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 MertonThomas 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.

• Urgent Food Drive See Bulletin
• Urgent needs: Ecumenical Hunger Program. See Bulletin
• Published Online Bulletin 10/31/2020
• Added Donate  button 
• Updated Board Minutes Section 9/12/2020 see: (Home > Board)
• Updated Board Membership 12/22/19
• Bulletin Navigation button added to banner. Future bulletins will be online only
• Added Ellsberg video

Advent Retreat

December 5, 2020 2 PM
With: Fr. Kevin Ballard SJ
To help us prepare for the liturgical season of Advent, you are invited to a Zoom retreat guided by Fr. Kevin Ballard SJ. We are experiencing times unlike any other, with our lives altered by the realities of political turmoil and a worldwide pandemic. It has been a time of stress and anxious anticipation. The changes in our normal routines brought on by the current circumstances have actually given us more opportunities to slow down and contemplate those things that matter in our lives.

Fr. Ballard has chosen “Isaiah 43:19; Waiting in a time of waiting/Behold I am doing something new” as inspiration for the retreat.  His previous retreats have been thought provoking as well as memorable in our ritual preparation for the coming of our Lord. We hope you can join us!
 

Sponsored by The Thomas Merton Center of Palo Alto

 When: Saturday Dec 5, 2020

Time: 2 PM to Approximately 3:30 PM Pacific Time

Zoom Invitations will be sent via our email list.

Robert Ellsberg on John H Griffin's Black Like Me

If you missed Orbis Books publisher Robert Ellsberg's compelling TMC webinar presentation, John H Griffins Black Like Me/In an Age of Black Lives Matter  we are pleased to offer the video for streaming. We are most grateful to Mr Ellsberg for giving The Merton Center permisssion to share the presentation. Please click on the link below.



Video: John H Griffiins Black Like Me/In an Age of Black Lives Matter


When one is accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppresion" 

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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

Fr Josh Johnson

Black Lives Matter at Oakland parish:

(Excerpted from July 26 TMC Weekly Bulletin)

The TMC faith-sharing group on racism and white privilege that meets on Wednesday afternoons has been impressed with the work of St. Columba Parish in Oakland: https://stcolumba-oak.com/ St. Columba Catholic Church’s mission is clearly stated on the website: “St. Columba is a community of believers in Oakland California who know “who and whose we are” (God’s people). Through African-American traditions, we are moved by the Spirit to serve in this world today.” It is a vibrant parish, with many ministries and prayer and action events. Take a look, participate, be educated and inspired.

COVID-19

Note: All TMC sponsored masses are cancelled until further notice: (8:45 am Sunday Mass). There are numerous local masses online (Youtube)  including ones sponsored by the Catholic Community at Stanford and the St Thomas Aquinas Parish 

TMC sponsored in-person retreats. lectures, seminars, and social gatherings have also been temporarily suspended. Public lectures will resume via Zoom in the near future. Prospective attendees will be invited via our extended email lists and by links published at this site.

Current TMC Online Bulletin
Old Bulletin Archives

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,