A message from our parochial administrator, Fr. Paulson Mundanmani:
Dear Friends,
As the flu season enters its most active period, early data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points to a milder season than last year. Even so, as many as 7.3 million people have fallen sick with the flu since the season began in October, the CDC reported Friday. We have discontinued the precious blood starting in December, and will continue to do so until Easter Sunday. I would like to encourage you to stay home if you have the flu or you are still contagious. If you have the flu, you'll be contagious one day before developing symptoms and up to five to seven days after becoming ill. Younger children or people with a weakened immune system may be contagious for longer. The influenza virus can also survive on surfaces, such as doorknobs and tables, for up to 24 hours. If your parishioners are uncomfortable holding hands during the Our Father, I hope you understand.
We lost two of our beloved retired priests this month. Fr. Dan Danielson is known to many of us for his ability to articulate a vision and share them with his peers and flock. Reflecting on his life, he expressed gratitude to God for having been a priest at the time of the Second Vatican Council. "It was the most exciting time in the church in 400 years at least," he recalled. "It was so positive, so creative, so adventuresome, so open to trying things to serve the kingdom of God. I would not trade any of my life (with the exception of the minor seminary) to do it over again." I have worked very closely with Fr. Danielson in the Diocese of Oakland. He was one of the outspoken priests of our diocese known for pastoral zeal and personal integrity. Because he was a truth teller to the powers that be, he was sidelined sometimes, but he gave us reasons to be better than we are. Fr. Danielson’s funeral will be at St. Augustine, Pleasanton on January 22 Tuesday at 10.30am.
Fr. Patrick Goodwin worked tirelessly in the Chancery as the Financial Procurator and then, as Pastor of a number of parishes including St. Therese, Oakland and St. Raymond, Dublin. Fr. Patrick Goodwin’s funeral was on Friday, January 18th @ 10:00 am at St. Raymond’s Parish, Dublin. Let us keep these two priests in our prayer.
Ministry Center Update: Work is now progressing nicely on our CTK Ministry Center upgrade. Once completed we will have eight offices for parish staff, five conference rooms for our various parish activity meetings and a beautiful chapel that will be open for prayer during the work week. Work is now complete on the exterior of the Center’s structure. Check out the new windows and stucco exterior. The irrigation system is nearly complete and all of the concrete work is in place. Bricks with the names of parishioners have been delivered and placement is occurring from the driveway between the Church and the Center to the entrance on Brandon Road. A large redwood deck is being installed in the yard area and our landscaper will be installing the plants, as weather permits. On the interior all the rough plumbing, electrical wiring, heating, air conditioning and fire protection systems have been installed and the sheetrock is now taped and ready for painting. Before that can occur we will frame the doors and install the baseboards. Our current schedule shows that the Center will be ready for occupancy in early March when we will be shifting our attention to upgrading the gym restrooms, entrance and the gym itself.
Fr. Paulson