June 2012 St. Joseph of Cupertino St. Joseph of Cupertino Parish Cupertino, California Flyer

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults; a parish community effort by Mike Hoffman

In the Gospel of Matthew, when the risen Jesus meets with his While Janice LaMotte1, the Rite of Christian Initiation for disciples for the last time, he tells them, “Go, therefore, and Adults team, and the sponsors work very hard to ensure a make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the successful outcome, they can’t do everything. RCIA is a Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to community effort. The help and support of you the parishioners observe all that I have commanded you.” This command, given is critically important. Here are some things you can do: to all of us, is the basis for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). ♦ Greet candidates before or after Mass. Tell them how glad you are that they are taking this step and offer Almost immediately after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, your support. the disciples began evangelizing and bringing converts into the faith. The process of bringing new members into the church ♦ Call Janice LaMotte and offer to take one of the began to be formalized about 100 years after the death of Jesus. candidates out to lunch or dinner (or to meet them at At this time, it could take as long as three years for a convert to a local coffee shop such as Starbuck’s or Peet’s). be baptized and become a full member of the church. ♦ Attend an RCIA session (held on Wednesday nights) At St. Joseph of Cupertino, RCIA starts whenever an individual meet the candidates and express your support for comes to inquire. It is a process, which ideally involves the them. You might even learn something at the session. entire parish community. The candidates worship with the community, pray with the community and learn with the ♦ If you know people you think might be seekers, give community. Early in the process, they are paired with a sponsor those persons a gentle nudge. Tell them about RCIA who is their mentor and companion on the journey. and invite them to consider trying it out. Candidates are joyfully welcomed into the church and receive ♦ Consider volunteering as a team member. You don’t communion for the first time at the Easter Vigil. Their journey have to attend every session. Whatever time you can doesn’t end at the Easter vigil. Like all of us, they are embarked give will be greatly appreciated. on a lifelong journey of conversion. ♦ Consider sponsoring a candidate. It’s a time Ensuring the success of our RCIA process and a steady stream commitment, but for me it has also been a great joy. of seekers who become new members of our community is extremely important for a number of reasons. One is that For me, being a sponsor has never been about being learned or without new members, our parish will dwindle over time as saintly. When I attend a meeting with my candidate, meet to talk people die, move, or switch parishes. It also is a response to a about how he's doing, or walk behind him during a rite with my biblical imperative: hand on his shoulder, the message I want to impart is, "you're not alone on this journey." I think that's what being a sponsor is If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone all about. astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? Being involved in RCIA in any way is also a time commitment (Matthew: 18:12) and, we all have lots of other things to do. For me, there is nothing more important, nothing more joyful, than helping in I tell you in the same way there will be more rejoicing in however small a way to bring the lost sheep home to Jesus. heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke: 15:7) Jesus said to his disciples: “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” (Matthew: 9: 37, 38). But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found. (Luke: 15:32) Will you help with the harvest? For the Son of Man has come to seek and save what was lost. (Luke: 19:10) 1 Janice LaMotte, Pastoral Associate and RCIA director. 408/252-7653 x30, [email protected]

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Our Lady of Refuge – Patroness of Both Californias by Brother John M. Samaha, S.M. Our Lady of Refuge, Nuestra Señora del Refugio, is Patroness of Both Californias (Ambas Californias). This festival is celebrated as an obligatory memorial on July 5 in California. The Franciscan missionary Francisco Diego Garcia y Moreno was the first Bishop of the Californias -- Baja California (lower California in what is now Mexico) and (upper California in the present U.S.A.). It was he who proclaimed Nuestra Señora del Refugio, Patrona de las Ambas Californias. The official proclamation was made by Bishop Garcia Diego on January 4, 1843, at Santa Clara in Alta California. The Episcopal Proclamation The entire text of Bishop Garcia Diego's declaration is recorded in Mission Santa Clara's Libro de Patentes. After citing the early Fathers of the Church on the practice and spiritual benefits of naming patron saints, the first bishop of the Californias stated: "We make known to you that we hereby name the great Mother of God in her most precious title, 'del Refugio,' the principal patroness of our diocese … With so great a patroness and protectress, what can we not promise ourselves? What can be wanting and whom need we fear? "If through the centuries this most worthy Mother of God has shown goodness and compassion to all peoples and nations… will she not do likewise for those peoples who bind themselves to her as their refuge and special patroness?" The original painting of Our Lady of Refuge came to the Franciscan All California missions, and the parishes established later, celebrated Apostolic College of Guadalupe at Zacatecas in Mexico from Italy. this patronal feast with great solemnity. In the many political and An Italian Jesuit missionary brought it to Mexico to explain the historical shifts, interest in celebrating the feast had waned. But now enthusiastic interest in Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners, that had the feast is attracting fresh attention. developed in parish missions in eighteenth century Italy. Devotion to The Liturgical Feast the Mother of Jesus under this title and in this pictorial representation In 1981 the California Catholic Conference of Bishops petitioned the gained wide popularity among the Mexican and Californian Vatican Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship for and the people they served. authorization to observe the feast of Our Lady of Refuge on July 5 as Paintings of Our Lady of Refuge are, with few exceptions, quite similar an obligatory memorial. This was approved by official document dated in design and execution. The heads of the Infant Jesus and his Mother January 15, 1982, and signed by Archbishop Giuseppe Casoria. Mary lean together with no background between them. Both figures The dioceses of Baja California celebrate this patronal feast on July 4. wear a crown. Mary’s eyes are turned toward the observer, while the Because of Independence Day, the dioceses of Alta California chose gaze of the child seems to turn left of the viewer. July 5, and the memorial is listed for that day in their Ordo. The feast In the Santa Clara Mission church the painting of Our Lady of Refuge of Our Lady of Refuge (sometimes called Our Lady, Refuge of is found above the larger picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe in one of Sinners) has its own proper prayers for the Eucharistic Liturgy and the the side altar niches on the left as one nears the sanctuary. Another Liturgy of the Hours. painting by Eulalio, a local Native American, is on display in Over the last century and a half the original Diocese of Ambas Santa Clara University’s De Saisset Museum near the mission church. Californias has been divided many times on both sides of the border as Other known and attractive portrayals of Our Lady of Refuge are found the local Church has grown. Until the end of the nineteenth century the at Mission Santa Barbara, Mission San Francisco de Asis, Mission San priests of the Archdiocese of San Francisco prayed a special liturgical Luis Obispo de Tolosa, and the De Young Museum in San Francisco. office for the feast of Our Lady of Refuge. In the Dioceses of The proper name, Refugio, was and still is given to both male and San Diego the feast has always been observed. female Mexican children at the time of birth and baptism. The renewal of interest in this Marian feast honoring the patroness of Church historians and native Californians applaud the move for the Golden State was stimulated by the 1987-1988 Marian Year restoring the Patroness of Both Californias to her original and rightful observance and Pope John Paul II's encouragement to revitalize interest prominence in the local Church's liturgical calendar. in special, local feasts of the Virgin Mother Mary.

The Image Brother John Samaha, S.M. is a member of the Cupertino Marianist The entire coat of arms of Bishop Garcia Diego included only the community. He served as teacher at high schools in Alameda, image of Our Lady of Refuge. A painting of Our Lady of Refuge Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA; Walla Walla, WA and in Cornet holding her Child, usually the product of a local or native artist, graced Chahwan, Lebanon. Brother John also served the San Francisco each mission church after the bishop’s proclamation. To this day most Archdiocesan Department of Education, the Oakland Ministry Office, of the twenty-one missions of Alta California still display this image in the San Francisco Bay Area Catholic ETV Center and more. the churches or in their museums. We welcome Brother John as our guest author.

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Why Does Mary Appear? by Brother John M. Samaha, S.M.

What is the meaning of Marian apparitions? Rather, private revelation accentuates the challenge of the Gospel to prayer, In several years2 we will observe the penance, fasting, and conversion, which centenary of Mary’s apparitions at Fatima. lead to peace of heart and the peace of all What is the significance of the well known societies of the human race. apparitions at Lourdes, at Fatima, and other In contemporary times we have seen more apparitions? In our world of rationalism and apparitions approved than in any other era secularism, of materialism and consumerism, of church history. What does this say God and the supernatural seem far removed about our individual and communal from the generality of human beings. faithfulness and relationship to God? If Yet God continues to intervene in human true Marian apparitions are on the history by sending the Mother of Jesus when increase, our age is in greater need of the Christian faith is challenged and under encouragement to live generously the attack. The human family needs to be Christian life. Recall the words of reminded, sometimes in a dynamic and Blessed John XXIII about Lourdes in supernatural way, that God exists, that the 1959: “Listen attentively to the salutary Gospel of Jesus Christ is a universal call to warnings of the Mother of God, who seeks goodness and holiness, that we are all to guide us in our conduct.” responsible before our maker for our human Blessed John Paul II taught us to see that choices. Apparitions are a wake-up call for a Marian doctrine and devotion are both societal examination of conscience on how Christ-centered and Church-centered, to well we are responding to God’s manifold see the harmony of her unique invitations for personal salvation and world participation as coredemptrix in the peace. How are we responding? redemption earned by Jesus Christ with The Church is necessarily both cautious and her subsequent and consequent maternal open in the matter of private revelation. The mediation and advocacy for all humanity. Church must avoid the risk of losing Mary is the perfect model for the People credibility as the guardian of public revelation of God to be with Jesus and herself co- by too hastily confirming a reported private redeemers and intercessors for each other revelation or apparition, let alone something and all humankind. false. Yet we can clearly observe the Knowing and teaching the whole truth abundant blessings of Mary’s action in private about Mary is the best means to teach the revelation. Her appearance is a heaven-sent whole truth about Jesus and his saving reminder to compel the world to live the incarnation, his redemption, and his Gospel fully and to assist the Church in its Church. continuing mission of evangelization. The full truth about Mary safeguards the What would the 16th century have been full truth about Jesus. Mary is the most effective guiding star without Guadalupe? Or the 19th and 20th centuries without and mediating force for the new evangelization. The Mother the Miraculous Medal at Rue de Bac in Paris, without prepares the way for the Son. Lourdes, without Fatima? While always respecting the Church’s judgment about a private revelation, we thank God for the tremendous graces and blessings that result from authentic apparitions of Mary. The purpose of private revelation is never to replace public revelation contained in Scripture and Tradition.

2 Mary appeared at Fatima, Portugal from May to October 1917.

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Solve the Quote By Lorinda Rodrigues This quote is from the “Papal Mass on the Solemnity of Pentecost Homily of His Holiness Benedict XVI” given at the Vatican Basilica on Sunday, June 12, 2011. Read his whole homily here: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20110612_pentecoste_en.html Use the chart at the right to help you figure out the quote. The puzzle answer is on the parish website, www.stjoscup.org.

Automated Giving Parish Calendar No more forgotten envelopes. No more check writing. Aug. 5 11:00 am Church Welcome Mass for Newcomers with reception Sign up for automated giving: http://www.stjoscup.org/autogive.php St. Joseph of Cupertino Feast Day Celebration. Sept. 16 11:00 am Church & Hall Mass, with reception following in the Hall. Sept. 20 7:00 pm Comm. Center Bible Study series begins, Thursdays

TBA Comm. Center Catholicism series with Fr.

Oct. 12, 13, 14 Fri night; Sat & Sun Parish Cupertino Carnival @ St Joseph of Cupertino

Saturdays 6:30 pm Hall Bingo St. Joseph of Cupertino Flyer Sundays 10:30 – 11:00 am Front of church Video Lending Library Published Q uarterly by St. Joseph of Cupertino Parish, Mondays 6:30 pm Hall Bingo Communications Ministry [email protected] Mondays 9:30 – 11:30 am Various Mommy & Me Playgroup, [email protected] Pastor: Rev. Gregory K imm Sept. 6, then Noon Comm. Center Prayer Group resumes, weekly Contributors: Thursdays Mike Hoffman Lorinda Rodrigues Brother John Samaha 1st Thursdays 7:00 pm Comm. Center Parish Advisory Council, parishioners welcome

2nd Wed. 10:00 – 11:00 am Local parks Mom’s Group, Carol Ruiz, 408-777-2966 The Flyer, with color photos, is posted on the parish web site. 1st Sundays Morning Masses Comm. Center Hospitality after Mass – Coffee and Donuts Articles for The Flyer are welcomed Sept. 9, then from parishioners. 12:30 pm Rectory Grief Support Group resumes, monthly 1st Sundays Contact Communications Ministry with a topic before writing it. nd 2 Sundays 12:15 pm Rectory Scripture Sharing Group [email protected]