Read online reports about Jesuits, ministries, and programs associated with the California Province of the Society of Jesus
Please scroll down the page to the item of interest.
Novices Pronounce Their Vows
On August 14, 2010 at Sacred Heart Chapel, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. Seven Novices pronounced their vows to Father John McGarry, Provincial while Fr. Mike Weiler, Novice Master looked on. The Novices that pronounced their vows were: Justin Mungal, SJ, Alex Llanera, SJ, Travis Russell, SJ, Curtis Leighton, SJ, Brenan Busse, SJ, Andrew Laguna, SJ, Robert Van Alstyne, SJ. Read the Vow Mass Homily. See photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/32925312@N05
Requiescat in Pace: Father Paul L. Locatelli, S.J.
Father Paul L. Locatelli, S.J., 71, died on July 12, 2010, in Regis Infirmary at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California. Born in Santa Cruz, California, in 1938, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1962 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1974. For 20 years, he was the President of Santa Clara University and most recently was its Chancellor. He also served the international Society of Jesus, headquartered in Rome, as Secretary of Higher Education.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on July 16 in the Mission Gardens on the SCU campus in Santa Clara, California.
To make a gift to the Jesuits in memory of Fr. Locatelli, please click here.
Reflections on Paul Locatelli, S.J., by Rev. John P. McGarry, S.J., California Provincial
Paul Locatelli was a great Jesuit, full of life and energy, and very generous in his service to the Society of Jesus, the Church and the world. We, his fellow Jesuits, loved him dearly and will miss him very much. First and foremost, Paul loved the God who called him to the vocation which he lived so well for his whole life. Paul’s life was anchored in his faith in God and his desire to model his Jesuit life upon the life of Jesus. Paul was a wonderful priest. In recent months, he talked with me often about how much he valued pastoral ministry with people and sharing the gift of his priesthood through the celebration of the sacraments and being with people at important moments in their lives—baptisms, weddings, funerals. Paul loved people and recognized the God of life in each person he encountered.
Of course, Paul was also very successful in his Jesuit life, especially as President of Santa Clara University and Secretary (to the Superior General of the Society of Jesus) for Higher Education. The legacy of Paul’s dedication and passion for Jesuit education and his impact on the lives of so many students, faculty, staff, board members, and alumni of Santa Clara University will never be forgotten. Paul loved Santa Clara and took great joy in devoting so much of his life to making Santa Clara University the outstanding Jesuit school that it is.
Personally, I will never forget the honor of serving with Paul in Rome as delegates to the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus, and I will hold dear the moments by his bedside in the last two months when I was able to pray with him. Though Paul’s physical condition weakened rapidly, his faith and trust in God only grew stronger and he was at peace even in his suffering. Paul now enjoys the fullness of the life he lived so well, eternal life with God whom he loved and served with all his being. The sadness of death gives way to the bright promise of immortality, and we celebrate the life of Fr. Paul Locatelli, S.J.
AJCU remembers Rev. Paul L. Locatelli, S.J., 1938-2010
The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) mourns the death of former Santa Clara University president and past chair of the AJCU board of directors, Fr. Paul L. Locatelli, S.J., who died on July 12 from pancreatic cancer.
Fr. Locatelli served as president of Santa Clara University (SCU) for 20 years before being appointed the Secretary for Higher Education for the Society of Jesus, a post that took him to Rome from his native California. He was serving in the role of higher education secretary, as well as chancellor of SCU, at the time of his death.
To read the complete story, click here.
Planning a group retreat? Check out the Jesuit Retreat Center of the Sierra at Applegate, California
Is your parish, school, or organization planning to hold a meeting, conference, or retreat during 2010? Do you seek a restful place for a day, a weekend, or longer? Are you looking for an affordable venue in a natural setting with complete facilities where you can plan, train, celebrate, or pray? If so, consider the Jesuit Retreat Center of the Sierra at Applegate, Calif., in the Gold Country foothills. The center welcomes religious groups, nonprofit organizations, and other associations. To view a new informational webpage showing the center's conference, dining, lodging facilities, chapel, meal plans, rates, and a locator map, click here.
Jesuits Revealed: Where does a Jesuit come from? Why does he join the Society of Jesus? How does he know his calling?
The Jesuit Conference of the United States has launched a new video series interviewing Jesuits from across the country discussing their vocations, their various paths to becoming a Jesuit, and what it has meant to them to answer God’s call. One video features Brother Jim Siwicki, S.J., discussing the unique calling for Jesuits who are brothers. Br. Siwicki is Director of Vocations for the California Province of the Society of Jesus. To view the video, click here.
Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice set for November 13-15 in Washington, D.C.
This fall, the Ignatian Solidarity Network will once again gather members of the extended Ignatian family when the Ignatian Family Teach-In convenes on November 13-15 in Washington, D.C. During this three-day learning experience, participants will discuss ways to confront the issues of injustice, poverty, and oppression. Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J., social activist and author of "Dead Man Walking," will be a featured speaker. The Teach-In will be held at the Georgetown Hotel and Convention Center.
For registration details, call the Ignatian Solidarity Network at (415) 422-2408 or click here.
Matthew Motyka, S.J., ordained to the priesthood
On June 12, Matthew Motyka, S.J., was ordained to the priesthood at St. Agnes Church in San Francisco. “This is the happiest day of my life, the day when my priestly vocation is finally completed,” he told the congregants. “I'm grateful to all who have supported me on this journey. You reside in my heart and are remembered in my Masses.”
Most Rev. John R. Quinn, Archbishop Emeritus of San Francisco, who presided at the Ordination, noted, “Everything that we carry out as Church flows from the river of Christ’s love. The primary duty of the priest is to prayerfully lead the People of God to the love, imitation and service of Jesus Christ.”
Fr. Motyka entered the California Province of the Society of Jesus in 2001. He will serve as chaplain at San Quentin State Prison this summer before joining the faculty of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at the University of San Francisco in fall.
To view a photo of Fr. Motyka with Archbishop Quinn, click here.
Where Saints are Born and Miracles Happen
A Spiritual Journey to Spain & France in the
Footsteps of Ignatius of Loyola
You are invited to join our California Province pilgrimage under the direction of Tour Chaplain Rev. John Mossi, S.J., and Group Coordinator Joe Naylor, C.F.R.E., with travel arrangements by the Catholic Travel Centre, Burbank, California.
10 memorable days, March 19 to 28, 2011
Our itinerary includes:
• Birthplaces of St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, St. Bernadette Soubirous
• Lourdes, world-famous Marian shrine and sanctuary of healing
• Shrine of the Black Madonna and Benedictine Monastery at Montserrat
• Holy cave at Manresa where Ignatius composed the Spiritual Exercises
• Sagrada Familia Church, Gaudí’s masterpiece in Barcelona
Our arrangements provide:
• Round-trip flights from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Spain
• Private motor coach
• Comfortable accommodations
• Delicious regional cuisine
• Daily Mass and Examination of Conscience
For tour details, costs, and reservations, contact Joe Naylor: call (408) 884-1635 or e-mail jnaylor@calprov.org
To view the tour brochure and registration form, click here.
"Birthday Blessings" Jesuit Mass card now available online
The California Province of the Society of Jesus has added a new “Birthday Blessings” card to its line of Jesuit Mass cards. The front of the card features gold-leaf-framed scenes of forest and waterfall complemented by these words from Psalm 115:15: “May you be blessed by the Lord who made heaven and earth.” To view the card and order online, click here.
Requiescat in Pace: Father Joseph Ripley Caldwell, S.J.
Father Joseph Ripley Caldwell, S.J., 88, died on Thursday, May 27, at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California. Born in San Antonio, Texas, on November 28, 1921, he entered the Society of Jesus at Sacred Heart Novitiate in 1941. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1954.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on June 3 at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center Chapel in Los Gatos.
To make a gift in memory of Fr. Caldwell, click here.
California Province declares solidarity with migrants in opposing Arizona SB 1070
Father Provincial John P. McGarry, S.J, today issued a letter on behalf of the California Province declaring that it stands "in solidarity with the migrants and their families in opposition to the enactment and implementation of Arizona SB 1070." Fr. McGarry concluded by noting: "May the love we show our neighbors and community members provide a credible counter-witness to the politics of separation and fear that would divide us." To read his letter, click here.
Conference to explore theme of “Teilhard for A New Generation” at Santa Clara University
A four-day conference, November 18-21, to be held on the campus of Santa Clara University will explore the contemporary impact of the thought of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955), a Jesuit priest, philosopher, theologian, and paleontologist who took part in the discovery of Peking Man.
The conference goals are threefold: to consider the interdisciplinary implications of the thought of Teilhard for developing a more integrated and meaningful global culture; to provide a forum for scholars to discuss the current and possible status of the person and thought of Teilhard in the life of the Church; and to further the collaborative work of the Jesuit School of Theology and Santa Clara University in their professional integration.
Keynote speakers will be Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker, Senior Lecturer at Yale University; Dr. Ilea Delio, O.S.F., Senior Fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University; Br. Jeffrey Gros, F.S.C., Distinguished Professor at Memphis Theological Seminary; and Dr. David Grumett, author and Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, U.K.
Conference sponsors include Santa Clara University, the Jesuit School of Theology of SCU, and the American Teilhard Association.
For more information on the schedule, speakers, and registration, click here.
Jesuit priest to launch online college-credit program for Catholic high school students
Father Joseph Fessio, S.J., founder and editor of Ignatius Press and a leader in Catholic higher education, is launching a college-credit program for Catholic high school students, homeschoolers, and others. Called the Ignatius-Angelicum Liberal Studies Program, it is a joint project of Ignatius Press and Angelicum Great Books Program, a provider of homeschooling and other liberal arts resources. Fr. Fessio serves as Chancellor of the new online LSP program, which begins this fall. Fr. Fessio, a former student of Pope Benedict XVI, is a member of the California Province of the Society of Jesus. To read the story online, click here.
For more information about the LSP program, click here.
Kino Border Initiative’s “Ministry on the Border” featured in
The Southern Jesuit
Father Donald Bahlinger, S.J., is one of the Jesuits who ministers to deported immigrants at the Kino Border Initiative (KBI) located on the U.S.-Mexico border at Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Fr. Bahlinger’s pastoral role with the KBI is described by Emma McCreight in the Spring 2010 issue of The Southern Jesuit published by the New Orleans Province of the Society of Jesus. The KBI is one of the social ministries sponsored by the California Province and other Jesuit and religious partners. To read a PDF copy of the story, click here.
Requiescat in Pace: Father Gerald Sullivan, S.J.
Father Gerald P. Sullivan, S.J., 78, died on Saturday, May 15, at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California. Born in Sacramento on July 26, 1931, he entered the Society of Jesus at Sacred Heart Novitiate in Los Gatos in 1949. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1962.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on May 25 at Mission Santa Clara, Santa Clara University.
To make a gift in memory of Fr. Sullivan, click here.
Requiescat in Pace: Brother Norbert "Biz" Korte, S.J.
Brother Norbert J. (Biz) Korte, S.J., 80, died on Wedsnesday, May 12, at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California. Born in San Francisco on December 23, 1929, he entered the Society of Jesus at Sacred Heart Novitiate in Los Gatos in 1951. He pronounced Final Vows in 1961 in Sacred Heart Chapel at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on May 20 at St. Mary’s Church, Los Gatos.
To make a gift in memory of Br. Korte, click here.
Requiescat in Pace: Father Robert St. Clair, S.J.
Father Robert Lamar St. Clair, S.J., 82, died on Wednesday, May 12, at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California. Born in Houston, Texas, on January 21, 1928, he entered the Society of Jesus at Sacred Heart Novitiate in Los Gatos in 1945. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1958.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on May 19 at Mission Santa Clara, Santa Clara University.
To make a gift in memory of Fr. St. Clair, click here.
Congressman and Jesuit say colleges and universities must be “incubators for alternative energy solutions”
U.S. Representative Michael Honda of California and Jesuit Father Michael Engh, S.J., President of Santa Clara University, say that “Colleges and universities must lead the way in creating alternative energy solutions. Through education, innovation, and entrepreneurship, we need to radically change energy infrastructure and markets.”
“As an example, Santa Clara University in the Silicon Valley has made sustainability and climate neutrality top priorities. Drawing on their intellectual heritage as a Jesuit, Catholic institution, it is well on its way to strategically linking its long commitment to environmental justice to its growing efforts at ensuring a sustainable future for all,” they wrote.
Rep. Honda and Fr. Engh expressed their views in a co-authored opinion piece published in The Hill. To read the story online, click here.
The Kino Border Initiative: “The Catholic Church at its Best”
Father John Foley, S.J., chairman of Cristo Rey Network, spent Holy Week with the people of the Kino Border Initiative (KBI) on the U.S.-Mexico border at Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. The KBI is run by Jesuits from the United States and Mexico, plus an order of Mexican nuns. “By far the biggest thing they do is provide a soup kitchen where they give a meal in the morning and another in the afternoon” to the deported migrants who come to them, Fr. Foley notes.
“It was a good place to spend Holy Week. Those who go to the soup kitchen are just like Jesus: beaten down, totally defeated and in a hopeless situation. When they come in and take a place in the dining room, someone from the team of religious welcomes them and explains to them that they (the religious and volunteers at the soup kitchen) do not represent either the Mexican nor the United States government. They are there, they tell them, representing the Catholic Church. Frankly it was a time when one could be proud to be called a Catholic. It was the Catholic Church at its best.”
To read Fr. Foley’s blog online, click here.
To visit the KBI's website, click here.
Requiescat in Pace: Father Herbert Ryan, S.J.
Father Herbert J. Ryan, S.J., 79, died on April 8 in Los Angeles. Born in Scarsdale, New York, on February 19, 1931, he entered the Society of Jesus at St. Andrew on Hudson in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1949. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1962. He pronounced his Final Vows in Maastricht, Holland, in 1966.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on April 17 in Sacred Heart Chapel at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
To make a gift in memory of Fr. Ryan, click here.
Jesuits of Loyola Productions featured in The New York Times
Loyola Productions, a nonprofit creative media company led by members of the Society of Jesus based in Culver City, California, is featured in a story headlined “A Mission Field Behind the Camera” in The New York Times. Reporter John Anderson talked with two Jesuits who serve as officers of Loyola Productions: Father Eddie Siebert, S.J., president; and Brother Michael Breault, S.J., vice president.
Since Fr. Siebert founded Loyola Productions in 2000, he and Br. Breault have produced many film and television projects. “I came to the Jesuits because you could run a film production company and still be a Jesuit priest,” says Fr. Siebert, who earned a film degree from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
“We’re not some religious company that has some Catholic ax to grind,” explains Br. Breault. “I don’t even own a Catholic ax.”
To read the whole story online, click here.
To visit the website of Loyola Productions, click here.
Requiescat in Pace: Father John Perlite, S.J.
Father John J. Perlite, S.J., 91, died on Thursday, March 25, in Regis Infirmary at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California. Born in San Francisco, California, on November 6, 1918, he entered the Society of Jesus at Sacred Heart Novitiate in Los Gatos in 1936. He was ordained a priest in 1949.
In 1951, Fr. Perlite was assigned as minister and teacher at Sacred Heart Novitiate. In 1958, he was named Master of Novices, a post he held until 1966. He was later assigned to Alma College as treasurer. In 1969, when the theologate moved to Berkeley, he continued in the financial office there until 1980.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on April 6 in the chapel of Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos.
To make a gift in memory of Fr. Perlite, click here.
St. Francis Xavier School breaks ground for new building in Phoenix
Founded in 1948, St. Francis Xavier School recently broke ground for a new two-story school and faith education center in Phoenix. St. Francis Xavier is one of seven elementary schools associated with the California Province of the Society of Jesus. For a story and photos of the school on the Raising Arizona Kids blog: click here.
Requiescat in Pace: Father John Ferguson, S.J.
Father John G. Ferguson, S.J., 90, died on Sunday, March 21, at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California. Born in San Francisco, California, on July 23, 1919, he entered the Society of Jesus at Sacred Heart Novitiate in Los Gatos in 1941. He was ordained a priest in 1954.
Fr. Ferguson's ministry was divided between the classroom and the parish. In 1956, he taught philosophy and theology at the University of San Francisco, where he earned a Master's in Theology. In 1963, he became one of the founding members of the Jesuit High School community in Sacramento, California, where he served as minister, counselor, and theology teacher. In 1971, he taught English and speech at St. Xavier's College in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Returning to the U.S. in 1972, he took up parish ministry, serving at St. Clare Church in Santa Clara, California; St. Henry Church in Brigham City, Utah; St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Sacramento; and St. Mary Church in Ogden, Utah.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on March 30 in the chapel of Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos.
To make a gift in memory of Fr. Ferguson, please click here.
Requiescat in Pace: Father Dare Morgan, S.J.
Father Dare J. Morgan, S.J., 86, died on March 14 in Regis Infirmary at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California. Born in San Anselmo, California, on June 3, 1923, he entered the Society of Jesus at Sacred Heart Novitiate in Los Gatos in 1940. He was ordained a priest in 1953.
Teaching high school mathematics was the main focus of his ministry from 1955 until 1978. He began his long tenure at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in 1958, remaining in the math classroom until 1973. He then moved to Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix.
Between 1978 and 1986, Fr. Morgan served in parishes in Santa Clara, San Jose, and Hollywood. In 1986, he was named Pastor of St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Sacramento, serving there until 1992. In 1996, he went to the Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos as a pastoral minister and retreat director. In 2005, he retired to Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on March 26 in the chapel of Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos.
To make a gift in memory of Fr. Morgan, please click here.
Requiescat in Pace: Brother Thomas Marshall, S.J.
Brother Thomas A. Marshall, S.J., 87, died on March 11 in Regis Infirmary at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California. Born in Oakland, California, on October 9, 1922, he entered the Society of Jesus at Sacred Heart Novitiate in Los Gatos in 1946.
From 1953 to 1964, he served as librarian at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose. During that period, he received an M.S. in Librarianship from the University of Southern California. From 1974 to 1978, he began his first stint as Province Archivist. He then returned to the library world, serving first as Reference Librarian at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles from 1978 to 1983, then as Head Librarian at Woodstock Theological Library in Washington, D.C., from 1983 to 1986. In 1986, he was named Province Archivist and returned to Los Gatos.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on March 22 in the chapel of Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos.
To make a gift in memory of Br. Marshall, click here.
Father Greg Boyle, S.J., author of “Tattoos on the Heart,” profiled in Los Angeles Times
Father Greg Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, has written a memoir entitled “Tattoos in the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion” (Free Press, 2010). Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention program, is one of the social ministries sponsored by the California Province of the Society of Jesus.
In profiling Fr. Boyle in the March 17 Los Angeles Times, Celeste Fremon writes, “My friend Greg Boyle lives--as Daniel Berrigan once said--‘as though the truth were true.’ He is more gifted at compassion than anyone else I have ever met. And though compassion is volitional, it is assuredly also a talent, akin to, say, a gift for playing the piano. Anyone who puts his or her mind to it can learn to play, but when you hear someone who is meant to play, it is an entirely different matter.” To read Fremon’s story online, click here.
To order a copy of Fr. Boyle's widely acclaimed book online, click here.
Loyola High School students' community-service work featured on NBC Nightly News
Loyola High School in Los Angeles requires its students to participate in community-service programs. In its March 11 broadcast, the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams featured LHS students in its “Making a Difference” series. LHS is one of eight high schools associated with the California Province of the Society of Jesus. To view the report by NBC's Lee Cowan, visit the link below and click on “At LA high school, good grades require good deeds:"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#35825813
Requiescat in Pace: Father George Dennis, S.J.
Father George T. Dennis, S.J., 86, died on March 7 at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, California. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 17, 1923, he entered the Society of Jesus at Sacred Heart Novitiate in Los Gatos, Calif., in 1941. Fr. Dennis was ordained a priest in 1954.
In 1966, Fr. Dennis accepted an offer from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he taught courses in medieval and Byzantine history and Greek paleography. In 1986-87, he was a visiting professor at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. He retired in 1994, but continued teaching several more years. Fr. Dennis' list of publications encompasses 8 books and 51 articles in scholarly journals.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on March 15 in Sacred Heart Chapel at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos.
To make a gift in memory of Fr. Dennis, please click here.
Loyola Marymount University featured in U.S. News & World Report story on alternative spring breaks
Since 2006, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles has been sending students on social-service trips to New Orleans to provide post-Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. The trips are now so popular that LMU sends two trips each year, one in spring and one in winter, according to Joanne Dennis, alternative breaks coordinator at LMU. To read the report by Rebecca Kern online, click here.
Requiescat in Pace: Father Donald Merrifield, S.J.
Father Donald P. Merrifield, S.J., 81, died on February 25 at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, California. Born in Los Angeles on November 14, 1928, he attended the California Institute of Technology, receiving a B.S. in physics in 1950. The following year, he received an M.S. in physics at the University of Notre Dame.
He entered the Society of Jesus at Sacred Heart Novitiate in Los Gatos, California, in 1951. He was ordained a priest in 1965. In 1969, he was named President of Loyola Marymount University. In 1984, he moved from the president's office to the position of Chancellor, continuing his work as a fund-raiser until 2002. The next phase of his ministry took place in Honolulu, where he was assigned as coordinator for Hispanic ministry for the diocese, a post he held until 2005. He spent the next years in part-time parish and prison ministry and working with the homeless. In 2008, he retired to Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on March 9 in Sacred Heart Chapel at Loyola Marymount University.
To make a gift in memory of Fr. Merrifield, please click here.
Blessed Sacrament School opens preschool to serve Hollywood community
Blessed Sacrament School in Hollywood opened a new preschool on February 1, where parents can drop off children ages three to five at 7:30 a.m. The kids are served a nutritious breakfast at 8 a.m. and lunch at noon plus two snacks. The academic day runs to 3 p.m. and activities are designed to foster both social skills and emotional growth.
"The early start provided by a high-quality preschool like ours helps youngsters prepare for success in school and in life,” says Father Michael Mandala, S.J., pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish. "So much research has been done showing how preschool children really fair better when they get to school that we're pleased to offer this new service for the little ones."
To read more about the preschool program in Tidings Online, click here.
For more information about Blessed Sacrament Parish and School, click here.
Malatesta Program envisions exchange between Chinese and American scholars
The California Province “is striving to firm up friendship between Chinese and American scholars as a way to mark the 400th anniversary of Father Matteo Ricci’s death in Beijing in 1610,” according to a report by the Union of Catholic Asian News. The California Province initiated the program, which is cosponsored by the Province and three Jesuit institutions of higher education: Loyola Marymount University, Santa Clara University, and the University of San Francisco, says California Provincial Rev. John P. McGarry, S.J. The Malatesta Program is envisioned as a person-to-person exchange among Chinese and Americans scholars. The program is named for the late Father Edward Malatesta, S.J., who co-founded the Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Cultural History at the University of San Francisco in 1984. To read the story on UCANEWS.com, click here.
View Righting the Wrong, a documentary by Loyola Productions about restorative justice and the juvenile justice system
Righting the Wrong, a powerful documentary from Loyola Productions, illuminates the concept of restorative justice by interweaving interviews of those impacted by the justice system with experts in the fields of restorative and juvenile justice. To view the video (28:36 min), click here.
Kino Border Initiative celebrates first anniversary as Father Sean Carroll, S.J., professes his Final Vows in Nogales, Arizona
The Kino Border Initiative (KBI), a social ministry cosponsored by the California Province of the Society of Jesus, celebrated its first anniversary of service to the people of Ambos Nogales on Jan. 17. At the same time, Father Sean Carroll, S.J., Executive Director of the KBI, professed his Final Vows as a Jesuit. Fr. Carroll’s vows were received by California Provincial John McGarry, S.J., in a ceremony held at San Felipe de Jesús Parish in Nogales, Ariz. To read more, visit The New Vision online site of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson: http://www.newvisiononline.org/february10/kinoborder.php
What does it mean to be a Jesuit, Catholic university
in San Francisco today?
What are the qualities that define a university as Catholic? At the University of San Francisco, the answers are all around—from service among the city’s marginalized to work with victims of human trafficking to weekly student Mass. To read "By Spirit & Deed" by Kimberly Winston online in USF magazine, go to http://www.usfca.edu/usfmagazine/fall09/f1_catholic_1.html
Ignatian Companions are committed to spirituality and service to people in need around Santa Clara County
The Companions in Ignatian Service and Spirituality is a burgeoning group sponsored by the California Province of the Society of Jesus, Santa Clara University, and Catholic Charities of San Jose that responds to the thirst of Catholics aged 50 and over to deepen their spiritual life as they give of their time and talent in community service outreach to people who are poor and socially marginalized. What began as a handful of volunteers who sought common opportunities for ongoing spiritual reflection has grown into a program with more than 20 participants who are engaged in three basic commitments: a daily commitment to personal prayer and Ignatian reflection; a weekly commitment to service to people in need; and a monthly commitment to gather with others for common spiritual reflection, formation, and community.
To learn more about the Ignatian Companions, visit their website: www.ignatiancompanions.org or contact program coordinator Kay Mascoli by calling (408) 666-7506 or e-mail kmascoli@scu.edu
A family’s determination pays off as son goes to Loyola High School in Los Angeles
In the December 2 issue of the Los Angeles Times, Steve Lopez reports on how Juan Correa's parents worked hard to be able to send him and his brother to an after-school program, where Juan is being mentored in art. There, Dan McCleary, a 1970 graduate of Loyola High School in Los Angeles, spotted Juan’s enormous potential and worked to help him come to Loyola. The Correa family’s efforts paid off with Juan's admission to Loyola, one of eight high schools associated with the California Province of the Society of Jesus. To read “A family’s quiet story of determination and success in the city,” go to http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lopez2-2009dec02,0,5338190.column
Jesuit alumni in Arizona invite Ignatian family members to check out their new website
Jesuit Alumni in Arizona (JAAZ) is an organization of about 2,000 men and women who live in Arizona and whose backgrounds have some aspect of Jesuit life and values in common. Members of JAAZ are graduates of 28 Jesuit universities and 47 Jesuit high schools. They meet periodically to celebrate their Jesuit background. To learn more about JAZZ, visit its website: http://jaazsw.org/
Newman Center at the University of Hawaii is the lively heart of religious education
The Newman Center at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu is an active campus ministry, not only for students, but for individuals and families who return here to enrich their faith. The Newman Center is one of 12 Jesuit parishes associated with the California Province of the Society of Jesus. For an overview of the center's religious education programs, view a PDF: http://www.jesuitscalifornia.org/Document.Doc?id=372
For more information, including Mass schedules, visit the Newman Center's website: http://www.newmanhawaii.org/
Students from Xavier College Preparatory High School are serving as mentors for younger children in La Quinta, California
In the October 29 edition of the La Quinta Sun, Madison N. Jennings reports on a mentoring program that has paired youngsters from the local community with student mentors from Xavier College Preparatory High School. Xavier is one of eight schools associated with the California Province of the Society of Jesus. To read the report, go to http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009910280356
Only Your Love, new CD featuring instrumental music of Robert Fabing, S.J., released by Oregon Catholic Press
The instrumental music of Father Robert Fabing, S.J., of the California Province of the Society of Jesus, is featured on Only Your Love, a new CD release from Oregon Catholic Press. The collection of 11 works features Father Arnel dC. Aquino, S.J., a Jesuit priest from the Philippine Province, on the keyboard. Fr. Fabing is the founder of the Jesuit Institute for Family Life International Network based in Los Altos, California. To listen to two of the selections, click on the song titles below to activate the audio.
"Only Your Love" (3:30 min); Copyright 2009, Robert Fabing, S.J., used by permission.
"In You, O God" (3:16 min); Copyright 2009, Robert Fabing, S.J., used by permission.
The CD is available from Oregon Catholic Press in Portland, Oregon: call 1-800-LITURGY or go to http://www.ocp.org/
Loyola Institute for Spirituality invites you to visit its blog
The Loyola Institute for Spirtuality (LIS), based in Orange, California, is a spirituality center sponsored by the California Province of the Society of Jesus. Recently, LIS launched a blog featuring news, articles, and information about upcoming events including courses. In a recent blog, for example, there's a report on "The Spiritual Exercises" of St. Ignatius, a nine-month program presented in the form of the 19th Annotation Retreat for Daily Life, and a reflection by Penny Hansen, LIS Associate, titled "Seeking Holy Ground." The blog is updated on a weekly basis. To visit, go to http://www.loyinst.blogspot.com/
Marcus Scroggins talks about his journey from Verbum Dei High School to Marist College
In Tidings Online, R.W. Dellinger tells how Marcus Scroggins' "inner-city drive" led him from Nickerson Gardens in Watts to attend Verbum Dei High School, then go on to graduate from Marist College in New York's Hudson River Valley. To read his inspiring story, go to http://www.the-tidings.com/2009/091109/mountcarmel.htm
Hispanic minstrel launches Honor Migrante, a new CD to educate and lift up migrants, working people
In the spirit of commitment to “solidarity with migrants,” the California Province of the Society of Jesus is a proud sponsor of Honor Migrante, a new CD album produced by Francisco Herrera and the non-profit organization Fundación Caminante. Honor Migrante is a collection of original songs in Spanish that educate migrant communities about fundamental human and worker rights. Fundación Caminante will be producing community concerts across California as fundraisers for local organizations that support migrants and working people.
Francisco Herrera, a former California Jesuit, is well-known in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond for his grassroots music ministry on behalf of the poor and marginalized. He has performed at the Ignatian Family Teach-In at Columbus, Georgia, and the Teach-In on Immigration in Los Angeles.
“Honor Migrante is a composite of immigrant and work people's stories put to music, and as such it provides a soundtrack to the immigrant and labor rights movements," says Francisco. "Each song is dedicated to different issues that migrant and working people face as well as the dignity they bring to society.”
To listen to two songs from Honor Migrante, download the audio files by clicking on the links below:
“Saber Ante la Migra” (3:30 min); Copyright 1992 by F. Herrera/H. Sigüenza, used by permission: http://www2.calprov.org:81/files/09_Saber_Ante_la_Migra-final.mp3
“Trabajo en el Hotel” (3:20 min); Copyright 2009 by Francisco Herrera/Martin Llamas, used by permission: http://www2.calprov.org:81/files/08_Trabajo_en_el_Hotel-final.mp3
For information on how to purchase Honor Migrante or specifics on community concerts, contact Francisco Herrera
To learn more about Fundación Caminante’s Honor Migrante community concert project, click here
Ice skating champion Richard Dwyer, a graduate of Loyola High School, is grateful "for the faith Loyola had in me"
Richard Dwyer, a 1953 graduate of Loyola High School in Los Angeles, says the "Jesuits at Loyola made by life click. They pushed me to succeed." Dwyer went on to become a world-class skater, starring in the Ice Follies and Ice Capades, and partnering on the ice with Olympic champions including skaters Peggy Fleming and Dorothy Hamill.
Today, Dwyer remembers Loyola as the place "where it all started...it's where my life really began." He has expressed his gratitude by making a generous planned gift to the school. To read more about Dwyer's career and his memories of the Jesuits, go to http://www.loyolahs.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=113907
Saint Ignatius of Loyola Mass Offering card available online from California Province
This year, as the Jesuits of the California Province celebrate their Centennial (1909-2009), they are introducing a new Saint Ignatius of Loyola Mass Offering card. This devotional card has special significance for Jesuits and all members of the Ignatian family whose lives have been touched by St. Ignatius.
Gracing the front cover of the card is the painting “St. Ignatius of Loyola” (circa 1620-1622) by the accomplished artist and ardent Catholic, Peter Paul Rubens. The original painting hangs in the Norton Simon Museum of Art in Pasadena, California.
Inside the card is his Prayer for Generosity. A favorite prayer of Jesuits, it exemplifies the tradition of Ignatian spirituality. In the span of his 65 years, Ignatius wrote the Spiritual Exercises, a thirty-day retreat of growing closer to Jesus Christ, founded the Society of Jesus, became the Jesuit order’s first Superior General and established schools and parishes. We celebrate his Feast Day on July 31, the day Ignatius died in 1556 in Rome. He was canonized in 1622.
Consider giving the Saint Ignatius Mass Offering card to a family member or friend as a special gift, to provide prayer support for someone who is in need of healing or suffering from a loss, or to celebrate a special occasion, such as a birthday, marriage, or anniversary.
All donations received for the Saint Ignatius Mass Offering card will go toward the education and training of Jesuit priests and brothers during their formation, and the care of elderly and infirm Jesuits.
To view the Saint Ignatius Mass Offering card online and place an order quickly and securely, use the California Province website’s electronic shopping cart: https://products.jesuitscalifornia.org/cart/selection.asp
To order the Saint Ignatius Mass Offering card by phone, call the California Province Advancement Office at (408) 884-1633.
Perpetual Certificates from the California Province, an enduring way to remember loved ones in prayer
Since January 2004, nearly 5,000 persons, deceased and living, have been honored by family members and friends who dedicated Perpetual Certificates issued in their name by the California Province of the Society of Jesus.
When you dedicate a Perpetual Certificate to a person, you ensure that they will be remembered perpetually in the prayers, Masses, and apostolic labors of the Jesuits of the California Province.
The Perpetual Certificates are available in standard and deluxe styles. Each certificate is inscribed with the name of the person being honored and is imprinted with a portrait of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, and the seal of the California Province of the Society of Jesus.
Once a donor’s request for a Perpetual Certificate is processed, the honoree’s name is listed in the Province Prayer Intentions Book located at the St. Joseph Altar in Sacred Heart Chapel at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California, where a community of more than 50 Jesuit priests and brothers attend Mass.
For each Perpetual Certificate, a donation to the California Province is suggested. All donations are applied by the California Province to educate Jesuit priests and brothers, to care for aged or infirm Jesuits, to sustain ministries serving poor and disadvantaged people, or to meet the greatest need at a particular time. Jesuits of the California Province include all benefactors in their prayers and Masses on a regular basis.
To order Perpetual Certificates by phone, call the California Province Advancement Office at (408) 884-1633. To view the selection of four Perpetual Certificates online, visit our website at https://products.jesuitscalifornia.org/cart/selection.asp
The “Vatican’s Celestial Eye” in Arizona
In the June 23 edition of The New York Times, George Johnson reports on the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope on Mount Graham, Arizona, in a story headlined “Vatican’s Celestial Eye, Seeking Not Angels but Data.” A number of Jesuit scientists from Europe, South America, and the United States, including the California Province of the Society of Jesus, are members of the Vatican Observatory Research Group. To read the story online, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/science/23Vatican.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
“What Makes a Great Teacher?” For Ronald Maggiano, the ingredients are found in Father Anton Renna, S.J.
Ronald Maggiano, a history teacher at West Springfield High School in Virginia, is a 1970 graduate of Brophy College Preparatory, a Jesuit high school in Phoenix. It was there that Maggiano was a student of Father Anton J. Renna, S.J., a California Province Jesuit, who taught English and Humanities at Brophy for 45 years. “It was because of him that I became a teacher,” writes Maggiano in “What Makes a Great Teacher?” in his May 26 blog on The Classroom Post. To read it online, go to http://www.theclassroompost.com/2009/05/what-makes-great-teacher.html
|