Pastor's Column, Bulletins & School Updates
Pastor's Column
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Even last year at this time, I could never have conceived that we would have closed church doors for indoor worship on Sundays. As we approach the birth of our Savior into our lives, we should feel definitely, despite these adverse times, that we do have the virtues of joy, hope and peace which characterize this Sunday and the Christmas season. It is manifest even more when we welcome our Lord into our lives. (Recent studies have shown that people of faith experience far less depression in these pan- demic times.) For those of us who are reluctant, the Lord comes to us. How wonderful to contemplate!
Embrace joy in this holy season as we concentrate what we have versus what we have lost. Em- brace joy when we contemplate that our Lord loves us more than we can possibly comprehend. (I have always thought that I could do better in communicating this message!) Here at St Brendan's, we can witness joy in people greeting each other, especially children, despite masks! Choose to fo- cus upon joy!
We are a family of faith whose common characteristic is hope. It is a hope that will guide us through turbulent times such as this pandemic, through changes in our lives, changes of people in our lives, and ultimately to God. We all have different circumstances plus gifts and weaknesses, but hopefully we are united in hope through trust in God. In our second reading this weekend, St. Paul refers to those who can embrace this faith, and ultimately hope, as "wise people". Choose to be wise.
Our faith allows us to have peace in our hearts in difficult moments. We become ambassadors of peace when we comfort one another; When we celebrate our families; when we see opportunities to build bridges of understanding versus walls of many types. We bring peace to people’s hearts, per- haps our greatest gifts to them -when we simply recognize, forgive and care for their needs.
To all who read this message, I ask you to join us in worship, to take a few moments of "vacation from worry" as we place our trust in God. He comes for each of us at Christmas!
See you all at the Virtual Christmas Eve & Christmas Mass accessible through our parish website!
Fr. Mike
Even last year at this time, I could never have conceived that we would have closed church doors for indoor worship on Sundays. As we approach the birth of our Savior into our lives, we should feel definitely, despite these adverse times, that we do have the virtues of joy, hope and peace which characterize this Sunday and the Christmas season. It is manifest even more when we welcome our Lord into our lives. (Recent studies have shown that people of faith experience far less depression in these pan- demic times.) For those of us who are reluctant, the Lord comes to us. How wonderful to contemplate!
Embrace joy in this holy season as we concentrate what we have versus what we have lost. Em- brace joy when we contemplate that our Lord loves us more than we can possibly comprehend. (I have always thought that I could do better in communicating this message!) Here at St Brendan's, we can witness joy in people greeting each other, especially children, despite masks! Choose to fo- cus upon joy!
We are a family of faith whose common characteristic is hope. It is a hope that will guide us through turbulent times such as this pandemic, through changes in our lives, changes of people in our lives, and ultimately to God. We all have different circumstances plus gifts and weaknesses, but hopefully we are united in hope through trust in God. In our second reading this weekend, St. Paul refers to those who can embrace this faith, and ultimately hope, as "wise people". Choose to be wise.
Our faith allows us to have peace in our hearts in difficult moments. We become ambassadors of peace when we comfort one another; When we celebrate our families; when we see opportunities to build bridges of understanding versus walls of many types. We bring peace to people’s hearts, per- haps our greatest gifts to them -when we simply recognize, forgive and care for their needs.
To all who read this message, I ask you to join us in worship, to take a few moments of "vacation from worry" as we place our trust in God. He comes for each of us at Christmas!
See you all at the Virtual Christmas Eve & Christmas Mass accessible through our parish website!
Fr. Mike
Gaudete Sunday- Rejoice the Lord Comes!
As we approach this midpoint of our Advent preparations to welcome Christ at
Christmas, I found a wonderful prayer that I believed might be used throughout this week to prepare ourselves to celebrate Christmas with joy. That Christmas joy starts with right relationship both with God and our brothers and sisters. This Sunday is called “Gaudete Sunday” which is Latin for the imperative command “Rejoice!”
A Prayer to Prepare My Heart for Christ’s Coming“Father, just as You sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus, help me to clear the path in my heart, too. Show me the distractions in my life that block me from all-out worship of You this Advent. Lord, I await Your coming! As I celebrate the first Advent––the first coming––I look toward the day where I will see You face to face. I imagine what it will be like. Give me a heart, Lord, that looks for Your coming on a daily basis. Help me to live my life where I'm constantly seeking Your presence. My offering to You today is my righteous life for I know I am only clean because of Jesus. Show me today how I need to be refined, purified, forgiven. Give me the strength to ask for forgiveness and to then change my ways.” (Sarah Martin, from “The Awe & Wonder of Advent: Day 18)
I hope this helps and know that you are in my prayers!
Fr. Mike
As we approach this midpoint of our Advent preparations to welcome Christ at
Christmas, I found a wonderful prayer that I believed might be used throughout this week to prepare ourselves to celebrate Christmas with joy. That Christmas joy starts with right relationship both with God and our brothers and sisters. This Sunday is called “Gaudete Sunday” which is Latin for the imperative command “Rejoice!”
A Prayer to Prepare My Heart for Christ’s Coming“Father, just as You sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus, help me to clear the path in my heart, too. Show me the distractions in my life that block me from all-out worship of You this Advent. Lord, I await Your coming! As I celebrate the first Advent––the first coming––I look toward the day where I will see You face to face. I imagine what it will be like. Give me a heart, Lord, that looks for Your coming on a daily basis. Help me to live my life where I'm constantly seeking Your presence. My offering to You today is my righteous life for I know I am only clean because of Jesus. Show me today how I need to be refined, purified, forgiven. Give me the strength to ask for forgiveness and to then change my ways.” (Sarah Martin, from “The Awe & Wonder of Advent: Day 18)
I hope this helps and know that you are in my prayers!
Fr. Mike
Around the Parish…
The recent decision in our City to close houses of worship, (Churches), but for video liturgies should not deter us from practicing our faith. Indeed, I believe we are being tested to see if we develop habits that can eventually include or exclude God through this order. We have had to close the indoors Masses which had shown limited yet growing participation as I believe the fellow parishioners who attended spoke of the safety and cleaning protocols that are in place at St. Brendan’s. Those protocols will indeed remain in place to insure the safety of our parishioners.
But there are casualties…
I think of the couples wanting to marry in the Church and so start their lives off with God as their covenantal partner in marriage, the children and their parents wanting a traditional baptism, and our second and third graders who have yet to receive the sacrament of First Holy Communion for which they have so prepared… That does not include the grieving members of our parish who wanted a timely Funeral or Memorial Mass for their loved ones! There are numerous others that have missed the Eucharist and the Mass and the joy of spending worship time with our family of faith here at St. Brendan’s. We are being tested to be sure.
I have “overlooked” the instructions from the Archbishop on multiple occasions by going to confer the sacrament of anointing to those who were/are sick, or dying. (his was to be entrusted to all priests who are younger than 65 years of age). The problem is not all priest who are in this latter category realize the tremendous additional responsibility and so they give increased activity, but to only a point.
I also wanted you all to know that I was being tested every two weeks for coronavirus but have increased my testing to weekly so that I might serve you and we all could feel safe.
The positives:
1)We hope to hold First Communion for those families/children electing to receive First Communion in an outdoor setting, (the schoolyard); We will offer indoor First communion in the Spring for the other families
2)We will still have the 12/17, 12/24 and 12/25 live Christmas gospels enactment by our children.
3)For Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we are preparing for taped music from live parishioners for your enjoyment, preceding the Masses.
4)The Adoration chapel will remain available for one person at a time as allowed by current orders as “individual prayer” is still allowed.
Keep the faith! Have a blessed Advent and please join our video liturgies!
Fr. Mike
The recent decision in our City to close houses of worship, (Churches), but for video liturgies should not deter us from practicing our faith. Indeed, I believe we are being tested to see if we develop habits that can eventually include or exclude God through this order. We have had to close the indoors Masses which had shown limited yet growing participation as I believe the fellow parishioners who attended spoke of the safety and cleaning protocols that are in place at St. Brendan’s. Those protocols will indeed remain in place to insure the safety of our parishioners.
But there are casualties…
I think of the couples wanting to marry in the Church and so start their lives off with God as their covenantal partner in marriage, the children and their parents wanting a traditional baptism, and our second and third graders who have yet to receive the sacrament of First Holy Communion for which they have so prepared… That does not include the grieving members of our parish who wanted a timely Funeral or Memorial Mass for their loved ones! There are numerous others that have missed the Eucharist and the Mass and the joy of spending worship time with our family of faith here at St. Brendan’s. We are being tested to be sure.
I have “overlooked” the instructions from the Archbishop on multiple occasions by going to confer the sacrament of anointing to those who were/are sick, or dying. (his was to be entrusted to all priests who are younger than 65 years of age). The problem is not all priest who are in this latter category realize the tremendous additional responsibility and so they give increased activity, but to only a point.
I also wanted you all to know that I was being tested every two weeks for coronavirus but have increased my testing to weekly so that I might serve you and we all could feel safe.
The positives:
1)We hope to hold First Communion for those families/children electing to receive First Communion in an outdoor setting, (the schoolyard); We will offer indoor First communion in the Spring for the other families
2)We will still have the 12/17, 12/24 and 12/25 live Christmas gospels enactment by our children.
3)For Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we are preparing for taped music from live parishioners for your enjoyment, preceding the Masses.
4)The Adoration chapel will remain available for one person at a time as allowed by current orders as “individual prayer” is still allowed.
Keep the faith! Have a blessed Advent and please join our video liturgies!
Fr. Mike
I found this poem on the internet and again in my reading and I have since always tried to remember it at Thanksgiving. Perhaps you might find it inspirational or at least a perspective on this terrible year of 2020 where thousands lost their homes in fires, floods and weather events- adding to all of the challenges we already experience in life.
“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hello’s to get you through the final good-bye”
I believe faith and love of God and one another sustains us - in answer to the “Golden Rule” of loving both God and neighbor suggested by our faith.
Fr. Mike
Thank you for all those who participated by providing the name of loved ones for our Tree of Life, which we have had this November, 2020. As Advent approaches we will be taking the leaves down but we will save them for next year. (Hopefully we don’t have to add any more names because you are all still with us.)
Thank you for all of your generosity throughout the year. We truly appreciate each and every one of our parishioners here at St. Brendan.
“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hello’s to get you through the final good-bye”
I believe faith and love of God and one another sustains us - in answer to the “Golden Rule” of loving both God and neighbor suggested by our faith.
Fr. Mike
Thank you for all those who participated by providing the name of loved ones for our Tree of Life, which we have had this November, 2020. As Advent approaches we will be taking the leaves down but we will save them for next year. (Hopefully we don’t have to add any more names because you are all still with us.)
Thank you for all of your generosity throughout the year. We truly appreciate each and every one of our parishioners here at St. Brendan.
This weekend we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. The Feast of Christ the King is, as Catholic feasts go, a relatively recent one. It was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925, to remind Catholics (and the world generally) that Jesus Christ is Lord of the Universe, both as God and as Man. This Feast started as King of the world in origin, but as we came to know the nature of Jesus/God, we changed the realm of Christ, Our Lord and God, to all of Creation.
When we speak of monarchies, {“Kings and Queens”), we may initially perceive them as forms of government that are outdated to our modern perception of power, The few monarchies we have left have no political power, but are more symbolic of the unity of the nations they serve. At Each monarch’s coronation they are given a special blessing and anointing that they might serve successfully the realm of people and activities entrusted to them. A good king made for a prosperous nation, characterized by honoring of laws and good order and concern for the common good.
This idea is by no means dead today. The influence of our leaders, those we choose to put our faith and trust in are still powerful factors in modern life, WE need only loom to healthy home environments to find that good parents lead and educate wonderful children, whose confidence is inspired by the atmosphere of love and concern received. Parents are the heads of the realms of their households. Hopefully, they encourage their young to embrace good lives, mindful that integrity is a gift that can never be taken away. They instill in their children confidence and hope and a belief system that they can achieve greatly by embracing core values.
This Feast of Christ the King reminds me always of the second week of the “Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius”, wherein we are asked to imagine that the absolute ruler of all invites us to not just a portion of His heavenly kingdom, but to receive all, simply by following Jesus. What does this entail? First and foremost is to love both God and neighbor unreservedly. We must learn to forgive and to ask for forgiveness when we have erred. We are asked to reject the “small g” gods, that choice of earthly and finite ways encourages. Our highest identity is as children of God.
We look upon the people in our lives and elsewhere as “angels” to help us on our pilgrim way while on earth. Some people are helpful and gracious and other teach us patience and perhaps our inclination to listen and understand with a loving heart. It is fitting that this Feast closes our liturgical year.. Next week we will begin Advent and every mention of the Lord’s coming as a child to teach us suggests that we will also see Christ again at the day of judgment. We will be asked and adjudicated on how well we served the true King of the Universe. I hope we can all answer that we knew Christ while on earth.
Fr. Mike
Around the Parish…
It was a very happy celebration last weekend as our parish religious education third graders received their First Communions with happy parents led by Mrs. Stephanie Stanko and Sr. Angela. Congratulations to our young ones who demonstrate such resilience and faith in God!
We will be having The Sacrament of Confirmation for our eighth-grade class on Friday, November 20, 2020. To accommodate the “cohorts”, their parents and sponsors, we will be having the regular restrictions for our parish church of 100 people total, but we will have two successive Masses of Confirmation on this date. We have such a great faith community here at St. Brendan’s parish and school. Both Masses will be live-streamed.
Our parish school children who prepared for the sacrament of first Holy Communion last year but were unable to receive the sacrament due to Covid-19 sheltering restrictions will be having their First Communions, (in two Masses by cohorts), on the Feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12, 2020. Congratulations to our children and their families!!
If the parish church building is looking a bit better to you, your eyes are not deceiving you! We have had the parish trim paint renewed because the existing paint job had aged and was cracking exposing bare wood in several places. The repairs were necessary indeed. There are other repairs in the parish that are before us, but your leadership on the parish and school finance committees are aware of needs and are trying to help us address them as we afford.
The safety committees are in need of additional volunteers… please help if you can. We need to be prepared for Christmas. Our safety committees have done a magnificent job of protecting our common spaces ensuring that all who worship/ attend school here are safe from contamination. The sanitizing of common spaces continues to both limit us and is an additional expense that is necessary for the times we are in. Thank you all for your compliance in this regard.
Thank you all for continuing to support our parish as you can and specifically for the AAA 2020 donations.
A last word on my request to defer assigning an associate pastor here for the balance of this fiscal year. It is not because this parish does not have enough work to do, but rather because it allows us to live within the decreased giving levels. I have requested a seminarian/ transitional deacon to be assigned to our parish at the next opportunity, (probably next academic year). Major kudos to out livestreaming technical team who allow us to worship virtually – whatever happens. - Fr. Mike
It was a very happy celebration last weekend as our parish religious education third graders received their First Communions with happy parents led by Mrs. Stephanie Stanko and Sr. Angela. Congratulations to our young ones who demonstrate such resilience and faith in God!
We will be having The Sacrament of Confirmation for our eighth-grade class on Friday, November 20, 2020. To accommodate the “cohorts”, their parents and sponsors, we will be having the regular restrictions for our parish church of 100 people total, but we will have two successive Masses of Confirmation on this date. We have such a great faith community here at St. Brendan’s parish and school. Both Masses will be live-streamed.
Our parish school children who prepared for the sacrament of first Holy Communion last year but were unable to receive the sacrament due to Covid-19 sheltering restrictions will be having their First Communions, (in two Masses by cohorts), on the Feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12, 2020. Congratulations to our children and their families!!
If the parish church building is looking a bit better to you, your eyes are not deceiving you! We have had the parish trim paint renewed because the existing paint job had aged and was cracking exposing bare wood in several places. The repairs were necessary indeed. There are other repairs in the parish that are before us, but your leadership on the parish and school finance committees are aware of needs and are trying to help us address them as we afford.
The safety committees are in need of additional volunteers… please help if you can. We need to be prepared for Christmas. Our safety committees have done a magnificent job of protecting our common spaces ensuring that all who worship/ attend school here are safe from contamination. The sanitizing of common spaces continues to both limit us and is an additional expense that is necessary for the times we are in. Thank you all for your compliance in this regard.
Thank you all for continuing to support our parish as you can and specifically for the AAA 2020 donations.
A last word on my request to defer assigning an associate pastor here for the balance of this fiscal year. It is not because this parish does not have enough work to do, but rather because it allows us to live within the decreased giving levels. I have requested a seminarian/ transitional deacon to be assigned to our parish at the next opportunity, (probably next academic year). Major kudos to out livestreaming technical team who allow us to worship virtually – whatever happens. - Fr. Mike
Our gospel message identifies the element of time and the wise use of it to prepare for eternity. I had this inspirational poem which I saved to illustrate the positive use of our time on earth. It is timely as we prepare to celebrate Veterans’ Day where others lives were risked, and some sacrificed to enjoy the freedoms we sometimes take for granted. Another perspective is a better appreciation of the life of Jesus sacrificed for us. This poem was written by a young girl who lost her battle with cancer, but in the end appreciated every moment of her life…
“Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last. Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask how are you do you hear the reply?
When the day is done do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? You'd better slow down don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.
Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow? And in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die cause you never had time to call and say” Hi”? You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift.... thrown away. Life is not a race. Do take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.”```
-Fr. Mike
“Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last. Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask how are you do you hear the reply?
When the day is done do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? You'd better slow down don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.
Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow? And in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die cause you never had time to call and say” Hi”? You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift.... thrown away. Life is not a race. Do take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.”```
-Fr. Mike
Installation as Pastor! - I would like to thank all who participated, planned or watched my installation as pastor for St. Brendan’s parish this past weekend. With the Archbishop presiding, and Fathers Dan Nascimento, (my first pastor here after ordination), Fr. Tom Hamilton, (the Dean of this group of parishes and my pastor when I entered seminary), Fr. Paul Warren, (our beloved retired priest in residence), and Fr. Stephen Howell,(the Vicar General and a close friend), I felt as if I had “four Aces” supporting the Archbishop and myself! Making it even better was my family, both birth and parish and representatives from my SFPD family as well as well as the magnificent parish and school staff! Mario Balestrieri’s talents were complimented by the angelic singing of a good friend’s daughter Sophia who sang my favorite song “The Summons”. The parish leadership and staff and attending parishioners hopefully experienced what I did- pure joy and gratitude in the context of God’s immense love for us. I cannot thank you all enough! I pledge to always do my best to build up and edify this wonderful St. Brendan parish and school community.
Good news from St Brendan’s School! - School leadership faculty and staff succeeded in their inspection by The Department of Public health to reopen our Parish School. There will be a modified schedule which has been communicated to all parents allowing this to occur. Soon we will be seeing the long-missed children of our parish enjoying “in person learning” within restrictions. Congratulations to Ms. Lakatta and her team for their tireless efforts to allow this very positive development!
Modifications to Weekend Mass Schedule – We will be holding both the 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM Masses in the Church building. We will continue to offer Mass in the schoolyard for those that prefer that setting in the midst of this pandemic this weekend as our last. We will shift the location to the area between the rectory and the Church starting on November 8th for the 11:30 AM Mass only, weather permitting. Soon we will be offering the option to watch the livestream Sunday Mass within the Church hall to increase Sunday capacity within existing health restrictions and in anticipation of increased Christmas attendance. At this time we are continuing to restrict attendance at the Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM, until demand increases. Thank you for watching the video Masses and compliance with safety requests.
It costs the parish $150 per Mass for cleaning and sanitizing between Masses and revenue is currently adversely affected by the pandemic restrictions and the “live at 5:00PM” seems a good alternative at this moment. I want to thank those who continue to support our parish family and 2020 AAA!
-Fr. Mike
Good news from St Brendan’s School! - School leadership faculty and staff succeeded in their inspection by The Department of Public health to reopen our Parish School. There will be a modified schedule which has been communicated to all parents allowing this to occur. Soon we will be seeing the long-missed children of our parish enjoying “in person learning” within restrictions. Congratulations to Ms. Lakatta and her team for their tireless efforts to allow this very positive development!
Modifications to Weekend Mass Schedule – We will be holding both the 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM Masses in the Church building. We will continue to offer Mass in the schoolyard for those that prefer that setting in the midst of this pandemic this weekend as our last. We will shift the location to the area between the rectory and the Church starting on November 8th for the 11:30 AM Mass only, weather permitting. Soon we will be offering the option to watch the livestream Sunday Mass within the Church hall to increase Sunday capacity within existing health restrictions and in anticipation of increased Christmas attendance. At this time we are continuing to restrict attendance at the Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM, until demand increases. Thank you for watching the video Masses and compliance with safety requests.
It costs the parish $150 per Mass for cleaning and sanitizing between Masses and revenue is currently adversely affected by the pandemic restrictions and the “live at 5:00PM” seems a good alternative at this moment. I want to thank those who continue to support our parish family and 2020 AAA!
-Fr. Mike
It is a privilege to be installed as your pastor this weekend! The thought of my journey to the priesthood came foremost to my mind as I reflect on just how this privilege came to be. First and foremost was the faith taught in my family home, edified by my catholic school experiences and fortified by the example of our saints, (both throughout history and persons I believe to be living saints in our times). Included are/were good priest examples.
Perhaps my first thought of becoming a priest occurred when I was in grammar school and as an altar server-which followed aspirations to becoming a cowboy and astronaut. I had experienced God’s love and encouragement in the family home first from my parents and siblings; and subsequently, through my teachers and others.
My life unfolded differently from my grammar school aspiration, and I found myself in different occupation and life circumstance. After college, I had entered the business world and enjoyed being an accountant. I married young. The marriage failed, was annulled and my life continued. I attended Mass regularly and eventually joined parish organizations including religious faith formation as a CCD teacher, (now called Children’s faith formation), for junior high school youth seeking the sacrament of Confirmation. That experience deepened my faith and perception of God and my sense that God was always at work in my daily life. Ultimately, I perceived a calling to dedicate my life more completely to God’s work, first thinking of service as a deacon and later, with encouragement, as a priest. What a joy this calling has been! I found that all of my life experiences to date had more purpose – to allow me to become a better priest in serving God’s people.
My first assignment as a priest was to St. Brendan’s. I was trained as a new pastor at St. Mary, Star of the Sea parish in Sausalito- both positive experiences! To now be named pastor of St. Brendan’s in San Francisco was unthinkable to the once young boy who walked up Rockaway to my grandmother’s home here. What an honor! I thank God and promise that I shall endeavor always to live up to this privilege!
-Fr. Mike
In this weekend’s readings, we have a powerful message that is so very timely as we prepare to cast our votes for elected leaders who are to guide us in the ways of the world. It is an article of our Catholic faith that we are all to form good consciences and to follow those consciences even if temporal law allows otherwise. Forming good consciences is a process and never an end to which we can say “We have arrived.” It takes constant effort.
For example, think of learning a new language. We can only speak with the language we have, and if we have not received good education in vocabulary and grammar, we will communicate poorly, and others will not understand us. It is similar with conscience.
If our conscience isn't well-formed, we aren't well-equipped to determine right from wrong. All of us have the personal responsibility to align our consciences with the truth so that, when we are faced with the challenges of daily life, our consciences can help guide us well.
Although not a complete list, these suggestions can help us as we seek to inform and strengthen our consciences with God's truth.
1. Pray -Through prayer and participation in the sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist, we encounter the living God. and allow God's grace to conform our minds and hearts to Christ, so that we might better discern in every moment how we ought to act.
2. Learn- We can learn about Christian moral principles, embodied in the social teaching of the Church.to learn what the Church says about challenging situations we might encounter and thereby grow in knowledge of the truth.
3. Reflect - We are formed by the stories we hear and tell. Reflecting upon the choices and actions of holy women and men can encourage us and help us develop habits of mind that allow us to grow and hone our instincts.
4. Nurture friendships - A life of following Jesus is difficult without help from a community. When we devote energy to holy friendships with people who are also trying to know, love, and serve the Lord, we gain partners who can lighten the load.
To be certain we will face challenges in forming our consciences well. We can expect that we will experience coercion, pressure or simple misinformation. A well-formed conscience however is like a foundation of rock upon which we build our lives. Remember we always have God’s help in this effort! - Fr. Mike
For example, think of learning a new language. We can only speak with the language we have, and if we have not received good education in vocabulary and grammar, we will communicate poorly, and others will not understand us. It is similar with conscience.
If our conscience isn't well-formed, we aren't well-equipped to determine right from wrong. All of us have the personal responsibility to align our consciences with the truth so that, when we are faced with the challenges of daily life, our consciences can help guide us well.
Although not a complete list, these suggestions can help us as we seek to inform and strengthen our consciences with God's truth.
1. Pray -Through prayer and participation in the sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist, we encounter the living God. and allow God's grace to conform our minds and hearts to Christ, so that we might better discern in every moment how we ought to act.
2. Learn- We can learn about Christian moral principles, embodied in the social teaching of the Church.to learn what the Church says about challenging situations we might encounter and thereby grow in knowledge of the truth.
3. Reflect - We are formed by the stories we hear and tell. Reflecting upon the choices and actions of holy women and men can encourage us and help us develop habits of mind that allow us to grow and hone our instincts.
4. Nurture friendships - A life of following Jesus is difficult without help from a community. When we devote energy to holy friendships with people who are also trying to know, love, and serve the Lord, we gain partners who can lighten the load.
To be certain we will face challenges in forming our consciences well. We can expect that we will experience coercion, pressure or simple misinformation. A well-formed conscience however is like a foundation of rock upon which we build our lives. Remember we always have God’s help in this effort! - Fr. Mike
Great news!!! Due to the rate of infection decrease for the City and County
of San Francisco, as of 9/30/2020, we are allowed the smaller of 100 persons or 25 % of seating capacity of the Church. We had a recent fire department inspection to determine capacity and that number, (for 25% of maximum capacity), works out to be 119 persons, including the ministers, ushers and safety people. That means that effective October 11, 2020, we can accommodate 90 parishioners inside the church building, which allows for a total additional 10 ministers, ushers, and safety. This will be allowed for certain Masses in the Church at this time.
The Safety Committee worked flawlessly at our opening Masses this past weekend and all who attended Masses in the schoolyard were so wonderfully compliant. All brought forms and masks and utilized the plentiful dispensers for sanitizing gel. In between each Mass all chairs and common surfaces were cleaned and sanitized. It worked so well that I believe that we should continue Masses in the school yard for both the 9:30 & 11:30 AM Masses up to a seating capacity of 70 plus Safety committee. The 7:30 AM Mass will be in the Church building up to a capacity of 90 people. There will be cleanings between Masses. By splitting the location of the Sunday Masses we will be able to save $150 for each Mass where there is no sanitizing services required while collections are down.
The Saturday Vigil Mass, a parish favorite, will continue to be live-streamed at 5:00PM each Saturday, at this time. We should anticipate changes as we enter rainy season and adjust to daylight savings time ending on 10/31/2020. As was witnessed by the recent circumstance regarding President Trump, it takes very little to become a “hot spot” of infection. I wish to communicate that we are doing everything to both make the Mass accessible and to protect those who are able to join as family and worship together.
Thank you for being so very understanding!
of San Francisco, as of 9/30/2020, we are allowed the smaller of 100 persons or 25 % of seating capacity of the Church. We had a recent fire department inspection to determine capacity and that number, (for 25% of maximum capacity), works out to be 119 persons, including the ministers, ushers and safety people. That means that effective October 11, 2020, we can accommodate 90 parishioners inside the church building, which allows for a total additional 10 ministers, ushers, and safety. This will be allowed for certain Masses in the Church at this time.
The Safety Committee worked flawlessly at our opening Masses this past weekend and all who attended Masses in the schoolyard were so wonderfully compliant. All brought forms and masks and utilized the plentiful dispensers for sanitizing gel. In between each Mass all chairs and common surfaces were cleaned and sanitized. It worked so well that I believe that we should continue Masses in the school yard for both the 9:30 & 11:30 AM Masses up to a seating capacity of 70 plus Safety committee. The 7:30 AM Mass will be in the Church building up to a capacity of 90 people. There will be cleanings between Masses. By splitting the location of the Sunday Masses we will be able to save $150 for each Mass where there is no sanitizing services required while collections are down.
The Saturday Vigil Mass, a parish favorite, will continue to be live-streamed at 5:00PM each Saturday, at this time. We should anticipate changes as we enter rainy season and adjust to daylight savings time ending on 10/31/2020. As was witnessed by the recent circumstance regarding President Trump, it takes very little to become a “hot spot” of infection. I wish to communicate that we are doing everything to both make the Mass accessible and to protect those who are able to join as family and worship together.
Thank you for being so very understanding!
- Fr. Mike
This weekend we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi the Patron Saint of San Francisco. Here is a little information about St. Francis:
SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI (1182-1226) October 4 When Franco Zeffirelli’s Brother Sun, Sister Moon was released (1972), people were shocked by the movie’s graphic nudity in the dramatic conversion scene. Son of a wealthy merchant, Francis’ aimless adolescence ended when a failed military expedition led to his imprisonment and complete breakdown. Once home, Francis rediscovered God in the beauty of nature and the ugliness of human suffering, caring for lepers, praying in the little church of San Damiano, whose crucified Jesus he heard calling, “Repair my house, Francis, which is falling into ruins.” Francis sold his possessions—and his father’s—to fulfill this command. When his father objected, Francis disrobed: “I return the clothes, your name, and all you gave me: God alone is my Father now.” Later, the pope would dream of a ragged friar stretching forth a single hand to prop up the crumbling papal Cathedral of Saint John Lateran. Francis indeed helped rebuild the universal Church, founding the Friars Minor (Franciscans), dying at a young forty-four, bearing the stigmata of the Christ whose living icon he remains—in the Church and far beyond it. —Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Fr. Mike
SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI (1182-1226) October 4 When Franco Zeffirelli’s Brother Sun, Sister Moon was released (1972), people were shocked by the movie’s graphic nudity in the dramatic conversion scene. Son of a wealthy merchant, Francis’ aimless adolescence ended when a failed military expedition led to his imprisonment and complete breakdown. Once home, Francis rediscovered God in the beauty of nature and the ugliness of human suffering, caring for lepers, praying in the little church of San Damiano, whose crucified Jesus he heard calling, “Repair my house, Francis, which is falling into ruins.” Francis sold his possessions—and his father’s—to fulfill this command. When his father objected, Francis disrobed: “I return the clothes, your name, and all you gave me: God alone is my Father now.” Later, the pope would dream of a ragged friar stretching forth a single hand to prop up the crumbling papal Cathedral of Saint John Lateran. Francis indeed helped rebuild the universal Church, founding the Friars Minor (Franciscans), dying at a young forty-four, bearing the stigmata of the Christ whose living icon he remains—in the Church and far beyond it. —Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Fr. Mike
This weekend’s Gospel Reading caused me to recall one of my early in life weaknesses that, at the time I thought was a virtue- a gift. When I was a teenager, my parents would always ask what time I planned on coming home from dances and weekend nights out. I came to understand that the limit of their expected response was to be home by 11:00 PM. I have a twin who would always note that we might be out later before returning home.
I felt so very clever in that my response was always “I’ll be home by 11:00PM!” What I did not appreciate as much as I should have at that age was that I was fortunate to have parents who worried about me/ us and wanted only the best for us. What appeared to be compliance with their reasonable request was that I intended to do my own will, regardless of my intention. After a short history of being “clever” by supplying the anticipated favorable request, I now had the compound issue that I caused my truthfulness to be in question. Luckily, the same parents who were concerned, also readily forgave and encouraged me to be truthful through their own love and perseverance.
In this weekend’s gospel, the first son says “no” to helping his father in the fields and then goes and does his father’s bidding. The second son says “Yes” and does not go into the fields. In my mistaken youth, I readily identify my former conduct with the second son. That second son really did not return the love, honor and sacrifice to his father. He was more self- absorbed.
Let us realize that being a Catholic Christian involves sacrifice. It involves picking up our crosses and following Jesus. At times we may have to subordinate our will to the will of our heavenly Father. But it is precisely when we do the Father’s Will that we are walking the pathway to heaven. It is not limited to age grouping. It is a lifelong discipline that allows us to gain heaven! -Fr. Mike
I felt so very clever in that my response was always “I’ll be home by 11:00PM!” What I did not appreciate as much as I should have at that age was that I was fortunate to have parents who worried about me/ us and wanted only the best for us. What appeared to be compliance with their reasonable request was that I intended to do my own will, regardless of my intention. After a short history of being “clever” by supplying the anticipated favorable request, I now had the compound issue that I caused my truthfulness to be in question. Luckily, the same parents who were concerned, also readily forgave and encouraged me to be truthful through their own love and perseverance.
In this weekend’s gospel, the first son says “no” to helping his father in the fields and then goes and does his father’s bidding. The second son says “Yes” and does not go into the fields. In my mistaken youth, I readily identify my former conduct with the second son. That second son really did not return the love, honor and sacrifice to his father. He was more self- absorbed.
Let us realize that being a Catholic Christian involves sacrifice. It involves picking up our crosses and following Jesus. At times we may have to subordinate our will to the will of our heavenly Father. But it is precisely when we do the Father’s Will that we are walking the pathway to heaven. It is not limited to age grouping. It is a lifelong discipline that allows us to gain heaven! -Fr. Mike
In this weekend’s gospel, we have the message being shared that we hopefully will all be able to share in the heaven of the Lord. What a contrast to the secular messages of our present day where one person goes against another; one tribe/ country goes against another; and even some religious congregations are based on a sense of superiority to their brothers and sisters whose understanding differs from theirs. What we are called to do is to think more of success as transcending our sense of doing what is correct so as to save only ourselves. We are called to develop and nurture those gifts we all possess so as to become Christ to others.
We may think that this message has no application to us, but we would be very wrong in that perception. This message is for all of us. This applies to forgiveness – it is never too late to forgive or ask for forgiveness as long as we can. This applies to the depth of our practiced faith. This applies to the integrity of our relationships. For instance, at a wedding, a married couple promise to love, honor and obey the covenant of love so as to enjoy a happy life and gain heaven. How easy it is to become “sidetracked”, as it were, by an earthly concern that in the measurement of a human’s life was just that -a distraction from our true purpose. How many couples reflect upon the question “How did I honor my spouse today?” or anticipate “How might I honor my spouse better?”
There was a time when I believed in capital punishment, especially for the most heinous of crimes. As I matured in faith, (and luckily through prison ministry), I came to realize that many criminals who had done very bad things were still children of the same God we all share. Many had never had the advantages in life, perhaps a loving family, good parental example, a community of faith or school or even work that encouraged me. Some had survived endured terrible experiences and they became bitter and “dented” by their offenses. Some turned to gangs because there was no home at all for them, others did bad things because of any number of weaknesses. Are we so very different? Many come to a point of sorrow and repentance before they die, and I stand now with the Church against capital punishment.
When I make a mistake, one of my favorite inner comments is “Remember, God loves dented cans.” This phrase acknowledges that I hope to be forgiven my mistakes in life for which I am sorry. I hope that we all have this disposition. Today’s message is to not be jealous of God’s mercy to others but be grateful that we receive the fullness of God’s mercy- our promised “wage” and be happy for that and hopeful for others.
Fr. Mike
We may think that this message has no application to us, but we would be very wrong in that perception. This message is for all of us. This applies to forgiveness – it is never too late to forgive or ask for forgiveness as long as we can. This applies to the depth of our practiced faith. This applies to the integrity of our relationships. For instance, at a wedding, a married couple promise to love, honor and obey the covenant of love so as to enjoy a happy life and gain heaven. How easy it is to become “sidetracked”, as it were, by an earthly concern that in the measurement of a human’s life was just that -a distraction from our true purpose. How many couples reflect upon the question “How did I honor my spouse today?” or anticipate “How might I honor my spouse better?”
There was a time when I believed in capital punishment, especially for the most heinous of crimes. As I matured in faith, (and luckily through prison ministry), I came to realize that many criminals who had done very bad things were still children of the same God we all share. Many had never had the advantages in life, perhaps a loving family, good parental example, a community of faith or school or even work that encouraged me. Some had survived endured terrible experiences and they became bitter and “dented” by their offenses. Some turned to gangs because there was no home at all for them, others did bad things because of any number of weaknesses. Are we so very different? Many come to a point of sorrow and repentance before they die, and I stand now with the Church against capital punishment.
When I make a mistake, one of my favorite inner comments is “Remember, God loves dented cans.” This phrase acknowledges that I hope to be forgiven my mistakes in life for which I am sorry. I hope that we all have this disposition. Today’s message is to not be jealous of God’s mercy to others but be grateful that we receive the fullness of God’s mercy- our promised “wage” and be happy for that and hopeful for others.
Fr. Mike
This weekend’s gospel message instructs us to forgive from the heart. In my early priesthood, here at St. Brendan Church, I sat in the confessional and absolutely knew that as some exited the Confessional, having received the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, that they still did not forgive themselves. Stated in other words, after Jesus had forgiven sins the penitent went away feeling God had forgiven too easily. The consequence - the person remains entangled in the past and was not free to appreciate the life of hope that we as Christians enjoy.
My experience does not end there! Visiting the sick and especially administering the Sacrament of the Sick to all who are sick, worried or perhaps even facing death, we priests sometimes confront lifelong sad burdens and regrets that could have been avoided if only we understood the magnificence of both God’s forgiveness and the power of forgiveness. If only we/ they understood the power and benefit of both asking for pardon or being ready to forgive. Sometimes I have witnessed the terrible burdens imposed by either the person who did not accept God’s forgiveness as a sign of God’s love or occasionally held a grudge that they wish they had never harbored, not wanting to be the person who took the initiative of repairing relationships. What resulted was the pyrrhic victory of “being right” complete with the suffering that was the cost.
I decided to sharpen my skills at communicating the wonder and magnitude of God’s forgiveness by taking graduate classes on forgiveness and reconciliation at Creighton University, where I had obtained my Masters in Christian Spirituality. The sequence was first to take the course on Christian forgiveness and then the course on reconciliation. The instructors explained that we use the word “Reconciliation” is used for the Sacrament of Forgiveness because God is so willing to forgive and be reconciled to the repentant heart. The Church teaches that we are to all practice forgiveness to keep from being imprisoned in the past, to be kept from being judged, (by others and ourselves), by our weakest moment(s). Practicing forgiveness is both to appreciate and readily receive God’s forgiveness and then do the same in our lives with our human family. Reconciliation frequently results from forgiveness, but is not mandatory, (i.e. In the case of hideous crimes). But. Forgiveness is liberation from the past. It is a decision of the heart!
Fr. Mike
My experience does not end there! Visiting the sick and especially administering the Sacrament of the Sick to all who are sick, worried or perhaps even facing death, we priests sometimes confront lifelong sad burdens and regrets that could have been avoided if only we understood the magnificence of both God’s forgiveness and the power of forgiveness. If only we/ they understood the power and benefit of both asking for pardon or being ready to forgive. Sometimes I have witnessed the terrible burdens imposed by either the person who did not accept God’s forgiveness as a sign of God’s love or occasionally held a grudge that they wish they had never harbored, not wanting to be the person who took the initiative of repairing relationships. What resulted was the pyrrhic victory of “being right” complete with the suffering that was the cost.
I decided to sharpen my skills at communicating the wonder and magnitude of God’s forgiveness by taking graduate classes on forgiveness and reconciliation at Creighton University, where I had obtained my Masters in Christian Spirituality. The sequence was first to take the course on Christian forgiveness and then the course on reconciliation. The instructors explained that we use the word “Reconciliation” is used for the Sacrament of Forgiveness because God is so willing to forgive and be reconciled to the repentant heart. The Church teaches that we are to all practice forgiveness to keep from being imprisoned in the past, to be kept from being judged, (by others and ourselves), by our weakest moment(s). Practicing forgiveness is both to appreciate and readily receive God’s forgiveness and then do the same in our lives with our human family. Reconciliation frequently results from forgiveness, but is not mandatory, (i.e. In the case of hideous crimes). But. Forgiveness is liberation from the past. It is a decision of the heart!
Fr. Mike
Hello St. Brendan’s community!
I wanted you to know what is going on behind the scenes since I arrived. I found the community of St Brendan's much as I left it in 2013 to become pastor at St Mary Star of the Sea in Sausalito. We are doing some minor updating.
Sr. Angela and team are attending to faith formation well and the pastoral needs of the parish. I was hoping to make visits to the sick as requested on Fridays, schedule permitting, to provide the sacraments to the homebound and sick of the parish. Dianne Lakatta, our principal, and team are really trying their best to provide education on site under the “new normal” and their collaborative efforts have been “above and beyond” demonstrating their loving concern for our St. Brendan families and students. Maeve O’Reilly has been attending to much more than the books of both the parish and school as she has been the revised support staff for the parish. She has been a great sport in dealing with immediate issues outside of her job description. Mario Balestrieri has been as frustrated as we priests, (myself and Fr. Paul Warren), in that we are unable celebrate in public community gatherings as we were taught, at this time. I thank Fr. Paul for allowing me time to take my scheduled day off. Douglas Giorgis heads our volunteer team of people filming and uploading the Masses on a timely basis. I am so grateful for their combined efforts to provide virtual services to our parish community. I believe that regardless of the return to public worship, streaming Masses by parish is here to stay for a longer while.
When I need staff and/or volunteers, I always seek the intercession of Blessed Virgin Mary, whose birthday we celebrate on September 8th! She has not disappointed in providing this parish with good lay leadership. (I am still looking for more volunteers). For the parish I was blessed when Mrs. Maureen Kelly said yes to joining our staff. Maureen brings her gifts and skills in running a family business and knowledge of the St. Brendan’s community to our parish staff team. We will be trying to reach out to our parish and school communities to restore our parish family. This Covid-19 pandemic has somewhat “scattered the sheep” and we hope to restore our sense of community. Rounding out the new additions are Ms. Stephanie Stanko, who has been a religious education teacher for our parish youth but will take on the role previously held by Ms.Carol Grewal. What a team!
Best wishes to our parish staff; parish ministries, Men’s Club; and Mothers’ Club; religious education teachers and School staff in building our community united in faith! Thank you also to our parish and school community for staying united through these turbulent times!
I am so fortunate to be your priest!
Fr. Mike
I wanted you to know what is going on behind the scenes since I arrived. I found the community of St Brendan's much as I left it in 2013 to become pastor at St Mary Star of the Sea in Sausalito. We are doing some minor updating.
Sr. Angela and team are attending to faith formation well and the pastoral needs of the parish. I was hoping to make visits to the sick as requested on Fridays, schedule permitting, to provide the sacraments to the homebound and sick of the parish. Dianne Lakatta, our principal, and team are really trying their best to provide education on site under the “new normal” and their collaborative efforts have been “above and beyond” demonstrating their loving concern for our St. Brendan families and students. Maeve O’Reilly has been attending to much more than the books of both the parish and school as she has been the revised support staff for the parish. She has been a great sport in dealing with immediate issues outside of her job description. Mario Balestrieri has been as frustrated as we priests, (myself and Fr. Paul Warren), in that we are unable celebrate in public community gatherings as we were taught, at this time. I thank Fr. Paul for allowing me time to take my scheduled day off. Douglas Giorgis heads our volunteer team of people filming and uploading the Masses on a timely basis. I am so grateful for their combined efforts to provide virtual services to our parish community. I believe that regardless of the return to public worship, streaming Masses by parish is here to stay for a longer while.
When I need staff and/or volunteers, I always seek the intercession of Blessed Virgin Mary, whose birthday we celebrate on September 8th! She has not disappointed in providing this parish with good lay leadership. (I am still looking for more volunteers). For the parish I was blessed when Mrs. Maureen Kelly said yes to joining our staff. Maureen brings her gifts and skills in running a family business and knowledge of the St. Brendan’s community to our parish staff team. We will be trying to reach out to our parish and school communities to restore our parish family. This Covid-19 pandemic has somewhat “scattered the sheep” and we hope to restore our sense of community. Rounding out the new additions are Ms. Stephanie Stanko, who has been a religious education teacher for our parish youth but will take on the role previously held by Ms.Carol Grewal. What a team!
Best wishes to our parish staff; parish ministries, Men’s Club; and Mothers’ Club; religious education teachers and School staff in building our community united in faith! Thank you also to our parish and school community for staying united through these turbulent times!
I am so fortunate to be your priest!
Fr. Mike
Dear Parishioners/School Families:
Thank you for your continued support of Saint Brendan Parish and school. I want to further thank you for bearing with me as we have endeavored to provide a live-streamed Mass daily for all. We are now live-streaming the Masses To Facebook and to YouTube subsequently. There should be a mass available particularly on the weekend from approximately 4:00 PM onward on both platforms until the live stream mass on Sunday at 9:30 AM.
These masses are available using our parish website at StBrendanParish.org.
On another note, I want to thank the parishioners who have been working to improve our facilities in anticipation of the resumption of school classes on our campus. Thank you all for your continued support.
Fr. Mike
Thank you for your continued support of Saint Brendan Parish and school. I want to further thank you for bearing with me as we have endeavored to provide a live-streamed Mass daily for all. We are now live-streaming the Masses To Facebook and to YouTube subsequently. There should be a mass available particularly on the weekend from approximately 4:00 PM onward on both platforms until the live stream mass on Sunday at 9:30 AM.
These masses are available using our parish website at StBrendanParish.org.
On another note, I want to thank the parishioners who have been working to improve our facilities in anticipation of the resumption of school classes on our campus. Thank you all for your continued support.
Fr. Mike
Dear Friends,
I am delighted to be back at St. Brendan’s parish where my first assignment as a priest created so many happy memories. Let me introduce myself for those of you who do not know me.
I am a San Francisco native, educated at Most Holy Redeemer, Archbishop Riordan High School, USF, and later St. Patrick’s Seminary as a “mature vocation” and Creighton University in Omaha. After USF, I was married for a bit making my home in Novato but that did not work out. I was divorced and the marriage was annulled. I enjoyed being single for a number of years until my calling to the priesthood. I had been in the business world working as an accountant for the IRS, CPA firms, then to industry, and eventually was enjoying my own business until my calling to become a priest. I expected to fail in my pursuit to the priesthood and return to my former happy life.
However, I found to my initial the surprise that I thrived in subject matter and the ministry of seminarian and later priest. I spent my diaconate year before being ordained priest at Holy Name of Jesus parish. After ordination, I hit the jackpot and was assigned as parochial vicar to St. Brendan’s parish working with Fr. Daniel Nascimento from July 2009 to June 2013. I was assigned pastor to St. Mary Star of the Sea parish in Sausalito from July 2013 through June 2020. I found a parish to be a mostly happy experience, but we had some initial challenges which we bested by becoming a welcoming faith family working together. I was privileged to be named a chaplain for the San Francisco Police Department in February 2013 and continue to serve in that role.
My intent upon my return to St. Brendan’s is to use the lessons learned to date. I intend that we can become a wonderful faith family working to edify not only the parish but each other as we support each other in faith through the ups and downs of life. I have found that this is the best recipe for happiness. I believe that you have one of the happiest priests in the Archdiocese because God has blessed me so abundantly with great people along my way!
Updates:
1) I further believe that the parish school and church are the two lungs that allow for a healthy parish. Our principal and teachers have been working very diligently to provide a quality sanitary working environment for our children. Many school parents volunteered for a “redeployment” of school items this weekend to further that objective. There are measured distances and enhanced sanitation protocols that will ensure that when we resume the new “normal” school and that it will be a quality experience for all concerned. Go Bears!
2) I want to invite you all to join in our virtual Mass experiences accessible daily through our parish website Stbrendanparish.org. Please subscribe to the daily Masses and the Sunday Masses by clicking the subscribe button for each. Your attendance, virtual or physically, is appreciated. We will be observing enhanced health precaution protocols when we resume which we will describe in detail at a later date.
Fr. Mike
I am delighted to be back at St. Brendan’s parish where my first assignment as a priest created so many happy memories. Let me introduce myself for those of you who do not know me.
I am a San Francisco native, educated at Most Holy Redeemer, Archbishop Riordan High School, USF, and later St. Patrick’s Seminary as a “mature vocation” and Creighton University in Omaha. After USF, I was married for a bit making my home in Novato but that did not work out. I was divorced and the marriage was annulled. I enjoyed being single for a number of years until my calling to the priesthood. I had been in the business world working as an accountant for the IRS, CPA firms, then to industry, and eventually was enjoying my own business until my calling to become a priest. I expected to fail in my pursuit to the priesthood and return to my former happy life.
However, I found to my initial the surprise that I thrived in subject matter and the ministry of seminarian and later priest. I spent my diaconate year before being ordained priest at Holy Name of Jesus parish. After ordination, I hit the jackpot and was assigned as parochial vicar to St. Brendan’s parish working with Fr. Daniel Nascimento from July 2009 to June 2013. I was assigned pastor to St. Mary Star of the Sea parish in Sausalito from July 2013 through June 2020. I found a parish to be a mostly happy experience, but we had some initial challenges which we bested by becoming a welcoming faith family working together. I was privileged to be named a chaplain for the San Francisco Police Department in February 2013 and continue to serve in that role.
My intent upon my return to St. Brendan’s is to use the lessons learned to date. I intend that we can become a wonderful faith family working to edify not only the parish but each other as we support each other in faith through the ups and downs of life. I have found that this is the best recipe for happiness. I believe that you have one of the happiest priests in the Archdiocese because God has blessed me so abundantly with great people along my way!
Updates:
1) I further believe that the parish school and church are the two lungs that allow for a healthy parish. Our principal and teachers have been working very diligently to provide a quality sanitary working environment for our children. Many school parents volunteered for a “redeployment” of school items this weekend to further that objective. There are measured distances and enhanced sanitation protocols that will ensure that when we resume the new “normal” school and that it will be a quality experience for all concerned. Go Bears!
2) I want to invite you all to join in our virtual Mass experiences accessible daily through our parish website Stbrendanparish.org. Please subscribe to the daily Masses and the Sunday Masses by clicking the subscribe button for each. Your attendance, virtual or physically, is appreciated. We will be observing enhanced health precaution protocols when we resume which we will describe in detail at a later date.
Fr. Mike
Dear Friends,
Thank you for welcoming me to St. Brendan Church. There will be a slight change in the online Mass schedule starting this week. We will live stream the Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00pm. It will be available to you all weekend long to watch at your convenience. Use the "Watch Sunday Mass on Demand" from the church website as usual or click on this url for quick access.
I look forward to getting reacquainted with all of you and meeting new members of the parish family.
Father Mike
Thank you for welcoming me to St. Brendan Church. There will be a slight change in the online Mass schedule starting this week. We will live stream the Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00pm. It will be available to you all weekend long to watch at your convenience. Use the "Watch Sunday Mass on Demand" from the church website as usual or click on this url for quick access.
I look forward to getting reacquainted with all of you and meeting new members of the parish family.
Father Mike
St. Brendan School Updates
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, Principal
Dear St. Brendan Parish Families,
Our school’s Christmas Mass, with its beautiful reenactment of the Nativity, has always been a highlight of the year for us. This year, sadly, we were not able to be in church together for this. However, we have created a video that we hope you will enjoy. You can find it on the school’s website (stbrendansf.com) on the home page under “Featured Video”. It is our Christmas gift to you, our wonderful parishioners!
We are now conducting our Annual Fund campaign, to help raise the funds needed to make our school the best it can possibly be. We are so grateful for all of the parishioners who have contributed so generously to this campaign in past years. It is especially important this year, as we need to cover all the extra expenses that come with our Covid-19 preparations.
We would love to have you join us, at whatever level you can. You can drop a check in the school’s mailbox outside our front door on Laguna Honda, or donate securely on-line through the school’s website: www.stbrendansf.com/supporting SBS/Annual Fund.
School is now closed for the Christmas holidays, reopening on January 5, 2021. Until then our entire school community wishes all our parishioners a blessed and peaceful Christmas, and better times ahead in the New Year!
Thank you!
God Bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
Our school’s Christmas Mass, with its beautiful reenactment of the Nativity, has always been a highlight of the year for us. This year, sadly, we were not able to be in church together for this. However, we have created a video that we hope you will enjoy. You can find it on the school’s website (stbrendansf.com) on the home page under “Featured Video”. It is our Christmas gift to you, our wonderful parishioners!
We are now conducting our Annual Fund campaign, to help raise the funds needed to make our school the best it can possibly be. We are so grateful for all of the parishioners who have contributed so generously to this campaign in past years. It is especially important this year, as we need to cover all the extra expenses that come with our Covid-19 preparations.
We would love to have you join us, at whatever level you can. You can drop a check in the school’s mailbox outside our front door on Laguna Honda, or donate securely on-line through the school’s website: www.stbrendansf.com/supporting SBS/Annual Fund.
School is now closed for the Christmas holidays, reopening on January 5, 2021. Until then our entire school community wishes all our parishioners a blessed and peaceful Christmas, and better times ahead in the New Year!
Thank you!
God Bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
Dear St. Brendan Parish Families,
We are so sorry that, due to the new Covid-19 restrictions put in place by our city’s Health Department, we have had to postpone our 3rd graders’ First Communion yet again. The children were originally scheduled to receive this beautiful sacrament last spring, but because of the school closure we rescheduled for December 12. Alas, this was not to be either. We are all learning to be flexible, though, and together we can get through these difficult times.
The school is now conducting our Annual Fund campaign, to help raise the funds needed to make our school the best it can possibly be. We are so grateful for all of the parishioners, alumni parents, grandparents, alumni, current school families, and friends who have contributed so generously to this campaign in past years. This year it is especially important, as we need to cover all the extra expenses that come with our Covid-19 preparations.
We would love to have you join us, at whatever level you can. You can drop a check in the school’s mailbox outside our front door, call the school office (415-731-2665) to request a donation envelope, or donate securely on-line through the school’s website:
www.stbrendansf.com/supporting SBS/Annual Fund.
Thank you!
God bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
We are so sorry that, due to the new Covid-19 restrictions put in place by our city’s Health Department, we have had to postpone our 3rd graders’ First Communion yet again. The children were originally scheduled to receive this beautiful sacrament last spring, but because of the school closure we rescheduled for December 12. Alas, this was not to be either. We are all learning to be flexible, though, and together we can get through these difficult times.
The school is now conducting our Annual Fund campaign, to help raise the funds needed to make our school the best it can possibly be. We are so grateful for all of the parishioners, alumni parents, grandparents, alumni, current school families, and friends who have contributed so generously to this campaign in past years. This year it is especially important, as we need to cover all the extra expenses that come with our Covid-19 preparations.
We would love to have you join us, at whatever level you can. You can drop a check in the school’s mailbox outside our front door, call the school office (415-731-2665) to request a donation envelope, or donate securely on-line through the school’s website:
www.stbrendansf.com/supporting SBS/Annual Fund.
Thank you!
God bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
Dear St. Brendan Parish Families,
It is such a delight to have all our classes, from kindergarten through eighth back with us finally!
We are still practicing safe social-distancing both inside the building and on the playground, and grades one through eight are split into “cohorts” or groups. The students in Cohort A attend in person two days a week, alternating with Cohort B, and all students have on-line classes on Fridays. This reduces the number of children in each classroom, as the Department of Public Health has mandated. It is complicated for both teachers and parents to have the children home one day and in school the next, but everyone is pitching in to make it work. We have the best parents in the world, without a doubt.
We are so sorry that we cannot offer school tours for prospective kindergarten families this year. Any family interested in applying for school year 2021-2022 can download an application on the school website (www.stbrendansf.com), or come by the school office between 9am and 3pm to pick up an application packet.
The deadline for applications from new families is December 9. Children must be five years old by September 1, 2021.
Thank you!
God bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
It is such a delight to have all our classes, from kindergarten through eighth back with us finally!
We are still practicing safe social-distancing both inside the building and on the playground, and grades one through eight are split into “cohorts” or groups. The students in Cohort A attend in person two days a week, alternating with Cohort B, and all students have on-line classes on Fridays. This reduces the number of children in each classroom, as the Department of Public Health has mandated. It is complicated for both teachers and parents to have the children home one day and in school the next, but everyone is pitching in to make it work. We have the best parents in the world, without a doubt.
We are so sorry that we cannot offer school tours for prospective kindergarten families this year. Any family interested in applying for school year 2021-2022 can download an application on the school website (www.stbrendansf.com), or come by the school office between 9am and 3pm to pick up an application packet.
The deadline for applications from new families is December 9. Children must be five years old by September 1, 2021.
Thank you!
God bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
Dear St. Brendan Parish Families,
We hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving this year. Perhaps you were not able to be with your entire family, as in years past, but the love that unites a family is stronger than any virus, and will survive whether you were able to share a turkey this year or not.
God is watching over us all, and we know He will guide us through this.
We are so sorry that we cannot offer school tours for prospective kindergarten families this year. Any family interested in applying for school year 2021-2022 can download an application on the school website (www.stbrendansf.com), or come by the school office between 9am and 3pm to pick up an application packet.
The deadline for applications is November 25, 2020 for current school families or December 9, 2020 for new families. Children must be five years old by September 1, 2021.
Thank you!
God Bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
We hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving this year. Perhaps you were not able to be with your entire family, as in years past, but the love that unites a family is stronger than any virus, and will survive whether you were able to share a turkey this year or not.
God is watching over us all, and we know He will guide us through this.
We are so sorry that we cannot offer school tours for prospective kindergarten families this year. Any family interested in applying for school year 2021-2022 can download an application on the school website (www.stbrendansf.com), or come by the school office between 9am and 3pm to pick up an application packet.
The deadline for applications is November 25, 2020 for current school families or December 9, 2020 for new families. Children must be five years old by September 1, 2021.
Thank you!
God Bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
Dear St. Brendan Parish Families,
We are so delighted to have the students in kindergarten through fifth grade back on campus with us!
In order to respect the need to social distance, each class has been divided into two groups, or cohorts, that come in on alternate days. On the days they are not here with us, the students continue their zoom classes at home. It is quite a challenge, to say the least, but parents and teachers are doing an amazing job.
If all goes smoothly, we will be able to have our sixth, seventh, and eighth graders back on campus with us the week after Thanksgiving. That will be a happy day indeed!
We are staying very vigilant with all our safety precautions, however, because cases are rising throughout the country, even here in San Francisco. We know this is no time to relax our standards.
We are so sorry that we cannot offer school tours for prospective kindergarten families this year. Any family interested in applying for school year 2021-2022 can download an application on the school website (www.stbrendansf.com), or come by the school office between 9am and 3pm to pick up an application packet.
The deadline for applications is November 25, 2020 for current school families or December 9, 2020 for new families. Children must be five years old by September 1, 2021.
Thank you!
God bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
Dear St. Brendan Parish Families,
Other than a minor hiccup or two, the gradual return to in-person learning has been going remarkably smoothly. We are so grateful to our school families for their patience during this very complicated transition.
Because of the city-mandated regulations on social distancing, the children can no longer run joyfully in and out of school, but must walk quietly at least six feet apart. To reduce crowding, they can no longer all use one door for entrance and exit, but have been assigned to one of four gates around the school.
School staff have been assigned to each of these entrances to perform health and temperature checks in the morning, and assure that the children are following safety protocols when they leave at the end of the day.
We now have multiple recess and lunch periods so that the children are not crowded onto the play yard all at once but have room to spread out.
The logistics of planning all these schedules have been a challenge, but well worth it if they keep our children (and their families) healthy and safe!
We are so sorry that we cannot offer school tours for prospective kindergarten families this year. Any family interested in applying for school year 2021-2022 can download an application on the school website (www.stbrendansf.com), or come by the school office between 9am and 3pm to pick up an application packet. The deadline for applications is November 25, 2020 for current school families or December 9, 2020 for new families. Children must be five years old by September 1, 2021.
Thank you!
God bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
Other than a minor hiccup or two, the gradual return to in-person learning has been going remarkably smoothly. We are so grateful to our school families for their patience during this very complicated transition.
Because of the city-mandated regulations on social distancing, the children can no longer run joyfully in and out of school, but must walk quietly at least six feet apart. To reduce crowding, they can no longer all use one door for entrance and exit, but have been assigned to one of four gates around the school.
School staff have been assigned to each of these entrances to perform health and temperature checks in the morning, and assure that the children are following safety protocols when they leave at the end of the day.
We now have multiple recess and lunch periods so that the children are not crowded onto the play yard all at once but have room to spread out.
The logistics of planning all these schedules have been a challenge, but well worth it if they keep our children (and their families) healthy and safe!
We are so sorry that we cannot offer school tours for prospective kindergarten families this year. Any family interested in applying for school year 2021-2022 can download an application on the school website (www.stbrendansf.com), or come by the school office between 9am and 3pm to pick up an application packet. The deadline for applications is November 25, 2020 for current school families or December 9, 2020 for new families. Children must be five years old by September 1, 2021.
Thank you!
God bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
Dear St. Brendan Parish Families,
We are so excited to have our students slowly making their way back on campus! Because of space limitations, each class (other than kindergarten) has been divided into two “cohorts”, each of which will come two days a week. On Fridays everyone will return to distance learning. Ever so slowly, we are working our way back to normal.
On November 2nd we welcomed back our kindergarten, first, and second graders. In two weeks, assuming the city doesn’t issue any new restrictions, we will see our third, fourth, and fifth graders. By the end of November, when sixth, seventh and eighth graders arrive, we should have our entire student body back with us, at least for a few days a week. We can’t wait!
We have everything in place to assure that our students can resume in-person learning in safety: temperature checks; hand-sanitizing stations; social distancing of all desks; desk shields for both students and teachers; striping on the playground to remind students to stay in their “cohort” areas; and signs everywhere indicating the recommended six-foot distancing.
It was quite a job getting all these precautions in place, but we know how important it is to keep our students, their families, and our staff as safe as possible.
Thank you so much to all those parishioners who have been so generous in supporting the school’s Annual Fund, which will certainly help with these added expenses. We would love to have you join us, at whatever level you can.
You can drop a check in the school’s mailbox outside our front door, call the school office (415-731-2665) to request a donation envelope, or donate securely on-line through the school’s website: www.stbrendansf.com. Just click “Supporting the School” at the top of the page, then choose “Annual Fund / Donate Now”.
Thank you!
God bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
Dear St. Brendan Parish Families,
I hope you are in good health during this time as we find ourselves approaching a holiday season unlike any other. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas will be different, but no less joyous as we celebrate being one family in our faith in God.
We are delighted to announce that the San Francisco Department of Public Health has approved our reopening plan, and we will be welcoming back our kindergarten, first, and second grade students on Monday, Nov 2. The city requires that we wait two weeks before admitting three more grades, then another two weeks before our junior high students in grades six-seven-and eight can join us. That means that by December we will have all our students back on campus. We are so excited!
We have everything in place to assure that our students can resume in-person learning in safety: temperature checks; hand-sanitizing stations; social distancing of all desks; desk shields for both students and teachers; striping on the playground to remind students to stay in their “cohort” areas; and signs everywhere indicating the recommended six-foot distancing.
It was quite a job getting all these precautions in place, but we know how important it is to keep our students, their families, and our staff as safe as possible.
Thank you so much to all those parishioners who have been so generous in supporting the school’s Annual Fund, which will certainly help with these added expenses. We would love to have you join us, at whatever level you can.
You can drop a check in the school’s mailbox outside our front door, call the school office (415-731-2665) to request a donation envelope, or donate securely on-line through the school’s website: www.stbrendansf.com. Just click “Supporting the School” at the top of the page, then choose “Annual Fund / Donate Now”.
Thank you!
God bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
I hope you are in good health during this time as we find ourselves approaching a holiday season unlike any other. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas will be different, but no less joyous as we celebrate being one family in our faith in God.
We are delighted to announce that the San Francisco Department of Public Health has approved our reopening plan, and we will be welcoming back our kindergarten, first, and second grade students on Monday, Nov 2. The city requires that we wait two weeks before admitting three more grades, then another two weeks before our junior high students in grades six-seven-and eight can join us. That means that by December we will have all our students back on campus. We are so excited!
We have everything in place to assure that our students can resume in-person learning in safety: temperature checks; hand-sanitizing stations; social distancing of all desks; desk shields for both students and teachers; striping on the playground to remind students to stay in their “cohort” areas; and signs everywhere indicating the recommended six-foot distancing.
It was quite a job getting all these precautions in place, but we know how important it is to keep our students, their families, and our staff as safe as possible.
Thank you so much to all those parishioners who have been so generous in supporting the school’s Annual Fund, which will certainly help with these added expenses. We would love to have you join us, at whatever level you can.
You can drop a check in the school’s mailbox outside our front door, call the school office (415-731-2665) to request a donation envelope, or donate securely on-line through the school’s website: www.stbrendansf.com. Just click “Supporting the School” at the top of the page, then choose “Annual Fund / Donate Now”.
Thank you!
God bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
Dear St. Brendan Parish Families,
I hope you are in good health during this time as we find ourselves slowly re-entering our social new normal.
At the time of writing this, the school is in the process of preparing for the visit by the San Francisco Department of Public Health that will determine whether or not we are cleared to open for in-person instruction. We have to demonstrate that we are ready to have the children return in complete safety, which means we need sanitizing stations, thermometers, and COVID symptom questionnaires at each entrance to the school; sneeze guards for all student and teacher desks; cleaning supplies in every classroom; hand washing stations in the outside play areas; and special signage throughout the campus that explains all safety precautions that must be followed.
In addition to all this, the student desks need to be at least 6’ apart, which means that in many cases the classes will have be to be divided into two rooms. This has required quite a bit of furniture moving!
In our next Sunday Bulletin report we hope to be able to tell you that all these efforts have been successful, and we are in the process of re-opening for on-site learning.
Thank you so much to all those parishioners who have been so generous in supporting the school’s Annual Fund, which will certainly help with these added expenses. We would love to have you join us, at whatever level you can.
You can drop a check in the school’s mailbox outside our front door, call the school office (415-731-2665) to request a donation envelope, or donate securely on-line through the school’s website: www.stbrendansf.com. Just click “Supporting the School” at the top of the page, then choose “Annual Fund / Donate Now”.
Thank you!
God bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
I hope you are in good health during this time as we find ourselves slowly re-entering our social new normal.
At the time of writing this, the school is in the process of preparing for the visit by the San Francisco Department of Public Health that will determine whether or not we are cleared to open for in-person instruction. We have to demonstrate that we are ready to have the children return in complete safety, which means we need sanitizing stations, thermometers, and COVID symptom questionnaires at each entrance to the school; sneeze guards for all student and teacher desks; cleaning supplies in every classroom; hand washing stations in the outside play areas; and special signage throughout the campus that explains all safety precautions that must be followed.
In addition to all this, the student desks need to be at least 6’ apart, which means that in many cases the classes will have be to be divided into two rooms. This has required quite a bit of furniture moving!
In our next Sunday Bulletin report we hope to be able to tell you that all these efforts have been successful, and we are in the process of re-opening for on-site learning.
Thank you so much to all those parishioners who have been so generous in supporting the school’s Annual Fund, which will certainly help with these added expenses. We would love to have you join us, at whatever level you can.
You can drop a check in the school’s mailbox outside our front door, call the school office (415-731-2665) to request a donation envelope, or donate securely on-line through the school’s website: www.stbrendansf.com. Just click “Supporting the School” at the top of the page, then choose “Annual Fund / Donate Now”.
Thank you!
God bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
Dear St. Brendan Parish Families,
I hope you are in good health during this time as we find ourselves slowly re-entering our social new normal.
The school has been doing a great job educating our students during Distance Learning. The teachers have created mini television stations that allows all classes to Zoom lessons each day. The school is currently working with the SF Department of Public Health to help us prepare for re-opening school to the students as soon as possible. We want to assure that every possible safety precaution is in place for our students, families, and staff so we can resume in-person learning. We want our students back, but only when we can do so safely!
This process has proven to be a very expensive one that required the purchase of many items such as sneeze guards for desks, cleaning supplies and sanitizing stations, hand washing stations, thermometers, special signage, etc. The list goes on and on but we are willing to do what it takes to bring our students back into their classrooms.
In the fall each year we start our Annual Fund campaign, to help raise the funds needed to make our school the best it can possibly be. We are so grateful for all of the parishioners, alumni parents, grandparents, alumni, current school families, and friends who have contributed so generously to this campaign in past years.
We would love to have you join us, at whatever level you can. You can drop a check in the school’s mailbox outside our front door, call the school office (415-731-2665) to request a donation envelope, or donate securely on-line through the school’s website:
https://www.stbrendansf.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=291753&type=d&pREC_ID=672162
Thank you!
God bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
I hope you are in good health during this time as we find ourselves slowly re-entering our social new normal.
The school has been doing a great job educating our students during Distance Learning. The teachers have created mini television stations that allows all classes to Zoom lessons each day. The school is currently working with the SF Department of Public Health to help us prepare for re-opening school to the students as soon as possible. We want to assure that every possible safety precaution is in place for our students, families, and staff so we can resume in-person learning. We want our students back, but only when we can do so safely!
This process has proven to be a very expensive one that required the purchase of many items such as sneeze guards for desks, cleaning supplies and sanitizing stations, hand washing stations, thermometers, special signage, etc. The list goes on and on but we are willing to do what it takes to bring our students back into their classrooms.
In the fall each year we start our Annual Fund campaign, to help raise the funds needed to make our school the best it can possibly be. We are so grateful for all of the parishioners, alumni parents, grandparents, alumni, current school families, and friends who have contributed so generously to this campaign in past years.
We would love to have you join us, at whatever level you can. You can drop a check in the school’s mailbox outside our front door, call the school office (415-731-2665) to request a donation envelope, or donate securely on-line through the school’s website:
https://www.stbrendansf.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=291753&type=d&pREC_ID=672162
Thank you!
God bless you all,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
Dear St. Brendan Parish Family,
I hope you are in good health and happiness as we find ourselves slowly reentering our social new normal. Our school-wide Learning Expectations guide everything we do. Growing our faith, spirituality, social emotional strength, and academic knowledge are all our priorities to develop St. Brendan Life Long Christian Students.
We hope you enjoy learning about our student learning expectations:
I hope you are in good health and happiness as we find ourselves slowly reentering our social new normal. Our school-wide Learning Expectations guide everything we do. Growing our faith, spirituality, social emotional strength, and academic knowledge are all our priorities to develop St. Brendan Life Long Christian Students.
We hope you enjoy learning about our student learning expectations:
Dear St. Brendan Parish Family,
We continue to send you love, peace, and blessings from our Lord and Savior for a wonderful week. St. Brendan School revises our School-wide Learning Expectations approximately every 6 years to make sure we are providing a rich and empowering education, spiritual and academic. One thing that has not changed in every revision since 1947 is our number one learning expectation that has always been a focus on how to be a Life-Long Christian in today’s society. Our students are taught that Life-Long Christians:
1. Participate in our faith community and serve others.
2. Build on a spiritual relationship with God to strengthen their moral compass and values.
3. Spread God’s Word with empathy, tolerance, and love.
While we are in distance learning it is critical to keep our focus on God, to participate in our Catholic education, build on learning the Word and spreading his love. If we focus on Loving God and Loving People (no matter how different our opinions may be) we will be that example of spreading God’s Word through our actions.
God Bless,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
We continue to send you love, peace, and blessings from our Lord and Savior for a wonderful week. St. Brendan School revises our School-wide Learning Expectations approximately every 6 years to make sure we are providing a rich and empowering education, spiritual and academic. One thing that has not changed in every revision since 1947 is our number one learning expectation that has always been a focus on how to be a Life-Long Christian in today’s society. Our students are taught that Life-Long Christians:
1. Participate in our faith community and serve others.
2. Build on a spiritual relationship with God to strengthen their moral compass and values.
3. Spread God’s Word with empathy, tolerance, and love.
While we are in distance learning it is critical to keep our focus on God, to participate in our Catholic education, build on learning the Word and spreading his love. If we focus on Loving God and Loving People (no matter how different our opinions may be) we will be that example of spreading God’s Word through our actions.
God Bless,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
Hello St. Brendan Parish Family,
We are sending you love, peace, and blessings for a wonderful week.
St. Brendan School is preparing for the month of the Rosary in October. This has been a tradition of St. Brendan students and staff for 50+ years! Father Mike will be invited to bless our individual packed and sealed Rosaries during SBTV and the students will receive them in our weekly exchange envelopes before the first of the month. Then each day in October, the 8th graders lead the school children in praying a decade of the rosary during SBTV. It is truly wonderful to listen to 300 students praying together daily.
We are keeping our spirits up and our community together because of our fabulous parents, teachers, aides, office staff, and students. Together we are stronger, trusting that each of us is doing our absolute best to address the academic and social emotional well-being of our children. Our goal is to be together safely and in-person.
We pray for you and ask your continued prayers for our school community that our staff and students continue to be mentally and spiritually dependent on God to guide us during these unprecedented times.
God Bless,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta
We are sending you love, peace, and blessings for a wonderful week.
St. Brendan School is preparing for the month of the Rosary in October. This has been a tradition of St. Brendan students and staff for 50+ years! Father Mike will be invited to bless our individual packed and sealed Rosaries during SBTV and the students will receive them in our weekly exchange envelopes before the first of the month. Then each day in October, the 8th graders lead the school children in praying a decade of the rosary during SBTV. It is truly wonderful to listen to 300 students praying together daily.
We are keeping our spirits up and our community together because of our fabulous parents, teachers, aides, office staff, and students. Together we are stronger, trusting that each of us is doing our absolute best to address the academic and social emotional well-being of our children. Our goal is to be together safely and in-person.
We pray for you and ask your continued prayers for our school community that our staff and students continue to be mentally and spiritually dependent on God to guide us during these unprecedented times.
God Bless,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta
I hope our school update provides a smile and reminder of the joys you had when you were in school. While we are still providing curriculum and school online, our students are a BLESSING! They are all working hard, smiling, and adjusting to this new normal. We have some wonderful new staff members who joined us this school year.
We would not be such a successful Catholic School without our wonderful staff. If you see us with masks on, give us a wave and know we are smiling back.
Stay safe and God Bless,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
- Bridget Corvera (former aide and current parent) is teaching kindergarten
- Teresa Ira (former aide) is teaching third grade
- Chris Tenhoff has changed grades and is teaching fourth grade
- Torie Palmer is teaching reading language arts for sixth grade
- Danny Williams is teaching physical education
- Catie Kaprosch has changed positions from after school aide to full time kindergarten instructional aide
- Jill Petersen has moved grades and is our current second grade instructional aide
- Nina Puccinelli has moved grades and is our current third grade instructional aide
- Nick Andress is our new full time fourth grade instructional aide
- Danielle Hicban has rejoined our staff as full time sixth grade instructional aide
- Elizabeth Gamarra (former parent) has joined our staff as full time eighth grade instructional aide
- Mia Inocencio (former extended care aide) has joined us full time as instructional aide for various grade levels
- Kari Putz (former extended care aide) has joined us full time as instructional aide for various grade levels
We would not be such a successful Catholic School without our wonderful staff. If you see us with masks on, give us a wave and know we are smiling back.
Stay safe and God Bless,
Ms. Dianne Lakatta, proud principal
I hope this message finds you all in good health and happiness. We are in the 3rd week of Distance Learning and it is going well! We are so happy the way the students are adjusting and participating in virtual instruction. We are trying to keep many routines we had in person during our distance learning. During the normal school year our 8th graders film a live morning television news show called SBTV. I am so thankful that our SBTV crew is working on their own time with me to pre-record daily shows for the school. The 8th graders are in charge of researching and presenting the following information: Birthdays, Saint of the Day, Bad Joke, Current Events, and our school prayer to end the broadcast.
Our fabulous Mothers' Club and Men's Club have organized a virtual BINGO night in late September to help us stay connected as a school family. As you may know, our strength is God, and He has allowed us to stay a tight knit, supportive family. I thank God every day for my St. Brendan Family and our leader, Father Mike. May God remind you during this time of seclusion that you are not alone and you are loved. I leave you with our school prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the light that shines from within.
Help me to recognize the many points of light that shine in me.
The light of Faith, the light of Hope, and the light of Love.
Give me the strength to let my light shine so that all people
Might see Your goodness through my actions and words.
Amen
Ms. Lakatta
Our fabulous Mothers' Club and Men's Club have organized a virtual BINGO night in late September to help us stay connected as a school family. As you may know, our strength is God, and He has allowed us to stay a tight knit, supportive family. I thank God every day for my St. Brendan Family and our leader, Father Mike. May God remind you during this time of seclusion that you are not alone and you are loved. I leave you with our school prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the light that shines from within.
Help me to recognize the many points of light that shine in me.
The light of Faith, the light of Hope, and the light of Love.
Give me the strength to let my light shine so that all people
Might see Your goodness through my actions and words.
Amen
Ms. Lakatta
Dear School Family,
I hope this week finds you in good health and happiness. We made it through week one with very few hiccups! WHOOHOO! I am so happy to see all the kiddos back at school, even in this virtual format. Our teachers, aides, and office staff are happy to be back but still miss the voices throughout the hallways. Thank you to all who have been patient and kind the first few days of school. We really appreciate your making adjustments to help us create a routine. Let us persevere together by being patient, supportive of each other, and show our children that mistakes happen and it is not the end of the world.
We are extremely proud of our graduating class of 2020!
20 of them will be attending St. Ignatius High School, 7 will attend Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, 2 students will attend University High School and Convent of the Sacred Heart, Lowell High School and Lick Wilmerding will each have 1 of our graduates join their student body.
We wish them continued success in their high school years.
May God Bless and Keep You,
Dianne Lakatta,
Proud Principal
I hope this week finds you in good health and happiness. We made it through week one with very few hiccups! WHOOHOO! I am so happy to see all the kiddos back at school, even in this virtual format. Our teachers, aides, and office staff are happy to be back but still miss the voices throughout the hallways. Thank you to all who have been patient and kind the first few days of school. We really appreciate your making adjustments to help us create a routine. Let us persevere together by being patient, supportive of each other, and show our children that mistakes happen and it is not the end of the world.
We are extremely proud of our graduating class of 2020!
20 of them will be attending St. Ignatius High School, 7 will attend Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, 2 students will attend University High School and Convent of the Sacred Heart, Lowell High School and Lick Wilmerding will each have 1 of our graduates join their student body.
We wish them continued success in their high school years.
May God Bless and Keep You,
Dianne Lakatta,
Proud Principal
