Get Out and Vote (Nov 3)

We have a presidential election coming up on November 3rd. Make sure to vote.
As Catholics we have a duty to vote intelligently and vote guided by our faith.  How we vote and what issues we promote affect whether values of God's Kingdom are being promoted on earth or not.  Proclaiming the Kingdom of God is what we're about as disciples of Jesus Christ.  Love of God and love of neighbor are the guiding light for how we should discern and vote.

To help you through some of the major issues of today, some useful resources include:

1) Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching - Our Church's social teachings are one of the crown jewels of the Catholic Church.  They ground our social choices in consistent rational, ethical principles that have their foundation in the Gospel.

2) A Paulist Reflection for the 2020 US Elections - We Paulists have been blessed by God with some really smart priests.  Church documents are wonderful but one can tell there is often a committee writing them so they are so packed that they can be a bit confusing.  You sometimes need a theology degree to unpack their insightful and subtle nuances.  Our guide is reflective of the Paulists, pragmatic and clear.  Also check out the Paulist voting resource page.

3) Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship - This is the classic USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) document to help us navigate forming our conscience in our voting. 

4) California Catholic Conference - They are the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in California.  They advocate with policy makers and the public to advance the Catholic vision of human life and dignity, the good of society, and concern for those who are poor and vulnerable.  Their website also provides insights into the California ballot measures.

5. California Ballot Initiatives Slides - Chris Pagano (Newmanite and member of the League of Women Voters) helped us explore the upcoming California state ballot initiatives at our Critical Conversation. These slides guide one through the meaning of the various ballot initiatives and their standard pros and cons.

6. Voting Presentation at Sacred Heart Church - This presentation is by former parishioner Fr. Tom Massaro, SJ, which he gave at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Saratoga.

Please take time to review the issues.  Consider discussing it with your family or friends.  There is a lot of noise out there and a lot of misinformation, so we must do our best to understand the issues at hand and discern which candidates and bills best promote the values of God's Kingdom.

In discussing with family and friends or strangers, do not try to convert them.  We all tend to have a stubborn streak and when someone tries to manipulate us, we will hold onto our original thoughts even stronger than before.  Just share your thoughts logically and with enthusiasm and be open to listening to other people's thoughts.  Follow the example of Jesus who loved all he met and treated all with dignity.  We can also remind folks, "repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

Paulist Gala

PAULIST GALA

celebrated the groundbreaking of the Paulists’ new House of Mission and Studies

On Saturday, October 17, at 5:30PM (PST), the Paulist Fathers had a Virtual Groundbreaking to celebrate a new beginning for us. We broke ground on our new House of Mission and Studies. This will be a house for training and forming our seminarians as they study at Catholic University of America in DC. It will also be place for Paulist Evangelization Ministries and other ministries of the Paulist Fathers.

We are need of some good news in these months of sheltering-in-place, working from home, and social distancing from our family and friends. Come share the excitement and be part of this great beginning. Our Paulist Pastoral Year Student, Eric Hernandez, CSP, will hopefully be one of the first residences of this new House of Studies.

Also at the Gala, each Paulist parish and ministry will present a Spirit of Hecker Award to someone in their community who embodies the spirit of the Paulists. We presented our award to JC Orton.

To watch the gala, just click on the image.

Catholic Discipleship Profile

Be part of a Project to help Catholics grow as Missionary Disciples

Our faith community has a great opportunity!  Through our input we can help Catholics grow in their faith and become more committed disciples of Jesus.  Paulist Evangelization Ministries is developing the Catholic Discipleship Profile™ (CDP) and has asked us for feedback at this stage of the CDP development.  This pastoral tool engages Catholics in a personal assessment of how they are living as disciples and then provides individuals with opportunities for spiritual growth. 
This is the project Fr. Ken is working on during his sabbatical with us here at Berkeley.  When you see him at Mass, you can ask him for more info.

How you can help.  You can take the Catholic Discipleship Profile today and provide valuable feedback to Paulist Evangelization Ministries.  Click here to learn more about the CDP and then spend about 20 to 30 minutes to respond to the statements. Your responses will be kept confidential.

A benefit to you and to our parish.  Paulist Evangelization Ministries’ is offering us two “Thank You” gifts for participating in this project. You will receive a free ticket to take the final version of the CDP next spring when it is developed--which will include a Profile Report specifically for your reflection and personal growth. You can sign up to receive this gift by completing the last item in the survey when you take the CDP by September 30, 2020.   All parishioners of the parish will be able to also take the CDP free of charge for a year.

After prayerfully considering this invitation, click here to learn more about the CDP and then take the CDP survey today! 

Paulist Prayer Service for Victims of COVID-19 (Sept 15)

Paulist Prayer service
On the Memorial of our Lady of Sorrows
for the victims of COVID-19

To celebrate the memorial and remember all those who have died from COVID-19, please join the Paulist Fathers for a special online prayer service called “Our Lady of Sorrows, Pray for Us.“

This prayer service was held on Sept 15, the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. The service includes prayer, scripture readings, reflections, music and a tribute to those who have died from COVID-19.

Parts of the service will come from multiple parishes that the Paulist serve, including Newman Hall. Participate in the service here at paulist.org/PrayerService,

In particular, check out the closing song provided by Catholics at our sister campus at UCLA.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

First Profession of Br. Xavier Marie (Ting) Wu

CONGRATULATIONS TO BR. XAVIER MARIE (TING) WU

He celebrated his First Profession with the Dominican Friars of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus on Saturday (9/5/20). Br. Xavier Marie was known to us as Ting (‘19) when we was a member of Newman and attended UC Berkeley. He was an active member attending many of our campus ministry events, led student Bible Studies, and helped with our children’s catechesis. He made his first profession along with two other novices, Michael Thomas Cain and Kevin Peter Cantu. We will hopefully see more of him as he moves from SF to St. Albert’s Priory and starts his studies at the Dominican School of Theology and Philosophy. You can watch his First Profession HERE.

Statement on David Haas and His Music

From Oakland Diocese Sept 7, 2020:

Music by David Haas Should Be Removed. 

As Catholics, we are committed to safe environments for all and we affirm our support for those who have been harmed. Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that a prominent composer of liturgical music, David Haas, has had multiple allegations of misconduct levied against him.  These allegations are being investigated by the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. 
Given the serious nature of the allegations we feel it is inappropriate to use his music in Catholic worship until the investigations have concluded. Parishes in the Diocese of Oakland are asked to stop using any music by David Haas and look for suitable alternatives.

From Colleen to all Newman Musicians, June 28, 2020:

It is with both shock and sadness that I write about the allegations of sexual misconduct with adult women that have come to light recently about composer and musician David Haas. 

While David has denied the allegations against him, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has found them credible. Publishers GIA, OCP and other organizations have disassociated themselves from David Haas. Revised versions of hymnals will not include his music.

As the Province Leadership Team of the Holy Names Sisters recently wrote:

'For decades, David’s music has supported and expressed our prayer and spirituality. We have celebrated, grieved, discerned and prayed together through his gift of song, and to learn that women have been victimized by him comes as a shock to us and to the Church at large'.

 I recommend that for now we refrain from using music by David Haas for communal celebrations, out of sensitivity to and in support of those many women who have testified that they have experienced this unethical and exploitative behavior, and in support of all women in the Church, especially victims of exploitation, manipulation and abuse.

The pieces in in our repertoire which we will not use for now are:

• Abba, I Put My Life in Your Hands, Psalm 31

• All the Ends of the Earth, Psalm 96, (collaboration with Marty Haugen)

• Be a Blessing (Birthday Song)

• Blest Are They 

• Create in Me a Clean Heart, Psalm 51

• Deep Within

• Go Out to All the World, Psalm 107

• I Will Arise and Go To My God, Psalm 51

• I Will Praise Your Name, Psalm 145

• If Today You Hear God’s Voice, Psalm 91

• In The Presence of the Angels, Psalm 138

• Lord, I Thank You…Psalm 138

• The Lord is My Light and My Salvation Psalm 27

• Lord, Send Out Your Spirit, Psalm 104

• Lord, You Have the Words Psalm 19

• Now We Remain

• Proclaim to All the Nations, Psalm 96, (collaboration with Marty Haugen)

• Sing to the Lord a New Song, Psalm 98 (collaboration with Marty Haugen)

• Rejoice Child of God

• The Beloved of God

• They Who Do Justice, Psalm 15

• Voices That Challenge

• We Are Called

• We Are God’s People, Psalm 100

• We Have Been Told

• You Are Mine

Let us pray also for David Haas. Neither his actions nor his gifts can be denied. 

Colleen Lenord, Director of Music.

Season of Creation (September 1 - October 4)

Starting September 1, we will be having month-long series of events to honor the 5th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’. This month-long event is called “The Season of Creation.”  It occurs every year from September 1 to October 4. The Season of Creation is a time to slow down and focus on what matters. During this special time each year, we repair and restore our relationships with each other and with all creation.

This year, the theme for the season is “Jubilee for the Earth”, where we are all invited on a pilgrimage to better care for creation. We are all invited to ponder the integral relationship between resting for the Earth and how we live ecologically, economically, socially, and politically. Jubilee is a time to renounce overconsumption and economic systems based on constant economic growth at the cost of the Earth and the poor. Jubilee is a time when those who have consumed the most must make restitution to those who have suffered the most. Finally, jubilee is a time of rest for the land from constant exploitation, to restore ecosystems and people.

For more information on the Season of Creation, check out https://seasonofcreation.org/

Below are the weekly challenges to help you deepen your care for creation.

Week 1 ~ Learning More

Week 2 ~ Looking Closer

Week 3 ~ Letting Go

Week 4 ~ Living It Out

Week 5 ~ Loving More Deeply

Week 5’s Challenge - Living it Out

Week 4’s Challenge - Letting Go

Week 3’s Challenge - Letting Go

Week 2’s Challenge - Simplify Your Life

Laudato Si’ - Why Care for the Environment?

Laudato Si’ Introduction

Please watch our Newman kick off video to inspire you to engage in this jubilee Season of Creation.

Week 1’s Challenge - Learning More

Please share your reflections on this week’s challenge with us.

If you would like to help with Newman plan for the upcoming Season of Creation campaign toward ecological stewardship and environmental responsibility, please contact: Brett Furnas or Alden Moss.

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Below are further resources
to help you engage in this Season of Creation

Pope Francis video asking everyone to pray that we learn to respect the planet’s resources.

Hope for Creation - video highlight prayers, art, meditations of the Season

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The 2020 Feast of St. Francis Program, "The Healing Power of Love in Action: Creation Care in a Time of Pandemic and Partisanship” is available to celebrate the Season of Creation and the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi with your family, small group, parish or community. The program contains prayers, readings, a short video, and suggested activities.

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See more national and partner Season of Creation events here.

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