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 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.

• Added 2021 Liturgical Calendar 
• Updated Board Minutes Section 3/12/2021 see: (Home > Board)
• Mass resumption June 20,, 2021 9 am

"Your God Is Too Small" A Webinar: 

Hosted by the Center for Advanced Study in Religion and Science (CASIRAS) and LSTC

Friday October 1, 2021 at 3 pm Pacific Daylight Time, 5 pm Central



Presented by:
Bro Guy Consolmagno SJ






 

Guy J. Consolmagno SJ will present “Your God Is Too Small,” Friday, Oct. 1, at 5 p.m., Central Daylight Time. This free Zoom webinar is hosted by the Center for Advanced Study in Religion and Science (CASIRAS) and LSTC. Register (here) to receive the link and a reminder on Oct. 1.

The contrast between “the World” and “the Cosmos” is becoming blurred, even as we are learning just how big the Cosmos is. We need to understand that all those other planets are real places, part of the same universe created by God and redeemed by the Incarnation. And God is Creator not only of other places but other times, before and beyond the time when we exist here on Earth. In the face of this immensity in time and space, from the Big Bang to the Heat Death of the Universe, what does it means to be a creature, and to be redeemed by the risen Christ? And in that light, can we appreciate all the more the words of the Psalmist: When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.

“It is rare to find someone so accomplished in science, theology, and philosophy, who can also communicate complex topics clearly to a general audience. Br. Guy is one of the best story-tellers I’ve ever known,” said Grace Wolf-Chase, senior scientist and senior education and communication specialist at the Planetary Science Institute.

Brother Guy has presented a number of unique programs at the TMC over the years and is a cherished friend of our community.
He is currently director of the Vatican Observatory.



Webinar: Saturday October 9, 2021, 1 pm Pacific, 4 pm Eastern
Sponsored by The Thomas Merton Center of Palo Alto


Inside the Rise of Religious Nationalism:
Redefining faith, denigrating social justice, and mounting an assault on our democracy

With journalist/author Katherine Stewart



Event brochure (here)
Event Registration (here)


Questions from a Ewe 


"Test everything; retain what is good.” (1 Thes 5:21) A laywoman expresses concerns about issues in the Roman Catholic Church to foster positive dialogue by posing and exploring questions.

God Gives Us Science Too:  Blog post (here)



Fr Rubio's  Homily for Sunday July 25, 2021 9 am  Mass

"I state the principle. I explain church teaching but I do not judge those who in conscience do not follow it, nor do I refuse them communion if they decide to receive communion after I have explained the principle. I do not know all the circumstances that went into their decision."
Fr. Jose Antonio Rubio

Read the Homily (here)


Remembering Reverend Monsignor Eugene Boyle

Msgr. Boyle was born on July 28, 1921, He was friend. counselor, and chaplain of the Thomas Merton Center from its inception until his death on May 24, 2016. His life, dedicated to spirituality, civil and human rights, and social justice, was an inspiration to all of us who knew him.

It is fitting to take a moment to remember and honor this courageous humanitarian.

There are many stories to be told about Msgr. Boyle's adventures and causes (We all knew him as Gene), from his passionate support for California's farm workers in the fields, to his miraculous. skillful unpowered solo landing of a single engine airplane at the Monterey County Airport. He barely missed the bay by minutes. There are many other stories. Take a moment to remember your own.

A more complete biographical account of his life can be found (here).



Sunday July 11, 2021 homily. 9 am Mass.
Fr Larry Percell

"Sometimes when we engage with those we strongly disagree with or even oppose
We run the risk of adopting their tactics and becoming like them
And when we do that, we shed more heat than light on our issues of concern
To avoid that, we have to remember we are Christians 1st . not republicans/democrats 1st
And we have to remember whose we are (beloved children of God)"

Read the whole text of the homily (here)

Concern about UCCB vote on denying communion to political figures.

Letter from Fr. Xavier Lavagetto on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (UCCB) recent vote on refusing holy communion to government officials who support abortion rights (here}.

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Covid 19
Resumption of TMC sponsored Sunday masses began June 20th

Because of changes to health guidelines for Covid 19 abatement we are please to announce the resumption of indoor masses at historic St Thomas Aquinas church (Waverly and Cowper Sts) in Palo Alto. Masses has resumed at 9 am on Sundays. The state, county, and CDC guidlines in effect at the time, will be observed.

The celebrant schedule has been updated in the calender section. Click on the date in the calendar to access this information.

Your cooperation and understanding will be greatly appreciated.

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 (Note:the highlighted links in the article are not active)

Thomas Merton and Racial Reconciliation:

Thomas Merton embraced the cause of racial justice during his life time. An article and poem by Albert Raboteau is well worth reading: (Here)

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

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,