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Our Mission and goals
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. -
Membership Application
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What's New
- Updated Board Minutes Section 8/11/19 see: (Home > Board)
- Latest TMC Bulletin was posted on 12/1/19.
- Added latest Steeple Talk in Bulletin section 12/1/19
- Updated celebrant schedule thru December 2019
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Bp. Barron's Advent Reflections
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Friends, today in our Gospel two blind men beg Jesus to heal them. Blindness in the Bible is very often a symbol of spiritual blindness: the incapacity to see what truly matters. Focused on the...
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Of Interest
December 1 is the first Sunday of Advent
Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas and the return of Jesus at the Second Coming. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning "coming"..
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Has a New Chairman
Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles will become the next chairman of the conference.
“ Men and women do not become less than human, less a child of God, because they are ‘undocumented,'” Gomez wrote. “Yet, in our nation, it has become common to hear migrants talked about and treated as if they are somehow beneath caring about.” Archbiishop Jose Gomez
The Power of Stability and Civility
".......there are times when laughter is not only impossible, but would be inappropriate. This past week in the United States, we have dealt with such times whether it be the mailing of bombs to current and past elected officials or the antisemitic assassination of eleven of God's children at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania."
From The Vatican Observatory Blog by Fr James Kurzynski, amateur astronomer.. (Here)
Catholic Charities USA has forwarded the following Statement:
Families at the Border
The ongoing practice of separating children from their parents has already, as of May, left nearly 2000 children separated from their parents. As Bishop Vásquez, Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration, and Sister Donna Markham OP PhD, President and CEO of Catholic Charities, remind us - as a nation and people of faith, we can and must do better.
Learn More
Speak Up!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Reclaiming Jesus: A Confession of Faith in a Time of Crisis
The
Most Reverend Michael Curry (Left), , presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the US and Reverend Jim Wallis (right), president and founder of
Sojourners, has authored a letter to church leaders reminding them of the declaration entitled
Reclaiming
Jesus:
A confession of Faith in a time of Crisis of which they are signatories. You are encouraged to read the letter. A copy can be accessed
(Here). A link to the declaration is included
(Here).
Note: Links in the letter are not active.
Excerpt from the declaration:"When politics undermines our theology, we must examine that politics. The church’s role is to change the world through the life and love of Jesus Christ. The government’s role is to serve the common good by protecting justice and peace, rewarding good behavior while restraining bad behavior (Romans 13). When that role is undermined by political leadership, faith leaders must stand up and speak out. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state.”
.... ...... ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these. Mark 12:31”
SOME OF OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ARE UNDER THREATStatement of the Board of Directors of the Thomas Merton Center on the Refugee Crisis:
Our brothers and sisters who have been forced to flee their homes around the world are crying out in despair, seeking help, safety, peace and love. Refugees, particularly those fleeing the conflict in Syria, have experienced horrors we can’t even im
agine. Now is not the time to close our doors, but rather it is the time to open our arms. Pope Francis says that "All those who flee their own country because of war, violence and persecution have the right to find an appropriate welcome and adequate protection in countries that describe themselves (as) "civilized.” Let us take this message to heart and welcome all who are fleeing persecution. Consider joining the Catholic Relief Services and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in making heard the voices of refugees waiting to find shelter within our borders. Let President Trump and your Congress member know that we support the needs of refugees. We trust our government to protect us while also welcoming refugees. Jesus called each of us to meet and welcome him "in the stranger." Let us follow his call. 3/9/17
The Board invites you to visit the following websites for more information on what you can do to support immigrants and refugees. Visit the following links:
US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Catholic Relief Services
For additional local resources, support, and ways to help, please contact the diocean ministry on Justice for Immigrants. More information (here)
TMC Board of Director's letter on the death penalty to California Gov. Jerry Brown.(here)
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Calendar
December 2019Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 18:45 Mass2Month View December 2, 20193Month View December 3, 20194Month View December 4, 20195Month View December 5, 20196Month View December 6, 201979:00 Advent RetreatMonth View December 7, 2019-
Saturday, December 7, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PMAdvent Morning of Reflection, led by Fr. Larry Percell at St. Albert the Great Hospitality Center, 1095 Channing Ave., Palo Alto. Fr. Percell will lead us into the Advent Scriptures to deepen our awareness of the call to holiness and hope in the Advent season.Read More
88:45 Mass97:00p Liturgy MeetingMonth View December 9, 2019-
Monday, December 9, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PMLiturgy PlanningRead More
10Month View December 10, 201911Month View December 11, 2019127:30p Monthly Board MeetingMonth View December 12, 2019-
Read MoreThursday, December 12, 7:30 PM
13Month View December 13, 201914Month View December 14, 2019158:45 Mass167:00p Spiritual Education MeetingMonth View December 16, 2019-
Monday, December 16, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PMMonthly Planning MeetingRead More
17Month View December 17, 201918Month View December 18, 201919Month View December 19, 201920Month View December 20, 201921Month View December 21, 2019228:45 Mass23Month View December 23, 2019246:00p Mass (Christmas Eve)Month View December 24, 2019-
Tuesday, December 24, 6:00 PMFr Lavagetto OPRead More
25Month View December 25, 201926Month View December 26, 201927Month View December 27, 201928Month View December 28, 2019298:45 Mass30Month View December 30, 201931Month View December 31, 20191Month View January 1, 20202Month View January 2, 20203Month View January 3, 20204Month View January 4, 2020 -
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Today's Readings
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Reading 1 Is 29:17-24Responsorial Psalm Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14Gospel Mt 9:27-31
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Catholic News Service
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IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis told Jesuits in Thailand he was "scandalized" by some of the anti-migrant rhetoric he hears in Europe, and...
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By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Ignoring the reality lived by men and women today has caused a resurgence of old ideologies, such as populism, that inevitably do more harm than good...
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IMAGE: CNS photo/Linda Petersen, Intermountain Catholic By Linda Petersen SALT LAKE CITY (CNS) -- As an attorney with Becket, a religious liberty law firm, Luke Goodrich is proud to be able to make a...
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Save the date
Advent Morning with Fr. Percell: Saturday, December 7, 9:00 a.m.-12 pm:
Advent Morning of
Reflection, led by Fr. Larry Percell at St. Albert the Great Hospitality Center, 1095 Channing Ave., Palo Alto. Fr. Percell will lead us into the Advent Scriptures to deepen our awareness of the call to holiness and hope in the Advent season.
Kenya Help craft fairs, benefitting a scholarship program for needy African girls and boys, will be held in the Thomas House next to St Thomas Aquinas Church, Waverly and Homer Sts, in Palo Alto, on December 15.
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Catholic Women Preach
Link to Catholic Women Preach website and this week's video click (Here) -
Global Catholic Climate movement (Gccm)
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,
