Message from Fr. O'
August 16, 2020
From the Pew
The parish is undergoing restructuring, beginning with the staff and later one Mass will be dropped from the Sunday Mass schedule, and possibly changes of Sunday Mass times. Changes of Masses will not happen until the pandemic is over. I write this now as being informed of parish restructuring.
National News
The diocese of Buffalo and Rochester have filed for bankruptcy. They are looking for loans from PPP programs. They will be forced to layoff employees.
International News
The Dutch Supreme Court has ruled that doctors could euthanize patients with severe dementia. It’s one more violation of human rights the Netherlands is noted for. I would never retire in the Netherlands. I’d have to be crazy.
Did you know
The Harding Golf Course in San Francisco is named after President Warren Harding who died in San Francisco of a heart attack.
Quote: "A Community is known by the school it keeps”
***
August 9, 2020
From the Rectory
The priests of St. Isabella are very grateful for your financial contributions to the parish during the pandemic. The business of parish life never stops. Bills, upkeep, and unforeseen events will always happen. Parish operating costs have been cut by $8,000 a month. We are trying fiscally the best we can do.
Parish Comment:
Racism (Part 1 of 2)
Some say the foundations of American civil life are buckling. Trust in almost every institution, Government, media, religion, banks, insurance companies, lawyers, etc, has plummeted. Racism adds to this tension. Racism is broader than Black Lives Matter. Racism has oppressed gypsies, tinceirs, indigenous peoples, undocumented migrants, European colonists. Anytime a nation considers some people inferior are racists. Unfortunately, they never see it that way. The time has come to be accountable. Racism never has a Christian moral stand.
Television
A new series called “The Chosen” takes a look at the life of Jesus Christ. It is available via the VidAngel streaming app. The first season will have eight episodes. Learn more about “The Chosen” online at https://studios.vidangel.com/the-chosen.
Quote: "The day is not done until it is done."
***
August 2, 2020
Moral Pew: (Part 2of 2)
Some of the mitigating factors in nursing homes are
1. The staff are paid minimal wages
2. Poor training
3. Hopelessly overworked
Some residents are desperately lonely, some receive no visitors at all. The Christian question is "What is our family obligation to our elders." No clear cut answers to any of this but certainly more discussions need to happen.
Vatican Pew
You may not have noticed that Pope Francis has been more silent these past few months. It seems the pandemic has hit the Vatican as every where else, but he is alive and well.
Parish New
St. Isabella School will not be openingin August as scheduled. We are hoping in September we can open.
Quote: "Wear your mask, or pay the cost."
***
July 26, 2020
Saints
St. Anthony, patron saint of lost things. The story goes he lost a prized book of Psalms. He prayed for its return. A novice who had taken the booked returned it to Anthony. For centuries, Catholics have invoked his help when they have lost something. "Tony, Tony, come around, something's lost and can't be found." He is also the saint for missing persons.
The Moral Pew: (Part 1 of 2)
Honor our Mother and Father. The pandemic might change our approach to elder care. Placing aging adults in convalescent homes should not be a death sentence. 40% of COVID-19 related deaths have been in nursing homes. Aging does not come too easily for human beings who remember too well the good old days. The word "convalescent" as in convalescent homes is a misnomer. Convalescent means to recover (recovering), but here these people are sent to die, away from their families. Sometimes, this cannot be helped and other times there is no valid reason for aging people to die in convalescent homes, except today this is our culture. From my experience not many aging adults want to be in convalescent homes.
Quote: "Best valor of discretion is loyalty." Queen Victoria.
***
July 20, 2020
Announcement:
St. Isabella will only have Sunday Mass at 9 A.M. Numbers attending Masses does not require two Masses, and 9 A.M. is cooler for outdoor Mass.
Fr. Tony Vallecillo is now full time at Our Lady of Loretto. He is no longer shared time at St. Isabella. The Spanish speaking Masses will be at St. Raphael or Our Lady of Loretto.
St. Vincent's Most Holy Rosary Chapel has closed down Sunday Mass after its first weekend, until further notice.
We are in the process of gathering parishioners' email address for more timely notifications in the future. If we missed anyone's email address, let us know, send to office@stisabellasparish.org.
***
July 19, 2020
Parish Glance (Part 2 of 2)
Fr. Bernard Lonergan, S.J., "Nothing is more practical than love, falling in love, what you are in love with will affect everything. It will decide what gets you out of bed in the morning, what you read, whom you know. What amazes you and who am I. Fall in love it will decide everything. Inauthenticity destroys relationships, authenticity deepens relationships." God is deep, therefore life has to be lived deeply.
Parish news: St. Vincent Chapel has decided to close down Sunday Mass 9:30 a.m. after its first weekend. St. Isabella will continue its two Sunday Masses unless the County shuts down outdoor Masses.
Did you know? There are 760 monuments to the confederacy in the U.S.
Quote: "As long as you wear this jersey, less than 100% is not allowed." (Rugby) All Blacks, New Zealand.
***
July 12, 2020
Parish Glance (Part 1 of 2)
Few people read theology books. A pity because the mind hungers for truth. Jesuit Priest, Bernard Lonergan (Dec. 1904 - Nov. 1984), his great book "Method in Theology" is considered a masterpiece. This is an excerpt from that book:
All communities cultures, human beings undergo experience. They strive to understand their experience. They make judgements based on those understandings. They make choices based on those judgements.
To experience we must live life,
to understand we must be itelligent,
to judge we must be reasonable,
to decide we must be responsible.
This is a method, a way of being human on personal and communal levels.
***
July 5, 2020
June 27, 2020
July 5th, 2020. Two Sunday Masses, 9 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. School yard. Bring your own masks, hand sanitizers, and chairs. During pandemic, Holy Communion should be received in the hand not the tongue. If it rains any Sunday mornings, Masses will be cancelled.
***
We bid farewell to Fr. Ken Westray who passed away June 24, 2020. He was pastor for 2 years at St. Isabella's parish. Rest in peace.
***
Quote: "He hath not eat paper, nor hath he drunk ink. This does not mean his intellect is weak." Shakepeare, 1592
June 21, 2020
Local church voice.
As with all epidemics, the world has known it is the poor who suffer the most. Black Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population and have 1/3 reported death from COVID-19. Many work for low wages, and are working on the front line; sub-standard housing, rates of infection, access to health care are all contributing factors. Some would add one more - racism. It is worthy to note San Francisco diocese has never had a black bishop. Does this mean the Church is racist? All of us are made in God's image.
"May the outward and inward man be at one."
Beginning Sunday, July 5th, St. Isabella will have two outdoor Masses, 9 A.M. and 11:30 A.M. on the school yard. People are asked to bring their own masks, hand sanitizers. A consent form you will be asked to sign.
June 14, 2020
The question of church buildings re-opeining?
The rumors are, not anytime soon. Physicians, health experts deciding how to protect worshipers when doors re-open. Everyone agrees health comes first but it is hard to understand church is not an essential service when it is an itegral part of our lives. Re-opening will be gradual with rules that will be demanded by the State. The medical field will advise the elderly and vulnerable populations to stay home until a vaccine is found. Masks, gloves, distancing, hand-sanitizing, only 100 people in the church. No Holy Water, no Blood of Christ, no music, no peace sign shaking hands, etc. Re-opening does not mean normalcy.
St. Isabella School, 8th Graders graduated June 5, 2020, 8 p.m. Since the Church is closed, 32 cars lined up in the school yard where 32 graduates received their diplomas and celebrated the occasion.
Quote: "Hatred does not stem violence, only love stems hatred."
***
Special Announcement - COVID19
March 18, 2020
The Archbishop has dispensed the faithfuls from coming to Mass out of the concern of the coronavirus pandemic crisis. As of 3/18/2020, no parishioners can attend any Masses, weekdays or Sundays, until further notice. Mass intentions will be celebrated by priest on the given day of request. Confessions call Rectory 415-479-1560. God bless, stay safe.
✞ Sunday Liturgies & Daily Masses livestreams, visit https://sfarchdiocese.org/livestreams
***