20
November 5, 2013
catholic schools/community
BLESSING ANIMALS -Father Robert Brocato,
pastor of St. Mary Church,
Gilroy, blessed St. Mary
School students’ furry,
feathered and scaly friends
Oct. 3 during the Blessing of
the Animals in celebration of
the Feast Day of St. Francis
of Assisi, patron saint of
animals.
St. Joseph of Cupertino students celebrate
patron saint, parish centennial
On Sept. 18 St. Joseph of Cupertino
School kicked off a centennial celebration of their parish and patron saint with
a puppet show of the saint’s. Student
puppeteers acted out the children’s
book, “The Little Friar Who Flew,” about
the life of St. Joseph of Cupertino.
Eighth graders read the story while
representatives from each grade used
puppets to act it out. Puppets were designed and painted by student artists.
Pastor, Father Gregory Kimm, offered
historical information about the 100
years of the parish, relating facts about
the saint and what life was like in the
early days of the parish.
Students participated in a special
“100” craft activity, writing something
they learned about St. Joseph or the parish on a “scratch and color” decoration
in the shape of “100.” A paper airplane
contest was held in honor of St. Joseph
who is the patron saint of pilots.
On Sept. 24 there was a centennial
celebration honoring a delegation from
the Sister City of Copertino, Italy. Visitors were greeted with a sign painted
by art club students. Italian and U.S.
flags framed each side of the sign with
an Italian welcome message.
As visitors entered the parish hall,
Italian music played and students and
teachers waved Italian and American
flags. Students led a prayer service and
gifts were presented to the visitors, along
with promises that SJC would continue to
reach out in friendship across the miles.
The assembly was attended by
Cupertino Mayor Orrin Mahoney and
Vice Mayor Gilbert Wong. Copertino
City Council member Mauro Valentino
shared a thank you message, saying
how touched he was by the hospitality
of the parish.
T
he Valley Catholic
Lay missionary focuses on Asia, seeks
others to join ministry
ment opportunities for those interBy Roberta Ward
ested in serving; and short immersion
Tricia Bolle is President and Protrips for Christians who wish to learn
gram Director of the St. Francis Xavier
more about the cultures of people beLay Missionary Society and has been
ing served abroad.
personally serving as an independent
Bolle said that through her educalay missionary in Asia for more than
tional non-profit, through its social
six years.
welfare component, she had developed
She graduated from Stanford Unistudent services at Chinese universiversity in 2005 with an MA in Eastern
ties. “We developed a considerable
Asian Studies and is dedicated to
ministry in China working with both
“bringing the love of Jesus Christ to
the official and underground Church,
people in Asia” through Catholic lay
based mostly in Beijing,”
missionaries.
she said.
The St. Francis Xavier
During a recent trip,
Lay Missionary Society,
she focused on counseling
Bolle explained, “pursues
‘We serve
services and crisis interthe Christian call to misvention with a group of 50
sion by serving in Asia
more
Catholic priests and Sisters
in an effort to draw all
in the Chinese countrypeople, especially young
effectively
side who plan to open a
adults, into deep and more
when we are
counseling clinic for adomeaningful relationship
lescents and young adults.
with God.”
one with the
“We also gave a financial
She said, “As Catholic
gift from the Diocese of
people.’
lay missionaries we deSan Jose to a Catholic orvote ourselves to bringing
phanage for special needs
the love of Christ to nonchildren that we support
Christians and providing
in a neighboring province,” she said.
faith formation for those already bap“The ways we’ve been able to get
tized to form loving faith communities
involved in Beijing are amazing,” she
of intentional disciples empowered
added, ‘both covertly—unofficial Bible
by the Holy Spirit and dedicated to
studies in people’s homes and Called
serving Christ in every aspect of life.”
and Gifted programs in back rooms
Bolle said that she especially seeks
– and overtly, with official catechism
to spread awareness within the Church
classes and teaching in the local semi“of the special call of many laity to fornary.” She added, “It’s the personal
eign missions and to help them discern
stories of so many Chinese Christians I
service in a foreign culture.”
find inspiring as they struggle against
The Society trains, sends and supadversity to pursue their faith.”
ports Catholic lay missionaries “to
In the past year Bolle has been deshare the love of Jesus Christ, parveloping a separate initiative to train
ticularly with young adults in Asia,
lay missionaries to Hong Kong, India,
and to promote greater understanding
and Japan. After college, she worked
within the Church of the universal call
in Japan for a year and then in India
to Christ in mission.”
where she worked with Mother Teresa’s
Activities include personal conMissionaries of Charity.
versations, ministry programs and
She said, “It’s all about grassroots
personal life witness, and developing
evangelization” and the need is great
and leading ministry programs in
especially among young a ???
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