Announcements

Listen, once again, to the Sunday reflections by suscribing to our podcast, Catholic Cardinal Reflections, hosted by Fr. Isaiah M. Molano, O.P.

A Message from the Bishop

Dear Friends,

Our Parish, Our Diocese, Together in Christ is the theme of this year’s Annual Diocesan Appeal.  As Church, we are connected to one another--parishioner to parishioner, family to family, parish to parish--joined as one in the Lord.  We stand “Together in Christ” as a people of faith.

Our support of the Annual Diocesan Appeal is an act of stewardship of the gifts we share, gifts that have been given to us by the Lord.   Where the need is the greatest, it is your generosity that supports the common services and programs that serve all 53 parishes and missions in the Diocese of San Jose.  Our offices of Liturgy, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, the Institute for Leadership in Ministry, Vocations, Social Ministries and Stewardship and Development are among those that assist your priests and parish ministers daily, enabling them to serve you better.

Although many say that the worst is behind us, it is likely no surprise to you that 2011 still finds us in difficult financial times.  Yet the response of our local Church to my appeal last year filled me with hope and gratitude.  In fact, more members of our parishes offered support in 2010, and with an even greater average gift than before!  You continue to amaze me.  Thank you.

And so in this new year, I come to you again.  As your stewardship in the past has supported my ministry as bishop of this local Church, I express my gratitude to you – in advance – for doing so once more.

Approximately twenty-two years ago, when I chose “Together in Christ” to be the motto that would guide me in my ministry as bishop, it was done so, even then, with people like you in mind.  Your love of one another and your concern for those in need give me great pride and reason to thank God for you.

Please know that you, your families, and your loved ones remain in my daily prayer. With every best wish and kind regard, I remain,Sincerely yours,

Patrick J. McGrath

Bishop of San José

Did you know that the homilies or theological reflections at the 4:30 Mass are podcasted?  Please search for "Catholic Cardinal Reflections", or go to http://catholic.stanford.edu/media/podcast for more information.

The Woman At The Well

Read John 4: 5-42

RAISING QUESTIONS:Preaching announces that God has defeated the power of sin and death in the resurrection, but this good news is also a call to repentance and conversion.  Christian conversion always involves a twofold movement:  the turn toward all of creation and toward one’s own deepest truths and the turn away from sin (from living as “people of the lie:, as less than fully human).The final word of the preaching event is not a word of judgment, however; nor does the preacher leave the community in a state of temporary awe and amazement.  Rather, preaching is an invitation to follow; it is a word of hope rooted in God’s promise.  Preachers announce a word of life that empowers the conversion it demands.---Mary Catherine Hilkert, O.P.Look at the progression in the understanding of the woman at the well; she goes from believing the Jesus is an ordinary man to believing that He is a prophet, and finally to believing that He is the Messiah.  At that point, she becomes a preacher of the good news as she takes her message to the town folk.  How does the description of authentic preaching by Sister Hilkert mirror what this woman does?  In what ways are you equipped to preach the good news?  Do you feel that we all are called to do so?  What would be the first step?

CONSIDERATION:Set the scene on a hot dusty noonday, and imagine the actual conversation.  Why do you think there was no one else at the well?  Do you think she is an outcast from the people in the village of Shechem where this takes place?   Why would that be so? What does Jesus look like?  What does he ask of her?  Why does she hesitate to give him water? How does Jesus let her know that he is aware of her past?  How do you think the woman feels about having this past known to Jesus?  Does Jesus condemn her?  Imagine yourself in that woman’s place.  What would Jesus tell you about the climate of your heart?  Is it embarrassing that Jesus knows so much about you? Do you think it affects Jesus’ love for you?  What, exactly, do YOU thirst for? 

RELATIONSHIP:Read Psalm 51, then read  Ezechiel 36:25-32 as God’s response to Psalm 51.  Pick out the phrases you like the best and imagine God saying those things to you.  Talk with Jesus as someone who knows the worst about you and loves you in spite of or because of what he knows.

RELATIONSHIP:Are there one or two people you have entrusted with the FULL story ofyour life? What affect does it have on you to know that there are peoplewho know you, the good the bad and “the warts?” What affect does it have onyou that you have had the courage to sit down and be totally honest withyourself and then to share that with another?  Write a letter to someone to whom you have entrusted secrets, thanking him/her for listening, for being present, for not judging you.

ACTION:No one is perfect.  We all need God’s forgiveness for habits of the heart that make us less than wonderful to those around us.  If you are Catholic, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  If you do not have a big “sin” or issue to talk about, choose an ongoing habit of behavior that you are not happy about.  Understanding that God has already forgiven you the minute you are sorry (and maybe even before that), how does it make you feel to have that knowledge reinforced by the words of absolution?  If you are not Catholic, seek a clergyman of your choice and discuss some things in your life that you regret and would like to change.  Does it help to talk about this with someone who understands God’s forgiveness?