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.

• Added appearance notice of Sr Joan Chittister' TMC Appearance in the PROGRAMS section
• Added 2021 Liturgical Calendar 
• Updated Board Minutes Section 12/12/2020 see: (Home > Board)
• Bulletin Navigation button added to banner. Future bulletins will be online only

Professor Hans Kung: March 1928 - April 2021
                             
Hans Kung, Catholic Theologian and church critic Dies.

Questioned Catholic church governance and was an advocate of Vatican II reforms. Read more (Here)




The Symbols and Traditions of Easter:
"
Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb on the third day after his crucifixion." Read more (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.






"Ok,God if you are there, do something"


A lenten prayer by:
Jesuit Father Richard G. Malloy

Article from Catholic News Service (Here)






US Supreme Court eases restrictions on indoor worship: Mercury News article (Here).

“While we will now be able to gather for indoor religious services, it is vital to appreciate that things will not immediately ‘go back to normal’ as COVID-19 still poses serious risks of infection, especially for the most vulnerable,”  
Bishop Oscar Cantu, Diocese of San Jose, CA



 

Thomas Merton and Racial Reconciliation:

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

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,