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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
- Posted 2020 USCCB Liturgical Calendar 1/13/20 (Resources Page)
- Updated Board Minutes Section 8/11/19 see: (Home > Board)
- Updated Board Membership 12/22/19
- Latest TMC Bulletin was posted on 02/16/20
- Added latest Steeple Talk in Bulletin section 1/5/20
- Updated celebrant schedule thru April 12, 2020 (Easter Sunday)
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Save the date
Fr George V Coyne SJ, 1933 - 2020
Former Director of the Vatican Observatory
It is with sadness we report the recent death of Fr George Coyne, noted Vatican astronomer. Jesuit philosopher, and educator. Fr. Coyne's many accomplishments during his life were notable,to the enlightenment of both religious and scientific communities., He was a kind, generous man and a friend of the Thomas Merton community, He was a past presenter at TMC's Walter Gill lecture series on science and religion,
To read more about Fr Coyne click (here)
Upcoming Lenten Retreat With Fr Kevin Ballard SJ. Sponsored by The Thomas Merton Center
Saturday March 21, 9 am to Noon Palo Alto, CA
St Albert the Great Center, 1090 Channing St, Palo Alto, CA.
Fr Ballard's theme: Making Room Yourself for getting to know God"
Pilgrimages with Fr. George Aranha:
Fr. George Aranha, former St Thomas Aquinas Parish pastor and TMC celebrant, will be hosting three upcoming Pilgrimages::
-October 5-15, 2020: the Marian Shrines & Barcelona including Fatima, Avila, Loyola & Lourdes. - •
-February 1-12, 2021: Holy Land & Rome including a Papal audience. • Sept. 13-24, 2021:.Europe, including Krakow, Prague, Vienna and Budapest.
Info: https://nativitypilgrimage.com , info@nativitypilgrim age.com. For brochures and registration forms, please visit: www.SantaTeresaChurch.com/pilgrimage. For more information and to register, please contact: Jen Vazquez: Jen@SantaTeresaChurch.com or call Jen at: 1-408-629-7777
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Of Interest
February is Black History Month
Thomas Merton emersed himself in the civil rights movement of the nineteen sixties.
Merton felt an obligation to his fellow Christians in the movement. He insisted on his task of remaining among their ranks and facing the fact that non-violence “comes very close to the heart of the Gospel ethic, and is perhaps essential to it.”
All are encouraged to participate in events celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Americans of African decent, There are many events scheduled in the SF Bay Area and communities all over the country. See the link below announcing a kickoff celebration sponsored by the San Francisco African American Heritage and Cultural Society. (Here)
A white Catholic looks at Black History month: [By Daniel P. Horan, OFM, ncronline, 2/5/20]
The month of February is recognized in the United States and Canada as Black History Month. While the civil commemoration in America officially began in 1970, its origins date back to at least 1926 when historian Carter G. Woodson called for the observance of "Negro History Week" during the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. That the country needs to explicitly set aside a time of recognition for black history unveils the uncomfortable truth that white people avoid facing and that people of color reckon with daily: structural racism is real, white supremacy is normative and the stories we tell about ourselves as a nation — and as a church — are skewed in such a way as to subjugate and erase black oppression and white privilege.... To read the rest of this article see the February 9 TMC Bulletin.
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Calendar
February 2020Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 268:45 Mass27Month View January 27, 202028Month View January 28, 202029Month View January 29, 202030Month View January 30, 202031Month View January 31, 20201Month View February 1, 202028:45 Mass3Month View February 3, 20204Month View February 4, 20205Month View February 5, 20206Month View February 6, 20207Month View February 7, 202083:00p Rosemary EllmerMonth View February 8, 2020-
Saturday, February 8, 3:00 PMThe Future of the Church in the Light of the Clergy Abuse Scandals, with Dr. Rosemary Ellmer. A licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Ellmer has worked for over 15 years at Santa Clara University both as an adjunct professor and a clinical psychologist and training director at the university’s counseling center. She will share her frank reflections from the fields of psychology and theology on the current crisis facing the church.Read More
98:45 Mass107:00p Liturgy MeetingMonth View February 10, 2020-
Monday, February 10, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PMLiturgy PlanningRead More
11Month View February 11, 202012Month View February 12, 2020137:30p Monthly Board MeetingMonth View February 13, 2020-
Read MoreThursday, February 13, 7:30 PM
14Month View February 14, 202015Month View February 15, 2020168:45 Mass177:00p Spiritual Education MeetingMonth View February 17, 2020-
Monday, February 17, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PMMonthly Planning MeetingRead More
18Month View February 18, 202019Month View February 19, 202020Month View February 20, 202021Month View February 21, 202022Month View February 22, 2020238:45 Mass24Month View February 24, 202025Month View February 25, 2020266:00p Ash Wednesday MassMonth View February 26, 2020-
Wednesday, February 26, 6:00 PMFr Kevin Ballard SJRead More
27Month View February 27, 202028Month View February 28, 202029Month View February 29, 2020 -
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Today's Readings
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Reading 1 Jas 2:14-24, 26Responsorial Psalm 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6Gospel Mk 8:34–9:1
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Catholic News Service
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IMAGE: CNS photo/Living Bread Radio By CANTON, Ohio (CNS) -- Great Catholic Music, a free Catholic music platform with over 16,000 downloads, is partnering with Irish Catholic recording artist Dana...
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IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Diocese of St. Petersburg By ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (CNS) -- Bishop Gregory L. Parkes of St. Petersburg has declared Feb. 23 as Safe Haven Sunday, a day when parishes in the...
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IMAGE: CNS photo/Junno Arocho Esteves By Junno Arocho Esteves ROME (CNS) -- Three former students at a school for the deaf in Argentina traveled to Rome to demand Pope Francis and Vatican officials...
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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,
