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 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.

• Posted Annual meeting minutes 5/30/2020
• Added Donate  button  in the banner 
• Posted 2020 USCCB Liturgical Calendar 1/13/20 (Resources Page)
• Updated Board Minutes Section 3/14/2020 see: (Home > Board)
• Updated Board Membership 12/22/19
• Latest TMC Bulletin was posted on 6/28/2020

From Thomas Merton on Black Lives Matter:

Excerpted from the TMC Weekly Bulletin: 6/21/2020 Edition
(Content written in the vernacular of the times)

The mystique of Negro non-violence holds that the victory of truth is inevitable but that the redemption of individuals is not inevitable. Though the truth will win, since in Christ it has already conquered, not everyone can “come to the light”—for if his words are darkness, he fears to let them be seen…. The purpose of non-violent protest, in its deepest and most spiritual dimensions, is then to awaken the conscience of the white man to the awful reality of his injustice and of his sin, so that he will be able to see that the Negro problem is really a White problem: that the cancer of injustice and hate, which is eating white society and is only partly manifested in racial segregation with all its consequences, is rooted in the heart of the white man himself. Only if the white man sees this will he be able gradually to understand the real nature of the problem and take steps to save himself and his society from complete ruin… —

”Letters to a White Liberal,” in Ramparts Magazine, December 1963

TMC Weekly Bulletin

The TMC Weekly Bulletin resumed publication starting with a Sunday May 24 edition,  
 

COVID-19

Note: All TMC sponsored masses are cancelled until further notice: (8:45 am Sunday Mass). Note there are numerous masses online (Youtube)  including ones sponsored by the Catholic Community at Stanford and the St Thomas Aquinas Parish, Palo Alto. Check the TMC Weekly Bulletins for specifics and more timely updates.

TMC Sponsored retreats. lectures, seminars, and social gatherings have also been temporarily suspended.

We hope to resume our normal activities when it is safe to do so and will practice recommended social distancing as required.

DSJ Mass Cancellations

Bishop Oscar Cantu of The Diocese of San Jose has cancelled all public masses effective March 14, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Please read his message (Here)
 

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,