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Friday, January 6, 2017
SAVE THE DATE Monday 1/16/17 Muslim -Catholic Event of Support and Friendship
Misa de Solidaridad THIS WEEKEND 12/8
Compañeras y Compañeros -
Our first Misa de Solidaridad will be THIS SUNDAY, January 8 at 9 am at the Newman Chapel - corner of San Carlos and 10th Street. We will celebrate Epiphany - “Tres Reyes” that day.
Please bring some food to share with everyone after the misa!
Our theme for that day will be “What is my gift that I bring to the Movement?”
As you know everyone will be called to stand up in these next few months to advocate, mobilize, and organize. Our sisters and brother Muslims, our families facing possible job loss and deportation, our students facing the revocation of their DACA cards…All these things will require a response from the community, but that response must be strategic. All of us have something to bring to the movement, but many are not aware of their own giftedness or they are not aware the power of their contribution to the Movement. As a part of this misa, we will take some time to discover what each and everyone can do to make a positive difference. When we all work together, we can manifest the power of Christ’s Justice in the world.
Keep in mind the song of the Little Drummer Boy. All he had was his drum to offer the King of Peace. That gift was more than enough. What is your gift that you bring to him on Epiphany?
Reminder:
The Catholic-Muslim Event is happening on Martin Luther King Day at 1 pm. If you’re planning on attending and want to be a part of a pilgrimage walk, please plan on a 12 noon start at Star of the Sea Parish parking lot. We will walk to the SABA Mosque. REGISTER Here. (You must be logged into FaceBook. Send an email to bill.roth@gmail.com if you have trouble with FB.
Our first Misa de Solidaridad will be THIS SUNDAY, January 8 at 9 am at the Newman Chapel - corner of San Carlos and 10th Street. We will celebrate Epiphany - “Tres Reyes” that day.
Please bring some food to share with everyone after the misa!
Our theme for that day will be “What is my gift that I bring to the Movement?”
As you know everyone will be called to stand up in these next few months to advocate, mobilize, and organize. Our sisters and brother Muslims, our families facing possible job loss and deportation, our students facing the revocation of their DACA cards…All these things will require a response from the community, but that response must be strategic. All of us have something to bring to the movement, but many are not aware of their own giftedness or they are not aware the power of their contribution to the Movement. As a part of this misa, we will take some time to discover what each and everyone can do to make a positive difference. When we all work together, we can manifest the power of Christ’s Justice in the world.
Keep in mind the song of the Little Drummer Boy. All he had was his drum to offer the King of Peace. That gift was more than enough. What is your gift that you bring to him on Epiphany?
Reminder:
The Catholic-Muslim Event is happening on Martin Luther King Day at 1 pm. If you’re planning on attending and want to be a part of a pilgrimage walk, please plan on a 12 noon start at Star of the Sea Parish parking lot. We will walk to the SABA Mosque. REGISTER Here. (You must be logged into FaceBook. Send an email to bill.roth@gmail.com if you have trouble with FB.
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Saturday, December 17, 2016
Friends of Fr. Jon: Report from the Congreso Del Pueblo
Friends,
Below is a link the full report on our the Congreso del Pueblo, held in early November, after the election: The purpose of the Congreso is to create an agenda that is generated from people living at the base of society because they are the primary stakeholders because they are directly affected by policies. The result of a Congreso process is that the social agenda and spiritual and economic concerns of the marginalized are lifted up.
Congreso Report
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Congreso Report
Read and Enjoy. Happy Holidays.
--------------------------------------------------
Bill Roth, 408-876-0111
Bill Roth, 408-876-0111
Friday, December 2, 2016
Misa De Solidaridad, December 4th.
Dear Compañeras and Compañeros,
Our next Misa de Solidaridad will be at 9 am at the Newman Center on 10th and San Carlos. Our Second Sunday of Advent will be a reflection on our relationship with the planet.
Our species evolved over millions of years by living in harmony with our planet and other species. Up until the Industrial Revolution the West - by and large - still lived in relative balance with the resources and environment, but new economic forces combined with technological breakthroughs in industrial and agricultural production and the introduction of the American practice of treating corporations as “people,” our relationship with the planet and other species shifted from a practice of sustainability, long term gain, investment and stewardship to immediate consumption, consumerism, privatization. The population began to rise and large tracts of untouched land disappeared: trees were felled, cities buried meadows and farmlands under roads, parking lots and suburban housing.
Pope Francis has made the case that economic degradation and ecological degradation are not separate phenomenon, but are in fact tied together. In light of our idea of solidarity and the Pope’s teachings on the economy and ecology, will discuss how we, (as individuals and collectively), might incorporate into our work a plan of solidarity with the planet itself.
Hasta domingo!
Padre Jon
Our next Misa de Solidaridad will be at 9 am at the Newman Center on 10th and San Carlos. Our Second Sunday of Advent will be a reflection on our relationship with the planet.
Our species evolved over millions of years by living in harmony with our planet and other species. Up until the Industrial Revolution the West - by and large - still lived in relative balance with the resources and environment, but new economic forces combined with technological breakthroughs in industrial and agricultural production and the introduction of the American practice of treating corporations as “people,” our relationship with the planet and other species shifted from a practice of sustainability, long term gain, investment and stewardship to immediate consumption, consumerism, privatization. The population began to rise and large tracts of untouched land disappeared: trees were felled, cities buried meadows and farmlands under roads, parking lots and suburban housing.
Pope Francis has made the case that economic degradation and ecological degradation are not separate phenomenon, but are in fact tied together. In light of our idea of solidarity and the Pope’s teachings on the economy and ecology, will discuss how we, (as individuals and collectively), might incorporate into our work a plan of solidarity with the planet itself.
Hasta domingo!
Padre Jon
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Misa de Solidaridad and El Congreso del Pueblo November 20
Compañeras y Compañeras!
This coming weekend we have a very important Misa and Congreso. The theme of the Misa is, “Vision, Hope and Resistance.” We will look at this theme in the context of the feast of Christ the King. In preparation for our gathering, let us ask ourselves, what was Christ’s vision for humanity? How did Christ offer hope in a time of oppression? How did Christ express resistance to injustice? If the President Elect follows through on his campaign promises, how will we live our faith out under the threat of mass deportation, the construction of a massive wall, and the registration of Muslims?
Following the Misa we will have the first Congreso del Pueblo. This Congreso is open to all people and so far we have confirmations from Jewish and Muslim participants and several community organizing groups plus others who are interested in connecting with others who share our values of justice, inclusion and solidarity. The congreso will be bilingual and will begin with a short faith reflection from the Jewish and Muslim participants and they will share their experience. We will then move into a three-part discussion looking at Vision of what we want our country to look like in terms of inclusion, participation and justice; followed by a discussion on what values and principles are most important to us; and conclude with a discussion on the kind of public policies would move us toward the vision that we believe in and would hold up our values and principles. We will then consider a modest proposal for how the Congreso process might be used as a way to connect other social movements together throughout the Bay Area and beyond. We will conclude by 12:30 in time for those who might wish to join a public rally at 1:30 pm at City Hall. We will also have a Congreso de Niños y Adolescentes happening at the same time.
I hope to see you THIS SUNDAY
Misa de Solidaridad at 9 am, Newman Center, Corner of 10th and San Carlos
Congreso del Pueblo at 10:30 am, Newman Center, Corner of 10th and San Carlos
Fr. Jon
https://fatherjonhomilies.blogspot.com
This coming weekend we have a very important Misa and Congreso. The theme of the Misa is, “Vision, Hope and Resistance.” We will look at this theme in the context of the feast of Christ the King. In preparation for our gathering, let us ask ourselves, what was Christ’s vision for humanity? How did Christ offer hope in a time of oppression? How did Christ express resistance to injustice? If the President Elect follows through on his campaign promises, how will we live our faith out under the threat of mass deportation, the construction of a massive wall, and the registration of Muslims?
Following the Misa we will have the first Congreso del Pueblo. This Congreso is open to all people and so far we have confirmations from Jewish and Muslim participants and several community organizing groups plus others who are interested in connecting with others who share our values of justice, inclusion and solidarity. The congreso will be bilingual and will begin with a short faith reflection from the Jewish and Muslim participants and they will share their experience. We will then move into a three-part discussion looking at Vision of what we want our country to look like in terms of inclusion, participation and justice; followed by a discussion on what values and principles are most important to us; and conclude with a discussion on the kind of public policies would move us toward the vision that we believe in and would hold up our values and principles. We will then consider a modest proposal for how the Congreso process might be used as a way to connect other social movements together throughout the Bay Area and beyond. We will conclude by 12:30 in time for those who might wish to join a public rally at 1:30 pm at City Hall. We will also have a Congreso de Niños y Adolescentes happening at the same time.
I hope to see you THIS SUNDAY
Misa de Solidaridad at 9 am, Newman Center, Corner of 10th and San Carlos
Congreso del Pueblo at 10:30 am, Newman Center, Corner of 10th and San Carlos
Fr. Jon
https://fatherjonhomilies.blogspot.com
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Please VOTE today, PACT Viewing Party, and Next Mass is Nov 20th
Compañeras and Compañeros-
Election Day is here! Be sure to VOTE! and if you cannot vote, call someone to VOTE. There is a PACT Viewing Party at St Paul’s United Methodist Church on the corner of 10th and San Salvador. PACT has been planning that event for a while and rather than us creating our own event, I think it would be a good sign of unity to attend the PACT viewing party.
Our next Misa de Solidaridad will be November 20th at 9 am at the Newman Center, the corner of 10th and San Carlos. (I’ll be on a retreat next weekend and so we will NOT have mass on November 13). Please pass the word!
Thank you to Yadira Guerrero for facilitating our time at the Liturgy of the Word and Teresa Castellanos for the amazing Community Forum last Sunday.
As I stated at the introduction to the Liturgy of the Word, we are in a powerful time where we must find a way to be united and stay united. Our faith heritage teaches us that we are the Body of Christ and we have an obligation to help maintain that Body. Eucharistic theologians suggest that the “Body of Christ” is more than a “membership” in an institution as one would have membership at Costco or the Elks Club and it is certainly more than a denominational declaration. Contemporary theologians suggest that the "Body of Christ” is so powerful, so “mystical” that the concept of “belonging” to the Body of Christ is a concept that is continually pushing the limits of inclusion. Some even suggest that the "Body of Christ” is the entire cosmos. What a powerful image that is! Ponder this concept: the whole universe: humanity, our planet, solar system, galaxy and time itself is woven together. We are all connected. We are a part of the fabric of creation…and because we are woven together, the task of the Church is to promote connections...and to heal divisions.
By the time we gather together on November 20th, we will have elected a new president and city and county measured and state propositions will have passed or failed. Some will be happy, others not. I believe our task to continue the powerful work of making connections with others who are not like ourselves. As our movement grows, we will find more and more connections with people from other areas of the city, whose life experience is different than our own, whose language is not the same as our language.
Our Misa de Solidaridad is but one humble attempt to bring all of us together at one table. To “encounter” or “encontrar” the sacred Other in our Sister and Brother. When we share our hearts with each other at our Scripture sharing and then break the bread at Eucharist, the wall that divides us dissolves and we finally “see” each other. It is my hope that we can offer other faith communities that are struggling to heal from the divisiveness and rancor of electoral politics, will find in our community a model of listening, sharing and healing.
So when you go to the polls today, remember that when you VOTE, you are not simply voting for a candidate nor are you voting for an issue. When you vote, take the stories of your sister who is homeless and suffering with untreated mental illness. Take the story of your undocumented immigrant brother who works the swing shift and then goes off to a day job with only 4 hours of sleep and never sees his children until Sunday. Take the story of the young couple with their 3 small children living in a van along San Antonio Street. VOTE.
¡Hasta pronto!
Fr Jon
Election Day is here! Be sure to VOTE! and if you cannot vote, call someone to VOTE. There is a PACT Viewing Party at St Paul’s United Methodist Church on the corner of 10th and San Salvador. PACT has been planning that event for a while and rather than us creating our own event, I think it would be a good sign of unity to attend the PACT viewing party.
Our next Misa de Solidaridad will be November 20th at 9 am at the Newman Center, the corner of 10th and San Carlos. (I’ll be on a retreat next weekend and so we will NOT have mass on November 13). Please pass the word!
Thank you to Yadira Guerrero for facilitating our time at the Liturgy of the Word and Teresa Castellanos for the amazing Community Forum last Sunday.
As I stated at the introduction to the Liturgy of the Word, we are in a powerful time where we must find a way to be united and stay united. Our faith heritage teaches us that we are the Body of Christ and we have an obligation to help maintain that Body. Eucharistic theologians suggest that the “Body of Christ” is more than a “membership” in an institution as one would have membership at Costco or the Elks Club and it is certainly more than a denominational declaration. Contemporary theologians suggest that the "Body of Christ” is so powerful, so “mystical” that the concept of “belonging” to the Body of Christ is a concept that is continually pushing the limits of inclusion. Some even suggest that the "Body of Christ” is the entire cosmos. What a powerful image that is! Ponder this concept: the whole universe: humanity, our planet, solar system, galaxy and time itself is woven together. We are all connected. We are a part of the fabric of creation…and because we are woven together, the task of the Church is to promote connections...and to heal divisions.
By the time we gather together on November 20th, we will have elected a new president and city and county measured and state propositions will have passed or failed. Some will be happy, others not. I believe our task to continue the powerful work of making connections with others who are not like ourselves. As our movement grows, we will find more and more connections with people from other areas of the city, whose life experience is different than our own, whose language is not the same as our language.
Our Misa de Solidaridad is but one humble attempt to bring all of us together at one table. To “encounter” or “encontrar” the sacred Other in our Sister and Brother. When we share our hearts with each other at our Scripture sharing and then break the bread at Eucharist, the wall that divides us dissolves and we finally “see” each other. It is my hope that we can offer other faith communities that are struggling to heal from the divisiveness and rancor of electoral politics, will find in our community a model of listening, sharing and healing.
So when you go to the polls today, remember that when you VOTE, you are not simply voting for a candidate nor are you voting for an issue. When you vote, take the stories of your sister who is homeless and suffering with untreated mental illness. Take the story of your undocumented immigrant brother who works the swing shift and then goes off to a day job with only 4 hours of sleep and never sees his children until Sunday. Take the story of the young couple with their 3 small children living in a van along San Antonio Street. VOTE.
¡Hasta pronto!
Fr Jon
Sunday, August 2, 2015
"The Matrix and the Bread of Life"
I want to start off with the complaint of the people in
Exodus because this quote encapsulates the problem of religion. Religion offers the idea of “The Promised Land,” but when that promise comes at a time
of deep suffering and pain, we react in anger and even resentment. “Would that we had died at the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill
of bread! But you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community
die of famine!” The
Israelites expressed their frustration by saying that they were willing to
return to a system of exploitation and oppression rather than struggle through
the necessary steps for them to secure freedom.
Their complaint; however, was not unexpected. Slavery in
Egypt was quite different than the slavery that we had in our country. Slaves
in Egypt had food and water and while mistreated, research about slavery in
that era tell us that that the people were not beaten in the same way Africans
were beaten in the United States. Pharaoh kept the Hebrew people alive and
happy just enough to keep working, but they would never be truly free: they
would never decide anything for themselves or for their community. Pharaoh’s system was insidious in that people
sustained their own suffering by “eating out of their fleshpots” and the “fill of their bread.” No one was motivated to ask the
deeper question, “Is this just?”
“Are we really
free?” Moses organized the the people to
resist and push back against the system
and he mobilized them to eventually leave the system entirely. Today’s excerpt is an artifact of the
struggle not only for the physical separation from the system of oppression,
but for the more complicated inner journey of liberation.
Real liberation, authentic freedom requires those who have
been freed to actually believe that they are free men and women. For
instance, if you do not see yourself as free you will never truly be
free. If you do not even see yourself as being enslaved, you will never even
want to fight for freedom. In fact, those who refuse to see the system of
oppression will resist the movement of liberation. They will call people “communists” or “do gooders” “unrealistic idealists.” They may even resort to killing the
prophet of justice. Can we think of any
examples where this happens today?
The Hebrew people were enslaved and they struggled within
themselves to accept if they were in fact slaves or not. Whether enslaved in
Egypt or Babylon, God’s people had to struggle with the responsibility that comes
from consciousness. Once they were aware that they were slaves and accepted the
concept that God didn’t make human beings to be slaves to one another, they were
faced with making a choice: to be free or to remain a slave.
One of my favorite movies of all time is the Matrix. In one of the most important scenes of the
movie the two protagonists, Morpheus gives Neo the option of being conscious or
continuing his life as it is: working, paying taxes, going about everyday
activities or knowing the truth that he is a slave and all that surrounds him
is false. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFhn_GUAhGU) This scene encapsulates the process
of conscientización that is necessary for one to take up the causa for
liberation.
The movie’s premise is that all humanity is trapped in a “matrix” of oppression and falsehood. People’s life energy was literally being
absorbed to sustain a complex of machines that really ran the world. In
exchange, these machines provided the illusion that people’s lives were meaningful. Morpheus represented a movement of “conscientización” which sought to free humanity from
enslavement, but the only way to enter the movement was to accept the truth:
that we were slaves. In the pivotal scene of “conscientización” Morpheus offered Neo two pills: one
red, the other blue. “…The red pill will answer the question ‘what is the Matrix?’ and the blue pill simply for life to
carry on as before.” Neo reached for the red pill and Morpheus warned Neo, “Remember, all I’m
offering is the truth. Nothing more.” Neo accepted the red pill and he
took the water. After, Morpheus says, “Follow me.” Neo went on to become aware of his
entrapment and became a kind of “savior figure” that led the human race to freedom.
Returning to the Scriptures, we have Jesus before the crowd, not with a red and
a blue pill, but standing before the people offering them a choice: to continue
to eat the bread of falsehood, the bread that perishes, or to eat the Bread
of Life which is given by the Son of Man.
Recall last week what I said about the bread, that Jesus
offered a paradigm different from the consumerist paradigm where the solution
to hunger is to purchase from the rich bread that would feed the people. Jesus
offered a new system, “Have the people recline together.” The paradigm of reclining together rather than purchasing
bread from a rich merchant is a paradigm of mutuality, solidarity, cooperation
and equality. Reclining position
suggests that all at the same level and that the solution is found by feeding
one another with the meal of the poor: barley bread and fish. Jesus paradigm of
mutuality ushers in a new age of justice where humanity cooperates together in
feeding the hungry by sharing equally in the harvest and labor, rather than
creating a system that exploits the labor of the worker and rewards only those
who can afford to pay for food.
After hearing Jesus speak, the people were hungry not only
for bread, they were hungry for what Jesus himself was offering. They asked, “What sign can you do, that we may see
and believe in you? What can you do?” Jesus responded, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes
to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” By identifying himself as the Bread
of Life, he offered them the choice of taking responsibility and sharing this
consciousness of the need for liberation with the world.
Let us, then, eat this bread: the Bread of Justice, the Bread
of Consciousness, the Bread of Liberation. And as we eat, we remember that we
were promised true, authentic and everlasting liberation…where all who take this bread and eat
it, will in turn become bread for others.
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