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If you missed Fr. John Dear's Thomas Merton Center talk, here are some personal notes:Palo Alto, California, April 27, 2024
These are not verbatin quotes. They are paraphrased from his lecture. Read Fr. Dear's book,The Gospel Of Peace - A Commentary On Mathew, Mark, And Luke From The Perspective Of Nonviolence, for a comprehensive view of his message.- I have always been moved by the greatest practitioners of nonviolence in modern history, Mahatma Ghandi and Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
- I further believe that the Gospels portray Jesus as the greatest practioner of nonviolence in all of history.
- Ghandi, the Hindu, read the Sermon on the Mount daily for 40 years. I didnt need to understand it, I just did what it said, he was quoted to have said.
- Sermon on the Mount is a political statement and one of the
greatest documents on nonviolence ever written. I encourage you to read it in its entirety with that in mind.
- Nonviolence should not be confused with passivity. Get in the face of your adversaries. Stare them down. Stand your ground nonviolently.
- Don't just be a fan of Jesus. Be a deciple and go forth to spread peace.
- When you go to the Eucharist you are participating in the covenant of nonviolence.
Fr. Dear is a remarkable advocate for peace, love, and the abolition of war and violence in the world.
I hope you study more for further understanding of this compelling message.
Jim Davis.
Save the Date April 27, 2024 2 PM
Fr. John Dear Lecture
El Palo Alto Room, Mitchell Community Center
3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, California
THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
A COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF NONVIOLENCE
More Information (HERE)
NONPROFIT FORUM
March 2, 2024, 1 P.M.
Covenant Presbyterian Church's Fellowship Hall
670 E. Meadow Dr. Palo alto, California
An opportunity to learn more about local organizations that provide much needed, sometimes critical, services, support, and assistance to those in our local community who need it.
Friends from Onyxx Village Connection With TMCer Jim Davis
Participating Organizations:
Ecumenical Hunger Program - Live in Peace - Onyxx Village Connection - Rosalie Rendu Center - South Palo Alto Food Closet - Saint Joseph’s Table - Saint Vincent De Paul - StreetCode Academy
See Flyer (HERE)
Save the Date: Saturday, February 10, 2 pm
In honor of Black History month, Alessandra Harris will speak to us on Saturday, February 10th at 2 p.m. in the Adobe Room at Mitchell Community Center, 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA.
Alessandra Harris is a writer, author, wife, and mother of four. She earned degrees in comparative religious studies and Middle East studies. An advocate for mental health and racial justice, she is also a co-founder and writer for Black Catholic Messenger.
Full brochure (HERE)
Saturday December 2, 2023: St Albert the Great Hospitalty Center
Advent Retreat: Christus Natus Est! Poems to Change Your Life
1095 Channing Ave, Palo Alto, CA
Please join in for an afternoon of reflection with Fr. John Auther, S.J. Fr. Auther will share select Christmas poems as, together, we enjoy an afternoon oasis from the frenetic aspects of the holiday season.
We look forward to this exploration of poetry as we approach the joy of Christmas!
Event Flyer (HERE)
Lenten Morning of Reflection With Fr. Jose Antonio Rubio, March 11, 10 a.m.
Please join us for a Lenten morning of reflection with Fr. José Antonio Rubio on Saturday, March 11, from 10 a.m. to noon in St. Albert the Great Hospitality Center. Fr. Rubio is a regular celebrant at The Merton Center's 9 a.m. Sunday Mass. Fr. Rubio will offer a reading of the passion scriptures followed by group discussions. He will conclude with a reflection on the stations of the cross.
For more details. read the flyer (HERE)
Past Programs:
Advent Event December 3, 10am to Noon
Please join us for an Advent morning of reflection with Fr. José Antonio Rubio on Saturday, December 3, from 10 a.m. to noon in St. Albert the Great Hospitality Center. Fr. Rubio is a regular celebrant at The Merton Center's 9 a.m. Sunday Mass. Fr. Rubio will reflect on a Sunday reading in Advent followed by reflections on weekday Advent readings.
We look forward to his insightful observations on the Advent scriptures and to deepening our awareness of the holiness and hope of the season.
See the Flyer (HERE) For More Information
Fr. Daniel KiritiTMC
member Fr Daniel Kiriti is visiting from Naivasha, Kenya and will give a brief update on the schools and churches in his area which is located approximately 90 miles north of Nairobi. TMC has supported Fr Kiriti's various activities and projects over the years. The informal gathering will begin directly after the 9:00 Mass Sunday October 16 in the memorial garden adjacent to St Thomas Aquinas Church, Homer and Waverly, in Palo Alto. Seating is limited.
Save the Date: Saturday December 3rd, 2022
10 AM to NoonSt Albert the Great Hall 1090 Channing St, Palo Alto
Advent Morning of Reflection with Fr Jose Antonio Rubio
Theme: WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR
Save the Date: Saturday March 5th, 2022, 10 am until noon
Sr. Marilyn Wilson, BVM on SynodalityA Chance to hear and be heard and to learn more about the Synod process.
REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED!
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Still Waiting:Pandemic SpiritualityZoom Retreat
Advent Morning of reflection {Has occured Already)
With Jesuit Father Kevin Ballard
We are pleased to offer again this year an imaginative and inspirational Advent morning of reflection. Fr. Ballard’s uplifting message will encourage us to examine and probe the spiritual and personal implications of navigating these anguished times.
Fr. Ballard’s humor and relatability have been greatly cherished by those who have attended his retreats in the past.
We hope to provide an opportunity for interaction between Fr Ballard and attendees. The event will not be recorded.This event is sponsored, in part, by the TMC Jane Bahr Memorial Fund.
To join on the day of the event click (Here)
To Join on the day of the event:
Using the Zoom.com app
Meeting ID: 875 8261 7691
Passcode: 848657
The following program has occured.
Video/audio of this Webinar is viewable (Here)
Webinar Saturday October 9, 2021, 1 pm Pacific, 4 pm Eastern
Inside the Rise of Religious Nationalism:
Redefining faith, denigrating social justice, and mounting an assault on our democracy
Inside the Rise of Religious Nationalism:
Redefining faith, denigrating social justice, and mounting an assault on our democracy
With journalist/author Katherine Stewart
More about the presenter (here)
Event Brochure (here)
Saturday June 5th, 2021
Sr Joan Chittester, OBS will appear at TMC via Zoom Saturday, June 5th at 1pm. PDT, 3pm CDT, 4pm EDT.
The Topic of Sister Joan's talk is taken from her latest book:
The Time Is Now: A Call To Uncommon Courage
Reclaiming the spiritual vision that made our country great.
ADVENT RETREAT
With: Fr. Kevin Ballard SJ
Waiting in a Time of Waiting/Behold I am Doing Something NewThe retreat has alrea:dy occured. Following is a link to a video of the retreat: (Here)
To help us prepare for the liturgical season of Advent, you are invited to a Zoom retreat guided by Fr. Kevin Ballard SJ. We are experiencing times unlike any other, with our lives altered by the realities of political turmoil and a worldwide pandemic. It has been a time of stress and anxious anticipation. The changes in our normal routines brought on by the current circumstances have actually given us more opportunities to slow down and contemplate those things that matter in our lives.Fr. Ballard has chosen “Isaiah 43:19; Waiting in a time of waiting/Behold I am doing something new” as inspiration for the retreat. His previous retreats have been thought provoking as well as memorable in our ritual preparation for the coming of our Lord. We hope you can join us!
Sponsored by The Thomas Merton Center of Palo Alto
When: Saturday Dec 12, 2020
Time: 10 AM to Approximately 11:30 AM Pacific Time
Zoom email invitions will be sent from our email list
Robert Ellsberg on John H Griffin's Black Like Me
If you missed Orbis Books publisher Robert Ellsberg's compelling TMC webinar presentation, John H Griffins Black Like Me/In an Age of Black Lives Matter we are pleased to offer the video for streaming. We are most grateful to Mr Ellsberg for giving The Merton Center permisssion to share the presentation. Please click on the link below.
Video: John H Griffiins Black Like Me/In an Age of Black Lives Matter
The Future of the Church in the Light of the Clergy Abuse Scandals,
On February 8, 2020. The Thomas Merton Center sponsored a seminar featuring Dr. Rosemary Ellmer. who 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 shared her frank reflections from the fields of psychology and theology on the current crisis facing the church. At the request of Bishop P.J. McGrath, in the fall of 2018 she moderated the four diocese-wide listening sessions held to seek input from people in the pews on the pathway to reform and to listen to those victimized by clerical sexual abuse.
A video of the her TMC presentation may be viewed (here)
Advent Morning with Fr. Percell: Saturday, December 7, 2019 9:00 a.m.-12 pm:
Advent Morning of
Reflection, led by Fr. Larry Percell at St. Albert the Great Hospitality Center, 1095 Channing Ave., Palo Alto. Fr. Percell will lead us into the Advent Scriptures to deepen our awareness of the call to holiness and hope in the Advent season.
Catholic Media: Sept.8, 2019:
Jim Purcell, Chairman of the Board of the National Catholic Reporter
The Landscape of Catholic Media Today.”
Saturday, September 28, at 3:00 p.m,
in the St. Albert the Great Hospitality Center,
1095 Channing Ave., Palo Alto.
There is a growing awareness of the role of some Cath olic media in the U.S. that is presenting a traditional, anti-Vatican II, anti-Francis image of the “true Catholic church.” In an effort to educate the TMC community about this development, the Spiritual Education Committee of the Merton Center is presenting the following talk:Jim has a long resume of service to the Catholic Church, from priesthood in the 60s, through directing Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County in the 80s, membership in the Bishop’s Administrative Council in the San Jose Diocese, president of HOPE Rehabilitation Services, and VP of University Relations at Santa Clara University. He is currently retired and consults to non-profits in strategic planning and fundraising. He joined the board of the NCR in 2015 and became chairman last year.
Jim will bring his knowledge of the current Catholic media world to this discussion, based on his experience over many years with the communication of Catholic values and initiatives to the public. (As a footnote, Jim is the older brother of Larry Purcell, of the Catholic Worker House of Redwood City.)
Please join us for a stimulating educational discussion and guidance toward an action plan. A reception with wine and cheese will follow the discussion.
Lenten Morning of Reflection: April 6:
Sr Marilyn Wilson, BVM
Save Saturday morning, April 6, from 9 am till noon at St. Albert the Great Hospitality Center, for a Lenten Morning of Reflection, led by Sr. Marilyn Wilson--a Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Sr. Marilyn is a an educator, spiritual director and retreat facilitator. She will lead us in an informal structure of prayer and contemplation as we approach Easter. All are welcome. Breakfast refreshments will be served.
See the flyer for this event: (Here)
We Hope You Did Not Miss!
Saturday February 23, 2019
Martin Luther King and Thomas Merton: Spiritual Brothers who never had a chance to meet
3 pm to 5 pm
Arrillaga Center
700 Alma St
Menlo Park, CA
Writer, Scholar, Michael W Higgins PhD
Lenten Season Retreat/Presentation
"The anniversary of King's death also presents an opportunity for scholars to take measure of this odd couple, as did Michael Higgins, who has authored three books on Merton. "Both men understood the power of a vision electrified by words, a vision biblical and epic in its range and yet grounded in the real," said Higgins, distinguished professor of Catholic thought at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut."
Excerpted from the National Catholic Reporter
Saturday, December 1, 9:00 a.m.-12 noon: Advent Morning of Reflection, led by Fr. Kevin Ballard, S.J., at Our Lady of the Rosary Church Hall, 3233 Cowper St., Palo Alto
Fr. Ballard will lead attendees into the Advent Scriptures to deepen awareness of the call to holiness in the Advent se
Saturday, October 27: A morning talk with Fr. Daniel Kiriti at 10:00 am at Our Lady of the Rosary Church Hall,
Catching up with this long-time friend of TMC and STA parish about his current parish work and the challenges he faces. This is a chance to ask questions about the Church in Africa and Kenya specifically, how the clerical abuse issues are experienced there and how lay people are responding, what initiatives he wants to start or continue in his parish. Fr. Kiriti has always concentrated on the youth in his pastoral assignments, and he is articulate and candid in his assessment of the needs of youth and creative in addressing those needs. Coffee, tea, fruit and bagels provided.
Sunday, October 14: Author Kate Hennessy,
Dorothy Day’s youngest-of-nine grandchildren and author of a memoir about her grandmother, will speak on Sunday, October 14, at 3:00 pm at the Menlo Park Recreation Center. We will have her book, Dorothy Day: The World Will Be Saved By Beauty, available for purchase at the event and in advance of October 14. Save the date!
Sr. Irene Loina Sept. 22:
St. Albert the Great Hospitality Center, 1095 Channing Avenue, Palo Alto.In 2014 Sr. Irene Loina, a Kenyan sister of the Incar- nate Word order, organized the first coming-of-age training for 134 Pokot girls that did not include “The Cut” (Female Genital Mutulation). This historic event was part of her ministry with women and girls in very traditional tribes. In that context she took infant- maternal care to the most remote areas of East Pokot in Kenya to provide pre-natal care, well-baby checks, immunizations, HIV/AIDS information and education of traditional midwives---including information from the Helping Babies Breathe program for premature infants. Since that time, Sr. Irene has earned a master’s degree in Project Planning and Management from Catholic University of Eastern Africa in order to ex- pand her ministry to other remote areas of East Africa. Sr. Irene will share her insights, experiences, challeng- es and successes with us this week:.
Oct 7th Sunday morning after 8:45 liturgy
All are invited to a session on the CA ballot propositions
on Sunday, October 7, 10:15-11:15 am, in the Thomas House living room.
League of Women Voters representatives Jean Lythcott and David Springer will cover 11 state propositions, as well as 1 Santa Clara County, 2 City of Palo Alto and 2 Palo Alto School District measures. Some of these will be touched on very briefly when they are straightfor- ward and not controversial. No San Mateo County measures will be considered.
So come over to the Thomas House after the 8:45 am Mass, grab coffee and a donut, and find a seat in the living room. Preparing for the November 6th Election Day is a duty for us as faithful Christians This is a good time to start.
Sunday, October 14: Kenyan Crafts Gallery, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon in the Memorial Garden at Saint Thomas A.quinas, Palo Alto
Make a donation to Kenya Help and get a jump on holiday shopping.
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We hope you didn't miss: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 intractable 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
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