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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
- Added information on the reprehensible practice of immigrant children being separated from their parents on the US border. in the OF INTEREST section below.
- Added new page. selected Homily Excerpts by TMC presiders. Here.
- Latest TMC Bulletin Posted 6/17/18 (See Bulletin Section This Page)
- New Steeple Talk posted 6/10/18.
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Of Interest
Families at the Border
Catholic Charities USA has forwarded the foloowing Statement:
The ongoing practice of separating children from their parents has already, as of May, left nearly 2000 children separated from their parents. As Bishop Vásquez, Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration, and Sister Donna Markham OP PhD, President and CEO of Catholic Charities, remind us - as a nation and people of faith, we can and must do better.
Learn More
Speak Up!!
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Rejoice and be Glad
Fr. Larry Purcell's Homily on Sunday June 10, 2018, 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time
I recently attended ordinations in our Cathedral Basilica of St Joseph. Three married men were ordained deacons on 8/19 and a little over a week ago three single men were ordained priests. Bishop PJ (McGrath) told the three men about to be priests, people should feel better leaving your presence than they did coming into your presence. People should feel better leaving your presence than they did coming into your presence. I think he intended that message for all the priests present; all the lay ecclesial ministers present and the entire people of God, because we are all ministers of the gospel by virtue of our baptism and confirmation.
When he became pope in 2013, Pope Francis said he hoped for an end to the cultural wars within the church and within our world and he hoped too, for the beginning or the expansion of a culture of compliment. He wants people’s first contact with Catholics not to be one of judgment but one of respect, interest, and shared humanity. Although we may have differences based on race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, sexual preference, political affiliation, profession, economic status, and on and on. We share a common humanity and we are all children of the loving God.
Gaudete Et Exsultate, Rejoice and be Glad, is the Popes exhortation on holiness and if you haven’t yet read it, I strongly encourage you to do so. It’s a very purposeful experience, to take some time with it. In that exhortation, Pope Francis offers five expressions of love for God and neighbor as an anecdote to the culture wars. Perseverance, patience and meekness, number one. Number two: Joy and a sense of humor. Three: Boldness and passion. Four: Recognition that human progress happens in community and fifth: Constant prayer. Those are the five expressions of love that he encourages us to.
Jesus met people where they were and called them to become their better selves. This was true of the woman caught in adultery, Zacchaeus the tax collector, and Simon the Pharisee who snubbed Jesus when Jesus was a dinner guest in his home. Healing and forgiving sin made Jesus extremely popular with the sick and with the sinner, and extremely unpopular with the experts of the law, the scribes, and, as we heard this morning, with his own family. The scribes were engaged in a kind of idolatry, divinizing their opinions and refusing to allow God. or anyone, to break through their minds and broaden their vision. This is what’s called blasphemy of the Holy Spirit because we are not allowing God to be God. That God could possibly have a new revelation, a different way of communicating and relating to the human family.
The family intervention that we heard this morning, as they tried to storm the house and grab Jesus and drag him back to Nazareth was aimed at getting him to get back to normal. Give up your mission. But Jesus was not aligning himself with the religious culture of fundamentalism or with his family culture... that our people don’t make waves. Instead he was aligning himself with the poor, the outcasts, and the people on the margins, those who were prevented by the prevailing political and religious culture from experiencing their own inherent human dignity. The outcasts felt better leaving Jesus’ presence than they did when coming into it.
So what are we to do? We are to reject the culture of exclusion and judgment and precondition. We are to reject the culture of playing it safe, instead we are to accept the culture of Jesus, which listens, respects, accompanies and serves. If we do this., people will feel better leaving our presence than they did when coming into it, and we will be the mothers, brothers, and sisters of the Lord.
Fr. Izzo's last scheduled Mass at TMC was on Sunday May 27. He will be joining the Jesuit Community at Gonzaga University where he will be "Researching and writing about the early life of St. Ignatious" among other pursuits.. In a gracious note to the community, Fr. Izzo expressed the following sentiments:
TMC Celebrant Fr. Jack Izzo to Move to Spokane, Washington
(The) Thomas Merton Community, will all play lively in my heart and my memory as I move and take up work in my new home. Being with you, monthly or so, has been a wonderful, loving, energizing, and spiritually enriching experience. I have come to know many of you well and think of you as good friends. Please keep me in your hearts and prayers as I will for you.Sincerely in Christ, Jack Izzo, SJ
Reclaiming Jesus: A Confession of Faith in a Time of Crisis
The
Most Reverend Michael Curry (Left), , presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the US and Reverend Jim Wallis (right), president and founder of
Sojourners, has authored a letter to church leaders reminding them of the declaration entitled
Reclaiming
Jesus:
A confession of Faith in a time of Crisis of which they are signatories. You are encouraged to read the letter. A copy can be accessed
(Here). A link to the declaration is included
(Here).
Note: Links in the letter are not active.
Excerpt from the declaration:"When politics undermines our theology, we must examine that politics. The church’s role is to change the world through the life and love of Jesus Christ. The government’s role is to serve the common good by protecting justice and peace, rewarding good behavior while restraining bad behavior (Romans 13). When that role is undermined by political leadership, faith leaders must stand up and speak out. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state.”
US House of Representives' Chaplain, Fr. Patrick Conroy, was fired for uttering the following prayer:
"As legislation on taxes continues to be debated this week and next, may all Members be mindful that the institutions and structures of our great Nation guarantee the opportunities that have allowed some to achieve great success, while others continue to struggle. May their efforts these days guarantee that there are not winners and losers under new tax laws, but benefits balanced and shared by all Americans."
Read the article, Ousting House chaplain who prayed for those affected by tax bill will not silence the cry for justice, by Dr Barbara Williams-Skinner, posted at sojo.net, by clicking here. Also See the TMC Bulletin for week of May 6.
Janice O'Brien of Sierra Roots, Nevada City, CA
TMC Founding Member Janice O'Brien and her husband Jim relocated to the Sierra Foothils in the 1990's. An early experience after moving there of a homeless person freezing to death weighed heavily on Janice and inspired her to become a tireless advocate for the unhoused in her new community.
Janice spoke to the TMC communty on Saturday, March 24th about her nonprofit organization, Sierra Roots, which may ultimately become a model for addressing this untractable problem almost anywhere it exists. Sierra Roots, with the support of governmental agencies, charitable organizations and friends have embarked upon an ambitious project to build a sustainable village of small homes with a community center providing many thoughtful amenities and services for people whom, for whatever reason, are in need of a permanent place to live.
Sierra Roots currently sponsors community lunches, emergency shelters, advocacy programs and medical assistance.
Your help is needed to build the residential village as well as to support their ongoing programs.
The TMC is greatful to Janice for sharing her story and inspiring us to be 'Better Angels".
To learn more about SIERRA ROOTS click on the icon below
US Conference of Catholic Bishops (UCCB) calls on Catholics to take action on behalf of Dreamers. Read the article in America (The Jesuit Review) here.
Diocese of San Jose, CA Bishop Patrick J. McGrath writes in support of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), also referred to as the Dream Act.
In quoting a recent statement by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop McGrath reiterated:
“As people of faith, we say to DACA youth – regardless of your immigration status, you are children of God and welcome in the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church supports you and will advocate for you.
Read Bishop McGrath's entire statement by clicking (Here
.... ...... ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these. Mark 12:31”
SOME OF OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ARE UNDER THREATStatement of the Board of Directors of the Thomas Merton Center on the Refugee Crisis:
Our brothers and sisters who have been forced to flee their homes around the world are crying out in despair, seeking help, safety, peace and love. Refugees, particularly those fleeing the conflict in Syria, have experienced horrors we can’t even im
agine. Now is not the time to close our doors, but rather it is the time to open our arms. Pope Francis says that "All those who flee their own country because of war, violence and persecution have the right to find an appropriate welcome and adequate protection in countries that describe themselves (as) "civilized.” Let us take this message to heart and welcome all who are fleeing persecution. Consider joining the Catholic Relief Services and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in making heard the voices of refugees waiting to find shelter within our borders. Let President Trump and your Congress member know that we support the needs of refugees. We trust our government to protect us while also welcoming refugees. Jesus called each of us to meet and welcome him "in the stranger." Let us follow his call. 3/9/17
The Board invites you to visit the following websites for more information on what you can do to support immigrants and refugees. Visit the following links:
US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Catholic Relief Services
For additional local resources, support, and ways to help, please contact the diocean ministry on Justice for Immigrants. More information (here)
TMC Board of Director's letter on the death penalty to California Gov. Jerry Brown.(here)
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Calendar
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 278:45 Sunday MassMonth View May 27, 2018-
Sunday, May 27, 8:45 AMFr Izzo SJ
28Month View May 28, 201829Month View May 29, 201830Month View May 30, 201831Month View May 31, 20181Month View June 1, 20182Month View June 2, 201838:45 MassMonth View June 3, 2018-
Sunday, June 3, 8:45 AMMsgr. Sandersfeld
4Month View June 4, 20185Month View June 5, 20186Month View June 6, 20187Month View June 7, 20188Month View June 8, 20189Month View June 9, 2018108:45 MassMonth View June 10, 2018-
Sunday, June 10, 8:45 AMFr. Percell
117:00p Liturgy MeetingMonth View June 11, 2018-
Monday, June 11, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PMLiturgy Planning
12Month View June 12, 201813Month View June 13, 2018147:30p Monthly Board MeetingMonth View June 14, 2018-
Thursday, June 14, 7:30 PM
15Month View June 15, 201816Month View June 16, 2018178:45 Mass - Fathers DayMonth View June 17, 2018-
Sunday, June 17, 8:45 AMFr. Ballard SJ
187:00p Spiritual Education MeetingMonth View June 18, 2018-
Monday, June 18, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PMMonthly Planning Meeting
19Month View June 19, 201820Month View June 20, 201821Month View June 21, 201822Month View June 22, 201823Month View June 23, 2018248:45 MassMonth View June 24, 2018-
Sunday, June 24, 8:45 AMFr. Ballard SJ
25Month View June 25, 201826Month View June 26, 201827Month View June 27, 201828Month View June 28, 201829Month View June 29, 201830Month View June 30, 2018 -
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Today's Readings
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Reading 1 2 Chr 24:17-25Responsorial Psalm Ps 89:4-5, 29-30, 31-32, 33-34Gospel Mt 6:24-34
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Catholic Women Preach
Link to Catholic Women Preach website and this week's video click (Here) -
Save the date
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Global Catholic Climate movement (Gccm)
“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,
