The Valley Catholic September 10, 2013 | Page 21

The Valley Catholic IN OUR COMMUNITY September 10, 2013 21 Local Serrans attend Junipero Serra Exhibit at Huntington Library By Audry Lynch In a year of celebrations honoring the 300th anniversary of Blessed Junipero Serra’s birth, a comprehensive exhibition on his life has opened at the Huntington Library, San Marino, CA, in several rooms in the Erburu Wing of the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries “Junipero Serra and the Legacies of the California Missions” will remain open until Jan. 6, 2014. It offers a new look at the complexity of the man called Brother Serra and the immensity of his impact on California history. There are 250 artifacts from the Huntington collections as well as an equal number of artifacts from lenders in the United States, Mexico and Spain. “It brings the idea of Serra as a man remarkably closer,” said Greg Lynch, retiring President of the United States Council of Serra International. “I was intrigued to see his birth, Con?rmation and Holy Communion records as well as his diary and mission records written in his own hand,” he said There are other artifacts of personal interest, too, especially the unusual Caravaca Cross, which he wore all his life, and his chalice and prayer book. Serra came to California when he was 55 to ful?ll his dream of becoming a missionary. He walked on a chronically sore leg and he battled hunger, poverty and thirst as well as sometimes hostile native Americans and hostile Spanish soldiers. Faith and stubbornness kept him going to establish the first n i n e C a l i f or n i a missions. There are several paintings which illustrate the times — methods of Spanish imperialism and the culture of the local natives. My favorite is of Brother Serra leading a group of natives At Serra Exhibit at Huntington Library, (l-r) Professor Steve Hackel, i nto t he Ca r mel Greg Lynch, Audry Lynch, representing the Serra Club. Mission. “ This exhibit should be of special period. This story, all the way through, interest to all Catholics but particularly is a story of con?icting, blending and to Serrans, as well as to Native Amerioverlapping cultures of incredible excans because it portrays their life and pansion and human drama, and loss, crafts, and to all Californians interested and ? nally of the perseverance and in their state’s history, particularly survival of not only European institufourth graders who do projects on the tions in California, but of the California missions. natives who were the focus of Serra’s Professor Steven Hackel, a history missions.” professor at UC Riverside and co-cu• Audry Lynch is a member of the Santa rator of the exhibit, explains its broad Clara Serra Club. appeal: “The mission period was a de?ning one in California history, and Serra is the most visible symbol of that 40 Days for Life Fall Campaign begins Sept. 25; Mass, Sept. 16 According to Shawn Carney, national director of 40 Days for Life, “over 575,000 people have joined 40 Days for Life vigils to pray and fast for an end to abortion, over 7,500 lives have been spared, 83 abortion workers have quit their jobs and 37 abortion clinics have shut down since this pro-life ministry began in 2007.” According to Pat Bradley, local 40 Days coordinator, “These are just a few of the miracles that have occurred. A miracle happened in San Jose at the Planned Parenthood Clinic on the Alameda. A young lady approached ‘Anna’ and said she was nine weeks pregnant and had just ?nished an appointment with a Planned Parenthood counselor who was ‘in a big hurry to sell me the pill.’ “The young woman already had a little girl and didn’t like being pressured, as if the pill would ?x everything. She told Anna that her presence there touched her. She changed her mind about the abortion. She and Anna are going together for an ultrasound and baby shopping.” Bradley invites, “Join us at the Fall Campaign, Sept. 25 through Nov. 3. Our kick-off event is Mon., Sept. 16, 7 pm with a Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Thomas A. Daly,” at St. Simon Parish, 1860 Grant Road, Los Altos, CA 94024. A reception with Bishop Daly will follow. Bradley adds, “Join us for the 24hour Adoration at St. Leo Parish, 88 Race Street, San Jose beginning after the Sept. 24 8 am Mass and concluding Sept. 25 after the 8 am Mass. We begin our campaign with a procession to Planned Parenthood Sept. 25 for a prayer service immediately following Mass.” Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n v i s i t www.40daysforlife.com/sanjose or call Pat at 408-497-7270. Dominican Sister retires as chaplain at Hospice of the Valley Sis ter Jane Garrison, a Dominican Sister of Mission San Jose, has retired from Hospice of the Valley after 15 years of work as a chaplain. Hospice of the Valley is a nonpro?t organization in Silicon Valley that provides serious illness and end-of-life care programs and services, including palliative and hospice care, grief counseling for adults, children and families, and emotional support, education and practical assistance. As a chaplain, Sister Jane provided emotional support and spiritual guidance as well as funeral and memorial planning assistance to patients and families. According to Chelsea Byom, Hospice Marketing Manager, “Sister Jane’s peaceful presence, keen understanding of the human experience, and gentle words of wisdom brought hundreds of families solace and hope during the most dif?cult times of their lives.” Father Francis J. Buckley, SJ, dies in Los Gatos Serra Club picnic and swim party was held at St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish. Serra club hosts swim party, picnic for youth The Serra Club of Santa Clara hosted a summer swim party and picnic for 47 children including altar servers and 35 other family members at St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish in Santa Clara. Attendees came from parishes throughout the Diocese of San Jose and included Church of the Ascension in Saratoga, St. Joseph of Cupertino, Queen of Apostles, St. Thomas of Canterbury, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Victor and St. Martin of Tours, in San Jose, and St. Clare, St. Justin and St. Lawrence the Martyr in Santa Clara. Serran Mary Ann Miller coordinated the party and Michael Armstrong was chief cook, helped by other Serrans and Knights of Columbus. Letters to the Editor… The Valley Catholic invites readers to email Letters to the Editor on topics which are covered in this newspaper; maximum 200 words; signed, include address and phone number for veri?cation; subject to editing. Email [email protected]. Father Francis J. Buckley, SJ, 84, theologian and catechetical author, died July 9 at Regis In?rmary, Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, Los Gatos. Born in Los Angeles, Aug. 31, 1928, educated at Loyola High School there and the University of Note Dame, he entered the Jesuit novitiate at Los Gatos in 1945 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1958. He taught at Bellarmine College Preparatory and pursued a doctorate in theology at Gregorian University in Rome and then joined the faculty of the University of San Francisco theology department where he served as teacher and administrator until retirement in 2002. Beginning in 1964, Father Buckley collaborated with the late Sister Maria de la Cruz Aymes, SH on a series of catechetical publications which were adopted by many parishes and schools. He was also author of 10 books and innumerable articles. Father Buckley served as president and member of the board of the College Theology Society and served as theological advisor to the U.S. Bishops at the 1977 Synod of Bishops on Catechesis. His Mass of Christian Burial took place July 16 at St. Ignatius Church, San Francisco; burial at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the California Province of the Society of Jesus, P.O. Box 68, Los Gatos, CA 95031. MARIANIST BROTHER HONORED— Brother Howard Hughes, SM, has been honored as the 2013 Pastoral Musician of the Year by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. A plaque was presented at the 36th annual convention held in Washington, DC, in August for “composing music that fosters participation, lifts the human spirit, and reveals God’s love.” Brother Howard, 82, serves as organist and liturgical music director at the Marianist Center in Cupertino. www.dsj.org