lenten Events. At 1101 Keaveny Court, Walnut Creek. Soup supper at 6:15 p.m. followed by 7:30 p.m. program. March 11: Catholic Social Justice, Colleen Knutsen; March 18: film on world hunger; March 25: reconciliation service. Annette, (925) 210-0731.

March 18, 25, April 1
A Lenten Stimulus Program. 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. in Stack Hall, at Our Lady of Grace Parish, 3433 Somerset Ave., Castro Valley. Follows 6 p.m. Mass, light soup dinner. Speakers after the soup meals. March 18: “Social Justice, Peace and the State of the Diocese,” Father Dan Danielson, interim diocesan administrator; March 25: “Speak Up for Justice – The Truth Behind the Gaza/Palestine/Israel Headlines,” Esther Ho, Ecumenical Peace Institute, and Steve Leeds, a Quaker activist; April 1: “Fair Trade and Catholic Social Teaching,” Eunice Park, fair trade activist from the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley. Sponsor: OLG’s Pax Christi/Social Justice Group. Dennise, (510) 538-6071, or Bill, (510) 733-9880.

March 19, April 2
Lenten Evening Series. At San Damiano Retreat in Danville. Presented by Chiara’s Lantern. Series theme is “Friends of Jesus” and will include reflections on The Bethany Family, Mary of Magdala, and The Women with the Hemorrhage. Kateri, (925) 837-9141, ext. 315; online registration: www.sandamiano.org.

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Monday, March 9
Healing Mass. 7:30 p.m. at St. Edward Church, 5788 Thornton Ave., Newark. Bert/Norma, Abba Father Prayer Group, (510) 793-1750. Every second Monday.

March 10, 17, 24, 31
Rosary and Prayer Group. 6:30 p.m. (1st Rosary), 7 p.m. (2nd Rosary) in the chapel next to the parish office at St. Jarlath Parish, 2634 Pleasant St., Oakland.

Friday, March 20
Taize – Prayer Around the Cross. 8 p.m. at Motherhouse Chapel, Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, 43326 Mission Blvd., Fremont. Join others in prayer and song around the cross. Every Third Friday. Maria Shao, (408) 839-2068 or maria49830@aol.com or Dominican Sister Beth Quire, (510) 449-7554 or beth@msjdominicans.com.

Friday, March 27
Taize: An Evening of Prayer Around the Cross. 8 p.m. at St. Joseph Basilica, 1109 Chestnut St., Alameda. An ecumenical, candlelit service of prayer offered in simple chant, Scripture readings, silent worship and veneration of the Cross. taizeontheisland@yahoo.com or geocities.com/taizeontheisland.

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Friday, March 13
Annual Salad Bar Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St. Callistus Church, 3580 San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante. Choose from a myriad of salads, desserts, and beverages. Tickets: $8 at the door. Raffle prizes will be available as well as the door prize.

Saturday, March 14
Fashions on the Green XI. Noon at San Ramon Royal Vista Golf Club, 9430 Fircrest Lane, San Ramon. $30 per person. Fashions provided by House of Fashions, Alamo. Information/reservations: Kay Horsell, (925) 829-0949.
St. Michael Parish Annual Dinner, Dance and Auction “Monopoly Madness.” 5:30 – 11 p.m. at Robert Livermore Community Center. Tickets: $45. Proceeds benefit St. Michael Grade School and parish ministries. (925) 447-1586.

Irish Social. At St. Philip Neri Hall, High and Van Buren, Alameda. 6 p.m. social hour, 7 p.m. dinner. Entertainment, raffle prizes. $25 adults, $12 children 12 years and under. JoAnn Dorn, (510) 523-9472 or Jean McElroy, (510) 523-9086 by March 9. Payment in advance,

14th Annual Auction Dinner and Dance. 5 p.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 1125 Ferry St., Martinez. Evening begins with cocktail auction in the parish hall, followed by dinner, live auction, and dancing in the Boys and Girls Club. Dinner prepared by the Knights of Columbus. $35 per person, which includes beverages, appetizers, dinner and more. Advance ticket purchase required. Sally Costa, (925) 370-3737.

Friday, March 20
Moreau High School High School Shrimp Fest. 5 – 7 p.m. at 27170 Mission Blvd., Hayward. The event to benefit the school’s visual and performing arts department. $35 per person includes all the shrimp, salad, bread and French fries you can eat. Followed by choir concert. (510) 881-4330 or ddefrance@moreaucatholic.org.

Saturday, March 21
Panther Pride Night. 5:30 – 10 p.m. at 1294 Albina Ave., Berkeley. $65 per person includes buffet, music, entertainment, dancing and sports auction. Entertainment provided by JLaChic Production. Benefits St. Mary’s High School student/athlete and sports program. Purchase tickets online: www.Jlachic.tix.com. Information: Nancy Torres, (510) 521-3256 or coantorres@hotmail.com. Sponsor: St. Mary’s College High School Athletic Department and Booster Club.
St. Raymond School 14th Annual Live/Silent Auction, “Cirque du St. Ray.” 5:30 p.m. in Moran Hall at St. Raymond Parish, 11555 Shannon Ave., Dublin. $55 per ticket cost includes dinner and auction. Tickets: (925) 574-7420.

Sunday, March 22
St. Patrick’s Dinner Celebration. 3 p.m. at the Shadelands Art Center, 111 N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. Meal, beverages for purchase, traditional Irish entertainment, raffle and auctions. $15 per adult, $5 for children 12 years and under. Proceeds benefit St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Concord. Sponsor: The St. Francis of Assisi Knights of Columbus, #13179. (925) 691-5678 or kofc13179@yahoo.com.

Tuesday, March 24
Birthright of Concord’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon. Noon at the Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Dr., Clayton. The organization will honor its supporters and volunteers. $35 per person; choice of corned beef, chicken chardonnay, or vegetarian. RSVP by March 12 to (925) 798-7227.

Friday, March 27
St. Rose Church 24th Annual Fish Fry. 11:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. in the parish hall on Starr Street between 3rd and 4th, Crockett. Adult tickets: $15, children under 12: $7. Beverages at no-host refreshment bar. Home delivery is available only for Crockett, Tormey and Port Costa. Takeout dinner available anytime during serving hours. (510) 787-2052 before Fish Fry Day for tickets, to place an order for home delivery, or more information.

Saturday, March 28
St. Joseph School 13th Annual Sister Gonzaga Tea. At St. Joseph Parish Hall, 43148 Mission Blvd., Fremont. 10 a.m. auction, 11:30 a.m. tea, 1 p.m. entertainment. Proceeds support St. Joseph Tuition Assistance Program and the Dominican Sisters’ “Vision of Hope Program” for inner-city schools. $27 per person, $200 table of eight. Anella Teano, (510) 894-2386.

Bingo. At St. Joseph School, 1961 Plum, Pinole. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., games begin at 5 p.m. $25 for 13 games including three specials. Winnings = 50 percent of take per game. Snack bar with table service. Elyse, (510) 703-5407 or eheilshhe2@earthlink.net.

Spring Fiesta. 6 – 11 p.m. at the Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Drive, Clayton. A live/silent auction, dinner/dance. $45 per person. Proceeds support Queen of All Saints School in Concord. Reservations/information: Mary Gatz, (925) 685-8700.

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March 9, 16, 23, 30
“Welcome Home!” Program. 7 – 8:30 p.m. at Holy Rosary Parish Center, 21 E. 15th St., Antioch. Four week series is open to all who have been away from the Church and have questions, issues about being Catholic. Nora, (925) 757-9515.

Wednesdays, March 11, 18, 25
Father Corapi DVD Catechism Series. 7 – 8 p.m. in Cauchi Hall, St. Agnes Parish, 3966 Chestnut Ave., Concord. Father John Corapi, S.O.L.T. teaches The Catechism of the Catholic Church in this series. David Zarri, (925) 686-9277 or davidlzarri@earthlink.net.

Returning Catholics. 7 p.m. in Room A at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 4001 Stoneridge Dr., Pleasanton. The Catholic Community of Pleasanton, St. Raymond Parish and St. Michael Parish invite those who have been away from the Church to journey home. Call Father Jerry Kennedy at (925) 474-2768 for information or if you plan to attend.

Tuesday, March 10
Catholics@Work. 7 a.m. at Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Dr., Danville. Steve McEveety, executive director of the movie “The Passion of the Christ,” will share insights about God in the Hollywood workplace. Begins with a full buffet breakfast. (Mass at 6:30 a.m.) $20 cost for members, $25 non-members. (925) 525-0272 or www.catholicsatwork.org.

March 10, 24
East Bay Theology on Tap. 7 p.m. social, 7:30 p.m. speakers, at Kerry House, 4092 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. March 10: Holy Names Sister Anna Keim and Ami Readdy on “Human Trafficking: Modern Day Slavery”; March 24: Father Jayson Landeza, pastor, St. Columba Parish, Oakland, “Violence in Oakland, What Churches Can Do to Bring Healing.” Sponsors: St. Leo Church, Oakland, and the Kerry House.

Thursday, March 12
Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology Faith and Human Rights Project. 7:30 p.m., DSPT Classroom 1, 2301 Vine St., Berkeley. Jean Porter of the University of Notre Dame on “The National Law and the Law of Nations: A Medieval Perspective on a Contemporary Dilemma.” Information: www.dspt.edu or faithinrights@dspt.edu.

Wednesday, March 18
Year of St. Paul Lecture Series. 7 p.m. in gymnasium, St. Bede Church, 26950 Patrick Ave., Hayward. David Mammola, an instructor in the diocesan Serra Catechetical Institute and at Concord’s Carondelet High School, will present the monthly series in English; Mary Ann Wiesinger and Dominican Sister Lorena Ramirez will present the series in Spanish at 7:15 p.m. in St. Bede social hall. Download a flyer at: www.oakdiocese.org/pastoral/.

Thursday, March 19
Breaking Down Barriers: Multicultural Collaboration in Today’s American Parish. 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Christ the Light Cathedral Conference Center, 2121 Harrison St., Oakland. Presenter: Redemptorist Father Robert Schreiter, Vatican Council II Professor of Theology, Catholic Theological Union and editor of Global Christianity: Contested Claims. $40 cost includes continental breakfast and lunch. Registration/information: www.nplc.org/oakland or Peter Denio, (212) 431-7825 or pdenior@nplc.org.

Holy Names High School Tea and Tour. 3:30 p.m. at 4660 Harbord Dr., Oakland. RSVP: Sandra Carrillo, (510) 450-1110, ext. 119 or scarrillo@hnhsoakland.org.

Carondelet High School Parent Speaker Night. 7 – 9 p.m. at Garaventa Center, 1133 Winton Dr., Concord. Special screening of “Red Terror on the Amber Coast.” The hour-long film chronicles the 50 years of Soviet terror waged on the Baltic republics and the Lithuanian resistance to the atrocities. Father David O’Rourke, co-producer of the documentary and parochial administrator at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Point Richmond, will introduce the film and answer questions. (925) 686-5353.

Speaking Christ in Dialogue with Contemporary Culture. 7:15 – 8:45 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Seminary and University, 320 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park. Richard J. Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary and Professor of Christian Philosophy, on the importance of genuine dialogue between ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and other religious traditions and the wider culture. Response by panel of theologians and pastoral leaders. Reservations required. Contact: Mary Verducci, St. Patrick’s Seminary, (650) 289-3321 or mary.verducci@stpatricksseminary.org.

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March 12, 26
Grief Support Group. At St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 4001 Stoneridge Dr., Pleasanton. The death of a loved one is unlike any other loss. Let others accompany you on your healing journey. All are welcome regardless of religious affiliation. Mary, (925) 846-5377.

Thursday, March 19
Catholic Divorced Widowed and Separated of Contra Costa. 7 p.m. at St. Mary Church, 2039 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Walnut Creek. Free. Information/directions: Joan S. (925) 939-1007.

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Sunday, March 15
Soli Deo Gloria with Orchestra Gloria. 3:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Basilica Parish, 1109 Chestnut Ave., Alameda. Under the direction of Allen H. Simon, the musicians will present music written by composers of the Baroque and Classical periods. $25 general admission, $20 student/senior; discount for advance purchase. Free: K-8 students. 888-SDG-SONG or www.sdgloria.org.

Wednesday, March 18
Bishop O’Dowd High School Band Concert. 7:30 p.m., in O’Dowd Theatre, 9500 Stearns Ave., Oakland. Featured groups: BOD’s Symphonic Band and Castro Valley Adult Band. Free.

Friday, March 20
Lenten Concert. 8 p.m. in the Old Mission Church, 43300 Mission Blvd., Fremont. “Lenten Joys Music for a Hopeful People” featuring composer and recording artist Janet Sullivan Whitaker. Proceeds to benefit St. Joseph Parish. $15 general admission, $10 students/seniors. (510) 656-2364 or (510) 657-1797, ext. 106.

Saturday, March 21
Bach Birthday Concert. 7:30 p.m. at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church, 3351 Contra Loma Blvd., Antioch. All-Bach concert of organ music by Don Pearson, director of music and organist for the parish, celebrating the 342nd anniversary of Bach’s birth. Reception in the parish hall with “Bach Birthday Cake” and champagne/sparkling cider.

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March 12, 26
Bible Study of the Book of Proverbs. 7 p.m. at Cathedral of Christ the Light, 2121 Harrison St., Oakland. Sponsor: Cathedral Young Adult Ministry (ages 20s and 30s, single or married). Mary Perez, (650) 387-6564 or mtperez0316@gmail.com.

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