Thomas Merton Center

Members of The Thomas Merton Center strive to develop a spirituality based on Jesus Christ's message of love, compassion and forgiveness and to live his message in today's world. The TMC community seeks to attract those who are on a quest for a deeper spiritual life and invite them to share in this vision.
 

• To foster a variety of ways by which Catholics and others may develop a deeper spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ and, through him, with God.
• To augment, support and lead the development of ecumenical spirituality, bringing together Christians and non-Christians in areas of common interest and values.
• To build a lay community based on inclusivity and consensus.
• To develop and enhance the faith life of families.

 Model of Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was a Trappist monk of the Cistercian Abbey of Gethsemani near Bardstown, Kentucky. Merton was internationally known for his religious profundity and insightful reflection, his interest in interfaith and social action work on the problems and possibilities of the world. Merton's courageous spirituality was the model for what we intend to do and be at The Thomas Merton Center.
 

Legal Organization
The Thomas Merton Center is organized as a private, tax-exempt, non-profit, independent religious education organization, incorporated under the laws of the State of California. A Board of Directors has legal and fiduciary responsibility for the organization, accountable to the applicable state and federal laws, to its Bylaws, its Mission Statement and its registered members. Though Catholic in its origins, intent, and liturgies, The Thomas Merton Center is an independent religious educational organization, not legally affiliated with any church.
 
Membership
Membership in The Thomas Merton Center is open to everyone without restriction, as are all liturgies, retreats, and spiritual education programs. Nominal membership dues are paid annually.

• Added 2021 Liturgical Calendar 
• Updated Board Minutes Section 3/12/2021 see: (Home > Board)
• Mass resumption June 20,, 2021 9 am
• Fr. Larry Percell is Retiring. Read his letter to the community (Here)
• Added Fr Percell"s Oct 10 homily (Here)
• Added Fr Xavier's Oct 17 Homily (Here)
• Added video of Katherine Stewart webinar (Here)
• Added donation collection page for Christmas Adopt-A-Family collections (Here)

Kenya Crafts Fair
Dec 4, 2021

Don't miss this opportunity to support the works of our sister organization, Kenya Help, and getting some holiday shopping done by purchasing one or more of the hand-made craft items offered at this unique fair. See the flyer by clicking (Here).


Still Waiting:Pandemic Spirituality

​​​​​​Zoom Retreat

Advent Morning of reflection

With Jesuit Father Kevin Ballard

We are pleased to offer again this year an imaginative and inspirational Advent morning of reflection.  Fr. Ballard’s uplifting message will encourage us to examine and probe the spiritual and personal implications of navigating these anguished times.
 
Fr. Ballard’s humor and relatability have been greatly cherished by those who have attended his retreats in the past.

We hope to provide an opportunity for interaction between Fr Ballard and attendees. The event will not be recorded.

This event is sponsored, in part, by the TMC Jane Bahr Memorial Fund.

To join on the day of the event click (Here)

To Join on the day of the event:
Using the Zoom.com app
Meeting ID: 875 8261 7691
Passcode:  848657

St Elizabeth Seton School invites the TMC community and others to the unveiling of it's new school canopy and for refreshments on Sunday, December 5th at 11:30 am. See the flyer for location additional information by clicking (Here)

LOVE WINTER WHEN THE PLANTS SAY NOTHING
Saturday December 11, 2021

From:
Anna Haight, administrator at St Columba's, Inverness Episcopal Community  invites the  Thomas Merton Center community and friends to a Zoom event commemorating the life and death (Dec 10, 1968) of Thomas Merton. The event will feature Jonathan Montaldo, one of our past presenters, and Professor Vincent Pizzuto of the University of San Francisco. Please follow the link  (here) for more information and registration..

TEACHING ANTI-RACISM WON’T SHAME KIDS. IT WILL EMPOWER THEMBY ADAM RUSSELL TAYLOR  Read the Sojourner article (Here)

Thomas Merton and Racial Reconciliation:

Thomas Merton embraced the cause of racial justice during his life time. An article and poem by Albert Raboteau is well worth reading: (Here)

How Big Money is Dividing American Catholicism

By Katherine Stewart
Recommended article published in The New Republic with reference to the TMC study group formed to understand and address this issue.

"The hardening schism in American Catholicism is shaping up to be a test of the influence of liberal Catholicism and the liberal left more broadly. It pits a loosely organized cultural and theological movement against a well-oiled and well-funded political movement on the right—the latter a testament to conservative Catholicism’s commitment to a politics of money and power."

Click (Here) to read the whole article (Note:the highlighted links in the article are not active)
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Questions from a Ewe

"Test everything; retain what is good.” (1 Thes 5:21) A laywoman expresses concerns about issues in the Roman Catholic Church to foster positive dialogue by posing and exploring questions.

God Gives Us Science Too:  Blog post (here)

Concern about UCCB vote on denying communion to political figures.

Letter from Fr. Xavier Lavagetto on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (UCCB) recent vote on refusing holy communion to government officials who support abortion rights (here}.

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Covid 19
Resumption of TMC sponsored Sunday masses began June 20th

Because of changes to health guidelines for Covid 19 abatement we are please to announce the resumption of indoor masses at historic St Thomas Aquinas church (Waverly and Cowper Sts) in Palo Alto. Masses have resumed at 9 am on Sundays. The state, county, and CDC guidlines in effect at the time, will be observed.

The celebrant schedule has been updated in the calender section. Click on the date in the calendar to access this information.

Your cooperation and understanding will be greatly appreciated.

St Thomas Aquinas Masses:

See the St Thomas Aquinas website for mass schedule updates (Here)

Catholic Community at Stanford

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVQeiZARyPpk3c0CNQMD_4w

Current TMC Online Bulletin
Old Bulletin Archives (Includes Steeple Talk)

Board Meeting Minutes

Link to Catholic Women Preach website and this week's video click (Here)

GLOBAL CATHOLIC
CLIMATE MOVEMENT

This site has featured information on the Global Catholic Climate Movement (CCCM). See below left. The San Jose Mercury news printed in its December 5 edition that carbon emissions, directly related to the greenhouse effect, have started to rise again after abating for the last few years. We have provided a link to read the article. We hope that all people of faith do what they can to take care of and protect our common home.

Link to the article   ( here)

“On climate change, there is a clear, definitive and ineluctable ethical imperative to act.”
— Pope Francis

The science is irrefutable. There are many ways to act. Please vis[t the GCCM Website to find out what you can do. (Here)

ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME,