SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL | Founded in Paris in 1833, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a worldwide community of more than 800,000 lay Catholics, known as Vincentians, who join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to neighbors in need. Have you considered answering the call to help serve the poor by joining the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (for Adults) or SSVdP Youth (13-18 years old)? Contact sanrafael.svdp@gmail.com or call (858)588-2556. Facebook: @SVdPSanRafaelConference. All are welcome at our monthly meetings. You do not need to be a member to attend.)

WALKING WITH PURPOSE WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY | Do you desire to grow in your faith in a supportive community with other women? Then Walking with Purpose is for YOU! This Bible study combines personal study with small group discussion and fellowship, building stronger relationships with each other and with Jesus. Women of all ages and stages are welcome – and there is NO walking involved other than your daily walk with the Lord! Please join us this Fall for Discovering Our Dignity, a study of women of the Bible. Women of the Old and New Testaments were as flawed and broken as we can be, yet the power of God worked to transform their lives. Through their stories, women of the Bible reach out to impact our present lives in a meaningful way, woman to woman, with ancient wisdom, sage advice, and inspirational insights. We will meet Tuesday mornings from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in the Pastoral Center beginning October 3rd. Registration is $25. Register at www.sanrafaelparish.org under the “Faith Formation” tab or use our QR code. Faith-based preschool for children ages 3-Kindergarten will be available for a fee Tuesday mornings so moms with young children can attend the Bible Study. Contact Quyen Skiano at (858)487-4314, ext. #1216 for information regarding Preschool. Contact Susan Sullivan at ssullivan92127@gmail.com or (619)889-6191 with any questions about the Women’s Bible Study.

WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP OCTOBER MEETING | Divine Mercy Shrine – Encinitas: Monday, October 9, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Doors open at 6:30 – Come mingle before the meeting. All members of the parish are invited to join us for an exciting evening as Renee Graceffa of the Divine Mercy Hills Foundation introduces us to a hidden gem right in our own back yard – the Divine Mercy Shrine in Encinitas! Come and see a beautiful slideshow of the shrine while learning about the mission of the Divine Mercy Foundation and the Shrine.

OKTOBERFEST 2023 | Get ready for another great evening in Bavaria as the Knights of Columbus host their annual Oktoberfest event Friday, October 13th, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. This year’s event will once again have delicious German cuisine, a live German band, entertainment for the children and a raffle contest with great prizes. We also invite you to participate in a Bavarian Costume Contest with a prize for 1st Place! Presale tickets are $15 for Adults, $7 for Children (6-18) and 5 and Under are free ($20/$10 at the door respectively). Tickets will be on sale before and after all Masses the weekends of September 30th-October 1st and October 7th-8th and at the door. Prost! (Cheers!)

SAN RAFAEL WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON | December 9th at 11:30 a.m. All Members of Women’s Fellowship are invited to enjoy a festive Christmas luncheon and a holiday program by Rhapsody. It will be held at The Heights Golf Club, 16066 Bernardo Heights Parkway, San Diego, CA 92128. Cost: $38.00 – Checks made payable to SRCCWF. Everyone must have a pre-paid reservation to attend. Make your reservation early as space is limited. Reservations will be accepted during our upcoming regular meetings: Mondays, September 11^th, October 9^thand November 14^3h at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. The deadline to register is November 22, 2023. For more information call Dottie Auletta at (760)567-7409 or Lucille Rabinowitz at (858) 798-9590.

Sunday, October 1st, 2023

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FROM THE DESK OF FR. JAY

In October, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday of October is designated as Respect Life Sunday. Catholic Bishops are calling on the faithful to embrace “radical solidarity” with mothers who are facing difficult or challenging pregnancies this October.

Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge, the chairman of the United State Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, echoed St. John Paul II’s call for “radical solidarity,” which means, according to the bishop, “putting our love for them into action and putting their needs before our own.”

“This new mindset requires that we come alongside vulnerable mothers in profound friendship, compassion, and support for both them and their preborn children,” Burbidge wrote in a statement to Catholics for the 50th anniversary of Respect Life Month.

“It means addressing the fundamental challenges that lead an expectant mother to believe she is unable to welcome the child God has entrusted to her,” Burbidge continued. “This includes collective efforts within our dioceses, parishes, schools, and local communities; engagement in the public square; and pursuit of policies that help support both women and their preborn babies. It all the more so requires our individual, personal commitment to helping mothers in our own communities secure material, emotional, and spiritual support for embracing the gift of life.”

While the Church remains committed to the preeminent goal of ending legalized abortion, Bishop Burbidge underscores that it is not enough. The most immediate way to save both babies and mothers from the tragedy of abortion is to envelop mothers in need with life-giving support and personal accompaniment. This approach acknowledges that addressing the root causes of abortion involves providing holistic care to women facing difficult circumstances.

The statement underscores that transforming our culture requires an ongoing conversion of hearts. It urges Catholics to see the face of Christ in every person and prioritize their needs. This spiritual transformation should complement efforts to advocate for pro-life laws and policies.

Fr. Jay

Pastor

San Rafael Parish, San Diego

Catholic Church

News & Events

UPCOMING PARISH EVENTS

Sunday, October 1st, 2023

FROM THE DESK OF FR. JAY

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