Dear Community of Saint Joseph’s;

 

At every Mass on Sunday we invite any member of the assembly who cannot receive Eucharist to come forward for a blessing.  We have made this our practice because we want to encourage and welcome all people at the time of distribution of Eucharist.  However, the blessing that we give is not meant as a substitute for the Eucharist, which is truly at the heart of our Catholic identity.  Our ultimate desire is that all people could come to the table and receive the Sacrament.  There are many adults who come to Saint Joseph’s who have never been baptized or perhaps baptized as infants and never received the Sacraments of Eucharist or Confirmation.  There was a time when such an adult would make an appointment with the parish priest and attend a series of “convert classes.”   Since the Second Vatican Council, the Church has reinstated an ancient process from the time of the early Church that we call the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or RCIA.

 

We also have an excellent adult education program presenting an outstanding series of educational opportunities on spirituality, scripture, theology and history.  At this time we are welcoming two people as co-directors of the RCIA/Adult Education ministry.

 

Mr. Tom O’Brien is known to everyone here at Saint Joseph’s due to his work as Director of Music.  Tom is currently a candidate/student in the Permanent Deaconate program for the Diocese of Monterey.  This position will be a wonderful opportunity for Tom as he continues to discern the call to ordained ministry in our diocese.  As a lifelong Catholic, Tom shares with us his considerable experience of directing parish confirmation programs and Search Retreats for teens.   Tom will be assuming the responsibilities of Pastoral Associate while continuing his music ministry.  Ms. Therese Tong will join Tom as Co-Director of Adult Formation and as parish Pastoral Associate.  Therese has been connected with Saint Joseph’s the last two years by offering our staff retreat and assisting the parish in preparing for the Appreciative Inquiry/Parish Summit process from last year.  Therese has completed the Spiritual Direction Institute at Mercy Center in Burlingame and is trained in leading the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. She now provides individual spiritual direction, retreat direction, career planning and executive coaching.

 

Tom and Therese will officially begin their ministry at the beginning of August and it will take time to get acquainted with their new positions but I know that you will reach out in welcome and encouragement as we continue to seek the God who lives amongst us in Sacrament, in education, in experience – in dying and in rising!

 

 

 

 

 

Father Matt Pennington

Pastor