Advent and Christmas 2010 - st. joseph of cupertino parish

St. Joseph of Cupertino
Nov. 2010
Flyer
St. Joseph of Cupertino Parish
Cupertino, California
Profile: Rev. Vincent Pineda
By Mike Hoffman
Vincent Pineda was born
in Manila on
January 22, 1976. He is
the eldest of seven
children – four sisters
and two brothers. His
parents, brothers and
sisters all still live in the
Philippines. Vincent’s
mother and father met
while attending college
in Manila. His dad was
from Subic Bay and
spoke only Tagalog. His
mother was from Ilocos Sur and spoke only Ilocano. Somehow
they managed to communicate and fell in love. When Vincent’s
mother became pregnant, they quit college and Vincent’s father
attended a vocational school to become an auto mechanic. Since
they were very young and unprepared to marry and raise a
family, both their families were disapproving and deeply hurt.
Their attitude changed when their first grandson was born.
Vincent was particularly close to his great-grandmother
(Catalina). She was a power within the family and Vincent’s dad
was her favorite grandson. When Vincent was five, the family
was living in Manila and he was sent to Subic Bay to spend the
summer with his great-grandparents. When summer ended he
stayed on. Around this time, Vincent’s father accepted a job in
Saudi Arabia where he stayed for five years. When he came
back, he got a job at the U.S. Navy Base Exchange store at
Subic Bay and the family was reunited. Vincent was around ten
at the time. When Vincent was at his great-grandparents house,
there were no other children around, only adults. He believes
that this adult atmosphere allowed him to reason as an adult at
an early age.
The family house in Olongapo (close to the Subic Bay naval
base) was very close to the local parish (St. Joseph). His greatgrandparents lived with them and Catalina had a very hard time
getting around. She would often ask Vincent to accompany her.
Vincent was her “walking stick” to church and afterwards she
would take him to any restaurant he wanted to go. Catalina’s
devotion to the church played a big part in Vincent’s decision to
become a priest. When Vincent was in fifth grade, Catalina died.
This was an extremely difficult time for Vincent; he described it
as “surreal.”
When he was 14, Vincent applied to the local minor seminary,
passed the admission test and was invited to come for a
weekend live-in trial period. He never told his parents about any
of this. They didn’t know anything about it until they received a
copy of his acceptance letter. They were not pleased. They were
concerned about being separated from Vincent and about the
high cost of sending him to the seminary. His father, who had
attended seminary but only lasted two weeks, told Vincent he
didn’t think he’d be able to make it through. When Vincent
couldn’t be dissuaded, his mother said, “We didn’t realize how
hardheaded you are.”
Vincent entered St. Augustine’s Seminary at Iba, Zambales. He
was there when Mount Pinatubo erupted. He experienced the
sky turning red and ash and sand falling from the sky. For some
time, he was unable to go home for his monthly weekend visits
because bridges had been destroyed.
One of the reasons Vincent succeeded in all his seminary studies
and became a priest is that he wanted to prove to his parents that
he had made the right decision. Vincent did succeed, even
excelled throughout his minor seminary and his philosophy
studies at San Carlos in Manila. After graduating from San
Carlos, he felt he needed to take a break. Before making his
final decision to join the priesthood, he wanted to know more
about the world. He was granted a one year leave (regency).
During this time, he taught philosophy and theology at a
Dominican school and studied for a master’s degree at a Jesuit
school. At the end of the first year, he applied for second year.
This is unusual, but his request was granted. He loved university
life but he felt a sense of emptiness. So, at the end of the second
year, he decided to return and studied theology. Theological
training in the Philippines tends to be very rigid and was not at
all to his liking. With the help of Father Mark Catalana,
Vocation Director for the Diocese of San Jose, he was admitted
to St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park. On June 5, 2005, he
was ordained by Bishop McGrath.
Before coming to St. Joseph’s, Father Vincent served at Holy
Spirit in San Jose, St. Cyprian, and Resurrection in Sunnyvale.
At Resurrection, he was Director of Liturgy and was also in
charge of the Youth Ministry. He said of his pastoral experience
in these various parishes, “I was able to experience different
styles of leadership.”
Asked what he likes most about being a priest, Father Vincent
spoke of an early morning call he had just received. A longtime
parishioner had died and he went to give a final blessing. He
noted that in situations like this, “A priest can give consolation
that even a doctor can’t give.” He also said that when he
consoles grieving families, “I’m also being nourished by the
experience.”
November 2010
www.stjoscup.org
Page 2
Early Childhood Education Program Gives Young Children a Faith Experience
By Tam Tran
St. Joseph of Cupertino has an Early Childhood Education
(ECE) program conducted on Sunday mornings during the
school year. Children aged three years to six (first grade) meet
in the school’s classrooms during the 9:30 am Mass. This
program gives children an age-appropriate faith experience
while their parents and older siblings are at Mass. Parents are
able to focus on participating at Mass knowing that their
young children are having fun and learning about God.
The Early Childhood Education programs are based on the
Church’s teaching that the primary responsibility for the
spiritual growth and development of children rests primarily
with the parents. Our programs assist parents in passing on
their faith in a way that those being catechized can understand.
The Early Childhood Education classes are taught by
volunteers and parents. For many years, the parish has been
blessed to have dedicated catechists teaching. Volunteers in
this ministry find it very rewarding. The smiles on the
children’s faces are what keeps them coming back to
volunteer.
The Early Childhood Program uses the I Am Special
curriculum published by Our Sunday Visitor. Through this
series, three-year-olds learn that everything they experience
with their body in this world is from God. The four-year-old
curriculum expands to things that the children could do with
their body in the world, thanks to such abilities being gifts
from God. At the kindergarten age, Jesus is introduced and
their emotions are added as gifts from God. They begin to
learn that we are to model our own behavior after Jesus. First
grade is the beginning of formal catechetical instruction, with
actual text and an introduction of formal doctrines, such as the
Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and the Church. The
Sign of the Cross in introduced in the four-year-old class, with
mastery by kindergarten age; and the Lord’s Prayer and Hail
Mary are taught in the first grade. The idea of prayer and
going to Mass is also introduced in the kindergarten class.
The children participate in several prayer services every year
to which their parents and siblings are invited. Traditionally,
all the children come together for a Thanksgiving and a New
Life (post-Easter) celebration. Depending upon which days
they fall, there are celebrations for Valentine’s Day and
Epiphany, too. This year, the Thanksgiving celebration will be
substituted by a Christmas celebration.
Parents who are not catechists are instrumental in the program,
too. They are asked to serve as aides in their child’s class
twice a year, helping the children in the many activities. Many
parents enjoy this activity so much, they volunteer to serve as
aides every Sunday or become a catechist the following year!
Material preparation for class activities is done by the parents.
Their help with the material preparation reduces the time
children need to spend cutting and gluing their projects during
class. This enables the catechists to accomplish more activities
and teaching during the classes.
Our ECE program continues to thrive as new families join our
parish and current families send their young ones to us.
The ECE classes are held from October to May on Sunday
mornings from 9:20 am to 10:30 am. For registration packets
or more information on the program, please contact the
catechetical office at 252-7653, ext. 60.
November 2010
St. Joseph of Cupertino Parish
Page 3
Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in SJC Rose Garden
Signs and Symbols of St. Joseph of Cupertino Church
By Désirée Widjojo
By Jim Schaaf
"Am I not here, who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow
and protection? Are you not in the folds of my mantle, cradled in my
arms? Is there anything else that you need? Let nothing ever grieve
you, or prey on your mind..."
In 1531 Our Lady
appeared to Saint Juan
Diego near Mexico City.
She came at a time
when paganism and
human sacrifice were
rampant in that part of
the world, and asked
that a church be built in
that place. Juan Diego, a
poor Indian, approached
the Bishop with Our
Lady's request, and
miraculously, the image
of Our Lady was
imprinted on Juan's
tilma.
We call this image
"Santa Maria de
Guadalupe," which
means "Holy Mary who
saves us from the
Devourer." The tilma
(mantle) shows Mary
standing on a moon, supported by an angel and radiant as the sun.
Through the centuries, people devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe have
received her special help, protection and comfort in times of distress.
In 2008, the Friends of Guadalupe, led by Mariqueta Churchill, began
to dream of a shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe here at Saint Joseph of
Cupertino. They approached our Pastor, Father Gregory Ng Kimm,
who gave his approval and was supportive of the project. Betsy
Oberson obtained a larger-than-life copy of the image, which had been
donated by Frank McCaffrey. Mariqueta then asked her son Marvin,
who is a talented carpenter, to build a model of the proposed shrine,
and ultimately to build the shrine itself. The image and the words of
Our Lady were mounted on wood and laminated, and the overhanging
structure was equipped with subtle lighting. The shrine was placed near
the rectory, in the midst of dozens of beautiful and fragrant rose bushes
tended by Ron Palma. Mariqueta recalled in December 2008, "Marvin
got the wood and managed to put in the last nail just before her Mass
and celebration, which was followed by a blessing of the shrine by
Bishop McGrath!"
You are invited to visit and pray near the shrine whenever you are at
St. Joseph of Cupertino, keeping in mind the consoling words of
Our Lady to St. Juan Diego:
"...may you know my Mother's heart in this place. Here I will see
your tears; I will console you, and you will be at peace."
You are invited to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe at a special Mass and
Celebration here at St. Joseph of Cupertino Church on Friday,
December 10, 2010.
Mother and Patroness of the Americas, pray for us!
This article continues a description of the some of the signs and
symbols present in the church.
The Chapel – Statues
Two large statues dominate the wall on either side of the altar. To
the left is a statue of St. Anthony of Padua and to the right is a
statue of Our Lady, the Blessed Mother.
St. Anthony is shown garbed in Franciscan attire as he served as a
Franciscan in Italy for most of his life. While he is commonly
remembered as a Patron Saint of those seeking lost objects, he is
one of only 33 Doctors of the Church. This esteemed title is
denoted in the statue by the book in his right hand. Legend has it
that he had memorized both the Old and
New Testaments. Standing on the book is
the Child Jesus. This reflects the vision of
one of his fellow Franciscans who once
when passing St. Anthony’s cell saw the
Child Jesus whispering into the Saint’s ear.
In the Saint’s other arm is a bunch of lilies
symbolizing his outstanding purity.
The statue of the Blessed Mother depicts
Mary as a young woman. Mary is the
namesake of the chapel.
To the right is a wall statue of Our Lady of
Guadalupe, the Patroness of the Americas.
The statue shows the sun’s rays in the
background, the woman clothed in a cape
containing multiple stars, standing on the
moon propped up by a cherub. This
traditional depiction of our Lady is taken
from the Book of Revelation 12:1.
There are two other wall statues in the
Chapel, one on the left wall and one on the
right. The statue on the left is of St. Martin de Porres, one of the
first saints born in the “New World.” The illegitimate son of a
Spanish knight and a freed Panamanian slave, St. Martin became
a Dominican lay brother. At 14 years of age he was the
congregation’s barber; thus he is considered the patron saint of
hairdressers. Later, as a professed Dominican brother, he founded
an orphanage. He was canonized in 1962 by Pope John XXIII. On
the right wall is a statue of St. Lucy, a third century martyr and
one of the Saints mentioned by name in the Roman Canon
(Eucharistic Prayer I). St. Lucy was reputed to have suffered
martyrdom and as part of her torture had her eyes gouged out; but
they miraculously instantly grew back. This statue, as do most
statues of St. Lucy, shows her with eyes that are focused toward
heaven. In her hands she holds a tray on which are her original
eyes.
St. Lucy is not the only one of the early Christians to suffer
unspeakable horrors and tremendous cruelty. These martyrs are
honored not for the cruelties inflicted upon them but for their
steadfast faith, their unswerving adherence to Jesus and the truth,
justice and love He brings, and their ability to overcome physical
suffering and turn it into a salvific event.
November 2010
www.stjoscup.org
Page 4
Christmas Cryptograph
By Lorinda Rodrigues
Directions: Solve the Cryptograph. A cryptograph is a block of text which has been rendered unreadable through the use
of what is called a "substitution cipher." This means each letter used in the original text has been substituted with another
(G becomes A, F becomes P, etc.). Letter/word positions, spaces and punctuation remain unchanged.
All the Cryptographs below use the same alphabet and are all related to one Christmas bible passage.
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Parish Calendar
Nov. 21 – 22
D
O
L
D
U
Parish Pay
Hall
Prepare Thanksgiving baskets
No more forgotten envelopes.
No more check writing.
Dec. 10
7:00 pm
Church
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass
Dec. 16 – 19
TBD
Church
Simbang Gabi – Advent Novena Mass & reception
Jan. 8
7:00 pm
Church
Christmas Concert with reception
Jan. 23
2:30 – 4:30 pm
Comm. Center
Free Movie Afternoon
Feb. 6
11:00 am
Church
Welcome Mass for Newcomers with reception
Feb. 13
11:00 am
Church
Chinese New Year Celebration; reception in Hall
Feb. 1,8,15,22
7:00 pm
Comm. Center
The People of God Journey Through History,
Four Part Series; Brother Bill Bolts, SM
Saturdays
6:30 pm
Hall
Bingo
Pastor: Rev. Gregory Kimm
Sundays
10:30 – 11:00 am
Front of church
Video Lending Library
Contributors:
Mondays
6:30 pm
Hall
Bingo
Mondays
9:30 – 11:30 am
Various
Mommy & Me Playgroup, [email protected]
Steve Hill
Lorinda Rodrigues
Jim Schaaf
Désirée Widjojo
Mike Hoffman
Tam Tran
Wednesdays
7:00 pm
Comm. Center
RCIA
Thursdays
Noon
Comm. Center
Prayer Group
2 Wed.
10:00 – 11:00 am
Local parks
Mom’s Group, Carol Ruiz, 777-2966
1st Sunday
Morning Masses
Comm. Center
Hospitality after Mass – Coffee and Donuts
1 Sunday
3:00 – 4:30 pm
Rectory
Grief Support Group
2nd Sunday
12:15 pm
Rectory
Scripture Sharing Group
nd
st
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St. Joseph of Cupertino Flyer
Published Quarterly by
St. Joseph of Cupertino Parish,
Communications Ministry
[email protected]
The Flyer, with color photos, is
posted on the parish web site.