February 2022 by Catholic San Francisco

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | FEBRUARY 2022

FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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The lives you impact through your support of the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal Scholarships, mentoring offer way back for formerly incarcerated Breaking down the stigma to overcome mental health challenges Marriage & family are at the heart of everything

The Liturgy of the Word

Hope and healing after abortion

PRODUCTION MANAGER

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone

Karessa McCartney-Kavanaugh

Mary Podesta

DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF HUMAN LIFE & DIGNITY/MANAGING EDITOR

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

BUSINESS MANAGER

Joel Carrico

Chandra Kirtman

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Mary Powers

COVER BY Rebecca Loomis

LEAD WRITER

Christina Gray

Archdiocesan Annual Appeal (AAA): Your gifts change lives

PUBLISHER

Valerie Schmalz

Stained glass: St. Peter Church, San Francisco

CIRCULATION

Diana Powell COPY EDITOR

Vallombrosa: Archdiocesan retreat center continues to offer a peaceful refuge Laudato Si’: Archdiocese committed to seven-year Action Platform Flocknote: A new tool for Catholic communication

Calendar: Upcoming events

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Nancy O’Brien

Published by the Archdiocese of San Francisco, One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109. Catholic San Francisco (ISSN 15255298) is published 8 times yearly. Catholic San Francisco is printed by Publication Printers Corp. in Denver, Colorado. Periodical postage paid in San Bruno, California. Subscriptions: $24 a year in California; $36 per year out of state. Postmaster: Send address changes to Catholic San Francisco, Circulation., One Peter Yorke, San Francisco, CA 94109 or email circulation.csf@sfarch.org..

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | FEBRUARY 2022

ARCH B I S HOP

Photo by Dennis Callahan

The lives you impact through your support of the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal (AAA) Dear Friends in Christ: I hope you enjoyed a very happy and holy Christmas with your family, and I wish you many blessings in 2022. You impact many lives through your support of the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal (AAA). I thank you for your generosity, your deeds, and your commitment to our Catholic faith. Because of your generosity and that of many others throughout our Archdiocese, our Church is able to provide assistance and resources to people in need through the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal. You support such critical needs as parish ministries, youth and young adults, schools, social ministries, priestly formation, ministering to the poor, ecumenical efforts, and the greater Church, among others. And the Annual Appeal enables us to provide this support in a way that our individual

parishes would not be able to on their own. We unite as one body in the Annual Appeal. The theme for this year’s Annual Appeal is “As I have done for you, you should do also.” The following are just a couple of the specific ways you help impact lives through the AAA: • Our new Life-Giving Wounds ministry helps heal, restore, and provide peace of mind to adults whose parents have gone through a divorce. Through tears, a participant at one of the retreats said, “…my parents’ divorce was so traumatic for me that I didn’t even know if I believed in love.” Another commented, “This is probably the best thing the Church has ever done for me and my siblings.” • Our Human Life and Dignity programs help people get back on their feet emotionally, spiritually, and financially. We offer support for women in crisis pregnancies and healing retreats after abortion. We assist victims of crime, those

For more information, please contact your parish or the Office of Mission Advancement at (415) 614-5580 or email: development@sfarch.org FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Ways to Give Only you can decide what gift amount is right for you in light of your circumstances and the blessings God has given you. For your convenience you may make your contribution over the course of the year. Please see the table below for budgeting purposes.

Photo by Dennis Callahan

• ONLINE AT SFARCH.ORG/AAA (by credit card or checking account): Please note that you can take full advantage of the benefits offered by your credit card, such as bonus points and airline miles.

who commit crimes, and men and women after imprisonment. We mobilize Catholics to advocate on issues of human life and human dignity…and we bring Christian ideas to the whole society, not only to those faithful Catholics in the pews!

• USING THE ENCLOSED BROCHURE (by credit card, check, or cash): Please make checks payable to “Archdiocesan Annual Appeal 2022.” You may send your completed donation brochure directly to the Archdiocese (the address is pre-printed on the form).

Our mission as a Church and people of faith continues, and the needs are ongoing, so I ask you to make a gift to this year’s Archdiocesan Annual Appeal. All gifts are greatly appreciated and very beneficial.

• STOCKS, BONDS OR MUTUAL FUNDS: Donations of stock offer a way to make a charitable gift without having to utilize cash funds. In addition, a stock donor may be able to benefit from capital gains tax savings. For more information on how to donate stocks, bonds or mutual funds, please contact the Office of Mission Advancement: (415) 614-5580, development@sfarch.org.

Your contribution is a tangible expression of your commitment to bring Christ to others. It reinforces the vital nature of our mission, enhances our ability to spread the Faith, and impacts the lives of countless individuals. The past almost two years have been a great challenge. We’ve all been affected by the pandemic in some manner. Now, as we begin to emerge, there is much to be encouraged about in our Archdiocese. The support and commitment of parishioners in our Archdiocese are primary factors in enabling me to look forward with such hope. With my prayerful best wishes, I am, Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Salvatore J. Cordileone Archbishop of San Francisco

A self-addressed AAA donation brochure is enclosed for your |convenience. CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO FEBRUARY 2022

• MATCHING GIFTS: Many employers have matching gift programs which provide employees with the opportunity to enhance their charitable contributions. Please contact your company’s Human Resource professional to find out whether your company has a matching gift program.

SUGGESTED GIFT PLANS Total Gifts

1st Payment

10 Monthly Payments

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$180

$1,000

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$50

$45

$200

$20

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$150

$15

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$100

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3 $9

H U MAN LI FE & DIG N IT Y

Jessy Martinez

BY DEACON DANA PERRIGAN Perrigan is a deacon of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and restorative justice ministry volunteer.

hen Jessy Martinez got out of prison two years ago, his plan was to make a new life for himself based on selfimprovement, community and love. But if the oddsmakers in Las Vegas were making book on his chances of succeeding, they wouldn’t have been good: The rate of recidivism for men and women leaving state prisons, according to a study by the California Innocence Project, is among the highest in the nation. More than 65 percent wind up back inside after three years.

Scholarships, mentoring offer way back for formerly incarcerated “I never believed that I belonged in prison,” he says. “I never believed that I would die there.” Martinez also never believed he would go to college. He had earned his GED certificate while in prison, but the thought of reaching any higher generated a lot of self-doubt. (The GED, for General Educational Development, is equivalent to a high school diploma.) “No one in my family had ever gone to college,” he says, “and I didn’t think someone like

No one in my family had ever gone to college and I didn’t think someone like myself – who had been in prison and didn’t have money – could attend college.” JESSY MARTINEZ

Martinez grew up in a rough neighborhood in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley. Like a lot of kids in the neighborhood, he joined a gang. He was shopping for clothes with a couple of his buddies in a mall one day. One of them mouthed off to some other youths. When things heated up, his other buddy pulled a gun and shot two of them. Convicted under the laws in place at that time designed to prosecute gang violence, Martinez – then 16 – received a 100-years-to-life sentence. A successful appeal for a new trial and a deal resulted in a lesser sentence. Fifteen years later – after having spent half his life behind bars – Martinez walked out of prison.

myself – who had been in prison and didn’t have money – could attend college.” Martinez knew that if he were going to do it, he would need help. He found it in a relatively new program called Excell Network. Excell Network is associated with the Archdiocese of San Francisco, which oversees the scholarship program and funding. Archdiocesan Restorative Justice Coordinator Julio Escobar designed and oversees the program, assisted by staff of the Office of Human Life & Dignity and support from the archdiocesan finance department. Dedicated to helping formerly incarcerated men and women reach their educational and career goals, Excell Network offers, in addition FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

to a scholarship stipend, an array of services – orientation, workshops on health and nutrition and time management, and spiritual support. It also provides a link to crucial resources such as housing and employment. “Our approach is the same as the father in the parable of the prodigal son,” says Escobar. “We’re helping people change their lives and getting them the resources they need to do that.” The archdiocesan restorative justice ministry works closely with Excell, which was founded in September 2020 by Escobar and is dedicated to helping adults on parole and probation build new lives. The actual scholarship stipends are from a renewable $22,500 annual grant from the U.S. bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development, which has as its goal empowering those who are poor and disenfranchised to become independent contributing members of society. In addition to the staff and infrastructure

Bobby Jones-Hanley

from the archdiocese, which are funded through the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal, Excell Network sells T-shirts, sweatshirts and other merchandise on its website (excellnetwork.org) and at its monthly breakfast meetings. It also offers subscriptions to its quarterly magazine, which contains profiles of students in the program. “We invest in them,” says Escobar, “and they become productive citizens.” Currently, 25 students are in the program. Many say one of Excell Network’s most valuable roles is fostering a sense of community through its retreats and monthly breakfast meetings. The students support one another in their struggle – often in very challenging circumstances – to create positive and productive lives. “It’s very powerful,” says Martinez. “It motivates me knowing that I have a support network – a network of friends who are positive, who I can call on. We share stories and help each other.” “It’s more than just the financial support,” ›

Lilliana Gonzalez

Our approach is the same as the father in the parable of the prodigal son. We’re helping people change their lives and getting them the resources they need to do that.” RESTORATIVE JUSTICE COORDINATOR JULIO ESCOBAR

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | FEBRUARY 2022

Omar Breedlove

Photo courtesy Restorative Justice Ministry

Students in the program at the grand opening of the program in June. Restorative Justice Ministry Coordinator Julio Escobar is far right.

says Bobby Jones-Hanley. “It’s having a network of people that you can call on to help you deal with school, personal problems, making a resume, filling out forms.” A former Excell student, Jones-Hanley took some time off from school to create his own nonprofit, Pure1, which launched Jan. 20. Its mission, he says, is to help reentry and homeless people gain financial stability through fast-track career development programs, with support and collaboration from key service providers. JonesHanley now serves as an Excell Network volunteer. Excell Network student John Cunningham Jr. says the experience of reentering society after years in prison can be frustrating. Navigating the oftenconfusing process of enrolling in college, in addition to finding a job and a place to live, can seem daunting. “Education is key,” says Cunningham, who is scheduled to graduate from San Francisco State University in the fall of 2022. “But you have to have a great support system because it can be overwhelming.” In addition to attending college, Cunningham works as a facilitator, workshop coordinator and supervisor at Rubicon Programs, a nonprofit headquartered in Richmond, whose mission is to break the cycle of poverty in East Bay communities.

“Excell Network has been a great experience,” says Cunningham. “It’s not only helped me, but it’s allowed me to help others. It’s also helped me by opening up opportunities for me that otherwise I would never have experienced.” Cunningham recently completed an internship in the Willie L. Brown Fellowship program, in which he worked directly with Shamann Walton, president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, on the project tasked with reinventing the city’s juvenile justice system. A common characteristic among Excell Network students, says Escobar, is a willingness and desire to help others. Not long after being released from prison, Lilliana Gonzalez started working at Hospitality House in the Tenderloin in San Francisco. As a case manager in the employment unit, she assists those who are experiencing homelessness find work. She helps them with resumes, cover letters and applications. Her own experience of needing help, she says, makes it easier for her to understand and aid her clients. “I love my job,” she says. “I love helping people.” When he was released from prison three years ago, Omar Breedlove decided to go to college and work. After graduating from City College of San FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Francisco with an associate degree in behavioral sciences, he was accepted into a highly competitive social work academic program at San Francisco State University. While going to school, Breedlove works as a peer counselor with RAMS (Richmond Area Multi-Services), which contracts with the San Francisco Department of Public Health to do street outreach. Responding to nonviolent 911 calls, Breedlove occasionally encounters some of the same people he used to hang out with.

Excell Network has been a great experience. It’s not only helped me, but it’s allowed me to help others. It’s also helped me by opening up opportunities for me that otherwise I would never have experienced.” EXCELL NETWORK STUDENT JOHN CUNNINGHAM JR.

“My life has become useful,” he says. “It has purpose.” So, says Martinez, has his. The young man who didn’t think he would be able to go to college is now a student at San Francisco State University. He also works part time as a peer case manager in the University of California, San Francisco’s Citywide Case Management Program, helping clients navigate the course of their treatment and recovery. “It’s therapeutic,” says Martinez. “When I was young and going through a lot, I wished that I had a mentor, someone I could talk to and give me guidance. I never had that. Now, I tell myself that I could be that for someone else.” ■

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Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone and Restorative Justice Ministry Coordinator Julio Escobar pray over one of the students as part of a monthly breakfast in the fall. CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | FEBRUARY 2022

Photo by Melissa Vlach/Archdiocese of San Francisco

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MAR R IAG E & FAM I LY LI FE

Breaking down the stigma to overcome mental health challenges

BY RICHARD COLLYER Project Manager | Mental Health Ministry Department of Pastoral Ministry in the Archdiocese of San Francisco

s we enter into the new year, there are many people struggling with mental health challenges. So, let’s start with a few statistics from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. – One in 5 U.S. adults experiences mental illness each year (this represents over 50 million people). – The average delay between symptoms of mental illness and treatment is over 10 years. – For those ages 10 to 34, suicide ranks as the No. 2 leading cause of death. – More than half of Americans report that COVID-19 has had a negative impact on their mental health. – The majority of mental health issues improve with treatment.

STIGMA IS THE ROADBLOCK TO RECOVERY We treat cancer, heart disease and other illnesses very differently than we treat mental

illness. The stigma around mental illness continues to be a roadblock to recovery. We need to consider how we choose and use our words. For instance, the person with a mental health challenge has a mental illness, they are not mentally ill. Just like a person that has cancer or some other condition is not the disease. See the difference? Just like physical diseases, we need to treat those suffering with a mental health condition with compassion. If you or a loved one struggles with depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, psychosis, eating disorders or any other mental health challenge, you understand how difficult it is. How is the Archdiocese of San Francisco addressing the stigma around mental illness? Let me begin with the May 2018 pastoral letter “Hope and Healing” signed by the bishops of California (www.cacatholic.org/article/hopeand-healing). “As pastors and bishops, we understand that FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

mental health is a critical component of wellbeing. Therefore, ministering to those who suffer from mental illness is an essential part of the pastoral care of the Church. This letter represents a statement by Catholic pastors, in consultation with those who suffer from mental illness, their families and loved ones, health care practitioners and other caregivers.” A key principle from that letter – “Christ calls us to attend to those who suffer from mental illness and provide hope and healing.” Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone states, “Christ calls us to attend to all those who suffer, including those suffering from mental illness. My brother bishops and I here in California have launched a mental illness awareness effort, calling attention to the fact that we are all called to provide hope and healing, and that we as a Church must accompany our brothers and sisters in their difficulties. We can help to bear their burdens by offering our understanding, prayers and tangible resources. No one should be isolated and left alone. We must meet people where they are – in our parishes.” In early 2019, a mental health ministry initiative was begun by the University of San Diego’s Catholic Institute for Mental Health Ministry in conjunction with the Diocese of San Diego. San Diego, at that time, was leading the country with a model of building mental health ministry teams at the parish level. Five dioceses, including the Archdiocese of San Francisco, received grants to help jump-start the creation of ministries in their own respective locations. Four of us representing San Francisco and Oakland dioceses spent three days getting briefed and trained on how a ministry like this could be implemented locally. The model that the San Diego Diocese used has been leveraged and tailored to meet our needs in our archdiocese. CLERGY SUPPORT AND LAY LEADERSHIP ARE THE KEYS TO SUCCESS We started our journey by building awareness and commitment with some of the pastors throughout the archdiocese. Interested pastors allowed us to have parish recruitment workshops at their respective parishes. Following this lay minister recruitment, training for the parish teams began. However, COVID caused us to reassess and shift to online training for the initial parish teams. Each parish team received customized training (five parts) over the course of a few weeks, › CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | FEBRUARY 2022

Our Mental Health Ministry has had a positive impact on our parish community. We have had opportunities to walk with families and individuals who are going through difficult times.” FATHER BEN ROSADO, ST. MATTHEW PARISH

approximately 10 hours in total. This began the formation and development of a broad network of Mental Health Ministry teams spanning all three counties in the Archdiocese. We currently have over a dozen parishes that have been fully trained and are in various stages of implementation. These teams meet every other month to listen and learn from each other. The keys to successfully building parish teams have been the support from the clergy and finding strong lay leadership within the parish. Below we have quotes from two of our parish team leaders. Father Ben Rosado, team leader for St. Matthew’s in San Mateo: “Our Mental Health Ministry has had a positive impact on our parish community. We have had opportunities to walk with families and individuals who are going through difficult times. Our team has corresponded mostly through Zoom, listening to people’s stories and providing them with resources that can truly help them. Although we are not health care professionals, we can connect people with those who are. Our role is to offer support, encouragement, compassion and Christ’s presence. I have been exceedingly impressed with our team’s ability to do all of this for each person who has approached us.”

Jasmin Flores, team leader for All Souls in South San Francisco: “Since the inception in January 2021 of the Mental Health Ministry at All Souls Parish in South San Francisco, we have managed to heighten awareness of mental health challenges through the bulletin, a dedicated email address and cellphone number, word-of-mouth, engagement with other parish ministry leaders, monthly educational sessions and fundraising to develop our own working budget. While we are gratified with measurable traction, the stigma around mental health remains the single most remarkable barrier.” Now that we have a Mental Health Ministry network set up and growing across the Archdiocese, we feel this is an excellent time to have a mental health conference focused on education and awareness of the importance of mental health, open to the general public. The conference called Hope & Healing will be sponsored by the Archdiocese on April 9 at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Burlingame. (Register at www.sfarchdiocese.org/event/mhc_2022) If you have questions or are interested in starting a Mental Health Ministry team at your parish, please contact your pastor and/ or Dick Collyer (collyerr@sfarch.org) for more information. ■ FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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MAR R IAG E & FAM I LY LI FE

Marriage & family Retreats and special events for couples are an important part of the marriage and family ministry.

are at the heart of everything M

BY ED HOPFNER Director, Office of Marriage and Family Life

arriage and family are at the heart of the Church. “The whole Bible can be summed up in five words: God wants to marry us,” according to a prominent Catholic theologian. Throughout the Bible, marriage is the most common image God uses to speak of his love for us from Genesis through the last book of the Bible, Revelation. Marriage and family are also at the foundation of the Church’s primary mission of evangelization. Time and time again our popes, from Pope St. Paul VI to Pope Francis, remind us that families are at the core of evangelization. How does that translate into the daily work of the Office of Marriage and Family Life at the Archdiocese of San Francisco? I have had the privilege to lead this office since it was reinstated shortly after Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone was

installed in 2012. Throughout the past 10 years I have had the great opportunity of promoting and supporting marriages and families, both with education on the Church’s teaching about marriage and family and through a myriad of programs for families and couples. The year 2022 promises to be an exciting one with some significant new programs (see below and right). The Office of Marriage and Family Life is a part of the larger Department of Pastoral Ministry, one of the many in the archdiocesan pastoral center at One Peter Yorke Way that provides direct services to our parishes. The focus of our office is to help people get to heaven, by supporting couples and families at all stages of life. We oversee programs for engaged and married couples, families, couples with struggling marriages, girls and women, boys and men, divorced Catholics and adults with divorced parents. We partner with other offices and ministries, including those for Youth and Young Adults, Religious Education and Respect Life ministries. One recent example of collaboration was a series of presentations offered for parents, in English and Spanish, on the law enacted from legislation AB 329, its potentially harmful › FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Upcoming events

There are new ministries planned for 2022, including the Redbird ministry. A formation program for married couples through the Houston-based St. John Paul II Foundation will be announced later this spring. Life-Giving Wounds retreat, March 4-6: We are very excited to offer our first-ever retreat for adult children who have divorced or separated parents, through the Life-Giving Wounds ministry. Remembering that the resurrected Jesus still carries his own wounds in his glorified body; the ministry is named for the understanding that Jesus can take any of our wounds, even the wound of parental divorce, and transform them into something affirming and life-giving. The program was profiled in detail in the November Catholic San Francisco magazine. Catholic Men’s conference, March 12 will feature Catholic author and speaker Ray Guarendi and local speakers Father Cameron Faller and the Rev. Walter Hoye. More information and registration are at www. sfbaymen.info. Other events currently scheduled include our annual day of retreat for couples (Oct. 22) and mother/daughter events (tentatively scheduled for early November). All of these events, as well as other services offered through the Archdiocese, can be found on the archdiocesan CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | FEBRUARY 2022 calendar at www.sfarch.org/events

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effects for our children and resources for a more humane and respectful understanding of human sexuality. Along with the programs mentioned above, we have helped several parishes begin a mental health ministry to support those struggling with mental health issues and their caregivers,

… help people get to heaven, by supporting couples and families at all stages of life.” much as we support those struggling with physical health issues (see story page 8). We also oversee programs for grief ministry in the Archdiocese, through the tireless work of Mercy Sister Toni Lynn Gallagher. A specialized new ministry called Redbird, for parents who have lost a child at any stage of life (preborn to full adult), is slated to begin in 2022, to address that specific need for grief ministry.

We offered a Spanish-language Retrouvaille retreat in January, a special Catholic peerled program for couples in highly distressed marriages. In 2023 we hope to return to our annual wedding anniversary Mass (canceled in 2021 and in 2022 due to COVID-19) offered by Archbishop Cordileone. This popular event is for couples celebrating “five-year” anniversaries (5, 10, 15, etc.) or any couples married 40 years or more. In 2021 we honored 37 couples celebrating 50 years or more of marriage, with 11 couples celebrating 60 years or more (and two celebrating 70+ years!). Pope St. John Paul II once said that “the ‘great mystery,’ which is the Church, …. does not exist apart from the ‘great mystery’ … (of) marriage and the family.” So, the ministry of this office is truly at the center of the work of the Church. Please feel free to contact me with questions about events or ministries or to offer ideas. My email is hopfnere@sfarch.org ■

It’s great to be a girl! Mother-daughter events bring church teaching into focus “I am so grateful that this program was being offered. … It was literally an answer to my prayer.” “The witness provided by the speaker was phenomenal.” “I enjoyed just being in a room full of women … and feel (more) empowered to deal with what Catholic women face in society.” These were just a few of the comments from participants in the annual archdiocesan motherdaughter events, one of many ministries offered by the Office of Marriage and Family Life in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. These popular halfday programs are for mothers with daughters 1016 years of age and focus on the beauty of God’s design of the female body and sexuality, with an emphasis on human fertility and responsible decision-making from a Catholic perspective. More about the program can be found by emailing hopfnere@sfarch.org.

FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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KNOW TH E MASS

The Liturgy of the Word God speaks to his people in Old and New Testament readings BY FATHER KEVIN KENNEDY This article is part of the Know the Mass series. Father Kevin Kennedy is pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Russian Byzantine Catholic Church, administrator at St. MonicaSt. Thomas the Apostle Parish in San Francisco and formation adviser and spiritual director at St. Patrick’s Seminary & University.

he Mass includes two major parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. An examination of the Liturgy of the Word introduces us to the Jewish roots of Christian worship found in the synagogue service that included readings from the Hebrew Scriptures, including the psalms, along with communal prayers, hymns and reflections. To these readings and songs early Christians added writings that would later constitute the New Testament, especially the Gospels. Finally, a homily was given by the presider of the celebration. In the beginning, Jewish Christians would attend this form of the synagogue service on Saturday and then gather together on Sunday for the “breaking of the bread,” or Eucharist. When Jewish disciples of Jesus were later expelled from the synagogue, they simply combined these two services into one liturgical celebration.

Therefore, the Church is nourished by both sacred Scripture and the Eucharist which, in the Mass, form an inner unity: “From the two tables of the word of God and the body of Christ the Church receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life. Consequently, it must constantly be kept in mind that the word of God, read and proclaimed by the Church in the liturgy, leads to the Eucharist as to its own connatural end.” (Pope Benedict XVI, “Sacramentum Caritatis”). The first reading is usually taken from the Old Testament. The last reading is taken from one of the Gospels. There is often a connection between the first reading and the Gospel, in which the Old Testament is brought to fulfillment. In between there is a psalm response and, on Sundays and solemnities, a reading from the New Testament. Hence, in the Liturgy of the Word we journey through the story of ancient Israel to the birth of the Church, which is the new Israel. The Lectionary containing the readings consists of a three-year cycle (A, B and C) for Sundays and solemnities and a two-year cycle (1 and 2) for weekdays. Thus, in the Liturgy of the Word, the Church presents to the faithful a rich banquet from Scripture in which it is God himself who is FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

speaking to his people. As the Spirit descends upon the gifts of bread and wine so that they may become for us the body and blood of the Lord, so too the same spirit of God who inspired the sacred authors descends upon the assembly of God’s people so that we might be open to listen and respond to what God is saying to us. Therefore, just as the Liturgy of the Eucharist is not mechanical or magical, but rather the work of God, so too the Liturgy of the Word is dynamic and relational, calling forth a response on our part by God’s grace. It is an ancient Jewish custom that readings from Scripture in the synagogue were followed by explanation and exhortation. This custom was followed in primitive Christianity and has continued throughout the history of the Church. The Church regards the homily as an integral part of the Mass. In fact, on Sundays and holy days of obligation, it is required. The homily should be given only by an ordained deacon, priest or bishop in fulfillment of their mission to preach and to teach in order to build up the body of Christ. The role of the homilist is not simply intellectual, but most of all pastoral and spiritual, enabling the assembly to concretely live the word of God that has just been proclaimed.

… the Church presents to the faithful a rich banquet from Scripture in which it is God himself who is speaking to his people.” On Sundays and solemnities the homily is followed by the profession of faith or the Creed. This is both an individual and communal act rooted in the sacrament of baptism, whereby we die to self and live a new life in Christ who is “the way and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). The gift of faith is a priceless treasure that we are meant not only to profess, but to fully live with ever deeper understanding. Finally, the Liturgy of the Word concludes with the prayers of the faithful in which, by God’s grace, we do something truly great, namely, think about and pray for other human beings who are in need. There is no better way than that to begin the Liturgy of the Eucharist. ■ CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | FEBRUARY 2022

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Hope and healing after abortion BY VALERIE SCHMALZ Director, Office of Human Life & Dignity

“W

e know the suffering abortion causes and we want you to heal. God loves you and wants you to heal. We want to be instruments of God’s healing for you.” Those words of Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone summarize our commitment to bring hope and healing to women, and to men, who have suffered the pain of abortion. In the Archdiocese of San Francisco, the abortion healing ministry is confidential, retreat-based and offered at no cost. Most of the retreats are for women, and retreats for men are less frequently offered. Father Vito Perrone, founder of the Contemplatives of St. Joseph, leads the retreats, which are served by a team that includes priests and the Daughters of Carmel who offer spiritual guidance, as well as mental health professionals. Each retreat includes holy Mass, eucharistic adoration and the opportunity for confession as well as time to speak individually to a counselor. Talks focus on the compassionate love and mercy of God and the possibility of finding healing and of seeing oneself as a loved child of God. The mental health professionals address the stresses, which may be causing pain and difficulty in moving forward. Retreat teams cater to both English and Spanish speakers. “I couldn’t have come at a better moment in my life,” said one woman after a retreat. “I’m thankful to everyone, and above all for the amount of love that they have for us.” “This retreat, for me, was a time to revisit my feelings, a time of spiritual reflection and ‘sisterhood,’” said another. Nationally, the Project Rachel ministry falls under the umbrella of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Each diocese or

archdiocese uniquely builds the ministry to its own requirements. In the Archdiocese of San Francisco, we were blessed to have Father Perrone assume spiritual leadership of the ministry after the longtime leader and founder of the ministry, Mary Ann Schwab, retired. He is assisted by Divine Word Father James Liebner and by the Daughters of Carmel. The ministry falls under the Office of Human Life & Dignity’s Respect Life ministry and is supported by a couple of faithful volunteers. The overnight retreats began in 2018, but when the pandemic hit, overnight retreats were no longer possible. Enormous gratitude is due to the hospitality of one of the parishes, where we were welcomed to offer day retreats, outdoors, throughout the pandemic. Weekend retreats have now resumed, and we are beginning to build faith-sharing follow-up groups. In his invitation to the retreats, Father Perrone says: “Come to an awareness that for you there is a possibility, and a calling from Jesus our Lord, to be healed, and therefore to be witnesses within our culture to life. To be witnesses of the truth that every human life is precious from the moment of conception until natural death.” As one retreatant wrote in a comment after a retreat: “Thank you for giving me a respite, in the midst of chaos and a busy life, to reflect on the child I lost – which is important because my lost child should never be forgotten. … To also be able to ask Blessed Mary to care for my child on the retreat is a wonderful thing.” Hope and healing after abortion retreats and ministry embody what we in the Catholic Church should be. To quote a volunteer, “The joy and beauty of the women on the Hope and Healing Retreats is a powerful witness to the presence of God among us.” Let me conclude with the words of our archbishop: “God loves you. We do. Come to us and be healed. God bless you.” If you are in need of healing because of abortion, please call (415) 614-5567 or email projectrachel@ sfarch.org. To learn more about Project Rachel: https:// sfarchdiocese.org/rachel/. ■

I feel peace and comfort and I experienced the mercy of a God who loves and forgives me.” 18

RETREATANT AFTER ABORTION HEALING RETREAT FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

STAI N E D G L ASS

St. Peter Church, San Francisco

‘Lord save us, or we perish.’ BY MARY POWERS Assistant Director of Communications and Media Relations. Office of Communications, Archdiocese of San Francisco

esus sent his disciples before him across the Sea of Galilee. That evening, the boat carrying the apostles was tossed about by wind and waves. Just before dawn, Jesus appeared to them, walking on water and told them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter asked Christ command that he come to him on the water. Jesus replied, “Come.” Peter began to walk on the water toward Jesus. “But when he saw how (strong) the wind was he became frightened and, beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Mt 14: 22-33) This famous biblical scene is depicted in the stained-glass window behind the altar of St. Peter Church with the inscription, “Lord save us, or we perish.” According to retired Auxiliary Bishop William Justice, who served as pastor of St. Peter for six years, the window is a reminder to the generations of parishioners, mostly immigrants from Ireland, Italy and Central and South America, to have courage in the midst of life’s many storms — especially when starting a new life in a new country. St. Peter’s was founded in 1867 in the Mission District of San Francisco. Its pastors, such as Father Peter Yorke, led the way in standing for the rights of workers, laborers and immigrants; truly bearing the image of Christ catching Peter and reassuring him of his dignity and worth. The church itself is a work of art, and for its time the designs were new. Artists Attilio Moretti and Bernardo Trezzini, famous San Francisco designers, hand painted the interior of the church. The stained-glass window of Jesus saving St. Peter is just as ornate. An original window to the church structure, the detail in the waves, Jesus’ tunic decorated with subtle flowers and the tracery around the image both in the main window and two side windows reflect the delicate elegance of the

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | FEBRUARY 2022

Photo by Mary Powers/Archdiocese of San Francisco

painted interior. The tracery on either side of the main window carries symbols and titles of Christ – Alpha and Omega, the Chi Rho symbol of the two letters (X and P) of the Greek word for “Christ” and the IHS symbol for the holy name of Jesus. Miraculously, the stained-glass windows of St. Peter’s and the church itself survived the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes; however, the church suffered a bad fire in 1997. A votive candle in the Sacred Heart shrine flared up and damaged the roof, walls and ultimately the windows. Windows were broken on the sides of the church in order to vent the building. Others were blown out by the fire. The only surviving windows were the three behind the altar. Ron Bovard, founder of Bovard Stained Glass Studio, was asked to replicate the lost windows and help restore the window on the main altar. Of St. Peter’s 46 stained-glass windows, Bovard Studio replicated 38 that were too damaged to be restored. Matching both the stained glass itself and the glass painting, these new windows were stenciled glass, kiln-fired and painted. Bovard Studio also replaced all the mahogany wood frames for the windows on the sides of the church and the windows behind the main altar with Honduras mahogany, re-leaded the surviving windows and set the new windows with a laminated tempered glass exterior glazing. The restoration of the church was completed in 2000. The image of Jesus saving Peter survives today amid earthquakes, fire and now a pandemic, reminding us to keep our eyes on Christ and trust in his saving power. ■

ARCH DIOCESAN AN N UAL APPE AL (A A A)

As I have done for you, you should also do.”

JOHN 13:15

YOUR GIFTS CHANGE LIVES Your gift to the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal allows us to provide ministries,

programs and services that benefit parishes and people throughout the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The Annual Appeal is an opportunity for all in the Archdiocese to come together as one community to support one another and everyone we serve. “For almost a quarter of a millennium, the Church in San Francisco has been a beacon of hope, spreading the light of Christ to all in our community. I ask you to be generous with your prayers and with your material support for the mission of the Church here in our Archdiocese.”

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone

ARCHDIOCESAN ANNUAL APPEAL 2022 GOAL $5,800,000

Parish Ministry & Schools 26% $1,500,291

CHANCERY BUDGET FOR 2022 SOURCES OF INCOME $ 14,600,000

Social Ministry 21% $1,227,519

Universal Church & Communications 23% $1,305,142

AAA 2022 40% $5,800,000

Other Sources 60% $8,800,000

Clergy Support 30% $1,767,048

FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Clergy Support

Social Ministry

Clergy Support helps those who care for us. It supports priests, deacons, and seminarians in their ministry. This ministry includes: Council of Priests, Vicar General, Vicar for Clergy, Clergy Education, Priests’ Education Fund, Permanent Diaconate, Diaconate Formation, Office of Consecrated Life, Office of Vocations, Priests’ Retirement Fund, Serra Clergy House and Priests’ Elder Care.

Through its variety of social ministries, the Archdiocese is able to thoughtfully engage with its diverse communities. Supported offices and ministries include: Hospital Chaplains, the Tribunal, Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Human Life & Dignity, Prison Ministry, Ethnic Ministry, Chinese Ministry, Ministry for the Spanish Speaking, Filipino Ministry, Ecumenical and Interreligious Programs.

Diaconate Formation

Hospital & Prison Chaplains Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministries Respect Life Restorative Justice Ecumenical & Interreligious Programs Ministry Support in 22 Languages

Priests’ Retirement Fund Active Priests’ Support

Seminarian Formation Priests’ Education Fund

Parish Ministry & Schools The Archdiocese provides additional funding for its parish schools, varied educational programs and financial aid. Supported offices and ministries include: Department of Pastoral Ministry, Faith Formation, Youth & Young Adult, Office of Worship, Marriage and Family Life, Teacher Incentive Grants, Alliance for Mission District Schools and Child and Youth Protection.

21,923 Catholic School Students 2,576 Teachers & Staff 70 Teacher Incentive Grants Premarital & Marriage Support Office of Faith Formation Office of Worship

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | FEBRUARY 2022

Universal Church & Communications The Universal Church supports the larger work of the California Conference of Bishops, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Holy See. The Office of Communications provides internal constituent communications and external communications that fund media relations, public information and special projects.

The Holy See Catholic San Francisco San Francisco Católico SFArchdiocese.org & Social Media California Catholic Conference of Bishops U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

PR AYE R

VALLOMBROSA BY CHRISTINA GRAY Lead writer, Catholic San Francisco grayc@sfarch.org

Archdiocesan retreat center continues to offer a peaceful refuge to all who seek it despite pandemic’s impact FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

urrounded by tall stone walls and even taller trees on a leafy road in Menlo Park, Vallombrosa Center is a world away from the sprawling headquarters of high-tech neighbors Facebook and Google. For all of its 75 years, the archdiocesan retreat center has offered an invitation to stillness and the source of soul-deep peace, something center leaders say is as needed now as ever. “‘The way I describe it to people is that we are a place of silence and peace in the digital noise of Silicon Valley,” said Deacon Dominick Peloso, who joined the pared-down staff of Vallombrosa last year as director of operations. He takes on the role at a special point in the center’s history – and his own. The retired assistant police chief of the Menlo Park Police Department is 75. The anxious, anguished COVID-19 years have amplified the yearning for personal and spiritual reflection, he said. “People are at the point, especially with the pandemic, of really struggling to find peace and security,” he said. “A place like this is here to tell you, yeah, the answer is Jesus, period. You’re not going to find peace and security anywhere else.” Dominican Father Reginald Martin, executive director, agrees that silence and reflection has “an immense value that is highly underrated these days” and said “Vallombrosa welcomes anyone who chooses to pursue that here.” “For Catholics we offer a sacramental presence,” the priest said. “For non-Catholics we offer whatever spiritual support we can. For nonreligious groups we are simply a place of silence, reflection and peace.” ›

Vallombrosa Center in Menlo Park was purchased by the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1947 as a retreat center for women. Today it sponsors both online and in-person retreats for men and women. Its doors are also open to organizations who wish to host their own events there. , and to individuals who wish to make their own overnight retreat. Courtesy of Vallombrosa Center

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | FEBRUARY 2022

ROOTS OF VALLOMBROSA Vallombrosa was originally purchased by the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1947 to serve as a retreat center for women. The sylvan 10-acre site was originally the home of E.W. Hopkins, the nephew of hotel magnate Mark Hopkins. The Hopkins home, known as the Old Mansion, was built during the Civil War and served as the retreat center until the 1960s when the facility was expanded to meet the needs of women, men and non-Catholics.

People are at the point, especially with the pandemic, of really struggling to find peace and security. A place like this is here to tell you, yeah, the answer is Jesus, period.” OPERATIONS DIRECTOR DEACON DOMINICK PELOSO

Courtesy of Vallombrosa Center

A statue of Jesus welcomes visitors with open arms

Peloso said he doesn’t know exactly who named the property “Vallombrosa,” or why, but an etching of a Benedictine monastery in a region of Italy of the same name hangs today near the parlor of the Old Mansion, suggesting its provenance. The name Vallombrosa translates to “shady glen” and is a forested area southeast of Florence. The monastery of Vallombrosa founded by St. John Gualbert still exists today. Over 200 trees are planted on the generally flat, walkable grounds, according to vallombrosa.org,

including multiple species of redwood, oak, maple, birch, pine, palm, myrtle, magnolia, sequoia, acacia and ailanthus altissima, the inspirationally named “tree of heaven.” The largest known Chinese ginkgo tree in the area can be seen from the wraparound decks of the Old Mansion. The Mediterranean weather of the Menlo/ Atherton area was no doubt an influence, said Peloso. In 1927, he said, the German government commissioned climatologists to identify the “world’s best weather.” Menlo Park’s mild summers and winters placed in the top three, along with two Mediterranean cities, he said. During the 1960s, Shigenon Iyama, an Oakland architect who during World War II was forced into an internment camp with others of Japanese descent, was commissioned to expand the facilities for Vallombrosa. To the graceful Old Mansion, Iyama’s design added a chapel, 60 light-filled guest rooms, a dining hall and kitchen, a performance hall, library and offices. Multiple themed shrines have been woven into Vallombrosa’s landscape of garden pathways and reflection points. Today, Vallombrosa is a full-service retreat and conference center for both hosted and sponsored events. In addition to offering its own calendar of Catholic spiritual retreats and workshops, Vallombrosa rents its facilities to other religious, educational or charitable groups to host their own events. Meals, housing and housekeeping are included for most multi-night guests. But that was before COVID-19. A MINISTRY IMPERILED BY THE PANDEMIC In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic’s public health restrictions and human fears conspired to effectively shutter Vallombrosa Center, imperiling its 75-year legacy. While a ministry of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Vallombrosa is self-supporting, according to Father Patrick Summerhays, moderator of the Curia and vicar general. It is entirely dependent upon the revenue generated from the events it hosts, with some support from private donations. With public retreats and events abruptly canceled, revenues dwindled, reserves were depleted and staff was either cut or furloughed, including Father Martin. “From what I heard we were basically down to zero income at one point,” said Peloso, who FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Photos by Christina Gray

The Garden of Corporal Works highlighted with a statue of St. Mother Teresa of Kolkata is one of several thoughtfully designed reflection and prayer areas at Vallombrosa.

is among the handful of paid staff working at diminished wages out of love for Vallombrosa. Online Zoom retreats have become the bread and butter of the center, and a surprisingly successful one Father Martin hopes to build upon. Fortunately, Vallombrosa was able to reopen last year to limited-capacity, in-person retreats and meetings with masking and social distancing required. “As we learned more about this disease and discovered the necessary protocols to follow in order to reopen safely, it has become more of a matter of when groups of people felt comfortable returning,” Father Summerhays said. A small number of one-day, in-person retreats are on the 2022 calendar, said Peloso. “We are slowly creeping back,” he said. Projections, he said, are to return to about 50 percent of its pre-COVID-19 revenue by June 30, as long as there are no cancellations. “We won’t be on life support anymore, hopefully,” he said. “But we will still be in the ICU.” › CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | FEBRUARY 2022

Silence and reflection has an immense value that is highly underrated these days. Vallombrosa welcomes anyone who chooses to pursue that.” - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FATHER REGINALD MARTIN, OP

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE Peloso said he was hired last year to replace longtime operations manager David Fencl, who spent the years before his retirement devoted to making Vallombrosa more “visitor-friendly.” Fencl envisioned and installed the new Garden of Spiritual Works and the Garden of Corporal Works, highlighting St. Teresa of Kolkata. In 2021, his final year at Vallombrosa, he oversaw the spectacular renovation of the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine. Funded with a gift from a private donor, the beautifully bricked space now includes benches and an altar for outdoor Mass. It is called Father Kevin Gaffey Plaza, after a former priest-in-residence. The Garden of Spiritual Works opens onto the grounds of the adjacent Church of the Nativity, where Peloso is both parishioner and deacon. Engraved step stones ask visitors to Bear Wrongs Patiently, Counsel the Doubtful and Pray for the Living and the Dead. Inspirational quotes from saints and other faith leaders dot the pathways. “We’ve got all kinds of work to do in this world, but we really need the spiritual works of mercy,” said Peloso. The deacon arrives to Vallombrosa before dawn each day in order to spend an hour of adoration next door at Nativity. The church is one of the few parishes offering 24/7 adoration, a wonderful bonus for Catholic retreatgoers, he said. Peloso studied for the priesthood for 10 years but left St. Patrick’s Seminary & University in 1970, joining the police force immediately The circular chapel built in the 1960s has become an iconic symbol of Vallombrosa Center

Courtesy of Vallombrosa Center

afterward. He worked there for 31 years. He found his vocation in marriage to wife MaryEllen and in their family. Early in their marriage, he and his wife considered themselves Catholic but were lax in the practice of their faith. After a pilgrimage and retreat to Medjugorje, “we not only came back to the Church, we came back with afterburners on,” he said. Their lives have been in service to the Church ever since. He was ordained a deacon in 1999. “My life changed so dramatically for the better when I came back strongly to the Church that I guess I felt I just wanted to help bring others back,” he said. He said he accepted the job at Vallombrosa after 20 years of retirement for pretty much the same reasons. “It was an opportunity for me to help others experience the love of Jesus,” he said. As Vallombrosa slowly regains its fiscal footing, Peloso said he is trying to turn to areas in which he can do that. He sees silent retreats and private retreats as an important pathway. In January and February, Vallombrosa sponsored a one-day silent retreat on praying “with Jesus, in Jesus, as Jesus,” led by a local priest and by the academic dean of St. Patrick’s Seminary and University, Anthony Lilles. A monthly marriage preparation workshop for couples called “Engaging the Heart” is on the calendar through November. A surprise to learn was what Vallombrosa offers to individuals who wish to make their own private retreat. “Let’s say you just need a timeout,” said Peloso. "We give you the key to the room and you stay for as long as you want.” A single or double guest room is $70 a night. Peloso really came alive describing the upcoming renovation of the center’s Stations of the Cross installation, which came to him in a vision of sorts. He had only been on the job for a few weeks when a voice of inspiration came to him while he walked in prayer along one of Vallombrosa’s pathways. It urged him to find a way to show people the enormous love of God. Seconds later he came into a magnificent canopy of oak trees where he heard the same voice ask him to transform that location into a single large crucifixion scene. Peloso soon got a call from the agent of a famous Canadian Catholic sculptor, Timothy Schmalz. A cast of his “Homeless Jesus” FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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sculpture cast was installed on the Via della Conciliazione, the street leading to St. Peter’s Basilica, in 2016. The artist was looking for venues to commission a Stations of the Cross installation. For cost reasons, the project changed in focus to the installation of a single station at different locations across the nation, creating a pilgrimage incentive. The 12th station will be built at Vallombrosa. Funds are being raised for the project, which will include a five-panel, 55-foot-long, 12-foot-high sculpture. A bricked-in devotion area similar to the Lourdes shrine is planned. “I don’t want people to come in here and say that is a really nice piece of art,” Peloso said. “I want something that is going to drive people to their knees.” The artist is expected to complete the project before the end of 2022. “Next year this time it will be here,” said Peloso. “God willing." ■ CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | FEBRUARY 2022

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Archdiocese committed to seven-year Laudato Si’ Action Platform

BY MELISSA VLACH Social justice coordinator Office of Human Life & Dignity

“T

oday I am pleased to announce that the ‘Laudato Si’’ year will result in a concrete action project, the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, a seven-year journey that will see our communities committed in different ways to becoming totally sustainable, in the spirit of integral ecology.” Pope Francis included these words in his video message marking the launch of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, a new global campaign to bring the message of his 2015 encyclical more fully into the lives of the faithful. The action platform officially launched worldwide on Nov. 14, 2021. The campaign’s organizers plan to release additional resources in 2022 for the global community. Meanwhile, organizations including dioceses have presented their plans for taking part in their local communities. The Archdiocese of San Francisco is joining in this effort, with Archbishop Salvatore

J. Cordileone issuing a statement inviting everyone to participate. “To this end, I invite you all to better educate yourselves on the changes we need to make in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while prioritizing the needs of the vulnerable in the face of this climate crisis,” San Francisco’s archbishop wrote. “Let us also encourage the nation’s leaders to protect our common home, showing them that these issues are important to our faith communities.” Since officially launching in mid-November, individuals from across the Archdiocese have been signing up to participate in the action platform, giving diverse reasons for wanting to take part in the effort. “I feel an urgency to act on behalf of creation as ‘Laudato Si’’ calls each of us to hear the cry of the earth and of the poor. The platform will provide opportunities to raise awareness of these issues and help people to gather forces FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

to bring positive changes to the way we act out our faith,” said one participant. Some have noted that they are already involved in their parish efforts and would like to continue, while others shared that they have not been part of “Laudato Si’” programs in the past. “I don’t currently have any ideas for putting the platform into action, as thinking about sustainability is new for me!” stated another participant. The Archdiocese plans to use the platform as a way to share individual ideas for action, as well as a place to offer resources. Signing up will add a person to the email list, so that he or she stays informed about news and events as they happen. The website is also available in Spanish. The first resource sent out to participants was a Laudato Si’ Action Platform guide, offering suggestions for actions that fall within the seven goals of the program: response to the cry of the earth, response to the cry of the poor, ecological economics, adoption of sustainable lifestyles, ecological education, ecological spirituality, and community resilience and empowerment. The actions range from very simple, like using a clothesline to dry clothes, to more advanced, such as updating buildings to be environmentally friendly. Some can be done by individuals, while others are more fitting for groups such as parishes and schools. The ideas are just that, and the way this plan is implemented will look different for each person and organization. They are also a starting point. The creativity of individuals will play a major role in bringing this message to life. Although the Laudato Si’ Action Platform itself is new, many throughout the Archdiocese have been active in this area since the encyclical “Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home” was published in 2015. This encyclical was the first to focus specifically on environmental issues, building on the Church’s previous social teachings on the subject. In it, Pope Francis described the challenges humanity is facing and the unique call of the Catholic faith to respond. Parishes responded to this call with enthusiasm. They built green teams that were focused on environmental issues, held “Laudato Si’” study groups, increased recycling efforts, took part in letterwriting campaigns and more. There have also CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | FEBRUARY 2022

been infrastructure efforts throughout the facilities of the Archdiocese, such as the switch to LED lighting, the installation of electric vehicle charging stations and the creation of systems to catch storm runoff. Giving the keynote address at a 2016 Green Team workshop, Archbishop Cordileone spoke of care for creation as a concept that crosses ideological lines. “I really believe that this is a cause that can unite us all, no matter where you are on the political spectrum or the Church spectrum, whether you are the type that’s always on the lookout for the latest insight and ready to run with the latest development in Church teaching or if you’re more of an old-fashioned type,” he said. He explained that many of the values of thriftiness taught by earlier generations, particularly those who lived through the Great Depression, align well with the message of “Laudato Si’.”

The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change” (LS 13). For this reason, the solutions to the current problems sometimes have as much to do with looking back to past traditions as they do to looking forward to future innovations. It requires a process of discernment, evaluating how actions impact others and align with the teachings of the faith. The Laudato Si Action Platform is a way to bring individual efforts into a community in order to inspire greater change, a way to build on the work that is already being done and spark new ideas. Everyone is encouraged to take part, no matter what aspects they bring into their own lives or how involved they have been with “Laudato Si’” efforts in the past. As Pope Francis wrote, “All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents” (LS 14). To sign up to participate in the Archdiocese of San Francisco Laudato Si Action Platform, visit sfarch.org/laudato-si-action-platform. ■

COM M U N ICATION S

Flocknote

A new tool for Catholic communication I BY EMMA JOHANNINGSMEIER Johanningsmeier is a free-lance writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

f you are getting regular emails or texts from your pastor or parish, odds are they were sent using software from Flocknote — a Catholic company whose communications tools have been adopted by parishes and dioceses across the country. The Archdiocese of San Francisco subsidizes Flocknote for all local parishes, and 70 parishes and ministries currently use it.

Since its founding in 2009 by Matthew Warner, Flocknote has been focused on serving the Church and treating its employees well. Last year, inspired by Catholic social teaching, Warner took a new step some might see as daring: he converted his company into a worker-owned business. “My hope is that like-minded business owners can work together to bring about a new ‘normal’ way of structuring and running businesses, one that is more consistent with a Christian worldview and that mitigates many of the challenges and downsides of the present-day economy and work environment,” Warner wrote in an email to Catholic San Francisco magazine. The strain of Catholic thought from which Warner takes inspiration dates back to the 1891 publication of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical “Rerum Novarum,” generally regarded as the foundational document of modern Catholic social teaching. In addition to affirming the dignity of work and the rights of the worker to humane working conditions, fair wages and labor unions, the encyclical asserted — against the socialists — that private ownership of property is a natural right. “The law…should favor ownership, and its policy should be to induce as many as possible of the people to become owners,” says the encyclical. In an era of rising inequality and social atomization in the U.S., some believe that FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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Members of the Flocknote team gather for a retreat. Photo courtesy Flocknote

Catholic social teaching, with its emphasis on the common good, could point the way toward a more just economic order. Flocknote founder Warner says by turning Flocknote into a worker-owned business, his communications company is at the forefront. Warner started Flocknote in 2009 after quitting his engineering job. Warner had gotten deeply involved in his own parish after college, “reading book after book to learn more and discovering many of the endless treasures of the Church,” as he puts it. Meanwhile, watching peers leave the Church made him ponder the causes of the exodus. He came to the conclusion that not only had the Church and families failed to communicate the faith in many cases, but parishes had even more basic communication problems. “The more and more I got involved, I realized how much we struggled just to communicate much of anything efficiently with most parishioners,” Warner recalled. He started Flocknote to fill the gap, building software aimed at helping church leaders communicate with their flocks. Today, Warner said, it serves about 9,000 churches across the country, spread across “pretty much every diocese.” As outside investors have started paying attention to the church software space in recent years, Warner notes, acquisitions have led to increased consolidation of wealth and ownership in the space and widened gaps between employees and owners ›

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I realized how much we struggled just to communicate much of anything efficiently with most parishioners.” MATTHEW WARNER, FLOCKNOTE FOUNDER

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— a trend he sees as leading in the opposite direction from distributism and Catholic social teaching. Outside investments and acquisitions typically require a fairly quick return on investment, which makes it harder to focus on long-term benefits for employees, customers, and the Church. “I wanted to build a company willing to work differently, even if it meant growing slower or not making as much money,” Warner wrote. It was his commitment to shaping Flocknote around Catholic social teaching’s “beautiful and inspiring” vision for work that eventually led him to formally transition to worker ownership. On a basic level, for a company to be worker-owned means that all the workers are also owners in some way — for example, by owning shares in the company. Employee ownership can take different forms, including the classic worker-cooperative form. In the U.S., the most common way to structure a worker-owned business involves something called an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or ESOP. In this model, employees accumulate company shares over time, often with a retirement plan. The National Center for Employee Ownership estimates there are approximately 6,600 such plans nationwide, covering 14 million workers. Flocknote took the ESOP route. Although research has shown a relationship between employee ownership and a firm’s performance, it’s too soon to say what the financial impact of worker ownership on Flocknote will be. Still, Warner said he already sees increased engagement among his team members turned co-owners, who are excited about the prospect of benefiting from the “long-term fruits” of the things they’re building. “I’ve seen how [worker ownership] has already translated to an increased ownership of their day-to-day work responsibilities and strong desire to understand how their work tasks today can add more value into the world for decades to come, and at the same time bolster a secure future and retirement for their families,” Warner wrote. “Perhaps most of all, though, I think the team really values that we are doing things differently as a company, simply because it is a good way to work. And there is no conflict between owners and laborers, because, of course, the laborers are the owners. It promotes a deep team unity since we’re all in this together.” ■ FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

COM M U N ICATION S

Archdiocesan Director of Technology Martin Ford demonstrates Flocknote to a St. Mary’s Cathedral staff member.

Flocknote works! BY MARTIN FORD Archdiocesan director of technology

locknote helps the Archdiocese of San Francisco to create a more connected Archdiocese by enabling pastors, office staff and key volunteers to communicate with their “flocks” using email and text in a way that is not only easy, but also fun. It’s used in over 70 parishes and ministries across the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Since the Archdiocese began its partnership with Flocknote, over 15,000 notes were sent to parishioners in all three counties (and beyond), keeping parishioners in the loop with all the happenings at their respective parishes and ministries. Flocknote was indispensable for many parishes during our period of parish closures at the beginning of the pandemic. Pastors kept their parishioners up to date on when church would open again, provided links for livestreamed services and even sent short inspiring notes to cheer their parishioners up during what were very difficult times for many people. In addition to being a very effective communications tool, many parishes also use an

CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | FEBRUARY 2022

add-on tool called Flocknote People which has extra features like forms enabling parishioners to sign up for events and reserve seats at Mass when capacity limits were in place. The Archdiocese of San Francisco piloted Flocknote at a handful of parishes in 2019 and found it to be so helpful that it was decided that the Archdiocese would subsidize Flocknote at every parish. Flocknote is loved and trusted not only by the Archdiocese of San Francisco, but also the archdioceses of Los Angeles, Washington, New York and several others not only for their excellent product but others, even more so because of their exceptional support staff who make themselves liberally available to all our parishes signed up for Flocknote. They provide ample and ongoing training, help with the migration from other email communication systems and help with the setup process. The Archdiocese of San Francisco looks forward to a long-term relationship with Flocknote to help create a more connected Archdiocese! ■

LOCAL N EWS

California bishops oppose using state budget surplus for abortion Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed $286.4 billion budget, unveiled in January, includes $61 million in additional funding for abortion facilities and universal health care for all residents regardless of immigration status, as well as increased spending on wildfire and drought, homelessness and housing, income equity and public safety. The budget also removes the requirement for followup visits and ultrasounds for chemical abortion under Medi-Cal. This year’s budget exceeds last year’s record-setting spending plan by 9 percent. One of the most notable developments is the now projected surplus of $45.7 billion - up from the previously estimated $31 billion. The excess surplus is the result of higher tax revenue than anticipated. “When families are struggling to put food on the table and pay rent, it is absurd for the state to focus on expanding abortion when the real needs of families

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for basic necessities remain unmet,” said California Catholic Conference executive director Kathleen Domingo. “Why aren’t we exploring options that genuinely empower women instead of encouraging the ‘quick fix’ of abortion, which does nothing to solve underlying concerns?” The governor prioritized his spending plan on what he called the “greatest existential threats” facing the state. He also prioritized COVID-19 testing and response. The first of its kind in the U.S. and arguably one of the most closely watched pieces of his budget, Newsom is proposing universal health care coverage for all Californians regardless of immigration status. The program would launch in the 2023-24 fiscal year at a cost of $819.3 million. Lawmakers and the governor will continue to revise the budget details until the June 15 deadline. For more information, cacatholic.org. ■

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Mass of the Americas Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone celebrated the specially commissioned Pontifical High Mass of the Americas at Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on Jan. 15. The Mass, composed by Frank La Rocca and commissioned by the archbishop and the Benedict XVI Institute of Sacred Music and Divine Worship, was first offered Dec. 8, 2018 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco. It is a tribute to Our Lady, as Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and as the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the United States. ■ Photo courtesy Jeffrey Bruno/Benedict XVI Institute

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Third-grader wins Vincentian service award BY CHRISTINA GRAY Lead writer, Catholic San Francisco grayc@sfarch.org

ittle Bennett Gong is being called a “mini-Vinnie” for turning the occasion of his eighth birthday into a successful St. Vincent de Paul food drive for the poor. The third grader at Skyline Elementary School in Daly City was awarded the Nicholas J. Peters Ozanam Spirit Award for youth and young adults in September 2021 for his compassionate response after encountering a homeless person before his July 18 birthday. The St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Mateo County instituted the award to annually recognize young Vincentians making an outstanding contribution toward service of the poor and needy. “I saw a homeless person one day and I asked my mom, why does this man live on a bike and how can we help?,” Gong explained on a YouTube video of the online awards brunch last fall. The youngster told his parents he did not want any gifts for himself, wrote Madeleine Livacoli, president of the St. Andrew Parish SVdP Conference, in a nomination letter for the annual award. “He was very concerned and asked his mother about the man’s wellbeing, and how they could help him,” said Livacoli. The Nicholas J. Peters Ozanam Spirit Award is named after a terminally ill teenager from St. Charles Parish in San Carlos, who spent the last months of his life ministering to those on the margins of society. He died in 2019 at age 19. The award also embodies the youthful spirit of charity of the founder of the St. Vincent de Paul, Blessed Frederic Ozanam. Gong, the grandson of St. Andrew

Photo by Fe Hortinela

“I saw a homeless person one day and I asked my mom, why does this man live on a bike, and how can we help?” said Bennett Gong, recipient of the 2021 Nicholas J. Peters Ozanam Spirit Award for youth and young adults.

parishioners, requested a list of items the conference needed for its pantry. The budding Vincentian was serious about his birthday request, said Livacoli, and his family and friends fulfilled it. His goal was to fill eight bags of food for his eighth birthday, but he “far exceeded that goal.” Gong arrived with his family in a van crammed with almost a dozen bags of food for the conference. He also donated the money he received for his birthday – about $1,000 – and it was used to purchase additional food. “At a young age, Bennett exemplifies the mission of Vincentians in his concern for and service to our neighbors in need,” Livacoli said. Fe Hortinela, a member of the St. Andrew Parish Stewardship Council, said the conference “was very impressed” by Gong’s generosity to the St. Andrew SVdP food pantry. “His gifts were so abundant

that it filled our pantry shelves with bags and bags of food for our Thanksgiving and Christmas distribution to underserved St. Andrew families,” she said. Gong’s mother, Jennifer, said her son was born thoughtful. “He’s typically the last one out of an elevator because he is holding it open for everyone else,” she said. “I am humbled and inspired by the reach of his thoughtfulness.” Gong has inspired his sister to follow in the path of Nicholas J. Peters and Blessed Frederic Ozanam. She’s planning a similar drive for her sixth birthday. In an unscripted message at the end of the YouTube video, Gong thanked those who donated to his birthday fundraiser for “making other people’s lives a lot more better.” “I felt happy because all those families can actually have that food,” he said. “God bless you, thank you for the award and stay happy.” ■ FEBRUARY 2022 | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

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educational qualifications, must complete the requirement within a three year period of time from date of hire. ** Principals who are not in possession of basic certification in religion at the time of hire, must complete the process before they start their position. Application materials may be downloaded from the official DCS website by visiting: www.sfarch.org/employment. The requested material plus a letter of interest should be submitted before Feb. 28 to: Christine Escobar, Human Resources Manager Department of Catholic Schools One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109 Salary will be determined according to archdiocesan guidelines based upon experience as a teacher or administrator and graduate education. Medical, dental, and retirement benefits are included. ARCHDIOCESAN STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION The Archdiocese of San Francisco adheres to the following policy: “All school staff of Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of San Francisco shall be employed without regard to race, color, sex, ethnic or national origin and will consider for employment, qualified applicants with criminal histories.” (Administrative Handbook #4111.4)

Notice of Non Discriminatory Policy As to Students All Archdiocese of San Francisco schools admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the schools. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color or national origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs and athletic and other schooladministrated programs.

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UPCOMING EVENTS Feb. 19: Excell monthly breakfast to support restorative justice scholarship program. St. Mark’s, Belmont. Twice monthly throughout the spring. Contact: Julio Escobar | (415) 614-5572 | escobarj@ sfarch.org Purchase tickets: https://excellnetwork. org/breakfast February 25-27: Priestly discernment retreat led by Spokane Bishop Thomas Daly, St. Patrick’s Seminary & University. Contact: Father Cameron Faller | (415) 614-5683 | faller.cameron@sfarchdiocese.org Feb. 26: Synod listening sessions begin. More info at sfarch.org/synod

Church, Redwood City. Contact: Ed Hopfner | hopfnere@sfarch.org | (415) 614-5547. More info: sfarch.org/event/catholic-mens-conference/ March 1-April 5: “Christianity and Islam,” taught by Dr. Gabriel Reynolds, School of Pastoral Ministry course. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. More info: sfarch. org/Islam April 9: Mental Health Conference, Our Lady of Angels. Contact Dick Collyer at (415) 614-5593 or collyerr@sfarch.org. Preregistration required at sfarchdiocese.org/event/mhc_2022/ April 10: Palm Sunday April 15: Good Friday. Day of fast and abstinence.

March 2: Ash Wednesday. Day of fast and abstinence. March 4-6: Life-Giving Wounds, a healing retreat for adult children of divorced or separated parents. Vallombrosa Retreat Center. Contact: Ed Hopfner | hopfnere@sfarch.org | (415) 614-5547. More info: www.acdsf.info March 12: Catholic Men’s Conference, St. Pius

April 17: Easter Sunday April 24: Divine Mercy Sunday April 24: Archdiocesan Respect Life Essay Contest Mass and Awards Ceremony. St. Mary’s Cathedral. More info: sfarch.org/event/essay-contest-massand-awards-ceremony/

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“As I have done for you, you should also do.”

JOHN 13:15

Ways to Give to the AAA The Archdiocesan Annual Appeal Courtesy of Youth & Young Adult Ministry

Only you can decide what gift amount is right for you in light of your circumstances and the blessings God has given you. For your convenience you may make your contribution over the course of the year. • ONLINE • USING THE ENCLOSED BROCHURE

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We strongly encourage you to make your gifts & pledge payments online at SFArch.org/AAA.

For more information, please contact your FEBRUARY parish 2022 or | CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO the Office of Mission Advancement at (415) 614-5580 or development@sfarch.org.