A word from our president:
Hello Everyone!
Bill Lyons did a terrific job and surely embodies the spirit of community activism and volunteerism. It sounded to me like his Catholic faith has played a very important role in his life and I was very impressed by his achievements. I am happy that I learned more about Bill, his family and his work in our area. Please join us next month to hear our beloved Bishop, Stephen Blaire. Mass will be at 7:00 a.m. and then we’ll share breakfast; the Bishop’s presentation is always interesting and inspiring.
The Doubletree will look into varying our breakfast menu a bit. We want you all to look forward to coming every second Tuesday of each month except July and August so if a change in menu will make it even more pleasant for you, we need to make it happen. I have heard some complaints about the “same old thing to eat” each month so we are trying to get it changed up a bit. Our contract, though, is for this routine breakfast so we’ll see what we can do. This morning I took the left over muffins to Graceada Park. The guys there were very appreciative. Thank you, dear Father Lindsay, and my fellow board members for all you do to make these monthly gatherings work so well. Some of our board members have served far longer than they initially signed up for. However, we have three new folks who have volunteered to serve on our board and so that voting will happen in April. May God continue to bless us all!
Sue Fenton
Mission Statement
As Catholic professional and business men and women, we are called to live as disciples of Jesus Christ not only on Sundays, but every day at home and at work. Our goal in the Catholic Professional and Business Club (CP&BC) an unincorporated association, shall be to continue our faith formation as Catholics so that we can bear witness in our daily lives by word and deed to the Good News of Jesus Christ. We gather to share with others who seek a more ethical business environment. These goals shall be attained by coming together monthly to hear from an informative and motivational speaker during the meeting. Each of us shall strive to integrate our ethical values as Catholics into our professional and business lives.
Next Meeting, Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Join us at 7:00am for Mass at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Modesto. Breakfast will be at 7:30am. $15 for members, $20 for non-members. For reservations please call 527-0026 or email Joan Hart at hart@cchsca.org. See the calendar page for upcoming speakers!
February 9, 2010
The Most Reverend Stephen E. Blaire was born in Los Angeles, California in 1941, the twelfth of fourteen children. He was raised in the San Fernando Valley, where he attended local Catholic schools. After graduating from Queen of Angels High School Seminary in 1959, Bishop Blaire entered St. John’s College and Seminary in Camarillo
On 29 April 1967, Bishop Blaire was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by James Francis Cardinal McIntyre. Bishop Blaire’s first assignment was as Associate Pastor at St. Luke’s Church in Temple City. In 1972, Bishop Blaire began fourteen years of ministry with Catholic secondary education, first as a teacher and administrator at Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, then as Vice Principal at Bishop Amat High School in La Puente. From 1977 to 1986, Bishop Blaire returned to Bishop Alemany High School as Principal. In 1986, Bishop Blaire was appointed as the Moderator of the Curia and Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
On 31 May 1990 he was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles and Titular Bishop of Lamzella by Cardinal Roger Mahony. Bishop Blaire served as a Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles from 1990 and Regional Bishop of Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region from 1995 to 1999. On 19 January 1999 it was announced that Pope John Paul II had appointed Bishop Blaire as the Bishop of Stockton. The Most Reverend Stephen E. Blaire was installed as the fifth Bishop of Stockton on 16 March 1999 at the Cathedral of the Annunciation. As a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Blaire has served as the Chairman of the Pastoral Practices Committee. Currently he is a member of the Committee for Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs. Bishop Blaire also serves as president of the California Catholic Conference.
A word from Father Lindsay
Haven't we done this before? Sure we have! Lent arrives each spring just as blossoms appear on the trees getting ready to dress up with a new set of clothes. We are in the six week period (days of creation) preparing ourselves for the great Sabbath - the Celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. He wants to look on us and say: It is good. And what did Jesus tell us about our lives? He compared them to a plot of ground in which is growing both weed and wheat. He cautioned that we might be too zealous in ripping up weeds; cautioned that we might have to get use to some weeds right to the very end. He would take care of that problem Himself. We can do our weeding and we can try to plant some good seed so that wheat grows in more places. I like to think that trees at this time of year are powerful holy cards. They are not unlike ourselves. They put out their efforts; see them bloom, then fade and finally decay. Then they have to start all over again. But underlying is that rugged old wood, pushed up and out, rain and wind swept, baked in the sun, left without water for long periods, broken and snapped in places. Not particularly attractive! But then again maybe they are like the leading of a stained glass window waiting to be filled in by colored glass that will filter the light of the sun and bring rest, beauty and inspiration for weary souls. To grow in virtue we need a great imagination. We need a vision that sees life as mudluscious and puddle wonderful, that sees the artist at work everywhere. We need to want our souls to be a canvas on which a great work of art is taking form: an image made in the image and likeness of God. Enjoy Lent, that joyful season!!!!!
Fr. Lindsay